Layonara Development Log

Dear readers,

This week I will take you to the Phoniex Wood on the isle of Corsain.

 

The Tyr-Song Field is a well known spot that serves as the main training grounds for the Youth Corps but to its south, the Phoniex Wood is a place of mystery and, to a certain point, fear. Rumors and stories told at the Youth Corps camps tell of strange beasts walking the land by day and by night, creatures of strange shapes and forms that roam the land in search of prey.

What is known about this stretch of land is that once foul magic thrived in a region of this wood in ruins that lie in the darkest patch of the wood. The Phoniex Tower was built to keep a watchful eye over it but it was already abandoned since before the occupation. The tower, after so many years is now tilted at a strange angle, as though the land under it has tried to swallow it and its entrance now lays open for all to risk themselves. Tales suggest that the shapes that walk the wood and nearby plains return here before the breaking of morning and vile symbols etched on the outermost trees lend themselves to the belief that whatever lives in the tower and wood is not only vicious but also intelligent...

There is of course, only one way to find out if the tales about the tower are fact or fiction, go there and visit it! Of course you'll need to be patient before you will be able to do that.

Until next time,

EdTheKet 

Greetings Ladies and Gents!

 

This week we have another peek at creatures that populate Layonara. We will take a peek at what awaits those who have just started out on the path of 'adventurer.'

 

 

Desperate Bandit- A fact of life, bandits skulk along many routes on the islands, waiting for juicy targets. While some simply enjoy the brutal work of ambush and death, others are taking what they need to survive.

 

Darkbat- A species of unusually large bat with a midnight black hide and an aggressive nature. The darkbat forms colonies with only certain bats hunting for the group.

 

Wild Boar- Dusky brown with a bristled hide, the aggressively territorial boar uses its long tusks to discourage hunters and other predators.

 

Rot Beetle- Small and slow-growing, these foul bugs live in areas with large amounts of rotting organic matter. They are hunted and often a bounty is put on their pungent glands as proof of death, for when they reach adolescence after a decade, they burrow deep in the mucky earth of swamps only to erupt years later as a Marsan's beetle. Tenerensi are known to eat the young beetles, as are other swamp denizens.

 

Thanks for reading again this week. More surprises next Wednesday!

 

~rowana, on behalf of the Writing Team.

Hello again faithful readers and new ones a like!

 

We have a change of pace for you from the last few weeks of crafting samples. We return again to a sampling of some of the hidden dangers that will be laced amongst the world. Read the following for a touch of lore and description of some creatures awaiting the more adventurous souls of Layonara.

 

Vengeance Vine Siren- A beautiful and curvaceous nymph with glistening pale green skin scattered with black spots that on closer inspection turn out to be small holes all over her shapely body, and a sweet, otherworldly soprano that pulls one to her.  

Banshee Wisp- A softly glowing ball of white light no larger than a plate, the wisp is rumored to be the souls of the evil dead, or the ghosts of women killed by lovers, or the remains of summoned creatures, or even the restless wild magic of deceased powerful mages. No one knows for sure...  

Shipkiller Tenerensi- At just over thirty feet long, this crocodile-jawed, sail-finned creature is a terror to behold. Tenerensi can stay underwater for hours or walk on land, but the Greens stay in the ocean as much as possible. The green-hued Tenerensi are the largest and most vicious predators found in salt water - even sharks flee them.

Swamp Devourer- Faster than they look, these magic beasts represent an unknown mage's failed attempt at a personal army. Freed in one swarm during the year 1412, they have spread to most parts of the islands and are known for a voracious appetite, a cunning if not scholarly intelligence, and their terrible, tremendous strength. They breed slowly however and this alone has allowed the inhabitants of the islands to keep ahead of their fang-filled mouths. This one is mud-colored and has poorly made sacks on its back.  

 

Next week we will dig up another interesting tidbit to share with you. Thank you all for taking the time to look in!

 

~rowana, on behalf of the Writing Team

Hello again Layonara, and again apologies for such a late Writer's Wednesday. Today's showcase is on Leatherworking.

