We walk the fragile paths that join the world as one, that rest upon the valiant efforts of the past. On the shoulders of giants we cautiously tread.

In time, the path ahead shall end, as it already has to those who walked before us.

Then, none will walk. None will remain.
We will have been the last.

-----

this track is a medley of the first four contours of 'To Sleep, Dreaming', combined with the song's scrapped segments. i put it together to commemorate the launch of Deepwoken.

it's hard to believe it's been two years since the work on the project began. it has been a long and bumpy road, but we're finally here.

a sincere thank you goes out to the Deepwoken team for being the most talented and excellent team of people i've had the pleasure of working with.

and of course, my greatest gratitude goes to Raguza & Arch_Mage, for giving me an opportunity to develop and grow as an artist over these past 2 years. the Deepwoken Original Soundtrack is as much their labour as it is mine - for without their guidance, i would not be where i am today.

dear friends and comrades, i hope to continue working with all of you on future excellence, for as long as we shall! 🥂

On The Shoulders Of Giants

we dance a burning sarabande,
the steps of a farruca grand.
the air grows frosty, earth grows cold.
all follows now an ancient mould -
a wounded gasp, a blazing fight
within a world of dying light.

( - Naktigonis)

A Sarabande Of Thunder

mistakes can be beauty, as time comes to pass -
a flame can turn sand into pyres of glass.

( - Naktigonis)

Pyres Of Glass

"To reassert my rule, I sought out unscrupulous men skilled in the application of force. Tight-lipped and terrifying, these mercenaries brought with them a war machine of terrible implication."

( - The Ancestor, 'Ancestor's Memoirs: The Brigand Pounder', from the video game "Darkest Dungeon")
-----

"Blood and destruction shall be so in use
And dreadful objects so familiar
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quarter’d with the hands of war;
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds [...]."

( - William Shakespeare, "Julius Caesar", Act III, Scene I)

And Let Slip The Hounds Of War

"the moon grows brighter, sun grows dim,
but night is neither foul nor grim.
so lovely, in autùmnal shades,
them evening proudly masquerades
as dances it a sarabande."

( - Naktigonis, 'the plight of birds')
---

"And the lights, they come swirling,
On the walls they land, twirling.
Dancing nobly and calm,
They might rest on your palm
                 for a while.
[...]
As they waltz on the walls,
They embellish the halls -
My, what beautiful sights
To my eye bring these lights!"

( - Naktigonis, 'dim lights')

A Light In The Sky

"We climb higher. The reflected light off the sea still silvers the sky to our south. There are cheerily coloured beehives, ranged in rows in fields set back from the road. Wild-flower meadows, small vineyards.

We cross a wide pass between high peaks. Beech and pine have thickened in the lower ground, and I can smell resin in the cooler air. A sense of mountain communities and forest wilderness grows. The extent of the woods here makes a nonsense of human frontier lines. Beeches march over borders."

( - Robert Macfarlane, 'Underland')

-----

Album cover art by Hautdesert:
• https://ko-fi.com/siegeperilous
• https://twitter.com/Hautedeserte
• hautdesert on Discord

Blood And Thunder

WHEN THE DEPTHS OF SEA
COME ALIVE
IN A MOTION

STRONGLY SHAKES THE LAND
AND THE SKY
FROM THE OCEAN

WATERS BELOW
FOAM AND ROAR,
AND BELLOW.

WHAT SHALL WE DO
WITH OUR HEARTS
SO MELLOW?

FEEL NO DESPAIR,
MY FRIENDS!
TOMORROW,

DAY DAWNS ANEW!

---

then the ocean tide
arched and coursed
like a fountain,

swept across the land,
from the coasts
to the mountains.

little now remains
of the past,
torn asunder.

quiet is the world,
like the clouds
after thunder.

embers of flame
soaked and wet,
still glowing,

rest in our hearts
as we sail,
unknowing.

whether the flame
lives or dies
won't matter -

time marches on.
-----

Background visualiser art by Hautdesert:
• https://ko-fi.com/siegeperilous
• https://twitter.com/Hautedeserte
• hautdesert on Discord

A Memory Of Tides (Band Version)

Hail to the Tide!
Honoured by the sea,
Journey to the fathoms in bravery!

Us you will guide,
Bravest of the brave!
Even should the ocean become your grave!

May you return,
Victory in hand,
May you once again tread on steady land!

Glory you'll earn,
Echo shall your name
In the books of history, crowned in fame!

Onward, to the darkest chasms!
May you never falter,
And may your way be led by Song!

