Greetings, Noble Kings!
Our royal scouts have returned, bearing word of a new realm soon to open to your realm — the Volcano. In our previous article, we spoke of the monstrous bosses who roam there.
Today, we turn our gaze to the mechanics and rewards that will test your rule, tempt your ambition, and perhaps, your soul.
The Volcano map is built on one dangerous theme: pact with the Inferno.
You may remember Malathrax from the Village? Well, Your Majesty, he has not forgotten you either. This time, he offers you a proposal: prove your devotion to the Infernal cause, and he shall rise again to fight by your side as your most loyal (and least trustworthy) subject.
To summon Malathrax’s aid, you must amass a new resource: Nether Runes — glowing sigils of pure Infernal energy, found only within the Volcano’s domain.
What Are Nether Runes?
Nether Runes fuel your Worship Meter, which measures your growing allegiance to the forces below. The more you gather, the greater your Infernal rewards.
There are several ways to obtain them
Battle Prowess
During the Fortuneteller Event, you may choose a modifier that makes your next wave significantly tougher:
- enemies deal +50% damage,
- have +50% HP,
- double their numbers entirely.
Survive this glorious massacre, and the Inferno will reward your audacity with Nether Runes.
Sacrifice
No pact with demons comes without sacrifice. Across the map, two Infernal Altars will await your offerings. One demands mere resources. The other craves flesh — one of your soldiers, surrendered in exchange for runes. After all, what is the life of a peasant compared to the promise of hellish power?
Nether Rune Enchantery
Once you’ve proven your seriousness about this whole worshipping the Inferno thing, you’ll unlock a special building: the Rune Enchanter. This infernal workshop will steadily grant up to 500 Runes, roughly one-third of what’s needed to call Malathrax into battle.
Rewards of the Faithless
As your Worship Meter rises, so too do your rewards. Each threshold unlocks new spoils for the faithful:
- 30 Runes: unlocks the Nether Rune Enchantery itself.
- 180, 450, and 900 Runes: grant Infernal Barracks (T1–T3) and access to new fiery recruits.
- 1,500 Runes: summons Malathrax, the Infernal General.
Though weakened after the rather humiliating thrashing you gave him back in the Village, Malathrax remains a towering force of destruction, boasting thousands of health points and a tendency to destroy everyone who opposes him.
The Infernal Legions
Nine new Infernal Units will be available for recruitment. However, during a single playthrough, you’ll only be able to acquire blueprints for three of them — a choice that will define your strategy and army composition.
As you learn their strengths, you’ll be able to plan which ones best suit your royal ambitions:
Craving more Denarii? The Hellpigs might just be your new accountants.
Need a boost in damage output for your Grunt army? Perhaps a Bottomless Pit is the answer (don’t ask how it works).
Providing predictable access to certain barracks is one of our first steps toward giving players greater control over build predictability, while keeping all the chaos and randomness that make roguelite strategy fun.
Everything Has a Price
Dealing with the Inferno never comes cheap. The more Nether Runes you gather, the more the world itself will rebel against you. Each threshold of worship awakens the volcano further — the skies darken, the earth cracks, and the very mountain begins to rage.
At the highest tiers, expect the heavens to rain fire as meteors fall upon friend and foe alike. When you deal with demons, even victory burns.
What’s Next?
In our next royal address, we’ll delve into:
The enemies and events that will test your leadership and strength, as well as artifacts we plan to add
The game-wide improvements and new councilors arriving alongside the update.
Until then, Your Majesty, keep your altars warm and your crown untarnished — for soon, even kings must decide how much of their soul they’re willing to sell.
~ The Hypnohead Team