 

Using creature skins of all types, a leatherworker processes gathered hides into workable items. Much like a Royal Armorsmith is to metal, a leatherworker is to all the gifts of the wild - he or she creates tribal armor oriented for the more violent barbaric warriors, the nature-centric spellgrowers, and the occasional ranger or rogue. Leatherworking will focus primarily in enhancing toughness and the links with nature. Not particularly offering the best defenses, but giving endurance and ease to channel the natural gifts. In addition, leatherworkers can create enhancements for armors and weapons. Padding that provides comfort and thus better flexibility. Bags and the like also stem from this craft.

                                                           

Fast Leather Sling- A flimsy leather sling with a small cat's claw dangling from it.

 

Hotfoot Studded Leather Boots- A pair of bronze studded, stiffened thin leather boots lightly scented with hot toes.

 

Mahogany Tribal Belt- A belt of sturdy leather, plated with chitin and mahogany bark.

 

Studded Helm of Pain- A nodaod'urna studded helmet of durable leather with a slight red glow.

 

Strong Leather Waterskin- A strong, well-made waterskin that seems to lighten the weight of the water it holds.

 

We have more to offer next week! Check back next Wednesday (we hope!)

 

~rowana, on behalf of the Writing Team.

Hello everyone

All those cool crafting items and equipment some of which the Writing Team previewed recently, will of course need to be represented in your characters inventory and require some neat icons.

Heres a small teaser selection of the hundreds of item icons being created for Layonara. Enjoy :)

 

 

Cheers

Thak

Hello Layo, apologies for this late entry. Today's focus is Royal Weaponscrafting, the forging of metal weapons and weapon parts.

Royal weaponsmiths make the weapons for the defenders and fighters of civilization. Weapons found in local militias and noble guardsmen are likely made by royal weaponsmiths. This craft utilizes gems and metals to a large degree.

Copper Shuriken - Small, flat bladed throwing stars of shining copper, functional but needing frequent reshaping and sharpening.

Bronze Huangjin Edge - A blade of bronze, folded repeatedly with additives kept secret by master swordsmiths on the Sandbar Coast, and abnormally strong for bronze.

Steel Guisarme - A long curved bladed edged on the concave side, with aslender spear point opposite it, made of polished steel and mounted on a sturdy mahogany staff. The blade requires only infrequent reshaping and sharpening.

Nodaod'urna Bullets - Round nodaod'urna slugs for use in slings, each with a red and blue gem-dust shimmer.

Mithril Heavy-Duty Scissors - Thick, gleaming mithril scissors honed to razor-sharp edges, able to cut every known hide and leather cleanly.

Next week we'll take a look at some more wearable crafts.

~Honora on behalf of the writing team

In our opinion music is core to the acceptance of any game within any genre. It is very important that the music fits the game-play, game-style, as well as the world. We were very lucky to find Jason (Eon Blue). He has immense talent and a deep dedication to the creation of quality music for all to enjoy.

Here are three tracks that he has created for Layonara. Enjoy!

http://layonara.com/share/music/Track1_Main.mp3
http://layonara.com/share/music/Track2_Choir.mp3
http://layonara.com/share/music/Track3_D_Ambience.mp3

A little about Jason:

Music has been a passion of mine since I was little. Growing up in rural Ohio I didn't have many musical outlets available to me and spent most of my time annoying my parents with guitar noise and imagining I was a rock star. The more I listened to music, the more I wanted to advance beyond the three chord guitar rock and learn everything I could. I quickly found out that there is a whole lot to learn! I've had many personal teachers, read more books than I could count, completed a two year course through Berklee College of Music, and still feel I'm in the 'hobby' stages. But I've loved every minute of it.

The last few years have seen a huge explosion in music technology making it possible for an average person to create and record music that was previously available to only a select few. Ten years ago, in order to create an orchestral soundtrack you had to have access to an orchestra and recording studio. Now it just takes a computer and a couple pieces of software. It's an incredible feeling to sit down at your computer, write a few notes, and immediately hear an entire symphony play them.

In my case, it's allowed me to combine my passion for video games with my passion for music and led me to work with the layonara team. I'm very thankful for being given the opportunity to be involved with this project. It's been a blessing to work with so many talented individuals. I think the end result is going to blow everyone's socks off!

