Kalusa (video game)

***Kalusa*** is an independant role-playing video game currently in development by VERCON. The game's story follows the titular character Kalusa, a warrior carrying special powers who becomes the center of a combat surrounding the conquest of the world with a foreign magic. During her quest, Kalusa will be assisted with her close friends and will learn of both hers and the world's dark past.

The game is presented through a overhead view, akin to Super Nintendo role-palying games, such as *Final Fantasy VI* (*III* in North America) and features turn-based combat with an emphasis on Active Time Battle. The story deals with themes of family and grief, with a light-hearted tone.

## Gameplay

*Kalusa* is a role-playing video game featuring four modes of gameplay, overfield exploration, town and dungeons, turn-based combat, and menus.

### Exploration

The player character is controlled through an overhead view into a eight-direction radius. Exploration consists of unlocking a new way through the region, where equipment and items can be found. Each region is interconnected by a World Map.

During exploration, a camp can be interacted with to save the game, rest to replenish HP and MP, and craft recipes. A camp can be set in the World Map, but saving is also available at all time.

#### Town and dungeons

While progressing through the world map, plyers can encounter towns and dungeons. Towns grant shops, inns, requests and labors, and other activities. Dungeons are encountered through exploartion and during the storyline. Dungeons are a set of puzzles and more challenging encounters that give better rewards and resources.

### Combat

At random or scripted moments, players enter combat. During combat, a gauge known as the Act Gauge fills up. When full, a character can be given a Command to execute on an enemy or ally. When all enemies has been slain, characters are given experience, Gold Coins, Jusphy Points, and spoils. If the allies are all defeated, the game is over and will restared at the latest save.

#### Level Up and Rank Up

EXP allows a character to level up. When leveling up, each stat except Luck (LCK%) and Moral (MOR) increase up to 1-3 points. The player can however choose a stat to give bonus points determinated by a roulette. When a certain level is reached, a character gains a new Ability from a mastered Ability Type.

When enough levels are gained, the rank increases. When a Rank increases, a character them gains a new unique perk and Inner Powers.

### Menu

The Main Menu is the main source of customization. The player can use items, equip pieces of armor and accessories, Jusphys, and Power Stones. Accessories and Jusphys grants statistics and Commands modifications. Power Stones gives a Power, a poweful Ability that needs the Power Gauge to be filled. The Main Menu also summarizes the story and other labors, the bestiary and recipes, and a view of the entire map. The player can configure their game and save it, or load and delete another one.

## Story

### Setting

The main setting is Jolyssah, a populated island that originally was an island containing a Magic known as Elementalia. After a battle, Jolyssah is left out of this magic for the next two decades, until being populated again, with only a few aware of this magic...

### Overview

A powerful magic known as Elementalia, having disappeared for twenty years, is discovered again by a warring legion known as Avariel, who continuously battles the Order. One of the Order's knights, Kalusa, battles them as she learns she is the one able to face Elementalia and prevent it from misuse by a vengeful wizard once his life has been returned...

