In Seeds of Conflict, there are two main areas that the player travels to:
Zothar is the sub-verse that Ka’Sipho and his people, the Zothari, call home. Once the home of this advanced society that helped establish an era of peace across the Uni-Verse. However, now after thousands of years have passed as well as an incident that nearly wiped them out, Zothar is now a hauntingly beautiful reminder of what once was.
The landscape features ancient and otherworldly architecture with almost alien stonework that show how advanced and superior the Zothari were.
This visual narrative of decay and being lost to time is central to Zothar’s feel and it evokes themes from one of my favourite sonnets, Ozymandias*.* In this poem, the ruins of a once-great king’s statue stands in a desert with an inscription at its feet.
Yet all that remains is a broken statue. The theme of time lasting while even the greatest accomplishments don’t, is what inspired Zothar.
My name is Ozymandias, king of kings! Look upon my works, ye mighty and despair!”
Medie-Verse is a vibrant medieval/fantasy sub-verse, serving as the home of Zephyrax. It features a human kingdom which features knights, mages and many other typical fantasy elements. At its center is the bustling capital city of Guardia featuring a castle that towers over the surrounding town.
On the streets of Guardia, Alchemists sell potions, blacksmiths hammer away at armour and weapons and knights patrol the streets. Despite its energy, a sense of unease lingers , as the whole kingdom prepares for a looming conflict with the monster kingdom.
To convey the tension and atmosphere of Guardia, the environment reflects its readiness for war:
Armory Workshops: Blacksmiths and apprentices work overtime in open forges, crafting swords, spears and shields.
Military Presence: Training grounds on the city outskirts are filled with soldiers sparring and marching in formation.
Propaganda and Warnings: Posters on walls warn citizens of monsters and spies, while criers announce the latest war decrees from the king urging able-bodied citizens to enlist.
Mage’s Guild Preparations: Mages enchant weapons for battle, Alchemical experiments, etc.
Guardia stands in sharp contrast to the haunting stillness of Zothar. While Zothar is a realm of quiet, Guardia buzzes with life and energy, driven by the threat of war. It reflects on how Zothar is eerily peaceful in the aftermath of the Conflict Entity’s attack and how Guardia is up and active, showing the effects of rising conflict and tension as a direct result of the focus and influence the Conflict Entity has on this world.