Ode

The Ode are the invading force occupying Midrath. They seek to pollute Alca and steal its resources for themselves.

For the Weapon Origin, see Ode'n Weapons.

The Ode are a Character and Enemy affiliation in Soulframe. Below you will learn more of Ode'n culture, as well as a list of every known Ode in Soulframe.

Descending from the stars, the Ode used the Spellsong to subjugate the Dendrit people, turning foes to unwilling allies. They have set to plundering all they can from Alca in the name of their ruler,

.

The Ode use their own written script, known as Silistyl, but can be heard speaking in the player's own tongue.

The Ode are technologically advanced alien invaders who arrived from beyond the skies.^[1][2] As a space-faring culture, the Ode often use stars as forges, artificially creating unique minerals and materials.^[3] They appear to worship celestial or astronomical sources as Deities, including star constellations such as

or

.

For a full list of Ode'n deities, see Silistyl - Deities.

They have descended to conquer the world below, stripping Alca of her flesh and conscripting all of Midrath’s inhabitants. The Ode often reside within great floating Skytowers, whose low-pressure atmospheres are open to the harsh UV rays of the binary suns. Human inhabitants must wear heavy brass masks, such as the

Brazen Lung

, to breathe tolerably.

• 
  The Torque Inquisitor reads from Ode'n scripture as she looks out towards a Skytower. Collectors hover in the distance.
• 
  Ode'n Collector ships docked at an Ode'n Skytower.

To secure their occupation of a region, the Ode will often appoint a Regent - not Sinecure nor Tempest, Gruul nor Thrall, the Regent treads a balance betwixt them all. Regents are high-ranking spellsung pawns that act as overseers of their assigned region. Synod's Regent on Midrath is the Dendrit Knightmaiden

, until the Envoy frees her of the Spellsong's grasp during The Torment Stag.

Ode'n forces aim to forcibly overtake any fortifications they come across, such as Fort Curlail on the isle of Midrath. Upon doing so, they will bury its historical architecture beneath outer walls of reinforced Ode'n alloys, and display Ode iconography in order to solidify their stake in this freshly claimed land. Such locations must be beseiged by player Envoys in order to retake them.

In order to quell any thought of rebellion, the Ode will erase the Histories of a conquered land, just as they have done with Midrath - even going so far as to burn the Feybles of Othavess, and the great archive of the Order of the Pensives.^[4]

• 
  The Ode presence is made known by vast walls constructed across Midrath.
• 
  Concept art for an Ode'n Siege fortification.
• 
  Concept art for a Midrathian fortification which has been occupied by Ode'n forces.

The rank of Lord is the highest known position in Ode'n society.

Lord Synod is the High Sovereign of the Ode, leading his armies on a conquest across Alca. He desires to capture the Omen Beasts for his own cause, and aims to burn all traces of history from Midrath - taking anything of value as tribute.

See Lord Synod for more information.

The Inquisitors hold high-ranking, specialised judicial positions within the Ode'n hierarchy. They seem to act within their own autonomous capacity, tasked with securing and rooting out threats to the ongoing occupation of Alca.

An Ode'n Inquisitor who appears in the opening of Soulframe. It is she who sends the Envoy back down to Alca's surface.

See Torque Inquisitor for more information.

A bored Inquisitor of Lord Synod who oversees the collection of earthling resources. Takes pleasure in seeing the Envoy attempt to thwart her plans, but the mood is short lived.

See Mada for more information.

The Medis are a high-ranking class of Ode'n inventors and engineers, whose twisted creations allow them to harness technological advancements for the benefit of Ode'n expansion across new planets.

A sickly Ode surgeon, who watches from the skies above Midrath. A plague doctor of the stars, overseeing his poisonous work: the towering polluters known as the Organs.

See Medis Gyon for more information.

An Ode'n Medis, responsible for the design of the helms and filters used by Ode individuals to breathe Alcan air, otherwise toxic to their alien Biology.

See Medis Haltik for more information.

An Ode'n Medis, responsible for the design of the Ode'n Moaners that pump Ichor into the waterways of Alca.

See Medis Sangal for more information.

The Castellans are Sinecure Officers in charge of overseeing occupied forts.