-Jason
(Eon Blue)

You may email Jason at:

eonblue77@hotm ail.com
(remove the space)

Hello Layonara!

Today's entry looks at the craft of Royal Armorsmithing, and what you can
make from it.

Royal armorsmithing is, as the name suggests, the creation of armors for
the more "sophisticated" and "civilized" people. Militaristic in their
purpose, most of this craft will benefit non-spellcasters and disciplined
soldiers. The primary craft for a "tank", the bonuses from this skill will
focus more on defenses and protection than pure raw power. Many
traditional smithing recipes can be obtained from armorsmiths. Often in
addition to their armor trade they repair tools and armor.

And you might be able to make (all items subject to change before release):

Tin-Coated Scale Mail Breastplate - A heavy, bright copper breastplate
with tin scaling to add durability.

Scout's Bronze Chain Boot - Bronze chain boot reinforcement designed with
the scout in mind, muffled with a muslin lining.

Defender's Steel Pauldrons - A shining steel shoulder covering made from
cold worked steel that has been repeatedly folded for strength.

Heater Shield - A nodaod'urna shield in the traditional "shield" shape,
shorter than a kite shield but also wider.

Aegis of Vorax Breastplate - A gleaming mithril breastplate with silver
and red enamel decoration.

Next week - weapons!  Stay tuned!

~Honora on behalf of the writing team

Good Wednesday, everyone!

Today's crafting glimpse is alchemy, a useful craft that will produce some
amazing new items to those who master it.  To define:

Alchemy is art in which the impossible is created from the strangest of
places. This traditional "magician's" art is able to imbibe concoctions
from natural and man-made ingredients.

At the lowest of levels an alchemist will be able to brew potions to revitalize the drinker with
health or stamina, eventually however they will be able to brew substances
able that mimic many other spells and effects.

Alchemists can also work with deadly poisons as well as make healing kits.

Light Philter of Thought - A flask of very pale, thin brown liquid.

Healing Infusion - A thick, pale green liquid with a slight garlic
aftertaste.

Stainless Steel Polish - A vial of waxy metal polish with a strong current
of Al'Noth.

Lucinda's Tonic - A sparkling vial of thin liquid that is simultaneously
red, purple, white, black, orange, yellow, blue, and green.

Next week, we'll look at some of the armors that can be crafted!  As
always, items subject to change.

~Honora, on behalf of the Writing Team

Hello again!

Today's tidbits are a look at the craft of cooking, and some
of the wonderful things you'll be able to create and feast upon.  Please
remember items are subject to change.

"Layonara's wilds have an abundance of edible plants, and a number of wild
beasts suitable for cooking and eating as well as fish and crab. For the
refined palate, lobster and even dragon meat (provided one can acquire it
without becoming a meal and one is not squeamish about eating a sentient
creature) top the menu alongside some very rare plant delicacies.

While crops such as carrots and potatoes were once common, after the wars
that have scarred the world and the Dark Ages bathed the lands in darkness, most farms are struggling to
produce enough to feed their local areas. Adventurers would be better off
learning recipes that use wild plants, at least until the lands have
recovered enough to support wide-spread farming.

Chefs in Layonara also often brew their own drink specialties to
compliment their meals, from mild apple juice to fine wines to Will o'
Whiskey or what many consider the pinnacle of vinting, Xeenite wine.

Food and drinks will grant speedy recovery and enhance characters, thus a
cook will strive to create the most imaginative recipes to fulfill the
many different possible appetites. Cooking will also provide for many
unique herbal concoctions and ingredients other crafts may require for
their recipes."


Yes, my dears, food and drink will confer more than a nice RP experience!


A sample menu:

Pan-Fried Dragonsong Catfish - A plain, fried catfish filet.

Drake Filet in Mint Sauce - A filet of drake, dusted with flour, sautéed
in butter, and drizzled with mint sauce.

Sea Spinach and White Tree Mushroom Stir-Fry - A flavorful sea spinach and
mushroom stir-fry in Kuro sauce.

Pyrtechon Rose Hip Tea - A hot, hot and more hot tea mellowed with milk
and honey.

