Story Journal/Janthir Wilds
The Story Journal entries for Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds serve as an effective story summary from the point of view of the Pact Commander, and are transcribed here.
Janthir Wilds: Act 1
- 1337
Prologue: The Tyrian Alliance
Asura
Councillor Ludo invited me to meet with her in Rata Sum—what the heck did the old schlubs on the council want? Thought things were going to quiet down after Nayos, but that was pretty naïve of me.
***
While I was busy helping Zojja and the others in Amnytas, the rest of Tyria didn't slow down. It never does, and it probably never will; we're just too stubborn. But some of Eparch's loyalists slipped right past the Astral Ward's defenses and attacked some of the Tyrian cities. Nothing too catastrophic from what I've gathered so far, but the Kryptis certainly didn't go unnoticed like we'd hoped they would. They didn't know what the Kryptis were or what they wanted, but their presence rattled the rest of Tyria enough that action was taken. Or at least, the table was laid. Ludo handed me my official invitation to the Tyrian Alliance.
Leaders started talking to other leaders—plans were put into motion. I don't know all the details yet, but it seems to be a pretty admirable cause, if not a little optimistic. After everything we've endured, I guess the world finally decided to grieve together. Elder Dragons be damned; no one's going to let a couple demons take them out.
The alliance's first summit is imminent, and even if a part of me is borderline skeptical of what this all means, I guess I'm headed to Lion's Arch to make my own assessment.
Charr (Ash Legion)
Imperator Malice asked me to meet her in the Black Citadel. Thought things were going to quiet down after Nayos. Joke's on me.
***
While I was busy helping Zojja and the others in Amnytas, the rest of Tyria didn't slow down. It never does, and it probably never will; we're too stubborn. But some of Eparch's loyalists slipped right past the Astral Ward's defensives and attacked some of the Tyrian cities. Nothing too catastrophic from what I've gathered so far, but the Kryptis didn't go unnoticed like we'd hoped they would. They didn't know what the Kryptis were or what they wanted, but their presence rattled the rest of Tyria enough that action was taken. Or at least, the table was laid. Malice handed me my official invitation to the "Tyrian Alliance."
Leaders started talking to other leaders—plans were put into motion. I don't know all the details yet but it seems to be a pretty admirable cause, if not a little optimistic. After everything we've endured, I guess the world finally decided to grieve together. Elder Dragons be damned, no one's going to let a couple demons take them out.
The alliance's first summit is imminent, and even if a part of me is borderline skeptical of what this all means, I guess I'm headed to Lion's Arch to make my own call.
Crecia summoned me to the Black Citadel. Thought things were going to quiet down after Nayos. Joke's on me.
***
While I was busy helping Zojja and the others in Amnytas, the rest of Tyria didn't slow down. It never does, and it probably never will; we're too stubborn. But some of Eparch's loyalists slipped right past the Astral Ward's defenses and attacked some of the Tyrian cities. Nothing too catastrophic from what I've gathered so far, but the Kryptis didn't go unnoticed like we'd hoped they would. They didn't know what the Kryptis were or what they wanted, but their presence rattled the rest of Tyria enough that action was taken. Or at least, the table was laid. Crecia handed me my official invitation to the Tyrian Alliance.
Leaders started talking to other leaders—plans were put into motion. I don't know all the details yet, but it seems to be a pretty admirable cause, if not a little optimistic. After everything we've endured, I guess the world finally decided to grieve together. Elder Dragons be damned; no one's going to let a couple demons take them out.
The alliance's first summit is imminent, and even if a part of me is borderline skeptical of what this all means, I guess I'm headed to Lion's Arch to make my own call.
Human
Queen Jennah summoned me to Divinity's Reach to meet with her and Countess Anise. Thought things were going to quiet down after Nayos. Wishful thinking on my part?
***
The queen was occupied when I arrived, so I was directed to meet with Anise instead. While I was busy helping Zojja and the others in Amnytas, the rest of Tyria didn't slow down. It never does, and it probably never will; we're just too stubborn. But some of Eparch's loyalists slipped right past the Astral Ward's defenses and attacked some of the Tyrian cities. Nothing too catastrophic from what I've gathered so far, but the Kryptis certainly didn't go unnoticed like we'd hoped they would. They didn't know what the Kryptis were or what they wanted, but their presence rattled the rest of Tyria enough that action was taken. Or at least, the table was laid. Anise handed me my official invitation to the Tyrian Alliance.