The acting Castellan of Fort Kearnhold, this greatsword-wielding Sinecure warrior is loyal to the Ode'n ways and clad in plate of gold. Though some whisper that he may fear the flame...

See Castellan Malrog for more information.

The acting Castellan of Fort Curlail, this bow-wielding Sinecure trickster is loyal to the Ode'n ways and outwits Envoys with devious teleportation and ranged attacks.

See Castellan Huthra for more information.

The Bannerets are battlefield commanders, each of whom oversee a squadron or platoon of Sinecure.

A powerful Sinecure Officer wielding a mace and high-damage flame attacks. Guards the rear entrance to Fort Kearnhold.

See Banneret for more information.

A powerful Sinecure Officer wielding a Veilk poleaxe which can send out Voltaic energy projectiles. Guards the bridge to Fort Curlail.

See Banneret for more information.

A powerful Sinecure Officer wielding a Veilk poleaxe. Pilots a Bisulcam in the final encounter of The Shewolf Snared.

See Banneret for more information.

A powerful Sinecure Officer wielding an oversized club. Defends the entrance to an Ode'n Organ.

See Banneret for more information.

A powerful Sinecure Officer wielding a mace and high-damage flame attacks. Guards the inner bailey of Fort Kearnhold.

See Banneret for more information.

All known Sinecure are humanoid, but it is not officially known whether the Sinecure are human, Ode, or even another species conscripted into Ode'n service on their conquest across the stars. Certain Sinecure, such as

or

, have visible 'human' faces - and the

have bare hands with visibly human skin tones.

Despite this, the Sinecure are said to suffer Smogswell, and can be heard complaining about the heat of Alca's twin suns.^[5]

The collection of weaponry used by the Sinecure is known as the Armamentarium^[6], and Ode'n blademakers take pleasure in the mocking recreation of 'primitive' technology used by the people they conquer. One example of this is the Bow, which was recreated in Ode'n fashion via the

Blitzel

.

Sinecure carry

Sinecula

, described as a 'personal insignia'.

• The term Sinecure refers to 'a position with a salary or otherwise generating income that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service'; perhaps implying that the role of Sinecure is perceived as an easy way to acquire personal wealth within Ode'n society.

• The original concept reveal for the Sinecure was captioned "Hunters of Omen Beasts, Enforcers of Ode decree… The Sinecure."

• Sinecula used to be engraved with the face of Mora, the Goddess of Alca's red primary sun. It is assumed this was only a placeholder asset.

• 
  Concept art of a Sinecure Assassin, titled "Sinecure".
• 
  3D model of a regular Sinecure Soldier.
• 
  3D model of a Sinecure Mace Knight.

Ichor

is the basis of all Ode'n life, and must be added to the water and air for the Ode to drink or breathe it.

In this pursuit, Midrath has been subject to Terraforming by the Ode - to such an extent that its very climate has been altered, as the Ode'n Weatherers have warmed Midrath's atmosphere beyond any chance of snow.^[7]

But the Ichor seems to have darkly transformative properties, turning any creature unfortunate enough to be exposed to it into a twisted, Corrupted mockery of their former selves. It can also affect long-dead beings, causing them to rise once more as undead Mendicant.

Due to living in the thin, low-pressure atmospheres of the Skytowers and frequently travelling between varying atmospheres, the Ode are vulnerable to a unique affliction called Smogswell: the legs and feet of Ode'n legions will often swell up and bruise on long patrols under the heavy Alcan atmosphere.^[8] One possible prevention of Smogswell is for conscripts to bind their legs within tightly-wrapped straps of elk-hide. Though effective, the remedy is notoriously uncomfortable.^[9]

The Ode inhabit colossal floating structures called Skytowers, also rarely referred to as Skycastles. These suspended fortifications house Ode'n Collectors, a type of ship used by Ode'n forces to harvest the resources of Alca and its people.

The low-pressure atmospheres of the Skytowers are open to the harsh UV rays of the binary suns. Human inhabitants must also wear heavy brass masks, such as the

Brazen Lung

, to breathe tolerably.

Ode'n Skytowers have been known to crash to Alca's surface, seen in the case of the Fallen Skytower on the northern coast of Midrath; as well as the fallen structures found at Stroaic and New Viscii. It is unknown if these incidents are due to technical faults with the Skytowers, damage sustained during the forceful occupation of Midrath, or even intentional abandonment once a Skytower has served its purpose; leaving it to fall to the surface rather than salvaging what purpose it may yet serve.