Cricket Pie - A tooth-achingingly sweet, sticky mess of nuts and fruit
baked in a thin pie shell.

Chanda's Libation - A sweet wine masking a distinctive organic, metallic
twang.

I hope this whets your appetite; next week we'll take a look at the craft
of alchemy!

~Honora, for the Writing Team

Hello all,

 

You may wonder what crafting is going to be like in the future Layonara?  Well, to
address some questions, here's a look at Tinkering as it has been
re-engineered (pun intended!):

"Not just the province of gnomes, tinkering is as much the joy of
discovery as it is the art of creation. Tinkers fiddle, they twist, they
attach and re-attach and test and tear down and start over. As such, there
are a great number of things that are made to make other things - cogs,
levers, devices that hold magical energy, miniature steam engines - but
not many finished products. However, other crafters have found that
certain tinkered devices are simply the best possible means to complete
their own work, and therefore tinkers always have something of value to
put together - even if it is a little different every time!"

Here are some items to whet your appetite (all items subject to change
before release):

Annsi's Copper Glove Weights - Copper, folded and spiked with screws to
add damage to every strike.

Combustion Chamber - A bronze chamber reinforced for controlled release of
energy.

Gibbit's Combustion-Powered Banditry Dissuader - An open framework
designed to be worn around the waist that flails out with mace heads when
activated.

Douglas Thaddeus Wyatt Happell the Third's Hot Glue Gun - A tube of
shining nodaod'urna with a small silken bag on one end that shoots a
powerful adhesive when activated.

Force of Nature - A staff of quain with a metal box at the top, attached
by wires and tinkered parts to a lever that unleashes an incredible wind
when activated.

~Honora on behalf of the Writing Team

Hello again. 

Today we'll take a look at a few items that might possibly
fall from the cold, dead fingers of a foe.  Understand these are
preliminary and subject to change, and enjoy!

Bixley's Beginning Bamboo:  Bixley was a halfing sensei, training the few
halflings in northern Dregar who aspired to master the melding of mind and
body. To assist his charges he created these staves in several strengths,
depending on the ability of the student. They remediate some of the
difficulties in being a small race and all have his signature touch; a
blindingly high polish, making the staff blur in combat in any kind of
light.

Arrows of the Al'Noth:  These arrows were made by an unknown individual
but have become a popular item for bow-using casters to recreate, although
it's rumored some of the powers have been lost over time.  The arrows
burrow deep, magically transferring a portion of the foe's Al'Noth to the
one who shot them.

Axe of Pig-Dog Dwarf-Smith Hacking:  Many axes have been made by the
followers of Grand since his ascension. However, one orc smith named
Bracht achieved a great deal of notoriety by producing axes of high
quality, and learning to smith the more difficult metals. Holding a grudge
against elves and humans as well as dwarves, his axes were constructed to
give advantages against all three races. Some of his earlier weapons have
been looted by adventurers and come onto the market.

Rune of Urna:  Traded very rarely by the Spine Mountain Frostflare clan,
these chunks of petrified wood are burned with a single rune.  How they
are imbued by deeply magic-suspicious dwarvens is a closely guarded
secret, but they provide a significant extra boost against unliving
opponents and are prized by those who hunt these abominations.

Edna's Vanity:  Once a renowned dancer in the taverns around Western Gate,
Edna Reelhawk slowly succumbed to age, as we all do. She fought, however,
and fought hard; first by dying her hair, then using every anti-aging
medicine she could find. When finally she could not gloss over the cracks,
she turned to magic. She began paying to have her favorite dancing clothes
enchanted to add to her physique and beauty. When her dancing clothes
failed to cover her advanced years, she turned to questionable magics,
that failed...fatally. Her enchanter was given the outfit he spent so much
time weaving magic into and he decided to make a few copies and cash in on
the desire for the illusion of eternal youth.

~Honora on behalf of the Writing Team

Hello again from the Writing Team. 

