Across the Obelisk News

[h3]THE SAHTI COLLECTION[/h3]
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The Sahti Collection combines the Shores of Sahti Story Pack with the Bernard, the Alchemist and Sigrun, the Valkyrie Hero Packs. Uncover the mysteries of the Sahti Islands and unlock powerful strategies thanks to the addition of two new hybrid heroes. Your adventure on the high seas starts here!

Set sail for the Sahti Islands in this all-new pirate-themed adventure. Powerful factions are vying for dominance in this once-peaceful archipelago. Will you defend the indigenous people, exploit their natural resources or battle to emerge as king of the pirates? The choice is yours!

The 3 new set of DLC's are set to release on the 22nd of January, 2025. Along with the release of the DLC's, we have, by far, one of the biggest content patches we've worked on! Coming your way, for free! The patch will include the implementation of the winning card-back design from the community's "Design your cardback contest" to the game.

Buy the Sahti Collection Bundle and save 25%, bundle will be visible after release.
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[h3]THE SHORES OF SAHTI​[/h3]
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This Story Pack introduces a classic pirate setting to Across the Obelisk alongside an array of new items, enemies and secrets to discover.

Here’s what the Story Pack contains:

• Explore a tropical paradise thrown into chaos by the awakening of an ancient obelisk.
  
• Formidable foes have emerged from the depths of the ocean, threatening the existence of the spiritual Sahti people.
  
• Amid the turmoil, three powerful factions wrestle for control of the islands: the navy seeking to defend the locals, the greedy Company of Overseas Trade and feuding bands of pirates. Who will you side with?
  
• Face-off against 20 new enemies, three champion enemies and three new bosses, including the legendary Kraken.
  
• Bring two new pets to the party—Matey the parrot, and Mimy a mimic chest with a mouthful of teeth!
  
• Do battle in a gorgeous nautical combat theme.
  
• Thrilling new locations are yours to discover. Explore a mighty dreadnought, investigate a fearsome pirate fortress and solve the secrets of the briny deep.
  
• Navigate your way through a host of new events.
  
• Get to grips with 35 new items.
  
• Add a touch of seafaring flair to your deck with a new cardback design.
  
• Share the story with your co-op party. Only one person per party needs to own this Story Pack to play through the adventure.
  

Buy the Pack now
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[h3]SIGRUN, THE VALKYRIE[/h3]

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Here’s what the Hero pack contains:

• Sigrun, a mage-scout hybrid capable of summoning lightning and thunder to torment her foes.
  
• An agile, rapid hero. Thanks to her Spellsinger talent, Sigrun receives Elemental spells from the mage class for free and at zero cost.
  
• A new pet. Jelly the jellyfish is a master of lightning, just like her Valkyrie friend.
  
• Three unique skins suitable for any goddess who may find herself far from Valhalla.
  
• Three new Sahti Island-themed cardbacks.
  
• Custom replies for random events. Learn more about Sigrun’s mysterious past and noble quest to protect the Sahti people.
  

Discover an intriguing story and bring new strategies to bear with Sigrun, the Valkyrie.

Buy the Pack now
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[h3]BERNARD, THE ALCHEMIST​[/h3]

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Here’s what the Hero Pack contains:

• Bernard, a scout-healer hybrid, best placed to take advantage of Flask and Rust, the tag and curse introduced in update 1.5.
  
• A deceptive hero. Bernard might have the speed of a turtle, but his powers are much mightier! Use his mastery of Rust to inflict powerful effects on unsuspecting enemies or reduce the impact of negative effects on Bernard.
  
• Inky, the octopus, a pet with the ability to shoot ink and apply the Wet, Poison and Dark status effects.
  
• Three unique skins, each fit for adventuring on the high seas and beyond.
  
• Three new cardbacks with a Sahti Islands flavor.
  
• Custom replies for random events. Discover more about Bernard’s personality, backstory and hopes for a longer life.
  

Thanks to Bernard, the Alchemist and Inky, his eight-legged friend, you can discover powerful new combinations previously unseen.

Buy the Pack now
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Adventure has never been so rewarding!

