Greetings, adventurers.
In our previous devlogs, we have covered some gameplay mechanics, like combat, crafting, and character progression. Today, as we are mere days away from the November 24th launch, it is time to discuss one of the most vital aspects of Of Ash and Steel: Story and lore. Grab a cup of tisane (or mead), sit back, relax, and let us begin.
📜 PREMISE 📜
The Kingdom of the Seven, once a thriving archipelagic state, is now facing uncertainty. The Order that rules the seven islands has been losing its hold on the lands. Rumors are going around that some provinces have decided to withdraw from the union; scruple and dubiety have lodged themselves in the hearts of the king's folk.
You take on the role of an ordinary cartographer by the name of Tristan. Your peaceful life on the capital island of Astarta takes an unexpected turn when you receive an assignment of great importance—sail to the fifth island, Grayshaft, and refine the maps of the region—namely, review locations with reefs notorious for their perilous nature.
What is supposed to be an easy journey turns into a nightmare. The calamity that Tristan's story begins with, along with the character of the environment, compels you to learn how to survive. The main reason why Grayshaft is more than capable of eating you alive is neither the hardly navigable reefs that we mentioned above, nor the rumoured creatures that come out at night. It's the people who call that piece of land home.
You see, the fifth island has seen better days. Most mines that helped locals make a profit have shut down. What follows is not hard to deduce—lawlessness and the ascendancy of lowlifes take root. On top of that, the crown has a habit of exiling those deemed undesirable to the province. Does this mean there are no decent folk left on Grayshaft? Why, absolutely not—look out for virtuous islanders who can aid you in your attempts to return home to Astarta. And who knows—maybe you will discover that the challenging circumstance you, Tristan, have found yourself in has way more to it than it initially seems...
☝️ Fun fact:ㅤThe main story of the game will take you up to 45+ to complete.
🛡️ THE HERO 🛡️
Speaking of Tristan, the title of this paragraph is... not entirely accurate, as a matter of fact. You live on the capital island of Astarta, and your craft is cartography; it is how you earn your bread. You are only vaguely familiar with swinging the sword and forging tools of war. When it comes to talking your way into an opportunity or out of trouble, you are comparatively capable of it, sure; however, your charisma is by far not on the level of that of a prosperous merchant, a noble, or a cunning bandit. As your journey on the fifth island begins, do not expect yourself to be a formidable force early on. By progressing, Tristan will become stronger, faster, smarter, and more respected by grayshafters.
💬 CHOICES MATTER 💬
In Of Ash and Steel, what you say and do impacts the world around you. Depending on which faction you join, things will play out differently, resulting in distinct missions being available to you. If one quest outcome may see a village getting laid waste to, the other outcome will not only allow you to save that settlement but also help it prosper.
☝️ Fun fact:ㅤThe game features over 300 quests and 30,000+ lines of dialogue, which are fully voiced in English and Russian.
🗺️ THE WORLD 🗺️
The Kingdom of the Seven comprises seven islands: Astarta, the capital province, Meor, Tantares, Centa, Grayshaft, Nemas, and Basalt. The archipelago's map is speckled with the routes of merchant vessels weaving between the regions. The frequent and profitable trade is occasionally disrupted, in addition to the current political turbulence, by heavy ashfall caused by many active volcanoes that tower above the realm like grim magma-spewing colossi. The resulting fog is simply impossible to penetrate, even for the most experienced old salts.
You’re already familiar with the fact that your story takes place on the fifth island, Grayshaft. The isle suffers from deposition of the aforementioned volcanic ash. Hence, the "GRAY" part of the name. As if this weren't enough of a geographical disadvantage, this piece of land is also surrounded by reefs that have haunted the dreams of sailors across the Kingdom—they are as scientifically fascinating as they are challenging to navigate.
In charge of the island is the calculating Governor Rathwald, whose task is to maintain social stability. However, what should be a remedy to prevent the remnants of law and order from deteriorating further instead becomes an additional catalyst. Amidst the upheaval, Rathwald’s supposed madness shines through more and more.
📖 BOOKS 📖
If you are eager to learn more about the world in which the events of our RPG unfold, the literature you find across the island will serve you well. Those works contain an abundance of knowledge on the history of the Kingdom of the Seven, as well as its science, religion, philosophy, art, and culture. Tomes on beasts that come out at night should help you prepare for the battles ahead. Certain texts on geography include research on the perils of these lands.
☝️ Fun fact:ㅤWhen writing the texts and working on the game's lore, we were primarily inspired by classic RPGs of the 2000s—such as Gothic by Piranha Bites.
That wraps today's devlog, adventurers. Grayshaft is an unforgiving land, but it rewards those who explore, fight, and persevere. We will meet you all there on November 24th.
Read the previous devlogs:
Devlog #01: Combat Styles & Weapon Mastery
Devlog #02: Forging the Hero’s Tools
Devlog #03: Character Progression & Ancient Knowledge