The world is a wasteland of failures past, and yet you must ride out into it, unafraid. Take this - it is Hope. The very last of it. It is yours now.

You were bold once. Be bold once more.

- Darkest Dungeon II

So there still is some tiny bit of hope?

Actually, yes. There's a tiny bit of hope, but it's still absolutely not a sure thing, so please don't get your hopes up definitively and don't pressure the brave souls behind it. But yes. After I told our mods about the shutdown, some of them quickly made it their mission to rebuild Belletristica from scratch. Naturally smaller and a bit different, especially at the beginning, but following the same ideals and our basic vision at heart. And without making promises, I must say the level of commitment and professionalism with which this is being approached gives me hope.

Are they allowed to do that?

Yes. If it works and of course under some conditions and demands from our side (Belletristica must remain free, etc., the usual), about which I have no concerns that there could be any contention, then the project has our full support and nothing stands in its way from our side. If it actually succeeds, I am more than willing to transfer the domain and everything necessary.

I strongly advised against this venture. I still do, because I know how demanding and uncertain the path is. But at the same time, I believe they are crazy and committed enough to actually make it work and know that they have truly internalized the spirit of the platform and carry it in their hearts. And despite all warnings against it, I, of course, can't say that it wouldn't be extraordinarily heart warming to me if Belletristica actually continues to live on in a new form.

I am more than happy to offer advice and assistance, and when the time comes, Sebi and I are also willing to help as much as we can, even building interfaces to transfer old data from the current database. Just like when we transitioned from Belletristica 1.4 to 2.0.

Does this mean my data and books will be simply handed over to a new project with different operators?

No, absolutely not. This would definitely be done only as opt-in only, for data protection reasons. We'd need to devise a convenient way to migrate that still leaves control with you. My proposal is that we (current Belletristica) provide an API interface through which all of a user's data can be transferred to the new platform, but this would also require login details. This means you would have to log in on the old or new platform and choose "yes, import all my old data". It would still be super easy for end-users, but voluntary and opt-in. We can't offer it any other way, much as I personally trust the people behind the project.

By when does the project need to be operational so that the old data can still be transferred?

Please don't stress about this. Storage is cheap, and we'll keep your hats and gems safe for a long time. Your stuff is secured. Apart from that, the database needs to be preserved at our end for at least a few more years anyway, as we want to enable the download of your own books even after the shutdown.

Will there be [insert anything] in the new Belletristica?

I really can't say anything about that; you'll need to talk to the people behind it.

Where can I read more about it?

Shattered Throne Group: https://belletristica.com/de/groups/2565-infopoint-belletristica-shattered-throne-english#group

Shattered Throne FAQ: https://belletristica.com/de/books/64492-faq-shattered-throne-english-version/chapter/376060-overview-of-questions

Shattered Throne...?

Yes, in the past, that was indeed the name of a "planned" update by Takaro in case I'd no longer with us some misfortunate day. It involved hiding shards of the tourmaline throne behind incredibly difficult challenges requiring admin-like qualities, and whoever first managed to collect them all, like Dragonballs, would become the new Lord. Of course, it was never implemented, and I'm still alive at the time of this writing, so it was never more than a running gag by Takaro (albeit a serious one, if you ask her). If you find that macabre, remember that fairies have different sensitivities, sentences that might seem horrible to us, like "I'll dance on your grave" are sincerely meant as an affectionate and heartfelt positive statement. Cultural differences, after all.

But, I'm still alive, yet the metaphor of the shattered throne, whose shards may now become the seals of the High Council of the next era, fits in very well here.

So, does this mean Admin Ben dies in the lore/story of the kingdom?

Yes, I suppose so. Probably in a Gandalf-like manner, meaning a much more private Ben will appear, less Dark Lordy.

Is the project looking for people, or can I support it somehow?

Yes, I believe so. [Insert link or contact details]

How do you rate the chances of the project amounting to something?

If something like this project, run as a hobby and built out of passion, really becomes something serious, then that would be an absolute affront to every properly established probability calculation. But on the other hand, that was also the exact same case with us. And yet from that, a very beautiful place emerged for quite a while. Maybe the new team will even manage a double statistical affront and not only build such a place but also never let it decline.

Will the fairies also be on the new Belletristica?

No, I'm afraid not. The pact is dissolved, and the fairies will flutter away along different paths. Maybe they'll flit through as guests someday, but I think it's very unlikely they'll enter a similar pact anytime soon. Except for Takaro probably. Our paths seem to be intertwined for a while longer.

Would you (Ben) be on the new Belletristica?

Yes, definitely. Not as an admin, dev, or even mod. Just as a user, in a sense, retired. Depending on how open-source the project ends up being, I can imagine occasionally crafting something small and I definitely am willing to help with lore and game design. There's even some never-implemented, incomplete material for new events and features that I'd be happy to pass on in the future.

What final advice would you give for a new edition?

None, because I'm still here anyway, and we see each other daily. Ask me anything; I'm more than happy to help with this endeavor.