Hi, everyone! Welcome to the third and final preview of our upcoming set of new DLC’s. In the first two parts, we introduced you to the two new multiclass heroes coming to the game—Sigrun, the Valkyrie, and Bernard, the alchemist. This time, our attention turns to the 3rd expansion setting, the once peaceful but now pirate-infested Sahti Islands.

In this diary, we’ll talk more about the lore behind the islands, the people who inhabit them and the different factions competing to dominate them.

Without further ado, let’s set sail!
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[h3]A pirate’s life[/h3]
When we first started planning this expansion, we decided early on that we wanted to explore a classic fantasy setting. In particular, we were after a naturally adventurous theme with scope for exploration, excitement and recognisable character tropes. The idea of a pirate setting ticked all of these boxes. You can expect plenty of traditional pirate references, but we also wanted to ensure we added a touch of AtO magic. So, what can you expect to see from an Obelisk-style pirate fantasy? Dastardly pirates? It’d be weird without them. A friendly, superstitious native folk who live and die by their traditions? Absolutely. A powerful and cruel overseas trading company profiting by exploiting the islands? Naturally. A navy waging war against the pirates? 100%. Pirates feuding between themselves in a bid to become pirate king? Sure. Legendary creatures lurking beneath the waves? Check. Ridiculous pirate jokes? Aye! So, everything you’d want from a classic pirate experience, plus one or two surprises yet to be revealed…

That’s an overview of what to expect. Let’s take you deeper into the lore.



[h3]The lore[/h3]
The Sahti Islands are known as that because of the Sahti people who inhabit them. The Sahti are peaceful sea folk who live in communion with playful warden spirits called the Loa. Over the years, the Sahti have needed to defend themselves from those seeking to exploit their archipelago. The main offenders were the pirates and the greedy overseas trading company (COT), eager to turn the islands’ resources into cold, hard cash. An uneasy truce has existed between these factions. But everything changes when the Sahti Islands’ obelisk activates, awakening the terrifying Rust King and a hoard of ghastly creatures from beneath the waves. The chaos unleashed by the obelisk upsets the delicate balance between the factions. The navy is left struggling to protect the Sahti people. The trading company, hellbent on protecting its investment and profits, decides to step up the exploitation of the Sahti’s natural resources. On top of all that, the pirates are at war with each other to decide who will become the new pirate king. Turmoil is an understatement! So, this is the scene you will find yourselves in as you arrive at the Sahti Islands. But which group will you pledge your allegiance to? That’s up to you!

An important feature of this expansion is that you can decide which of the factions you side with. If you see yourself as a defender of the people, join the Sahti in their bid to protect their homeland. If gold and untold riches are what floats your boat, then get on board with the COT. Or perhaps you fancy becoming king of the pirates? Well then, sharpen your cutlass and practice your best ARGH.
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[h3]May yer anchor be ever tight![/h3]
That brings us to the end of our Sahti Island previews. Before we go, here’s a handy list of all the new content coming your way as part of the expansion:

• A new map to play in Act 2 or 3 of your adventure
  
• One new subzone dungeon
  
• A new combat theme
  
• Loads of new events
  
• 20 new enemies and three champion enemies
  
• Three new bosses
  
• 35 new items
  
• Two new multiclass heroes (Sigrun and Bernard) and their pets
  
• One cardback
  

The Sahti Islands story pack, and the Sigrun and Bernard hero packs will be available to download in a single bundle. Or, you can buy each of the three packs individually, if you prefer.

But that’s not all! Along with the release of these DLCs, we have a big free patch coming your way! This is one of the biggest free patches we’ve worked on so far, packed with fixes and improvements. Another exciting addition to the patch is the implementation of the winning cardback design from our community “Design your cardback contest” which will officially be part of the game.

We hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about the Sahti Islands. We’re thrilled to share the details with you and can’t wait for you to experience it. See you on the high seas!

- The AtO team

HHi, everyone! Today, we’re thrilled to share the second of three Dev Diaries, diving into another key piece of this pirate-themed adventure.

Last time out, we took you to the Sahti Islands, the tropical setting for the new set of DLC’s. We also introduced you to Sigrun, a powerful Valkyrie.

Now, our attention turns to another new playable hero, Bernard, a friendly turtle-man alchemist. Bernard is also a multiclass hero, combining a scout's skills with the curative abilities of a healer.

