(click the pic for a full-res, downloadable version)
Humanity’s allies are bloodied but unbroken in the Galactic Civilizations III timeframe. The former leader of the Republic, Eleys Mue, died at the hands of the Drengin paving the way for the Resistance to take more direct measures that ultimately pushed the Drengin off her world. Succeeding her is Akari Malara of the Iru-Wraith'ir. She is a smart and capable woman willing to deal with the Drengin-dominated galaxy as it is, not the galaxy some of her peace-loving people wish it was. The Altarian Republic is in good -- or at least effective -- hands.
Lead designer Paul Boyer explains Akari Malara thusly:
Like the Terrans, the Altarian Republic has suffered greatly after the wars surrounding the return of the Dread Lords. They may have been wiped out entirely if not for the leader of the Altarian Resistance, Akari Malara. She kept the Altarian people united, giving them the strength to hold firm in the face of the Drengin domination of the galaxy.
While the Altarian Republic now claims to have never truly fallen, their government has been entirely taken over by the key members of the Altarian Resistance. This change can be seen in the way the Altarians now interact with the rest of the galaxy; though still looked upon as the high water mark of benevolence, they are now even less likely to trust outsiders and will often choose to stay aloof from galactic conflict rather than risking further cultural contamination.
Akari Malara herself has become an almost religious figure. The Altarian Resistance sees her as the savior of the Altarian people, and her control over her people is unprecedented in Altarian history. Even her worst critics admire her leadership, though they whisper that she is perhaps a bit too pragmatic.
There’s a lot more Galactic Civilizations III content out there already. Learn more about the Altarian Resistance and its prominent place in the Galactic Civilizations universe in the Databanks, check out PC Gamer’s in-depth preview, or listen to Paul talk everything from tutorial modes to ship design on the SpaceGameJunkies podcast.
Founders can access even more content in the Founders’ Vault by pre-ordering the game for $10 off the regular $49.99 price, or by picking up the $99 version that comes with a lifetime subscription to all Galactic Civilizations III DLC and expansions.
Update:
Fixed the confusion between Elsys Mue, the leader of the Altarian Republic and Akari Malari, the resistance leader who restored Altaria's independence.
Yeah, I like the look of her. BTW I believe she is a Wraith. I might have to replace my avatar. I've been Ceresa for a long time. I havent finished Destiny's Embers. I might have to now.
Define believable? It's a lot more believable that every species in GalCiv would have internal divisions, cultures, sub-races than world wide generic beings.
Internal dissent tends to become exasperated during wartime. It happened in the United States curing the Civil War (in the North especially), it certainly happened in France in a big way during World War II.
There is only one Altarian Republic race in GalCiv III to deal with. The difference here is that how they're going to behave and how they look is going to be a bit different.
In addition, the Altarians are united. Acknowleding that the Altarian people are made up of different races and cultures doesn't automatically mean they're at war.
The same is true of the Krynn who are inspired partially by the Papal States of Italy. Being very religious and running a criminal empire are not mutually exclusive. The Krynn have no civil war going on. They're on the same side.
As for the humans, they absolutely have a reason to be at odds. There are those who want to gain the upper hand to get rid of the alien scum and those who support coexistence. The humans are returning with doomsday weapons. You can bet there's a conflict on how best to utilize them.
I can appreciate the sentiment in your comment, but I don't think it's the same situation.
The Germans, despite being horrible evil bastards at the time, were still Europeans and still Human. The French, Africans and Norwegians had a future to look froward to. The Drengin are decidedly not Human, and very likely not European. They outright tell you "submit or be annihilated"; they show no mercy, no quarter and are extremely violent. They completely demolished a dozen civilizations and burned everyone and everything to the ground. Hell, they literally harvest people's souls to power their planets! Clearly, anybody who extends a hand and says "Let'd be friends" is a complete lunatic, and anybody who co-operates with them will be dogpiled immediately.
In the war against the Drengin, there is literally only one option; Total War. It can end only with the complete extinction and utter defeat of either the galaxy at large or the Drengin. Everyone with sense will see this, there is no room for interpretation here.
Beyond even this, every race just conveniently forgets that that the Human Crusade was predicted by the Thalans, and they also somehow block out the fact that this Crusade has been fortold to, y'know, be the death of the universe itself.
I 'dunno, it just makes me mad that there are people in the universe still squabbling about dumb things and getting divided on racial lines even though the fate of the entire universe is on the line.
I am not sure why you are assuming that having political factions means they are having a civil war.
The Altarians are united. They're not at war. Just a different political faction and sub-race are currently in ascendant. It would be like people freaking out if we had a Chinese leader for GalCiv III. You're the only one assuming that the Altarians are in the midst of some civil war (same with the Krynn). They're not. But they do have plenty of internal factions and cultures and sub-races just like Humans do.
