Greetings Friends! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

• New Creatures: Skeleton Plunderers and Unicorns
• The Making of Shaminian Hills
• The Making of Upper Tears
• The Making of Westend (cont.)

New Creatures: Skeleton Plunderers and Unicorns

New creatures will soon be appearing in Novia, some more rare than others!

Skeleton Plunderers are Undead Plunderers who are cursed to wander the land forever seeking treasure. Kevin “UglyFist” Wells built these latest additions to our Undead army by meshing the Plunderers (who Fletcher “Scathana” Kinnear built in R53) with the Skeleton Mages, Warriors, and Archers. Skeleton Plunderers should appear in R54 in areas like Blood Bay and Penmawr Island.

Plunderer Skeleton Warriors: 

Plunderer Skeleton Mages: 

Plunderer Skeleton Archers: 

Unicorns are very rare and elusive creatures. They will not fight unless provoked but once enraged they are one of the most powerful beings in Novia. It is rumored that items fashioned from Unicorn parts are also ridiculously powerful but those same rumors warn of a price to be paid in your virtue should you dare slay one of these noble creatures. Kevin “UglyFist” Wells fashioned these beautiful beings from the horses and while he was doing so also polished our existing horses. Unicorns should begin to appear (albeit rarely) in Release 55.

White Unicorns:

Black Unicorns:

The Making of Shaminian Hills

This hilly Tier 3 scene in the Midmaer region is filled with giant outcroppings of blue crystals. It is also the site of an ancient open air cathedral and a monastery, both long abandoned but still possessed of ancient power. Ebon Dawn Cultists are rumored to be here trying to unlock the mysteries of this place and where the Ebon Dawn are the undead are often nearby as well.

[From a A Dev+ Forum Post by Chris “Sea Wolf” Wolf]

Hey folks, I have a few screenshots to share of my unclone of the Shaminian Hills adventure area. Following a theme of spirituality, the scene features the ruins of an open air cathedral, and a monastery. After murdering the monks who cared for the ruins, Obsidian cultists are now searching for three ancient tomes, to prevent their wisdom from passing on to future generations.

The Cathedral

The Cathedral Southern Catwalk

The Monastery

The Monastery ChapelChris “Sea Wolf” Wolf
World Builder

The Making of Upper Tears

This Tier 4 canyon scene in the Verdantis region is near the Kas Ruins along the river Tears. The river was, until recently, controlled by a dam in this part of the world. Unfortunately the dam burst and the resulting flood wiped out the town. Barbarians and bandits have since moved in to try and scour the ruins for treasure.

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Travis “Vas Corp Por” Koleski]

Here’s some early shots of our progress on Upper Tears. Upper Tears is a Tier 4 zone in the north of Novia. The Tears is a prominent river in that region. Recently, massive floodwaters rushed down a tributary canyon and broke the damn holding the river water back above a Norgard village, and submerged most of the settlement. Waters have since receded but the destruction is almost total.

More soon! Thanks for following our progress!

Travis “Vas Corp Por” Koleski
World Builder

The Making of Westend (cont.)

The town of Westend is located in the Verdantis region on the western coast of Novia. The combination of Norgard architecture and wetlands creates a unique visual element to the town not seen anywhere else in Novia. Westend is the port that serves adventurers traveling to Verdantis Shardfall and while the town remains small it has grown prosperous from trade because of the resources brought back by those lucky enough to survive the Shardfall. Of course many say those resources came off the bodies of dead adventures…

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Esteben “SorcerousSteve” Zaldivar]

Hey guys, SorcerousSteve here to give you the latest on Westend!

The main NPC Center at dusk. Now in its finalized state you can see the radical transformation and push towards Viking style architecture.

The Westend Docks facing North, with the Verdantis Shardfall seen off in the distance across the Norgard Channel.

An obstacle course in the Westend guard barracks fitted with climbable ropes and mud pits for training the new recruits.

A few elves make their home to the east in these slums that border the swamp.

Player residential areas featuring the Viking row homes. Serpent lamp posts line the streets and standing stones mark some of the open green areas of town.

One of the many new NPC interiors that have now received a makeover, this particular building here is now a hospital.

Be sure to explore Westend this R54!

Esteben “SorcerousSteve” Zaldivar
Level Designer