DIVINITY ENGINE 2 LEVEL

QUEST IN FIRWOOD

Idea for the level

  • Using dungeons and dragons style design to create a small RPG level in a fantasy setting.
  • Giving the posibility of branching paths depending on the actions or inactions of the player.

Photo reference

Top down layout

First rough draft

Establishing the dual theme of the "dungeon".

Second draft

Separating the parts of the "dungeon".

Third rough draft

Establishing area around the "dungeon".

Full level

Environment storytelling

Farming town of Firwood

Edges of a bucolic farming small town.

Barricated path

Path to the forest blocked, with an anxious NPC looking out into the path.

Abandoned construction site

Building half finished, something clearly went wrong, there are monsters around it and corpses on the way to the construction site.

Ruins of a great castle

The size of the construction suggests a very impressive fortification. However it's disrepair tells us it has been abandoned for a while.

Abandoned laboratory

There were fouls experiments done in this lab.

Destroyed main hall

This once magnificent and oppulent hall was almost destroyed in some sort of fight.

Magma sub-level

This part of the level is dominated by a fire elemental and its minions.

Snow sub-level

This part of the level is dominated by an ice elemental and its minions.

AI placement

Reasoning for the AI placement

  • Group 1: Civilians next to the player at the start that will give the player quests and rumours.
      • Mayor
      • Farmer
      • Little kid
      • Distraut colonist
  • Group 2: Hellhounds surrounding an abandoned construction site. Will attack on sight. Killing them will complete the colonist’s side quest and make final boss fight easier (avoiding reinforcements).
      • 4 hellhounds
  • Group 3: Cultists not immediately hostile. Conversation with them can lead to a fight. However, if the fight is avoided and the group is left alone they will reinforce the final boss fight making it harder.
      • Cult leader
      • 3 cultists
  • Group 4: Fire monsters and fire elemental protect one of the keys in the lower magma level. Elemental acts as mini-boss.
      • 4 fire slugs
      • 3 fire beattles
      • 1 fire imp
      • Fire elemental
  • Group 5: Ice monsters and ice elemental protect one of the keys in the upper snow level. Elemental acts as mini-boss.
      • 2 Yetis
      • Ice elemental
  • Group 6: Arcanists ghost and trapped demon. To access the demon player must talk with arcanist’s ghost.
      • Arcanist’s ghost
      • Trapped demon

Story

  • The town of Firwood is full of rumours about the dangerous abandoned ruins on the top of the mountains.
  • The town’s mayor needs money to pay the royal taxes, he needs someone to brave the ruins and find the treasure from the legend.
  • There is a secret demonic cult that is poking around town for more information on the demon of the ruins.
  • Some townsfolk that wanted to extend the town and build on the outskirts have been attacked by strange horrific creatures.

Rumours: 

    • There’s the tomb of a crazy arcanist in the ruins with a great treasure hidden.
    • A terrifying demon lurks in the ruins, if you go there you’ll surely die.

Actual events:

    • A powerful arcanist had his base in the mountains, many centuries ago.
    • The arcanist battled a great demon trying to avoid it reaching the material plane.
    • He was unable to destroy it, he could only imprison it, but perished in the process. The demon became much weaker after the battle.
    • Before dying the arcanist activated the security measures of his base, locking up the demon twice, first in a containment vase, and also inside his castle.
    • To open the castle’s room with the vase the player must aquire two keys, one from the fire elemental and one from the ice elemental.

AI interactions

These are the possible conversations (Player character as PC):

  • Mayor (M):
      • M: Hello adventurer!! Am I glad to see you.
        Firwood is in need of assistance. The royal taxes are due very soon and due to an unfortunate drought we will not be able to pay in full.
        Our last hope comes from the legend of Firwood’s ruins. There is said to be a great treasure in the abandoned ruins that can be found in the mountains. If you find it for us you can keep half of it for your troubles.
        Will you help us adventurer?
      • PC:
          • Sure, I’m happy to help. >> [Quest accepted]
          • Where are these ruins? >> M: You can find the ruins a bit northeast from the edge of town.
          • Why haven’t you gone yourself? >> M: Well… It’s not that it is dangerous, after all what could happen in some old ruins… HAHAHA … no, as Mayor of Firwood I just have to many issues to solve day to day and I can’t seem to find the time… Yes, that’s why.
  • Farmer (F):
      • F: Hello stranger, you seem like the exploring type. Be careful if you leave town. Legend has it that a terrifying demon lurks in the ruins up in the mountains, if you go there you’ll surely die.
  • Little kid (LK):
      • LK: The butcher’s son says there a great treasure in the tomb of an old wizard. Up in the mountains. My mom doesn’t let me get near, but when I grow up I’ll sneak in and get that treasure for myself!
  • Distraut colonist (DC):
      • DC: All is lost!! My wife, my brother all dead.
      • PC:
          • What happened? >> DC: They promised we could have the land for free if we helped expand the town… So we decided to build our home there. My brother was helping us… and then they came, those horrid monsters. I barely escaped with my life, but the others…
          • Is there anything I can do to help? >> DC: Oh, you’re so kind. Well, my wife kept a diary. I’d love to get it back, but those monsters are still in the construction site. Could you get it back for me?
              • PC:
                  • Of course, I’ll get it for you. >> [Sidequest accepted]
                  • Maybe another time, I’m a bit busy right now.
  • Cult Leader (CL):
      • CL: Who do we have here? A brave soul who is not scared by old legends and kids high tales?
      • PC: Who are you? What are you doing in these ruins?
      • CL: We are the followers of Bazael, the great spirit that was lost to this world centuries ago. We have been searching for traces of his essence and all leads point to these ruins… To this locked door actually. There are two key holes but they seem to be magically sealed.
      • PC: Wait, wasn’t Bazael a demon lord?
      • CL: What?? Nonsense! Slander! Bazael was a force for equilibrium, a counter measure against the corrupt clergy.
        You don’t seem convinced…
      • PC:
          • Not really, it sounds to me like you are demon worshipers. >> [Fight]
          • I don’t really care, as long as you don’t get in my way.
  • Arcanist’s ghost (AG):
      • AG: Well well, FINALLY someone got here. I’ve been waiting for… I don’t know how long but it feels like an eternity. I’m guessing you’re here to claim my treasure?
      • PC: Yes, that’s right. Who are you again?
      • AG: Oh for the love of… I am the Great Arcanist Ymcanit, protector of the southern provinces of the empire, destroyer of evil and vanquisher of the great demon lord Bazael!
      • PC: Damn… Well, the empire fell like 300 years ago. But still impressive. Could I have your treasure then?
      • AG: Well, yes. BUT, to claim it you have to kill the last weakened remnants of the demon Bazael that is trapped inside that vase…
      • PC: I thought you said you already killed it… Ok, let’s just get on with it then. >> [Boss fight]