Vale Sangora

Geography

Vale Sangora is a valley in the Carpathian Mountains, surrounded on all sides by mountains and accessible solely through narrow gorges that are only passable during summer months. This isolation is fundamental to the story. It explains why vampires can rule openly without attracting attention from larger kingdoms, and it constrains the game world into a defined space where every location matters.

The setting draws from Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Balkan architectural styles and cultures. The surrounding mountains were historically rich with silver, and rocky slopes are pockmarked with mine entrances, including the mines where Coen grew up working alongside his father.

Multiple biomes fill the valley: dense forests, mountain passes, swamps, meadows, peat bogs, cave systems, medieval settlements, and the ruins of ancient civilizations. The southern regions are more dangerous, with difficulty generally increasing as you move south. Each region's difficulty locks on your first entry based on your level.

Political situation

Two years before the game begins, Brencis and the Vrakhiri eliminated the valley's previous ruler, Skender Dragosti. Skender had been a tyrant who expanded dungeon torture chambers and wiped out plague-afflicted villages. The vampire takeover was, for many, an improvement.

Brencis cures the plague with vampire blood, and in the 14th century that is an almost unimaginable power. Many humans worship the vampires as religious saviors. They pay the blood tax (regular contributions of blood to the vampire overlords) and consider it a fair trade. The valley is divided among the four Vrakhiri, each controlling their own territory with their own governing style.

Not everyone agrees with vampire rule. Factions exist that resist, cooperate, or pursue their own agendas. The game lets Coen navigate this landscape however the player chooses.

Day and night

The valley transforms between day and night. During the day, it functions as a medieval society. People work, trade, and travel. At night, the vampires emerge. The streets of Svartrau become dangerous. Guards patrol. For Coen, the night opens new traversal using vampiric powers (wall-walking, teleportation, bat transformation) but he must avoid being seen.

The plague

The Black Death reached Vale Sangora from the coastal city of Constanta, where the outbreak first exploded and spread "like a forest fire." Outside the valley, the plague is killing millions across Europe. Inside, Brencis's blood cure keeps the worst at bay, but the cure creates dependency. The people can't leave without losing protection, and they can't rebel without risking the vampires withdrawing the cure.

Known locations

Recorded history

The valley's pre-vampire history was documented by Albertus Taurinus, a chronicler from Turin summoned by Skender Dragosti. His sixteen-part Secret History of Vale Sangora records the valley's culture, folklore, religious traditions, and the events leading to the vampire takeover.