Last week, we announced The House of Hikmah at PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, and since then, we’ve had a lot of questions about our main character featured in the trailer. Let’s introduce you to the girl at the heart of this journey: Maya.
Who Is Maya?
Maya is a curious, headstrong 14-year-old girl who enjoys learning, dreaming of adventures, and tends to charge ahead without thinking of the consequences. Growing up, she spent time with her father; reading, tinkering with anything she could get her hands on, and learning about his travels. With his passing, she finds herself searching for answers, feeling lost and alone.
While in the depths of grieving, Maya receives an invitation to the House of Wisdom, where her father often delivered letters and spent time on his studies. Maya visits seeking answers about her father, but the House offers her something she never expected: a path back to herself.
Exploring the House of Wisdom
Upon arriving, Maya meets Fatima al-Fihri, the kind yet efficient Head of the House, who asks Maya to deliver letters to each of the scholars who are working in their individual realms. Maya gets the impression that Fatima is hiding something about the House of Wisdom, but she is eager to prove herself to her Father's companions and find the answers she seeks.
After meeting each scholar, she is given a glimpse into the life her Father led while on his travels and the relationships he developed. Through each Scholar's stories, Maya will start to see that grief is not a problem to be solved, but something that takes many forms. As Maya learns new ways to confront her emotions, the puzzles she encounters in each scholar’s realm begin to shift, reflecting her growing ability to reshape the world and her responses to her grief.
But healing is not easy. An ethereal figure known only as the Dream Lady calls to Maya, offering her a path back to her father that none of the Scholars seem willing to entertain.
Connecting Through Hope
Maya’s story is one of loss, but also of growth, understanding, and hope. When creating Maya, it was important to our team that her story be one that all players could relate to. We wanted to ensure that regardless of when or how you have experienced loss in your life, a part of her story would resonate with you. Grief takes many forms, but we don’t have to find our way in the dark alone.
In our next blog, we’ll dive more deeply into the kinds of puzzles and game mechanics you’ll find in the game, and how those puzzles relate to Maya’s personal journey. What will await her in the house, and what truths will be revealed? Stay tuned!
PS: If you’re still looking for lore drops, historical inspiration for our characters, and more, sign up for our email newsletter! We’ll send you letters from the scholars that will give you a look behind the scenes before the game launches!
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Wishlist The House of Hikmah on Steam
Read our launch blog: Introducing The House of Hikmah
Learn more about the people who really run Lunacy Studios: Lunacy Pets
