Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial

Welcome!Ifyouwanttojumpinwithoutanyspoilers,feelfree.Otherwise,here'sastoryprimer,withalistofmorespecificsonwhattoexpectfrommyworkfurtherbelow.…Ourstoryfollowsafallenknighthauntedbyhispast,inaworldafflictedbywarandsupernaturalwounds.AlkenistheHeadsmanofSeydis,anexecutionertaskedbythedivinepowersofhishomelandtohuntdarksorcerers,warlords,andtraitorsofallvarieties,lesttheydragtheworldintocalamity.Onceapaladin,thisroleillsuitshim.Forcedtocrosslinesthatshakehisbeliefs,temptedbydarkforces,andseenasanillomenwhereverhewanders,hispathisoftenabloodyone.Thelongerhespendsintheshadowsofhisworld,themorehecomestorealizejusthowmanyhavebeendisenfranchisedbytheexistentorder.Duringhislonelybattlesthroughalandhauntedbytherestlessdeadandancientmagics,hisjourneybecomesincreasinglystrangeandpersonal.Enterarealmwherethedeadstirineveryshadowandbroodingdemigodswageamillennialongwarforaruinedheaven,whereblessedknightswieldgildedflamesandsorcerersbattlewithweaponsforgedoftheirownsouls.Enteraworldoffaustianalchemists,ofsaintlydemons,andoftime-wearyelves.…FromOathbreakeryoucanexpect:—AsettingheavilyinspiredbyForgottenRealms,Planescape,Fromsoftgames,andauthorssuchasMichaelMoorcockandKentauroMiura.—AfirstpersonPOVfromanolderprotagonistwhoalreadyknowsalotabouthisworld’shistoryandcultures,whosharesthisinformationwiththereaderasitbecomesrelevant.—Amixofactionadventureandquietermomentswherethefocusisoncharacterdevelopment.Loreissharedpiecemeal,usuallyonlyasitrelatestoaparticulararcorcharacterbeat.—Aheavyfocusonmystery,bothwiththesettingandtheprotagonist.Themaincharacter’sbackstoryisn’tsharedupfront,andalotofthenarrativeinvolveslearningabouthimabitatatime,eitherfromhisownnarrationorothercharactersinteractingwithhim.—Asemi-softmagicsystemwheremanymagesmanifestuniquepowerstiedtotheirownsoul,orgainuniquepowersthrougheldritchpacts.—Romanticelements.Thesedon’tcropupmuchuntillaterinthestory.—Avarietyofsupernaturalbeings,suchaselves,vampires,gargoyles,chimera,andtrolls.Manyarefamiliar,somearenot,andmostofthefamiliaroneshavemyowntwistsputonthem.—Nobledarkfantasy.Thismeansthattheworldisoftenthemedaroundtragedyandhorror,butit’snotdedicatedtobeinggritty.Thereareelementsofhighfantasyintermixedwiththescarierstuff.—Episodicarcs.Eachstoryarcusuallyhasaspecificlocaleandantagonistorsetofantagonists,butcertainoverarchingplotstiethemtogether.—Alongrunningnarrative.Idon’thaveaspecificprojectionofhowlongorhowmanyarcsorbooks,butyoushouldexpectthistobeequivalenttoalongrunningserializedwork.…Thisismyfirstwebserial!Ihopeeveryoneenjoysit.Fortriggerwarnings,readersshouldbewarethattherearesomeheavytopicsinhere.WhenIthinksomethingmightupsetcertainreaders,I’llputawarningintheauthornotesaboveachapter.IfImissoroverlookanything,feelfreetoletmeknowinthecomments!Iamcurrentlypublishingthesamestoryonmywordpress,whichislinkedbelowandinmyprofile.IreleasethreechaptersaweekonTuesdays,Thursdays,andSundays.Thanksforreading!(Ioriginallyhadalinktoawordpress,butI'mintheprocessofoverhaulingthatspace.It'snotaprioritysincemyreadershipisallhere,butjustincaseanyonenoticedandwaswondering)