Celiane & the Prince

Last spring, the community came together for the second season of Dearg 2 on Kickstarter. It was a powerful moment and also the campaign that gathered the most backers since our very first one in 2012! What an adventure, what a feeling of gratitude towards this wonderful community, towards you! THANK YOU!

We have just launched the pledge manager phase for the backers, which is the time when everyone can provide their details and finalize their order. The studio team worked tirelessly to review all the stock and offer plenty of rarities. Hats off to them because it was a huge task! I’ve been looking forward to this moment because I had a surprise in store for the community, crafted with the talented sculptor Roberto Chaudon. You know him for creating the first minis of Shadows of Esteren; this time, I gave him a special commission: the busts of Celiane and the Prince.

Esteren is an incredible adventure that has allowed me to meet many artists from all over the world. And these collaborations together form the soul of this project. Each artist brings their own sensitivity, their own vision.

I won’t say more, here are a few images :




Each of these busts is a limited edition of 30 copies, made of resin, approximately 50 mm in size. You’ll need to assemble and paint them. Be careful, it’s a fairly technical job!

 

These two busts are offered first to our backers, and if any remain, they’ll be available during the upcoming late pledge. I think I’ll keep a few copies for our upcoming conventions ^^ I’ll take this opportunity to share some key info and respond to a few messages we’ve received:

▶ If you missed the campaign, yes, there will be a late pledge soon. You’ll be able to pre-order Dearg season 2 and all the new releases. Sign up for the mailing list to not miss anything.
▶ Is this the end of the line? No, not at all. Dearg season 2 closes the first cycle with characters that were introduced in the core rulebook. The new cycle will focus on the Secrets.
▶ Will there be a season 3? It’s hard to say right now, but we’re not closing any doors, especially considering the success of season 2 ^^
▶ If you're a backer and looking for the link to the pledge manager, here it is: https://shadows-of-esteren-elegy.backerkit.com If you encounter any issues, feel free to send us a quick email: https://www.studio-agate.com/en/contact

That’s all for now :)

The first cycle of Shadows comes to an end, but it’s only the beginning… ;

See you on the Discord server! 

 Take care, 

Nel


Shadows of Esteren : New Releases in April 2022

Now that backers have received their packages, it's time for the new Shadows of Esteren books to hit the stores! 6 new items will be available in the stores from this Monday, April 25, 2022! Enjoy!


DARK ROMANTICISM

In this artbook, you will find what constitutes the essence of the world of Esteren through more than 200 artworks, including many yet- unpublished ones. Get ready for a new journey, diving into an intimist, sublime atmosphere... 

Amidst centennial forests and across the moors, mist spreads through the circles of stones. From their monasteries, the followers of the One turn to the almighty power of faith for solace as they fight terrifying sorcerers. In the kingdom of Reizh, the Magientists seek to reshape the society of today to pave the way for tomorrows of discoveries and progress. Everyone struggles against the mysteries of a dangerous world, populated with monstrous creatures— Feondas—and threatened by the proximity of Limbo.

Retail Price : $50


MELWAN

Intended for Game Leaders and Players, this Shadows of Esteren book Through a narrative exposition, Melwan takes you on a journey with Neala the focuses on Melwan, the vale adjacent to Dearg’s. Half-RPG supplement, half- bard as your guide. As a typical mountain vale, Melwan’s landscape is varied, made artbook, it will take you to the heart of a Tri-Kazelian land, in an atmosphere at the of cliffs, forests, and swamps dominated by an ancient castle. Travelers who stop at same time intimistic and mysterious. the village’s inn for a night or two only have the faintest idea of what is going on in the region.

This supplement includes plentiful worldbuilding material and many game aids, such as:
Tales of Fur and Feathers. Old classics of the peninsula told by bards for the delight of both children and adults, these moral or satirical tales depict animals going through stories that reflect human situations and preoccupations.
Fauna and Flora. The locals have developed many ways of gathering and fashioning food, clothes, and utilities from their environment, adapting themselves to the current season and surrounding biomes.
Concocting Potions. Gwylmith, Morphene, Searbhase, and Tearmane are some of the typical medicinal plants of Tri-Kazel. A game aid dedicated to herbalism provides several examples of therapeutic concoctions that Players can make and use.
Supply Incidents. In Tri-Kazel, a simple shopping anomaly can become the starting point of a veritable adventure.
Bestiary of Melwan. Learn more about the local fauna, and discover the powerful Mórbear and the murderous Guilthas Man—a Feond. 

