Emerald City:
The Rise Of Eros

Produced by Justin Nguyen

A cinematic sci-fi/fantasy audio drama a fantasy world focused on decisions with layers complexity. This project tells the story of a warlock arriving in Emerald City, the last known human stronghold against monstrous beast. To survive, Eros must navigate dangerous power struggles, facing factions who want to exploit his abelites while deciding how he will use them. This audio drama will dive in intelligence wars, strategy, and morality.

Goals and Plot

This project explores mental health through its characters’ real-world struggles. By showing their challenges and growth, the story aims to offer listeners understanding, hope, and practical wisdom they can apply to their own mental well-being.

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Emerald City: The Rise of Eros

Story Plot

Riftera is a magically dense planet that has enhanced all life forms that evolve on it. Due to the increase in magic, the planet requires an outlet by opening portals and pushing magic down the magic sea.

Scientist of emerald city wish to use this phenomenon in order to pull more individuals from other worlds in order to keep the city alive. Emerald City is surrounded by deadly threats such as insect-like Hord swarms, large beasts, and powerful Titans. These creatures view humans as nothing more than prey, placing the city in a constant state of defense and causing its population to shrink quickly. The narrative starts with Sophia Starlight, a skilled adventurer who joins the scientist in the new rift technology. Her journey takes a personal turn when she discovers her ex, Ethan Sage, is one of the lead scientists behind the project. Sophia takes a moment to talk about their past and attempt to rebuild trust. Their efforts are further complicated when Eros, a powerful warlock, is pulled into the city through one of the rifts. With his mind-control abilities and unpredictable motives, Eros becomes a key figure in the city's battle for survival—blurring the line between hero and villain.

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World Building

Art, Factions, Character Design

Find Your Faction Quiz!

https://uquiz.com/jDGrRv

Custom Art

Sophia Face - White Background_edited.jpg

A glimpse into the development process, from early sketches through multiple variations to the final piece.

Bringing the world to life

Although this is an audio drama, I place a strong emphasis on custom, hand-drawn artwork. This project is strictly human-made in its visual direction—AI-generated art is not used as the final product.

My work extends far beyond the script and sound itself. I develop detailed character personality profiles, factions, monsters, armor, magical weapons, and items, along with a structured plot web. I also design city layouts, transportation systems, regional slang, holiday traditions, and how different areas interact with magic. Everything is built to feel alive and cohesive, giving artists and collaborators a fully realized world to draw from—not just isolated concepts or dialogue.

Districts/Factions

Each distract has their own city structure and army. Each specializing in different styles of combat for different types of monsters.

Explorer's Company

Military: The Explorer’s Company is best known for their versatility. Most of their units are self-made survivors, trained to keep small parties alive no matter the conditions.

Strategy: To maintain high survival rates by focusing on individual combat skills and specializing in scouting, stealthy retreats, extractions, transportation, and recovery teams. Still, many explorers take pride in competing with other factions by completing high-risk missions and eliminating monsters in the region.

Generally most individuals from other factions recruit many individuals from the Explorer's company's basic training.

District: This district has the most traffic as a it has become the general area for distribution. Restaurants, shopping malls, weapons, armor, street vendors, new inventions, freshest fruits, street performers, and more! Everything you'll need is generally in the Explorer's distract.

"We find a way"

White Crimsons

Military: The White Crimsons rely on strength in numbers, studying monster weaknesses and using a wide range of battlefield tactics. They focus heavily on coordinated strikes, positional advantage, and counterattacks to overwhelm enemies.

Strategy: Their soldiers are highly educated in formation tactics and equipped with specialized weapons. The White Crimsons also study monster anatomy to find weaknesses. This makes them one of the most prepared factions to face any threat—especially large-scale enemies like The Horde. Units are trained to flank, weaken, and immobilize foes through precise attacks. When isolated, they carry durable metal shields and swords, trained to hold the line until reinforcements arrive.

District: The White Crimsons live under a formal hierarchy inspired by medieval nobility. They take pride in refinement—favoring luxury goods, ornate jewelry, and elegant living. In their culture, intelligence, wealth, and status define one's worth. Courtship often centers around leadership potential, income, and physical presentation.

"We hold the line because no one else can"

Wildfire Company

Military: The Wildfire Company accepts only the most battle-hardened veterans and promising elites—soldiers who can wield devastating weaponry with elegance and precision. With refined brutality and knowledge gathered from other factions, their units carry a legacy of conquest, using monstrous takedowns to fuel their wealth and dominance.

Strategy: Their strength lies in seduction and superiority. By aggressively recruiting rare magical humanoids -they are know to use strong magic to command the battlefield. Every mission is a performance of raw, unrelenting power wrapped in finesse.

District: Lined with beauty salons, luxury boutiques, and the city's most infamous Red Light District. Love is found, sold, and savored one irresistible night at a time. It draws in the beautiful, the powerful, and the dangerously ambitious -Elvish, exotic beast-kin, and magical humanoids of every kind chasing fortune, fame, or fleeting pleasure in a place where desire and wealth go hand in hand.

