Editing Abandoned Town Concepts (HotA) (section)

== Asylum ==
{{TownsIn|Asylum|townimage=Don ko Asylum Town Sketch.jpg}}
On 20/JUN/2008, [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]] proposed the concept of the Asylum, and on 21/FEB/09, a [https://forum.df2.ru/index.php?showtopic=12298 DF2 thread] was started for the Asylum town. All information has been sourced from various threads in the [https://forum.df2.ru/index.php?showforum=106 DF2 topic].

The town's design had many inspirations, such as previous ''Might and Magic'' games, poetry written by [[wikipedia:Edgar Allen Poe|Edgar Allen Poe]], and the literary works of [[wikipedia:H. P. Lovecraft|H. P. Lovecraft]]. It also incorporated broader concepts such as madness, torture, nightmares, [[wikipedia:Body horror|body horror]], and the [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CircusOfFear circus of fear] as general themes that show in many of the designs of the buildings and creatures.

''"After the destruction of [[Escaton|Escaton's]] crystal at the hands of the [[Elemental Lords]], the [[Elemental Planes]] calmed and the gates between worlds closed... though, not exactly. In some places, portals between [[Enroth (planet)|Enroth]] and the plane-between-planes began to appear, and strange creatures from unknown worlds stepped, hovered, and oozed their way through to the land of heroes. Led by unknown masters, they came in search of what gives them strength: the passionate, complex feelings of mortals, and what can provide the most intense and tumultuous string of emotions but war? Asylum cities are built right on fault lines, which gives them the appearance of perpetually hanging over an abyss."'' <sup>Adapted from DF2 thread</sup>

=== Creatures ===
All creature descriptions adapted from the main DF2 thread.

*'''Level 1:''' Harlequins — Jesters that juggled what appears to be explosive mines/caltrops.
**''"Have you been having strange visions and incomprehensible dreams lately? Do you feel the urge to do things that contradict your usual morality that your mind did not allow you to do before? This can only mean that wicked guests from another world have found you and latched onto you; beware, for they will warp your inner world with their illusions, manipulating your mind to see enemies everywhere you turn..."''
*'''Level 2:''' Screamers — Shrieking visages that were either carried by clouds and smoke or floated around with many tendrils protruding from its face, depending on the artwork.
**''"When your nightmares become your reality, when you begin to feel your consciousness and your body is changed against your will, all that remains is to scream. To scream and to shriek. To wail like a banshee until your throat gives out, until all shall suffer and share in your pain!"''
*'''Level 3:''' Predatory Hands — Manacled floating hands with mouths filled with razor-sharp teeth in the center of their palms.
**''"Predatory Hands are truly strange otherworldly creatures. No matter how many times these beings have been dissected, nobody has ever figured out where their brain lies."''
*'''Level 4:''' Phantasms — Spider-/crab-like creatures that crawl about the battlefield.
**''"Phantasms are similar in nature to [[Psychic Elemental|Psychic Elementals]], albeit marginally weaker. These creatures phase through dreams and defile the minds of mortals, capable of making the deepest fears of their victims become their unfortunate reality."''
*'''Level 5:''' Horrors — Large oozing masses covered in eyes and mouths that see and devour all.
**''"Horrors inhabit the plane-between-planes and love to live under children's beds, preying on the fear they induce in the terrified tots."''
*'''Level 6:''' Empaths — Female humanoid mages inspired by the [https://www.moddb.com/mods/might-and-magic-viii-echo-of-destruction/images/asylum-mage-artwork Asylum Mage] of ''[https://www.moddb.com/mods/might-and-magic-viii-echo-of-destruction Might and Magic VIII: Echo of Destruction]''.
**''"If you are an experienced magic wielder, you can attempt to merge your essence with one of these creatures. After "upgrading" your body, you will no longer need food, water, or sleep. Your only source of life will be the agony and pain that you afflict your slaves and victims with."''
*'''Level 7:''' Proteuses — Alien masses of tentacles resembling distorted tree-like humanoid figures.
**''"Proteuses are attracted to massive waves of fear, seeking out any way to sate their boundless hunger. These formless creatures are among the most powerful beings that broke through the barrier between worlds and found their way to [[Enroth (planet)|Enroth]], forever haunting and defiling this now-forsaken land."''

