Age of Darkness: Final Stand News

Protectors of the Light,

Continue the journey from our last entry as we learn more about the history of Erodar and its ongoing tensions, glorious triumphs, bitter failure, haughty greed and noble sacrifice – along with its heroic struggles against the unrelenting Nightmares of The Veil.

THE ELOSAN WARS - PART 2

In an effort to secure more secret Elosan technologies and blood rites for himself, Ezekiel bargained with the Elosan lords, offering resources, crafts, weapons – even human slaves. The Elosa rejected them all. Nothing could be done to sway the Elosa to give up more sacred knowledge.

Increasingly frustrated by what he perceived to be a slight against humanity and an undermining of his own sovereign authority, Ezekiel began to quietly amass weapons of war, training conscripted soldiers from across Erodar in secret in a vicious attempt to usurp the Elosan power structure.

A bloody and prolonged war ensued, plagued by indiscriminate waves of Nightmares that spewed forth from the Veil. Amidst the chaos of battle, Dark Crystals fell into disrepair – and through this neglect, Nightmares took hold once more. Fighting against enemies that vastly outnumbered his army, once more King Ezekiel was humbled in the face of superior Elosan technology and strategy.

The Elosan rulers captured Ezekiel, dragging him in chains to the abyss in the desolate lands of Erodar’s Northeast. It was here that Ezekiel was cast down into The Veil. The fissure was sealed, along with Ezekiel’s fate.

Rather than quelling the ongoing war with Ezekiel’s defeat, the King’s fanatical loyalists were incensed by the death of their leader. The Elosa were wise and powerful, to be sure – but humans were low, cunning and desperate to prevail.

War ravaged Erodar. Human soldiers from far shores and distant lands joined forces to push back the duplicitous Elosa in a final climactic battle that would spell the ultimate downfall of the Elosa and the end of their bloodlines.



From the ashes of the Elosan empire, The Order was formed; Brothers and Sisters were enlisted based on strength and aptitude. Order acolytes were trained to maintain public peace in a post-war land – and do what little they could to repair the Dark Crystals that remained. Without the Elosa, it soon became clear that such repairs were temporary at best. Certain teachings and techniques had gone to dust with the Elosa themselves, despite the late King Ezekiel’s best efforts.

Many thousands of years later, Elosan ruins still dot the landscape, but stories of the Elosa are treated as little more than a creation myth. However, one thing is clear: much sacred Elosan knowledge was lost in the aftermath of the Elosan wars, never to surface again.

Today, the Alderin Empire rule much of Erodar, despite the pressing threat of Nightmares, alongside competing Houses and other factions. Now there are whispers that brush across tongues beside hearthfires and in the halls of power. Dark times bring dark thoughts; without the Elosa, can humanity put an end to the Nightmares of The Veil.

WARDEN OF THE LIGHT

In the Prologue cinematic trailer, we are met with the commanding voice of Bishop Hector Greymont.



Hector sought out orphans to shape into initiates and teach them the ways of The Order. He would assign them under the guidance of one of his prestigious Order Knights to further develop their skills and knowledge. Once they were trained and had come of age, they would continue their studies and fill one of the many Order postings. Under this initiative, Hector has developed a new generation to serve and protect The Order.

As the esteemed Bishop of The Order, Hector’s influence dwindles as his morals and the values of The Order are called into question.

THE BATTLE FOR ERIN’S CROSSING

In previous blog entries, the relationship between Edwin and Aelis as teacher and protege has been hinted at, so let us tell you a story of how they came to be in each other's lives.

———

The Battle for Erin’s Crossing is where the fall of the Syren empire transpired. At that time, Sir Edwin Everard was sent by The Order to be a part of the Syren King’s Guard, to help fend off impeding forces from the Alderin Empire’s tactical warriors – The Aldegard.

The loss of the Syren’s power would disrupt the balance of power for the entire continent and beyond…

Edwin and the King’s Guard were preparing their defences for the Aldegard to strike, in hopes that they would gain the upper hand. In a desperate attempt to gain the element of surprise, Edwin gathered his own troops to stage a strategic attack. Among his company was his Squire, the youngest Princess, Aelis Syren.

In the heat of battle, the Princess was critically injured. Presumed dead, Edwin reluctantly left her behind. With the fall of House Syren, the Alderin Empire claimed all their lands and people.

After the devastating loss of Erin’s Crossing, Edwin was recalled to High Keep – where he was given the news that there were no surviving heirs to the Syren throne. The loss of Aelis felt like a dagger to the heart for Edwin, he felt a strong paternal bond for her, now carrying the guilt of her death around with him…

A new age was beginning, House Alderin had won the battle for power and began ruling with an iron fist.

Aelis’ apparent death created a sense of longing and emptiness in Edwin..

