Divinity: Original Sin Kickstarter Update #13, $470,137 and Counting

I admit this is the first time I’ve listened to an “update song” during a Kickstarter campaign, and that’s just one of the surprises inside of update 13 of Divinity: Original Sin’s Kickstarter campaign. Among other things, the update includes a comprehensive “The History of Rivellon” write-up, better reward descriptions and also a reminder that we’re getting closer to the first stretch goal.

Here’s a snip:

The History of Rivellon

By Jodocus Lipsius, Court Historian

– Printed by Ye Olde Presse, Verdistis –

As a member of the Prancing Seahorse gentleman’s club of Aleroth, I am proud to present this little historical summary of mighty Rivellon. May the reader find elucidation among its pages, few and incomplete as they are. What knowledge I have I share; I can do no more.

Note on the abbreviations of time:

AR: Anno Rivellonis. The ancient way of identifying specific years.
AD: Anno Deorum. How we count years now, in honour of the Seven Gods.

WARNING! For those readers who are unfamiliar with these events, but intend to learn more about them by means of interactive scrying stones, I issue a SPOILER ALERT! No need to thank me.

8800 AR – Dragon Commander

So long ago did these events take place that they may well be sagas rather than truths, but ancient souls swear they happened as described beneath. I leave it to my lectors to make up their minds for themselves and separate what they think is reality from what they think is fiction.

When Rivellon’s first emperor Sigurd was killed by his own children, a bloody war for the throne began. The entire world was said to be in danger of destruction, for rumours persist through time that all battles were fought with giant machines and airships of incredible and devastating power; technology long lost – perhaps merely a fable. In the end a Dragon Knight – and son of Sigurd – prevailed. Details are few and far between, but my research indicates that he had the backing of the legendary wizard Maxos. If so, what a mighty pair these two must have made!

The Lost Centuries

Almost nothing is known of these lost times. One can only deduct that the empire united by the aforementioned Dragon Knight must have fallen or slipped into decadence. Did it stand for a thousand years? Two-thousand? We may never know. During these lost times one cataclysmic conflict did most certainly take place: the prolonged and brutal Wizard Wars. I shall elaborate a bit more on these events further down the time line.

4 AR – Original Sin

Sadly I must confess that once more my knowledge about these long forgotten times is diminutive at best. Very little is known about the strange and spectacular events that befell two so-called Source Hunters. Nevertheless, if one can put faith in the fragmented stories told by old wizards, they both prevented and set in motion events that changed the destiny of fair Rivellon herself.

I’d sell my soul to know more, but those damned mages are so damnably reticent! Zandalor knows all, of that I am sure, but not even two carafes of spiced elven wine stir his tongue to speak of what happened back then. Something must have! Shortly after, we even changed the way we count time! AR to AD … Was it truly just to honour the gods? The history of this world; I swear more of it is secret than is known.