### Characters

* Kalusa: A 21 years old knight-in-training living with her brother following the deaths of their parents. As she overcares for Rosmi, Kalusa wishes to follow his ways by becoming a knight. On a journey to rescue him, Kalusa loses her left hand, and learns from a secret past she is the one able to save the world.
* Rosmi: Kalusa's old brother, devouted to protect her. At the counsel of his father, Rosmi joined the knights of the Order for his caring personnality, open heart, and somewhat hidden skills. Rosmi is later mistaken as a target aware of Elementalia and captured by Avariel.
* Tolain: Kalusa's and Rosmi's friend. A knight of the Order, Tolain becomes closer to Rosmi and is captured by Avariel as a witness and left to die of starvation, until being saved by Kalusa, thus becoming closer to Kalusa.
* Jillis: Known as "Doc" or "Teach'", this man runs an inn on Askier village and rescues Kalusa when she shipwrecks at the cost of her left hand. Doc once joined a vigillante movement known as the "Resistance", but would flee and make his life with his inn. Before so, Doc had numerous hideouts through Jolyssah to survive, which is a running gag of the game.
* Lifril: A bounty hunter from the east of Jolyssah, who helps Jillis since the latter's arrival in Jolyssah.
* Ezarimel: Also known as the "Elder Prodigy of Knowledge", Ezarimel is one of the last remaining Elders who is cursed to wander into the lost Fountain of Jolyssah in the afterlife. When he feels the Elder's power in Kalusa's body, he then assists her into stopping Promka with the remaining energy he has, while keeping his troubled past in secret. Ezarimel never appears and only communicates by thought to Kalusa.
* Dormain: The best blacksmith in all of Jolyssah, according to himself. A survivor of the Magana massacre, Dormain would later make his own ways in a hidden spot, leaving himself to low chance of winning comeptition. Despite this, and his foul language, Dormain's work is near perfection, and reasonably priced, until he finds out another blacksmith has worked on your Gear.
* Promka: A former Elder who discovered Elementalia. When Promka finds out the early discovery was an experiment from the Elders, he then turns against them, stealing Elementalia and turns wizard, cursing many Elders alongsides his four knights across all of Jolyssah. The remaining Elders successfully held him to his execution, but said execution as tricked, killing both Promka and the known Elders. Twenty years later, a way of resurrecting him is discovered by Avariel, where Promka would promise to fill their power if he accomplishes the revenge he desires.
* Korâh: A high member of Avariel, who appears as the main antagonist of the first chapters. After a deal with Promka, Korâh would join a fanatic cult to resurrect the wizard, alongside his comrades Shemby and Velamir; the latter who led him to capture Rosmi.
* Shemby: A leader of the cult to resurrect Promka, Shemby would later follow Promka's orders, to the point of sacrificing her sanity, where she would even betray her friends. She is later used as the "Vessel" for Promka.
* Velamir: Korâh's right-hand associate. Velamir's cruel personnality would lead him to gain information by torture and false promise, such as promising a stack of money for information to an agent, only to have him killed when his work is finished. Velamir attempts at numerous times to stop Kalusa and her group, to no avail, depsite Kalusa revealing her real personality.
* Genesis: Korâh's deceased corpse used as an experiment, Expriment G, to track down Kalusa. As he fails, he further evolves into a monstrous beast.
* The "Vessel": Shemby's deceased corpse used as a vessel for the upcoming resurrection. Its solid physical abilities grant him the skill to bypass the Barrier and resurrect Promka outside of Jolyssah, which would lead to disastrous events.

### Storyline

#### Lore

Beings known as the Elders created Jolyssah, an event known as the Rejuvenance, with a magic known as Elementalia discovered by Promka and Ezarimel while exploring deep slumbers known as Eden's Garden. While experimenting Elementalia, Elders would then decide to use Jolyssah as a populated land and use their inhabitants as test subjects, particularly members on the lowest level of society. One day, Promka would discover he is among the first test subjects during the Rejuvenance, meaning he was abducted and brainwashed. Realizing the Elder's true intents, Promka decided to take his revenge. Elders, aware of the situation, locked Eden's Garden through the Old Waters south of Jolyssah with the Elder's Blade and burying it away. Promka's corrupted Elementalia caused him to eliminate most of the Elders, but ends up imprisoned and sentenced to death. However, prior to his arrest, Promka tricked the Guardians of Eden with corrupted Elementalia, causing them to slowly turning mad and serve him. During Promka's execution, Ezarimel used the Old Waters, causing havoc through the Elders, who would end up cursed.

Before dying, Promka would then swear revenge on the Elders and destroy the world. His corpse would then be buried away. In Eden's Garden, Dallivan used his curse to brainwash the whole land for their safety, and Ezarimel would end up dying and wandering in the slums of the Southern Tower. The Guardians of Eden would then lock them away in a Jusphy and entomb themselves.

The current wielder of pure Elementalia, known as the Heir, would give birth to Kalusa, would be the future Heir and tasked to protect the world at her 18th birthday. However, Kalusa's mother would suddenly pass away prior to Kalusa's 18th birthday. While investigating her death, Avariel would learn about the Elder's legend and use it to their advantage during a combat, which leads up to the beginning of the game.

