Shadows of the Ancestors | DBD DLC Concept

Name: Shadows of the Ancestors

Tagline: “Embrace the darkness, or be consumed by it”

DLC Description: Descend into a world where ancient rituals and dark magic collied in Dead by Daylight’s latest DLC, “Shadows of the Ancestors.” This chilling expansion introduces The Shaman, a twisted spiritual leader wielding the Bone Harbinger, a staff of malevolent power that commands vengeful spirits to haunt survivors.

Join the fight for balance with Amina Bah, a brave healer from The Shaman’s village, who uses her spiritual resilience and protective talismans to safeguard her fellow survivors. Her presence inspires hope and grants new strategic advantages in the battle against darkness.

Are you prepared to face the shadows and the ancient curses that lie within? Join the hunt, embrace the darkness, and discover the true cost of power in “Shadows of the Ancestors.”

The Killer: Zolani Aberra

Backstory: Zolani Aberra was born into a lineage of powerful shamans in a remote African village, nestled deep within the heart of an ancient forest. From a young age, he exhibited an extraordinary connection to the spiritual world, able to communicate with the ancestors and channel their wisdom and power. Under the guidance of his grandmother, the village’s revered shaman, Zolani learned the sacred rites and rituals that had been passed down through generations.

As Zolani grew older, his thirst for knowledge and power intensified. He became increasingly obsessed with the darker aspects of shamanism, believing that greater power lay in the forbidden rituals his ancestors had warned against. One fateful night, driven by ambition and curiosity, Zolani ventured into the forest to perform a ritual that would summon a powerful spirit known only as The Corruptor. The spirit promised him unparalleled power in exchange for his servitude. Desperate to prove himself, Zolani accepted the dark pact.

The Corruptor granted Zolani immense power, allowing him to perform feats that astounded and terrified the villagers. He could call upon spirits to aid in healing, control the elements, and even manipulate life and death. However, this power came at a great cost. The Corruptor’s influence slowly began to corrupt Zolani’s soul, twisting his mind and turning his once noble intentions into malevolent desires.

The village elders, sensing the growing darkness within Zolani, attempted to intervene. They confronted him, urging him to renounce the dark pact and return to the path of light. But Zolani, now consumed by the Corruptor’s influence, saw their pleas as threats. In a frenzy of rage and dark magic, he slaughtered the elders, using their blood to strengthen his connection to The Corruptor.

The massacre sent shockwaves through the village. The once-respected shaman was now feared and reviled, an outcast shunned by those he had sworn to protect. The Corruptor’s hold over him tightened, and Zolani’s humanity slipped further away. One night, as he performed yet another dark ritual, a rift opened in the fabric of reality. The Entity, drawn by Zolani’s malevolent power and bloodlust, reached out and pulled him into its realm.

In the Entity’s realm, Zolani was transformed into The Shaman, a twisted reflection of his former self. His ritualistic garments became tattered and adorned with bones and occult symbols, his eyes glowed with an eerie green light, and his skin was covered in dark, intricate tattoos that pulsated with malevolent energy. The Entity had found a new servant, one whose dark powers and unyielding thirst for souls made him a perfect killer in its twisted games.

