Aretisia: Tenebris Dominus

## Tenebris Dominus

Aretisia: Tenebris Dominus is the first game in the series and currently in development. It is a turn-based RPG being developed in RPG Maker MV. The first of two demos was released on April 13th 2023 while the second demo was released on July 13th 2023. Development started at the end of July in 2018, and the development process was chronicled in a Twitter thread before moving to itch.io devlogs.

## **Development**

Initial concepts for Tenebris Dominus date back as far as November 2011, with a very early prototype game called Inkagafar: The Great Quest. The original game contained some concepts carried forward to Tenebris Dominus, such as the title (Tenebris Dominus is a Latin translation of the original antagonist's name, Dark Lord). The protagonist was George Cape, who later evolved into Lazarus Capian over the development cycle of Tenebris Dominus.

Plans for a sequel to The Great Quest were created very shortly after Inkagafar was finished, but it was cancelled very quickly. The initial plan for Inkagafar II was for it to be split into three parts:

* **Inkagafar II: Part I** - the setup to the story in Part II. The protagonist was Joseph Cape and it would've been a prequel to The Great Quest, taking place years before. The basic premise for the plot was that Joseph's pub, The Tidal, was hit by an earthquake that revealed a cave hidden underneath the floor. After taking a look in the cave he ended up in an insane plot to stop a demon invasion through a long sealed door, being led by the Dark Lord.
* **Inkagafar II: Part II** - the main chunk of the game. After arriving on a boat to an island in the middle of Inkagafaria, Joseph had to figure out where the two parts of the door's seal were kept. After finding them, he would go to the door to face the Dark Lord.
* **Inkagafar II: Part III** - the final part of the game. Takes place through the door, taking Joseph into the demon realm and into the final fight against the Dark Lord.

All 3 parts would've been released individually with the save files being transferred across, making it episodic. This idea for a new game in the series was scrapped sometime around 2012.

In late 2012, another idea was planned. This time it was a prequel taking place during George's childhood, titled Inkagafar: The Beginning. The plot, once again, involved a demon invasion led by the Dark Lord. This incarnation of the game was scrapped in 2014, but many ideas from the plot were carried forward.

A very short-lived reboot of the series took place in 2014-2015, with an attempt at a remake of The Great Quest. The title is unknown, and this iteration didn't make it past one room of development.

In early 2016 a total reboot of the series was planned using the concepts and characters already established, titled Inkagafar: Rise of Deus. A design document was written up and planned in advance, making it the first iteration to have extensive planning and documentation in place. After the documentation was written, very little development was done.

In July 2018 the design document was dug back up. With not much else going on, Ema decided to resurrect the project. The titled remained as Inkagafar: Rise of Deus for about a week before it was changed, as the plot was rewritten and the title no longer fit. Several months into development the title was completely changed, dropping Inkagafar from the title and replacing it with Aretisia, the name of the region the game takes place in. Several other changes were made too, such as George being renamed to Lazarus.

Development of Tenebris Dominus has been fairly slow since it began, but has had bursts of productivity where huge chunks of the game get finished at once. The original release date was 2019 but it was pushed back to 2020, then 2021. The most recent release window was July 2023 (the 5 year anniversary of the project beginning) but this has been missed. The current final release date is unknown.

## **Plot**

Set in AM-1301, Lazarus Capian recieves a letter from the King demanding that he come to the Regium Palace immediately. Upon arrival he is told that there is evidence Tenebris Dominus is being resurrected, and as the final living connection to Joseph Capian's legacy he must collect the armour pieces to stop it. Lazarus is initially hesitant, but the King says that his father might still be alive and, if he is, he's likely to be trying to stop Tenebris Dominus himself.

With the knowledge that his father might be out there, Lazarus accepts the task and goes to the royal library to learn where the armour pieces are held. Here he learns they are kept in the Doone Temple, the Shivermoore Palace, and the Antiquam Silvam. With his destinations in mind, he sets out to begin the quest.

On the way out of Inkagafar, the gate guards decide to join him temporarily. Reports of an ogre coming towards the city walls have concerned them, and as they are leaving the ogre smashes through the entrance. A short battle ensues, and the guards take Lazarus back into the city so that he can visit Poppy to have his wounds tended. Poppy is surprised to see Lazarus leaving Inkagafar and asks what he's doing, before asking to join him on the journey. Lazarus, surprised that she would want to come with him, accepts her request.

Now with a party of two, Lazarus and Poppy head out into the world to stop the resurrection of Tenebris Dominus.