Gaming in the Raw: Rift Beta Episode 3

The adventures of Thundermug continue in this third installment of Gaming in the Raw. If you missed the first or second episodes, click the links and catch up. The story and history of the world is starting to unfold through the quests as we encounter the opposing faction, the Defiant, for the first time. To understand why there are two factions and what they are trying to accomplish, we need to back up a bit.

Telara is a land susceptible to planar rifts which allows creatures in elemental prisons to pour into the world. Death, destruction and low property values all occur as a result. Through the help of the Vigil (council of the gods), the Ward was erected to prevent these rifts. Over time, the Ward became weaker and eventually got damaged severely during an event called the Shade.

So now these rifts are forming everywhere and the whole world is in chaos. Regulos, the Dragon of Extinction, is taking advantage of all the turmoil and seeks to end the Telara. As if the free people didn’t have enough issues, the gods have suddenly grown silent. So it looks like the world is going to end, but two factions emerge to battle the Armageddon: the Guardians and the Defiant.

The Guardians (Thundermug’s faction) are the chosen of the gods. They have faith that the gods will lead them towards salvation provided they first save themselves: “by deed, by example, and by the sword. Its people must be redeemed, its corruptors purged, before the world can truly be safe.”

The Defiant blame the gods (and the Guardians) for the current state of the world. They are not sitting around waiting for a miracle, they are trying to be the miracle. They use magic and their penchant for technology to advance their ability to fight the coming apocalypse head on.

Both factions want to save Telara, though their beliefs are vastly different. So while the land aches, the Guardians and the Defiant are at war. This is the story of Rift.

Now watch as Thundermug ignores most of that rich history and runs around aimlessly killing things!

~

If you would play a game called Lightning Bolts and Baskets, then follow Richie on Twitter @richieprocopio.