Perks, Power, Mori & Addon’s

The Shaman’s Perks:
- Vengeful Spirits: When a generator is completed, the killer’s aura is hidden from all survivors for 8/9/10 seconds, and the auras of all survivors who worked on that generator are revealed to the killer for 8/9/10 seconds. This allows The Shaman to stealthily approach and ambush survivors.
- Hex: Spirit’s Wrath: This trick hex totem, when cleansed by a survivor, causes the survivor to become broken for the entirety of the match, making them unable to be healed. Additionally, the aura of the survivor who cleaned the totem is revealed to the killer for 2/3/4 seconds.
- Totems of Torment: The Shaman starts the trial with two additional hex totems. These totems are random and are inactive until another totem is cleaned or destroyed. When activated, they apply a random Hex totem.
The Shaman’s Power: Rituals of the Spirits
- Spirit Walk: The Shaman can enteral a spectral form for a short duration, allowing him to move at an increased speed and pass through obstacles. Survivors within a certain radius experience distorted vision and hear haunting whispers, making it harder for them to detect his approach.
- Spirit Mark: the Shaman can mark a specific locations with traps. These trapped locations are haunted by spirits, which reveal the auras of survivors who pass through them for 1/2/3 seconds. Survivors must perform a ritual cleansing action to remove the traps, which can take time and can alert The Shaman to their location.
The Shaman’s Mori: The Shaman performs a dark ritual, summoning malevolent spirits that envelop the survivor, lifting them into the air. As the survivor writhes in agony, the spirits drain their life force, leaving their body lifeless and crumpled on the ground.
The Shaman’s Addon’s:
- Spirit’s Feather: Spirit’s Feather is a delicate feather from a sacred bird, imbued with the power of the spirits. Effects: Increases the duration of Spirit Walk by 2 seconds. Survivors within the radius experience heightened audio distortions, making ot more challenging to hear The Shaman’s approach.
- Corrupted Totem Fragment: The Corrupted Totem Fragment is a piece of a desecrated totem, still crackling with dark energy. Effects: Survivors cleansing any totem are inflicted with the Oblivious status effect for 30 seconds. Additionally, their auras are revealed to The Shaman for 5 seconds.
- Bone Charm of Agony: The Bone Charm of Agony is a small bone charm inscribed with runes of pain and suffering. Effects: Survivors affected by Totem of Despair have their healing speed further reduced by an additional 15%. Additionally, they suffer from random skill check regressions while healing. (This addon would be ultra rare in quality)
- Vial of Ancestral Ashes: The Vial of Ancestral Ashes is a vial containing the ashes of long-forgotten ancestors, used in powerful rituals. Effects: The range of Spirit Mark is increased by 10 meters. Survivors marked by spirits have their auras revealed for an additional 3 seconds.
- Herbal Poultice: Herbal Poultice is a poultice made from rare herbs, traditionally used for spiritual protection. Effects: Increases The Shaman’s movement speed by 5% during Spirit Walk. Survivors affected by the Spirit Walk radius are slowed by 3% for 10 seconds after it ends.
- Ancient Ritual Mask: The Ancient Ritual Mask is a ceremonial mask worn by shamans during rites of passage, now corrupted with dark power. Effects: Survivors affected by Spirit Mark experience the Hindered status effect, reducing their movement speed by 4% for 10 seconds. Additionally, the time required to perform ritual cleansing actions is increased by 20%. (This addon would be ultra rare in quality)

Physical Description: The Shaman is a fearsome and otherworldly figure, exuding an aura of dark power and ancient malevolence. Standing tall and imposing, his presence is both commanding and terrifying. His skin, once a healthy brown, has taken on a sickly, ashen hue, covered in dark, intricate tattoos that pulsate with a faint, eerie green light. These tattoos are not merely decorative but seem to shift and writhe as if alive, hinting at the dark magic coursing through his veins.

His eyes are perhaps the most unsettling feature. They glow with an unnatural, phosphorescent green light, devoid of any pupils, giving him an otherworldly and almost insect-like appearance. These eyes seem to pierce through the very soul, making it impossible for anyone to meet his gaze for long without feeling a profound sense of dread.

The Shaman’s hair is long and matted, streaked with white and gray, as though touched by the hands of time and corruption. It hangs in tangled locks around his face, partially obscuring his features but doing little to soften his menacing presence. Interwoven into his hair are various charms and fetishes made of bone, feathers, and dried herbs, each one a remnant of his dark rituals.

His attire is a tattered and worn amalgamation of traditional shamanistic garments and the trappings of his dark transformation. He wears a long, tattered robe that was once richly adorned but is now faded and stained with blood and grime. The robe is covered in occult symbols and patterns that seem to glow faintly in the darkness. Over this, he wears a cloak made from the hides of various animals, stitched together in a grotesque patchwork. The cloak is adorned with bones, skulls, and other macabre trophies taken from his victims and enemies.

