Canine Warriors: Heroes of the Pawlands

Canine Warriors: Heroes of the Pawlands is a Musou styled hack and slash game with cartoonish visuals. The game is centered in the Pawlands, a fictional world where it’s main residents are dogs, cats, and other animals are at a major dispute with each other.

Gameplay
Like most Musou game, such as Dynasty Warriors, the game features two large armies fighting against each other in real-time combat. The game’s playable characters help the character the player is playing as from different points across the map, and can be ordered by the player to another spot. Depending on the mission, a different amount of playable characters can be chosen, up to four. The player can switch between them at anytime. If any of them lose, the mission ends in failure.

Different defeat and victory conditions exist in the battle, such as in by defeating this enemy, and defeat by losing your base. These conditions change depending on the mission. There are bases scattered across the battlefield, which can be captured by either army by defeating enough enemies in it, and then its leader. The player can also collect spells and equip them. Up to four spells can be equipped.

Setting
According to the game’s lore, the world of the Pawlands was created by the Seven Spirits in the Era of Beginning. As time progressed, the inhabitants of the Pawlands evolved into separate Packs, which evolved their own society: a world where Sword, shield, gun, and magic coexist. Guardian spirits roamed the land, creatures known as Dragans roamed about and were said to be created by the Spirits to keep peace and order to the Packs. The known Packs that exist to this day are: The Dogen, the Wolf Kingdom, The Fox Tribe, The Coyote Nation, and the Feline Union.

These lands were not without their problems, as when night fell, the supernatural roam the land, the undead, spirits, and more, while monsters ruled the day. And in the recent years of when the game takes place, an unusually large amount of monsters roam the land, scourging the poor people, resulting in the soldiers of the Packs to fend them off, one by one. The Dogen knew they had to find the source of this outbreak of evil, as they had experienced the worst of it.

And that is where our story begins. Because little does he know it, a young solider is going to do something much bigger than he thought...

Barc 1
The first “barc” begins with soldiers of the Dogen training. Training with with swords, spears, rifles, and SMG-like guns, training is going smoothly. Until the Dogen alarm, the Call to Paws, sounds. The soldiers are rallied to the front gates of the Dogen City. Monsters are leading a siege onto the Dogen City, and the soldiers must fend them off to keep the peace for their people. The soldiers march out into the Bark Forest to stop the monsters onslaught. The cutscene ends with one soldier readying himself.

Bark Forest - Looming Shadows
The player character, a soldier named Cooper, readies himself and joins his fellow army-dogs on the battlefield. Armed with a sword and an SMG like gun, he manages to take out a few monsters. After slaying a few, a strong monster appears, and the soldiers struggle to contain the beast. Thankfully, Cooper dispatches it easily. The other soldiers are impressed with him, as even they have struggled to slay a monster that strong. In order to sustain safety in the Forest, they find the three residential areas in the area and take them from the monsters. Midway through their mission, the soldiers receive a distress call somewhere in the northern forest. Cooper examines it, and finds a rifledog named Lear in trouble. Cooper helps him with the monsters. As thanks, Lear offers to help him win the battle for real. After taking the residential areas back, the Dogen army gets ambushed by a magic-powered enemy. Cooper defeats the enemy, causing most the monsters in the forest disappear.

Afterwards, the Dogen General Shepherd congratulates Cooper and Lear for their bravery as they preformed better than the other soldiers. Before the cutscene ends, the General is informed of the source of that last monster’s magic, saying it might have come from the Old Yorkenshrine. The army sets to head out there, and quickly to stop the monsters.

Old Yorkenshrine - Maddened Dragan
The Dogen Armies reach the Old Yorkenshrine, and find a peculiar sight: the carcass of a Dragan, the Guardian spirits of the Pawlands. Knowing that the road ahead to stop the monster invasions would be rough, the army proceeds with caution. Here, the player can play as General Shepherd. Fighting off some monsters, they stop for a spot of rest in the Shrine’s entrance. There, their relaxation was cut short. A crazed Dragan, with a muderous look in its eyes, charged in, lusting for dog blood. Wielding its massive sword, it charges towards the army, who have to retreat. Going further into the shrine, they open the door it’s deepest room. There, they find a strange person in a hood, casting spells. They catch their attention revealing himself as a cat. The cat wizard runs, dropping a spell on the way out. Before he leaves, he screams a spell, and teleports. Afterwards, the room shakes, with the same Dragan from before charging in. Convinced that the cat wizard was controlling it, they still had to stop the Dragan. Despite their strength, the Dragan wouldn’t fall. In an act of desperation, Cooper grabs the spell the wizard dropped when fleeing. Using it, he managed to use a flame spell, which dazed the Dragan. Lear bolted in, shot his rifle, and broke it gemstone on the creatures head, making it vulnerable. After the near impossible battle, the Dragan was slain, and fell over.