#### Encounters

* *Prologue\**
* *The Knight-in-Training*
* *Searching a Sibling*
* *The Forgotten Cure*
* *Avariel on Our Trail*
* *A Contained Fate*
* *The Puppet Among Us*
* *The Nightmare Unleashed*
* *A Deadly Promise*
* *Under the Surface*
* *A New Dawn Begins*
* *Breaking the Barrier*
* *World at War*
* *The Successor of Darkness*
* *A Bright Future*
* *Epilogue\**

\*These encounter are unlisted in-game. *Prologue* can only can be played between starting a new game and saving for the first time, and *Epilogue* is a post-credits cutscene.

##### The Meeting of A Lifetime

An unknown agent arrives at the meeting point where a dying fire was used as a waypoint. Approaching soldiers bring him to Velamir. The agent inform Velamir he has found their target. Confident, Velamir announces a battle will ensues as planned and leaves. The agent angrily confront his leader for a promised salary, but the accompanying soldiers kill the former.

*Encounter: The Knight-in-Training*

##### A Dream Come True

Kalusa wakes up late and joins her brother Rosmi for breakfast, where he taunts her about her graduation. Realizing she is late, Kalusa rushes the town of Rilius to the Order's Academy. Her teacher, Prenti, gives her basic equipment and both leave town for her test. However, her test is interrupted by wildlife beasts suddenly appear. Kalusa slays them, at Prenti's appreciation, and both return to Rilius. Midway, an explosion occurs. Panicking, Prenti brings Kalusa back to town and instructs her to return home for the results. While killing time, Kalusa is guided by an Order member to see the Three Judges, the Order's leaders. The Three Judges hire Kalusa and send her to the conflict.

##### A Dream Turning into a Nightmare

Kalusa is sent to the second unit where she is bullied for her past depression. Arrived at the site, Kalusa is guided to the main battlefield and battles alongsides her unit. When she notices Rosmi harmed, Kalusa ignores the warnings and rescues Rosmi, to his surprise. As they return, Kalusa suffers headaches with unknown utters calling her "Heir". Rosmi investigates and discovers the utters come from the cave. Rosmi decides to investigate further, and Kalusa follows to protect him. Further voice instructs her to touch the wall; doing so, a secret gateway opens. Inside, Kalusa finds a mysterious artifact. Touching it, the artifacts is revealed as a sword, that gives her further headaches. Rosmi gets hurt trying to wield it, and Kalusa picks it back once the headaches have stopped.

##### A Bittersweet Victory

Returning to the surface, Rosmi notices most of Avariel have fled the battle. Returning to the carriage, Velamir tricks it with explosives and confronts the group. Kalusa combats him and incapacitates the foe, allowing the siblings to flee.

Later, at home, Rosmi announces Kalusa her graduation has been rebuffed for deserting her unit and the mysterious sword she has found. Kalusa angrily talks ill of her deceased parents, prompting Rosmi to leave the house. Later on, Kalusa decides to apologize and enters Rosmi's room, only to find a package. Curious, Kalusa opens it and find her desired Shadow Leather. Overhearing Rosmi and mutual friend Tolain are still on service, Kalusa decides to find them.

##### Family Comes First

Kalusa uses her new Shadow Leather to bypass surrounding guards and infiltrates the Order, where she finds the mysterious sword. She then escapes to Rilius' gate where she finds Prenti waiting for her. Noticing Rosmi's absence concerning, he gives her a Satchel and a map, and requests her to return safe. Kalusa promises, and she leaves.

##### Oh Brother, Where are Thou?

*Encounter: Searching a Sibling*

Kalusa investigstes the surrounding where she finds Tolain and Rosmi's belongings, including Rosmi's journal. Kalusa rushes and find an Avariel camp nearby and infiltrates it, only to get caught. Kalusa is defeated, and Avariel flees with Rosmi and Tolain, fearing other Order members may intervene.

