In 2023 I set out to challenge myself as a designer and concept artist by putting over 6 years of design and illustration knowledge and experience to the test. I determined that the most effective way to achieve this challenge was to design a world. A setting that could create an experience of some sort for the audience. Initially I began this journey by writing and designing with a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) setting in mind. Something for Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder or the indie game system Mork Borg. A piece of media that people could play in and experience but also change, redesign and become inspired by on the fly. It felt like the perfect place to start. The current state of this project is only the beginning of that journey. Think of what you are about to see as a sort of appetizer for the still-cooking main course.
What is Ember Shores?
Ember Shores is a dark, industrial-fantasy world, set on an island that is experiencing a looming extraterrestrial disaster during the height of an industrial revolution.
Nobles and commoners alike hunt Eel leviathans, known as Steel Ungury, for their organs and blood which is capable of producing electricity for the maritime city of Keyrn.
Meanwhile, Strange phenomena and ancient ruins are being discovered amid the inland Silver Wastes. Smugglers and prospectors disappear without a trace here in their pursuit for valuable artifacts.
Welcome to Ember Isle
Ember Isle is one of the main islands of the Arkestrian Empire and one of it’s newest frontier colonies. It's a tundra island known for it’s rocky dark beaches, foggy meadows and expansive forests.
Surrounding Ember Isle is the Endless Sea. A dark, expansive, and hostile ocean which even the most skilled navigators and pilots struggle to traverse, and filled with all sorts of exotic sea life.
The capital city of Ember Isle is Keyrn, the industrial giant of the eastern territories with it’s young and booming Ungury Blood Industry. Eel like sea leviathans known as Steel Ungury are harvested for their organs and blood, which are then used for the creation of advanced technology and energy.
Steel Ungury
Steel Ungury reside in the deep oceans of the Endless Sea. Previously considered too large and difficult to hunt, they were generally left alone in their waters. It wasn’t until a beached ungury was discovered by physician Arthur Cadwell, allowing him to get a closer look at the creature's anatomy. He quickly developed a new process for harnessing the electric properties of ungury blood, powering a series of astounding technological inventions as well as generating power for the city of Keyrn.
Steel Ungury are believed to be extremely intelligent and are likely to be some of the oldest creatures discovered in the Arkestrian territories. Some sailors claim to hear whispers and secrets of old when hunting them on the sea, though any research on the matter by noble science apparatus have been inconclusive at best.
City of Keyrn
The city of Keyrn was founded by explorers and colonists who traveled from the Arkestrian Empire in search of land beyond the current territories. The original architecture of Keyrn consisted of common construction materials such as wood and stone. But with the advancements brought by ungury blood, steel and metal processing have become more commonplace.
Factories were quickly developed to harvest, process and pump the blood across the city and isle. Alleys and canals of the towering industrial districts now play host to thugs, thieves, and even rumored cultists. An underground market of supposed black magic artifacts collected from the Silver Wastes flourishes.
Further up the hill one can find the Founder's District. Built above the docks and factories - the Founders District is where Keyrn's aristocracy resides. At the top of the district is Keyrn Palace. Home to the founding parliament family of Ember Isle and other important government figures.
people of ember isle
In general, the people of Ember Isle are a hard-working lot, fond of fish dishes, locally produced tobacco, cigarettes, and liquors. Most find employment on the Keyrn docks, working the steel ungury fishing trade while others may turn to petty crime and even smuggling organizations in the Silver Wastes.
If you were to speak to a citizen of Keyrn it's likely you'll learn they have a second way of earning coin on the side. Which, generally speaking, is illegal according to Keyrn law. In addition to the farming, shipping, and steel ungury trade, there were several silver mines in the hills of Ember Isle. But recently, mysterious deaths and disappearances caused the mines to be shut down, threatening the supply indefinitely.
aristocrats of keyrn
With the recent advancement and rapid industrialization of Keyrn, a class of Aristocrats and Blood Barons quickly formed. Children of Arkestrian royalty quickly migrated to the isle to make a name for themselves in the ungury blood industry. Known as blood barons this new class of rich elite are heavily involved in Keyrn politics.
Rumor has it that just preceding the invention of electric ungury blood, the silver barons quickly purchased sea vessels and dockside property while the incidents in the silver mines were unfolding.
testament knights
Deeper into the isle and into the Silver Wastes explorers are lost to the wilderness, beasts, and dangerous anomalies. Most are never seen again but some are said to have joined a quasi-military cult. They wear steel and iron armor found in the ruins of the ancients.
Those who have gotten a close look and survived say their eyes are completely filled with cataracts, yet they still manage to see perfectly. Other accounts state their ferocity and endurance are unmatched. They are never slowed by rough terrain or fatigued by a lack of food or water and will always fight to the death, even when greatly outnumbered.
City notices
While walking the streets of Keyrn one will see countless posters and notices pasted on walls. Anything from wanted posters of seedy individuals, to advertisements and current happenings.
Most are notices from the Keyrn Guard. Reminding citizens of the strict law and order of Ember Isle. Although much progress has been brought by the invention of electric ungury blood, the quality of life for an average Keyrn citizen has not been proportionally improved.
products
Maritime produce is the staple of Keyrn’s economy, second to the production of ungury blood of course. Various products are produced from the local fauna of the Endless Sea.
