Under the Fourth Kingdom gets Pallid
Kerova has released an improved, harder, faster, better, stronger edition of the solo mega-dungeon crawler Under the Fourth Kingdom!
The new Pallid Delve Edition collects the base game and all material previously released across three zines.
I’ll miss the old cover, but the new one by the great Chaoclypse is awesome!
Here’s a video of his creative process, from creating a diorama to turning it into the finished cover:
For the interior, besides Kerova’s own work, the Pallid Delve Edition also features art by Quest for Quests.
There’s also exclusive new material and several other updates and improvements. If you don’t know the game yet, now’s the perfect time to try it.
One of the new additions is some very cool achievements.
The gist of the game is: we create a dreg with basic equipment and send them to suffer in the dungeon, hoping to get stronger and finally eradicate the Scourge festering on the deepest level, getting rewarded with promised riches.
Here’s the full synopsys:
A Scourge is afflicting the Fourth Kingdom. After a fiery purge to push it back into the Underdepths, neighbouring Pyromancer Lords are threatening to raze the entire kingdom.
In a last-ditch effort, the Merchant Princes sent calls out for heroic dregs from all the lands of Ghelador to delve under the Fourth Kingdom into the never-ending cisterns, drains, tunnels and sumps to find the source of the Scourge and eradicate it.
You have answered the call in hopes of the promised rewards and incredible riches.
No one truly knows how deep the Scourge lies - the Underdepths has many layers, each larger and more dangerous than the last.
Features:
- Under the Fourth Kingdom uses the Grief-Engine by Castle Grief at its core.
- Full multi-campaign dungeon delving setting built for Solo-play. All aspects of the game are generated as you interact and explore the Underdepths.
- 21 Backgrounds utilizing a skill based rapid leveling system.
- 15 separate Depths. All with unique Points of Interest, NPCs and Encounters. Each more dangerous and difficult than the last.
- 12 separate Scourges to allow multiple playthroughs. Each Scourge has 2 Encounters Pools and 3 Endings.
- Shared Lore with Tome of the Pyromancer, Dark Covenant Invader and Combat Apothecary.
- Document size: 151 pages.
- Writing and art by Kerova Archive (unless otherwise noted).
No AI was used in the making of this game!
I’ve done a small four-part playthrough here:
Let’s Play Under the Fourth Kingdom! Part 1: Felix the Dusk Thief
If you want other options, here are a few more:
- Chaoclypse's actual play on Youtube.
- Quest for Quests actual play on Substack.
- Kerova's actual play on Substack so you can see the game in action through the creator’s own hands and imagination.
If you’re intending on playing digitally, I’ve created a character sheet on Google Sheets:
It has an auto inventory counter that goes up or down with Strength. If you mark the Utility Belt box, it increases your inventory by 5.
Feel free to use and change it however you want.
In case you’re wondering, I have no affiliation with Kerova or Under the Fourth Kingdom, I’m just a fan.
I’ve "met" Kerova on Substack through our similar taste in a lot of media, but especially for our shared love of soulslike stuff, something Kerova captures fantastically in their games.
Under the Fourth Kingdom is available on Itch. The hardcover is available on Lulu.
Check out Kerova's other games as well. They’re all awesome.