Kalusa steals a ship, but inclement weather causes the ship to wreck. A echoing voice expresses surprise and rushes at Kalusa.

##### A Lending Hand, Literally

Waking up, Kalusa is introduced to Jillis, nicknamed Doc, who crafted a prosthetic replacing Kalusa's lost left hand. Though surprised, Kalusa is thankful and is guided through the town of Askier, where Jillis runs an inn called "The Lorsius". When Kalusa searches for Avariel, Jillis assists her by directing her to recent Avariel activity. He then instructs her to visit his friend that runs the local shop. The friend gives Kalusa the Jolyssah's Map, a more detailed and updated map than Prenti's. Ready to go, Kalusa then begins her search in Jillis' given direction.

##### A Bad Company

While calmly crossing a nearby site, Kalusa comes across thieves and other local scum. A group corners Kalusa for her belongings, but are defeated, and Kalusa finds her first Jusphy. Continuing, Kalusa falls into a trap and is captured. However, Jillis appears and shows his surprising combat skills. He accompanies Kalusa while clearing a way and battles a beast with her, only to disappear afterwards. Kalusa proceeds her way.

##### The Magana Massacre

Kalusa finds her way blocked by a closed village following the "Magana massacre", where a secret interruptor can be found in the surroundings. Kalusa searches and finds it, which leads to a destroyed village. Before entering, Kalusa encounters a stranger.

##### The Self-Titled Best Smithey of Jolyssah

The stranger notices Kalusa has opened the village, where he picks resources. Whem Kalusa questions him, he taunts her fighting skills and "subpar" weapon, and invites her to his working space. Kalusa follows him, where he presents himself as Dormain, the "best smithey 'round here" and upgrades Kalusa's weapon. Impressed, Kalusa entrusts him and Dormain forcily put himself as his main and only personal smithey, at the condition of only requesting his services. Kalusa agrees, and Kalusa resumes her research to Magana.

##### Good ol' friend Tolain

Crossing Magana, Jillis reappears, much to Kalusa's questioning. Jillis joins Kalusa again and they both turn around an Avariel camp, where they claim even "the beast" cannot scare their 'prisoner', which Kalusa believes to be Rosmi. Finding the cage, Jillis decides to distract the camp, dropping a Power Stone by accident. Kalusa reaches the cage, finding Tolain. The otherwordly beast appears, but Kalusa is able to defeat it with the Power Stone. The beast breaks the cage, and Tolain heartfeltly thanks Kalusa, pointing out his and Rosmi's capture were planned. Returning to the camp, Kalusa finds most of the members slain, with Jillis nowhere to be found. Wondering where Rosmi is, Tolain informs Avariel is moving to the Mount Clickle. Kalusa decides to reach the place, and Tolain agrees to help her, joining the party.

##### Top of the Mountain

The pair travels together to Mount Clickle. Unaware, an unknown member follows them and unsuccessfully blocks their way until they cross the foothills. Climbing the mountain, the pair learns their plan to use "Elementalia" as their advantage. Unaware of Elementalia, Kalusa investigates studies to no avail, and Tolain comforts Kalusa as Rosmi is not in danger and probably the wrong captured member. The pair resumes their rescue quest. Reaching the top, the pair learns the involvement of "Korâh" and "Shemby". Confronting a member, they learn Rosmi has been brought to Guilerma. The pair descents the mountain as Avariel becomes alerted. The unknown figure reappears and follows them.

##### A Warm Welcome

As they descend, Avariel tricks them. Korâh appears and confronts the party. Jillis reappears and causes Korâh to flee, leaving explosives behind. The group finds shelter and Kalusa confronts Jillis for his sudden departures. Jillis explains his busy working schedules, but Kalusa rebuffs. However, Avariel attacks the shelter, and Jillis assists them. When Avariel overflows the shelter, Jillks makes a secret emergency exit. As they escape, Jillis detonates the explosive, clearing their escape. Jillis points them Guilerma and a vehicle, and instructs them to return to The Lorsius once Rosmi has been rescued. He gives them Power Stones, and leaves once more.

