Circle of Ostara
Circle of Ostara is an Action-Adventure game with RPG elements.
The narrative follows a young woman named Ziya as she unlocks her power and faces her worst fears. Ziya and a cast of allies take on incredible enemies and risk their lives to save the world.
Exploring themes of duty, rebellion, self-sabotage, and unity, featuring a main character who must face a traumatic past to truly come into her own power. While choices do matter in this game, they do not allow the player to deviate from a set narrative path (there is no “good” or “bad” ending). Instead, the player’s choices through gameplay will affect two aspects of the journey: the difficulty with which each battle progresses and the team that Ziya leads to defeat Taron.
Example:
Ziya is plagued with self-doubt, scared of her powers, and unable to face her past. Her fear of using her magic hinders both her control and her skill. A meter will generate with more of Ziya’s mana as each battle goes on. When it reaches full strength this will allow the player to trigger a powerful move that can end fights quickly. However, the choices the player makes will directly affect the use of this move in two ways:
If the player holds on to this ultimate move too long, it will start to burst out of Ziya, causing damage both to her and her companions.
Depending on who Ziya chooses from her team to help her learn to control her power and overcome her self-doubt, the move will change in style. For example, working closely with Rowan, who uses Chaos Magic, will make the move more powerful, but harder to focus, which can hurt allies.
As Ziya progresses in skill (player level), she will have more time to keep the generated mana under control until eventually there is no risk for her to hold on to the power.
The Setting
Circle of Ostara is set in a fantasy world where most technological advancements come from the use of magic.
The Circle of Ostara is set in a fantasy world where most technological advancements come from the use of magic. There are three main geopolitical players within the world of Circle of Ostara: Trinity Academy, Heren, and Ravia. Most of the gameplay will take place on the Academy’s grounds, its surrounding forest, and Ormaar, with some opportunities to explore key locations in the other nations.
The story centers around the magical community, which is led by a Triumvirate of witches that oversee the Trinity Academy. While there is a tenuous peace treaty between the Kingdom of Heren and the Empire of Ravia, there are often skirmishes over border disputes. Heren, and more specifically the city of Ormaar, are closely aligned with the Trinity Academy, which functions as its own sovereign entity.
Trinity Academy
A large community of scholars and magic users that serves as both a school and the center for magical research and politics. Its territory is the size of a small town known as The Terzetto Estate. Apprentices are housed and taught in the towers around the library which serves as the hub for training and academic research. The other facilities include a banquet hall for gatherings, a bestiary, expansive botanical gardens, and a museum of magical history.
While there are state-sanctioned circles of less political power and resources, most do not allow for the instruction on anything but basic spells used in trade work and healing. The academy offers comprehensive magical education and has access to its own small military force and allyship with neighboring kingdoms. They are the reigning power and authority on the use of magic, and their codes of ethics and methodologies are used in circles all over the world.