One such product is the delicacy known as Pickled Putridfish Claws. Putridfish are scavenger fish, feeding on carcases of other sea life and even their waste. A difficulty posed in their fishing is that Putridfish have a toxic liver which commonly ruptures when they are captured or killed, spoiling any chance of safe consumption.
However, their claws are safe from this deadly defense mechanism and make quite a delicious dish among Keyrn fishermen.
“Only a complete fool would eat a putridfish! But their claws... those are a true treat.”
Putridfish are commonly seen in the sewers of Keyrn as well as the canals that connect to the blood processing stations.
firearms
Another production of Cadwell Industries is the Cadwell Boltlock Pistol. Primarily it's not used as a weapon so much as a collector;s item for the wealthy and elite. A marvel of modern engineering and artistry, the pistol is custom made to each client, making every Cadwell Boltlock unique.
For ammunition, small steel ungury teeth are used and loaded into the front chamber while a secondary chamber is loaded with a combustion cartridge. This unique setup allows for customization of the caliber and round.
This specific pistol here belongs to a wealthy blood baron of the ungury blood trade.
Tattoo machines
Various pieces of machinery have been developed since the invention of electric ungury blood. One of which are the ‘Caldwell Electric Tattoo Machines’. They run off a steady supply of ungury blood to power their motors.
However, it's said some back alley tattooists choose to not only to power their machines with it, but also perform a transfusion-combining their client's blood with ungury blood. Claimed benefits include a mind altering effect that can expand sensory perceptions as well as unlock hidden talents and even supernatural abilities. Of course,
Keyrn law strictly prohibits this unsafe and unsanitary practice of ungury blood transfusion.
the silver wastes
When explorers first arrived on Ember Isle they discovered vast foggy meadows, swamps, forests, and even ruins of an ancient society inland from the shores. It wasn’t until the industrial boom of Keyrn when the landscape began to drastically change.
Supernatural phenomena, mutated flora and fauna, and even sightings of extraterrestrial beings were reported. Keyrn government quickly cordoned off the area, but that didn’t stop prospectors from hopping the fence and exploring deeper, seeking ancient and supposedly powerful artifacts.
Once such region is known as the Valley of Disease; a swamp like region that used to be a center of agricultural research. Now abandoned; it's rumored to be home to several strange new species of plant life thathave grow out of control.
anomalies
IIn every region of the Silver Wastes many dangers exist. From mutated flora and fauna, to cult zombie knights, and even more feared are the anomalies.
Supernatural traps that bend the laws of physics and have varying but ultimately lethal effects. Sometimes impossible to spot, these hotspots of energy dot the landscape of the Silver Wastes and will make a quick end to any prospector.
Veteran prospectors can more easily navigate the wastes and it’s traps but can still fall prey to them as they are never static.
star ancients
It’s a rare sight to see a Star Ancient, and even more rare to keep your sanity or your life. Their haunting beauty and grand power can turn even the most seasoned prospectors in the Silver Wastes.
These multi-dimensional beings are extremely powerful. They are often described as gods and worshipped by rumored cults in both Keyrn and the Silver Wastes.
Not much is known about where they come from or what they want. However there is evidence to suggest that the ancient people of Ember Isle constructed vast underground structures in both worship and protection of them. For what reason or benefit is yet to be discovered
cut content
The following are unfinished concepts, sketches, cut content, and bonus material that never made it onto the ‘final’ show wall for Ember Shores on 4.22.24. Ember Shores is still a developing project and will include these finished concepts at a later date.
afterword
Thank you for supporting this project and viewing my work. Creating a project like Ember Shores has been a huge goal of mine for years. Going through the creative process from start to finish is an extremely insightful journey and I learned so much. Thankfully it is still far from complete and will continue to develop over the coming years. This has also been the largest project I have ever worked on and the longest. I hope to do many more like it and expand the world of Ember Shores, exploring more vague concepts in greater detail.
The initial concept of the project sprouted from the simple idea of a place, (in this case an island), experiencing a great and rapid change. In today's perspective I think that theme is ever present in many aspects. Is it something to keep up with? Or to be weary of? However, it may not always be up to us as individuals and is a consistent progression of humanity.
Again, thank you for viewing and supporting my work. Much more to come soon.
-Dave
sources of inspiration
The following is a list of media, artists, and music that helped inspire the world of Ember Shores. All worth checking out in my opinion.
Music Artists:
Sun o))), Woodkid, Cryo Chamber, Russian Circles, Mount Shrine, Council of Nine, Orbit Culture, AVATAR, Mount Shrine
Media:
Roadside Picnic, novel by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
Dishonored, video game series developed by Arkane Studios
Bioshock, video game series developed by 2kGames
Mork Borg, TTRPG developed by Pelle Nilsson and Johan Nohr
Artists & Designers:
Piotr Jablonski, Piotr Krynski, Mathieu Reydellet
special thanks
This project wouldn't have been possible without the following individuals. All who generously provided endless amounts of their support, time, and energy.
Perry Stewart, Adam Munoa, Kayla Ward, The Draper Clan, Kenny Vo, Bobby Cody, Joshua Henderson, John-David Sorenson, Dan Mondragon, Bruce Simon