APOCRYPHA Update 4 - Meet the Heroes

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With a new campaign comes a new cast of heroes!

In today's update, we're introducing the four heroes of Eldfall Chronicles: Apocrypha, exploring their stories and the events that shaped them. From there, it's up to you to take the reins and lead them to greatness.

Once again, our heroes hail from different corners of Calad, each representing a different aspect of the world's factions and cultures.

Some two decades ago, these four adventurers belonged to a renowned party known as the Band of the Dragon. They were brought together by one exceptional individual, Yaan, whose tragic disappearance would eventually change their lives forever.

Each joined the band for their own reasons, yet all followed Yaan in his search for his lost twin sister.

The first to join was Rien, a young acolyte who had grown up alongside the twins in the Temple of Paimon.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let's take a look at their pasts.

Rien is a half-lamia, descended from a serpentine Lamia demon and a Thenrin.

Lamias have inhabited Calad since the Crimson Ages. It is said that they arrived alongside the human invaders, but eventually chose to settle among the Thenrin rather than remain in imperial territories.

Much of their history remains a mystery. Some say they parted ways with the Soga rebels. Others suggest they went into hiding, remaining loyal to their dragon-heirs and waiting for their eventual return.

Within Thenrin society, lamias are commonly regarded as clergy of the serpentine goddess Paimon, patron of trade and knowledge. Although not a full-fledged lamia, Rien was raised in the temple's traditions, learning both the value of knowledge and the necessity of violence against those who would cross the temple.

Having grown up alongside the twins as their aide, she was the first to join Yaan on his journey.

Traveling alone is neither easy nor cheap, so the two joined the Adventurer's Guild. Their journey eventually brought them to the valley of the River Shara, where they encountered Ferron, a lonely Helrin outcast.

Ferron grew up in a Helrin family settled in one of the cities of Silver Bay, a region aligned with the Sand Kingdoms but disputed as a protectorate of the Helian League.

His peers from the homeland regarded him as lesser for having been born outside Helion. His lack of fire attunement only deepened the stigma.

Ferron grew into a solemn individual, seeking purpose through justice and the protection of the weak. Eventually, this pursuit led him to join the Adventurer's Guild.

Yaan and Rien encountered Ferron in Men'Nefer, recruiting him to serve as the heavy core of their party. Yaan and Ferron quickly found common ground, with the young Helrin seeing his own ideals reflected in Yaan.

And so, the ranks of what would soon become known as the Band of the Dragon began to take shape.

Cyrus displayed exceptional arcane talent from a young age and was taken under the patronage of one of the oldest and most prestigious magi families of Nillofar, an ancient city near the source of the River Shara. His patrons were among the wardens of the restricted art of Chronomancy.

After graduating from the Academy, his patron family arranged for him to receive combat training through the ancient dueling rituals held in arenas across the kingdoms. His proficiency with both blade and spell quickly earned him considerable renown.

To gain practical experience beyond the city walls, his patrons eventually sent him to join the Adventurer's Guild.

During one expedition, Cyrus' party came into conflict with another group over a set of unclaimed ruins. A skirmish broke out, and a challenge to a duel was issued. Confident in his experience, Cyrus stepped forward.

His defeat at the hands of the opposing party's leader was as unexpected as it was devastating.

Cyrus' party fled the area and subsequently disbanded. Yet the victor, Yaan, showed mercy to the defeated spellblade and welcomed him into his own party. Impressed by Yaan's martial prowess and grace, Cyrus accepted, and the band gained a new companion.

Kimiko attained three tails at a remarkably young age, a number that even powerful Kitsune, the fox people, often take a lifetime to achieve.

Recognized as a prodigy and marked for greatness, she was appointed priestess of her own shrine.

One fateful day, she was entrusted with performing a purification ceremony on a sacred island south of Kirijima. Before her small entourage could reach its destination, however, they were attacked at sea.

The holy regalia entrusted to her was stolen, and Kimiko herself was kidnaped and sold into servitude.

On the black markets of Thenion, a Kitsune could fetch a considerable sum. Fortunately, the loathsome spectacle was brought to an end when an emissary of a trading company purchased her freedom.

Yaan offered Kimiko her freedom in exchange for goodwill within the Kitsune domains. But Kimiko could not return home, not without the sacred relic she had been entrusted to protect with her life.

Instead, they struck a deal. Kimiko would accompany the band for a decade, while the temple would continue searching for any information regarding the missing relic.

And so, the four adventurers came together under the banner of the Dragon.

What happened next is a story you'll experience through the opening chapters of the campaign.

The fate of the Band of the Dragon changed drastically following the 16th Prospecting Expedition into the Sealed Archives.

The party disbanded, and for the next two decades, each of its four members followed a very different path.

Ferron returned to his homeland, finding himself lacking and seeking formal training in the ways of the Helrin. His zeal eventually led him to the Empyrean Order, where he discovered a new purpose and a divine gift. Rising through the ranks of the paladins, he was eventually sent to investigate and judge the actions of the Black Prince. Instead, he found in him a friend who reminded him of someone from his past.

Kimiko, having lost the trail of her sacred relic, sought redemption at the Imperial Court. Along her journey, she attained her fourth tail, drawing the attention of the nine-tailed Empress herself. Taken under the Empress' wing, Kimiko abandoned the priesthood and became an extension of the Empress' will.

Cyrus, crippled for life, lost nearly everything. Abandoned by his patron family and later persecuted for his forbidden studies of Chronomancy, he found himself disgraced and alone. Yet his misfortune only hardened his resolve. Determined to reclaim his lost glory, he continued down his own path, pursuing mastery of the forbidden art regardless of the consequences.

Rien returned to the temple, taking Yaan's place at the helm of a former mercenary company that had long since turned to commerce and grown into one of Thenion's largest trading companies. She remains the spiritual pillar of the party, keeping vigil and waiting for the right moment to reunite the Band of the Dragon.

And that's where we'll leave their stories for now!

What do you think happened during the 16th Prospecting Expedition that caused the party to disband? And what will it take to bring these four adventurers back together after almost twenty years?

We'd love to hear your theories in the comments, and which of the four heroes you connect with most!

There's plenty more lore to uncover in the coming updates, but we'll be careful not to reveal too much. After all, Apocrypha is a story full of mysteries and secrets, and we want you to experience those discoveries for yourselves as you play through the campaign.

The new adventure begins on November 10, when Eldfall Chronicles: Apocrypha launches on Gamefound!

Make sure to follow the campaign so you don't miss the launch and the bounty that comes with it!

Before we go, one important announcement!

Next week, we'll be attending Spiel Essen 2026, and we'd love to see you there!

You can find us in Hall 1, Booth 1F210, where we'll be showcasing miniatures and prototype components from Eldfall Chronicles: Apocrypha.

Stop by to take a closer look, chat with our team, get a crash course in the gameplay, and perhaps learn and even obtain a few things about the game that we haven't revealed publicly just yet!*

That's all for today.

Thank you for reading, and until next time!

Happy adventuring!