Around his neck hangs a necklace made of human teeth and small animal skulls, each one a testament to a life he has taken. His hands are claw-like, with long, sharpened nails that look more like talons. These hands are constantly twitching and moving, as if itching to cast a spell or tear into flesh.

The Shaman carries a ceremonial staff, a twisted piece of dark wood topped with a human skull. This skull is intricately carved with runes and symbols, and from its eye sockets emanates the same eerie green light that fills The Shaman’s eyes. Attached to the staff are various charms and totems, including feathers, bones, and small pouches filled with unknown substances. The staff serves as both a weapon and a conduit for his dark powers, crackling with malevolent energy.

Every step The Shaman takes is accompanied by the faint sound of whispering spirits and the clinking of his macabre adornments. His movements are deliberate and almost ritualistic, as if each step is part of some dark dance. The air around him seems to grow colder, and a faint mist often clings to his form, adding to his spectral and ghostly appearance.

In essence, The Shaman is a nightmarish figure, a twisted and corrupted version of the revered spiritual leader he once was. His appearance is a blend of the ancient and the unearthly, a visual testament to the dark powers he wields and the terrible price he has paid for them.

The Weapon: The Shaman wields a ceremonial staff that serves as both a weapon and a conduit for his dark powers. This staff, known as the Bone Harbinger, is a striking and terrifying piece of craftsmanship, steeped in dark magic and ancient rituals.

The staff is made from a twisted piece of dark, almost black, wood. The wood itself seems to have an unnatural, gnarled texture, as if it had been shaped by some malevolent force. The length of the staff is approximately six feet, allowing The Shaman to wield it with both hands or use it for powerful, sweeping attacks. The surface of the staff is intricately carved with runes and symbols, each one representing a dark incantation or a spell from his extensive repertoire of forbidden knowledge. These carvings glow faintly with a sickly green light, giving the impression that the staff is alive with malevolent energy.

At the top of the staff is a human skull, securely fastened and adorned with more carvings. The skull’s eye sockets and mouth glow with the same eerie green light that fills The Shaman’s eyes, suggesting a deep connection between the two. The skull is further decorated with charms and fetishes: feathers, small bones, and dried herbs hang from it, each one a remnant of The Shaman’s dark rituals and conquests. These trinkets sway and clink together with every movement, adding a constant, unsettling sound to his presence.

The staff’s base is reinforced with iron, shaped into a sharp point. This allows The Shaman to use the staff not only for casting spells and summoning spirits but also for impaling and striking down his victims. The iron is dark and tarnished, covered in rust and dried blood from countless previous encounters.

Throughout the length of the staff, various totems and small pouches are tied with sinew and leather straps. These pouches contain mysterious substances, likely ingredients for his dark rituals. Some totems are carved into the shapes of grotesque faces or twisted animals, further enhancing the sinister appearance of the weapon.

The Bone Harbinger is more than just a weapon; it is an extension of The Shaman’s will and power, a tangible representation of the dark path he has chosen. When wielded in battle, the staff crackles with dark energy, emitting faint whispers and ghostly wails that unsettle both survivors and other killers alike. Each strike from the Bone Harbinger is accompanied by a surge of this malevolent energy, making it clear that this is no ordinary weapon, but a tool of dark and terrible power.

The Survivor: Amina Bah

Survivor Backstory: Amina Bah was born in a small, tight-knit village deep in the heart of an ancient African forest. From an early age, she exhibited a natural affinity for healing and a profound connection to the spiritual world. Her grandmother, a respected healer in the village, noticed these gifts and took Amina under her wing, teaching her the sacred traditions and practices of their ancestors.

Amina’s days were filled with learning the ways of herbal medicine, spiritual cleansing, and protective rituals. She spent countless hours in the forest, gathering herbs and listening to the whispers of the spirits that resided within the ancient trees. The villagers often sought her out for her healing touch and wise counsel, and she became known as a beacon of hope and comfort.

