Heaven's Bound

Heaven's Bound is a role-playing game released for Nintendo Switch in 2025 by Sunset Studios. It takes place in a series of floating islands, wherein you take control of the lost lord of the kingdom, Avery, and fight against winged beasts known as Valkyries.
==Story==
===Overview===
The story follows Avery, the disgraced child of the king and queen of the Aeria Isles, a kingdom of islands that float in the sky above a barren earth. After the king's death, Princess Heldana is given a request from her mother and rescues Avery.
With their newfound family, Avery will have to fend off their kingdom from the forces of Valkyies - humans turned winged monsters - and their worshipers, as well as maintaining political peace and discovering the dark secrets the kingdom holds.
===Rise of the Valkyries===
28 years ago, the king and queen of the Aeria Isles had a child that they named Avery. However, Avery showed very little ability to harness his bloodline's unique skill, the ability to Unleash Potential, and thus the king exiled them to the desolate surface below. Avery was taken in by a group of scavengers, who were also banished to wander the post-apocalyptic earth.
Nearly 3 decades passed, and an airship landed at their settlement. Princess Heldana emerges, revealing Avery to be her sibling, and rightful heir to the throne, asking for their return, and announcing that all are welcome back in the Aeria Isles. Avery obliges, and is followed by a runt Conroicht named Maeveen, much to the dismay of their fellow exiles.
===Post-Timeskip: Weathering the Storm===
===Second Generation: Legacy Heroes===
An additional story added as DLC. Legacy Heroes takes place 27 years after the events of the main story, and follows the children of the main characters as they descend to the barren surface below, after Blair hears stories of a blinding pillar of light and a strange song from their mother/father, Avery.
==Gameplay==
===Battle===
Battle in Heaven's Bound is based on the battle systems found in traditional RPGs such as Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and Mario & Luigi, as well as drawing inspiration from the Fire Emblem series.
Your party is a team of up to eight characters, with a maximum of 4 characters active at any given time. On the player's turn, they can use attacks, magic, items, or defend, each of which uses up a character's turn. Every character gains a total of 8 attacks or magic skills throughout the game, unique to them, though they can learn more by either equipping certain items, or paying a tutor in the overworld. When using an attack, the player must choose which weapon to use in conjunction with it. Each weapon has different power, weight, and sometimes additional properties, but will break if their durability is used up. Durability is measured as a meter, which depletes dependent on the character's level and how much damage is dealt.
Every character has their own weapon affinities that determine how much damage they deal with a certain type of weapon. Every weapon also comes with a built-in standard attack, meaning any character can theoretically use any weapon. However, it's recommended to stay within the character's assigned group of melee, ranged, or magic.
The order your characters are lined up in matters, too. Characters with higher support levels will gain stat boosts when battling alongside each other, as well as many skills and magic abilities affecting adjacent allies. In addition, the closer a unit is to an enemy in the lineup, the more likely they are to be attacked by them.
During the enemy's phase, players will have the option to parry or defend. Defending is much easier to execute, reducing damage depending on how close to the sweetspot you pressed the input. Parrying, on the other hand, will either damage the enemy or negate damage entirely. Parries are much more difficult to pull off, and each weapon type has its own properties to keep in mind when parrying.
Characters also have personal skills unique to them, which help them out in battle. These can vary greatly, from stat boosts, to healing, to increasing damage output. In addition, every character has an S-Support skill that is granted to their partner once an S-Support is achieved. These reflect the bonds between the two characters.
Characters not chosen to be part of your main party will still help out in battle by attacking every now and then, or defending characters they have a high support rank with. If a main party member falls, they can be replaced by one of the supporting party members.
After winning a battle, the player and their units will be rewarded with EXP, gold, and items. EXP allows units to level up, increasing stats and acquiring new abilities. By how much certain stats will increase is dependent on a character's base stat growths. There are six stats in Heaven's Bound:
*HP is how much health your character has. Once a character runs out of HP, they can't battle until they're healed up.
*Attack determines how much damage your attacks deal during battle.
*Defense determines how much damage you take from physical attacks, such as melee and ranged weapons.
