Tyranny
A role-playing game set after the world has already been conquered.
Tyranny is a role-playing video game from Obsidian Entertainment, published by Paradox Interactive and released for Windows, OS X, and Linux on November 10, 2016. Though not a direct sequel, it uses the same engine and gameplay foundations as Obsidian’s earlier title Pillars of Eternity, which let the developers concentrate on designing a story where player decisions carry greater weight. The game stands out because it begins after the evil overlord Kyros has already achieved total conquest; the player character, a Fatebinder, holds a high rank within Kyros’s regime.
The setting is Terratus, a high-fantasy world moving from the Bronze Age into the Iron Age. Kyros, a god-like being of immense power, is finishing a campaign of over 400 years to subjugate the entire world, having already taken most of it by force or fear. Kyros’s public persona remains unseen, leaving subjects uncertain whether Kyros is male, female, a group, a dynastic title, or a multi-headed beast. Below Kyros are the Archons—men and women granted strange magical powers and apparent immortality by Kyros—who rule regions, districts, armies, or factions. Notable Archons include executioner Bleden Mark, Archon of Shadows; Pox, Archon of Ruin, who spreads plague; Cairn, Archon of Stone; and Tunon the Adjudicator, Archon of Justice, who created the Fatebinders. Fatebinders are high-ranking agents tasked with traveling the world to restore order, reduce conflict, and enforce Kyros’s rule, acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
The game takes place in the 431st year of Kyros’s calendar, in the Tiers—the last major region to be conquered. A rebellion is brewing due to infighting between Kyros’s two main forces in the Tiers: the elite, disciplined Disfavored, led by Graven Ashe, Archon of War, and the chaotic, barbarian Scarlet Chorus, led by the Voices of Nerat, Archon of Secrets. The player, as a Fatebinder, is sent by Kyros to quell the rebellion or face destruction alongside everyone in Vendrien’s Well. During the quest, the Fatebinder can recruit companions: the mage Sirin, Archon of Song; the uncompromising Barik of the Stone Shields; the fierce warrior Verse; the sage Lantry; the water mage Eb; and the feral beastwoman Kills-in-Shadow.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Tyranny
- Developer
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher
- Paradox Interactive
- Director
- Brian Heins
- Producer
- Matthew Singh
- Programmer
- Dan Spitzley
- Artist
- Brian Menze
- Writer
- Matt MacLean
- Composer
- Justin Bell
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Linux · macOS · Microsoft Windows
- Released
- November 10, 2016
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Tyranny takes place on Terratus in the 431st year of Kyros' calendar, in the region of the Tiers, the final major area to be conquered. The Overlord Kyros, a god-like being of immeasurable power, has remained unseen, leaving subjects unsure if Kyros is male or female, a team, a title, or a multi-headed beast. Beneath Kyros are the Archons, men and women imbued with strange magical powers and made seemingly immortal by Kyros. Archons include executioner Bleden Mark, Archon of Shadows; Pox, Archon of Ruin; Cairn, Archon of Stone; and Tunon the Adjudicator, Archon of Justice and creator of the Fatebinders. Fatebinders are tasked to travel the world to restore order, reduce conflict, and maintain Kyros' rule, serving as judge, jury, and executioner. A rebellion is brewing due to infighting between Kyros' two main forces in the Tiers: the Disfavored led by Graven Ashe, Archon of War, and the Scarlet Chorus led by the Voices of Nerat, Archon of Secrets. The player takes the role of a Fatebinder tasked to quell the rebellion or be destroyed along with everyone else in Vendrien's Well. The world features colossal ruins from a previous civilization, including the Oldwalls and the Spires; Kyros forbids entry to the Oldwalls on pain of death but makes no explicit mention of the Spires.
Reader's Guide
Tyranny's significance lies in its narrative structure, which begins after the villain's victory and places the player within the conquering power's hierarchy. The game emphasizes player choice, with decisions affecting which companions, spells, and abilities are available. The plot follows the Fatebinder as they navigate a civil war between the Disfavored and Scarlet Chorus, absorb the power of Kyros' Edicts, and discover a connection to the ancient Spires. The Fatebinder can ally with either army, the rebels, or follow their own path, ultimately facing judgment in Tunon's court. The game's legacy includes its exploration of moral ambiguity within a tyrannical system, as the Fatebinder can choose to serve Kyros, seize power, or forge a new order. The ending allows the Fatebinder to either surrender and rule the Tiers as an Archon or cast an Edict on Kyros' capital, potentially becoming a new Overlord. The game's engine, reused from Pillars of Eternity, allowed the developers to focus on reactive storytelling rather than technical innovation.
Did You Know?
- The game begins after the evil overlord Kyros has already conquered the world.
- The Fatebinder is the first person in recorded history to absorb the power of a Kyros Edict and reach the summit of a Spire.
- The world of Tyranny features colossal ruins from a previous, unknown civilization, including the Oldwalls and the Spires.
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