DEV CHRONICLE: THE NORDIC SHORES OF VALM
If Kamazad stands as a frozen testament to ancient Titans, the Nordic Shores tell a very different story, one shaped not by ice and silence, but by wind and tide. Here, in the lands of the Valm Empire, the elements are never still. Rain and light dance in constant tension, and every battle feels like it could be swallowed by the sea at any moment.
The sacred lands of the Iron Sorcerer invite you Spellcasters to step onto a coastline unlike any other in Ashkenon, a sacred frontier where myth, magic, and war collide.
The Quanticians shaped these Source infused shores with great care. As art director Ronan Berlese explains, the team sought a very specific atmosphere: “We drew inspiration from the Atlantic coasts of Europe, including Brittany, Great Britain, Iceland. There’s something raw and powerful in those landscapes, something that feels both grounded and mythical.”. Rather than leaning into familiar Viking imagery, the Quanticians deliberately chose a different path. The Valm Empire carries a strong visual identity rooted in Celtic influences, one that evokes ancient mythology without falling into expected tropes.
At the heart of the arena stands a monumental gate, impossible to ignore, “I imagined that this gate leads deeper into the Kingdom, protected by the people of Valm. It raises questions more than it answers,” shares Ronan.
The Nordic Shores are shaped like a cove, a deliberate choice that tells a story even before the first spell is cast. This is not just the place of many battles; it is a shore long scarred by countless assaults, where enemies once came from the sea to break through Valm’s defenses. As the dawn of time, Quanticians wished for the earlier version of the arena to feature a fortress as its center, but the flow of battle demanded change: “We moved it back for level design reasons. It improved the overall flow and made the arena more dynamic.”
Here, the environment is not just a backdrop. Vegetation plays a key role in combat, offering opportunities for players to reshape the arena in real time. Fire can spread quickly and infuse creatures, trees can fall and block paths, turning defensive zones into hazards and opening new tactical possibilities while battling for the source. When it comes to its landscape, heavy clouds roll endlessly, caught in that fragile moment between day and night. Rain falls, light breaks through, and the entire arena lives in a constant state of tension. Achieving this balance was no small feat, as Ronan explains: “We had to find the right equilibrium in tones and textures to keep the action readable, while preserving that feeling of cold and humidity. A lot of work went into the visual effects to make it believable”.
As you Spellcasters know, magic, in Ashkenon, is not an abstract force. It is tangible. Visible. Alive. On the Nordic Shores, this idea takes shape in spectacular ways. A procedural water system brings the sea to life, waves move, breathe, and react, all while remaining optimized for your RAM… though around here, we prefer to say Runic Alignment Manuscripts.
And then there is the storm, a swirling tornado, revealing the very fabric of the world. Subtle strands of magic can be seen weaving through the environment, reminding players that Ashkenon is constantly being shaped: “You can actually see the threads moving. Magic is everywhere.” says Ronan.
And yet, for all that is visible, just as much remains unknown. What lies beyond the gate? What forces shaped these lands and still linger beneath the surface? And perhaps most unsettling of all… Where do the Leviathans come from? Ronan leaves us with an enigmatic answer: “This isn’t just a battlefield, it’s the entrance to something much larger. And we’re only beginning to tell that story.”
On the Nordic Shores, the war does not begin when players arrive. It has been raging for a very long time… and under a different sky, it may one day reveal an entirely new face.