*Resistance determines how much damage you take from magic attacks.
*Speed determines how effective your defenses and parries are, as well as how easy they are to execute, and is sometimes used to calculate attacks.
*Luck determines how likely it is that you land a critical hit or avoid an attack.
During battle, your party or enemies can be afflicted with status ailments. A list of these ailments follows.
Burned 	Suffer from a nasty burn that deals damage at the end of every turn. Lowers resistance slightly.
Poisoned 	Suffer from a nasty toxin that deals damage at the end of every turn. Lowers defense.
Stunned 	Reel in confusion and shock for a turn. Prevents blocks and parries.
Bleed 	A gash opens after an attack, causing bleeding. This unit takes more damage while bleeding. Royals cannot recieve this status ailment.
Bloom 	Instead of bleeding, flowers will bloom from a royal's cut. Affects different royal families in different ways.
Unaligned	Get knocked out of line with your allies. Adjacent ally bonuses and party-wide bonuses don't apply to this unit as long as they are out of line, but multi-target attacks cannot hit them. Lowers accuracy.
===Weapon Triangle===
When battling, it's important to keep the weapon triangle in mind. Every character has multiple proficiencies, so it's good to have a balanced team. Using a weapon type that's strong against the opponent's will grant a damage boost. Likewise, using a weapon type that's weak against your target's will decrease the amount of damage dealt.
===Valkyries and Deadlords===
Valkyries will be commonly encountered in the main story, and can wield any weapon type. They're much more resilient than most enemies you'll encounter, and come with a minimum of 2 health bars. They bear the uncanny ability to move once per turn for every health bar they have remaining, meaning it's essential to take them down as fast as possible.
Deadlords replace Valkyries in the Legacy Quest story. They are the bodies of fallen champions, reanimated by the surface's cursed soil. They're accompanied by fragments of their soul - Husks - which must be defeated before the Deadlord can be harmed. If you've found the Deadlord's corresponding relic, you can appeal to their humanity and use Blair's Unleash Potential ability to put them to rest. Or you can kill them.
Once a Deadlord has been laid to rest, Blair can summon them to assist during battle. Every Deadlord has their own ability and weapon type. You can build up support points with rescued Deadlords by using their abilities and responding to them afterwards. Support points allow Deadlords to level up, increasing the effectiveness of their skills.
===Rest Stops===
Rest Stops are settlements where you can heal your party and engage in bonding activities. You can pick up to two units to partake in an activity, earning support points in the process. Every character has their own preferences when it comes to these activities.
Each Rest Stop has its own assortment of these amenities.
Bar 	Drink with your buddy at the bar. Earn a lot of support points and some bonus health. Lowers your speed for the next few battles.
Farmlands 	Help out the local farm. Earn support points and boost your base HP growth.
Bakery 	Indulge in a sweet treat. Earn support points and earn a small bit of bonus health.
Dungeoneering 	Embark on a journey through a local dungeon. Earn support points, experience, and gold. Units will not be fully healed.
Sauna 	Cool off at the sauna. Earn support points and boost your base resistance growth.
Swimming 	Take a dip in the lake. Earn support points and boost your base speed growth.
Routing Bandits	Help deal with some mischief makers. Earn support points and boost your base attack growth.
Library 	Read up on local culture and history. Earn very few support points, but a lot of experience and a boost in your base resistance growth.
Training 	Brush up on your training. Earn support points and boost your base defense growth.
Patrol 	Make sure the area is safe from potential threats. Earn few support points and boost your base luck growth.
Hiking 	Go on a calming nature walk. Earn some support points and regenerate a small amount of health every turn for the next few battles.
Gardening 	Tend to the local gardens. Earn few support points and boost your base resistance and luck growths.
Socialise 	Mingle with the locals. Earn support points and gain a temporary boost to your resistance.
Hunting 	Hunt down your next meal. Earn support points and some bonus health.
Fishing 	Catch your next meal. Earn support points and some bonus health.
Gambling 	Test your luck in a card game. Earn support points and a chance of either losing gold or gaining gold.