Retail Price : $29,90


HAUNTED HOUSE

For years, the Reizhite medium Ysvan has traveled the roads of Tri-Kazel to find his sister. Accom- panied by his assistant, a young woman named Lelyandra, he will venture into the sinister abandoned home of the Mac Grym family. No one has dared set foot within these cursed walls since the tragic, maddening events that took place there. Yet, this is where Ysvan will go, never mind the dangers he may face and the ugly truths he may uncover. Cross the threshold of Kaer Skarden and open your senses to the unfathomable. Ysvan’s journey will take you beyond the boundaries of sanity for a hair-raising read!

Retail Prince : $14,99


SIDE PATH

“You are now only one day’s walk away from your next destination, the village of Esen. It is late spring, and the wind and rain keep you company in the heart of the woods you are progressing through. You follow signs left by Varigals, invisible or incomprehensible to untrained eyes, and at dusk, you reach a small wooden cabin where you decide to spend the night.”

Yldiane is a young Varigal who has just left her mentor to follow her own path. On her way back to her native village, she makes a halt in a shelter in the middle of the woods, unaware of what she is about to be embroiled into. What should have just been a short stop on the road becomes an adventure that will require Yldiane to shed light on ancient secrets and on a fiendish conspiracy brewing in this peaceful region of Reizh.
 
Explore the Shadows of Esteren universe through a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure interactive story. Be brave, be discerning, and most of all, be wise if you want to overcome the obstacles, mysteries, and enemies awaiting you!
 
To play, all you need is this book and something to keep notes on.

Retail Price : $19,99 

YLDIANE

Yldiane is a 16-page graphic novel that tells the story of Yldiane's return to Melwan. Yldiane is written by Emmanuel Roudier and co-written by Nel, author of Shadows of Esteren.

Retail Price : $4,99


ADELIANE

Adeliane is a music album inspired by the universes of Philip Glass, Agnes Obel, and David Darling. It is one more window to the world of Shadows of Esteren, a medieval world filled with dark romanticism, where ghastly horror and awe-inspiring beauty go hand in hand. Adeliane is one of the main characters of the Shadows of Esteren saga. A young woman crushed under the weight of a tragic past; a strong, brave young woman on a quest to shed light on the mysteries that haunt her nightmares. This album tells her story.

It is composed by François Rousselot, the composer of the OST of Mr Hublot, a short film that won the Oscar for best short animation in 2014.

Retail Price : $20
 
 

If you want to order these items, two solutions:
 
-You are a European store : contact us.

Take care!

Esteren ruleset becomes a generic game system

We are very happy to announce that the Shadows of Esteren game system will become a generic RPG system so that it can be adapted to other universes! Its working title is the "Narrative Arc System" to emphasize roleplay, emotions and the evolution of the characters, all at the service of storytelling.

We have many projects for the Narrative Arc System and we are very excited to announce one of the first in co-production with our friends from Mighty Boards: the Posthuman Saga RPG! This is going to be based on their flagship character development and narrative board game Posthuman Saga, an ongoing adventure with a very rich backstory that unfolds with every expansion.

" In Posthuman Saga you play as one of the last human survivors in a world where nature is reclaiming the planet and our mutated offspring are working to eradicate us. Just over a year ago all you wanted was to find the Fortress, the last human bastion in a region overrun by mutants. Today, you’re being sent out beyond the safety of its walls on a journey into the uncharted Wilds. There’s a dozen survivors for every mouth the Fortress can feed. It’s time to earn your place within its walls once and for all."

Quite a program, huh? Posthuman's universe, writing and artistic direction are really very inspiring! If you want to discover the Posthuman world, now is the time, because our friends have a Kickstarter in progress for their board game... it ends in a few days, don't miss it! You can check it out over here. 

And here is the complete press release about the Posthuman Saga RPG.

 



Ten Years

Ten years ago, the very first Esteren book was released in France. We had planned a nice party with our friends musicians, brewers and artists... but the current crisis prevented us from making happen this very special date of the Esteren Tour. Of course, it's only a postponement! And we will perhaps celebrate the 10 years of the English version, in 2022?

Thank you for having accompanied us during all these years. Esteren continues to live, it is also thanks to you. We will soon enter the cycle of Secrets as Dearg's cycle comes to an end. For now, we are just happy to be still here.

Take care!


Overview of the Shadows of Esteren series

Many Esteren items have remained unavailable at retail or out of stock for a long time. Since conventions have been canceled, we’ll be making available the stock that was reserved for those dates during the upcoming Kickstarter.

Several books are almost out of stock, such as Book 1 (the core rulebook) or Book 3 (the official campaign). These bundles are 50% off, so don’t hesitate!

Here is an overview of the series:

Book 0 – Prologue: This seminal book includes an overview of the universe, the essential elements of the game system, six pregenerated characters, and three adventures, which stand as spin-offs of the official campaign and introduce some of its main themes. Perfect to get started!