Leaders started talking to other leaders—plans were put into motion. I don't know all the details yet, but it seems to be a pretty admirable cause, if not a little optimistic. After everything we've endured, I guess the world finally decided to grieve together. Elder Dragons be damned; no one's going to let a couple demons take them out.
The alliance's first summit is imminent, and even if a part of me is borderline skeptical of what this all means, I guess I'm headed to Lion's Arch to make my own assessment.
Norn
Skarti Knutsson called me to Hoelbrak on behalf of his father. Thought things were going to quiet down after Nayos. The after-party was cut short.
***
While I was busy helping Zojja and the others in Amnytas, the rest of Tyria didn't slow down. It never does, and it probably never will; we're too stubborn. But some of Eparch's loyalists slipped right past the Astral Ward's defenses and attacked some of the Tyrian cities. Nothing too catastrophic from what I've gathered so far, but the Kryptis didn't go unnoticed like we'd hoped they would. They didn't know what the Kryptis were or what they wanted, but their presence rattled the rest of Tyria enough that action was taken. Or at least, the table was laid. Skarti handed me my official invitation to the Tyrian Alliance.
Leaders started talking to other leaders—plans were put into motion. I don't know all the details yet, but it seems to be a pretty admirable cause, if not a little optimistic. After everything we've endured, I guess the world finally decided to grieve together. Elder Dragons be damned; no one's going to let a couple demons take them out.
The alliance's first summit is imminent, and even if a part of me is borderline skeptical of what this all means, I guess I'm headed to Lion's Arch to make my own call.
Sylvari
Firstborn Dagonet beckoned me home to the Grove. Thought things were going to quiet down after Nayos. I suppose that was optimistic.
***
While I was busy helping Zojja and the others in Amnytas, the rest of Tyria didn't slow down. It never does, and it probably never will; we're just too stubborn. But some of Eparch's loyalists slipped right past the Astral Ward's defenses and attacked some of the Tyrian cities. Nothing too catastrophic from what I've gathered so far, but the Kryptis certainly didn't go unnoticed like we'd hoped they would. They didn't know what the Kryptis were or what they wanted, but their presence rattled the rest of Tyria enough that action was taken. Or at least, the table was laid. Dagonet handed me my official invitation to the Tyrian Alliance.
Leaders started talking to other leaders—plans were put into motion. I don't know all the details yet, but it seems to be a pretty admirable cause, if not a little optimistic. After everything we've endured, I guess the world finally decided to grieve together. Elder Dragons be damned; no one's going to let a couple demons take them out.
The alliance's first summit is imminent, and even if a part of me is borderline skeptical of what this all means, I guess I'm headed to Lion's Arch to make my own assessment.
***
The alliance's first summit was held at the Guild Initiative Headquarters. Malice and Countess Anise were lingering by the door, half-drowned by the overwhelmingly bureaucratic atmosphere. Well, Malice was as restless as a charr cub before a training fight. The countess, on the other hand, was completely in her element. Surrounded by big names and probably a little too excited to drop everything and defend Queen Jennah, should a dagger be thrown (a real one, not political vituperation). Think I'm with Malice on that one.
Before things got started, Anise encouraged me to mingle with the other guests. I made my way around. Outside of war preparations, I haven't seen anyone angle for diplomacy quite like this since the world summit—and that ended with a dragon attack. While I need to maintain a degree of caution, I must admit: this effort is impressive. While the current delegation only represents a mere footprint on the globe, we're looking at representation from across Cantha, Elona, Maguuma, Kryta, and Ascalon. The Dominion of Winds even sent a messenger to take notes. I'm sure there's all sorts of opposition for a congregation like this, but seeing us figure it out...it feels like the right time to try.
When things finally got started, the mood settled into something tense and unspoken. The Kryptis are what brought us together, after all, and given the uncertainty around those circumstances, I can't blame anyone for being rigid. Skarti and Dagonet spoke about healing in Hoelbrak and the Grove—the lasting effects of Mordremoth, Jormag, and Primordus on the sylvari and norn. Ludo talked about dragging Rata Sum into the global conversation. Crecia updated us about Bangar's trial and the rising call for a new Khan-Ur. Empress Ihn, on Cantha's integration. Not only did the world refuse to cease, they actually made some decent progress.