===Supports===
As two characters get closer, they will build up support points, increasing their stats when they fight alongside each other.
==Playable Characters==
*maeveen
**a Conroicht, essentially a werewolf/wolfskin. irish origins
**shes a runt
**doesnt wield weapons
**originally a denizen of the barren earth alongside avery
**bonding mission involves finding her parents in dracdeigh
*astrid
**judgmental warrior from a snowy kingdom
**adora hair poof + undercut
**spears
*diantha
**queen's devoted soldier who wields daggers and axes
*jameson
**engineer who's a lazy drunk but hot. wears a trenchcoat and wields a musket
**former pirate alongside anise
*sera, colette, and siran are your introduction to dual proficiency units
**sera: bow and lance
**colette: light magic and daggers
**siran: light magic and axe
*somebody attending a school in the roman-esque country
**musket and elemental magic
*a manakete dragon from the roman country
**sren
*guy from dracdeigh inflicted with valkyrie symptoms, a flying beast unit
**amnesiac
**covered in scars from it
**made a deal with some sort of entity
**shares his body with it
*travelling painter with rogue-like abilities
**studies necromantic and satanic shit
*19 y/o woman who has befriended a massive golem
**beast unit
**wears one of those super poofy white blouses as if shes entering a vampires home to seduce them
AveryWild Child 	
AveryWild Child 	
AveryWild Child
HeldanaSky-High Princess 	MaeveenBorn Survivor 	ViktorSworn Protector
JamesonInfluenced Engineer	AniseTwisted Troubadour 	DianthaInfernal Guard
SeraWind's Envoy 	ColetteDevout Dancer 	SiranPriest Without Limits
AstridFrigid Sovereign 	Fionn & GrianaTwo-in-One Deal	EamonThe Dark Artist
IzumiSprightly Scholar 	SrenDraconic Professor 	Torazi & CruachWild Child & Maternal Mountain
 	GráinnePirate Queen(DLC only)	
===Legacy Heroes===
*blair is nonbinary
*there is no romance
*able to recruit avery's father if you restore his deadlord
**its customary in death for bodies to be thrown down to the earth, thats how he became a deadlord
BlairHeir ApparentlyChild of Avery	KylaMaiden of RedemptionDaughter of Heldana	??????Son of Maeveen
==Non-Playable Characters==
MorriganHer Magely Majesty	Morrigan is the queen of the Aeria Isles, mother of Avery and Heldana. She's a highly talented sorceress - in fact, her high capacity for magic was the reason the late King Lir chose her to be his wife. She cares for Heldana deeply, and the two work together to reforge bonds with other nations. Morrigan is glad to have Avery back in her life, even if the feeling isn't entirely mutual. Near the end of part 1, Morrigan is assassinated by Valkyries.
KaraValkyrie Commander 	The Valkyrie Mother's battle strategist, who leads the charge. She was once a general in the Betalli Pegasus Corps, but has willingly joined the Valkyries. Kara will defend the cause with her life, and enforced ruthless battle tactics with no regard for the life of her fellow Valkyries. If Heldana does not have an S Support partner, Kara will marry her.
MannianRemnant of the Past	The middle child of King Lir and Queen Morrigan. Mannian was not born of the couple, but instead to a commoner couple during Aeria's plague. He was chosen as an infant due to his high capacity for magic, and adopted by the king and queen. The family were told that their son had died of the plague, and blood transfusions were performed to artificially give Mannian royal blood, allowing him to Unleash Potential. He died at a young age thanks to these experiments, and was released to the surface, as is tradition. His reanimated body waits to be put to rest in the heart of a charred forest.
NadeaThe Horizon 	The Catalyst God worshiped in the Sigarthan Skies. Legend has it that she cleansed the world of sin, raising the pure into the sky. The reality of the story is uncovered in Legacy Quest, and is much darker. A cult attempted to summon her into the world once again, inadvertently releasing her wrath upon the world. It is only due to Taranis, first king of the Aeria Isles, using his Unleashing Potential ability to raise the human race into the skies above that this world persists.
