I talked about the possibility of introducing an anti-creature cult into Holozing and how this organization could become an interesting source of conflict. But now I want to explore something else: how could we actually use this group to develop the game's story?
I think the most interesting approach would be to make the cult a threat that grows slowly, instead of introducing it as a group of enemies that the player must defeat from the beginning.
Imagine starting the game with some relatively simple missions. A few creatures have disappeared from their habitats, a research facility has been attacked, or a group of Holotamers has been accused of causing problems in a nearby settlement.
At first, these incidents might seem unrelated. However, as the player progresses through the story, they begin to discover that someone is deliberately creating these situations to turn people against the creatures.
This would be a great way to introduce the cult without revealing everything immediately. Players could investigate different locations, collect evidence and gradually discover that there is an organized movement working behind the scenes.
I also think it would be interesting if some of the accusations were actually based on real events. Not every creature is harmless, and some people may have legitimate reasons to fear them. The cult could exploit these experiences to make its message more convincing.
One of the things I would love to see is the cult becoming a recurring element throughout the game, with different missions revealing new aspects of its activities.
For example, players might need to protect a group of creatures from hunters, investigate a laboratory where experiments are being conducted, or help a settlement that has been convinced to drive every creature out of its territory.
These missions could also introduce different types of enemies. Some members might be ordinary people who use technology and traps to capture creatures, while others could be experienced fighters who have developed equipment specifically designed to counter Holotamers.
This would give the player challenges that cannot always be solved by simply having stronger creatures. Sometimes, the objective would be to investigate, rescue someone or prevent an attack before it happens.
And if Holozing eventually develops a more elaborate story campaign, these missions could serve as clues leading toward a much bigger conspiracy.
The connection with the corporation
However, I think the most interesting possibility would be connecting the cult with the corporation and its research into creatures.
What if the organization has access to information that ordinary people don't know about? Perhaps its leaders have discovered something troubling about the origins of Holocreatures, or maybe they believe that humanity is becoming too dependent on them.
This doesn't necessarily mean the corporation should be directly responsible for the cult. I actually think the story would be more interesting if their relationship were complicated.
The corporation could secretly use the cult to justify stricter control over creature research, while the cult itself believes it is fighting to free humanity from a dangerous dependence. Both organizations would have different objectives, but they could still benefit from the same events.
During the mission, they witness a creature protecting someone instead of attacking them. This experience could make them question everything they have been told.
I think situations like this could make the cult feel much more believable. It would also allow the player to interact with characters who are not simply enemies waiting to be defeated.
Some might abandon the organization, others could become informants, and a few might remain loyal even after discovering the truth.
Perhaps a region becomes hostile toward trainers, forcing players to find alternative routes or complete special missions before they can continue exploring. Another settlement might welcome the player but secretly be divided between those who support the cult and those who want to protect the creatures.