"Strength for those who can’t"

Sunfire Renegade

Military: The Sunfire Renegade are most known for their individual strength. This faction focuses on relentless training and mastery of their weapons in order to survive. Many different cultures go to this faction as they can continue learning their passion for their weapons and passing down the knowledge to their students.

Strategy: The Sunfire Renegade specializes in coordinated combat, training relentlessly to deliver unrelenting combos alongside fellow masters. They excel in counterattacks—waiting for beasts to strike first, then rotating seamlessly to create openings for their allies. Their strength lies in knowing both the limits and advantages of their weapons, relying on teamwork to cover weaknesses and maximize impact.

District: The Sunfire Renegade thrives in a world of calm and curiosity. Their district, quieter than most, pulses with a love for peaceful living—filled with open fields for sport, silent halls for study, and labs where invention meets imagination. It’s a haven for scholars, athletes, and dreamers alike. Here, history is preserved, and the future is quietly built.

"Comfort in failure is confidence"

All Fighters Have A Story

Characters

Eros Win - Primary

Justin Nguyen - Casted 04/21/2024

Backstory: I was born into a loving family. My father rose through the ranks and was granted a vast tract of land, where he founded a village. My mother was a farmer with a passion for cultivating plants and raising fish within a shared ecosystem. Together, they built a thriving and successful farm that sustained our people.

My insatiable hunger for dominance was born the night a rival kingdom slaughtered my village. My parents were executed during the raid. I begged for help; my cries were answered by an entity. In pursuit of revenge, I dismantled a kingdom from within, burned armies that sought to control the world, and forged pacts with dragon visages that serve my god. Now, I settle into the role of mayor, rebuilding to honor my father’s legacy and continue my mother’s work… With my goals achieved, my god now calls me to serve.

Eros Drop Shadow White Background_edited

Sophia Face - White Background_edited.jp

Sophia Starlight - Primary Character

Shykodah-Khi McGrath - 05/01/25

Backstory:

I was actually born on Rifteria—I’ve lived here my whole life, just like many of its citizens. My family is… loud. A little unstable. Their words can be harsh, but that’s okay. I’m used to it.

I come from the Wildfire Company. My mother was known for her beauty, and my father for his strength and power in the army. He earned a lot of respect before retiring, and because of that, there have always been high expectations placed on me.

During my time at the Central Academy, magic never really came naturally to me, but I thrived in physical training. That’s also where I met Ethan. He was… cute. I’d “accidentally” drop my books just to have an excuse to talk to him. Sometimes I’d listen in on the boys chatting, not to pry, I just liked hearing his voice. We eventually started a relationship, and a lot changed after that. Because I dated Ethan, someone from the White Crimsons, I wasn’t allowed to join the Wildfire Expeditions. So I left and joined the Explorers’ Company instead.

I have a combat career ahead of me. My dad says he can help get me back on track as long as I reach A-rank adventurer status... I really want to make him proud.

Ethan Sage - Primary Character

RebuiltTheZeal

I was raised in the White Crimsons district. A faction focused on military combat and education. Most people here have a background in military but not mine.

When I first entered the fortress academy, I focused on science and sports. I’ve always had an interest in athletics and even competed in the Arcane Arenas—but those magic users were way too strong. I was a failure as a solider... So many families just had talent and experienced. I switched over to more an educational based program for research and development, writing papers and reports on Sleg's weaknesses, strengths, and natural behaviors. I eventually went to collage at the central academy. That's where I men't... Sophia. Beautiful glowing hair, eyes full of life, and for the first time I felt... connected with a feeling... I could enjoy what was in front of me instead of planning how to deal with them. Time slowed down every time I was with her and that was something I didn't want to let go... But she did... Now I just want to focus on myself and seeing what I can accomplish. I still think about joining the military but what good is a scientist with armor?

Lyra Silverwind - Secondary

Maganda Marie - Casted 5/01/2024

I am Lyra Silverwind born on rifteria and niece of the White Crimson's Council Member. I excel in all learning environments epically if they're structured and organized. I never met my father but my mother has always been a excellent role model.

Due to my large capacity to learn, I've been able to be very disciplined in many fields of science but my true passion is in intelligence and strategy. I'm usually a very good consultant when it comes to political strategies which my auntie appreciates a lot. However that poses me as a dangerous threat and the puppet master at the wildfire company... Mr. Proxy... has a tight hold on someone important to me... Lilly my sister. He threatens that if I don't do what he says, they will take her away... I took up theoretical physics and general relativity, for to find someone strong enough to help me. So I'm helping Ethan because I need someone who can change the world we're in and my aunt secretly agrees. When I saw what Eros could do... I just knew I needed him on my side... I'm actively networking and solving puzzles to find out who is proxy? Why does he have so much power? All I know is that he's over 120 years old which should not be possible... Its okay, I'm good at solving puzzles, I just need some intel.