===Deadlords===
TBA
==The World==
Kingdom of the Aeria Isles 	Kingdom of the Aeria Isles
The main setting of the game, comprised of a series of floating islands connected by bridges. The Aeria Isles are a land of co-operation, where people rely on one another to survive, having gone through many hard times. A plague brought on during King Lir's reign led to the kingdom isolating itself from the rest of the world, and while the plague may be long gone, the effects of isolation still linger. Queen Moira and Princess Heldana wish to unite the kingdom with its former allies once more.The Aeria Isles were once the trade center of the world, and many merchants still travel there to sell their wares. The town is filled with local owned businesses, and a new set of docks were recently constructed in hopes of drawing in new visitors.After the timeskip, the Valkyrie Mother has made this kingdom her base of operations. She has surrounded the entire kingdom in an impenetrable storm that occasionally clears in small sections to allow Valkyries to fly through. 	The main setting of the game, comprised of a series of floating islands connected by bridges. The Aeria Isles are a land of co-operation, where people rely on one another to survive, having gone through many hard times. A plague brought on during King Lir's reign led to the kingdom isolating itself from the rest of the world, and while the plague may be long gone, the effects of isolation still linger. Queen Moira and Princess Heldana wish to unite the kingdom with its former allies once more.The Aeria Isles were once the trade center of the world, and many merchants still travel there to sell their wares. The town is filled with local owned businesses, and a new set of docks were recently constructed in hopes of drawing in new visitors.After the timeskip, the Valkyrie Mother has made this kingdom her base of operations. She has surrounded the entire kingdom in an impenetrable storm that occasionally clears in small sections to allow Valkyries to fly through.
Taranis Castle 	Home to Queen Moira and her family, named after the first king of the Aeria Isles. This palace acts as your party's base of operations for the first half of the story, before the Valkyrie Mother takes over and creates an impenetrable storm around the entire kingdom.
Taranis Town 	The main settlement, surrounding the castle. Here, you can buy items at the marketplace, learn new skills, and make use of the various facilities there. Post-timeskip, it's filled with roaming Valkyries, seemingly going through the motions of human life.
Docks 	Where airships would park prior to the timeskip. During the reign of the Valkrie Mother, it's used as runways before takeoff.
Airship Workshop 	A workshop by the docks where Jameson has taken up residence. It's very messy, littered with spare parts and empty bottles, but it's where he does his best work on improving and fixing up airships.
Shrine to the Goddess 	A shrine built to honour the goddess Nadea, built on a pond. Prayer circles are held here every morning. Many come here from Betalli to pray to the Valkyries, but local devouts heavily disapprove of this, having witnessed their destructive force firsthand.
Betalli Archipelago 	Betalli Archipelago
more tropical climate with a very uncaring and lazy royal family. known for their great army and their pegasusu population. its a popular travel destination
The Betalli Archipelago was once a close ally of the Aeria Isles, but their isolation has led to radio silence between the two countries. Betalli boasts a tropical climate and an abundance of water, but an extremely indifferent royal family. Viktor and Sera's family act as advisors, but are really the ones running the country while the royals act as figureheads.Betalli's tropical climate makes it a popular travel destination. The archipelago is also known for its large pegasus population, as well as its uncontested army of pegasus knights.During the timeskip, Avery's party retreat here and make the army barracks their base of operations. The country itself is in shambles after their king kills himself in light of the threat of Valkyries and the pressure of ruling, with his only heir being his 15 year old daughter. Avery and their allies are in charge of not only the military and the fight against the Valkyries, but running the country. 	more tropical climate with a very uncaring and lazy royal family. known for their great army and their pegasusu population. its a popular travel destination
The Betalli Archipelago was once a close ally of the Aeria Isles, but their isolation has led to radio silence between the two countries. Betalli boasts a tropical climate and an abundance of water, but an extremely indifferent royal family. Viktor and Sera's family act as advisors, but are really the ones running the country while the royals act as figureheads.Betalli's tropical climate makes it a popular travel destination. The archipelago is also known for its large pegasus population, as well as its uncontested army of pegasus knights.During the timeskip, Avery's party retreat here and make the army barracks their base of operations. The country itself is in shambles after their king kills himself in light of the threat of Valkyries and the pressure of ruling, with his only heir being his 15 year old daughter. Avery and their allies are in charge of not only the military and the fight against the Valkyries, but running the country.
