The Virus: Everyone in the world has XEROPHYTUS or XER-0, a waterborne virus that decimated a third of the world’s population roughly 500 years prior to the events of the game. The virus causes DNA damage, resulting in malaise, fatigue and fatal insomnia. There is no vaccine for the virus, instead, the symptoms must be controlled via medication. Various versions of the medication are available at differing price points - some are more effective than others, all are temporary fixes, none are free. The Megacorporation THE FIVE is responsible for the manufacture of all of them.
THE VIRUS & THE FIVE CYBERSTRIKE
AETHERION: Specializing in advanced energy solutions, including fusion technology, zero-point energy, and space propulsion systems.
HELIOS: Leaders in genetic research, bioinformatics, and gene editing therapies, with a focus on curing genetic diseases.
AEGIS: Defense Systems: Experts in defense technologies, manufacturing state-of-the-art weapons systems, armored vehicles, and military drones.
OLYMPUS: A leading provider of cybernetic enhancements, AI, and virtual reality technologies, aimed at enhancing human capabilities.
CHRONOS: Innovators in time manipulation technology, temporal engineering, and quantum chronodynamics, with applications in both science and industry.
Lore items SGUIT
A torn fishing net.
(Belonging to a Wulver.)
A scrap of traveller’s cloak.
(Belonging to a previous witch.)
A red cap.
(Belonging to a Red Cap, surprisingly.)
A broken wand/staff.
(Belonging to a previous witch.)
A locked chest containing a seal skin. (Belonging to a Selkie.)
A chapbook of flyting phrases.
(A book of insults.)
A book of poetry.
(Belonging to the Blue Minch tribe.)
An empty hip flask.
(Belonging to a human.)
Scrap of Aamor’s Cloak
Context: Found in an area with The Bean Nighe (a mythical washer woman, banshee-like.)
Description: A small scrap of torn fabric, soft to the touch and emitting a pleasant warmth: it seems to repel moisture. Small, 5cm-5cm. Dark red, soft to the touch, emitting a pleasant warmth.
Special Features: Repels moisture.
Origin and History: Once owned by the travelling witch Aamor, this scrap was torn off while she attempted to flee The Bean Nighe (a banshee-like creature who washes the clothes of people about to die). Found by the protagonists in an area with many rivers and lochs.
How was it made? The fabric was plain wool, sewn together with threads of magic, each thread imbuing the cloak with a different property. This scrap was torn off by The Bean Nighe as Aamor tried to escape her. It can be found in her lair, amongst other clothing.
What is its main purpose or power? The scrap can be used as an item to learn to swim, by using the magic thread that repels water and weaving the scrap into their own cloak.
How do characters interact with or use the object? Via their crafting menu, the Witch can interact with the scrap to sew it into their cloak, effectively upgrading it.
Are there any limitations or conditions for its use? It is a one-off object, unable to be used multiple times. It is kept in the inventory as part of the Witch’s cloak after use.
Role in the game: The rest of Amour’s Cloak is an upgrade item, used to gain access to areas where one must swim to explore. The scrap foreshadows it being found.
How does it drive or influence the story? It denotes the failure of a previous Witch, the power of The Bean Nighe and acts as a tool to allow the players to further explore the world of Dhachaigh.
IN GAME
This item is found amongst piles of peasant clothes in a village haunted by The Bean Nighe,
a banshee-like washer woman who steals and washes the clothes of those soon to be (or already) dead.
The Witch discovers a small scrap of material which appears to have been torn from a larger garment.
The fabric is dark red, soft to the touch and emits a pleasant warmth. It seems to repel moisture.
“Don’t you think that this fabric looks … very similar to my cloak?” whispers The Witch.
“Mrrow,” replies The Familiar.
Summary of importance: This lore item foreshadows an upgrade reward given after completing the Bean Nighe quest. It could be easily missed and is not necessary to find to complete the quest.
Aamor, a witch of the past famous for travelling the rivers and lochs of Dhachaigh, was killed by The Bean Nighe who then stole Aamor’s cloak and has been obsessively trying to clean it since. The cloak contains a magic thread which repels water, making it impossible to wash.
The cloak will be given to the Witch upon completion of the quest, allowing her to combine it with the magic of her own cloak and traverse water without issue. The small piece of fabric is visibly missing from the bottom of Aamor’s cloak.