Welcome to a new devlog!
This time, we want to give you all a first glimpse into the story and lore of Aethermancer. As you may already know, the world that Aethermancer is set in is called Terastae. We wanted to do a fresh start with the style and themes of this game, so we created a new setting apart from Monster Sanctuary. To give you a more concrete idea of Terastae and its people, this devlog is written from the perspective of three of the characters that you’ll meet in the game. Just imagine that you’re talking to them in Pilgrim’s Rest shortly after the events that start off Aethermancer. Enjoy!
“What an opportunity to learn more about the nature of Aether and Void! I, Alioth of Aequilas, was personally chosen by the honorable council to investigate the matter of the Massive Void Phenomenon.
Why, Void itself is nothing unusual. It is simply matter that is in the process of turning back into pure Aether - while Aether itself is the basic substance that everything in the universe consists of. What is unusual, however, is the size of the Void that has emerged in the center of the Fractured Ruins. As far as we know, this only happens when a star meets the end of its natural lifetime, as they contain extreme amounts of Aether.
In my brief time at Pilgrim’s Rest, I have come to learn that the Massive Void Phenomenon is growing. At a slow, but steady, inevitable pace. Which means it will eventually devour Pilgrim’s Rest, as well as all of Terastae. Theoretically speaking.
However, the people of Pilgrim’s Rest need not worry! I’m sure that the two of us will get to the heart of the issue in no time. I speak of course of myself and Siriux, the other Aethermancer who has recently arrived here. They are quite daring - venturing to the center of the Void as we speak.
I’m sure once humans and monsterkin see that we can do good for Terastae, they will come to trust us. Siriux and I are surely winning over the townsfolk already!”
“I don’t trust them Aethermancers. A big huge Void opens up, within spittin’ distance of our town, and not one, but two Aethermancers show up right after? That ain’t normal. One of them says they are here to study the Void, constantly showing off their book learnin'. The other just went up to that cliff over there and jumped right into the Void without saying much at all. Bunch of crazies.
I don’t subscribe to the whole idea that the Void is just gonna keep growing and swallow up Pilgrim’s Rest. A whole bunch of people here just up and left, can you believe it? As if I didn’t have enough to do before, now I gotta fill in for half the town that went missing.
My great-grandfather - and my great-grandmother! - built this tavern here with their own hands. They were there when Pilgrim’s Rest became what it is today. The Fractured Ruins have always been a dangerous place - teeming with all sorts of monsters. And yet, they had a dream of taming the wilds and turning it into a home. Not just for the pilgrims who made the trek to the ruins of the old Holy City - for any upstanding monsterkin who needed refuge from the world. I’m not about to spit on their legacy.
I might not fully trust those Aethermancers, but I reckon they’re still our best bet. I don’t see Lily or that fool Tiberion closing that Void anytime soon, that’s for sure.”
“I am on a quest from Mayor Gustavo himself. The Void threatens all of the good people of Pilgrim’s Rest, maybe even Terastae itself. I am not sure. But I know that I will put a stop to it!
I just hope that I can save the Fractured Ruins as well, what with it being inside the Void already. Just like every true monsterkin, it has always been my dream to be there - to walk the Pilgrimage Path, pass through the ancient gates, see the beauty of the city itself.
You see, it was here that the Monster Deities had their two-thousand-year-slumber. That vile traitor Sol had put them to sleep to rule Terastae in their place - those were truly the Dark Ages! But finally, the Monster Deities awakened, vanquished Sol, and went across all of Terastae to free the monsterkin. Hand in hand, Monster Deities and monsterkin lived and flourished in the Holy City.
And I believe they are still there! They only show themselves to the most courageous and worthy of monsterkin - that’s what it said in the stories my mother read to me. Sadly, most of the monsterkin I met in Pilgrim’s Rest don’t believe me, but I don’t care. I will keep venturing into the Void until the Monster Deities themselves recognize me as a monsterkin true and noble.”