[h1]The Veil Between Worlds is Thin... [/h1] [i][h3]& The Auction House is Open![/h3][/i] Samhain is upon us, and Hell's Bazaar, the auction house of the most evil, cursed, and haunted artifacts gathered in the underworld, is open for business. Take advantage of this magnificent yearly event, and snap up a sinister curio for your private collection. Paid in souls, of course. You might prefer your viewing on another platform... Which we will permit under the rules of the Auction House. You may head to [url=https://twitter.com/SoliumInfernum/status/1719149269914104026?s=20]the Twitter thread[/url], or what is it they call themselves now? "X"? Before we begin the option, we have a final warning to distribute out... [b]Get your last games in, the Solium Infernum Demo is all coming to an end TOMORROW on Wed 1 Nov @ 10am AEDT![/b] Let's begin, shall we? [h2]The Bowl of Abject Darkness[/h2] The flow of evil intent coalesces within the Bowl of Abject Darkness, offering a method to trap and safeguard against black magic. But don't gaze into that dark pool, lest it gaze back into you... [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42983950/8248ccbcf08f3eeefbae134cf2ec023754cc9540.png[/img] [i]What was once part of you is now of me. Look into the liquid and see what squirms beneath its surface. In my body swim the little creatures made from your flesh. You put them inside of me, and now I must let them grow. Do not look at me with disgust when you have finished. It is because of you that I take this shape. [/i] -- Etched into the side of the Bowl of Abject Darkness [h2]The Black Heart[/h2] Featured within a custom rib cage display, the black heart is a wonderful curiosity - removed from a subject venomous and corrupted. But is it impossible to check to see if your own heart isn't blacker? [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42983950/6752c7cf8bc7cc28ee191505d8628c8a07020b83.png[/img] [i]Under a bowl of glass lie the remains of the first attempt in non-sentient demonic manufacturing. The blackened heart is from a premature Son of Typhon who never grew to fruition yet retained baseline biological function. The heart was a scientific anomaly of its time and has grown in cultural and spiritual popularity. It now represents the potential of all demons against the place from which they were shunned: a place where they will later stage a spiritual assault. [/i] -- Private note for an uncompleted collection by Bishop Bezel [h2]The Finger of Betrayal[/h2] Those who enjoy throwing stones in glass houses will appreciate The Finger of Betrayal. It withers any fingers that may point back in your direction. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42983950/9132acbfc542186d7eef85b0ac4c9933b2af741a.png[/img] [i]Upon this pillow lies the point of power twice removed from a demon of voracious greed. Rest well, those who have withered from Orgoglio’s touch. This is the sign of his sleep. [/i] -- Written on the base of the relic’s display [h2]Hand of the Executioner[/h2] Set within a glass bowl is the severed hand of a prolific executioner of men. It is said that the owner will excel in violence. Unsubstantiated reports say the fingers have been caught moving of their own volition. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42983950/d511395720d4e81ac0c281ffc99c69648ef9bf6f.png[/img] [i]50,000 heads have fallen under the weight of this hand. Now it sits, old and yellow, under a glass bowl on the shelf in my study. For what purpose do we seek out these things? Why do others want him? I must finish transcribing the inscription from its base. An answer -- I am sure -- rests there, but it assuredly is not the one I seek. [/i] -- Journal entry from Suffragan Pazul, dated three weeks before his execution and the removal of the Hand from his chamber [h2]Lloigor Stone[/h2] It is said that a cursed entity lives within this ancient stone. Those covering it in blood sometimes operate in two places at once. Be careful of your twin formulating ideas of their own. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42983950/89422b47bacea7f103e7b64f57dee73254bfae26.png[/img] [i]The weighty obsidian stone was etched in carved symbols, projecting a menacing aura. During the ritual, vague piping could be heard when smothered with sacrificial blood. Those who heard the piping felt a great palpitation, and then - woosh! Somehow we were in two places at once. [/i] -- Witness to the great bilocation of the Chosen. [h2]Puzzle Cube[/h2] An ornate and finely constructed puzzle cube to keep you entertained for an eternity. Mediating upon its lamentable configuration may really open some doors. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42983950/1222356fd34b7adc53c705cd4c2ad53023ad353c.png[/img] [i]I’ve spent the better part of fourteen days running my fingers over the filigree of this tiny, metal cube. I’ve found one dial, I’ve turned it, and I’ve opened one of its sides to reveal a smaller cube trapped inside, but I cannot seem to set it free. Perhaps what’s said of its origin is true, but even if it were handcrafted by Lucifer himself its effects do me no good from where I stand. [/i] -- Journal entry from Fynovus [h2]The Talisman of Greed[/h2] Finally, the highlight offering from Hell's Bazaar before the doors to the Abyss slam closed for another year! A talisman so greedy it will allow you to claim everything your heart desires. But what you and the talisman want may be two very different things... [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42983950/f82908ad2cabbd5b6c3c238c4c73ebae7518186e.png[/img] [i]I will attempt to separate the hearsay from the reality, as one would call it, for some of these items are truly power-full while others are simply trinckets built upon culture and mystycism. Take for example the Greed Talisman, who took sentient form while under the possession of Xlatroph and who systematickally destroyed X--’s war council on the eve of his infamous defeat: This is hearsay. [/i] -- From “A Treatise on the Assumptions Generally Held by the Diabolic Folk in Regards to Their Relationship with Artifacts, Relics, and Other Items of Mystery” by Blackhorne (A2v) Good luck to the Auction participants, you'll surely need it... ... And good luck to those playing the final hours of the Solium Infernum Demo.. You'll likely need it more. <3 LoG -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [i]If you've made it this far, thanks for following along. I intend to share more posts like this, detailing the development process as it unfolds and exploring the unique challenges the privilege of re-imagining a cult classic like Solium Infernum for new (and old!) audiences holds.[/i] [i]For now, you can join the [url=https://bit.ly/LeagueOfGeeksDiscord][b]League of Geeks Discord community[/b][/url] for all the infernal news and discussion.[/i] [i]We're about to launch a Demo of Solium Infernum into the upcoming Next Fest, so if you wanted to be the first to know about any updates there, we definitely encourage you to hop in the Discord. More information will come soon![/i] [i]P.S. You can support us and our re-imagining of Vic's "diamond in the dark" by downloading the Demo and/or Wishlisting Solium Infernum on Steam, if you haven't already. Both downloading the Demo and Wishlisting tells the all-great Steam algorithm that people like what they’re seeing and gets us in front of more eyes.[/i] https://store.steampowered.com/app/1893810/Solium_Infernum/