Reveals

Overview

The Pace of Historical Reveals & Possible Twists

One thing we have to decide is the pace of reveals, how much and how quickly will Dou Rong reveal to us. Suffice to say we'll need to pace the reveals to be dramatic and interesting, with twists at the end.

First we'll have to decide what we already know from other sources, what our character believes going in, and what we can't find out until we get it from a different source, eg, some element of the TRUTH from C2 or R4 or The Cult of Yan once we defeat them at the end of the game.

Common Knowledge At Start:

• Solfrey are different and unique and better, but how or why is unknown.
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, C1, C2, C3 are all known to current history.
• R4 is the hated "Bloody Mary"-esque figure while R5 is the peaceful builder of the post war Kpor civilization. R4's fate is unknown to history while R5 was killed.
• C1 is credited with winning the demon wars and sacrificed her life.
• C2's fate is unknown.
• C3 founds the Cult of Yan and has returned to Heaven.
• R2, R3, and their army died heroically destroying the demon king in a classic heroic sacrifice narrative that common people believe, No mention of going through gates into Annilm or SD.

Educated Solfrey Knowledge At Start (Some of these would be found in the forbidden books):

• SD - Yan Hui, is heard of from modern archeology, but is not widely known how important he is and most details are missing other than that he is C1 and C2's father. He is known as an emperor-consort of the Kporian royalty rather than as a leader in his own right.
• SD is known to be hated by C1 and C2 and removed from history.
• Sica, like SD, is heard of from less known sources.
• SD's real role is not understood. Even his real name Yan Hui is lost to history. That the Cult of Yan was a reference to him is unknown.

Dou Rong's Somewhat Inaccurate Reveals:

Early Game:

Lost Army Truth

• Existence of Annilm where demon originate. While this realm has been theorized by modern magicians it's never been conclusively proven. These documents show that the ancients knew a lot about it.
• Discovers evidence it was a planned expedition into the Annilm, not last stand
• Finds preparation documents showing they were going into Annilm
• Uncovers SD's importance and leadership, bigger than officially acknowledged, officially proves that Yan Hui was C1 and C2's father.

Ancient Practices

• Fragments about soul manipulation techniques

• Records of strange rituals that predate the Yan, Actually were early attempts at preventing demon soul infestation, Makes nobles look evil while they were trying to help

• Evidence that necromancy was once widespread (These feed into MC's theories about hidden knowledge)

• Finds evidence that many historical figures were actually necromancers

• Discovers texts proving Sica was much more powerful than officially recorded

Mid Game:

• Realizes that the Cult of Yan was originally dedicated to Yan Hui
• Documents about young C3's original Yan cult and how different it is from how it is now. Suggests it was more focused on magical development than control (MC interprets this as demon-worshipping nobles corrupting C3's pure vision)
• "The Lost Princess", Documents about her disappearance hints that she's still alive. Could make players suspect Peizhi is actually C3. Sets up dramatic irony since she's actually R4
• Deciphers encrypted letters between C1 and R4 discussing the destruction of Sica
• Finds fragments suggesting SD was attempting to reach something specific in Annilm, not just fighting demons

Late Game:

• Discovers records of R1's intense devotion to SD despite his apparent betrayal
• Uncovers evidence that C1 had significant political influence before her death, more than officially acknowledged
• Uncovers hints about forbidden magic that seems to let humans detect demon souls (actually hints about The Division)
• the Palace of Annilm Discovers it was built specifically for C2, Notes unusual magical barriers and preservation spells, Theorizes it's a seat of power where C2 maintains control over some ancient magic, Suggests C2 might still be alive there, wielding whatever power she gained during the war (unlocks True Ending with C2)

What Dou Rong never discovers

• The true nature of the Division and why it happened
• C1's real role in betraying SD
• The actual reason for R4's actions
• The full truth about demons and commoners
• C2's current location and status
• The real fate of the Lost Army

The impact of these reveals on the MC

• Fuels belief in C3, a "mythological" figure that becomes seen as a "good guy". It could be a red herring for the reader to think C3 is Peizhi later on. In reality C3 is not a part of the story at all.
• Fuels conspiracy about nobles being demon worshippers or using demon power to maintain power
• Fuels a sense of mission to uncover the truth
• Fuels anger about the loss of Sica