GAMES · GAME JAM
LAPIS VITAE — Game Jam Prototype Game
GAME JAM PROTOTYPE · BROWSER GAME
A darkly humorous narrative adventure prototype created for Ludum Dare 49, blending fantasy exploration, quest subversion, strange worldbuilding and a morally questionable protagonist.
OVERVIEW
Overview
This project originated as a game jam experiment with two friends during Ludum Dare 49, focusing on atmosphere, quest structure, dark humor, and worldbuilding. It explores the idea of a morally questionable protagonist navigating a layered fantasy world filled with hidden motives, strange societies and subverted heroic tropes.
GAME JAM CONTEXT
LAPIS VITAE
This prototype was designed as a compact but ambitious narrative adventure concept. The project combines classic fantasy quest structures with subversive outcomes, unusual lore and a protagonist whose goals are far from noble.
PREMISE / STORY
Premise
The story begins after a long preparation period for an escape. The player wakes at a campfire after a rest, entering a strange underworld society of humans hidden beneath the surface. The protagonist seeks a way back to the upper world and believes an artifact and a lost door may hold the answer.
To reach that goal, the player must navigate towns, taverns, arenas, temples, catacombs and strongholds, following rumors, maps and shifting alliances. Along the way, the player interacts with adventurers, authority figures and hidden forces while slowly uncovering unsettling truths about the world above and below.
TONE · DARK HUMOR · FANTASY ADVENTURE · MORALLY AMBIGUOUS
GAMEPLAY & STRUCTURE
Gameplay Structure
The game is built around exploration, quest progression and subverted fantasy objectives. Traditional quest types are reinterpreted through the lens of a selfish or manipulative protagonist.
GAMEPLAY
Investigate Locations
Explore towns, taverns, arenas, temples, catacombs and strongholds to gather leads.
GAMEPLAY
Retrieve Artifacts
Chase rumors and maps that point to the artifact tied to the lost door.
GAMEPLAY
Follow Clues
Piece together fragments of lore that hint at what lies above and below.
GAMEPLAY
Interact with Factions
Deal with adventurers, authority figures and hidden forces with shifting agendas.
GAMEPLAY
Complete or Undermine Quests
Reinterpret classic quest structures through a selfish or manipulative lens.
GAMEPLAY
Manipulate Outcomes
Bend situations toward personal gain instead of noble resolution.
MY ROLE
My Role
KEY IDEAS
Key Ideas
IDEA
Morally Flawed Protagonist
A fantasy adventure led by a character whose motives are far from heroic.
IDEA
Subverted Quest Design
Traditional quest tropes reframed as opportunities for manipulation.
IDEA
Hidden Lore
Layered secrets about the world, the artifact and the lost door.
IDEA
Possible Twists
Threads involving giants, false histories, cosmic structures and manipulated reality.
IDEA
Layered Setting
A world that blends mystery, exploration and narrative tension.
IDEA
Dark Humor
Anti-hero energy woven through the entire experience.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why It Matters
This project represents an early but distinctive creative experiment. It shows narrative ambition, worldbuilding depth and a willingness to twist familiar fantasy structures into something stranger and more personal. It also has potential as a future expanded game if audience interest grows.
PLAY ONLINE
Play Now
This prototype is available to play online in browser.
CONCEPT & STORY NOTES
Concept & Story Notes
A deeper look at the world, the settlement and the tangled ideas behind the prototype.
A hidden human settlement carved beneath the surface, with its own rules and rituals.
Distinct spaces to navigate: tavern, market, arena, barracks, hermit house, temple, fortress and catacombs.
An artifact rumored to unlock passage back to the world above.
A lost door woven into the deepest legends of the underworld.
A deceptive or unstable world structure whose truth reshapes the story.
Hints of a giant civilization or higher-layer mystery pressing down on the setting.
Twisted or subverted quest outcomes that reward cunning over virtue.
A protagonist who is selfish, exiled or untrustworthy — and knows it.
DEVELOPMENT NOTES
Development Notes
This was created as part of LAPIS VITAE and serves as a prototype foundation rather than a fully expanded release. The project may continue if there is audience interest, especially through browser plays, feedback and community response.