Army Barracks 	Your party's base after the 5 year timeskip. The royal family of Betalli allowed your party to reside here and make use of their soldiers and facilities in order to combat the Valkyries.
Church of the Parting Skies 	Colette and Siran's original church, gone against their original teachings, worshiping the Valkyries as divine harbingers. Post-timeskip, the children of the Valkyries have moved to the Aeria Isles to be with the Valkyrie Mother. Siran leads this church in the hope of restoring its former glory.
Dracdeigh 	Dracdeigh
An icy nation ruled over by the Sovereign and the Hearth, a group of warriors that act as advisors and bodyguards. The people of Dracdeigh are very in-tune with nature, and are a race of warriors. They draw strength from the environment, and have learned to survive in even the harshest of climates. Dracdeigh itself is comprised of many smaller islands, connected to each other by chains to prevent them from drifting away from each other.Dracdeigh is the home of the Conroicht, a race that can transform into wolf-like creatures. Though they do not have an organised military, everybody is trained in combat - typically lances and daggers. Many sacred weapons are located here, though a member of the Hearth defected and took one - an axe known as the Infernal - with her to the Aeria Isles to serve the queen. As a result, political relations aren't great.During the timeskip, the Valkyries shatter many of the chains holding the kingdom together, causing many islands to drift away. Most of the inhabitants were rescued, though many still float aimlessly through the sky. Dracdeigh has formed an alliance with Avery and their party, and sent over some of their strongest warriors to assist in the battle against the Valkyries, as well as gifting a few of their sacred weapons.	An icy nation ruled over by the Sovereign and the Hearth, a group of warriors that act as advisors and bodyguards. The people of Dracdeigh are very in-tune with nature, and are a race of warriors. They draw strength from the environment, and have learned to survive in even the harshest of climates. Dracdeigh itself is comprised of many smaller islands, connected to each other by chains to prevent them from drifting away from each other.Dracdeigh is the home of the Conroicht, a race that can transform into wolf-like creatures. Though they do not have an organised military, everybody is trained in combat - typically lances and daggers. Many sacred weapons are located here, though a member of the Hearth defected and took one - an axe known as the Infernal - with her to the Aeria Isles to serve the queen. As a result, political relations aren't great.During the timeskip, the Valkyries shatter many of the chains holding the kingdom together, causing many islands to drift away. Most of the inhabitants were rescued, though many still float aimlessly through the sky. Dracdeigh has formed an alliance with Avery and their party, and sent over some of their strongest warriors to assist in the battle against the Valkyries, as well as gifting a few of their sacred weapons.
Eider Conclave 	A large building in the center of the village where the Sovereign meets with the Hearth. All sorts of manners are handled here, including court, lawmaking, and annual battles to hold their positions.
Caillech Fields 	The largest island in Dracdeigh. The people of Dracdeigh consider this a sacred land for hunting and foraging, and have a strict policy to never leave a trace of human life when in the fields.
Kiran 	Kiran
roman inspired, based specifically off venice. festival of masks is a big thing. dragons are also a big thing, you recruit a manakete-esque species member here. supposedly the birthplace of nadea.
Kiran is the most populated of the countries in the Sigarthan Skies, and is ruled by a governing body instead of a royal family. It is known as the home of knowledge to many, and rightfully so. Kiran is said to be the birthplace of the Catalyst God, Nadea. It's said that her descendants can transform into dragons, and there are many individuals in Kiran who possess that ability.Kiran is home to Avalon Academy, the most prestigious school in the Sigarthan Skies. There is no better place to achieve a higher education, but competition is fierce. Scholars from around the world gather in Kiran to trade notes, or make use of one of the many libraries available.After the timeskip, citizens wear decorative masks in mourning of those that they have lost, as part of local culture. Many literary works were destroyed or lost to the surface in Valkyrie attacks, and many have taken it upon themselves to write down what they remember of these great literary works, and to document current events. 	roman inspired, based specifically off venice. festival of masks is a big thing. dragons are also a big thing, you recruit a manakete-esque species member here. supposedly the birthplace of nadea.
