Revision 1

Geography

Vale Sangora is an isolated valley in the Carpathian Mountains, somewhere in medieval Southeast Europe. Mountains wall it off from the outside world, and the few passes that connect it to neighboring regions are difficult to traverse. This isolation is central to the game's design — it explains why vampires can rule openly here without attracting attention from larger kingdoms, and it contains the game's narrative within a defined space.

The landscape is varied despite the valley's size. It includes the city of Svartrau, smaller villages like Laslea, dense forests, river valleys, swamps, mountain passes, ancient ruins, and extensive cave systems. The developers have been clear that the open world is deliberately smaller than many modern games — they want players to get to know the place rather than just pass through it.

Political situation

Two years before the game begins, the vampire lord Brencis and his followers overthrew Vale Sangora's previous ruler, Lord Scander. Scander had been a tyrant, so his removal wasn't mourned by most. Brencis then established a new order: vampires rule, but they also protect.

The political dynamic is deliberately messy. Brencis's vampires can cure the Black Plague with their blood, which in the 14th century is essentially a miracle. Many humans view the vampires as religious saviors. They pay the blood tax — a regular contribution of human blood to the vampire overlords — and consider it a fair trade for protection and plague immunity.

Not everyone agrees. There are factions that resist vampire rule, from organized rebellions to individual dissenters. But the resistance has a hard time recruiting when the alternative to vampire rule is death by plague. The game lets players navigate this political landscape however they choose — you can align with the human rebellion, work within the vampire system, or ignore the politics entirely.

Day and night

Vale Sangora transforms between day and night in ways that go beyond a simple lighting change. During the day, the valley functions as a relatively normal medieval society. People work, trade, and go about their lives. The streets are safe enough for travel, and human merchants operate openly.

At night, the vampires emerge. The streets of Svartrau become dangerous. Guards loyal to Brencis patrol the city. For Coen, the night opens up new traversal options — his vampiric powers let him walk on walls, teleport short distances, and access areas that are sealed during daylight hours. But he also has to avoid being recognized as a monster by the nocturnal patrols.

The plague

The Black Death hangs over everything in Vale Sangora. Outside the valley, the plague is killing millions across Europe. Inside, Brencis's blood cure keeps the worst of it at bay — but the cure creates dependency. The people of Vale Sangora can't leave without losing their protection, and they can't rebel without risking that the vampires will withdraw the cure.

The plague also explains why vampires chose this particular moment to step out of the shadows. As Rebel Wolves has described it, the plague created a "moment of weakness" in human society that the vampires exploited. When people are desperate enough, they'll accept almost any bargain.

Known locations

• Svartrau: The valley's main city, a walled settlement with distinct districts

• Laslea: A smaller village, home to an elder named Zdislav

• Greifberg: A castle near Svartrau

• Silberkreis: The wealthiest district in Svartrau, closest to Greifberg castle