A triquetra of Virtues takes hold: the systems shaping your Envoy deepen, combat and movement sharpen, and customisation expands.
Soulframe Preludes 13 arrives! A triquetra of Virtues takes hold, and Alca answers in kind. This Update deepens the systems that shape your Envoy, sharpens combat and movement, expands character customization, and brings clearer intent to the world itself. With a full Virtue overhaul, new threats rising in Midrath, and more deliberate ways to answer the land’s call, Preludes 13 marks a major step forward for Soulframe.
Please Note: This Update introduces major changes to the Virtue system. To support Envoys through these shifts, all existing active accounts will receive a Preludes Honour and 100 Arcs with the launch of Soulframe Preludes 13.
Virtue Rework
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Gleam’d in Alca’s seam’d night find Virtues bright upon Ode’n fright.
Soulframe Preludes 13 delivers a full rework to the Virtue system, introducing Virtue Prisms, stronger scaling, and deeper connections between Virtues, equipment, and Arcanics.
Virtue Allocation and Virtue Prisms
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Virtues are no longer assigned through manual point distribution. Instead, Virtue Prisms now determine how Virtues are distributed across Courage, Spirit, and Grace. As Envoys level, the equipped Virtue Prism controls the ratio of that growth, shaping how each build develops over time.
Virtue Prisms seek to create an approachable system that better balances Virtues with chosen loadouts. This will be the first iteration of a system that seeks to create a simplified interface while being the first step for a wide future of Prism possibilities to come.
To change your Virtue Prism:
Open Virtues in the Arsenal
Select the Prism UI to change your Virtue Prism
Chosen Virtue Prism will save to your loadout
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Preludes 13 introduces 12 Virtue Prisms, each providing a different Virtue ratio.
Starter Virtue Prisms: Slight focus toward one Virtue.
Iridis’ Shaman
Warrior of Mora
Rogue to Saphene
Hybrid Virtue Prisms: Balanced focus between two Virtues.
Oro’s Ranger
Spirit and Grace
Knight O’Paladine
Courage and Spirit
Verus’ Assassin
Grace and Courage
Extreme Virtue Prisms: Strong focus toward one Virtue.
Druid of Iridis
Mora’s Beast
Saphene’s Shadow
Wyld Virtue Prisms: Significant focus toward one Virtue.
Wyld Oscelda’s Witch
Wyld Tethren’s Braveling
Wyld Sirin’s Trickster
To obtain Virtue Prisms:
Starter Virtue Prisms: An initial Virtue Prism is granted based on initial Pact selection.
Further Starter Virtue Prisms will be acquired by discovering the Enclaves. Visit an Enclave and speak to its representative (Avakot, Deora, or Fenn Jotar) to receive the corresponding Virtue Prism.
Extreme Virtue Prisms: Acquired from the Virtue-aligned Enclave representative at Rank 2 for 1 Standing cost.
Hybrid Virtue Prisms: Acquired from the Virtue-aligned Enclave representative at Rank 4 for 1 Standing cost.
Wyld Virtue Prisms: Acquired from Soulframe Founders.
Virtue Scaling, Arcanic, and Equipment Changes
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Virtues now play a stronger role in defining combat performance, with updated scaling across Arcanics, equipment, and core stats.
Virtues now enhance respective Arcanics and have a stronger effect on playstyle. Assassinate Ode with Grace, let Spirit cast a flurry of Magick, and find Courage fortifies against harm.
Grace
Grace increases the lethality of ambushes and mortal strikes. Attack from the shadows, aim for the head. Seek armaments of precision and stealth graced by the Grace symbol.
Spirit
Spirit quickens the Magicks of your Pact. Prevail beyond the fray. Favour Arcanics and shamantic garb with the Spirit symbol.
Courage
Courage grants greater Life to survive the boldness of battle. Build a Warrior’s arsenal attuned with the Courage symbol.
All Virtues now contribute to Life scaling, with Courage providing significantly higher survivability gains.
Armour and Weapon Virtue Changes
Equipment has been standardized around Virtue requirements and Attunements, allowing Virtue investment to more clearly influence combat effectiveness.
Weapons
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Grip Types now have standardized Virtue Attunements and requirements.
Spirit: Attuned to Magick weapons.
