Packing for the Unknown #1

[h2]An exclusive look at three essential tools in The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu.[/h2][p][/p][p]As we continue shaping our title, we want to start giving you a closer look at the equipment you will be able to rely on to successfully complete your contracts. Throughout development, we’ll be showcasing different loadouts: each highlighting a particular playstyle and the kind of role it can create within a team.[/p][p]Today’s trio is a glimpse into a setup meant for slow, deliberate progress through hostile terrain: cautious scouting, controlled engagements, and a focus on locating what lies hidden beneath the canopy. This isn’t the only way to play, but for the right expedition, it can make the difference between discovery and disappearance.[/p][p][/p][p]This first setup focuses on support and precision: a player who can keep their allies safe, shed light on threats, and uncover what lies buried beneath the jungle’s canopy.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The matchlock arquebus is the most iconic firearm in The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu - a weapon born from fire, powder, and faith. It delivers a single, devastating shot capable of piercing armor at close range, but every trigger pull comes with risk.[/p][p]Reloading takes time (time you may not have) so even the best soldiers are exposed between volleys. The arquebus can also misfire, especially when weathered or poorly maintained, forcing you to reload powder into the pan before trying again.[/p][p]And then there’s the weather itself.
[/p][p]The weapon’s smouldering fuse - a lifeline for ignition - is extinguished under rain. When the skies weep, the arquebus falls silent unless you find shelter to reload and fire.[/p][p]Despite its flaws, this firearm rewards precision, discipline, and timing. A perfect shot can save a squad. A poorly timed reload can doom it.[/p][p](The arquebus was modelled in detail based on real 16th-century mechanisms, down to the moving parts and reload steps.)[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The oil lamp isn’t just a light source: it’s a reliable companion against the jungle’s unnatural dark. Unlike the torch, it won’t flicker or die under the rain, and its steady glow offers players a brief sense of control amid the chaos.[/p][p]But the lamp’s true value goes beyond illumination. Some of the creatures haunting the jungle are sensitive to light, weakening under its glare. In these moments, cooperation becomes key: which one of will hold the lamp steady, while another delivers the finishing strike?[/p][p][/p][p]It’s also a weapon of desperation: you can throw your lamp to ignite a small burst of flame, sacrificing sight for survival. And sometimes, the jungle’s horrors imitate the living: the Y’mi-bhi, undead figures wandering the undergrowth, often carry lamps of their own… only to set themselves ablaze and charge at intruders.[/p][p]The lamp doesn’t make you safer, it simply helps you see what’s about to test your sanity.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]From the occult shop roster comes the medallion, an artifact etched with the twin visages of Cthulhu and Yig: two cosmic forces bound by opposition: Tulu and Yig, Day and Night, Earth and Sky.[/p][p]To use it, the player must strike the medallion, briefly activating it. The impact sends a pulse through the forest, an audible sound that attracts unwanted attention while also agitating the environment itself. When active, faint specks of light reveal hidden treasures buried deep in the jungle.[/p][p]These relics are composed of a mysterious substance known as Tulu-metal, whose magnetism resonates with the medallion alone. But the gift of guidance comes with its own curse: he who seeks, finds. But he who seeks may also be found.[/p][p]The medallion represents the balance between curiosity and caution - between faith in the unknown and the price of discovery.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This is just the first of many combinations we’ll reveal. Future loadouts will be tailored to different maps, threats, and playstyles: from coordinated team pushes to tense, deliberate navigation of the jungle and high-risk, high-reward treasure runs. The right loadout won’t guarantee your safety… but it may buy you a few precious moments to survive.[/p][p]Stay tuned… there’s much more to uncover.[/p][p][/p][h3]Wishlist now:[/h3][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]🧭 Join the Galleon[/h3][p]Facebook Twitter Discord[/p][p][/p]