The blade of power has been moved by the Rogue.
She has taken it to a lowly tavern, to the serving girl, Tasha.
They think they are acting for good, but they are sorely mistaken...
The Orb
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The Orb, also known as the Snowburned Ship Lantern and Snowbound Ship Lantern, is an NPC/object in Sea of Thieves. While its form is of an inanimate snowglobe lantern, the Orb is occupied by several sealed souls of unknown identities and origins that seemingly speak through it. It can be found in The Reaper's Hideout, currently serving as an oracle for the Reapers Bones.
Lore
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This article or section needs to be cleaned up to meet quality standards.
Please help improve this if you can. The Discussion page may contain suggestions.Reason: "Lore section requires trimming to closer follow the NPC's in-game lore perspective. Currently reads like the Twitch Stream article. "
Please help improve this if you can. The Discussion page may contain suggestions.Reason: "Lore section requires trimming to closer follow the NPC's in-game lore perspective. Currently reads like the Twitch Stream article. "
Creation
At an unknown point of time, The Orb was created, presumably by the ancients. Its seemingly only purpose was to seal away a group of individuals and what seems to be their ship. While not much is known about the occupants or why they have been sealed away, it is assumed that they lean towards more power-hungry attitudes, as they are currently serving as an oracle to the Reapers Bones.[1]
As the Snowbound Ship Lantern
At four points during the Festival of Giving Twitch Stream (2021), the Orb would be interrupted by the Shanty Who Shall Not Be Returning before fading into the Orb, transitioning to The Reaper's Hideout.
Each teaser is delivered by the voice of The Servant of the Flame in the form of a one-sided conversation with an unknown individual, assumed --except in the second teaser--to be Flameheart.
A King of Fire
The first of the Teasers appeared approximately 11 hours into the stream. While there's some debate over the source of the sounds preceding the Servant's dialogue, it is likely the hatch in the center of The Reaper's Hideout being lifted followed by the Servant's descent into the depths.
After fading back to the Orb in the tavern, Belle can be seen in the background warming her hands at the fire.
Meaning
Many lines in the teaser alluded to events in the coming content updates and adventures, especially those of Season Six. These events included Golden Sands Outpost becoming shrouded in the final weeks of Season Five, it's residents being imprisoned in Forts of the Forgotten, Flameheart's attempt to recruit Wanda's twin sister Wonda, and Belle, Legend of the Deep's appearance in-game. Additionally, the closing line confirmed a popular fan theory that The Servant of the Flame is none other than Flameheart Junior, Flameheart's son.
Memories Can be Powerful
Beginning around 30 hours and 23 minutes into the stream, flames around the tavern begin fading to a bright green. The teaser itself begins at approximately 30 hours and 26 minutes with similar sounds as before, with the sounds of what is assumed to be a hatch opening.
After fading back to the Orb in the tavern, a pair of Stonewall Imperial Sovereign Hats can be seen resting on a nearby table.
Meaning
This teaser is unique in that the Servant appears to be addressing someone other than Flameheart. We can assume based on the events that followed that the individual being addressed is someone in a position of power over the Spanish Navy, as this teaser would come to foreshadow the arrival of Spanish Sea Forts to the Sea of Thieves. Additionally, the intelligible Phantom dialogue used would later appear in the Legend of the Veil.
The Relic of the Ancients
Beginning around 39 hours and 54 minutes into the stream, flames around the tavern begin fading to a bright green. The teaser itself begins at approximately 39 hours and 58 minutes to the same sounds as before, this time followed by the sound of parchment being unfolded.
After fading back to the Orb in the tavern, the Veil of the Ancients and a Reaper's Chest can be seen resting on a nearby table.
Meaning
This teaser would foreshadow a number of events in the game's near future, including the opening of the Box of Wondrous Secrets to release the Soulflame Captains during Shrouded Islands, the discovery of the Veil of the Ancients in the belly of the Shrouded Ghost, Belle's raising of The Killer Whale, and the eventual resurrection of Captain Flameheart during Return of the Damned.
Pirates for all Eternity
Beginning around 51 hours and 52 minutes into the stream, flames around the tavern began fading to a bright green. The teaser itself begins at approximately 51 hours and 56 minutes to the same sounds as before, this time followed by the sound of a liquid being poured into a container and subsequently being consumed, then a clash of metal on metal.
After fading back to the Orb in the tavern, Skeleton Runes can be seen fading into the wood of the table: "Pirates for all Eternity".
Meaning
This teaser would foreshadow the Skeleton Curse and the Reaper's Lair introduced in Season Eight.
Becoming the Snowburned Ship Lantern
At certain points during the Festival of Giving Twitch Stream (2022), the Orb would be interrupted by The Servant of the Flame requesting knowledge from it, before displaying a vision from the eyes of a Reaper Parrot spy.
