Shields of Loyalty News

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Greetings, Commanders!

With the defeat of the fearsome Demon Lord Zepar and the reclamation of the Bastion, Aglovan and his valiant troops now stand before the mystical portal. This shimmering gateway will lead them to the frigid, perilous island of Eternal Ice. What challenges, foes, and secrets will await them there? The next chapter in Mantaria's saga unfolds tomorrow with Lore Piece 10, delving into the mysteries of the portal and the icy world beyond. Stay tuned for an epic continuation of the story!

[h3]Beta Test Build Update[/h3]
We encountered an issue during the upload of our beta build, which caused a slight delay. The good news? The problem has been resolved! Starting tomorrow, the beta test will be open for all eager playtesters.

You can join the beta in two ways:

• Check our Discord announcement post.
  
• Send a direct message on Discord to MosaicMask or Charlie.
  

Your feedback is invaluable to refining our game. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute and help shape the final experience!



[h3]Introducing Tier 3 Undead Units – Masters of Stealth and Sky[/h3]
Prepare to face two terrifying additions to the Undead legions! These Tier 3 units are designed to test your strategy and resilience as they bring devastating new powers to the battlefield.

[h3]Flying Unit: Bone Dragon[/h3]
Abilities: This skeletal behemoth rules the skies, unleashing elemental breath attacks that devastate enemies. Its flight gives it unparalleled mobility, and its fearsome presence lowers enemy morale. The Bone Dragon is a formidable adversary you cannot ignore!

[h3]Skirmisher Unit: Assassin[/h3]
Abilities: Silent, swift, and deadly, the Assassin is a master of infiltration and precision strikes. These elusive killers can bypass defenses to target your key units, dealing high damage with devastating accuracy. Be wary—what you can’t see can certainly hurt you!

These units join the already formidable ranks of the Undead Tier 3 forces, ensuring that the final stages of the campaign will be your greatest test yet.

Keep an eye out for Lore Piece 10 tomorrow and get ready for the beta test launch! Don’t forget to share your feedback during the beta—it’s the lifeblood of our development process.

Thank you for your continued support, and see you on the battlefield!

Wishlist Shields of Loyalty on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1318240/Shields_of_Loyalty/
Join the Discussion on Discord:
https://discord.gg/YOUR_DISCORD_LINK

The Shields of Loyalty Team

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The flames danced ominously atop the walls of the once-mighty Bastion, their flickering glow a stark reminder of the destruction wrought by the Demon Lord Zepar. This ancient stronghold had stood against countless foes, its proud towers a symbol of strength and resilience. But now, it lay conquered, defiled by the relentless Undead hordes and their monstrous leader, a being of pure fire and malice.


Aglovan and his troops approached cautiously, their spirits weighed down by the sight of the fortress’s smouldering ruins. The road ahead led to the mysterious portal—a shimmering gateway that the enemy seemed determined to guard. Its very existence raised questions: Why was such a powerful artifact hidden here, and what purpose did it serve? Only one thing was certain—Zepar had to be stopped, and the Bastion reclaimed.


The battle was brutal. Zepar’s fiery attacks rained destruction, forcing Aglovan and his forces to adapt quickly. The Undead soldiers, empowered by their master’s unholy flames, fought with a frenzy that tested even the bravest warriors. Aglovan’s command was crucial, rallying his troops in the face of overwhelming odds. Siege weapons, heavy infantry, and the monks who had joined the cause all played their part in the desperate struggle.

The Demon Lord’s demise was nothing short of a spectacle. With a final, thunderous roar, his massive form disintegrated, sending a shockwave of searing heat across the battlefield. Silence fell as the last echoes of his rage dissipated, leaving only the crackling of the remaining flames. The Bastion was ours once more.


The portal stood at the heart of the stronghold, its shimmering light casting an ethereal glow over the ruined courtyard. None among us had ever seen such a thing. Legends spoke of portals that could transport one across vast distances in an instant, but to witness it in reality was breathtaking. The Bastion’s riches—gold, gems, and artifacts—were gathered, a small consolation for the lives lost and the destruction endured.