Afterwards, Cooper and Lear were promoted as Royal Knights, some of the most elite warriors in the lands. Even managing to damage a Dragan was nothing short of a miracle, but managing to slay one was a real accomplishment. Knowing that the road ahead would be tough, the King of the Dogen requested that they seek help from the other Packs. Lead by the General Shepherd, Cooper, and Lear, a small army heads out, to seek an alliance with the other Packs.

Foxtail Glade - Brothers in Paws
The Dogen journey to Foxtail Glade, the lands where the Fox Tribe took residence. However, on the Dogen’s way to the Tribe’s central settlement, they are ambushed by monsters. Cooper, Lear, and Shepherd managed to fight off the monsters, but their troops are overpowered by their attackers. However, coming to save them is the Fox oracle, Rena. Wielding her spiritual bracelet charm, she uses it to help fight off the monsters. At the end, they reach the settlement gates, being attacked by a strong monster, a Ramhorn, a goat monster with a large hammer. They manage to slay the Ramhorn, saving the settlement.

Afterwards, they meet with Chief Chuf, the leader of the Fox tribe. He agrees to help to Dogen in their battle to protect the Pawlands. Afterwards, Rena becomes playable for the next few missions in the second Barc, if the players ever so wants so.

Howling Mountains - Missing in Action
Journeying through the mountains, the Dogen meet with the Wolf Kingdom, a people who have tamed the Unawakened Wolves, poor, non-humanoid wolves who weren’t lucky to be granted sapience. Either way, the unawakened have been tamed for many purposes. General Shepherd meets with Queen Allie, who agrees to help the Dogen with the mysterious monster uprising. However, she gets news that many more monsters are heading towards the Wolf City, and must be defended. Partnered with Shepherd, Cooper, and Lear, the team manage to slay the monsters and save the city, only to find that a pup has gone missing, and is presumed to be kidnapped. Fearing for the poor pup, Allie marches into the mountainside caves to find to missing pup. They find the young pup, cornered by a fierce wolf named Agemo, who has terrorized the wolves for weeks. They defeat him and rescue the pup. The pup has no name and his held under the care of Allie.

Afterwards, Allie decides to help their cause.

Wagged Frontier - Monster Cleaning Service
As Shepherd and his cohorts enter the frontier, they are met by Kane, a renowned monster-slaying Coyote in the Nation. He asks for help from Cooper’s team: to help clean out the monsters plaguing the Coyote Capital. They must travel around the city to stop monsters and save civilians. However, they find the Palace is breached, and they must find the Minister. They reach the top of the tower, and find Minister Callie, being beaten up by what is non other than soldiers of the Feline Union. Cooper and his allies defeat the Feline Captains, saying “for the King!” while retreating.

In the aftermath, the dust has settled and Kane has agreed to assist with his troops to help protect the Pawlands, from both monsters and any potential trouble the cats may stir up. Meanwhile...

the scene changes to cat soldiers bowing to a figure. The figure scolds them for their failure at finding “the ones reborn”, while a soldiers tries to defend himself. The figure calls it off. He clenches his paw, saying that it won’t be long, while dark energy emanates from his hand.

Central Pawlands - Monster Mash
While on their way to the Dogen Capital, the newly assembled team run into a monster ambush. A few Dragans appear to help the fight. They manage to secure the settlements and attack the monster fortress. Within it, is another magic-enchanted monster, leading the attack. After the team defeat it, they find the strange wizard cat from before behind a cauldron. He gets noticed and runs off. They see where he was heading, and mark it down.

Dogen Capital - Cats!
During a meeting between the representatives of the Packs, they think that the cat wizard may be working with the Feline Union. It makes sense, considering the tension in between the Dogen and Feline Union. King Alpherd, the leader of the Dogen, insists that they siege an assault on the wizard’s retreat. However, they are attacked by soldiers from the Feline Union. King Alpherd helps the cause, using his staff as a weapon. Cooper, Lear and all the warriors fend them off, but they are met with one last opponent, General Tyger. They defeat him, causing the entire cat army to retreat.

