Devlog - July 2025 - Introducing Stonebark Brewery
- mattlsutton1993
- Jul 11
- 5 min read
Introduction
Hey everyone! It's Altire here with a slight change of pace this month from our usual “State of the Mod” updates.
In this two-part blog, I'll be giving you a developer’s insight as we take a look at the Ale assets I've been creating for Stonebark Brewery, the sole producer of alcoholic beverages within the Druadach Valley.
In this first part, I’ll cover:
A little about myself and my role within the Lordbound team
An introduction to the lore of Stonebark Brewery
A sneak preview of Stonebark’s Ales and Brews
In the second blog we’ll see exactly how these assets are produced and explore each stage of the asset creation process.
There won't be time to cover everything in extensive detail, but you’ll get to see some of what awaits you within Druadach Valley when the mod releases later this year. You’ll also get an idea of the work involved, and what members of the Lordbound team are doing on a day-to-day basis to bring you a world that's rich in content.
Without further ado, let's get started!
Becoming Lordbound
I began my Lordbound journey in July of 2024 when I joined the team as a 3D and Technical Artist. For those that are unfamiliar, this means that I work on the design, creation and implementation of assets for the mod. It's incredibly fun and interesting work, but it's certainly not without its challenges and difficulties as we’ll see in part two.
Like many members of the team however, my work often extends beyond a predefined role. As well as creating 3D assets, I’ve had the opportunity to work on level design, quest implementation, and testing. I also created (and now maintain) the Lordbound website too, so there’s been no shortage of interesting and varied ways to contribute to the project.
While I'm incredibly passionate about the work I do for Lordbound, it's a far cry from my day job as a Software Engineer in Cybersecurity. The Lordbound team continues to be a mixture of individuals working both inside and outside of the games industry.
If you feel you could be a good fit or would love to get involved, remember that we’re always open to additional volunteers across an extensive range of areas and disciplines. Check out our Volunteer page to learn more.
Stonebark - The Brewery of the Druadach Valley
Now back to the topic at hand! Stonebark Operates from an impressive and extensive site situated south-west of Highreach hold.
Originating from humble beginnings, the isolation of the Druadach Valley and a distinct lack of competition has, over time, assured Stonebark a monopoly over the trade of alcoholic drinks and refined spirituals. Eventually well funded and well connected, the Stonebarks sent their youngest boy, Beric, away to study the arcane arts, leaving his siblings to run the family business.
Several years into his studies, Beric received the tragic news of the death of his family caused by a local epidemic. He quickly returned to find himself at the head of the Brewery, left with a responsibility to continue its legacy.
Utilizing the deep and extensive knowledge gained from his studies to advance the brewery’s craft, Stonebark now produces a range of both Ales and Brews, which are distinctively different types of alcoholic beverage.
Ales are the drink of choice amongst the common folk of Druadach, and are popular across inns and homes for their cost, availability, and of course taste.
Brews, on the other hand, are magic-infused drinks that offer the consumer something a little more special, often granting unique and powerful abilities. This results in a costly and delicate production process, making Brews a true luxury good that are difficult to source, and usually reserved for the wealthy and well connected residents of the valley.
Whether it’s an Ale or Brew that you’re looking for, make sure to keep a keen eye out when you embark upon your Lordbound adventures later this year.
Discovering the Ales and Brews of Stonebark Brewery
With a wide range of beverages available, you’ll be sure to find a drink to suit every situation. Let's take a closer look at some of the Brewery’s offerings, starting with the ever-popular Dark Ale.
As the simplest and most affordable of Stonebark’s drinks, the Dark Ale is as old as the brewery itself. It is considered by many to be its signature beverage, originating from a recipe of leftover food store ingredients that has since been refined over generations.
It has a moderate alcohol content, is widely consumed throughout the valley, and is a particular favorite amongst the lower classes for its low price and high availability. As a result, you’ll almost certainly encounter this drink in abundance throughout your travels.
Next up we’ll explore the Stonebark Ruby Ale.
This is a special reserve ale created to honor the alliance that brought an end to the Oblivion crisis in the Druadach valley over two hundred years ago, and to pay homage to all those who gave their lives to close the Oblivion gates.
It is said to grant an immense boost to the strength and courage of anyone who drinks it. It is, however, a somewhat rare and expensive ale, and is usually only accessible to wealthier individuals and factions.
Moving on to Brews now, the Stonebark Soulseer is one such beverage.
This potent and mysterious brew traces its origins back to Beric Stonebark's earliest magical experiments, following the return from his arcane studies.
It is said to immediately connect the consumer with all nearby living creatures, granting the ability to see and simultaneously trap their souls. A well-timed swig therefore gives an effective fighter the opportunity to capture multiple souls in quick succession.
This effect makes the Soulseer an invaluable drink for those looking to keep their enchanted weapons charged, and ready for battle. It does, however, come at a significant price, and is often difficult to source.
The final Stonebark drink we'll take a look at today is the Stout of Strabism. If you ever find yourself outnumbered in battle, or overpowered by a fierce opponent, then you'll want to have one of these to hand.
The exact origins of this brew are unknown, but many believe it was first concocted during Beric Stonebark’s experiments with Illusion magic. It is said that while stricken with grief, he frantically attempted to create a Brew that would enable him to once again experience the presence of those he had so tragically lost. If the rumours are true, it is from these failed experiments that the Stout of Strabism was born.
This brew causes immediate invisibility, while simultaneously summoning a clone of the consumer to distract the attention of enemies. The clone acts as a decoy, granting the much needed opportunity to flee from battle to avoid serious harm, or death.
While invaluable in a difficult fight, caution must be taken with this brew. Summoning a clone is no easy task, and some of the consumer's life force is said to be taken to do so. You'll want to make sure you're not at death's door when you drink this one.
That's all for today’s insight into Stonebark’s offerings, but rest assured that many more await you in Druadach Valley. If you're looking to get your hands on a specific beverage when the time comes, why not visit Stonebark's on-site tavern, The Brew and Barrel, to see if it's in store?
Join us in part two of this blog when you’ll see what it takes to create these unique assets. We’ll explore each stage of the asset creation workflow from design, planning and conceptualization, through to modeling, texturing and implementation within Lordbound.
Thanks for reading folks, and I’ll see you next time!
– Altire