The Heist
Beginning approximately 45 minutes into the stream, after the Grand Switch-On, the stream switches to a familiar interior view of The Unicorn tavern, with Tasha working behind a festively decorated bar, and the Snowbound Ship Lantern resting on top of a table. The scene is calm for a short while until members of the Reaper's Bones, lead by The Servant of the Flame, attack and steal the lantern. The Orb's blue glow changes to a fierce red in The Servant of the Flame's hands, and the scene cuts to black.
Following this, several short scenes play out, following the lantern's journey in the Reapers' possession, with the lantern at the centre of view. First, a glimpse of the lantern - its Orb glowing blue once again - among treasure being hauled in a cart to be loaded on to a galleon, followed by a glimpse of the galleon being attacked and destroyed by a Kraken. The lantern is then shown submerged among the ship's debris as Reapers attempt to swim to safety. The lantern then appears washed ashore, its blue Orb begins to change to a glowing red, and its gold and red base changes to silver and green. A skeleton's hand grabs hold of it. The next glimpse of the lantern is on a rowboat approaching The Reaper's Hideout, then being lowered into the Reaper's Lair.
Finally the lantern is shown resting atop a table in the Reaper's Lair, transformed into the Snowburned Ship Lantern, with its Orb glowing a fierce red.
Who holds the key to the secrets of the Ancients?
Beginning approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes into the stream, The Servant of the Flame appears speaking to the Orb, asking it to share its secrets regarding who holds the key to the secrets of the Ancients.
A Reaper Parrot is seen gliding down to The North Star Seapost, spying upon a scene playing out. Sudds is holding a scroll reading "the mask it the map", with drawings depicting the night sky as well as Briggsy's mask. A pirate carries a crate containing Briggsy's mask with astronomy equipment. The pirate holds the mask up to their face, with The Servant of the Flame's voice-over suggesting that the red jewel the mask holds may show the wearer a star chart map.
When the shot returns to the Reaper's Lair, a red jewel now sits on a stone column to the back left.
What do the Guardians know of these dark constellations?
Beginning approximately 24 hours and 30 minutes into the stream, The Servant of the Flame appears speaking to the Orb, asking it to share its secrets regarding what the Guardians know of the dark constellations and what Belle knows of "the curse".
A Reaper Parrot is seen gliding down to the central pond on The Sunken Grove, spying upon a scene playing out. Belle jumps down into a pool of water, shortly meeting with an Ancient. The Servant of the Flame's voice-over speaks of how Belle has discovered the location of a temple with both a curse and cure. He goes on to speak of Trials of the Ancients, to prove one's self worthy of living on. The Servant speaks of how "the curse is a gift", and requests to know "why did you leave into the Sea of Tribute". Finally, he asks to know more regarding a "golden city".
When the shot returns to the Reaper's Lair, the Reaper on the right has been replaced with a ghostly version of human Briggsy.
What does the so-called Pirate Lord plot to do next?
Beginning approximately 28 hours and 15 minutes into the stream, The Servant of the Flame appears speaking to the Orb, asking it to share its secrets regarding the Pirate Lord's plans.
A Reaper Parrot is seen gliding down to the hold of the Magpie's Fortune on Old Sailor Isle, spying upon a scene playing out. The Pirate Lord watches a map to the Sea of Thieves with each of the three main Trading Company emblems, as well as Athena's Fortune's, depicted. In disagreement with the Pirate Lord, The Servant of the Flame's voice-over suggests weakness within the Trading Companies, as well as speaking of pirate "guilds" of which Ramsey hopes will "be enough". The dialogue is concluded with the words "a pirate's life for us".
When the shot returns to the Reaper's Lair, the Pirate Lord's cane now sits alongside a pre-existing Servants of the Flame styled dagger.
What of New Golden Sands? What else are they trying to accomplish?
Beginning approximately 45 hours and 30 minutes into the stream, The Servant of the Flame appears speaking to the Orb, asking it to share its secrets regarding plans for New Golden Sands Outpost. He claims that the Pirate Lord is becoming what he previously "sought to escape", before referring to New Golden Sands Outpost as "Port Merrick".
A Reaper Parrot is seen gliding down into The Captain's Head tavern at New Golden Sands Outpost, spying upon a scene playing out. A ghostly Merrick watches over Sharon and Cecil carrying out restoration work on the Outpost, as a rat with glowing green eyes twitches behind him. The Servant of the Flame's voice-over speaks of an "imposter" within the ranks of the Guardians of Fortune, and he wishes their legend to "rot within his prison".
When the shot returns to the Reaper's Lair, a rat with glowing green eyes now sits on a stone column to the back right.
So, an imposter waits until the time is right... but what do they seek?
Beginning approximately 48 hours into the stream, The Servant of the Flame appears speaking to the Orb, asking it to share its secrets regarding the intentions of an imposter within the ranks of the Guardians of Fortune.
A Reaper Parrot is seen gliding down over the Athena's Fortune Hideout, spying upon a scene playing out. A Bandit Ragamuffin cat is sitting on a table alongside Pendragon's Sword of Souls. The Servant of the Flame's voice-over suggests that it is the now "tainted" Burning Blade the impostor seeks. It is unclear whether this is referring to Flameheart's flagship, or the Sword of Souls shown. He goes on to speak of how this "blade" that the impostor is seeking is the only thing that can bring down the Pirate Lord.