As Amina grew, so did her powers. She could sense the balance between light and dark, understanding that every action had a spiritual consequence. Unlike others who might be tempted by the allure of power, Amina remained humble and focused on using her abilities to help and protect her community. Her reputation as a compassionate and powerful healer spread beyond her village, drawing the attention of other shamans and spiritual leaders.

However, not all in the village were as attuned to the light as Amina. Zolani, a young man from the same village, was also gifted but chose a different path. Driven by ambition and a thirst for power, Zolani delved into the darker aspects of their ancestral knowledge. Amina sensed the growing darkness within him and tried to warn the village elders, but they dismissed her concerns, trusting in Zolani’s potential.

One fateful night, Zolani performed a forbidden ritual that summoned The Corruptor, a malevolent spirit that promised him unimaginable power in exchange for his servitude. The ritual twisted Zolani’s soul, and he began to exhibit terrifying abilities. When the village elders finally confronted him, Zolani, now consumed by darkness, unleashed his fury, slaughtering them in a brutal display of his newfound powers.

Amina barely escaped the massacre. Traumatized but determined, she vowed to stop Zolani and prevent any further bloodshed. She embarked on a journey to seek out other shamans and healers, learning new ways to protect herself and others from dark forces. Her travels took her to remote corners of the continent, where she encountered wise elders and benevolent spirits who taught her ancient secrets and powerful rituals.

In her quest, Amina discovered a hidden sanctuary deep within the forest, a place where the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds was thin. Here, she communed with powerful, benevolent spirits who granted her the ability to create protective talismans and channel healing energies more effectively. With these new skills, Amina felt more prepared to face the darkness that had taken Zolani.

One night, as she performed a cleansing ritual in the sanctuary, a rift opened in the fabric of reality. The Entity, drawn by her unwavering resolve and spiritual strength, pulled her into its realm. Amina understood that her fate was now intertwined with the struggle against The Shaman, who had also been taken by the Entity and transformed into a monstrous killer.

In the Entity’s realm, Amina continues her mission to protect and heal. Her presence inspires hope among the other survivors, and her spiritual resilience provides them with the strength to face the horrors that lurk in the fog. With every trial, Amina’s resolve grows stronger, as she battles not just for survival but to restore balance and light in a world consumed by darkness.

Physical Description: Amina embodies the essence of her African heritage, with every aspect of her appearance reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual roots of her lineage. Her presence is a blend of strength, serenity, and an unyielding connection to the ancient traditions of her people. Her skin is a rich, deep brown, radiating a natural glow that speaks of her vitality and connection to the earth. Her high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes give her a regal and determined look. Her eyes are a warm, deep brown, often reflecting a calm, knowing gaze that instills trust and comfort in those around her. Around her eyes, subtle white and ochre tribal markings enhance her spiritual presence, signifying her role as a healer and protector.

Her hair is intricately braided into long, thin cornrows that cascade down her back, interwoven with colorful beads and feathers. Each braid tells a story, adorned with symbols of protection, strength, and wisdom. The feathers, sourced from sacred birds, represent her connection to the spirit world and her ability to transcend the physical realm. The beads, made from bone and clay, are handcrafted and painted with traditional designs, each one carrying its own spiritual significance.

Amina’s overall appearance is a testament to her deep cultural heritage and her role as a healer and spiritual protector. Every element of her attire and adornment is carefully chosen to reflect her connection to her ancestors and the spiritual world. Her presence is both comforting and commanding, embodying the strength, wisdom, and resilience of her people. In the fog of the Entity’s realm, she stands as a beacon of hope and light, her appearance a constant reminder of the rich traditions and powerful legacy she carries with her.