Queen Jennah went last. She spoke of our mutual suffering under the claws of the Elder Dragons and how that suffering led us closer to peace with the formation of the alliance. She then pivoted to the demon attacks themselves, those being the very catalyst that finally set things into motion—Skarti, Dagonet, and Ludo chimed in with details about the attacks that their cities endured. All of it was so much worse than I imagined. Jennah expressed her remorse, affirming that no casualty should be accepted. And then... Well, I was not wrong to brace myself. Jennah revealed the name of the Kryptis, and while the room was animated with fear and confusion, Isgarren appeared in the most grandiose gesture the old man could muster. The Astral Ward, for better or worse, was revealed to the rest of Tyria.
Frode entered shortly thereafter, a bit irritated with the wizard's grand theatrics. When things refused to settle, I volunteered to speak with the other delegates and attempt to calm them down. Crecia, exhausted with the whole performance, agreed. As I navigated the room, the delegates' reactions to Isgarren spanned from cautious to irate. They have a lot of questions. Why now? Why didn't they help sooner? I'd like to hear Isgarren answer a few of these myself...
Once everyone's blood settled, the summit reconvened. Isgarren and Frode—but mostly Frode—attempted to field the group's questions and offer empathy for their understandable dismay. They explained that the Kryptis have been taken care of, minus a few bad eggs that might slip through from time to time. They were careful in skirting around some of the grittier details. Probably for the best, though; I'm not sure how palatable Peitha would be to the rest of the council. Or the fact that we helped a demon king claim her crown.
Isgarren warned that the Kryptis are an omen and that we're looking at a very different world following the death of Soo-Won. The veil between Tyria and the Mists has never been thinner, and we need to be prepared for whatever comes next. We are, as I've been told multiple times, blood in water. Queen Jennah suggested that everyone take a moment to reflect and maybe meet in smaller councils to discuss the events of the day and focus on the path forward. Isgarren offered to speak with everyone individually as well, so he could try to answer whatever questions they might have. Tension, though still present, fizzled down a bit.
When the group split, Crecia called me to the fireplace where she, Queen Jennah, Dagonet, Isgarren, and their escorts were lingering. Dagonet immediately tossed the conversation into the queen's court: How did she know about all of this? Anise, of course, was behind the introduction—I'll remember to dig at that later. Isgarren reiterated the discussion with the larger group, cautioning that all nations should be prepared for any additional Mistborn threats. The Kryptis were one of many, and anything that may have steered clear of Tyria when the Elder Dragons held monopoly would be far less afraid to take another look now. Despite my faith in her, Aurene alone just isn't as threatening as the whole pantheon of Elder Dragons were.
They suggested that we prepare. Collect allies and make friends. That was something they could all agree on. As an olive branch, Frode extended some information about the lowland kodan—a secluded colony of kodan living near the border of Kryta and Janthir. Queen Jennah had only heard of them, noting that her father may have been in contact prior. But in a time where allies are gold, a strategic lead is still a lead, and Jennah agreed that reaching out to them could be productive for the alliance, given the state of things. Frode suggested that I join, too, being both a representative of the Astral Ward and Tyria itself. Malice, being an emissary for the collection of information, offered to come with me. And so, my mission was set.
Janthir. A dangerous place. I'm reminded of Caudecus, the White Mantle...the mursaat. Several legends that could sour a glass of dolyak milk. And I accepted the offer to lead the march.
I can't say I'm not skeptical of this mission. Traveling to one of the least-charted territories in accessible Tyria to befriend an isolated kodan colony? I'm still leveling my expectations, but I've got to give him this: I didn't think Isgarren would reveal the Astral Ward so soon, even if the timing demands a bit of apprehension. It's better that the people know, and I'm glad to have a bit of that weight lifted from my shoulders.
But then again, maybe a jaunt in the wilds is just what I need. Doing a bit of diplomacy outside of the needs of war makes me feel like a commander again.
Chapter 1: Unknown Territory
I traveled to Divinity's Reach to meet with Countess Anise. The Astral Ward had set up a portal between the city and Moon Camp—one of their outposts stationed at the southernmost edge of Janthir. That's going to be our base of operations for this mission. Anise warned me that the accommodations were a little grand, but I've come to expect a degree of theatrics when it comes to the Astral Ward.