=== Gallery ===
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="100px">
Agar Asylum Creatures.jpg|Asylum Creatures by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Alex-ander Asylum Creatures.png|Asylum Creatures by [[Alex-ander]]:<br>Harlequin, Hand, Empath, Terror, Proteus<br>---<br>Phantasm
Agar Asylum Harlequin 01.jpg|Harlequin by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Harlequin 02.jpg|Harlequin by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Harlequin 03.jpg|Harlequin by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
nosferatu Harlequins.jpg|Harlequins by [[Nosferatu (Artist)|nosferatu]]
Alex-ander Asylum Harlequin battlefield.png|Harlequin by [[Alex-ander]]
Alex-ander Asylum Harlequin.gif|Harlequin by [[Alex-ander]]
Agar Asylum Screamer 01.jpg|Screamer by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Screamer 02.jpg|Screamer by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
nosferatue Screamers.jpg|Screamers by [[Nosferatu (Artist)|nosferatu]]
Alex-ander Asylum Screamer.jpg|Screamer by [[Alex-ander]]
Feanor Asylum Screamer battlefield.jpg|Screamer by Feanor
Agar Asylum Hand 01.jpg|Predatory Hand by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Hand 02.jpg|Predatory Hand by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Alex-ander Asylum Hand battlefield.png|Predatory Hand by [[Alex-ander]]
Agar Asylum Phantasm 01.jpg|Phantasm by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Phantasm 02.jpg|Phantasm by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Phantasm 03.jpg|Phantasm by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
nosferatu Phantasm 01.jpg|Phantasm by [[Nosferatu (Artist)|nosferatu]]
nosferatu Phantasm 02.jpg|Phantasm by [[Nosferatu (Artist)|nosferatu]]
Alex-ander Asylum Phantasm battlefield.png|Phantasm by [[Alex-ander]]
Alex-ander Asylum Upg Phantasm battlefield.png|Upg. Phantasm by [[Alex-ander]]
Agar Asylum Horror 01.jpg|Horror by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Horror 02.jpg|Horror by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Alex-ander Asylum Horror battlefield.png|Horror by [[Alex-ander]]
Agar Asylum Empath 01.jpg|Empath by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Empath 02.jpg|Empath by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Empath 03.jpg|Empath by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
nosferatu Empath.jpg|Empath by [[Nosferatu (Artist)|nosferatu]]
Alex-ander Asylum Empath battlefield.png|Empath by [[Alex-ander]]
Agar Asylum Proteus 01.jpg|Proteus by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Proteus 02.jpg|Proteus by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Proteus 03.jpg|Proteus by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Alex-ander Asylum Proteus battlefield.png|Proteus by [[Alex-ander]]
Agar Asylum Cadaver 01.jpg|Cadaver by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Cadaver 02.jpg|Cadaver by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Martyr 01.jpg|Martyr by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Don_ko Asylum Town.jpg|Town Screen by [[Don_ko]]
Don_ko Asylum Tavern Sketch.jpg|Tavern by [[Don_ko]]
Don_ko Asylum Tavern.jpg|Tavern by [[Don_ko]]
Don ko Asylum Building Sketches.jpg|Building concepts by [[Don_ko]]
Agar Asylum Vaults of Madness Empath Dwelling.jpg|Vaults of Madness<br>(Empath Dwelling)<br>by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Harlequin Dwelling.jpg|Harlequin Dwelling by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum Screamer Dwelling.jpg|Screamer Dwelling by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
Agar Asylum The Guardian.jpg|The Guardian by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
</gallery>