As Aglovan stepped closer to the portal, the uncertainty of what lay beyond mingled with a newfound determination. The island of Eternal Ice awaited, promising new challenges, new enemies, and perhaps answers to the mysteries of the Undead invasion. The journey was far from over.

With the Bastion secured and the portal beckoning, Aglovan and his troops prepared to take their next step into the unknown. The battle for Mantaria had only just begun.

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Hello Commanders of Mantaria! As the release of Shields of Loyalty draws nearer, we’re thrilled to bring you new updates and insights on Tier 3 Undead units, the thrilling conclusion of the Darkwood Lore Pieces, and the connections in our latest lore. This DevBlog reveals formidable foes and a crucial story segment that leads to the heart of our first island’s mysteries. Let’s dive in!

[h2]Introducing Tier 3 Undead Units – Elemental and Magical Power Unleashed[/h2]

With the endgame in sight, our Tier 3 Undead units arrive to test your skills like never before. These units wield formidable elemental and magical powers, embodying the unholy might of the Undead legions. As we progress into the late stages of the campaign, prepare to face these powerful foes that bring specialized strengths and unique abilities, ensuring an intense and challenging fight.

[h3]Undead Tier 3 Units:[/h3]


[h3]Light Infantry: Witches[/h3] - Channeling elemental damage, these eerie units bring elemental damage to weaken your forces, wreaking havoc on unprepared armies.
[h3]Heavy Infantry: Demons[/h3] - Infused with dark magic, these towering demons deal magical damage capable of strong attakcs, turning your strongest units into vulnerable targets.


[h3]Light Cavalry: Ghost Riders[/h3] - Mounted on spectral steeds, these swift units deliver deadly elemental attacks, striking fear with their unpredictable charges.
[h3] Heavy Cavalry: Hell Horses[/h3] - Enveloped in flame and darkness, Hell Horses are imbued with potent magical damage, trampling any who dare stand in their path.

These Tier 3 units represent the culmination of the Undead army’s strength and require keen strategy to overcome. Prepare your defenses and bring your best units if you hope to stand against them!

[h2]Lore Piece #9: The Portal - The Last Stand at Darkwood[/h2]

Following the story choices made in Lore Piece #8.1: The Monastery and #8.2: Treasure Hunt, we now arrive at the climactic mission that ties everything together. The Bastion, the proud and powerful stronghold of Darkwood, has fallen to the relentless hordes of the Undead. Only by retaking this fortress can we uncover the reason behind these monstrous attacks and face the infernal threat that lies ahead.

[h3]Mission Briefing – The Portal[/h3]

The Bastion was once the crown jewel of Darkwood’s defenses, a place of unmatched strength and protection. But even its walls have been torn down, overwhelmed by the relentless advance of the Undead, led by the fiery Demon Lord Zepar. This terrifying demon has brought flames and destruction in his wake, laying siege to all in his path. Now, there’s only one option: reclaim the Bastion and put an end to the invasion.

In Lore Piece #9, readers will see how Aglovan's earlier choices, whether defending the Monastery or gathering resources from the Treasure Hunt, influence their resources and allies in this pivotal mission. With the fate of Darkwood at stake, every choice made so far will echo in the battle to come.

[h3]Community Updates & Beta Testing[/h3]

[h3]We want to remind you:[/h3] Want to join the testing and help shape the game? Apply on our Discord server to become a beta tester and be part of our journey to the full release!

Your support is essential to our journey. If you haven’t already, please add Shields of Loyalty to your Steam wishlist to help our community grow and stay up-to-date with every new update. With your support, we can bring Shields of Loyalty to even more fans of strategy, lore, and epic battles.

Thank you for your loyalty and for standing by our side as we march toward the 1.0 release. There’s much more to come as we reach the epic end of Darkwood and beyond!