***
When I stepped through the portal to Moon Camp, Malice was waiting for me. She was already taking in her new surroundings, soaking up every bit she could. To my surprise, Caithe was by her side. She explained that she was joining us on Dagonet's order; a diplomatic gesture, I'm sure. Part of me suspects she needed an adventure, especially after Aurene went to sleep. I don't know that anyone from Destiny's Edge could be comfortable with a desk job.
The two of them were chatting with Vanak, a representative from the Astral Ward I briefly fought beside in Amnytas. Before getting acclimated, they told me Frode wanted to speak with me alone. I found him in his temporary office, tired and hunched over a desk, manning the Tyrian acclimation efforts.
Since everything came to fruition—the Tyrian Alliance and this sudden mission to enter Janthir under the guise of diplomacy—I'd been waiting for the other boot to drop. Everything lined up a little too well. Frode asked if I'd heard of Waiting Sorrow while I was helping the Astral Ward fight the Kryptis. The name sounded familiar, and he reminded me that she was the one who had crafted the Heart of the Obscure. Former leader of the Bastion of the Celestial, as I recall. She's been missing for two centuries and supposedly hiding among the kodan in Janthir.
Isgarren dubbed her a "villain," but Frode warned me that Isgarren's assumptions were contested by Dagda. He also stressed that even with our newly revealed ulterior motive, the lowlanders would still make for ample allies to the alliance. It would be a productive mission regardless of whether we find our target.
Before turning me away, he gave me what intel he could: These kodan are nomadic, building for a hundred or so years and then moving elsewhere in the region when the time suits them. And they're suspicious of magic. Good to know.
After my enlightening chat with Frode, I returned to the others. Before setting out into the wilds to get our first real taste of Janthir, Vanak showed us around Moon Camp and shared what details about the region they could. Rumors of an abandoned mursaat city somewhere on the isles and remnants of the White Mantle; beasts of the wild and thick, dense forest. I had a feeling that Janthir would be dangerous, and the ward's intel confirms it.
When we were done with the tour, Malice, Caithe, and I departed Moon Camp and made our way into the thick of the woods. Ancient. A little frightening. Peaceful.
And then we were ambushed by a pack of wolves and valravn—regional pests. A warm welcome.
***
After quelling the threats, we navigated further into the forest. We caught an Astral Ward signal—a distress call. A couple of ward scouts were being attacked by something, and that something sounded big. We followed their trail, defending against attacking creatures as we made our way through the trees.
When we eventually caught up to the two Astral Ward members, they were fighting for their lives against a strange beast. A warclaw, I think? I didn't think they left the Mists.
Before we could make a dent in the beast, a hunting party of kodan hurried into the fray. The allies we'd been seeking came right to us. Their leader motioned for us to halt, directing us to calm the beast by other means. She gave us a salve to do so, and to our surprise, it worked.
Once everything in the clearing had settled and the beast was calm, the lowlander inspected the two Astral Ward members. She cautiously introduced herself as Barbed Vale and offered to guide us to their village before dusk; the forest would become even more dangerous after sunset.
Her underlings quietly and carefully watched us as we departed for the village.
***
We followed Barbed Vale back to the village, which wasn't too lengthy a march. The warclaw, or "journeykin" as the lowlanders call them, got itself a little spun up as we went. We managed to calm it down just in time to reach the gates of Harvest Den, the lowlander village.
Barbed Vale led me to a pen for the journeykin and handed me some concoction to feed it. The creature's demeanor finally calmed enough to let me to stand close. Guess we could all use a touch of food when the mood sours.
As the journeykin settled into its pen, another voice interrupted us. Stoic Alder, the Claw of the lowland kodan, looked from Barbed Vale to us and asked our purpose. His introduction was brief, guiding us straight toward the biggest lodge at the heart of the village. Likely that haste was to keep his people calm—or maybe it was to keep his unexpected visitors in line.
He guided us inside their assembly hall, right into the thick of their own council meeting. Like ripping a bandage from a fresh wound, he introduced us as the Tyrian Alliance. The rest of the council was skeptical; whatever conversation they'd been in the middle of when we entered was now silent. One of the younger kodan mentioned something about "strangers among lands." When I offered intel on the Kryptis, Stoic Alder shook his head. If I had to guess, whatever they're dealing with is a different threat, and they're not quite ready to share.