Courage: Attuned to ‘large’ melee weapons:
Long Blades
Greatswords
Polearms
Shields
Grace: Attuned to ‘small’ and non-Magick ranged weapons:
Bows
Flyblades
Short Blades
A majority of weapons, however, will have split-scaling capabilities, using both their primary Virtue requirement and an additional Virtue Attunement to determine damage.
Armour
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Armour now has standardized Virtue requirements to unlock its full effectiveness, along with Virtue Attunements that scale defence stats. Requirements and Attunements are displayed in the item tooltip.
Spirit: Attuned to ‘light’ armour
Oscelda’s Set
Steelsinger’s Set
Wazzard’s Set
Courage: Attuned to ‘heavy’ armour
Tethren’s Set
Bromius’s Set
Mendicant’s Set
Circade’s Set
Grace: Attuned to ‘medium’ armour
Sirin’s Set
Thawtide’s Set
Mockery Binds’ Set
Orengall’s Set
Garren Rood’s Set
Like weapons, some armour sets will similarly split-scale with two different Virtue Attunements.
Virtue investment should feel visible and meaningful in combat, allowing both focused and hybrid builds to perform effectively with Attuned equipment.
To illustrate, A Druid of Iridis will boast unmatched Magick and Arcanic power, while a Knight O’Paladine may wield casting devices with armour benefiting Courage and Spirit, walking the balance of a Magick-casting warrior.
Virtue Attunement symbols have been added to the Arsenal to clearly represent each Attunement type.
Weapon and Armour Stats Rebalanced
Increased the Virtue Attunement damage cap on Uncommon and Rare weapons.
Stability is more impactful, with Envoys taking less Stagger damage while blocking.
Envoys will now flinch from attacks that would have staggered them previously.
Equipment that does not meet its Virtue requirement will not grant its bonus stats. No penalties will be applied.
Enemies can now deal increased Magick damage to better support Magick-focused defenses.
The Cogah Arcanic cooldown debuff has been adjusted to scale with the updated Spirit Virtue effect.
When an Envoy meets the Virtue requirement of any gear piece, it’ll display its corresponding Virtue icon in the top-left corner of the equipment piece when previewed in the Compendium to better signify the bonus in stats gained.
Blessed Joinery Changes
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Blessed Joineries no longer re-attune weapons. Instead, Blessed Joineries now increase the Virtue scaling of a weapon by adding an additional Virtue to the Attunement line, viewable in the stats of the weapon (e.g., a Blessed Mora Joinery will add one additional Courage Virtue Attunement).
Watch our Soulshort on the Virtue Rework:
Pact Changes
Alongside the Virtue rework, several Pact adjustments have been made to better align Arcanics, Passives, and Skill Trees with Virtue scaling.
General Pact Changes
Pact Passives can now be affected by Virtues.
Arcanic Cooldowns are now influenced by Spirit.
Arcanics now benefit from their respective Virtue (e.g., Courage will empower your Courage Arcanic).
Pact Skill Tree Updates
Akin has been replaced with Healer.
Healer: You’ve the healer hands. Recover Life more efficiently.
Everbound has been removed. Life scaling is now provided through Virtues.
Virtue nodes in Pact Skill Trees can now be upgraded independently instead of in sequence.
Tethren
Call of the Ancients:
Increased base duration
Clash:
Reduced base cooldown
Reduced casting time
Removed enemies being feared after casting.
Enemy reactions were causing the Stability stun and Stagger from working correctly, and we are actively investigating this issue.
Orengall
Howl:
Howl now adds Grace to the Envoy rather than Courage, and no longer multiplies the Virtue upon cast
Smite chance is now a stacking multiplier, and the base Smite chance has been reduced
Votives
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Tales are no longer a matter of chance. At the roots of Alca, not all dreams go unanswered.
Votives are now available at World Trees throughout Alca, offering a clearer and more deliberate way to take on challenges. Each Votive is a small offering left behind, waiting for an Envoy to answer.
Instead of waiting for Tales to emerge nearby, Envoys can visit a World Tree to view Votives in the surrounding region and choose which path to follow.
