Divinity: Original Sin II Update #5, $1,209,927 and Counting

Yet another stretch goal for the Divinity: Original Sin II Kickstarter campaign has been hit. This time, the folks at Larian are celebrating the inclusion of the Undead origin to the game. What this means in practice is that players will be able to make undead characters, and Larian plans for the world to react accordingly. A few snippets from the update:

While none of the races of Rivellon are particularly accustomed to peace, few know the anguish of the Undead.

In order for an Undead to come into being at all, the dying must ferociously refuse the call of the Hall of Echoes. This afterlife, welcomed by most, is a resting place and eternal home for the Source within all conscious beings.

But why would anyone refuse the gentle, insistent pull of the Hall?

Some distrust the myths and fear it as a punishing place for their lives ill-lived. Others might be so tormented by regret or grief that they cannot bear to disembark from the mortal plane. Others yet– woeful ones indeed– are ripped from the Hall by necromancers most foul and become Raised Ones.

The Undead on Rivellon must constantly resist the eternal tug of the Hall of Echoes. In doing so, however, they lose the thing most precious to them: their memories. Kept out of Eternity long enough, these wanderers become little more than automatons, confused as to their purpose, desperate for reprieve. They are called the Faint Ones.

There are rumors, though, of a race of civilized Undead far to the north who call themselves Chosen Ones. The legends say they dress in finery, discuss philosophy, and seek no Source from the souls around them. While no explorer has ever documented its location (or more specifically: lived to mark it on a map), there are some who insist the rumors are true.

Undead Skills: Tell us what you think!

Now that you’ve unlocked the Undead as a playable race, as well as Racial Skills, we’ll be hard at work determining which fantastic skills will come naturally to this curious race of Rivellonians.

Inspired? Share your insights in the comments! Our Skills Wizard Nick has had a little inspiration of his own. What do you think?

Regenerate while Frozen, can’t heal while Burning.
Cold preserves the dead, after all.

Immune to Fear. Immune to Bleed.
There are some advantages to living in the hollow, fleshless margins of the living.

HandFoot Grenade.
Cause you’ve got a bone to pick with those goblins…

Bleed Poison.
There’s nothing life is more allergic to than death.|

Source Addiction. (Passive)
Undead start out with +20% max hp due to ignoring pain and some wounds, but (very) slowly deteriorate to -20% max hp due to decomposition. The bonus can be reset via Source Revivification (Source, Active).

Grave Chill (Active)
Drastically reduce the surrounding temperature, downgrading each status: Burning -> Warm, None->Chill, etc.

Necromantic Command (Source)
Take control of target skeleton or zombie for 3 turns (goes into summon slot, replacing existing summons). It is destroyed at the end of the duration.

Soul Devourer (Source)
Suck the soul right from the living body of a character. Without a soul, the target devolves to animalistic instincts, attacking nearest characters until death. Doesn’t leave a body, doesn’t spawn a Faint.

The update also includes a 10-minute video in which CEO Swen Vincke gives us a glimpse of the Undead race, talks about the experience at PAX Prime, and ends by quickly recapping the upcoming stretch goal and explaining why Kickstarter was a game-changer for the studio: