We wanted to share with you some story elements so you can understand the context surrounding the main character and his companions before you start the story, in order to give you keys that will improve immersion. Although the “spoilers” term is always subjective and related to an intimate perception, I’ve ensured that these elements only give you contextual information that your character already has when the game starts.
A fantasy world
Wolcen is a world of magic with some technological hints, with Enneracts at the heart of each practice.
Energy crystals are fueled with Enneracts energy to power pistols and engines in some parts of the world, while others rely on a more religious, mystical, or even scholarly approach of these artifacts.
Yet, magic is rather uncommon and often associated with witchcraft. The knowledge of the occult is even more rare: people have heard of spooky stories and yet the average person wouldn’t know what a demon is, aside from a concept to scare children.
This is due to the fact that supernatural evil forces almost always plot from the shadows, corrupting and enthralling mortals rather than using bruteforce. Only rare world crisis trigger open-roaming evil creatures like undead, monstrosities or demons.
Main characters
In Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem, you, Valeria, and Edric, are the three only survivors of the slaughter of Castagath. Rescued by Grand Inquisitor Heimlock, you were drafted into the Republic’s Army of the Purifiers at a very young age to be trained in the military academy and become perfect soldiers. You also had the chance to benefit from Heimlock’s occasional advice and training. This special treatment led you and your childhood friends to be named the “Children of Heimlock”.
The United Republic of Mankind is a kingless warmongering faction that aims to conquer mankind under a single banner to “protect it” from the supernatural and witchcraft. They are at war with all their neighbours, pushing the frontiers back as much as they can. You, along with Edric and Valeria, grew in that nation and were exposed to a very strong propaganda against the use of magic, kings and worship of individuals whether it’s politicians or rulers. You were also raised in the idea that your nation is the most advanced society, and that being part of the army is bringing salvation for all mankind.
Grand Inquisitor Gerald Heimlock
Grand Inquisitor Gerald Heimlock is one of the most respected figures of the United Republic of Mankind, he leads the Army of the Purifiers against the supernatural threats. Like Valeria and Edric, you see him as a father figure and have utmost respect for him. Although your trio is called the “Children of Heimlock”, he’s never taught you anything else but survival and strength through merciless trainings, and the most valuable feeling he could express to you is pride, which he doesn’t share much to push you harder.
Heimlock’s story is notorious in the United Republic of Mankind. He is one of the many men left behind during the military debacle that was the Battle of Carrion Keep. Among the Mud Marshes nearby the enemy Kingdom of Varg, the Purifier’s army has known its most significant defeat. But he made his fame by resurfacing alone several months later in the Republic’s Senate, with the heads of the two enemy leaders as an offering.
Historians quickly praised his bravery and rewrote the battle of Carrion Keep as a victory for the United Republic of Mankind, Heimlock was then promoted as an Inquisitor. Even if to this day, there is still no obvious explanation on how he managed that extraordinary feat.
His ambition and the numerous military success following these events led Heimlock to be raised as Grand Inquisitor in record time.
Valeria
Valeria was groomed, like you and Edric, to become Justicar of the Republic, the highest rank a field soldier can achieve. She can be passionate, edgy, explosive, and she has an unorthodox thinking that tend to look rebellious.
But she places family values above all. Although you are not technically siblings, she is loyal to you, Edric, and Heimlock, and would do anything for you. Her foes, on the other hand, she treats with an irrational fury and a pinch of insanity.
You are very close to “Val”, and you’ve been through enough with her to understand that the Republican training and the horrors of war have altered her personality, giving her anger issues and a short temper, as well as a really wild and rough side that clashes with an otherwise concealed gentle heart.
Edric
You have a kind of sibling rivalry with Edric, both of you tried to make Heimlock proud through combat skills, and he always pushed you to give your best. Despite that, he’s always been the strongest, you learned it the hard way during your numerous trainings.
Edric is like a big brother to you and Val, he’s always been the most serious and rigorous of the three. Sure, he can be narrow-minded and his faithfulness to Heimlock’s words and orders can sometimes be disconcerting, but he’s always had your back and you know you can rely on him, no matter the odds.
Operation Dawnbane
The Brotherhood of Dawn has recently infiltrated the Crimson Keep, a mysterious republican fortress lost among the northern deserts known as the Red wastes. While the purpose of the attack was unclear, the republican Senate voted a retaliation act against all known locations of the Brotherhood. Led by Grand Inquisitor Heimlock himself, troops are soon deployed on the Coast of wrecks, near the city state of Stormfall, to terminate a camp of Brothers. You are, with your two childhood friends, part of operation Dawnbane under the supervision of Justicar Maëlys.
And so, it begins
After growing in this antimagic society, you are about to discover tremendous powers that could sign your death warrant. For you and those you consider family, nothing will ever be as it once was.