Each Votive allows Envoys to:
Accept Tales directly from the World Tree
View the challenge tier of available tasks at a glance
Track regional objectives across Midrath, including Collector spawns, Sieges, and Avakot’s Gots
This is an early step toward a world where there is always something to do, something to chase, and something calling from the roots of Alca...without hidden timers or missed moments. More refinements to Votives are planned in future updates.
Operation: The Organ
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A sickly Ode surgeon watches from above.
Medis Gyon, plague doctor of the stars, oversees his grand operation from a Collector sickbed drifting overhead. Below him rises The Organ: a massive polluter machine built upon a Dendrit tower.
The Organ eats brachial trees through its raging furnace, pumps Ichor through iron arteries, and huffs Tower Air from its singing pipe ventilators. Spewing black clouds into the atmosphere to make Alcan air breathable for the Ode...at great expense to its inventor, Medis Gyon. His lungs are poisoned by his work; the only cure is The Organ’s successful transplant.
Envoys must find and destroy these machines across Midrath to let Alca breathe again.
To begin Operation: The Organ:
Discover The Organ on Votives at nearby World Trees
Approach an active Organ in Midrath
New Foe: Vadagar Bear
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Not all bears are bound to Wevetwood.
A Vadagar Bear now stalks Midrath beneath moonlit skies. Twisted by night and untethered from the sap-dream of the Arbearer, this corrupted beast is adapted for open-world encounters.
Seek out the Vadagar Bear at night across Midrath to face its reworked abilities and earn rewards.
Mini-Quests
Three new Mini-Quests have been added to Midrath. Discover them by finding notes hidden throughout the world and follow their trail to uncover the stories they leave behind. This is part of our ongoing work to bring more small, discoverable adventures to Alca.
Mistress of The Thread
A mysterious poem leads you to the Sinkland Depths, where every vibration is a death knell, and every shadow has eight legs.
Lightning in a Vial
A storm brews over Kairness while a skittish witch brews something of their own.
Deadwood
A legion of Sinecure loggers split deadwood for days... Knowing not that even the dead can seek revenge.
Expanded Character Customization
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New options for Envoy hair, head features, and appearance have been added to Soulframe.
How To Access:
Appearance can now be refined through Verminia in the Nightfold, where faces and hairstyles may be changed independently of the original Mother choice. Please Note: Verminia must first be discovered by completing The Brewer of Hues.
What’s New:
New hairstyles, rigged for all body types
Expanded hair colour options with improved tinting and material support
Updated Envoy head models with refined proportions
Ability to choose from a range of Complexion options
Ability to switch between the two available body types
Ability to recolour Pacts
This is a step toward deeper, more flexible character customization, with more options and refinements planned as Alca grows.
Camera and Player Physics Changes
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Such fluidity befits an Envoy.
Preludes 13 aims to improve player controls and camera movement to provide a smoother gameplay experience, including physics changes that make Envoy movements snappier.
Camera and Physics Changes:
Re-approached camera smoothness and motion while following the Envoy
Improved FOV zoom-out to better catch incoming enemies
Sharper Envoy movements to improve responsiveness
Reduced stiffness in Envoy movements
Smoothed lock-on magnetism to allow for more responsive target acquisition
Reduced target swapping while pressing your block input during combat
New Weapons
Seathorn
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A witching-staff fresh from the Salz.
Forged of driftwood and waldglass, this staff still smells of salt and sea. Crafted by a follower of Oro, Seathorn’s magicks lie in the tiny barnacles latched upon its orb. Old fables label these tiny living sea thorns as Oro’s countless lidless eyes. Do him proud, Envoy, for a seasage you shall be.
Fragments for Seathorn will drop from 3-Star Tales.
Basker's Wrest
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The dread gauntlets of The Fire King’s army.
Channeling magicks from the inset orbs of Moranite, these gauntlets were wielded against the Cassid occupation in the year 603. Not knights but rebels, vigilantes of the undercity, called upon the red sun. They called themselves the Baskers, forging her courage into armlets of scrap. They cried flames across their homelands, lost. They burned the collaborators. And The Fire King, Fenn Jotar, could only watch.
Fragments for Basker’s Wrest can be acquired from 3-Star Kith of Kings Tales or from Kith of Kings Enclave Favors.
Clivers
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The magnetic twinblades of the Dendrit Knightmaidens.