FOR THE LIGHT?

As the world spirals deeper into darkness, the lines of morality are blurred. Navigate the darkness of Erodar for yourselves, on April 19th, and see how the story unfolds in Flames of Retribution.

Please report bugs or crashes to us either through the Steam forums, our Discord server in the ‘bug-reporting’ channel or using the in-game bug reporting tool.

[h3]AoD Social Links:[/h3]

AoD Discord - Join our official Discord server AoD Website - Official Website & Blog Twitter - Follow us at AOD_FinalStand Facebook - Like Our Facebook Page Reddit - Join the r/Age of Darkness: Final Stand community
YouTube - Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

Have a question about the game? We have a handy FAQ we’ve posted on the Steam forums that you can view. If your question hasn’t been answered there, we’ll be doing our best to keep up with questions here, on the forums and our Discord server.

Speaking of which, you can also chat with our team and ask them questions on our official Discord server here!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426450/Age_Of_Darkness_Final_Stand

Protectors of the Light,

Merek Longhold, also known as “The Bolstering Might”, is the newest Hero to join the distinguished ranks of The Order. Wielding a massive halberd and with an ego to match, this hard-hitting, close-combat bruiser is an imposing figure on and off the battlefield. Despite presenting himself as a paragon of law and order, Merek has been known to demonstrate some moral flexibility when it benefits his desires and coin purse.

WHO IS MEREK?

Merek has been a lackey for Hector, the Archbishop of The Order, for more than 20 years. Throughout that time, he doggedly followed Hector’s orders, doing whatever was needed and without question, regardless whether the actions were “right” or “wrong”. Such is the will of The Order.

Merek has developed a desire for living large – with his affluence and narcissism pushing him further into his vices of gambling and drinking. Although he wouldn’t give Edwin the honour of knowing, he is secretly ashamed of how far he has fallen. That said, as the world of Erodar continues to fall deeper into ruins, The Order continues down its broken path, and the glory days fade to just a distant memory, why not have a little fun and earn a bit of coin while doing it?

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HALBERD AS BIG AS HIS EGO

It was important to have Merek to have a unique visual identity compared with Edwin and demonstrate his tank/support abilities at-a-glance.

As a starting point, The Order's faction identity generally consists of more use of metal and heavy armour than the other Factions – to emphasise their strength and defensive capabilities. Keeping this in mind, there needed to be a differentiation between Merek and Edwin. Edwin was always intended to be more of a conventional Knight, whereas Merek has been able to take more liberties over his years, with plenty of flair linked to his questionable morality.

Merek is a very powerful and heavy hitting character. He has a much larger and imposing body build, which lends to the visual representation of him being a tank hero, who can also protect those valiant warriors who fight alongside him. Out of all the Heroes, Merek has the largest build and weapon, just to bolster his ego a little bit more.

Merek flaunts his authority with badges adorning his flamboyant armour. Merek's design features pieces of The Order’s flame motif across his metal armour, along with the flaming sword on his tabard. He's much more proud of his affiliation with The Order than Edwin, so we wanted this to feature heavily in his outfit.

However, despite his flashy garb, Merek is also a little unkempt due to the debauchery he gets up to after a hard day's work. He cares little about his appearance outside his golden trinkets and his commitment to The Order, so his armour is never fully maintained. As Merek is always in need of a drink, he is never seen without his wineskin to slake his thirst. You’ll notice he also sneaks a drink during his idle animations and during some of his abilities.

Merek’s voice actor captures his arrogant personality as he tends to have a bit of a brazen attitude and often doesn’t care about the image he projects to others when speaking to them.

Each Hero bears small yet distinct features that link them to their storyline. Make sure to check out our Hero Select screen for even more detail on our characters. For Merek, he bears a scar on his face inflicted by Vizargo twenty years prior in a heated fight… but you’ll learn more about that encounter later in our Campaign.



“THE BOLSTERING MIGHT”

“The Bolstering Might” title came about when our team was deciding to create a Hero combining both tank and support archetypes. The idea was to encourage tight melee unit formations from start-to-end, via a hero with strong melee combat abilities and decent buffs for nearby allies.
Merek’s gameplay style is quite different to the other heroes – he is most effective when paired with melee units rather than clearing hordes of enemies by himself. Cleverly using his ability to “heal” closeby units en masse in critical moments is key to mastering his playstyle.

Drinks on Me!:
Merek’s passive Skill is unlocked from level 1. Drinks on Me! will activate once Merek takes enough damage, whereby he will then heal allies around him for 5% of his maximum HP. When Merek’s Ultimate, Holy Protector, is active, Drinks on Me! will also heal Merek.

