With the game's core design vision defined, we needed to quickly develop a number of fully-rendered concept pieces that would visually represent some of the games iconic experiences. After some focused meetings to drive visual themes and emotional touchstones, I wrote some "flash lore" for these experiences to serve as a creative starting point for the artists.
Below I present some of the lore that I wrote, and the concept art that resulted from it.
FLASH LORE
THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF RA-KELL THE ANCIENT
Location Appearance: This wild and beautiful forest grove, located at the edge of a series of cascading waterfalls, is the final resting place of Ra-Kell the Ancient – a powerful and savage beast that fought and died in the Dread War. For thousands of years Ra-Kell protected the forests of Xur from outsiders, but the powerful creature was finally killed in a battle against the Lords of Chaos.
The Remains of Ra-Kell: The massive skeletal remains of Ra-Kell – a giant, four-legged beast – have been lying in this forest for a thousand years. The forest has grown up around and over them. Soil and trees have taken root on parts of the skeleton, which lies shallowly submerged in the clear pools of water. There is a beauty and peacefulness here that is tangible. Sensing the power that still radiates from the remains of the beast, many forest creatures make the homes around this skeleton. Graceful herds of emberhorns graze and drink around its ancient skull. Predators rarely venture into this grove, still fearful even after a thousand years of the beasts wrath for those who invaded it’s sanctuary.
Scene Action: An Elukai explorer can be seen in the foreground, riding a large and horned beast, quietly contemplating this awe-inspiring sight and wondering what events might have led to the great beast’s demise. A bow is strapped to its back, his familiar sits quietly on his shoulder.
THE GIANT’S TEETH
Location Appearance: The Giant’s Teeth are a series of high and narrow mountain peaks that rise high above the tree line. Composed of sheer granite formations sharpened by wind and rain, they resemble the jagged fangs of a giant beast. Perched on a number of the Teeth are the ruins of ancient watchtowers, most destroyed in the Dread War, their crumbling structures gathered at their bases before they fall five-thousand feet to the Valley of Storms below.
Mount: The only creature that can navigate the heights of the Giant’s Teeth is the andergoat – a large woolly, horned beast that makes its home in high peaks. Although difficult to tame, and with a terrible disposition, the andergoat can traverse the narrow and crumbling rocks and ledges that surround the watchtowers.
Scene Action: An Elukai adventurer has made the perilous journey to the top of one of the Teeth, searching for ancient relics from the Dread War in one of the old watchtowers. He wears warm clothing against the chill, made of leathers and furs. An sword is strapped to his back, a pair of daggers in his belt. His familiar is perched on his gloved hand, peering down on the valley, and his andergoat stands precariously on the edge of a sheer cliff. The base of the watchtowers crumbling foundation can be seen behind him, and other towers can be seen in the background.
FLIGHT OF THE UNGBEAST
Lore: The ungbeast is a gargantuan shelled flying creature that lives in the vast bog of the Mistmarsh. Known to live for centuries, the ungbeast hibernates in the confines of it shell for decades at a time, which is often covered in dirt, rocks trees before the beast emerges and flies to its next destination. Graceful and almost elegant in flight, the creature is has semi-reptilian features, and a massive set of wings that can be fully collapsed into its shell when the creatures lands to feed or hibernate. Ancient stories from the Dread War describe these creatures as being vital to the defeat of the Lords of Order and Chaos. They were used to ferry large groups of soldiers, important supplies, or even huge machines of war.
Scene Action: An Elukai adventurer has taken flight with his tamed ungbeast. On the back of the giant creature’s shell are trees, rocks, and the various structures of the Elukai’s Haven. The island of Jutaan can be seen in the background.