The pair reaches the vehicle, which Tolain easily controls, and they cross the bridge. However, the unknown figure, revealing himself as an assassin, confronts the grouo who becomes more and more discussed by Avariel. Before dying, the assassin detonates the bridge. The pair then decides to turn aroumd with a boat, at the closest dock who has current festivities.

##### Welcome to the grand Re-Opening!

At the deck, the pair are greeted by a local attendant and given papers for the festivities. Amid activities, the pair attempts to rent a ship, but high demand and low quantity block them, where they must play to earn one for twenty-four hours. Tolain accepts against Kalusa's insistence, with the former assuring the latter Rosmi is not close to death. The pair enjoys the activities, and participates into a fishing game. Requiring practice, the pair enjoys fishing and telling childhood memories, where Kalusa recalls a memory where Rosmi had brought special bait im a familial contest. Tolain, having gained an idea, uses special bait and catches the biggest fish, thus winning a boat. The pair crosses and arrives to Guilerma.

##### Dark Revelations

Travelling through Guilerma, the pair finds Avariel entering a castle, and Tolain notices a leak in a wall. They manage to enter the castle, but a fragile floor causes them to fall underground. There, the pair finds another otherwordly beast. Slaying it, they find a study referencing multiple experiments, such as the returning Elementalia and "Experiment P", rederencing Promka. Panicking, Kalusa rushes to the top floor slaying Avariel members on her way, and arrives to the throne room where they find a heavily-beaten Rosmi and Korâh. The latter informs the group Promka is close to return to life, and Kalusa confronts him to defend Rosmi. Korâh is defeated, but Shemby appears behind and swiftly betray Korâh. She is also defeated by the pair, however, Shemby uses Elementalia but Rosmi intervenes, becoming extremely ill, uttering "Too late" in a deep voice before falling unconscious. Korâh interrupts Shemby and detonates one of his explosives, causing Kalusa's group being separated from Avariel who flees. As the castle crumbles, Kalusa becomes separated from her comrades. Tolain escapes to The Lorsius while Kalusa finds another way. The floor collapses and Kalusa falls into the slums.

Meanwhile, Tolain steals one of Avariel's dogselds and escapes pursuing Avariel until being cleared.

Kalusa wakes up and experiences headaches. Noticing they are giving a direction, Kalusa follows it and arrives into a hidden chamber. There, a spirit appears, to Kalusa's surprise. The spirit presents himself as an Elder named Ezarimel. Elders are rumored beings who buikt Jolyssah before presumabely dying. Ezarimel confirms the rumors, where Elders were using the forgotten magic Elementalia to create life. Elementalia flows both in Kalusa and the Elder's Blade, allowing her to wield it without any issue. Elementalia became poisoned by Promka before bein executed. Kalusa recognizes the name and informs Ezarimel Avriel attempts to resurrect Promka. Fearing unforeseen consequences, Ezarimel tasks Kalusa to stop Promka as she is the last hope. Kalusa accepts, but requests Ezarimel to cure Rosmi. Ezarimel transfers himself into a stone, and instructs Kalusa to find Rosmi.

*Encounter: The Forgotten Cure*

Kalusa crosses the hidden vault and returns to the surface, inside the Sadern Forest. Leaving the forest, Kalusa stumbles across two Avariel soldiers. Luckily, they don't recognize her and let her pass. Arriving at Askier, Kalusa enters the inn and presents Ezarimel to Rosmi in private. Ezarimel detects poisoned Elementalia and remarks time is running out. However, Ezarimel kept a material in his keep in Valfia, unaware the region is covered into lethal cold. Kalusa informs the party byt Jillis warns Kalusa of the conditions. Planning to craft convenient clothes from Dormain. Jillis accepts to accompany Kalusa as her guide, and hides Tolain and Rosmi into a hidden chamber.