Two feather-light sidearms, mirrored and merciless. Inspired by an herb of the same name, a magnetic alloy pulls the dual swords together, binding them like burr to wool. Knightmaiden’s of old famously entered battlefields with two Clivers bound, disguised as a single blade. The discovery of the swords’ sticky nature was the last many foes ever made.
Fragments for Clivers will drop from The Organ, as well as Reaper and Etheldred the Weaver.
New Armour Set: Waste-wear
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Don the armour of the Wazzard of Wastes. Rise from ichor grave, become the Mendicant mage of Wevetwood.
Wazzard's Robes
The radiant robes of the Wazzard of Wastes.
Clasped by the cleft face of the demigod Verus, adorned by his constellation of stars. The cloak of a dark mage, dead and buried. The shroud of one risen by Ichorous soil. A chance to continue a lifelong study? Or a relapse into madness?
Wazzard's Bycoket
The hookèd hat of the Wazzard of Wastes.
A twisted root upon the head, a curling branch 'comes crown. In life, the Wazzard fixed his mage's study upon the language of the voicing trees. Could the creaking Wevetwood be known to man? Could their songs be put upon parchment?
Wazzard's Trunks
Sturdy as tree trunks in Ichorous soil, the leggings of the Wastes.
Crusted in the soil of the grave, risen like arid roots. Though the ghost of the Wazzard haunted Wevetwood long before the coming of Ode, 'twas the Ichor spills that gave his phantom form.
Fragments for the Wazzard Armour will drop from The Organ.
World Trees: Notes System Update
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Notes left at World Trees now use a curated phrase system. Envoys can select and combine preset phrases to form their message before proclaiming it with others.
This change helps keep messages readable, in-world, and welcoming for all who pass beneath the boughs. View, commend, and reply to notes left by fellow Envoys.
General Additions and Changes
Added a new title loading screen when launching the game.
Thawtide has concluded.
As the Longnight finally passes, Thawtide rituals are no longer available. Maestro and Rostrum will now drop from Bannerets, Kabocha, and The Mendicant King, while all other Thawtide rewards have returned to slumber.
The Waste Bear Fable can now be replayed through the Journal.
Added distinct category icons and improved organization in the Arsenal.
Added a side-mounted icon for Enchantments in the Weapon and Sidearm section of the Arsenal.
Envoys can now rotate their character via click-and-drag with M/KB in the Arsenal and when visiting Verminia in the Nightfold.
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Added new Tales and improved existing ones with updates to objectives, spawning, and overall reliability.
1-Star Tales no longer play the celebration animation after completion (the rewards earned pop-up remains, however).
Tales can now be tracked in the Journal.
Increased the amount of River Pearls found along rivers.
Increased Damage bonus given by Gildaur Joineries.
Stealth Kills now audibly alert enemies that are extremely close-by.
Alerted enemies are faster to return to their idle once they’ve finished investigating, while enemies having just fought now take longer.
Downed Envoys can now spectate alive party members during Agari/boss fights.
Mace-wielding Heavy Sinecure’s slam now deals Voltaic damage to better match the attack’s VFX.
Made Ode red balloons destructible.
Reduced the effectiveness of the heavy Ode mace enemy wind-up knockdown.
Reduced the rate at which unblockable attacks are used by enemies.
Ode Shredders now inflict damage, should you touch their grinding teeth.
Reduced the amount of trap Mockeries within the Glades of Andurin.
Changed Vadagar Stag’s spawn in Birdies Bog to better accommodate his fight.
Increased Kabocha (and similar Corrupted Sproutfolk) chances to use different attacks and increased the cooldown on their bell knockback.
Updated Lady Deora and the Torment Stag to deal Magick damage where more appropriate.
Updated Lady Deora’s attacks to be easier to parry.
Updated the Stability damage dealt by Lady Deora and the Torment Stag to prevent forced staggers or knockdowns.
Updated the Bow walking animation while aiming.
Long Blades attack animations have been reworked and updated.
Removed the animation after defeating an Agari.
Improved the tile randomization in Dungeons with Agari present.
Tethren's Fellust charges are now tracked in the Arcanic UI in the bottom right of the screen, with the charges represented by it depleting in colour during use.
Added a unique UI icon for Sap Tap.
Added a prompt to purchase additional Weapon or Pact Capacity if the Envoy has no more slots after crafting an item.