Whatever that threat may be, I did what I came to do: I offered them a place in the Tyrian Alliance. Allies in a world where friends are critical. The Claw seemed less than enthused; perhaps not hostile, but not especially interested so far. It wasn't the time or place.
After conversation died down, he invited us to meet the rest of the village council and get to know the village firsthand. The lowlanders seem to operate under one leader, their Claw, who is themself advised by several heads of established disciplines, or "masters." So far, I've met Graced by Fire, the warclaw or "journeykin" master; Fading Aurora, the healing master; Wry Lichen, the lore master; and Barbed Vale, the spear master. I was also introduced to the Claw's son, Poised Arrow, or "Poky," whose self-assured demeanor almost makes me miss the naïve confidence of youth. His father tasked him with showing us around the village, an experience I'm sure will be as eventful as it is informative.
Chapter 2: Diplomacy and Discovery
Since the Claw's son decided to shirk his duties as tour guide, Malice, Caithe, and I took it upon ourselves to get familiar with Harvest Den. It's a quaint town. One could easily forget its location in the treacherous wilds of Janthir. Considering our abrupt arrival, the residents have welcomed us with great hospitality, though an understandable cautiousness underlies their warmth.
While out and about, I practiced some spear work and trained with the local warclaw, or "journeykin," as they're called here. Both are cornerstones of lowlander culture, and hopefully my participation will be taken as good faith. From the time they're cubs, lowlanders train in both disciplines, ultimately forging a strong bond with both. A wise strategy for survival in such harsh tundra.
One strategy the lowlanders are generally less keen on is the use of magic. Aside from herbalism and some other nature-based practices, their comfort with magic has its limits. Quite opposite to the Astral Ward's approach. Some locals are receptive to the ward's outreach efforts though, incorporating magic into their daily trades. Or at least, the kodan are patient enough to humor the ward's whims.
Caithe and Malice have also been busy. For a former rogue, Caithe has quite the knack for getting off on the right foot with people. The locals seem rather taken with her, and her with them. This trip seems to be putting some pep back into her petals already. Malice, ever diligent, immediately set to work collecting intel, aka eavesdropping on our hosts. We've heard whispers of "strangers" troubling the locals. Offering our support to the lowlanders could be just the thing to earn their trust and fortify diplomatic ties. But in order to do so, we'll need to gather more intel on these so-called strangers and their whereabouts. Fortunately, we brought the right people for the job.
***
On my way to reconvening with Stoic Alder, Frode requested I stop by to briefly discuss findings. The ward also caught word of the mysterious "strangers," though they also have little info regarding specifics. Likewise, the search for Waiting Sorrow remains in its preliminary stages. Other than Isgarren's claims and some tidbits from Dagda regarding her disappearance, we have little to go off. So far, the most fitting of Waiting Sorrow's (admittedly sparse) profile is probably Spear Master Barbed Vale. She's certainly strong and appears quite perceptive. Still, hardly damning evidence. As such, I'll keep an ear to the ground for potential leads, and Frode will work his angles.
Before leaving, I spoke to Vanak, who informed me of some rift sightings. I attended to them with the Heart of the Obscure simply enough. However, the enemies emanating from the rifts weren't any that I'd seen before and certainly not Kryptis. I reported back to Vanak, and they seemed rather disconcerted by my discovery. One thing's for certain: Janthir is already living up to its reputation for uncertain dangers.
Chapter 3: Home Sweet Home
After passing time in Harvest Den, Stoic Alder invited me north to visit a former homestead of his. Initially, I was surprised by the rundown state in which he'd kept his property. However, the reason soon became painfully clear. It once served as the Claw's family home but was left to fall into disrepair after the passing of Silken Weir, Alder's mate and Poky's mother. Weir joined efforts in the north to halt Jormag's rising, tragically resulting in the loss of her life.
Though I've known the Claw and his son for only a brief time, it's difficult to not be moved by their plight. I claim no expertise on matters of the heart, but I do know that a loss of that scale never truly heals. And in regards to Poised Arrow, a loss at a very impressionable age. I admit that, despite his at-times-abrasive antics and lackadaisical attitude toward responsibility, Poised Arrow is remarkably strong. Already life has taken a great deal from him. Still, he holds his head high and brings light to those around him.
