I just finished watching your stream VOD! Sorry I couldn’t make it while you were Live. We seriously appreciate the time you took to play Shadowsand Defense (and highlighting some other Pirate Jam 15 games)! I’m Crow, the Narrative and Design (writing, music, SFX) person in the credits. This is my second Pirate Jam, and my fourth jam ever joined!
It was so surreal hearing my dialogue be voice-acted. The way you and your chat clocked the vibe between Lux & Umbra immediately. “Oh they ARE tragic enemies-to-lovers!” And “I choose Life… with you!” LOLL
To acknowledge this question from your playthrough:
“What’s the origin behind the shadow critters? Did they, like, go to the same magic school… I guess the Tower is where they learned their craft? …And like, Umbra’s come to ‘save’ Lux, AKA, get him to join him in evil, and Lux is like ‘noo, I want to use my powers for good!’”
At the end of Round 5, there is some dialogue between two unknown characters. One is a soldier of the Tower, the other is a high-ranking official of the Tower.
Tower Soldier: Lieutenant General! Have you any orders for us?
Unknown: Shadowsand, torches, and... what are these, pickaxes? What happened here?
Tower Soldier: As of yet unsure, sir. This must be the work of a dozen sorcerers or more; we've never seen so much destruction!
Unknown: ...It is a shame that so much harm must come to nature.
Unknown: Send a messenger back to the barracks. I will take some scouts and venture out from here.
Tower Soldier: Understood, sir! I shall take my leave!
...
Unknown: Lux... I hope you're not alone.
Unknown: I hope you are safe.
Unknown: I am coming to take you home.
I don’t want to give away all the answers just yet, but I can provide this. All creatures with spirit are made of a substance called “shadowsand.” It is basically the equivalent of quintessence in alchemy. Lux and Umbra have an unnatural attunement to shadowsand, allowing them to transform and even imbue objects such as trees or rocks with it. They were childhood friends, both sharing this otherworldly ability, but circumstances led them on separate paths. Now, Lux is a misunderstood altruist wanted by the Tower, and Umbra is a jaded old friend who just can’t manage Lux’s idealism.
If we ever add voicelines in a future update, I would be totally up for featuring you in it! Thanks again for the stream and your comments!