Onward, to the deepest fathoms!
May the light protect you,
May you return triumphant, strong!

------------

"The Song of Fathoms", colloquially also known as "Oscillation", is a popular tune well-known around Lumen. Despite this, it remains a musical piece surrounded by discussion and dispute. In spite of the fact that we know exactly how old the piece is, and who the original author is, certain events and clauses of history mean that we cannot reliably verify its true arrangement and original text.

[...] [F]ollowing the formalities, as the observers cheered on, the first expeditionary [Diver] force - 'The Pioneers', with Akarad at the fore -  descended the cave system and dived into its waters, following the path until they disappeared from sight. At their descent, a musical piece, then called "The Song of Fathoms", was performed by the Scholars' Orchestra of the Scholars of Markor. The piece itself was commissioned for the ceremony collectively by the High Convocation, and the performance was conducted by the Chambermaster of the orchestra, Ingrid Jura.
-----

Background visualiser art by Hautdesert:
• https://ko-fi.com/siegeperilous
• https://twitter.com/Hautedeserte
• hautdesert on Discord

The Song Of Fathoms (Band Version)

Deepwoken - Diluvian Mechanism remix

imagine what the world of Lumen might look like if the Ignition Union and the Summer Company put their differences aside and worked together.

i don't think anyone in all the Luminants could stand a chance. an endless procession of blades, and an unending storm of cannonades.

business would be *booming*, babeyyyyy.

---

anyway. no real context behind this track. my mind started wandering quite heavily while i was working on some other music, and i decided to try and sample a variety of my own tracks (WIPs and published stuff) to see what i could throw together, as a creative exercise. gotta get the creativity flowing somehow.

not going on the main account since this is just a sketch - aka, not a track meant to be completed.

for the curious, this contains 'The Killing Wind', 'And Let Slip The Hounds Of War', 'Games Of War', a guitar riff from the upcoming 'Shallow Breath', and two unreleased vocal pieces - 'Our Fortress (Of Smoke And Steel)', and 'The Hammer's Call'. i made the two vocal parts kinda sing in tandem with one another, or i suppose in a sort of call-and-response arrangement.

i like the juxtaposing contrast between the monolithic and many-voiced ignition union theme, ebbing and fading between its own phrases, and the more laid-back and focused summer company theme, singing in (mostly) full sentences. 'The Killing Wind' made for a nice bassy backdrop for this (+ it contains a fragment of 'The Hammer's Call' in and of itself), and the martial themes from the game just seemed to fit the piece's lowkey militaristic vibe.

i spent like... 2 hours hyperfocusing on this track. my bad all,

man. maybe i Do have ADHD.

-----------

-- TOGETHER, TALL! SHOULDER TO SHOULDER --
We're one for all, and all for one!
We serve no lord or king;
(-- ONWARD WE MARCH --)
These things bring us joy in life!
-- TOGETHER TALL --
Leave fire in our wake!
Smoke and steel,
(Hey!)
-- MIGHTY UNITED --
To fight and be wealthy is what we want!
-- LIKE NONE BEFORE.

Workers' Due (Sketch)

Messing with a crystal bell ... !

slanting sunlight rays
a warm hazy afternoon
the forest to hear

Marc Sheridan is an ever-curious person who loves what is just around the corner: the unusual and the mysterious. Even everyday objects and scenes can always be viewed differently.

He is English but currently living in the US, and he always remembers what Ansel Adams once said, "You don't take a photograph, you make it." Marc believes that photography rewards him with a greater connection to everything around him.

Lately, Marc has been writing haiku, but he's not sure whether he illustrates his photos with haiku or reveals his haiku through photography.

He has been published in numerous magazines in the US and the UK and has exhibited up and down the West Coast of the US for the past 23 years.

Haiku by Marc Sheridan: https://bsky.app/profile/northernvoodoo.bsky.social

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

more halF unusuaL

halF slantinG [naviarhaiku592]

i make music and suck at videogames 

currently working on the OST for Deepwoken, a Monad Studios game! B)

commissions currently closed! but i am happy to pass along any offers to fellow musicians.

any inquiries? contact me here, on Bluesky (@naktigonis.bsky.social), or via my business email, tenebrousgravelord@gmail.com

----------------------------------

i make my music entirely by ear, as i can hardly read notes. i originally made this profile to showcase my music to friends, but over time it developed into a more public showcase - therefore, feel free to browse!

enjoy the music while you're here - maybe you'll find something to your liking B)