I put in some overdue maintenance on the homestead to help ease the family's burden. Though I expected nothing in return, Stoic Alder rewarded me with a generosity I was not prepared for. He gifted me the homestead! I recognize that the place likely seems more an emotional burden to him than an asset, but the extravagance of the gift is not to be overlooked. I can't help but wonder if the gesture was in part diplomatically motivated. Regardless...I have my own home! A notion I never thought possible. In fact, the thought of settling in one place had scarce occurred to me. But after years of venturing, having a place to put my feet up sounds quite nice. Now, if only I had something to rest my feet upon...
***
Per Stoic Alder's advice, I paid a visit to the town's Homestead Master, Deft Lahar. The visit started off...rocky. Lahar was none too pleased that I was tasked with fixing Alder's homestead instead of him, what with me being a visitor and Lahar a longtime friend. Though I suspect Alder felt more comfortable outsourcing the task to a near stranger, weighty as it was. Fortunately for me, Lahar soon lowered his guard after I proved myself capable of hard work. His trust earned me instruction on how to build my very first home furnishing: a bed. Something that will be plenty useful, I'm sure!
I was also introduced to his mate, Patient Willow, a highly skilled weaver. The pair certainly make for an interesting match, though their areas of expertise do complement each other. Willow taught me a traditional weaving pattern for a blanket to adorn my new bed. Apparently, the blanket's imagery is representative of "new beginnings." Fitting symbolism, indeed.
***
I returned to Stoic Alder—my homestead following my visit with Deft Lahar and Patient Willow. After getting the bed and blanket together, Stoic Alder and Poised Arrow seemed rather impressed by my handiwork. Alder was particularly intrigued by Willow's choice of weaving pattern, which seem to stir some memories in him. However, there was little time for reflection. Fading Aurora stopped by, looking for me on account of Barbed Vale. I'm apparently needed at the hunting outpost. As for why, I'm not entirely clear, but I'll be heading there soon to find out. For now, I've made it clear to Alder and Poky that my new homestead will always remain open to them. Still, I think they'd appreciate a moment to themselves to tell the place good-bye, if only symbolically. I've got plenty to keep me busy in the meantime.
Chapter 4: Missing in Action
I ventured to the hunting outpost to meet with Spear Master Barbed Vale. She told me of the outpost's purpose as a hub for fostering wildlife and preparing game to feed the village. Also, she spoke of the lowlanders' philosophy of taking only what can be repaid and the importance of forming bonds for survival. As such, she encouraged me to spend time with the journeykin that roam the grounds freely. She said nothing, however, of the reason for inviting me here. This peculiar caginess did little to ease my suspicions—though, for the time being, I wrote it off as cautiousness on her part. Regardless, I used the opportunity to familiarize myself with the outpost and its surroundings. I came across another key council figure, Hunting Master Vast Caldera, tending to the warclaw pen. After lending a hand around the outpost and spending some time with the journeykin, I returned to Barbed Vale, this time intent on getting some definitive answers.
And answers I received. For one thing, Malice's sleuthing proved spot-on. The tidbits of intel she gathered about the strangers and the kodans' concerns are indeed valid and pressing. According to Vale, a scouting party, led by Warclaw Master Graced by Fire, went searching for information on the strangers and their whereabouts. Thinking back, I recall her seeming on edge during the lowlanders' council meeting. Her apprehension seems perfectly justified, knowing now what happened next. Vale said that since their departure, the council has been unable to contact Graced by Fire or any of the scouts accompanying her. And thus far, all searches of the nearby wilds have turned up empty.
After recounting this plight, Barbed Vale asked for my assistance in finding the missing scouts. I have, of course, agreed to help, as have Caithe and Malice. My plan is venture into the nearby wilds with them to pick up the search. Though we don't boast the same level of familiarity with the wilds as the lowlanders, we've proven ourselves adept at tracking down leads. If we can find something, anything, to point us in the right direction, we may be able to rescue the scouts from any lurking dangers. To make matters worse, Vale warned of a thick fog rolling in off the waters. Low visibility is the last thing we need, even with the aid of a journeykin. But there's no time for getting bogged down in doubts. We need to get out there, start searching, and adjust as needed. The scouts can't afford any hesitation.
***
Devasting. The only word fit to describe this turn of events. But let me start from the beginning.