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Crushing Weight:
At level 2, Merek leaps into action with his active Skill, Crushing Weight. This Skill gives Merek the ability to jump forward, slamming into the ground and damaging and stunning enemies within an Area of Effect radius. Merek also regains armour for each Nightmare slain, scaling per level.

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Halberd Hurricane:
Merek comes in like a destructive force at level 4 with Halberd Hurricane! The Bolstering Might sweeps his Halberd in a 360 degree arc, damaging all units in the area. There is also a chance to proc Drinks on Me! when he kills an enemy using this skill. Halberd Hurricane can be used multiple times in quick succession and the amount of uses that can be stored increases as Merek levels up. The time it takes for each use to be stored also reduced with each level.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Holy Protector:
At level 6, Merek gains the ability to buff and support his loyal comrades with Holy Protector. When this Skill is activated, Merek temporarily grants nearby allies Armor equal to his maximum and recovers it to that maximum if it has been damaged – this applies even to units that don’t ordinarily have Armor. While Merek’s Ultimate is active, Drink's on Me! also restores health to Merek. Holy Protector also buffs Merek's other skills by temporarily increasing the area of effect.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

His commitment to protecting The Order is unwavering, despite his questionable judgement… will Merek be the hero you side with? The drinks are on him once the battle has been won!

Please report bugs or crashes to us either through the Steam forums, our Discord server in the ‘bug-reporting’ channel or using the in-game bug reporting tool.

[h3]AoD Social Links:[/h3]

AoD Discord - Join our official Discord server AoD Website - Official Website & Blog Twitter - Follow us at AOD_FinalStand Facebook - Like Our Facebook Page Reddit - Join the r/Age of Darkness: Final Stand community
YouTube - Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

Have a question about the game? We have a handy FAQ we’ve posted on the Steam forums that you can view. If your question hasn’t been answered there, we’ll be doing our best to keep up with questions here, on the forums and our Discord server.

Speaking of which, you can also chat with our team and ask them questions on our official Discord server here!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426450/Age_Of_Darkness_Final_Stand

Protectors of the Light,

Flames of Retribution is coming! Act I & II of the long-anticipated campaign for Age of Darkness: Final Stand will arrive 19 April worldwide! The Campaign will feature three different Acts, each with their own unique missions building upon the story and taking it to new and horrifying depths.



Let’s take a look back at the story of Age of Darkness: Final Stand, contextualising the perils Protectors face in Survival Mode and setting the scene for new explorers of the grim, dark world of Erodar throughout the Campaign.

—

THE ELOSAN WARS - PART 1

Before the world of Erodar had been decimated by The Veil and the vile Nightmares that spewed from it, a different yet equally sinister battle was being waged between the people. Their greed for power created a corrupt world for The Veil to feed on and thus, plunged the world into darkness…

The continents of Erodar, Surabia and Va’Shin are situated on the lush planet of Marua. The overlands, specifically Erodar, were once inhabited by an ancient race known as the Elosa.

The Elosa appear to have originated in Erodar before gradually venturing across the seas to Surabia and Va’Shin, where they first encountered human civilization. Early humanity was scattered and tribal, living in basic communes, eking out their simple existences with meagre farming techniques, basic tools, implements and weaponry. Much later, these settlements would eventually combine to become the first regions of the human Alderin empire.

Both the Elosa and humans were plagued by an emerging threat: Nightmares - horrific creatures that emerged from fissures in the landscape to feed. The Elosa, over time, developed powerful techniques to keep the Nightmares under some semblance of control. Harnessing their own blood as a source of power, the Elosa were able to create enormous protective Dark Crystals, imbued with an energy that prevented the Nightmares from advancing.

Humans, however, had to rely on their own wits and rudimentary devices. As a result, they were heavily predated.



Humans were not viewed by the Elosan society as a threat, but as an opportunity to be harnessed. Through careful intervention, it was believed that human blood might help the Elosans uncover new discoveries, combining human ingenuity with Elosan techniques and capabilities. As such, the Elosan rulers took humanity under their protective reach.

After establishing diplomatic relations, a slow exchange of knowledge took place. It is believed the Elosa are responsible for conferring complex metallurgy and construction techniques upon humanity, teaching them how to create secure settlements and more sophisticated defensive techniques. They also taught the first human Kings how to repair the enormous Dark Crystals that had been damaged by ongoing Nightmare infestations.

These two races worked together and prospered, and for a time, the overlands of Erodar were purged of Nightmares completely. All known fissures were sealed beneath Dark Crystals, held in place by the potent blood rites of the Elosa, and upheld by both the Elosa and trained human representatives.

