Arts Thread

This is a character concept art project for a rpg game called “Shattered Recall.” In a dystopian future where memory manipulation technology exists, the protagonist wakes up in a landfill accused of assassinating a CEO who sought to expose government corruption surrounding memory farming (Harvesting and implanting the memories of others to learn new skills). Fleeing law enforcement, they discover conspiracy notes and turn to the black-market memory trade to recover fragments of their erased memories. As they piece together their identity, they learn they were a whistleblower targeted by the government, which framed them to protect its control over the technology. He is hunted by a bounty hunter—a former ally blackmailed with the life of their kidnapped daughter. In a climactic showdown, the duo joins forces to kill the corrupt official responsible and expose the truth about memory farming to the world, sparking rebellion against the elite. Marcus: A skilled hacker raised by his tech-savvy uncle, Marcus discovers his late parents’ notes on the government’s inhumane experiments, leading him to their former allies, Victor and Erica Langford. Just as they prepare to expose the truth, they are attacked, and Marcus’s memory of the event is erased. Erica: A devoted mother and wife, was captured during a government ambush that killed her husband and left Marcus with a wiped memory. Imprisoned and coerced under threats to her daughter’s life, she was infected with Strain V-27, a parasitic weapon that erodes her humanity the more she uses it. Now, controlled by the government and desperate to keep her daughter safe, Erica is unwillingly sent to hunt down her former friend, Marcus. General Strake: A ruthless and manipulative military leader, runs a horrific memory farming operation, extracting skills from lab-grown humans and tortured prisoners. He orchestrated the ambush on Victor Langford and, upon learning of Erica’s betrayal, murdered her daughter Olivia, turning her severed head into a grotesque weapon. In the final confrontation, Strake wields stolen skills through implanted memory chips, showcasing his cruelty and power. The Tidal Accord’s: A building that hosts government operations, meetings, and speeches. Hidden within is a lab where memories are extracted, stored, and implanted on command.

Jhoram was a fertile flatland in Asia where the Drokpa tribe thrived, cultivating a dragon-blessed plant called tsemaize, which they used for food, tools, and art. When outsiders discovered its unique properties, a war broke out over the resource, ultimately leaving the land devastated and the Drokpa defeated. The souls of fallen warriors became vengeful spirits known as rigdral, haunting the land at night. With tsemaize nearly extinct and their homeland cursed, most of the surviving Drokpa fled in search of safety. Tsemaize: Tsemaize is a corn-like plant native to Jhoram, now scarce and once vibrant with many colors lost to war. The Drokpa cherish ancient crafts made from it as symbols of their heritage. Mixed with morchu acid, tsemaize forms a clay that hardens like metal, with rarer colors creating the toughest items. Yeshe: Yeshe carries the scars of his family’s loss and his tribe’s destruction. He wears a dragon mask made from animal bones to frighten rigdrals, spirits that fear the dragon’s presence. To protect himself further, he burns tsemaize in a special section of his staff, using its calming scent to repel the spirits. He also carries a tsemaize bag from his mother. Chagkhar: The Chagkhar is a large, gentle, beetle-like creature vital to the Drokpa, living over a century and grazing peacefully on grass. The Drokpa build homes on its back, guiding it with reins connected to a wheel. These mobile houses use chimneys and balcony fireplaces to burn tsemaize, whose scent wards off rigdrals, while entrances are adorned with tsemaize for extra protection. A sturdy wooden elevator provides access to these elevated, moving dwellings. Morchu: The Morchu is a unique bird native to Jhoram, known for its valuable sweet acid stored in its large gular pouch. This acid attracts insects like locusts—which threaten Tsemaize crops—and helps the Drokpa soften tsemaize for crafting. Once kept as pets for easy access to the acid, Morchus were released into the wild after the war. With vibrant feathers used to attract mates, Morchus play an important role as natural protectors of Tsemaize. Rigdral: The Rigdral are vengeful spirits of warriors who died defending Jhoram and its precious Tsemaize, now blinded by rage and attacking indiscriminately after dark—even their own kin. Their armor, forged from Tsemaize, varies by rank, with generals wearing rare, vibrant types. The calming scent of Tsemaize can soothe some Rigdral, allowing them to release their grudges and move on to a peaceful existence between the mortal and divine realms.