The Game

Underlight: Shades of Truth is a graphical MMORPG that is unique in the genre, in that it provides a true roleplaying-enforced environment for players to explore, and is available to the public completely free of charge. The entire world is run by you, the player. Create living stories as other players seek to become part of your tale, and you, theirs. Experience the player controlled advancement system and possibly even the true death of your character! You choose your destiny and possibly the fates of many others. We await you in the City of Dreams!

The Premise

Underlight is a dreamworld where the very fabrics of reality are built by the power of your thoughts. Imagine a land where anything is possible, restricted only by the limits of your imagination. Meet exciting living characters just like you, as they struggle to balance themselves in a city filled with forbidden knowledge and untold power! Strengthen yourself with an understanding of tales of the past as you create the city's future history that others will study just the same. Experience the political intrigue of a city where people grow powerful through Arts, Spheres, and by gaining dominion over the Great Houses.

Guides

If you are new to Shades of Truth, you may find these materials useful in getting to know the Underlight gaming universe:

• The Parable of the Hall of Doors
  An introduction to what there is to do in the dream, and the many avenues of advancement available to your character.

• The Four Focuses
  A description of the four focuses, or "paths," available to you in the game. You will have to choose a focus when you create your character, and that decision is irreversible, so choose wisely.

• Journal of the Unknown Chronicler
  These journal entries articulate the story spanning the period between v1 and v2 of Shades of Truth. (forum registration required)

• Official Rules and Game Policies
  These are the official rules and game policies, set forth by the Shades of Truth GM team. You are expected to be familiar with these rules and follow them at all times while in the game.

The Team

Underlight: Shades of Truth is operated by a staff of all-volunteer Game Masters, under a license from Lyra Studios, LLC . The game is based on the original Underlight, which was created and operated by Lyra Studios from 1998 to the end of 2006. When the game went offline, a group of dedicated players purchased a license to the client and server software, and eventually re-launched the game as Underlight: Shades of Truth, which had its initial run from October 2007 to April 2008. This is the second incarnation of Shades of Truth ("v2"). It officially launched on June 28, 2008, at noon EDT.

In the spirit of keeping Underlight alive for players who have fallen in love with it over an entire decade of gameplay, and for those who have yet to discover the magic that awaits them in the City of Dreams, the Shades of Truth GM team provides both the software and gameplay to the public free of charge.