The Temple of Valstar (ToV)

Seemingly an abandoned stronghold at first, this decrepit old temple quickly takes a more sinister turn...

Summary

The Temple of Valstar is a partially-buried massive complex of purple and magenta stone walls on a small island a few thousand feet from the western coast of Elutheria. The entrance to the temple is caved in, suggesting somebody from the modern age broke in to explore. The temple has 3 layers, each becoming progressively more sinister- a trait shared by the enemies found within. The player cannot access the final layer until they first explore a section of the Great Elutherian Mine.

Notable Events

• This is the first (true) region in the game.

• Shortly after entering it, the protagonists meet Flick.

• This region introduces several mechanics such as Soul Wells and Dark Rooms.

• This region introduces Callista.

• The player can obtain Stickylash, Ethereal Bow, and Power Gloves on their first visit.

• The player can obtain Grappling Knife after their GEM detour.

• Capitaine Chevalier is fought here right before their GEM detour.

Lore

Over 2,000 years ago, the Temple of Valstar was once a research facility constructed by the precursor Elutherians to study Crucimen, as it had begun to become a much more prevalent threat, with armies of crucimolds turning from myth into fact. Unfortunately, the researchers were not aware of one of Crucimen's cruelest traits until it was too late. Close and/or constant proximity to large amounts of Crucimen tends to have an effect on the human brain, leading to temporary versions of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, psychosis, ASPD, and other nasty effects until they are cut off from the source of crucimen and rehabilitated.

However, a rare, unique, and permanent condition, known as Contagious Crucimen Psychosis Syndrome, or CCPS- although most often just called Crucimen Insanity- is truly the most dangerous of mental disorders. The victim suffers from severe psychosis, and eventually will reach a point of no return- no known practice or medicine will revert their mental state. Often, this will just lead to the victim attempting suicide or self-mutilation, but rarely, under the right circumstances, worse takes place.

Kalus Valstar was the lead researcher at the research facility, and was generally loved by his coworkers. He was a charismatic, charming man, with as much love for science and research as his own family. Being the lead researcher, as well as being extremely proficient in many magic spells, Valstar was almost constantly exposed to Crucimen. As research continued further, Valstar's mental state began to exponentially deteriorate. His coworkers noted he seemed a bit off, but never confronted him about it as he was always putting up a smile and reassuring them he was okay. After denying his condition more and more, Valstar eventually contracted CCPS, having a severe psychosis episode during an experiment. His immense magical prowess created a dark rift within his brain and his heart, driving him insane. He became convinced that Elutheria was in danger of being passed judgement by a greater authority (one even higher than the Goddess) and reasoned that the only way to save Elutheria was to purge the lands and start anew. As his condition had reached a critical state, it was now directly contagious, and his coworkers were all quickly consumed by CCPS, turning the research facility into the Temple of the Cult of Valstar.

Their combined magic abilities and knowledge enabled them to perform dark rituals, leading to an even higher concentration of crucimolds in Elutheria. As the then-queen of Elutheria had not heard back from her messenger sent to the facility to check in with them, she sent a battalion of soldiers as well as a few government officials to ensure that nothing had gone wrong. Only one soldier survived the battle, and rushed back to the castle on the brink of death. He only just managed to warn the queen of the powerful sorcerer cult that had devoured the facility before he succumbed to his wounds. As retaliation, the queen sent her most powerful elites and wizards to the stronghold with the orders to annihilate the cult before it grew into an even larger problem.

The fight only lasted a few hours before the final ritual of the cult was completed, creating and unleashing the Unyielding Flame, but with the horrifying side effect of destroying the souls and bodies of all involved in the ritual. The loyalists fighting at the scene had very little time to feel horror to watching the cultists vaporize as this event marks the beginning of the Eternal Inferno. The stronghold was sealed, and so began the 7-month Armageddon.