Characters

Kai

The hero. Everywhere the player goes.

In the build since the first Unreal day

Kai is drawn, not modelled. His body came out of a single illustration through image-to-3D, then the drawing itself was projected back onto the mesh so the ink and colour are the artist's, not a texture painter's. He is a dark silhouette with a long navy cape, a ring collar, one pale bare arm, heavy pointed boots and a crown of red hair. Red is his mark; nobody else in the town wears it.

Since 25 October he moves on motion-capture clips retargeted to his own skeleton. The still cape and smaller walking arm swing were packaged on 26 October. Nic then played the dressed Long Road and found the upright jump worse. The next package gives a running jump forward lean and a raised knee, with a short landing dip in place of the deep crouch. Jump height and air control are unchanged. The covered arm is held across his body, though the lifted cape can show the forearm at a run. Nic called the third build broadly good, then found a place to get stuck; the later build still needs his playtest.

At rest he is whole. The brief says the drawing of him sometimes fails; that part is designed but not yet in the game.

Well Woman

Draws water in the courtyard. Courtyard, by the well.

First figure through the drawing-to-game route, 21 October

A tall woman in a teal dress with a swept bun and a round void in her hem. She was the test case for the townsfolk pipeline: generated body, built oval mask head with two eyes, built hands clasped in front. Her face was the hardest part; generated heads came out lumpy, so the head is modelled by hand and only the body carries the drawing.

Merchant Aldric

The Shopkeeper. Keeps the shop under the blue awning. Courtyard, shop door.

Rebuilt from the drawing on 22 October

A yellow robe with a wide straw cone hat and a void in the chest. He was the first resident in the Unreal build and the one every look test was run on. The current version replaced the earlier procedural figure, which never shook the feeling of parts stacked together.

Old Man

Stands with a cane at a doorstep. Hill village.

Rebuilt from the drawing on 22 October; moved up to the hill village the same evening

A violet robe, a stoop, and a ring where the head should be. The ring is built as a torus so it reads clean from every angle; the cane stayed from the earlier version. He is the figure that shows what the masks-and-holes language can do with the least material.

Child

Runs the courtyard. Courtyard.

Rebuilt from the drawing on 22 October; one of the two walkers

A coral smock with a void at the chest and a brown bob. She is one of the two residents who walk a route instead of standing at a post, so the courtyard is never still. The bob reads as a cap at the moment; that is on the polish list.

Old Reed

The Fisherman. Keeps to the quay by the boat. Harbour.

Rebuilt from the drawing on 22 October; given his name and the harbour the same evening

Blue tunic, wide trousers, a steep blue cone hat and a void at the shoulder. He walked the courtyard until the harbour was built; now he stands by the boat. His hat is steeper than the drawing wants and is on the polish list.

Sal

Dock worker, carries for the estate. Harbour, walks the quay to the lane foot.

From the second lineup, 22 October; a walker

A slate-blue jacket over navy trousers, a flat cap, and a void through the chest. He walks between the quay and the foot of the lane with crates nobody opens.

"A pace clear of the cargo, please. I’d rather not learn your name by shouting for you."

Innkeeper Rowan

Keeps The Weary Wanderer, airs every room. Seaside lane, at the arched door.

From the second lineup, 22 October

A rust dress under a pale apron, a red bun, and a void in the apron. The cast notes had Rowan as a man; the drawing came back a woman, and she was kept.

"Rowan, from The Weary Wanderer. Forgive me if I look pleased to see an unfamiliar face."

Frida

Sells fruit from a doorstep. Seaside lane, a doorstep.

From the second lineup, 22 October

An ochre pinafore, a teal headscarf, and a round void in the skirt. Plums in one bowl, apples in another, and a reason for the second bowl.

"Frida. It’s a good day for plums. Not such a good day for keeping them cool."

Tom

Carries rumours, mostly secondhand. Church square, walks the terrace.

From the second lineup, 22 October; a walker, moved to the church square in batch 2

A long olive coat, a flat cap, and a void through the coat. He has heard about lights near the ruins. He did not see them.

"You’re new here. I was going to tell you what I’ve heard, but perhaps that can wait."

Anna

Watches which flowers have opened. Hill village, at the basin.

From the second lineup, 22 October; moved to the hill village in batch 2

A cream dress with a cape, a swept red ponytail, and a ring through the sleeve. She stands by the fountain basin with her back to the sea.

"Did you notice the flowers by the fountain? No matter if you didn’t. You can look another time."

Grandmother Edith

Sits on a step and does not give advice. Seaside lane, a seated step.

From the second lineup, 22 October

A lavender cloak, a grey bun, and a crescent void at the hip. The smallest figure in the town and the oldest. She wished at the well once.

"You may stop a moment. I won’t assume you’ve come for advice."

Greta

Keeps the Rusted Cog. The Rusted Cog, behind the bar.

Drawn 24 October, in the build since 25 October

A navy dress, a coral apron with an arched void in it, a violet bun, and a cup held in both hands. Her drawing was a draft, made for Nic to correct. Nic accepted it as drawn, with no notes, so the bun, the apron and the cup stayed.

"Welcome to the Rusted Cog. Greta. There’s room for you, and no obligation to be interesting."

Father Silas

Keeps the chapel and its books. The chapel, inside.

From the third lineup, in the build since 25 October

A red robe, a cream stole in two bands, a round void at the chest, hands folded. The 2025 documents had a Silas who stood at a fence for three days saying the same thing. This one keeps the chapel, and the books, which have lasted through a good deal of mending.

"Welcome. Silas. You needn’t have a question to spend a little time here."

Old Ferris

Saw lights near the ruins. The Rusted Cog.

From the third lineup, in the build since 25 October

An ochre coat with a crescent void, a grey-green shirt, a hat in one hand and a cane in the other, swept white hair. He saw lights moving near the ruins, like festival lanterns, when there was no festival. He does not mind the story being repeated. Improving it is another matter.

"Before you ask, I said lights. The rest seems to have been added over drinks."

Hooded Stranger

Does not speak. The Rusted Cog, at a corner table.

Darker in the 26 October package. Nic has not accepted this look yet.

A taupe cloak, and a hood whose opening is the void, where a face would be. Every line the Stranger has is a stage direction. Nic asked for darker and more ominous. The 26 October package turns the cloak charcoal-violet, keeping its drawn folds. The drawing here is the earlier taupe version. The new look still awaits Nic’s eye.

"[The hood turns towards Kai. The figure waits without speaking.]"