What Is Demise: Ascension and How Does It Relate to Rise of the Ku'Tan?

Updated

Demise: Ascension is Volume II of the Demise trilogy, a first-person dungeon-crawl fantasy RPG that continues directly from Demise: Volume I, Rise of the Ku'Tan. It is not a separate series or a remake: it shares the same lineage as Mordor 1: The Depths of Dejenol and Mordor 2: Darkness Awakening, and it builds on the races, classes, dungeon design, and difficulty of the original Demise release. Choose Ascension if you want the expanded continuation of that game; choose Rise of the Ku'Tan if you want the original 2000 release and its specific version behavior.

Where Ascension Sits in the Lineup

The official site presents the games as a family rather than isolated titles:

Game Position Notes from the site
Mordor 1: The Depths of Dejenol Legacy predecessor Original legacy RPG by David Allen; still sold while stocks last
Mordor 1.1 Beta predecessor Introduced multiplayer to the series; download version includes an updated installer
Mordor 2: Darkness Awakening Pre-Demise entry Listed alongside the Demise trilogy
Demise: Volume I, Rise of the Ku'Tan Trilogy Volume I Went gold in early 2000; version 1.00 is the original intended difficulty
Demise: Volume II, Ascension Trilogy Volume II The continuation you are asking about
Demise: Volume III, Revenge of the Tavern Keeper Trilogy Volume III Final volume in the trilogy

Because Ascension is Volume II, expect continuity rather than a fresh start. The same dungeon-crawl structure and character-building assumptions carry over from Rise of the Ku'Tan.

What Carries Over from Rise of the Ku'Tan

The site describes Rise of the Ku'Tan as essentially complete at its 1.00 release, with a few trivial bugs. A later patch removed the need for the copy-protected CD but also introduced the "tea-room," a well-hidden feature that gave players a number of benefits; some players felt it made the game far too easy. A 2004 download-only version required Microsoft's .NET framework, and version 1.03 fixed item-based health regeneration and some high-level issues.

That history matters for Ascension in two ways:

  • Shared design DNA. Ascension continues the same game rather than replacing it, so the dungeon design and difficulty expectations set in Volume I are the baseline.
  • Version awareness. If you compare notes with other players, confirm which Demise release they are describing. The 1.00 build, the patched CD-free build with the tea-room, and the 1.03 download build all behave differently, and that context carries into discussions of the trilogy.

Getting a Working Copy

The official site lists a pre-release and a full game for the trilogy, plus ordering links for Mordor, Demise, Ascension, and Revenge. Physical products are sold through the site's eBay store, and virtual products through e-Junkie as download-only.

The install step is where most people get stuck:

  1. Check your key first. If you own a legacy DEMISE key, or a GamersGate or gift key, use the legacy DEMISE key and email during install. Owners needing game keys register through the site's registration page.
  2. Install with that key and email. The site's instruction is explicit: use the legacy DEMISE key and email during install.
  3. Expect a limited trial without a valid key. Without the unique unlock keys, the game lets you play for a few dozen plays over up to a few weeks. That is a trial window, not a full license, so verify your key status before you start a long playthrough.

The site does not list prices or payment details for the trilogy on the pages referenced here, so check the order links for current terms rather than assuming a cost or a free download.

Deciding Between Ascension and Rise of the Ku'Tan

Use the same dimensions for both:

  • Continuity: Ascension is the continuation; Rise of the Ku'Tan is the starting point. Play Volume I first if you care about progression.
  • Version character: Rise of the Ku'Tan has documented version differences (1.00 difficulty, the tea-room patch, the 1.03 download build). Ascension is the later volume in the trilogy, so its behavior is tied to the trilogy release rather than the 2000 original.
  • Availability: Both appear in the same order lineup, with demo and full-game options listed for the trilogy. Confirm which product your key or purchase actually unlocks before installing.
  • Lineage interest: If you are tracing the series from Mordor 1.1 and Mordor 2, the trilogy is the endpoint of that line, and Ascension is its middle chapter.

A practical example: if you own an old DEMISE key from a boxed copy, register it and install with that key and email. If you bought through GamersGate, use the registration path for gift-key owners. If you have no key at all, treat the first sessions as a trial and decide on a purchase before the play limit runs out.