The fearsome vampires of Blackreach
Thankfully, the lore surrounding vampires and werewolves in the Elder Scrolls series is rich, making them unique compared to similar beasts in other fantasy settings and providing the team with plenty of inspiration for their monstrous characters.
“I’ve always found the origins of vampires and werewolves in Nirn being directly tied to the influence of Daedric Princes very interesting,” says Begel. “Though considered diseases, their curses go beyond simple mortal afflictions. They consume their hosts, body and soul. What lengths might one go to to escape such a fate, I wonder?”
Crafting a Year-Long Journey
While a stand-alone story in its own right, the Greymoor
questline is also part of the larger, Dark Heart of Skyrim year-long adventure. This adventure begins with the Harrowstorm DLC and continues with the Greymoor Prologue, the Greymoor Chapter, and beyond with two yet-to-be announced DLC game packs.
“The goal is that each release in the year-long narrative tells a story that can stand alone but that also shines as a part of the longer whole,” explains Bill Slavicsek, ESO’s Lead Writer. “It’s a challenging but exciting process that has so far yielded great results for ESO.”
To provide a unique and compelling experience for all kinds of players, the development team works together very early in the process to plan all aspects of the year’s stories.
“It all starts with the Creative Director, Lead Designer, and myself. They provide guidance as to the type of story they want to see (political, Daedric, Dragons) and the kinds of places they want to go in the world (Elsweyr, Western Skyrim, whatever). Then, I start creating short pitches, exploring the kinds of themes and plots that might be fun and exciting and could only take place at the intersection of those initial ideas.”
After some discussion and debate, the team narrows down contending story ideas before crafting a final approved plan.