##### Valfia, Region of the Frozen

The pair visits Dormain, who declines to craft non-armor clothing. Kalusa taunts and pushes him by "visiting" another smithey. Dormain eventually agrees and tasks them to find local animal's skin. Successful, warm clothes are crafted, and the pair arrives at Valfia. Locating the keep, the party crosses the region parts by parts. Inside, Kalusa finds the required stone. Om their way back, an ancient creature awakens and attscks the group. Before dying, the creature summons his army of ice-shaped soldiers who are tasked to bring the stone back. The pair fends off the soldiers and their trap, and returns to Dormain to break the stone. With the source, Kalusa uses her blood to mix Elementalia. The cure complete, the pair returns to The Lorsius.

##### Prioritized Targets

*Encounter: Avariel on our Trail*

Inside The Lorsius, Jillis opens the hidden chamber and Kalusa approaches Rosmi to heal him. Though successful, the healing process is slow. Loud noises can be heard upstairs, and Tolain deduces Avariel is at it. When the floor catches fire, Jillis intervenes and confronts the attackers to protect the crew. Jillis learns Avariel searches for the "Forbidden Jusphy". When Avariel overwhelms the place, Kalus and Tolain joins Jillis and slay Avariel. Tolain whistles the dogsleighs, and Rosmi slowly joins them. As Jillis and Kalusa prepares the getaways, Tolain protects the group. Once ready, Tolain embarks with Jillis and Rosmi whike Kalusa takes the remaining dogsleigh. Jillis guides them northeast of Askier to lay low as Kalusa combats the pursuing Avariel soldiers. Once safe, Jillis stops and watches The Lorsius falling burnt, uttering "Sorry...". Rosmi becomes dizzy, causing Jillis to order the party follow him.

##### The Path of the Past

As the sun rises, the party arrives in a plain field in Nocrelia. Jillis notes a ground door can be found nearby and Kalusa investigates. Finding it, the party gets shelter inside it in order to plan things out. Inside, Kalusa and Tolain notices a picture depicting Jillis and a similar person, named Lorsius. Irritated, Jillis orders the two to stop touching hos belongings before taking it. Looking at Rosmi, Jillis decides to sleep, and blows the candle's fire. Some hours later, Kalusa wakes up and finds Jillis awake. The latter apologizes and explains many years ago he and Lorsius joined the "Resistance". After unsuccessfully rescuing Lorsius, Jillis relocated to Jolyssah to begin his life anew and honor his brother with the inn at his name. The two spend most of the night relaxing while looking the bright sky. Rosmi awakens and to his surprise notices Kalusa and Tolain. However, Rosmk acts annormally hostile towards Kalusa's efforts and her powers. Kalusa then changes his mind with a tricked question and joins the party. Out of options to find a way, Jillis collects Avariel mentionning the "Forbidden Jusphy", causing Ezarimel to react. The party learns the Forbidden Jusphy is hidden through a special mechanism involving the three Statues of the Elders across Jolyssah, which the first is set at Lorislo. However, Jillis leads the party to Combre for his belongings, meeting long-time friend Lifril and others. One complete, the party departs for Lorislo.

##### Lorislo' Statue

*Encounter: A Contained Fate*

Deducung Lorislo on the map, the party travels to the village only to be attacked by a mummy. Shemby appears and 'explains' the mummy is Korâh's corpse ordered to pursue the party, titled Genesis. Unable to defeat it, they nevertheless knock it out and defeats Shemby, who flees mid‐fight. The party finds the first Statue of the Elders, which reacts to Kalusa's powers and releases a beam. Once turned correctely, the beam shows the second Statue of the Elders, at Tumeron.

##### Tumeron's Festival

The party departs to Tumeron. There, the place where the statue resides is surrounded by the inhabitants who prepares for their annual Festival. Attempting to interact with the Statue, the Festival host interrupts them as the statue will be required for their play. The host notices Tolain resembles to the original actor who has not shown up, and hires him. Tolain agrees and is given a script. However, Kalusa is required to activate the statue. Tolan then give his idea to disguise Kalusa as a man, much to the latter's dismay. To avoid public constraint, Kalusa hides inside their inn room and Tolain carries the necessary material. Kalusa is successfully disguised as Tolain. Kalusa reads the script and joins the play's crew.Rosmi joins the party in the field and arranges a distraction to allow Kalusa to touch the statue midway.