Our next dev diary will explore the expansion’s setting and lore, along with many of the new items and enemies that it introduces. For now, say hello to Bernard.

[h3]Bernard’s lore[/h3]
Bernard is an elderly turtle-man who has lived alone in his shell as a hermit at the bottom of the Sahti Islands sea for many years. He’s also an alchemist who travelled the world when he was younger.

During his travels, he found and then mastered a wide variety of exotic ingredients, developing powerful abilities along the way.

Fast forward to the present, and we find Bernard as an old turtle-man with his best days behind him. Sorry, Bernard! But while he’s far from young, he still has the spirit of a hardened adventurer.

So, when he’s woken by a group of adventurers searching for a cure to a plague afflicting a Sahti village, Bernard summons up the energy for one last journey.

Our hermit friend’s motivations aren’t entirely selfless, though. He dreams of finding the philosopher’s stone, a powerful artefact that could help prolong his life.

As you take Bernard on an adventure through a seabed transformed by the obelisk, you’ll encounter mysterious creatures and uncover ancient secrets.



[h3]Bernard’s abilities[/h3]
We’ve given you Bernard’s backstory, but how does he play in-game? With the introduction of these heroes, we wanted to explore new class combinations you haven’t seen in AtO before.

Bernard is a multiclass hero, healer and scout, a new combination in the game. Our hope is that this healer-scout combo will give you the flexibility to come up with new and exciting party compositions. We can’t wait to see how you use him!

Bernard heavily uses Flask, a new card tag introduced in an update coming alongside this latest expansion.

You’ll see the Flask tag added onto several existing Scout and Healer cards, so it’s going to be something you run into even if you decide not to download the Bernard hero pack.

As well as Flask, next week’s update introduces a new effect called Rust. Rust unlocks new and powerful ways to hurt your enemies, and it’s the secret to getting the best out of Bernard.

Finally, our shell-dwelling hermit will be accompanied by a new pet: Inky, his loyal octopus friend.

[h3]Bernard’s origins[/h3]
The concept for Bernard came from our interest in alchemists, an archetype seen throughout culture and one that we find fascinating.

We loved the idea of an older hero with a rich and adventurous history. Making him a turtle fitted this idea since they generally lead long lives. Of course, it also fits with the strong nautical vibe of this expansion.

Bernard’s powers come from the different algae he found on his adventures. As any of you who are foragers will know, what you find out in the wild isn’t always safe, meaning that Bernard would have developed the ability to tell safe ingredients from dangerous ones.

Using these algae recipes to deal damage and heal it naturally led us to create the scout-healer combo.

[h3]Next time[/h3]
That brings us to the end of this diary. In our third and final instalment, we’ll go into further detail on the Sahti Island map, the new combat theme and some of the new items

In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts on Bernard. Let us know how you plan to use our new healer-scout and his octopus friend in the comments section or the Discord channel.

Until next time!

- The AtO team

Hi, everyone! It’s an exciting time for us as we get closer to the release of Sahti Islands.

We have three dev diaries for you over the next few days. Each of them will cover a different aspect of the new expansion. But before we dive into the details, let’s set the scene.
Today, we’re unveiling the first of three Dev Diaries, each spotlighting an exciting element of this high-seas expansion.

To kick things off, let’s meet a powerful new ally who’s ready to join the party and turn the tides of battle: Sigrun, the Valkyrie!

[h3]The Sahti Islands[/h3]

Your adventure begins on the beautiful Sahti Islands, which have been thrown into chaos by the awakening of an ancient and powerful obelisk.

This spells trouble for the indigenous Sahti people, a peaceful and spiritual sea folk. Their lives are now under threat, with various groups looking to capitalise on the turmoil.

As they vie for dominance, each working to establish control of the island’s precious resources, the Sahti natives are caught in the middle. Will you defend the islanders or throw your weight behind one of the factions? That’s up to you!

We’ll have more on the history and lore of the Sahti Islands, its native people and the warring factions in a future diary. Today, we’re focusing on the first of two new playable heroes coming to the game—Sigrun, the Valkyrie.

