Follow The Journey - the Making of Kinslayers

Some projects begin with a plan. Kinslayers began with a storm.

Anduin didn’t arrive gently—it came as a flood of images, stories, and voices, demanding to be captured. What started as scattered notebook scribbles soon evolved into a full-blown creative undertaking: a high fantasy world steeped in arcane power, ancient kingdoms, and the weight of consequence. With no formal training in game design or publishing, the process became one of discovery—learning through creation, exploring through iteration, and building something bigger than a single book or idea.

This page is dedicated to that journey.

To the rough edges and early visions.

To the lore drafts, the concept trailer, the LM podcasts, the AI experiments, the sketches, and the spark.

“The Making of Kinslayers” is where the curtain is pulled back—where the creative process, the tools, the stumbles, and the breakthroughs are shared openly. It’s not always polished. But it’s real. And it’s where Anduin began.

Fall of the Arcane Storm - the Image that started it all.

Kinslayers Chronicles

Kinslayers - Fall of the Arcane Storm

Kinslayers - Fall of the Arcane Storms is the creative vision of Vlaan, indie developer, lead designer, and writer, dedicated to crafting immersive tabletop experiences. This skirmish wargame brings to life the realm of Anduin, offering players unparalleled customization and creative freedom.

With a strong focus on narrative-driven gameplay and tactical combat, Kinslayers invites players to craft their own leaders, unite warbands, and conquer the elemental forces threatening the world's balance. By combining balanced mechanics, rich lore, and fostering a creative community-driven approach, Kinslayers seeks to inspire creators and players to engage in the magic of storytelling alongside the art of tabletop gaming.

And 'Book 1' is only the beginning.

See our FAQs page for more information.

Chronicles of Anduin - Sundered Souls

Chronicles of Anduin – Saga of Sundered Souls is a collection of interwoven tales (novellas) set in the mystic world of Anduin, a land ravaged by the Arcane Storms. These stories follow its inhabitants as they fight to survive, rebuild, and face the consequences of living in a world forever reshaped by magic. At their core is resilience—where hope, redemption, and vengeance are all paths forged in the struggle for survival.

Written by Vlaan, the saga blends world-building, fantasy, and the depths of mortal nature—be it human, elfkin, orkkin, or shortkin—where good and evil blur, and individual choices shape the fate of Anduin itself.

Still in development this collection offers a glimpse into the rich lore of Kinslayers: Fall of the Arcane Storms, where magic and mortal will collide, and past decisions echo through time.

See our 'Chronicle of Anduin' Page for Chapter Excerpts.

The F8 'Fate' System

Core Rulebook - Skirmish Warfare

For Skirmish Battles - Kinslayers: Fall of the Arcane Storm uses the F8 'FATE' System to seamlessly blend tactical skirmish warfare with immersive roleplay. The first four F's—Favors, Flaws, Form, and Fuse—allow players to shape their character for the battlefield and the narrative. Favors grant unique combat advantages, Flaws introduce challenges that add depth, Form determines your character’s combat style, and Fuse enables you to merge with elemental forces for powerful effects.

Favors, Flaws, Form & Fuse are in full effect from Book 1.

Campaign Chronicle - Narrative Roleplay

The remaining four F's—Figures, Facets, Flair, and Fate—enhance the roleplay aspect, enriching character development and interpersonal dynamics. Figures represent your character’s physical and mental strengths, Facets offer a background or profession to deepen their story, and Flair categorizes skill mastery to reflect your character's expertise. Fate represents an unseen force guiding your character’s journey and decisions, with a random advantage dice that introduces an element of chance.

Figures, Facets, Flair & Fate will be introduced from Book 2 where players embark on an Odyssey Across Anduin building alliances & gathering artifacts to face the Arcane Storm.

The Three Fates!

As gameplay unfolds, the F8 System introduces ‘The Fated Three.’ Here, players roll 3 D6 Dice (representing the three fates) for a varied collection of skill actions and craft attempts. The roll, combined with Flair Points determine the success of their efforts.

Sometimes, fate smiles upon you with the roll of the 'Fated Three' (3D6), guiding your actions with fortune and skill. Other times, whether through ill luck or poor strategy, you may endure the consequences of 'Dark Fate' (3D1), where the odds are not in your favor.

Early Concept Trailer

Created in late 2022 and delivered in early 2023, this initial Kinslayers trailer was never meant to be a polished showcase—it was designed as a creative anchor, capturing the emerging tone of a world steeped in high magic, dark fantasy, and tactical warfare.

While the visuals are undeniably rough, the trailer served its purpose: to inspire, to focus, and to hold the project’s intent in view. It’s been watched countless times—not for wow factor, but as a reminder of the mood and direction that shaped the earliest steps of development.

Interestingly, the trailer exists in both green and red versions, each featuring arcane storm imagery—an unexpected coincidence that now aligns with the thematic color palettes of the three core books. A full revamp may come in time, but for now, this piece stands as a snapshot of the journey—a small but meaningful milestone in the worldbuilding of Kinslayers.

Early Concept Art

The first wave of AI-generated concept art emerged in late 2022, not as finished assets, but as a visual sketchbook—an attempt to capture the soul of Kinslayers before the mechanics and lore were fully formed. These images were never meant to be final. They were sparks—visual fragments of Anduin—offering glimpses into the arcane storms, the shattered kingdoms, and the ancient powers stirring beneath the surface.

Some are rough, others hauntingly beautiful. But together, they became a mood board for the world, shaping characters, factions, terrain, and themes long before the first page of the rulebook was written.

Importantly, Anduin’s creation myth holds that all races carry a touch of the blood of the First Elves—a unifying thread woven through every kingdom, culture, and creature. With this in mind, the concept art was intentionally crafted to show each race in a neutral and mythic state, free from modern tropes or rigid moral alignment. These are not worlds where high elves are always good or orcs inherently evil—but where every people carries depth, history, and potential for both greatness and ruin.

Alongside the artwork came a journey in learning the tools of independent creation—from mastering Canva layouts and negotiating with Fiverr artists, to designing Kickstarter campaigns and understanding the business of building a game. As part of this process, three standalone artbooks were developed:
🧝 The Elfkin Compendium
🪓 The Orkkin Compendium
⚔️ The Shortkin Compendium

Each of these was a step forward—a way to visually explore each race and refine their place in the evolving world of Anduin, while honing the creative skills needed to bring Kinslayers to life.

With time, many of these concepts will be refined or replaced—but they remain a touchstone of the journey, capturing Kinslayers in its most raw, inspired state.

In fact, they unexpectantly ended up showcasing the very rapid growth of AI-art in a fantasy setting from Midjourney V1 to V6. If your interested you can get the PDF at the Elder-Craft link below (ETSY Store).

If your an avid collector and would prefer hardcopies reach out as we may have some laying about.

Elder-Craft

Who is Vlaan?

Vlaan is the creator and storyteller of the mystical realm of Anduin—a world born of chaos and shaped by resilience. The Chronicles of Anduin: A Saga of Sundered Souls and Kinslayers: Fall of the Arcane Storms draw on his love for literature, art, and gaming, weaving tales of heroism and moral struggle.

A seasoned traveler, Vlaan has expl

A seasoned traveler, Vlaan has explored over 36 countries, drawing inspiration from wondrous landscapes, histories, and myths. With a background in contract law, military service, and child protection, his experiences infuse his stories with resilience, moral complexity, and hope amid turmoil.

He lives in Australia, with his wife and three children in the blue house by the ocean, with the white picket fence. Here he crafts tales of adventure, courage and hope, for young warriors, old souls, wounded healers, and dreamers alike.

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