##### The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

The play, *The Book of an Angel* by Thomas De La Cour, commences. Kalusa is brought to the play and has difficulty to keep a deep voice and remembers the script. The host and narrator keeps changing the script, always preventing Kalusa of touching the staute short. Rosmi begins the distraction, but notices Avariel members stealing the material, ruining the distraction. As Rosmi joins Kalusa, he is spotted and forced to fend them off. In the city, Kalusa notices Rosmi being pursued by Avariel, and creates an ad-lib which requires a participant on the theater. The public forces Avariel members on the play, and engage a fight with Kalusa. One of the members, extremely shy, flees the play and the other joins him to not fight Kalusa. The host then reprises his narration and lets Kalusa touch the Statue, which shows the last Statue with the beam. The play ends as planned, and Kalusa returns to her party once the congratulations are completed. The party then returns to the hideout.

##### A Shimmer of Hope

Tolain is awakened by fireworks. Remembering Kalusa appreciates them, he wakes her up and leads her to a hill where Tumeron can be seen and both appreciate the fireworks while discussing their future. Once the fireworks are done and Tumeron plunges into darkness, the pair returns to the party and completes the night.

##### The Final Statue

As the sun rises, the party begins their search for the final Statue. As they gain higher altitude, they notice the beam goes across the Desert of Gholorm. Doc then has an idea and tells them to follow him. They go to Combre, where Lifril retrieves a special whistle. Returning to Gholorm, Doc uses the whistle and attracts four desert beasts.

##### The Finish Line

Tolain, expressing sadness over the completion of their quest, proposes a race, which the party agrees to. Arriving close to the final Statue, the party discovers the relic to activate it is underground. Exploring the monster-infested underground, the party finds the final Statue, which releases a beam, and reveals the Forbidden Jusphy's location from the crossing beams. Leaving the desert, the party is attacked once again by Genesis. The party fends it off, and opens the path below the crossing beams.

##### The Relic of the Past

Inside the cavern that opens up, the party finds writings on the wall surrounding the Forbidden Jusphy. Ezarimel guides Kalusa to use her powers and a way opens up. Inside, the party retrieves the Forbidden Jusphy, which both Kalusa and Rosmi hears deep whispers. Ezarimel then instruct them to get out of the cavern. Outside, Rosmi picks th eJusphy and begins a bizarre reaction, claiming to know the location.

##### Beyond the Appearances

*Encounter: The Puppet Among Us*

Rosmi leaves the party and rushes out of the blue, ignoring the party's pleas. The party searches for him and finds out Rosmi has been held by Avariel again. As the party rescues him, Avariel launches an experiment, but is defeated. As Kalusa retrieves the Forbidden Jusphy, the experiment attacks her, which touches the Elder's Blade and breaks the Jusphy that unleashes four arrays of the Blade's Elementalia which cause chaos through Jolyssah. Avariel escapes with the Jusphy while the party watches in horror while Rosmi begins headaches. Once done, the party notices the powerless Blade and deduces Rosmi is still cursed; with no cures, Rosmi agrees to help the party the best he can. Ezarimel tasks Kalusa to retreive the Blade's power, and the party returns to the World Map.

*Encounter: The Nightmare Unleashed*

The player character now must find the shattered Elementalia through Jolyssah. The order to retrieve it is free of choice between **Visions and Illusions**, **A Young Fire**, **The Art of Teamwork**, and **Mystery of Mist**.

#### Summary

Knight-in-training Kalusa successfully passes her graduation. When a conflict between the Order and Avariel occurs, Kalusa is sent as last resort. Deserting to protect her brother Rosmi, the pair finds an unknown artifact known as the Elder's Blade which Kalusa is mysteriously the only one to wield. After defeating Avariel, Rosmi inexplicably goes missing alongsides Tolain. Kalusa escapes to rescue them, but fails and shipwrecks on the outskirts of Jolyssah, where she is rescued by Jillis. Jillis assists Kalusa, finding Tolain. The two help each other to find Rosmi. On their way, they discover Avariel conducts multiple experiments to master "Elementalia" and resurrect Promka. Kalusa rescues a cursed Rosmi but falls into the slums as an explosion separates both the party and Avariel.