The team take a moment of rest. After preparation are finished, they depart for the wizard’s lair. King Alpherd becomes playable at any point now.

Wizard’s Retreat - On the Cat’s Tail
Following the wizard cat to his hideout, they find it protected and armed to the teeth with monsters. Leading the assault is King Alpherd. The army must destroy the strongholds within the hideout to proceed. They also manage to destroy some strange machines creating monsters. Afterwards, they enter the Wizard’s domain, and find him working on a machine. The cat notices them, and panics. He then turns on the machine and hides. Cooper and his allies must then fight the Steamsteel Titan. After an enduring battle, they destroy the titan, leaving it nothing more than a smoking crater. The wizard cat runs away. The soldiers corner him, and finally see him good. Surprisingly, he is actually a rather young kitten. (Around the same age as a 9 year old human.) He notices Lear and Cooper and gives them bizarre look. He then teleports away, and leaves a research book behind. They give it to the Coyote researchers to translate the mysterious text. After a day, they obtain some information about it:

A horrid upcoming event will happen when “all darkness combines and brings all to their knees.” This event is called the Day of Darkness. In order to stop it, they must find the reborn Spirits who created the world, Light, Fire, Water, Thunder, Wind, and Nature. When this event will happen is unknown, as the text was not fully translated. Determined to prepare for this disaster, the Packs begin to search far and wide for the reborn Spirits.

Caneen Heights - The Increasing Threat
The Dogen Army is immediately called as a major town at the Caneen Heights is under attack from the cats. The cats have closed the gates to the town, forcing the army to go the long way around. The manage to reach the town within and fend off the cats from dognapping the villagers. The cats have taken over the Town Tower, under the control of General Tyger. They defeat him, saving the Town from certain danger.

Afterwards, the Dogen ask the villagers what happened, whom they say that the cats were interrogating the villagers and asking where the “ones reborn” are. The Dogen have had enough with this, and decide to take the fight to them.

Catnip Forest - Countercattack!
The Dogen march to the Catnip Forests, the land that borders the Dogen territory with that of the Feline Union. The cats have set up a fortress on the Dogen’s side. They march unhesitatingly towards the base to stop the assault. With the help of the Dogen Demolition team, they break down the gates, and weaken the cats from within. At the lowest point of the fortress, they encounter Sargent Sam, a fierce warrior of the Feline Union. However, he is proven to be fierce no more, after Cooper defeats him. The cats then retreat back to the Feline Citadel, after they surrender. Meanwhile in the aftermath, a hooded cat runs away from the battle scene towards the Dogen territory. Cooper tries to catch her, but she escapes. Nevertheless, the Dogen continue their search for the reborn Spirits.

Old Yorkenshrine - Prelude of Darkness
The Coyote researchers translate more of the mysterious text, and find something good and bad. The good news is, the armies can find hints to the Spirits within the Old Yorkenshrine. The bad news is, is that the Day of Darkness is said to happen in the coming week. Knowing that certain doom might happen, King Alpherd and the other Pack leaders ordered their people to evacuate the villages. Cooper, Lear, Shepherd, And the others tried to check to the Old Yorkenshrine, but to no avail, as most of the ancient inscriptions on the walls have been broken or removed. Their spirits down, they are then ambushed by monsters. Fighting their way through and cutting of the monster’s assaults, they escape the shrine once more, albeit empty pawed. The Packs then wondered what to do then....

Dogen Palace - Day of Darkness
The once lively city of the Dogen is now barren, since all of its denizens have evacuated. The Dogen army has separated across the Pawlands to help the Packs prepare for the Day of Darkness, which is said to happen tomorrow. Lear volunteered to help the Fox Tribe with preparations, and left. Cooper and Shepherd stood at the ready at the Dogen Palace, the clock closing in on midnight. After the clock tower rang it’s first bell of midnight, it begins. The castle is then suddenly struck by purple lightning, causing parts of it to collapse. Cooper fell into the basement floors of the castle, separated from Shepherd. Cooper runs along, encountering injured soldiers, soldiers who have met an even worse fate, and above all, monsters infused with Darkness. Cooper fights his way through the castle. After meeting with Shepherd, he and the survivors all decide to evacuate. They reach the gates of the castle. However, Cooper refuses to leave and goes back. He runs up to the throne room and finds King Alpherd, fighting a robed figure. Cooper intervenes, and encounters the trident-holding figure. The figure is King Lirant, the king of the Feline Union. Cooper tries to fight him off, but he is no match for the king. Lirant charges to deliver the finishing blow, but is stopped as a tree suddenly sprouts in front of him. A hooded cat is seen holding out her paw, as if she summoned the tree. Lirant scoffs, and says that this merely a prelude of the coming events, as soon, the Pawlands will be in his paw. Lirant disappears. The hooded cat helps Cooper. She reveals herself to him as Savanah, the reborn Spirit of Nature. She quickly says that every pack is in mortal danger thanks to the oncoming threat. A small team, consisting of Cooper, Savanah, King Alpherd, and General Shepherd depart to help their allies.