• 
  Inquisitor Mada's Collector hangs in the skies above Midrath.
• 
  An Ode'n Skytower, suspended in the clouds above Midrath.
• 
  An Ode'n Skytower at night, darkening the skies above Midrath.

The Ode harness Voltaic energy in much of their tools and weaponry; lightning-based technology capable of being directed as a projectile, or even creating barriers as in the case of the

.

Mechanical

are installed to regurgitate ichor into Midrath's waterways. Where this ichor coalesces, it can also harden and petrify into

Petrified Ichor

- sharp, coral-like growths that coat everything nearby. The Ode also utilise

to terraform the air within a small radius, rendering it breathable for the Ode, but hazardous to anything Alca-born.

Oppressive black towers known as Organs have been erected across Midrath's wilds, extracting resources from Alca's flesh and expelling ichor at their base through large systems of pipework.

• 
  An Ode'n Moaner, expelling Ichor into one of Midrath's rivers. Ichor also seems to bubble up from the surface beneath it.
• 
  An Ode'n Organ.
• 
  An Ode'n Shredder.

Ode'n deforestation operations are expedited by vast woodchippers named Shredders, fitted with pulp sacks at the rear. The large golden faceplate at the front of the woodchipper follows the player's camera, making it the only element in Soulframe to currently display this behavior.

Attempting to enter the woodchipper will be lethal to the Envoy - though Kicking Foes into the woodchipper will lead to a swift death for them, too.

• Even bosses, including Agari, will be killed by a Shredder.

• The Envoy does not need to touch the Shredder to be killed by it - edging slowly closer towards it will kill the Envoy once they are approximately one foot away from the rollers.

Table of Ode'n Characters

Baliq

Banneret Anara

Banneret Kylst

Banneret Styne

Banneret Sympos

Banneret Toshtan

Bisulcam

Castellan Huthra

Castellan Malrog

Conductor Benisun

Conductor Hydor

Discharged Nimrod

Elite Ode'n Starcaster

Fore-Feller Hewyl

Gruul Seeker Ruthos

Gruul Seeker Sontaro

Gruulseeker Selvins

Heavy Torch Soldier

Houndmeister Solkan

Lady Deora

Lord Synod

Mada

Medis Gyon

Medis Haltik

Medis Sangal

Messenger

Messenger (Siege)

Nimrod

Ode'n Bisulcam

Ode'n Caelam

Ode'n Conductor

Ode'n Starcaster

Ode'n Wardog

Sinecure Elite Scout

Sinecure Elite Soldier

Sinecure Elite Soldier (Axe)

Sinecure Elite Soldier (Dual Axes)

Sinecure Elite Soldier (Mace)

Sinecure Elite Soldier (Shield)

Sinecure Elite Soldier (Vasp-IV)

Sinecure Gruulseeker

Sinecure Knight (Axe)

Sinecure Knight (Mace)

Sinecure Knight (Shield)

No Image

Sinecure Knight (Siege)

Sinecure Knight (Sword)

Sinecure Officer

Sinecure Scout

File:SinecureScoutGrinn.png

Sinecure Scout (Grinn)

Sinecure Soldier

Sinecure Soldier (Dual Axes)

Sinecure Soldier (Shield)

No Image

Sinecure Soldier (Siege)

Sinecure Soldier (Unsula)

Sinecure Soldier (Vasp-IV)

Sinecure-errant Gawth

Sinecure-errant Vella

Tempest Bayor

Torch-bearer Sinecure Soldier

Torque Inquisitor

Undercover Gruulseeker (Bow)

Undercover Gruulseeker (Dagger)

The following section contains concept art for upcoming Ode enemies and set pieces.

• 
  Concept art for an upcoming Sinecure enemy type.
• 
  Concept art for an upcoming Sinecure enemy type.
• 
  Concept art for an upcoming Sinecure enemy type.
• 
  Concept art for an Ode'n Oiljack.
• 
  Concept art for more Ode'n Siege Gates; it is not yet known whether these will be part of the walls across Midrath, or part of Siege content.