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Survivor Perks:

Spiritual Resilience: When injured, the survivor performs self-healing actions faster. Additionally, if the survivor completes a healing action on another survivor, both she and the heal survivor gain a temporary speed boost to gen repair speed.
Guardian’s Light: The survivor can place protective talismans around the map. These talismans create safe zones where survivors receive a bonus to healing and repair action speeds. The aura of the killer entering these zones are revealed to survivors for 3/4/5 seconds.
Echoes of the Ancestors: When a generator is completed, Amina’s presence inspires hope. All survivors within a certain radius gain a bonus to their movement speed and action speeds for a limited time. This perk can activate multiple times during a match.

The Map: The Cursed Village

Map Overview: The Cursed Village is a hauntingly beautiful and eerie location set deep within an ancient African forest. Once a thriving community, it is now abandoned and overgrown, a place where the past and present intermingle in a landscape steeped in dark magic and spiritual energy. The map is filled with remnants of the village’s rich cultural heritage, now tainted by the malevolent presence of The Shaman.

Key Map Features:

The Village Center: The heart of the map is the village center, where communal gatherings and rituals once took place. A large bonfire pit, now cold and filled with ashes, sits in the middle. Surrounding the pit are several traditional huts made of wood and thatch, some partially collapsed or overgrown with vines. These huts serve as hiding spots and obstacles for both survivors and the killer.
The Elders’ Circle: A sacred area where the village elders used to meet. Stone seats arranged in a circle surround a large, ancient tree that seems to pulse with an eerie light. The tree is covered in carvings and symbols, and its roots have burst through the ground, creating natural barriers and pathways. This area has a mystical feel, with faint whispers and ghostly apparitions appearing occasionally
The Ritual Ground: An open space on the edge of the village, where rituals and ceremonies were performed. The ground is marked with intricate patterns and symbols, and various ritualistic tools lie scattered around. A large, carved stone altar stands at the center, now stained with blood and dark magic. This area is dangerous and provides fewer hiding spots, but offers quick escape routes.
Overgrown Paths: Narrow, winding paths that connect different parts of the village. These paths are overgrown with thick foliage, making visibility low and creating opportunities for ambushes. The sounds of wildlife and rustling leaves add to the tension as survivors and the killer navigate these routes.
The Healer’s Hut: Amina’s former home, now abandoned but still filled with her healing tools and charms. This hut is slightly larger and more intact than the others, with shelves of dried herbs, pouches of medicinal powders, and protective talismans hanging from the walls. The interior is dimly lit by a few flickering candles, creating a somber and nostalgic atmosphere.
The Forbidden Shrine: A hidden area deep within the forest, where The Shaman performed his dark rituals. This shrine is covered in bones, skulls, and other macabre decorations. The air here is thick with a sense of dread, and the ground is littered with remnants of dark ceremonies. This area is rich in detail and offers a unique setting for intense chases and encounters.

Map Atmosphere: The Cursed Village is bathed in a perpetual twilight, with shafts of moonlight piercing through the dense canopy. A thick mist clings to the ground, swirling around the feet of those who tread upon it. The sounds of the forest—distant animal calls, rustling leaves, and the occasional echo of drums—create an immersive and unsettling atmosphere. The overall color palette is dominated by deep greens, earthy browns, and the faint glow of spiritual energies.

Gameplay Dynamics: The map’s layout encourages strategic movement and offers a variety of hiding spots, escape routes, and choke points. The dense foliage and winding paths create opportunities for stealthy approaches and sudden ambushes. The unique features of each area, from the open spaces of the Ritual Grounds to the narrow confines of the Overgrown Paths, provide diverse gameplay experiences for both survivors and the killer.

Special Environmental Hazards:

Spirit Manifestations: Occasionally, ghostly apparitions of the village’s former inhabitants will appear, causing a momentary distraction or revealing the location of nearby survivors or the killer.
Cursed Talismans: Scattered around the map, these talismans can be interacted with by survivors to gain temporary buffs or by the killer to activate traps.

The Cursed Village, with its rich cultural background and haunting atmosphere, perfectly complements the themes of the “Shadows of the Ancestors” DLC, providing a captivating and challenging new environment for players to explore.