You might have already read the article by PCGamesN…
… But in the circumstance that you haven’t, let us set the scene.
Welcome to the Depths of Hell.
You have entered into a world of darkness, where the Archfiends -- so alike and yet each strikingly different -- strive for power and dominion.
But beware, for there are those who lurk in the shadows, whose very presence sends shivers down the spines of even the most stalwart souls...
Today, we dare speak of one such being, an Archfiend whose name is whispered with dread and whose power is beyond measure. To gaze upon this being is to stare into the abyss itself, to feel the weight of despair and the certainty of defeat. For this Archfiend is a being of true darkness, a force to be reckoned with and feared...
It is with both trepidation and a sense of grim fascination that we reveal the name of this Archfiend...
Murmur
Monarch of the Grave
Deathlord
Overview
Allow your depraved sorrow to seep slowly into your enemies with the Archfiend, Murmur. The Monarch of the Grave is a favourite among the players who enjoy sorcery and destruction.
An ancient evil, damned! with such a hatred of life, Murmer, a Monarch of the Grave, foul necromancer, despises the living and would smother it all with his vast armies of the dead.
Discordant trumpets herald the arrival of the Deathlord -- a short blast of excitement that swiftly wanes, a taunting reminder of a life outside of Murmur’s dismal aura.
Upon arrival, Murmur’s ghastly figure is moulded only by their gloomy plate armor, wreathed in a heavy atmosphere of evil sorcery. The Eye Heraldry burns from their helmet, the only colour in an otherwise desolate world.
The only feasible threat is the sharp, obsidian black longsword in hand and the two skeletal, horned wings upon Murmur’s back. Their wretched aura leaves much else of what the Deathlord is capable of to the imagination.
Gameplay Style
Special Abilities
Monarch of the Grave: Murmur's Special Ability will be revealed closer to the game, but has to do with Destruction... (We're taking guesses 👀)
Their initial stat distribution is…
1 Point to Wrath
1 Point to Prophecy
2 Points to Destruction
Murmur Lore: A vile necromancer, a collector of the dead and forgotten, who whispers through the veil, an abuser of ghosts, a shade-sinister, a ghoul, an eater of spirits, a crashing wave of bones. I have many more of these. I wonder from which destitute grave-womb they emerged?
Rumours hint that the Legions of Murmur are fuelled by the tolling undead. Those who face off against the Deathlord in the field have whispered horrific tales… Tales of the shambling mounds of bone and tendon who bear the banner of Murmur, forced to fight endlessly in the Monarch of the Grave’s Legions.
Then, once the battle is done… Did you think these bones would rest under the Vile Necromancer? These very vassals are forced to rise once again. There is no rest for the wicked, and even less for the wicked’s undead eternal armies…
The realisation of this haunting cycle is crushing, and it is this pure misery of the captured souls that fuels part of Murmur’s Sorcery.
Conceptualisation
The primary focus here was to capture the imposing stature and otherworldly presence through nods to malevolence in shape and detail.
Shaping Vestige, Murmur's Stronghold
I spent but a night within that sad manse, and walked its empty, unlit and cob-webbed halls, and heard the forlorn moaning of the infernal winds through its broken windows, as if the entire place heaved and cried of loneliness and despair. No other guests were seen, indeed not a single servant. It was only a place of ghosts I will never return to.
-- Letter from Bishop Xiat to his Unholy Reverence Anti-Pope XVII upon invitation to Murmur’s House.
Conclusion
A wraith of shadow, ichor and fire, Murmur’s conquering ambition closely resembles their appearance: elusive and shadow-filled…
All eagerly lay in wait for their opening move to be revealed. Will their sorrow manifest aggressively? Sharp as a broken tooth, crushing all enemies in sight? Or will they be as slow and mournfully fervent as melancholy often is? Sinisterly analysing their opponent’s weakness and waiting for their opening?
It is for you to decide when you conquer Hell with…
Murmur
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If you've made it this far, thanks for following along. I intend to share more posts like this, detailing the development process as it unfolds and exploring the unique challenges the privilege of re-imagining a cult classic like Solium Infernum for new (and old!) audiences holds.
For now, you can join the League of Geeks Discord community for all the infernal news and discussion, as well as more information on Playtesting.
P.S. You can support us and our re-imagining of Vic's "diamond in the dark" by Wishlisting Solium Infernum on Steam, if you haven't already. Wishlisting tells the all-great Steam algorithm that people like what they’re seeing and gets us in front of more eyes.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1893810/Solium_Infernum/