When the shot returns to the Reaper's Lair, the Sword of Souls now sits in front of Flameheart's coffin to the left.
What is your name, Orb?
To conclude the stream, and beginning approximately 49 hours and 30 minutes in, The Servant of the Flame appears speaking to the Orb, thanking it for the many stated ways in which it has helped the Reaper's Bones.
As The Orb
At the last month of Season Ten, the Orb has resurfaced in the Reaper's Hideout, but starting halfway through Season Eleven, the Orb will tell teaser dialogue to anyone who consults the Orb.
Madame Olga's Cards
The first teaser the orb speaks is about Madame Olga and the Order of Souls, who now also use cards to foreshadow a future event coming in the Sea of Thieves. There are 5 cards on the table beside Madame Olga, and with each monthly update, a Skeleton Rune will be revealed on one card. Currently, the runes revealed are:
- Ressurection
- Below
- Dig
The Plan at Athena's Fortune
The second teaser the orb speaks is about the reacquaintance of Briggsy and Ramsey in the Athena's Fortune Hideout, along with Teddy's reunion with Louise. The Burning Blade's Figurehead has been moved from the construction site at Shipwreck Bay to the Reaper's Hideout. Speaking with Teddy, Briggsy, and Ramsey in the Athena's Fortune Hideout will offer players new lore on the story. Also, Briggsy, Teddy and Louise had poured their memories into the Burning Blade Cutlass as part of their plan to cure Tasha
Reaper Scouts at selected islands
After the Sea of Thieves 2024 Preview Event, a series of five teasers are spoken by the Orb. These teasers speak about leading to certain locations when following the Orb's clues starting at the Reaper's Hideout. Visiting these locations the Orb hints at will have a Reaper Scout perched somewhere on the island. The islands revealed by these location teasers are:
Tasha being Cured
The Orb then speaks that the Burning Blade Cutlass has been moved to The Unicorn Tavern at Ancient Spire Outpost. Tasha is slowly being cured of her skeleton curse thanks to a shackled Burning Blade cutlass, along with Teddy and Louise now fully reunited in the Athena's Fortune Tavern.
Dialogue
Agents! Go and seek the last place we recall. Do not waste time, do not stumble or fall.
Heading north-east past the isle uncharted, and Outpost, then find one from sight parted.
Hidden dark danger, winged creature of fear. Death lies deep down so tread carefully here.
There is yet another isle, our memories are weak: it completes the circle but we continue to seek.
Fly, spy! When the timepiece shows midday, soar past Hidden Spring Keep, head that way,
Does your heart burn with desire's red glow? Then for a long flight I order you to go.
Pass Runner of Rum and our Master's fort. Make landfall at small isle, but don't get caught!
This cunning one makes our memories weep. Spy on the surface for what is hidden deep.
Find an island that suits us more than most. Represents the widow who made the prince a ghost!
Point yourself east-northeast and fly! Past old Arena dogs who mourn and cry.
See from the air a blue shine on the sea, but pass that, too, and also the twin peaks,
Until the next retreat - though small - is last. Land! Seek a site that digs down to the past.
A second target, agent, you must find. This one's for a foolish father in a bind.
This fool tried to help when his son fell foul. Ironic he's depicted as an owl.
Head west past Wanderers Refuge. Go now! A circle in the sea lies west, we vow.
Then cease your flight and stay upon its shores. We order you to seek our buried cause.
We seek a resting place that's buried under soil. A location dedicated to an insect royal.
Wing your way south-east, spy, and do not stay! Pass by land that's named as castaway.
Flying yet more through the fog that's tinged in green, a tiny Cay your destination glean.
Alight for the first of five we bestow. Soon you'll seek thee out that which lies below.
The Orb has seen a partnership rekindled and a weapon more that in steems. Their destinies linked.
Phantom parents separated for a lifetime are rejoined in Athena's Tavern.
The masked Rogue and the so-called Pirate Lord conspire to do their sickly good deeds.
They have the blade that was taken from the hidden vault now long-departed.
The witches who toy with our Ancient enchantments are forced to stray from their limited approach.
The one called Olga meddles with fortune-telling powers she does not truly comprehend.
And while this Order of interlopers adapts to our Master's return, we must also undergo transformation to serve him best...
We give you warning. Soon, our Master's plans will be unveiled. Soon, his spies will be at large...
Knowledge is our treasure. We reveal it only to our Master...
Gallery
The Orb, as seen in The Reaper's Hideout since December 2023
Trivia
- The nickname "The Orb" was given to the original Snowbound Ship Lantern by the community.
- This term was officially used ingame when The Orb was introduced as an object to interact with at The Reaper's Hideout in December 2023.
Patch history
- 2.10.0 (January 23, 2024)
- Dialogue text has been updated.
- 2.9.2 (December 7, 2023)
- Introduced.