Time for more lore! You probably didn’t know that the Dreambears, like us, had their own Renaissance, did you? Well, here it is.

About 150 years ago, the greatest change in history came to the Dreambear race, as their cultural and scientific development suddenly lead to a whirlwind of innovation and progress: The Dreambear Renaissance. Mirroring our own Renaissance, the life of the Dreambears, with Great Beronia at its heart, changed forever.

Where they had first been a nomadic, roaming race, filling their days with hunting dreams and playing freely in the wild, the settling of the tribes in various places, forming the first villages, and the subsequent start of technological innovation and science, caused their culture to leap forward. The standard of life went up, a certain sophistication rained down on everyone’s heads and the inhabitants of the land became true ladies and gentlebears.

Kick-starting this revolution were the rise of schools and education, and the curious and inquisitive nature of the Dreambears finally finding an output in science and invention. During those times, 150 years ago, many a workshop or attic would suddenly have their windows opened, a joyous inventor poking out and shouting ‘Eureka!’ Those days gave rise to many great new boons to civilization. Zeppelin-designs still used today were invented then. The Bellows were created, which greatly facilitated the distribution of Dream Orbs. Architectural miracles took place with great palaces, halls and squares being built through steadfast dedication and craftsmanship. Culturally, new music was invented and stars and legends in every field took their place. Dreamcatchers no longer had to go after the wild Dreams BEARhanded (somebody come shoot us). All of Great Beronia celebrated their newfound wisdom and culture!

So there you have it… the Dreambear Renaissance. There may even be a little DaVinci bear running around somewhere.

Roderick

Princes need armies, as sure as pots of gold need a leprechaun and a rainbow to take care of their distribution!

Prince Growl, therefore, has created an involuntary one of his own. In the dark of the night, he and his fresh minions steal into Dreamtown and kidnap any bear that is unfortunate enough to cross their path. Then, the captive is outfitted with a glowing amulet tucked on their chest, transforming the once peaceful Dreambear into a giant, lumbering Shadowbear. Purple and wicked, these creatures follow Growl’s every command. However, because inside them is still the captured Dreambear wanting to escape, the Shadowbears aren’t very bright. They’re conflicted creatures who barely have the ability to speak. Prince Growl doesn’t mind, though. They’re more than fit to go out in the forests and catch the wild Dreams, turning them into skittering Nightmare Orbs with their giant gloves. The spell that binds the Shadowbears can be broken by removing or destroying the amulet on their chest. Perhaps a little obvious, but prince Growl is obviously too busy a man to take notice of those things.

Two Shadowbears, Ug and Mug, serve as Growl’s primary henchmen. They’re always with him and execute the most important tasks and missions. Ug and Mug, like all Shadowbears, aren’t the brightest apples of the bunch, but they’re powerful in their own right and can’t be returned to their original states. Perhaps this is because they joined Growl of their own volition? Theirs will remain a mystery for a little longer.

Roderick

Care for another slice of Dreambear lore?

Let’s talk about dreams. Where do they come from? You might think they’re just your brain processing data when you sleep, but the truth is far more enchanting. Wild Dreams come from the clouds. They live with the Dreambears on every floating island, among forests, inside caves and mines, on the tops of mountains and in the very depths of dangerous ravines. They lead peaceful lives, in harmony with the trees and animals surrounding them. They flit about all day long (or all night if they’re nocturnal), seeking friends to play with or racing each other through the woods.

And it’s the Dreambears who catch them. The most heroic of them, the adventurers, the thrillseekers, the most responsible, go out into those wilds with nothing but their equipment and their own skills, to capture the wispy wild Dreams. It’s a dangerous profession, but the rewards are great. The unending adoration of the crowd, for instance!

Then, with the wild Dreams caught, Dream Orbs are created and sent to earth via a great machine underneath Dreamtown. Then the dreams, their destiny in sight, find their way to our sleep to give us out grand adventures. Sweet dreams!

Roderick

By now, many of you will be quite curious to know how the Dreambear world looks, tastes and feels. You’ve seen the great artwork on the blog, maybe you’ve even gotten hold of one of the flyers we spread out on the Game Developer’s Conference this year in San Francisco, hell, perhaps you’ve even had Roel deliver his elevator pitch to you in person. But the world in which Dreambear takes place is still a mystery, one we intend to unravel over the course of its development.

The first thing you should know is that the bears that inhabit the land of Great Beronia don’t live on the planet like we do. No, no, no: their kingdom lies in the clouds, resting on giant, floating masses of land, many of them interconnected by bridges, ropes or zeppelin trade routes. There are plenty of as of yet undiscovered -and possibly dangerous- islands out there, but everything that lies within the borders of Great Beronia is safe to traverse (that is until prince Growl gets his nasty way with the kingdom, of course).

At the centre of the kingdom lies the majestic city of Dreamtown, taking up most of a giant floating island. This city is at once home to the royal throne, the cultural capital and the port through which all newcomers must enter. As such, Dreamtown is a lively place full of energetic inhabitants and friendly folk willing to aid anyone who’s new to the wonderful realm of Dreambear. Looking over the city is the benevolent king Wolong, a giant panda and heir to the royal bloodline (which has magic properties -something you’ll learn about soon enough). He is the supreme monarch of Great Beronia and leads his bearpeople with a kind heart. In between devouring bamboo pies, bamboo pastries and bamboo cobbler all day, he likes to drink bamboo shakes and bamboo apéritifs. You mustn’t think he’s a glutton or lazy though… he’s just very contented!

Well, that’s enough tourist information for now. Check back soon for more background lore from the world of Dreambear!

Roderick

One of the key aspects of the Dreambear world will be its compelling storyline. Every good story needs a villain. Harry Potter has one, Star Wars has one… hell, even ‘Bassie & Adriaan’ (a Dutch kids show) has one.  So, naturally, we couldn’t fall behind. Our main villain is called Prince Growl and he’s the half-brother of the current king of Great Beronia. In the next couple of weeks, Roderick (one of our writers) will add some more Dreambear lore. In the meantime, enjoy a piece of concept art (which is still subject to change, of course) of Prince Growl.

Yep… That’s a bad guy alright.

Roel