[h3]Sigrun’s background[/h3]

Let’s start by looking at Sigrun’s lore: who she is, where she comes from and how her background has shaped her abilities on the battlefield.

We’ve deliberately shrouded Sigrun’s origins in mystery. The story goes that fishermen stumbled upon her on a desert island as they investigated the appearance of a large crater.

Although she was alive, she had lost part of her memory and had no recollection of how she had arrived there.

The fishermen, believing she was an angel from a legendary civilisation in the clouds, took her to a local village where she was worshipped as a god. As thanks for their help, Sigrun vowed to protect the Sahti people.

The conflict caused by the awakening of the obelisk now threatens her new friends, and she decides to go on a journey to cleanse the Sahti coasts of their enemies.

Although she is highly competent on the battlefield, Sigrun is still affected by her memory loss. As you set off on your adventure with Sigrun, these missing pieces of her mind await discovery.

Progressing through the expansion will reveal the hidden secrets of Sigrun’s past. What will you find? That would be telling!


[h3]Sigrun’s origins and abilities[/h3]

We’ve given you a decent understanding of Sigrun and how she came to be on the Sahti Islands. Let’s now talk a little bit about her abilities and why we made some of these design choices.

With this expansion and introduction of these new heroes, we wanted to explore class combinations not currently in the game. Sigrun is both a scout and a mage, a brand-new combo for AtO.

Sigrun’s introduction opens up a bunch of new options for you to try out as you build your parties. We’re really excited to see how you make use of her unique capabilities.

The fusion of scout and mage is explained in Sigrun’s lore. She is both a Valkyrie and a Skald, a poet who can combine her masterful use of songs with the ability to summon powerful storms.

This fusion of abilities matches her mystical role and her eagerness to discover who she really is.

In Norse mythology, Valkyries are seen as all-powerful goddesses. Of course, if we brought that level of power into the game, her skills would significantly exceed the other heroes, unbalancing things in the process.

By giving Sigrun amnesia, we can balance her powers with the other characters while allowing you to discover more about her hidden past.

We’re really leaning into the pirate and seafaring theme with the Sahti Islands expansion. The Norse were exceptional sailors, and by making Sigrun a Valkyrie, we aim to honour that fine naval tradition.

Norse culture also depicts Valkyries as spirits, bringing worthy warriors to Valhalla following their deaths. We wanted to play with the idea of reversing this trope. What if, rather than bringing heroes to the heavens, our Valkyrie found herself outside the halls of Asgard?

As you can probably tell, we’ve had a lot of fun building Sigrun’s character!

Finally, as with any new AtO hero, Sigrun will be accompanied by a pet. Jelly is a jellyfish and one of Sigrun's first friends in her new life among the Sahti.

[h3]Looking ahead[/h3]

That’s a wrap for this dev diary. We’ll have info on another new multiclass hero in our next diary, which will be coming your way soon.

Keep your eyes peeled for that, and while you wait, why not give us your thoughts on Sigrun and how you might use her unique mage-scout combination?

See you soon!

- The AtO team

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As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to wish our wonderful community a joyful holiday season. To celebrate, we’ve got a special treat for you- a sneak peek at something big coming your way in January 2025!

[h3]A Pirate-Themed Adventure Awaits in January![/h3]
Ahoy, adventurers! Get ready to set sail for the Sahti Islands with 3 exciting new DLCs in an all-new pirate-themed setting - coming to Across the Obelisk in January 2025. Embark on an epic high-seas journey with one Story Pack and unlock powerful new strategies with two Hero Packs!
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Choose your adventure: pick up individual DLCs or claim the full pirate experience with The Sahti Collection bundle!
The Shores of Sahti Story Pack – Dive into a thrilling pirate odyssey! Battle the legendary Kraken and uncover the secrets of the Sahti Islands.
Sigrun, the Valkyrie Hero Pack – Wield the power of the elements with this electrifying mage-scout hybrid.
Bernard, the Alchemist Hero Pack – Master alchemy and experiment with new Rust mechanics as a crafty scout-healer hybrid.

From captivating stories to innovative heroes and mechanics, your next adventure begins soon!
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We hope you enjoy this little holiday preview of what’s to come, and we can’t wait to embark on this exciting journey with you in January!