Pawlands West - Blazing Winds
In the western Pawlands, The Wolf Kingdom and the Coyote Nation are fighting the monsters of darkness, whom are being led by evil Dragans. Queen Allie and Kane are fighting in two separate locations, trying to protect to safety shelter where all the evacuees have hidden themselves in. Fighting through hordes of monsters, Cooper reunites with Kane, who is fighting a Dark Dragan. During the fight, Cooper is thrown off guard, and is about to be crushed by the Dragan. However, a blast of fire suddenly burns the Dragan. Turns out the fire came from Kane, who now can control fire, showing that he is the reborn Spirit of Fire. The two destroy the Dragan. Now they have help Queen Allie, who is fighting the sinister Agemo once more. Upon entering the room where she is, Agemo tries to surprise attack Cooper, but is pushed away by a gust of wind. The wind gale came from Allie, who is now known as the reborn Spirit of Wind. With her newfound power, they defeat Agemo, causing him to flee. With three reborn spirits found, hope is seeming now starting to replenish across the land.

Pawlands East - Thundering Waves
Lear And Rena are fighting more monsters in eastern Pawlands. However, they are seriously outmatched. Coming to rescue them is Cooper’s team. They reach where Rena is first who is fighting a Dark Ramhorn. Urging to protect her people, she summons a massive wave of water, pushing the beast back. Rena is now the Spirit of Water, reborn. Slaying the beast, they proceed to wher Lear is, who is surrounded from every side by monsters. Upon seeing Cooper again, his confidence sparks up. Then, his rifle suddenly starts shooting lightning bolts. Lear is the reborn Spirit of Thunder. Destroying every last monster, the Fox Tribe is now safe for now.

With Five Spirits, hope glimmers across the armies. However, they are missing one spirit: Light. Savanah says that they should press on and maybe something will happen. Suddenly, the wizard cat from before is seen hiding behind a rock. Savanah notices him and calls him Max. Everyone else is confused. It is revealed that Max is actually the little brother of Savanah. He was trying to control an army of monsters to attempt to overthrow Lirant. The team then ask who she really is. Savanah, seeing how they have time to spare, decides to tell them everything.

Savanah and Max were actually the prince and princess of the Union, and the children of the former monarchs Queen Empest, and King Whisk. Savanah, ever since she was a kitten, was blessed to be the reborn Spirit of Nature. She used her powers unknown to the public. Only her family and staff of the castle knew about it. And one day, a fierce knight of the Union, named Lirant, who sought nothing but praise, saw an opportunity. Using the princess’ ability of nature as proof, he convicted the royal family of harnessing “demonic magic used for evil”. He told the public about this. Seeing the undeniable proof, the public of the Union forged a revolution, seeking the kill the entire royal family, even the princess and little prince. During the chaos, Queen Empest escapes with her children, while the king tried to fend them off. He was outmatched, and eventually, the innocent executed by his citizen, for supposedly having a power he never had. Worse, the prince and princess saw it. Grieving, they family escaped, while Lirant became the new, albeit usurper, king of the Feline Union. Afterwards, the three trekked through the Whiskey Woods, but only two emerged. The queen’s fate is unknown. And now, Lirant, the reborn spirit of Darkness, now became the tyrannical King he is, and began a siege upon the entire Pawlands, just to take them over.

Savanah wishes for the downfall of the villainous Lirant, but their forces currently, are too weak. Afterwards, they hear of an attempt to turn the battle: by rallying the soldiers at the Schnauzer Stronghold, a military fortress where a fair amount of the armies retreated. Then, the scene transitions to Lirant, standing over a bunch of dead cat soldiers. Ones he killed. He then orders Sgt. Sam to step up and report. Sam tells him that they have indeed found the reborn Spirits. And that they soon begin an attack on the Union. Enraged, he swings his trident, with a impact noise off screen. Outside the window, General Tyger watched in horror, seeing his troops murdered by his own leader.

