The tale of the Lantern Oath
Ere the lanternsIn the days ere the lanterns, the fog came up from the Mere and walked into the houses.
Ere the lanternsThose who went out into it came not home again.
The oath upon the shoreThen a few stood upon the shore with lanterns raised, and the fog stopped at the edge of their light.
The oath upon the shoreThe living would keep the light, and the bells would ring the dead to their rest.
The oath upon the shoreBehind them stood a tree, already old.
The long keepingVillage by village the lights were kept, and a road ran lit from the Vale into the east.
The long keepingIn those days a traveller might walk it from end to end and never once leave the light.
The breaking, untoldYet every old song in the Vale ends the same way, in a hush.
The breaking, untoldThe oath was broken. How, the Vale doth not tell.
The breaking, untoldThe lanterns along the road went out, one village at a time.
A light not yet gone outOne village kept its lanterns and its tree, and so one village remains.
A light not yet gone outAt dusk the lamplighter makes his round, and glimmerdust burns without smoke.
The bell across the waterFar out on the Mere stands a shrine half-sunk, and in it a bell.
The bell across the waterOf late it ringeth at night, when no hand is near.
Beyond the lamplightThe Lantern Watch stands at the gate. Brigands hold the old tower; the road beyond grows dark.
Under the hillIn the hills lieth the Hollow Barrow, older than Chaumont, and Chaumont is old.
Under the hillNobody goes down the Barrow. Nobody comes up, either.
Thou art HearthboundThou comest to Chaumont a stranger, and the great Hearthtree taketh thy name.
Thou art HearthboundFall, and it shall call thee home.
Here beginneth thy road
The Vale Awaiteth.
Keep thou to the lit road, traveller.
Checking the server…
The test is for friends only, by invitation. Ask Fred for an account, then sign in through the launcher.
The launcher button becomes available when the download is ready. Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit.
Before you set out · How to join
- Get an invitation. Ask Fred for an account. You’ll receive a name and a password.
- Download and run the launcher. Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. The first game install is about 1 GB; later updates are smaller.
- Sign in and play. Make a character and wake beneath the Hearthtree.
Life in the Vale · About the test build
Shattered Oath is in early development. Here is what works in the test build and what is still ahead.
In the Vale today
- Three classes, levels 1 to 10Warrior, Cleric and Rogue, with tab-target combat, cooldowns and a group that shares experience.
- A living villageChaumont’s villagers walk their rounds, talk among themselves, open their shops and light the lamps at dusk.
- Quests told by word of mouthA dialogue window with portraits and answers to choose, a quest log, and a chain that runs from the mill to the barrow.
- The Hollow BarrowA dungeon for a group of friends, with a sealed sanctum, named bosses and loot rolled by rarity.
- Gathering and the craftsGather materials, work at crafting stations, repair worn gear, rise through trade ranks and take jobs from the Work Board.
- Dawn, dusk and the weatherA full day cycle, rain, storms and mist, and a painted night sky with shooting stars.
- The deep MereDive into the lake, watch your breath bar, and don’t stay under too long.
- A gentle deathRun back to your corpse and win back lost experience. You never lose your items.
Further down the road
- More classesPaladin, Druid, Ranger, Wizard and Necromancer, and after them the Bard, Monk and Enchanter, are being made.
- Levels beyond 10New regions on the way to level 50.
- Houses and settlementsBuild a cottage and furnish it. This is in testing now.
- Fishing, raids and deeper dungeonsGoblins in the crags, and dungeons that go down several floors.