Last week we looked at a location - this week, we have a small selection of the many different creatures you might stumble across (or that might stumble across you )

Old Ghoul Bandit - Rumored but rarely seen, these bandits don't get along
with anyone, even each other most of the time. Rejected by society on all
levels, they resort to stalking graveyards for their meals but are not
above fresh meat if it's an easy kill. This one has the moldering,
mad-eyed appearance of one who's lived life as a ghoul for a long time.

Spitter Bug - A beetle larger than most dogs, the spitter beetle is the
same bilious green as it's slime beetle cousins but has a unique method of
defense; an acidic stream of foul-smelling spit, ejected at high velocity
toward an enemy. Alchemists are often the only individuals willing to risk
hunting these vile creatures.

Serenity Grizzly - This huge ursine is a subspecies of the brown bear and
is much, much larger than its cousins. The Serenity Grizzly's dagger-long
claws do not retract, and it has a temper sometimes described as a
"Pyrtechonite with a hangover and a lit torch." Originating around
Serenity Bay, some of the surviving bears have migrated west.

Forest Devourer Leader - Faster than they look, these magic beasts
represent an unknown mage's failed attempt at a personal army. Freed in
one swarm during the year 1412, they have spread to most parts of the
islands and are known for a voracious appetite, a cunning if not scholarly
intelligence, and their terrible, tremendous strength. They breed slowly
however and this alone has allowed the inhabitants of the islands to keep
ahead of their fang-filled mouths. This one is greenish and wearing armor
plates that seem to be from other Devourers and carries a totem staff.

Tune in again next week for a look at what kind of nice things these creatures
might have on them...

 - The Writing Team

You've been seeing some of the fantastic in-game shots coming from the dev
team, now here's some of the writing being done by Ed and his minions.  Not
just the history or town info, but crafting, quests, creatures and loot
drops as well.  Check back here each Wednesday for a new tidbit.  Today,
let's look at a snippet from a location in the Telish Throne on Tilmar...


Location Name: fumeiyo (Fort Morllass)

Fort Morllass is built on a small peninsula, surrounded by dunes and
bluffs that share some of the rusty red with the Redlands to the north.
There are no trees, only scrub and stands of reeds; the fort, built of
imported stone and decorated in an ornate fashion more at home in the
richest parts of Karthinian, looks like a well-healed dowager at a peasant
wedding.

The fort is more a castle, and is decaying slowly. Some of the cornices
have fallen and small bits of the friezes around the windows and doors
litter the ground. The wind has mounded sand against the beach side, which
contains the carriage door and empty animal pens although the beach has
eroded since a recent tsunami and the back door now opens to a deep dune
that drops to the tide.

It is left to rot, but according to some adventurous youths wandering by
on bets or out of the endless immortality of their young years, there have
been sounds from the inside of the Fort as well as the smells. In most
cases this is enough to scare them away, but the rumors, not entirely
baseless, of great riches inside the home lure a number of heartier types
every year. Once the great oak front door was found hanging open, bloodied
scratch marks on the inside, but nothing was observed to move in the thick
dust visible from the doorway. The door was resealed and has not been
opened since.

~Honora on behalf of The Writing Team

Hello everyone,

Up to now, we have not disclosed where exactly the game will take place. We’re proud to announce that it will be the islands of the Rohden Alliance: Corsain, Tilmar and Alibor.

“Only those three?” you may think. “But there’s an entire world defined!”

Yes, that’s most certainly true, but don’t let the fact of it being “only” three islands put you on the wrong track.

In fact, the combined size of the areas we’re building for the MMO is bigger than the combined size of the areas we have in the NWN incarnation of Layonara. We have approximately 80 square kilometers of outdoor areas.

In other words, it’ll be big (but we won’t give you the number of areas yet).

For example, it will take you approximately half an hour to run from southern Tilmar to the north.  And that’s not taking into account any encounters or spawns you may run into, or the fact that walking in a straight line is very often not possible!

 
Back to the islands. At the moment, there are five realms, the Telish Throne and Bilkan on Tilmar, the Dragonsong Dominion and Driran Kingdom on Corsain, and the Zuan Kingdom on Alibor.

Each of these has been written up with a lot of detail, and we’ll be releasing snippets of text on this site.

As a treat, please have a look at the attached map, and the banners for four of the five realms.

 

-EdTheKet