Schnauzer Stronghold - A Glimmer of Hope
In the nick of time, Cooper and his allies reach Schnauzer Stronghold, under siege from an army of dark monsters. They scour the areas outside, helping the injured soldiers from the various Packs. After saving enough, they enter the Stronghold and save those inside. Within, the find the Fox Chief Chuf, hiding within its deepest room. The Reborn Spirits then combine their powers and clear out the interior and surrounding exterior of the Stronghold from monsters. But the threat is not over, as they must slay the oncoming Dark Dragans. After doing so, they receive an urgent message, saying that Kanis Keep, protecting the shelter where the evacuees are, is under attack, and the siege on the Stronghold was a diversion. Without delay, they head for Kanis Keep.

Kanis Keep - Kindling the Light
Cooper’s allies finally make it to Kanis Keep, where the largest monster siege is occurring. They know that, if Kanis Keep falls, the monsters will take the shelter as well. They must not let that happen. They proceed to prevent the monsters from breaking down the gate. However, a Dragan has made it over the wall. The reborn Spirits tell Cooper that he must take care of it, while the others take care of the monsters trying to get over the wall. Cooper slays the Dragan, and sees his friends. They seem to be getting defeated by the monsters. Cooper notices this and rushes to save them. Thinking he can’t make it, he despairs. Then, he yells for them, causing his body to glow. The entire field glows a bright light, weakening the monsters. The reborn Spirits take notice of Cooper, whose weapons are now a brilliant gold. No doubt about it; Cooper is the reborn Spirit of Light. Using his newfound power, Cooper aids his allies on the field, slaying the monsters left and right. Defeating the monsters, the Keep is safe once more. The smoke subsides. The armies are gathered. But the impending threat of Lirant remains. Then, someone approaches Cooper and Savanah. General Tyger, with the remaining Feline Union army. He joins their cause, wishing to stop Lirant, since he killed his little brother, Sgt. Sam. They allow him to join. And now, they prepare for the oncoming battle.

Meow Forest - Seige on the Feline Union
United in the Meow Forest, the armies of the Dogen, Fox Tribe, Wolf Kingdom, Coyote Nation, and the Feline Union who fought against their kingdom gathered, preparing for an attack. Everyone, Cooper, Lear, Shepherd, Rena, Kane, Allie, Alpherd, Savanah, Max, and General Tyger all gathered together and began their attack. The Feline Citadel is surrounded by dark-enchanted monsters and Dragans. Everyone slices and shoots through the monster horde, destroying them. They manage to break through the gates to the Citadel, and find it completely barren, except for monsters. They fight their way through, as hordes of dark energy emanate from the castle. They destroy the castle’s guardian, and enter the castle, determined to end this war.

Cat Castle - Liberating the Pawlands
The final battle begins. The united Pawlands army invades the Cat Castle, hoping the stop King Lirant. In order to do so, they must slay the Dragans there, blocking the way. After slaying them, and other monsters, the path to the observation room opens, with an enhanced Lirant waiting. No matter how much damage one deals, he will shrug it off and heal it. In order to stop him, Cooper must go around the castle and destroy the sacrifice sets, freeing the sacrifice offering. (Who is an innocent cat.) After freeing them, Lirant is weakened, allowing him to be defeated. He refuses defeat, and retreats to the throne room. They make chase to him, and confront him one last time. But Lirant’s power has gone up extraordinarily, causing him to transform into Dark Emperor Lirant. Wielding two large axes, he challenges the warriors. It seems impossible at first, but as the fight goes on, they weaken his defenses, allowing him to become damageable. After a teeth-gritting, near impossible battle, Cooper defeats Lirant, landing the final blow on him. The reborn Spirits then use their powers to finally put an end to the reborn Spirit of Darkness. In the end, he is turned to nothing more than a statue of crystallized darkness.

Ending - Pawlands at Peace
That’s that, then. The war is over. Lirant is defeated. The monsters have weakened. Savanah and Max become the princess and prince of the Feline Union once more. Everyone goes home, and Cooper devotes himself to help the Pawlands as much as he can. And with that, the game ends. More side quests become available, and Lirant becomes playable. The end...?