Inside the slums, Kalusa is guided on the encounter of Ezarimel, an Elder who built Jolyssah and were presumed decimated many decades ago. Ezarimel reveals Kalusa has special powers connected to Elementalia, a forbidden magic that Promka once mastered; his return would become fatal. Kalusa stopping him with the Elder's Blade being the only solution, Kalusa accepts at the condition to rescue Rosmi and Ezarimel accompanies her. With Jillis, Kalusa rescues Rosmi. However, Avariel launches multiple experiments, including a mummy who pursues them known as Genesis. With Avariel on their trail, Kalusa persuades Rosmi to join them and the party begins their quest to prevent Promka.

Guided by Ezarimel, the party finds the "Forbidden Jusphy", a rare artifact containing poisoned Elementalia Promka used to overturn his execution. Avariel manipulates Rosmi's remaining curse to bring the Jusphy, and attacks the party, which causes the Jusphy to unleash the Elementalia through Jolyssah as Promka's four loyal servitants, each with a segment of the Elder's Blade's power. The party treks through Jolyssah to retrieve the power, successfully eliminating the servitants and bringing peace back through Jolyssah, attracting the Order under the alias "Shimmer of Hope". Rosmi is once again manipulated into a trap to Genesis but the party manages to fend Avariel off and retrieve the Forbidden Jusphy, and Kalusa learns Avariel had made a blood oath with Promka while exploring uncharted slums and finding his tomb.

Restoring the power, Avariel attacks them, causing Kalusa to fall in the source with the Forbidden Jusphy while the remaining party gets captured. A barrier also surrounds Jolyssah. Inside the source, Kalusa discovers the secret passageway to Loranzel, an abandoned temple which Jolyssah was built above of to hide it known as Eden's Garden. There, Kalusa finds the Horn of Loranzel and discovers her powers come from the Elder's failed experiments on her mother that led to her death from the Elder's abusive behavior. Kalusa distrusts them and returns to the surface, where Ezarimel sacrifices himself to purify the Forbidden Jusphy. Meanwhile, Rosmi is used as the "Vessel" to resurrect Promka into stronger powers, but Jillis rescues the group and they reunite with Kalusa, where Rosmi is now properly healed, but learn Promka has resurrected. The party uses the purified Forbidden Jusphy to destroy the barrier, defeat Genesis, and Avariel high-ranked member Velamir; the latter castaways on a distant island.

The Order tracks the party. While Kalusa cannot become knight, the Order accepts to assist the party combat Avariel. Kalusa blows the Horn of Loranzel, and the war begins. The party engages and combats their way to Promka, where he is powered by another Vessel. Recognizing Kalusa as the Heir, Promka uses his growing Elementalia to elimimate the group, but the party uses the Forbidden Jusphy against him, and is defeated alongsides the Vessel. Promka destroys the Elder's Blade; although Promka and Avariel turn into ashes, Tolain succumbs to his wounds. Pure Elementalia from Jolyssah flow into the world before vanishing for eternity. Returning home, Kalusa decides to hide her powers. At the former's insistence, Rosmi promises, and Kalusa begins an ordinary life.

## Development

Earliest ideas began in 2011, as a story-less dungeon crawler game known as "Rungeon", where the player character would be a male called Tom or a woman called Kalusa, but the game was cancelled. With Tom being used as another project, VERCON decided to use Kalusa as another project with a female protagonist, as "Battle of the Light" in 2019, but was cancelled yet again. However, in 2022, VERCON decided to use Kalusa as a game; after difficulty finding a title to assemble the story and its themes, VERCON decided to use Kalusa's name as the title since most of the game centers around her and her past, present, and future.