After several generations, the great human King, Ezekiel, took the throne. Until then, relations between humans and Elosa were steady, but discontent was spreading in the newly-settled human cities on Erodar. Ezekiel’s expansionist mindset proved fruitful for humanity; new cities were being constructed as populations swelled. However, Ezekiel craved more. It was clear to King Ezekiel that the Elosa had a firm hold on the most critical resources of all: Dark Crystal – and the blood in their veins that imbued them with powerful capabilities. Humans had become reliant on the Elosa for protection from the Nightmares for too long. It was time to shift that balance of power…

—————

In our next entry, we continue the story of the Elosans sombre fate…

FLAMES OF RETRIBUTION

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Act I & II of the Campaign, Flames of Retribution, includes seven distinct Missions where you step into a world full of epic battles and dire threats. The aftermath of the Elosan Wars has created both internal and external threats for each Hero and character throughout the world.

Watch the story unfold in beautifully scripted cinematics and in game cutscenes, where you will be introduced to captivating characters, some who you have never met before. You may either love or loathe them, so who’s side of history will you be on?

Each Hero has such a rich backstory and thorough gameplay, you will have the chance to learn more about the past and present history of Erodar through voice-acted Lore entries. Within the Missions, Protectors will also have the opportunity to play with characters who are not available in Survival Mode.

The dazzling 3D Mission Select Map will help players feel grounded in the world of Erodar as it provides a visual representation of the landscape the story is taking place in. With each Mission complete, the Hero you are playing as in will move between the regions of the map to get to the next checkmark – which helps players keep track of where they are travelling to throughout the world.

For our apprentice Protectors who have only now joined the fight, the initial Campaign Missions can also act as a tutorial for those who have yet to brave the Darkness in Survival Mode. So whether you are a seasoned fighter or new to the cause, Campaign Mode will immerse you into a world where each decision you make could be the difference between life and death.

With every great saga, there will always be twists and turns… Flames of Retribution is only the beginning.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Expect more updates and content will rise out of the Darkness once they are ready! A key player in Campaign will also be joining the stellar lineup of Heroes available in Survival Mode to help players defend their Keep from the looming threats that are invading the lands – You’ll be meeting our new valiant Hero very soon.

Keep your sharp eyes peeled for future Campaign release announcements as we are excited to share with you soon when Act III will be available.

So, Protectors, keep your villagers out of harm's way and the enemies abay… you never know what’s lurking in the darkness.

Please report bugs or crashes to us either through the Steam forums, our Discord server in the ‘bug-reporting’ channel or using the in-game bug reporting tool.

[h3]AoD Social Links:[/h3]

AoD Discord - Join our official Discord server AoD Website - Official Website & Blog Twitter - Follow us at AOD_FinalStand Facebook - Like Our Facebook Page Reddit - Join the r/Age of Darkness: Final Stand community
YouTube - Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

Have a question about the game? We have a handy FAQ we’ve posted on the Steam forums that you can view. If your question hasn’t been answered there, we’ll be doing our best to keep up with questions here, on the forums and our Discord server.

Speaking of which, you can also chat with our team and ask them questions on our official Discord server here!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426450/Age_Of_Darkness_Final_Stand

Prepare for battle, warriors! ⚔️🛡️

Age of Darkness Final Stand is now 25% off during the Team17 Spring sale! Immerse yourself in this epic strategy game and lead your armies to victory. Don't wait, grab it now at a discounted price!

Now is the ultimate time for you to dive in, defend humanity, and experience Age of Darkness: Final Stand for yourself!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426450/Age_Of_Darkness_Final_Stand

AoD Social Links:

AoD Discord - Join our official Discord server AoD Website - Official Website & Blog Twitter - Follow us at AOD_FinalStand Facebook - Like Our Facebook Page Reddit - Join the r/Age of Darkness: Final Stand community
YouTube - Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

Have a question about the game? We have a handy FAQ we’ve posted on the Steam forums that you can view. If your question hasn’t been answered there, we’ll be doing our best to keep up with questions here, on the forums and our Discord server.

Speaking of which, you can also chat with our team and ask them questions on our official Discord server here!

Greetings Protectors of the Light…

We've checked the keep and found Age of Darkness: Final Stand is currently 25% during a Steam Weeklong deal!

Now is the ultimate time for you to dive in, defend humanity, and experience Age of Darkness: Final Stand for yourself!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426450/Age_Of_Darkness_Final_Stand

AoD Social Links:

AoD Discord - Join our official Discord server AoD Website - Official Website & Blog Twitter - Follow us at AOD_FinalStand Facebook - Like Our Facebook Page Reddit - Join the r/Age of Darkness: Final Stand community
YouTube - Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

Have a question about the game? We have a handy FAQ we’ve posted on the Steam forums that you can view. If your question hasn’t been answered there, we’ll be doing our best to keep up with questions here, on the forums and our Discord server.

Speaking of which, you can also chat with our team and ask them questions on our official Discord server here!