Until next time, Commanders—brace yourselves and prepare for battle!

The Shields of Loyalty Team

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Our path had become a trail of sorrow and loss. Each time we encountered refugees—families clutching little more than each other or the clothes on their backs—we were reminded of the devastation left by the undead scourge. Homes reduced to hollow shells, fields stripped of life, and belongings abandoned in the desperate rush for survival were common sights. The refugees had carried only what was essential, leaving behind a life’s worth of memories and treasures.

Yet in their gratitude for our help, some offered us guidance toward valuables they’d had to abandon. They spoke of hidden caches of jewelry, family heirlooms, and metal relics, nestled in the ruins of homes or buried near their lands. These scattered treasures, they told us, could aid us if we dared to reclaim them from the forsaken villages now infested with lurking undead.


With heavy hearts and resolute spirits, we ventured into these desolate places. The towns and villages were eerie, cloaked in silence except for the whispering wind that blew through hollowed-out homes and scorched fields. The walls bore signs of frantic, last-ditch defenses; furniture lay overturned, some splintered into makeshift barricades. Yet among the broken beams and forgotten rooms, precious remnants of the past gleamed in the dim light.

In one home, a silver mirror remained unbroken, reflecting only shadows. Another held a forgotten chest under a shattered staircase, with coins and small trinkets still inside. Some treasures were hidden more securely, in cellars or behind bricks, left with hope they’d survive the carnage. The undead had no use for these things and had left them untouched. These treasures, however, held great value for us. They would be melted down, reforged, and repurposed—transformed from cherished possessions into a lifeline for our soldiers.


As we gathered what we could, it became clear just how much potential lay within these ruins. Though sorrowful, these metals would become powerful weapons, shields, and armor, empowering us to press forward. It was as if the memories and sacrifices bound within these items gave us strength, fortifying our cause with every sword reforged from them. The undead, driven by their mindless hunger, could never understand the value of what they had left behind. But soon enough, they would face the consequences of their ignorance.


The refugees moved on, leaving their pasts behind to forge new lives elsewhere. Yet they had given us something invaluable—both their trust and the materials we needed to continue our struggle. With our wagons now loaded with precious metals and relics, we left those ravaged villages, determined to turn sorrow into strength, despair into defiance, and to meet the undead with weapons forged from the remnants of everything they had tried to destroy.

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After the fierce confrontation on The Battlefield, our journey diverged. Seeking refuge and allies, we pressed toward an old monastery on the outskirts, hoping to find aid in its sanctified halls. Here, we encountered monks who had once thrived in peaceful seclusion, undisturbed by the outside world.


When these monks built their sanctuary, they intended it as a place of quiet devotion, removed from the realm of swords and bloodshed. But now, their isolation had become a peril. With undead forces inching ever closer, their prayers alone would not suffice. Against this relentless foe, the monks needed steel as much as spirit.

Our arrival became a lifeline. The monks met us with quiet resolve, quickly blessing our weapons, and even shared what little they had left from their dwindling supplies. Together, we readied defenses, our soldiers fortified by the monks’ sacred chants. As dusk fell, the first wave of the undead surged forward. The monks stood with us, chanting hymns that seemed to thicken the very air, strengthening our resolve as the undead clawed at the gates.


Battle cries mingled with prayers, and each clash of steel rang out with a blessed resonance, as though the walls themselves protected us. Hours passed under relentless waves, but as exhaustion began to weigh on us, a glimmer of hope appeared. Reinforcements from Rifthain arrived just in time, storming in to bolster our numbers and push back the tide. Together, we forced the final wave into retreat, leaving the holy ground untouched by the stench of the undead.


In deep gratitude for our defense of their sanctuary, some of the monks made the ultimate sacrifice and broke their vows to join our cause, swearing their loyalty. Blessed by the monks’ sacred rites and equipped with their last belongings, our company left the monastery fortified and invigorated, its prayers and relics now fueling our fight.

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