No, what would happen is some nations states would appease them for favour by giving them landing bases.Assad for instance.
I'd rather see this expressed in gameplay than in the lore.
Was there a gigantic, losing war for the fate of the entire universe in either of those? And in both cases the war was only won because the winning faction united in a show of force seldom seen; the Americans and Europeans joined the ideologically-opposed Russians to defeat the Nazi's, while the northern states rallied and federalized the army to a much greater extent.
Would be cool if the ideology you chose changed the culture of the civilization in question, so that the "Altarian Resistance" turned into the "Altarian Hegemony" or something like that.
Good to know, thank you for the clarification. That being said, every other faction divide is violent or tumultuous.
The timeline thingy says that the Krynn alternate between "Criminal masterminds" and "Religious zealots"; this is a factional divide, even if it is subtle.
I'll have to see the campaign to judge the idea for myself.
Anyways, thanks for indulging me Brad, I'm surprised you gave me so much of you personal attention lol :3 Still love you!
Appease aliens who outright tell you that your entire species is doomed to either slavery or extinction?
So you are totally sure that Drengin are not human but are open to the, very unlikely, possibility of them being european. Interesting.
And just because, colloidal silver can turn your skin blue without being Altarian. Argyria.
Ok, I notice the name has been changed to Akari Malara and explanatory text has been added. That's great May I suggest that instead of just changing the name in all the instances in the text below, you keep Eleys/Elsys here since she was the leader of the Resistance in ToA?: "They may have been wiped out entirely if not for the leader of the Altarian Resistance, Eleys". Then add "The former leader of the Resistance, Elsys Mue, died at the hands of the Drengin paving the way for the Resistance to take more direct measures that ultimately pushed the Drengin off her world. Succeeding her is Akari Malara of the Iru-Wraith'ir.
Unless I missed something and the Resistance was retconned in the ToA and was Republic until now.
I'm glad we're no longer pretending they're the same person.
Of interest: Wikipedia: Akari
And of slightly less interest: Wikipedia: Malara
I really like the the way this looks. I'm getting a Grand Admiral Thrawn/Militaristic vibe from her, which is a good thing to me and makes sense considering the state of the galaxy. Fully animated this will looks great, one question though, are there any plans to do voice over for races rather then having text for dialog? It could add that much more to this visual. Waiting impatiently for all the races reveals! Good work!
Well, I think I might have to retcon some old GalCiv stories I wrote. I don't see old Jordan going for blue Altarians...
The light of Venus then. Or lucifer, who was supposed to be the evening star light. Creepy.
Most Altarians aren't blue. There are light skinned, dark skinned, blue skinned and gray skinned.
While we are having this discussion I'd like to bring up a pet peeve of mine. In GC2 they are called Major Races and Minor Races, but that is wrong, especially for the Krynn Consulate, which is mentioned to be a group of different species. Wouldn't it be better to name them something else like Major Civilizations?
Also, Netro Mancer was the leader of the Altarian Republic, Elyes Mue lead the Altarian Resistance.
So you're confirming the Altarians are the Elemental Humans?
Yeah, he confirmed it. Although Akari is a Wraith it seems.
I'm not confirming anything.
Yea, there's definitely some sloppiness in the semantics.
Early on, we hated using the term civilizations because we were trying to stay away from Civilization. It's something that needs to be cleaned up.
Also, as you correctly pointed out, Netro was the leader of the Altarians when the war began. Elyes took over when Altaria fell and Akari is the one who actually threw off the Drengin.
There's still some internal discussion as to what to call the Altarians because they're not really a Republic. Akari rules as a dictator at this point.
Hahah, same difference
You should probably keep Resistance for now. Dictators usually keep the same name to emphasize that they are continuing as before and they are not really that heavy-handed.
In the future, perhaps it could change to something like, the Altarian Union, as she might try to show how united the people are under her. I suppose even if she rules like a dictator she is still an Altarian and is still good (unless something is brewing up...!)
Well now that we know its a new person I have no issues with the design whatsoever. Can't wait to see how the lore plays out through the game and dev journals.
And I am really glad the Wraith survived the War of Magic, assuming of course that she is not an Iru.
Dictator in the modern sense of tyrant abusing power, or in classic title for magistrate in ancient Rome appointed by the Senate to rule in times of trouble?
In keeping with traditions it should then be the Free Peoples Elected Democratic Republic of Altar.
You need to fit "United" in there somewhere too.
In terms of design, other than perhaps the Yor, the Altarians are the ones I meddled with the most. So anything someone doesn't like about them they shouldn't blame Paul. It's all on me. The original design was very much more like GalCiv II (tattooed, etc.)
BTW, I've put some early drafts of the Altarian's up along with Akari's theme music into the vault.
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