Blink twice if you need a Grim Misadventure refill. Last time, we glanced at some Epic items and went into how Awakening Epics will work in Fangs of Asterkarn. In short, it is not complicated, but you will need to know the right people(?)!
If you missed out June update on the state of the upcoming expansion, be sure to give it a read. Today, we are going to pass through the northwest gates of Fort Ikon in search of a missing scouting party and cross into Asterkarn proper. A shared bloody history firmly places suspicion upon the savage Kurn. Who else but them would dispatch Black Legion troops on sight?
Our search takes us into the Frostveil Highlands, where the heavy snows and treacherous cliffs earn the region its name. If fortune strikes you and the wildlife does not end you, you will have your first encounter with the Kurn. Will it come to blows as past tension flare up? Or is there more to this tale? For many wayward adventurers heading west, Frostveil will mark the end of their journey. Yet old maps make it clear that the Kurn lands span far beyond into a verdant valley. While the world suffered greatly following the war between the two factions, surely the valley still exists? Perhaps there are ways below that have become sealed? Hidden?
What sort of secrets are the Kurn hiding?
Before we could set out to create a snow-themed expansion, we had to take another look at our snow. Back in the base game, we did make a few snow environments, and the snow textures for those were serviceable, but it was not going to suffice for an entire expansion filled with snowy banks, frozen lakes, iced over cliffs, and distant peaks. The team once again did wonders with this engine, delivering some stunning visuals.
The new shaders are particularly on display when traversing the ice caverns.
So, say you discovered a way out of the Frostveil Highlands and made your way into Freyoll Valley below. You will be greeted by towering trees and pristine waters. This flourishing landscape is a reminder of everything the Kurn battled for all those centuries ago and why they still so viciously defend it. Within this valley lies Kurnhold, the last bastion of the Kurn and ancient meeting place of the old tribes. But all is not well among the Kurn, and the troubles they face may soon spill over beyond Asterkarn.
Your actions in Asterkarn will leave a lasting mark on Cairn, just as the conjuring of the Loghorrean did so long ago.
Like knowing what is coming up next for Grim Dawn? Check back on September 15th for the next Grim Misadventure!
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