Book 1 – Universe: This core book details the peninsula of Tri-Kazel and contains the complete game system and character creation mechanics. It also includes six unique pregenerated characters, who are central to the Dearg campaign. It is also our most awarded book, having received ENnies for Best Art, Best Production Values, and Product of the Year. It has enjoyed several print runs, but is now unavailable at retail. Through the present Kickstarter campaign, you can order the last remaining copies!

Book 2 – Travels: A book for Game Leaders, Travels is a veritable toolbox featuring: a chapter on noteworthy locations of the peninsula, additional rules and game aids related to traveling, a detailed gallery of NPCs from across the peninsula, a collection of 5 mini-adventures, a mini-campaign titled “A Life Choice,” and a short bestiary.

Book 3 – Dearg: A complete adventure path spanning two volumes, Dearg is the official Shadows of Esteren campaign, a tragic fresco of twenty scenarios that will lead your Players to unearth terrible secrets about themselves and the world. Dearg introduces several unique mechanics, such as narrative arcs and Focuses, for the purpose of more intense sessions and more engaging role-playing. Several of the present campaign’s rewards include the first volume of this campaign, with the second one currently in the works.

The Monastery of Tuath: This book is showcases the inner working and beliefs of the Temple faction and the life of monks. At its heart is the densely packed investigation scenario “Vengeful Words.” This homage to The Name of the Rose can be played as a standalone or as part of the Dearg campaign.

Black Moon Handbook: This supplement is a guide to occultism that can be found in-game by the Player Characters. Written by the NPC Steren Slaine, it offers many game aids to play an occultist, additional rules, 5 mini-adventures on the themes of ghosts and possessions, and a small thematic bestiary.

Hauntings Pocket Book: Some of the pledges include this collection of fiction. Its 5 short stories will immerse you in Tri-Kazel’s life and will introduce you to its occult folklore.

- -
Learn more: Kickstarter campaign

The Demo of the Esteren Point'n'Click Game Is Now Freely Downloadable

We are making the demo of our point'n'click game, The Mac Lyrs’ Legacy, freely downloadable on DTRPG.

This PC demo (available in French and English) will let you play the game’s first chapter and experiencing its gameplay. You just need to download the .zip and launch the .exe within.

Keep in mind that this is a demo and may include bugs. If you encounter any, our apologies! In this case, please report them on our Discord. If you get stuck, you can also ask for help there! This is our first video game, so don’t be too hard on us :)

Have fun :)




About the Video Game Project

The Mac Lyrs’ Legacy is in line with classic point'n'click games such as Broken Sword or Monkey Island. It is rooted in the beginnings of the Esteren project, back in 2009, and depicts Yldiane upon her return to her native village of Melwan. The game’s events follow those of the Side Path gamebook and Yldiane comic, which are part of the Melwan project. To stay in touch with us and be informed of the launch of our next Kickstarter, subscribe to our mailing list.

We are always looking for people to help us move forward on this project or a publisher with whom to associate. Feel free to drop us a line here.

About Shadows of Esteren

Shadows of Esteren is a medieval world with horrific and gothic overtones in a dark, low fantasy setting. Drawing inspiration from Celtic myths, this universe has a subtle fantastic side hidden under a bleak, realistic surface. With the focus of its adventures being investigation and survival, Shadows of Esteren favors immersion and interaction among the players. 

Shadows of Esteren is the work of Studio Agate. It exists through various media: a tabletop role-play game, music, board games, and even video games.

Innovative and crossmedia project, Shadows of Esteren is the first French creation of its kind to have obtained a dozen of prices internationally, including four Ennie Awards at Indianapolis GenCon in 2013 and 2016. 

Adeliane is on Bandcamp

Our fourth album Adeliane is available on Bandcamp.

Adeliane is one of the mort important figure of Shadows of Esteren's universe.

You take your body on these paths
The rhythm of your heart
Of your steps


This body of pain
You walk further
Deeper within yourself


Travel these landscapes
And travel them again
What do you find on this journey


All becomes clear and so bright
As you fall asleep
And fall again


Is it the time of great changes
The time where things rise
And quietly die


Travel these landscapes
And travel them again
What do you find on this journey


The wind is blowing
Your face
Your gaze


Adeliane
Adeliane
What do you find on this journey



Credits

Composed by François Rousselot.
Performed by Clarisse May and the Budpapest Symphonic Orhestra.
 
released September 19, 2019

Production : Benjamin Torval | Mix : Marc Gueroult | Mastering : Marc Gueroult | Art : Gawain | Layout : Benjamin Torval