Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial

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Welcome! If you want to jump in without any spoilers, feel free. Otherwise, here's a story primer, with a list of more specifics on what to expect from my work further below.

Our story follows a fallen knight haunted by his past, in a world afflicted by war and supernatural wounds. Alken is the Headsman of Seydis, an executioner tasked by the divine powers of his homeland to hunt dark sorcerers, warlords, and traitors of all varieties, lest they drag the world into calamity.

Once a paladin, this role ill suits him. Forced to cross lines that shake his beliefs, tempted by dark forces, and seen as an ill omen wherever he wanders, his path is often a bloody one. The longer he spends in the shadows of his world, the more he comes to realize just how many have been disenfranchised by the existent order. During his lonely battles through a land haunted by the restless dead and ancient magics, his journey becomes increasingly strange and personal.

Enter a realm where the dead stir in every shadow and brooding demigods wage a millennia long war for a ruined Heaven, where blessed knights wield gilded flames and sorcerers battle with weapons forged of their own souls. Enter a world of faustian alchemists, of saintly demons, and of time-weary elves.

From Oathbreaker you can expect

— A setting heavily inspired by Forgotten Realms, Planescape, Fromsoft games, and authors such as Michael Moorcock and Kentauro Miura.

— A first person POV from an older male protagonist who already knows a lot about his world's history and cultures, who shares this information with the reader as it becomes relevant.

— A mix of action adventure and quieter moments where the focus is on character development. Lore is shared piecemeal, usually only as it relates to a particular arc or character beat.

— A heavy focus on mystery, both with the setting and the protagonist. The main character's backstory isn't shared up front, and a lot of the narrative involves learning about him a bit at a time, either from his own narration or other characters interacting with him.

— A semi-soft magic system where many mages manifest unique powers tied to their own soul, or gain unique powers through eldritch pacts.

— Romantic elements. These don't crop up much until later in the story.

— A variety of supernatural beings, such as elves, vampires, gargoyles, chimera, and trolls. Many are familiar, some are not, and most of the familiar ones have my own twists put on them.

—Nobledark fantasy. This means that the world is often themed around tragedy and horror, but it's not dedicated to being gritty. There are elements of high fantasy intermixed with the scarier stuff.

—Episodic arcs. Each story arc usually has a specific locale and antagonist or set of antagonists, but certain overarching plots tie them together.

— A long running narrative. I don't have a specific projection of how long or how many arcs or books, but you should expect this to be equivalent to a long running serialized work.

This is my first web serial! I hope everyone enjoys it. For trigger warnings, readers should beware that there are some heavy topics in here. When I think something might upset certain readers, I'll put a warning in the author notes above a chapter. If I miss or overlook anything, feel free to let me know in the comments!

I am currently publishing the same story on my wordpress, which is linked below and in my profile. I release three chapters a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Thanks for reading!

(I originally had a link to a wordpress, but I'm in the process of overhauling that space. It's not a priority since my readership is all here, but just in case anyone noticed and was wondering)

Cover art done by 98tofuyi

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152 d, 20 h ago Probably stalled or dropped!
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  • Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial
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https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/84391
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/84391/oathbreaker-a-dark-fantasy-web-serial

Releases found: 47

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Series Releases:

Latest release - ch. 46.0
View Series Vol Chap Extra Group/Host
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 46 2.12: Silver For The Dead RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 45 2.11: Shrike RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 44 2.10: Emma's Tale RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 43 2.9: Condemnation and Dawn RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 42 2.8: The Warlock RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 41 Map of the Alderes #1 RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 40 2.7: Golden Elder, Briar Brother RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 39 2.6: A Dream of Dei RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 38 2.5: They Who Deal Death RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 37 2.4: Oria's Fane RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 36 2.3: Oathbound RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 35 2.2: The Drowning Dead RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 34 Arc 2: Crow | Chapter 1: The Owl of Strekke RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 33 The Accursed Ones RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 32 Arc 1 Retrospective RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 31 1.31: Departure, Duty, Dream RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 30 1.30: Recusant RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 29 1.29: Catrin RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 28 1.28: Return to Castle Cael RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 27 1.27: Smite RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 26 1.26: Unhallowed RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 25 1.25: Executioners RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 24 1.24: Irn Bale RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 23 1.23: Clash in the Elf Lord's Hall RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 22 1.22: The Oradyn RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 21 1.21: Bane RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 20 1.20: The Hunters RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 19 1.19: Baron's Order, Headsman's Path RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 18 1.18: The Dhampir RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 17 1.17: Night Visitor RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 16 1.16: The Lord of House Falconer RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 15 1.15: Shadow Council RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 14 1.14: Dark Things RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 13 1.13: Castle Cael RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 12 1.12: The Hungry Dead RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 11 1.11: Amid the Mists RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 10 1.10: Shadows Over Caelfall RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 9 1.9: Onsolain RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 8 1.8: Curse-burdened Wanderers RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 7 1.7: Ill-omened Road RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 6 1.6: Kindness of Strangers RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 5 1.5: The Fallen RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 4 1.4: Memory of a Dream's End RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 3 1.3: Glorysworn RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 2 1.2: Red Rain RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 1 Arc 1: Execution | Chapter 1: Headsman RoyalRoadL
Oathbreaker: A Dark Fantasy Web Serial 1 1.1: Headsman RoyalRoadL