Envoys can now purchase Loadout Capacity from the Arsenal Loadout drop-down menu.
Removed Bromius, Garren Rood and Orengall Pacts from Avakot’s Gots as these Pacts are now acquirable from Zenith’s Wares.
Envoys now receive a “Thank you” pop-up after purchasing an item from Zenith’s Wares.
Reworked melee hit audio so impact sounds now correctly reflect the weapon used.
Rebalanced melee weapon sound effects across all weapons to sound more consistent and even.
Added sound FX for aiming with a bow in midair.
Added new dialogue to Lady Deora when talking to her while not aligned with The Silent Rose.
Improved SFX for picking up common items and resources by lowering the gain.
Slowed down the cadence of Mada’s lines during The Collector.
Sounds can now only place enemies at the max of their alert state, rather than possibly beginning combat.
Grandfa’s Hut’s music now ducks if you enter the menu while inside the hut.
Continued updates to lighting, VFX, environment, and volumetric fog.
Fixes
Fixed Tale map icons sometimes missing after completing a Tale when other Tales were nearby.
Fixed some Tales repeating the same tasks twice in a row.
Fixed ranking up immediately after completing a Tale preventing additional standing gain within the current session.
Fixed the Enclave Offerings UI overlaying the standing screen UI after making a purchase.
Fixed Bestitching a new appearance causing it to be automatically equipped after relogging into the game.
Fixed Hues brewing at Verminia’s station incorrectly showing the crafting timer in milliseconds.
Fixed Spirit Guide sparrow clipping into the Envoy’s shoulder when wearing the Wyld Tethren Solist Shield cuirass.
Fixed Brazen Lung appearing as ‘Helmless’ when equipped on female Envoys.
Fixed missing Dracs amount UI not displaying after selling items to Zenith.
Fixed Zenith’s Wares incorrectly displaying bundles previews being repurchased.
Fixed trying to enter Nightfold while fast travelling with Wevetseeds causing Envoys to remain in Midrath in a broken state.
Fixed Pact Arcanics being usable in Enclaves after switching Pacts in Nightfold.
Fixed Ode Hounds becoming uninteractable after being affected by Bromius’ Wevetroot Arcanic.
Fixed Garren Rood’s Righteous passive not recharging Behest faster.
Fixed bows turning invisible with increased fire rate if Pictrix Powder is cast immediately after Glamour.
Fixed Trick of the Light not entering cooldown recovery if aimed at the air.
Fixed reforging an equipped weapon sometimes causing it to appear as an incorrect weapon type until relog.
Fixed being unable to equip another copy of a weapon if already equipped and more than one in Inventory.
Fixed reforged weapons not appearing in the Arsenal if the Envoy owns multiple copies of the weapon (e.g., two Dewillions).
Fixed The Cogah forfeiting if an Agari dies while the Envoy has the abandon timer active.
Fixed Etheldred The Weaver’s minions dropping resources unintentionally.
Fixed Ode Dogs continuing to attack despite being defeated.
Fixed The Mendicant King not having a location marker when entering The Cogah.
Fixed an Ode Camp spawning too close to the login wake-up spot near the east of Galvinar Wastes.
Fixed Ode enemies sword final hit combos not connecting, due to previous hit pushing the Envoy out of range.
Fixed an issue with the Ode Fodder’s decal and trail after being fired from Fort Curlail’s Bisulcam.
Fixed arrows sometimes suspended in air when blocked while Starling is equipped.
Fixed Garren Rood, Orengall and Bromius’ Pact Fragments not appearing as Uncommon to match the built Pact.
Fixed a progression halt where the Wevetwood seed would disappear in the Silvern Sea during The Waste Bear Fable.
Fixed the Compendium so that unacquirable or duplicate items no longer appear.
Fixed a floating rock off the coast of Midrath.
Fixed Orengall getting stuck in odd locations after her finisher from the Feral Passive.
Fixed pixelated fog effects during the Juniper memory cutscene at Grandfa’s Hut.
Fixed VFX remaining for Agari after The Cogah ended.
Fixed missing Smite sound FX for some actions.
Fixed Journal VFX overlapping when replaying Memories of Warsongs.
Fixed an issue where clients were not receiving Memories of Warsongs drops in multiplayer.
