
The story starts off with a pivotal event with fateful consequences for all of the main characters. Is the goal to have a story every bit as visceral and dark as Survival mode?

Erodar is a land under siege. How did it get this way? Who are the key players?
Patch: “Erodar is an old island with lots of history. Really, we only just begin to scratch the surface in the Campaign, but even so it is riddled with different factions and individuals. We have:- The Order – the oldest extant faction, who are ostensibly neutral peacekeepers and law enforcement but whose true loyalties vary by who is their leader at any given time. Edwin, Aurelia, Merek, Theda and Hector are all part of this faction. They are bound by oath to serve the people of Erodar and keep the Nightmares at bay.
- The Alderin – The current rulers of Erodar, who took control of the continent in a quick and bloody war just a few decades earlier. They are relatively new, and are particularly oppressive to the rural peasants, taking more than their fair share to shower the urbanites in luxuries to maintain a sense of loyalty around their throne. Though they have a King in Erodar, their true seat of power is on the mainland.
- The Rebellion – Driven mostly by the oppressed peasantry, and under the leadership of Aelis Syren, only known survivor of the ruling family from before the Alderin invasion. For years she has quietly cultivated a following and begun to wrest control of the lands far from the capital, thanks in large part to her right-hand-man Cyrus.
- The Iron Talon – Alderin oppression has forced many into a life of crime. Many petty criminals have taken up the banner of the Iron Talon. They are ruthless and increasingly organised, and exist as an ever-present threat in the lives of otherwise-peaceful Norfolk.
- Norfolk – These are the everyday men and women of Erodar, struggling to get by as they are constantly assaulted or robbed by the Iron Talon or soldiers serving the Alderin king.
- The Volatists – The newest major force in Erodar. Led by a charismatic and powerful figure named Vizargo, they have a complex relationship with the Nightmares and Veil, which puts them at odds with The Order.”
Did you start with the characters in Survival or for Campaign? Which came first?

The world of Erodar feels familiar yet stands on its own in the pantheon of RTS games. What were your major inspirations in bringing this story to life?
Mario: “Erodar and its characters have many inspirations. The world of Age of Darkness: Final Stand initially was a dark and morally gray world, with a supernatural event handled by humans doing their best. We also drew inspiration from many of our favorites, including; Warcraft III, Battle for Middle Earth, Battle Realms, The Elder Scrolls series and Starcraft II. As for characters, factions, history, motivations, and the lore, it really is a boiling pot of many pop-culture references, with many facets of fantasy and drama.” Patch: “We’ve strived to carefully balance some dark fantasy tropes that are loads of fun to play with, with ones that are unique to this title. The power interplay between factions is a classic element of hard fantasy. We drew certain elements from a range of sources and added our own vision of what Age of Darkness: Final Stand’s pre-history and religions might look like, and how those things carried forward into their current world.”Can you give us a sense of the elements of fire and justice that drove our characters in Flames of Retribution ahead of Act III?

- Edwin is driven by duty and loyalty. He may feel no love for his leader Hector, but he took an oath that he feels he must keep.
- Aurelia is driven by a desire to prove herself to Edwin and get things done. Where Edwin wants to work within the system, Aurelia wants to work in the fastest, most effective way possible.
- Aelis is driven by a desire to reclaim her throne and free her people from what she views is the rule of a usurper.
- Cyrus is driven by his love and loyalty to his Queen, Aelis.
- Merek is driven by coin, booze and guilt. He needs money to buy the ale that lets him forget the awful acts he did and continues to do in the name of The Order.
- Vizargo is driven by revenge and power. He views The Order as the true oppressors, and sees The Veil and the Nightmares as a weapon to wield against them.