Militias! Welcome back to the fourth devlog for Only Lead Can Stop Them.
This time we will take a look at the background for one of the more iconic enemies of the
game which is called the CAPIROTE. It’s one of the first enemies that I conjured when the
idea for the game that would become OLCST started to take shape. The game takes a lot of
inspiration from different aspects of Spanish culture and the rich history of Spain. One of the
important events in history that has shaped Spanish culture is the notorious Spanish
Inquisition. For a lot of people when they think of The Spanish Inquisition it mostly reminds
them of a famous sketch by Monty Pyton. When we first let people test the demo of the
game people would blast thru a lot of enemies armed with guns just to turn a corner to see a
caped magician throw a skull shaped cloud of poison at them. They would often make the
comment:
“No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!”
Some would also joke regarding historical authenticity and say:
“Well how do you know that there weren’t any wizards casting fire balls and skull clouds
during the Spanish Civil War! Are you history professor?!”
It’s definitely an enemy that spices up what would otherwise be a bit of a mundane
environment if it only was filled with bullet and guns like any ordinary war would. It’s
something very satisfying we think to be able to dodge certain death from a hug projectile
only to return fire and having the Capirote disappear in the style of a knock off Obi-Wan
Kenobi.
The inspiration for the capirote comes from several places. One such is different horror
movies like the Spanish film The blind dead and the Italian The red monks. Pulp horror in
books and film from Spain and Italy often featured different occult priest with covered faces
making satanic rituals involving the sacrifice of many naked women often with heavy
makeup and even heavier boobs. It was theme as common for a time as the sexy vampire.
Some of the horrors have a historical background being that many priest that performed the
various tortures and executions of the inquisition had robes that covered their faces with a
hood. Long after the Inquisition had ended it was common to see hooded priest participate
in performing public executions. Many priests of different brotherhoods until this day wear
similar clothes and participate in rituals involving the display of human skulls. Hooded priests
of different sorts have in various ways become associated with the fear of death.
The Capirote in the game should be seen as a homage to the Spanish culture and the
enticing fantasy of horror that has inspired people thru out the ages.
Until Next Time
I hope you enjoyed this background of one of the many enemies in the game. We hope to
give you more exciting stories down the line of current and upcoming features.
I’ll see you in the next devlog
- Dan Pettersson, creative director and tech artist
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1909100/Only_Lead_Can_Stop_Them/