Hey everyone,
As we are approaching the fifth anniversary of the release of Vagrus, we’re taking the time to look back on this journey we’ve been on. In our ‘Revisited’ Series, we are venturing back to iconic and intriguing locations across the playable Riven Realms, rediscovering their atmosphere and the stories they hold. But looking back also means thinking about the road ahead. As a new season begins, our September Steam Sale offers an opportunity to return to the Riven Realms whether to revisit an old journey or embark on your first. And as we look towards the future of Lost Pilgrims and our community, we are also taking a fresh look at our Patreon, with a short survey to help us understand what our supporters and followers would genuinely value from us going forward.
We wanted to gather all the ‘Revisited’ articles into one post here for your enjoyment, so without further ado, here they go:
A City Forged in Fire
Avernum is one of the major settlements of the Searing Plains. So close to the Mountains of Fire with its volatile volcanoes, as well as the lava rivers that spawn constantly from them, it is no wonder that people named the place after the gates of a fiery underworld. Its strange ruler, the soft-spoken but tyrannical Prefectus, has allied himself with the Empire, but in truth, he runs his city as his own domain. Avernum has many a sight to behold – its darkstone walls embedded with gigantic bestial skeletons, the mighty Slagfort, the watering holes and slums of the Scoria district, or the fabled underground necropolis called the Ossuary are ominous locales that draw travelers and locals alike.
A Sea of Sand
The Bronze Desert is a great arid region in the northwestern corner of the continent of Xeryn. According to legend, the Bronze Desert got its name when an early Emperor, Honrarius II., arrived at the newly acquired province and declared that the copper-colored sands should inform the naming. The legend does not speak of how the sovereign despised the bronze glow or that only a small region of the wasteland displayed that specific color. These days, the Bronze Desert is nothing but endless dunes and rock formations, slightly darker in hue than the Searing Plains to the south. Countless oases dot the landscape, veritable harbors in this sea of sand. The region is mostly inhabited by the native Bandul, though Imperials have had a strong presence there in the last 500 years.
A Quick Reminder:
The continued development of Vagrus is made possible by the support of players like you.
Only a small fraction of Steam players ever leave a review, yet those reviews make a tremendous difference. A few sentences and a thumbs-up help more of you discover the Riven Realms, improve our visibility on Steam, and support the continued development of the game. If you haven't already, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a review on Steam. Every single one counts!
A Fortress of Fear
The Vigilus Tower is a wayward fortification in the Jagged Waste. A blackstone tower that is over 150 feet tall over a huge rocky hill, Vigilus is a great achievement of Imperial engineering. The thorns and barbs adorning it are of the new age architectural style, and they are meant to strike fear into the enemies of the Empire. The tower was built alongside the nearby Fort Viridium some time before the Orc War to guard precious resources in the area as well as the ventures that harvest them. The great fortress was thought to be too far from the important crossroads and so the Vigilus Tower was raised to serve as a forward outpost to it.
Perhaps even more ominously, a hidden sacred place is said to hide among the rocky base of Vigilus. Dedicated to the Black Sun, the sanctum is constantly guarded by a cadre of the knights of the Empire’s most fearsome holy orders. Common folks have no knowledge of the shrine, let alone the reason for its existence beneath the grim fort.
All of the music in these short videos can also be found in-game and in the Vagrus Original Soundtrack.
Looking back also gives us a chance to think about where we want to go next. We are taking a fresh look at our Patreon and asking our community what they would like to see from us in the years ahead. Through a short survey, we’re exploring everything from exclusive Vagrus lore and behind-the-scenes glimpses into development to community involvement, special digital and physical extras, and the possibility of bringing more of the Riven Realms to the tabletop. There are many paths we could take, and we’d like to hear from the people who have travelled with us along the way before deciding where the road leads next.
As summer draws to a close and a new season begins, it feels fitting to return once more to the Riven Realms. Our September Steam Sale is a chance to revisit old journeys, rediscover forgotten corners of the world, or set out into the wastes for the very first time. Whether you’ve travelled with Vagrus for years or have yet to take your first steps into the Riven Realms, this is a good moment to begin – or begin anew. Vagrus and its additional content are currently available at a special price during our September Steam Sale.
That is all for now, but stay tuned for further updates this fall. Until then, stay safe, stay awesome and conquer the wasteland!
– The Lost Pilgrims Team