Fixed The Torrent and The Durglint missing the duration timers in their descriptions.
Fixed The Durglint’s description to read: “For X seconds, Guarding fires Beams from your shield, dealing 100 damage and increasing damage dealt on next melee attack.”
Fixed an issue where equipped gear icons would not update in the Arsenal without re-opening the UI.
Fixed custom markers not disappearing when Envoys die.
Fixed instances of Envoys falling through Midrath after opening a Totem cage.
Fixed Midrath Map markers being visible while in underground areas.
Fixed Fort Curlail’s forfeit timer activating after reviving at a nearby shrine.
Fixed Fort Curlail’s Synsylk Ziplines appearing broken for clients.
Fixed the Weaver’s exposed Souls appearing detached from their body.
Fixed spectator mode not triggering in multiplayer when fighting the Wazzard of the Waste.
Fixed Smite SFX incorrectly being audible for other players in multiplayer.
Fixed placeholder text appearing in the party overlay during your first mission.
Fixed Ode Caster movements excessively backpedalling from the Envoy.
Fixed crowded popup menu spacing when using a controller.
Fixed a rare issue where starting gear was not properly issued to Envoy, blocking progression and causing visual issues.
Fixed a Cogah Elixir appearing at the Envoys’ feet when consumed.
Fixed “The Mighty Fell” UI displaying after defeating an Agari outside of The Cogah.
Fixed Kabocha not reacting after the Envoy uses Soulsteal against him.
Fixed the Shrine near the Knell Knight not allowing Envoys to respawn.
Fixed Smite offset for Etheldred the Weaver and her minions.
Fixed Spirit Guide Sparrow being stuck after picking up the Synsylk Grappler in the Siege of Fort Curlail.
Fixed new Envoys being unable to join a multiplayer session after the “Rise, Envoy” Fable until they relogged.
Fixed teleporting with Shrines in the Undercity after collecting the totem in the Torment Stag Fable halting progress.
Fixed a rare instance where Envoys would enter Verminia’s cave from The Brewer of Hues after finishing The Torment Stag.
Fixed being unable to write World Tree notes while replaying The Torment Stag.
Fixed the Wevetseed pot not appearing immediately in the Nightfold upon completion of The Waste Bear Fable.
Fixed Clients seeing a black screen if the Host skips the final cinematic for The Waste Bear Fable.
Fixed Verminia appearing randomly in Midrath if the Brewer of Hues Fable was completed in the same session that The Waste Bear Fable was started.
Fixed Torment Stag’s charge able to track Envoys using Sirin’s Glamour.
Fixed Bromius sometimes getting stuck during The Waste Bear boss fight after a host migration.
Fixed Clients appearing invisible to the Host after completing the visit to the Silvern Seas in The Waste Bear.
Fixed Clients having a broken animation in The Torment Stag’s cinematic prior to fighting Deora.
Fixed completing The Steelsinger while The Torment Stag was still active preventing Fable progress.
Fixed incorrect objective text during The Shewolf Snared Fable if Ode’n Moaner was active during the boss fight.
Fixed Tales not generating in dungeons if an Agari is present within.
Fixed blinded enemies still being able to block your attacks.
Fixed certain Mada lines playing before their intended timing during The Collector.
Fixed instances of enemies being alerted to your position despite hiding behind a wall or an obscuring object.
Fixed unalerted enemies being feared by Arcanics.
Fixed Clients appearing in The Steelsinger cinematic for the Host.
Fixed Clients appearing in The Brewer of Hues cinematic for the Host.
Fixed a functionality loss when Clients attempted to drink The Cogah Elixir while the Host also drinks it.
Fixed Clients being able to join a session after an Agari was already defeated by Host and still receive its loot.
Fixed Host not triggering Floppet phase of the boss fight if killed and thus halting progress during The Waste Bear.
Fixed Clients instantly reviving while in the Crypt of the Circade.
Fixed a script error when not initiated into an Enclave.
Fixed a functionality loss when revived from spectating a boss fight.
Fixed a script error due to The Cogah Elixir.
Fixed a script error when casting Phantom Flock.
Fixed a crash when receiving a party invite during Warsongs.
Fixed a crash when entering Undercity during a Tale.
Fixed a rare crash after joining another Envoy’s party.