Game Overview:
Unravel the dark truths and the hidden spirits of the Vior in this otherworldly roguelike dungeon-crawler! In Spirits of Vior, you play as Embla, a young girl lost in the sunken woods who must fight to survive. Using the powers of the spirits and Embla’s innate ability, shift between different planes of reality and battle your way through the corrupted forest.
My Contributions:
Created game concept, mechanics, and character designs.
Developed the protagonist, Embla, her background, and core mechanics.
Designed the idea of using totems for powers.
Wrote the backstory of Embla as a Huldra, a Scandinavian creature whose mother was claimed by the forest.
Sample Game Design Notes:
Origin Story of the Huldra:
In the Garden of Eden, the first woman was bathing her children. Some were clean, while others were still playing in the wild. When God appeared and asked to see them, she hid the unwashed ones in shame. As punishment, God decreed that these children would remain hidden forever—becoming the spirits of the forest, unseen by humanity. The mother wept as her children fled into the woods, never to return.
Before the Game:
With the rise of the Viking Age, humanity began reclaiming the land, establishing new religious societies and forsaking the old ways.
The deep forests remained home to spirits and creatures, including the Huldra—guardian of the wild.
The Huldra, a powerful matriarch, commanded the forest, communed with higher animal spirits, and sought to preserve balance.
Embla’s parents came from different worlds: her father, a humble farmhand, and her mother, the last remaining Huldra.
Their love was forbidden. Embla’s mother broke her pact with the forest to be with her father, angering the spirits—especially The Endless, a powerful unseen entity.
Embla was born into a world where the forest grew vengeful, swallowing those who wandered in.
One day, her mother returned to the woods and never came back.
Leading to the Game:
The village feared the forest, blaming disappearances on the White-Eyed Witch.
Embla, drawn to the voices in the woods, longed to understand her past.
One night, as mist rose over the trees, she ventured into the forest—seeking answers.
In the Game:
Embla searches for her mother, believing she is still alive in the forest.
The animal spirits guide her, but they have their own agenda—manipulating her into taking her mother’s place.
Embla’s mother fights against the forest’s wrath, unknowingly opposing her daughter.
The village sees Embla as another lost soul and prepares to burn the forest down.
Embla’s ultimate choice: accept the mantle of the forest queen or abandon the legacy forever.
Extra Plot Points:
A secret boss fight occurs if Embla refuses to fight her mother, leading to a confrontation with The Endless.
The Endless manifests as a trinity of life, death, and the everlasting—shifting forms between the physical and spiritual.
In the true ending, Embla saves her mother and ends The Endless’ reign. The forest spirits recognize her as their leader, and she takes on the burden of healing the land.
Flames and destruction spread as she ventures deeper, the village’s wrath threatening to consume everything.
The Cast:
Embla – The protagonist, a lost girl caught between two worlds.
Her Father – A simple man who tried to keep her safe.
Her Mother/The White-Eyed Witch – The last Huldra, caught between protecting the forest and her daughter.
The Animal Spirits – Mysterious beings that guide (and deceive) Embla.
The Endless – A malevolent entity enforcing the will of the forest.
The Village – Fearful of the unknown, ready to destroy the forest.
