Four Suits

Hey all! Some more world-building for you. “Magic” in the world of Decadia isn’t exactly “magic.” 

Think of it more like alchemy. The “mage” (”mediators,” in this context) dips into a realm known as the “Miad” to perform feats that would look like magic to a non-mediator. A mediator reaches into the Miad, and essentially takes what they need to create the effect they’re looking for. 

A “water spell” is like live chemistry; hydrogen and oxygen being forced together by the power pulled forward into the mortal realm. A “fire spell” is the mediator pulling the fuel and heat needed to create the fireball of their desires. Need a shield? Air is forced tightly around the user, or perhaps pure energy is used.

There are countless ways the Miad can be used to a mediator’s advantage, though it comes with a cost. The Miad is the realm of the gods, a vast primordial soup, and thus is a lifeform in and of itself. It feeds off the souls and energy of anyone brave enough to dip too deep into its maw. It’s definitely enticing, as the thought of being able to do whatever they want with god-like capabilities draws mediators to explore the limits of their mortal shells. “Media sickness” can occur when a mediator gets too greedy or delves too deeply into the Miad, as what most mediators do is very surface level. If a mediator is stricken with media sickness, they will be consumed by the Miad and turned into... something else. The energy that replaces the soul that was consumed is itself fed off of by beings of the Miad. 

Mediators are few and far between these days, and usually never discover their power. There is currently only one skilled mediator left in Decadia.

Hey all! Here’s a little world-building for you. There are three factions/kingdoms in Decadia: 

The Clune are members of a nomadic theocracy that heads Decadia’s major religion. This religion focuses on revering the power of the four Deities, each named for the seasons of the land: Calora, the Deity of Summer, Hibruma, the Deity of Winter, Nitaum, the Deity of Autumn, and Verneo, the Deity of Spring. At the turn of the season, they will host large festivals in major cities across Decadia, filled with worship and celebration while welcoming the coming season’s patron with open arms. In recent years, with the downturn of Decadia’s wellbeing and the rise of a new patriarch, the church has become more fanatical and manic. Lighthearted worship has turned to calls for repentance and piety. A once well-loved way to connect with one’s spirituality has become feared when the caravans enter a township. 

Lopatia is a country that prides itself not only on military prowess, but its wealth of farmland and agriculture. With a long lineage of proud knights and mechanics, the royal family rules with an iron fist and warm heart. Hard work and dedication can be found in everything a Lopatian does. There has been much scandal recently, however.  Shortly after his father’s death and sister’s coming out, the young Prince Regent took the throne. Many critics scorned and berated the Prince’s rise to power, saying that he was immature and unfit to rule. The tension has only become worse as relations with the rest of Decadia decay and food supplies run dry entering the harsh winter months. And as the young ruler keeps disappearing from the court outside of political trips, many claim there is something suspicious and treacherous afoot. Has the proud and stalwart legacy of Lopatia been lost?

The people of Koron are laid back and easy going. A financial giant and trade center, the few cities in this republic have little to worry about when it comes to resources for building and population sustainability. A vast land for numerous quarries guarantees a wealth of material to trade with the industrious Lopatians, who are more than willing to trade food and supplies to the desert kingdom in exchange for endless metals and jewels. Beautiful seascapes and riversides offer a wonderful tourism economy, as well. However, uncharacteristic and off-season hurricanes keep pressing deeper and deeper inland, washing out mines and flooding rivers. The unprecedented halt in work has all but drained the wealth and ceased trade with the Lopatians. Trying to maintain the power in their dynamic, the council that leads the republic has closed themselves in the capitol building, locked in endless talks of what to do about the situation. Spies are sent to Lopatian lands in an effort to find even the slightest edge, and to hide the slowdown of Koronthian materials behind any Lopatian fault. The council would update the public on their progress fairly regularly, but has fallen silent as of late. 

Hey all!  It’s awesome to be back on Tumblr, and awesome to finally have a place to congregate most, if not all, information about my game. I’m excited to share updates and art as I move into development, and hope to have a more regular posting schedule for you all. 

That being said, what exactly is “Four Suits?”

“Four Suits” has been a passion project of mine since middle school. It has been through many differing iterations, starting out as a graphic novel, then getting turned into a young-adult book series, and now is being developed as a deck-building RPG. This story and these characters have grown with me, and I’m very excited to introduce you all to the world of Decadia and the cast of “Four Suits.” “Four Suits” follows the story of Aric Rydell, who is suddenly (and quite violently) thrown into a world of magic, monsters, and mystery, as he’s inducted into a fabled group known as the “Guardians.” The Guardians are working to investigate the cause of (and hopefully find a solution for) Decadia’s chaotic and misaligned seasons, which threaten the rocky peace held between the continent’s two expansive kingdoms. 

So... What can you expect from this blog? Be on the lookout for: 

New key art and concept art 

Character information

World-building

Gameplay previews

And more!