Kiran is the most populated of the countries in the Sigarthan Skies, and is ruled by a governing body instead of a royal family. It is known as the home of knowledge to many, and rightfully so. Kiran is said to be the birthplace of the Catalyst God, Nadea. It's said that her descendants can transform into dragons, and there are many individuals in Kiran who possess that ability.Kiran is home to Avalon Academy, the most prestigious school in the Sigarthan Skies. There is no better place to achieve a higher education, but competition is fierce. Scholars from around the world gather in Kiran to trade notes, or make use of one of the many libraries available.After the timeskip, citizens wear decorative masks in mourning of those that they have lost, as part of local culture. Many literary works were destroyed or lost to the surface in Valkyrie attacks, and many have taken it upon themselves to write down what they remember of these great literary works, and to document current events.
Avalon Academy 	A world-renowned school with courses in law, magic, arts, history, and more. It's home to the biggest library in Kiran, and many scholars visit in their travels. Students live on campus, and there are weekly magic duels in the courtyard.
Greater Sigarthan Skies 	Greater Sigarthan Skies
The Silver Sails 	A pirate group who travel from island to island, pillaging as they see fit.
The Surface 	The Surface
Cindered Forest 	A forest of dead trees, with a grand white tree bearing red fruit in the middle.
===During Legacy Quest===
TBA
==DLC==
*legacy heroes
**harder, cindered shadows esque story
*a paralogue that lets you recruit the pirate queen, gráinne
**pirate costumes
*summer, winter, formal, and baseball wear dlc and paralogues
**also one thats like valentines/flowers/bridal
**take a sort of poll on which characters get these
*legacy hero alt outfit paralogue if you bought the pass
**inspired by their parents
A season pass of DLC was released for Heaven's Bound, consisting of several bonus chapters that give characters unique costumes and items. These characters are chosen via popularity polls from the community. 2 years after the game's release, an extra story that takes place 27 years after the main campaign was released, introducing a whole new cast of characters.
Batter Up 	Batter Up
Avery proposes a game of baseball to strengthen the team's bonds, but the game is rudely interrupted by Valkyries. A poll will be up soon! 	Avery proposes a game of baseball to strengthen the team's bonds, but the game is rudely interrupted by Valkyries. A poll will be up soon!
Legacy Quest 	Legacy Quest
A whole new story taking place 27 years after the main campaign, following the main cast's children as they investigate the surface. Can only be played if the main story has been completed.	A whole new story taking place 27 years after the main campaign, following the main cast's children as they investigate the surface. Can only be played if the main story has been completed.
==amiibo Compatibility==
For more detail, see here.
In a free update, Aeria's Shrine to the Goddess (during part 1) and Betalli's Church of the Parting Skies (during part 2) were given functionality. By talking to the priest at either of these locations, a player could scan in an amiibo, summoning an ally from another world to join the party temporarily.
amiibo units can be deployed in up to 10 battles in a single day. They cannot participate in battles important to the story, and if they are KO'd, they cannot be revived until the next day. Their loadouts cannot be changed, and their skills and level will adjust to match the player's party. Only one amiibo can be scanned in a day.
*peach
*daisy
*rosalina
*link
*zelda
*sheik
*ganondorf
*urbosa
*marth
*roy
*ike
*lucina
*robin
*chrom
*corrin
*byleth
*pit
*dark pit
*palutena
*shulk
*splatoon amiibo
*joker
LucinaFuture Witness	??????	??????
==Gallery==
==Trivia==
*Many of the names of characters and locations take inspiration from Irish mythology.
**Lir is named after the god of the sea.
**Morrigan is named after the goddess of fertility and strife.
**Mannian is named after Manannán mac Lir, son of Lir.
**Taranis is named after the god of the sky
*Kiran is based on Venice, and designed similarly to it.
**Post-timeskip, everybody wears masks, as a nod to the Carnival of Masks.