Hey everyone,

This update marks the end of our first major mission arc – the Forest Event – and introduces several new mechanics and key story elements that will define the path ahead. This is our darkest chapter yet, with new bonds, new systems... and new shadows stirring.

NEW STORY EVENT: FOREST EXPEDITION

You are sent on your first real mission beyond the manor’s walls, alongside Saori. What begins as a simple task slowly unravels into something far more unsettling…

• Explore the Merkwood Forest, a dangerous place where time and reality begin to blur.
• Face your first real enemies—testing not just your strength, but your allies' resolve.
• A mysterious woman trapped in a place where even the Stars seem to fear the night. Find her.

COMBAT: GROUP BATTLES

The turn-based battle system has been expanded to support multiple allies.

This lays the groundwork for future team-based mechanics, including status effects, buffs, and targeting systems.

WORLD MAP SYSTEM (ALPHA)

A brand new world map system has been added!

• Visual interface to navigate between locations.
• Right now, it covers Devoh and the northern forest region.
• Will be expanded over time as the story unfolds.

INTRODUCING: Elana

A new character enters the stage. Elana appears to be a young woman, trapped inside a haunted manor where time no longer flows. But she may be far more than she seems…

Her arrival marks the beginning of a deeper storyline—and the first step toward unlocking the power of Desire.

General Thoughts

Although I decided to release this version today, I’m still not entirely happy with the renders. I’m still learning Blender, and a lot of things feel hard to master. I hope to improve faster so that one day everything will look pixel-perfect—both the models and the materials.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy the story. Elana is about to open up a whole new mechanic in the game, and the next updates will reflect that shift.

Thank you again for your intereset in Rise of the Monarch.

See you soon for Chapter 3 !

— ZephyrA0