Divinity: Original Sin II Update #8, $1,446,672 and Counting
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The latest update to the Divinity: Original Sin II Kickstarter focuses entirely on the Dwarves race, similarly to the two previous updates dedicated to the Undead and the Lizards. There's a fair bit on lore, to start with:
As generations passed, the empire grew strong. Yet, as even more generations passed, it grew complacent also. The line of Tenax was replaced by the ruthless House of Haudrauf, a family of wealthy, power-hungry rulers eager to get the empire firmly under its thumb.
The last emperor was a weak-willed dwarf who mismanaged the economy greatly, preferring grand scale personal projects over essential structures such as roads, aqueducts and harbours. Strategically, he dropped the ball by alienating allies, leaving the empire's enemies snapping at its heels for the first time in centuries.
Most noble households kept supporting him as a matter of course, but the people grumbled and urged the emperor's popular sister to remedy the situation. Backed by the Divine Order, this is precisely what she did: a coup was staged and her brother ousted.
This move had the nobles in an uproar, but in a shrewd political move, the new empress declared a pact with the popular Divine Order, ensuring support of the Order's vast military. Many nobles were quickly accused of Sourcery and purged.
Tenax's throne was once more occupied by a powerful and ruthless ruler, but the recent troubles left deep scars within the dwarven civilisation. Economic woes coupled with bloody bouts of purging led many dwarves to leave their homeland behind in search of brighter prospects.
Though the empress remains a popular leader, her alliance with the Divine Order proved to be divisive, especially the enforcing of the strict religious doctrine the Order is synonymous with.
Resettling often proved to be tough for the dwarven expats, though. Hard workers, but headstrong and imperious, they often clash with local populations. If there's one thing a dwarf doesn't like, it's to be told what he has to do.
As it stands, some dwarves take a very dim view of the empire's current situation and many fear that Tenax's vows will be broken. Humiliation: nevermore. Disunion: nevermore. How long will these tenets remain?
But also some concept art, and a neat video that also includes some snippets on the final stretch of development for the Enhanced Edition of Divinity: Original Sin and a quick look at some unfinished concept art:
It should be noted that the developers haven't yet settled on the Racial Skills for this race and are actively seeking feedback from the players. Hopefully the final results will be at least as creative and interesting as the tentative skill trees that were presented for the Lizards and Undead.
