Working title, portmanteau of the German and Japanese words for “empire” - Reich and Teikoku
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Our protagonist finds themselves trapped in a rift between empires - a cursed valley of the unwanted dividing two boundless castles that stand as evidence of a millennial stalemate. There is no escape for the victims of this omnipotent war as the fortifications spread vast over the mountains and valleys of the continent. However, these empires may fall victim to their own hubris, as the desecration of this valley has roused the occult. Our protagonist must use any means necessary to gain their freedom - will that be to topple one empire or the other, or could they gain the favour of the unearthly.
This game is all about navigating semi-open maze-like castles where the only obstacle to the player is their own tools and abilities. As they begin exploring, they will find many paths blocked by various obstacles, but as they explore further, they will find new tools and abilities that will unlock new paths and opportunities. Throughout the castles are various NPCs including guards, political figures, or natives of the land in servitude to the empires. Some will be hostile, serving as obstacles to exploration, while others will seek the services of anyone willing to help.
The game begins as the player character awakens in a cage hanging in a bottomless ravine surrounded by many others. The cage has been mysteriously torn open with shadowy markings scattered across the cage and walls. This ravine sits high in the mountains between two empires, The Empire of the Occiden (west) inspired by medieval Europe, The Empire of the Azuma (east) inspired by Feudal Japan.
The player will discover this valley to be a cursed prison where each empire sends their unwanted - criminals and the blasphemous. However, the desecration of this valley has roused the spirits, demons and ghosts that reside in this valley, of which feed on the imprisoned. However, these occult beings seem to have chosen favour in our main character.
The primary structures that tower over the valley is a bathhouse and a prison. The bathhouse of the Azuma was the first building constructed this high in the mountains to make use of the hot springs. In response, the Occiden constructed a towering prison as a direct insult to the indulgence of the Azuma. Eventually, the Occiden would begin to banish their most unwanted to the no-mans-land of the ravine, hanging from chained cages and left to die. Unrest would build up amongst the Azuma nobles of the area, eventually triggering a coup that began the use of the valley to banish their unwanted to the same fate. Over time, the overuse of this ravine as a prison, alongside the meddling of the valleys demons, left these establishments high in the mountains baron and lifeless. It is now sparsely guarded by the few power hungry leaders with much the remaining majority consisting of the natives that live here in service to the bathhouse and prison.
Many cultures have been assimilated into that of the empires, with traders and servants hailing from across the world. Inspired by Nordic, eastern European, Mediterranean, African, middle eastern, Indian, central Asian and east Asian cultures.
The player must find a way to escape the clutches of these empires. The most available choice is to work alongside members of one empire to topple the other. The player will talk with townsfolk, guards, businessmen, politicians and royals to gather information, take part in quests, and eventually make the decision of which empire to side with. Despite the oppressive actions from the player’s perspective, they will discover there is moral ambiguity to these empires. They may offer beneficial technology, a consideration for the natural world, or take care of the less fortunate.
However, there is another option. The natives and occult beings of the land have lost all faith in their new overlords, and the player may choose to take on the lofty task of assisting them in taking on both empires at once - but even the oppressed may not be so innocent.