Ember Shores

In 2023 I set out to challenge myself as a designer and concept artist by putting over 6 years of design and illustration knowledge and experience to the test. I determined that the most effective way to achieve this challenge was to design a world. I also got the amazing opportunity to host an exhibition of this project at Adobe's campus in Lehi, Utah. You can view photos of the event at the end of the project.

If you wish to get the full experience feel free to view the project on my site: davesimondesign.com/embershores

Ember Shores is a dark, industrial-fantasy world, set on an island that is experiencing a looming extraterrestrial disaster during the height of an industrial revolution. Nobles and commoners alike hunt Eel leviathans, known as Steel Ungury, for their organs and blood which is capable of producing electricity for the maritime city of Keyrn.

Meanwhile, Strange phenomena and ancient ruins are being discovered amid the inland Silver Wastes. Smugglers and prospectors disappear without a trace here in their pursuit for valuable artifacts.

Ember Isle is one of the main islands of the Arkestrian Empire and one of it’s newest frontier colonies. It's a tundra island known for it’s rocky dark beaches, foggy meadows and expansive forests. Surrounding Ember Isle is the Endless Sea. A dark, expansive, and hostile ocean which even the most skilled navigators and pilots struggle to traverse, and filled with all sorts of exotic sea life.

The capital city of Ember Isle is Keyrn, the industrial giant of the eastern territories with it’s young and booming Ungury Blood Industry. Eel like sea leviathans known as Steel Ungury are harvested for their organs and blood, which are then used for the creation of advanced technology and energy.

Steel Ungury reside in the deep oceans of the Endless Sea. Previously considered too large and difficult to hunt, they were generally left alone in their waters. It wasn’t until a beached ungury was discovered by physician Arthur Cadwell, allowing him to get a closer look at the creature's anatomy. He quickly developed a new process for harnessing the electric properties of ungury blood, powering a series of astounding technological inventions as well as generating power for the city of Keyrn.

Steel Ungury are believed to be extremely intelligent and are likely to be some of the oldest creatures discovered in the Arkestrian territories. Some sailors claim to hear whispers and secrets of old when hunting them on the sea, though any research on the matter by noble science apparatus have been inconclusive at best.

The city of Keyrn was founded by explorers and colonists who traveled from the Arkestrian Empire in search of land beyond the current territories. The original architecture of Keyrn consisted of common construction materials such as wood and stone. But with the advancements brought by ungury blood, steel and metal processing have become more commonplace.

Factories were quickly developed to harvest, process and pump the blood across the city and isle. Alleys and canals of the towering industrial districts now play host to thugs, thieves, and even rumored cultists. An underground market of supposed black magic artifacts collected from the Silver Wastes flourishes.

Further up the hill one can find the Founder's District. Built above the docks and factories - the Founders District is where Keyrn's aristocracy resides. At the top of the district is Keyrn Palace. Home to the founding parliament family of Ember Isle and other important government figures.

In general, the people of Ember Isle are a hard-working lot, fond of fish dishes, locally produced tobacco, cigarettes, and liquors. Most find employment on the Keyrn docks, working the steel ungury fishing trade while others may turn to petty crime and even smuggling organizations in the Silver Wastes.

If you were to speak to a citizen of Keyrn it's likely you'll learn they have a second way of earning coin on the side. Which, generally speaking, is illegal according to Keyrn law. In addition to the farming, shipping, and steel ungury trade, there were several silver mines in the hills of Ember Isle. But recently, mysterious deaths and disappearances caused the mines to be shut down, threatening the supply indefinitely.

With the recent advancement and rapid industrialization of Keyrn, a class of Aristocrats and Blood Barons quickly formed. Children of Arkestrian royalty quickly migrated to the isle to make a name for themselves in the ungury blood industry. Known as blood barons this new class of rich elite are heavily involved in Keyrn politics.

Rumor has it that just preceding the invention of electric ungury blood, the silver barons quickly purchased sea vessels and dockside property while the incidents in the silver mines were unfolding.

Deeper into the isle and into the Silver Wastes explorers are lost to the wilderness, beasts, and dangerous anomalies. Most are never seen again but some are said to have joined a quasi-military cult. They wear steel and iron armor found in the ruins of the ancients.

Those who have gotten a close look and survived say their eyes are completely filled with cataracts, yet they still manage to see perfectly. Other accounts state their ferocity and endurance are unmatched. They are never slowed by rough terrain or fatigued by a lack of food or water and will always fight to the death, even when greatly outnumbered.

Maritime produce is the staple of Keyrn’s economy, second to the production of ungury blood of course. Various products are produced from the local fauna of the Endless Sea.

“Only a complete fool would eat a putridfish! But their claws... those are a true treat.”

Another production of Cadwell Industries is the Cadwell Boltlock Pistol. Primarily it's not used as a weapon so much as a collector;s item for the wealthy and elite. A marvel of modern engineering and artistry, the pistol is custom made to each client, making every Cadwell Boltlock unique.

For ammunition, small steel ungury teeth are used and loaded into the front chamber while a secondary chamber is loaded with a combustion cartridge. This unique setup allows for customization of the caliber and round.

This specific pistol here belongs to a wealthy blood baron of the ungury blood trade.

Various pieces of machinery have been developed since the invention of electric ungury blood. One of which are the ‘Caldwell Electric Tattoo Machines’. They run off a steady supply of ungury blood to power their motors. 

When explorers first arrived on Ember Isle they discovered vast foggy meadows, swamps, forests, and even ruins of an ancient society inland from the shores. It wasn’t until the industrial boom of Keyrn when the landscape began to drastically change.

Supernatural phenomena, mutated flora and fauna, and even sightings of extraterrestrial beings were reported. Keyrn government quickly cordoned off the area, but that didn’t stop prospectors from hopping the fence and exploring deeper, seeking ancient and supposedly powerful artifacts. 

It’s a rare sight to see a Star Ancient, and even more rare to keep your sanity or your life. Their haunting beauty and grand power can turn even the most seasoned prospectors in the Silver Wastes.

These multi-dimensional beings are extremely powerful. They are often described as gods and worshipped by rumored cults in both Keyrn and the Silver Wastes.

Not much is known about where they come from or what they want. However there is evidence to suggest that the ancient people of Ember Isle constructed vast underground structures in both worship and protection of them. For what reason or benefit is yet to be discovered

Ember Shores: Worldbuilding Exhibition 4.22.24 | Hosted by Adobe Systems in Lehi, Utah.