I met with Caithe and Malice in the delta to begin our search. As we feared, the fog clouded our sight like a gray film over our eyes. We wandered the woods, each path weaving us deeper into disorientation. It's easy to see how one could get turned around in such a place, veteran or not. We trudged on, the fog thicker and more putrid with each breath. The further we trekked, the more a sense of unease seemed to follow, like unseen eyes lurking beyond the trees. Watching... Waiting... And then, an ambush. The first of many. Our combatants were packs of disturbing creatures, their appearance a foul mess of rotted earth. Upon reflection, they looked similar to the creatures I witnessed when closing the rifts for Vanak, the setting making them all the more sinister.
Then we found the corpse. The first one. Based on its condition, it had been decomposing for some time. We thought it was far too decayed to align with the scouts' timeline...until we found the others. Corpses strewn across the cold ground like discarded husks. In years of battle, I've seen what death does to the body. But this... It looked as if the soul itself became infected and rotted the body from the inside out. And the smell... The way it stung my nose, seeming to burn straight through the backs of my eyes. I fear it's seared in my memory forever.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the horror. Faint but distinct. Seeking life amid the carnage, I discovered Graced by Fire, the party's lone survivor. She lay collapsed in an injured heap. We ran to her aid, determined to get her home with her last bit of life still intact. And that's when it decided to show itself. The "stranger."
No stranger to history, if what Malice assures us is correct. She believes the creature to be a titan. Of course, none of us had seen one with our own eyes. But I've heard tales, read of their legacy. All I can say is that as it towered over us, it certainly looked like a creature fit for ancient tombs. Before we could process its arrival, it fled, leaving a minion to fight in its stead. A first-class maneuver in cowardice.
After a heated battle, we subdued the beast. Then we prioritized our next moves. Graced by Fire's need for medical attention was our most pressing matter. Given the deep historical vendetta, Malice was most hesitant to give up the fight. But if we're to stand a chance against these monsters of near legend, our fight must be fueled by intent, not impulse. Once Graced by Fire is returned to safety, there's one clear course of action. It's time to call the alliance to council.
Chapter 5: Strangers among Lands
The Tyrian Alliance has officially been called for a second summit to discuss what happened to Caithe, Malice, and me in Janthir. Time to see what the rest of the world thinks.
***
Stoic Alder met me outside of the venue—this is going to be his first big introduction to the rest of modern Tyria. He was nervous but expectedly prepared. His people are in danger, and putting them above himself is the way of the Claw.
The room was already tense when we entered. I took my place at the podium, and things kicked off. The Astral Ward confirmed what Malice seemed to know immediately upon the first encounter: Titans had indeed returned to Tyria. Demonic creatures from the Mists. Until now, they were thought to be eliminated from Tyria.
I listened to the room's rising concerns, confusion, worry, and fear. As we broached another moment of tension, Livia appeared at the door to toss a little more fuel on the fire. She called for utilization of the Scepter of Orr—or Legavo—an ancient seer weapon designed to control or manipulate creatures from the Mists. No one had a straight answer about whether or not the thing actually works, but at least a few of the council were willing to risk it to calm this threat as quickly as possible. The room couldn't come to an agreement on what to do, so I called for a vote. Queen Jennah and Ludo were at each other's throats, but even they agreed that neither would concede. Everyone took a moment to dwell on their stance before reconvening.
With everyone decided, the council voted. We will not be using the scepter; most of the room couldn't rationalize the risk. As a result, Countess Anise ordered Malice, Caithe, and me to return to Janthir with Stoic Alder to do more research and determine the scope of the threat. I saw Alder off and will make my own preparations before heading back to Harvest Den.
Let's see if we can even kill a titan.
***
When I arrived back at the village, Poised Arrow was in a panic. Fading Aurora had left Harvest Den on her own, likely in pursuit of the titan and whatever survivors it may have dragged along. She was headed straight to the isles. Alone. I figured the kid was going to throw himself into that fight whether I decided to join him or not, so we're sailing right into the thick of the storm.
***
Poky guided us across the bay and to the first island. Damp and eerie, it was uncomfortably still when we stepped off the skiff and onto land. We made our way west, where we found the corpses of those shard-like creatures, which I'm now piecing together as being connected to the titan. Did Fading Aurora do this? We didn't have long to linger, though, as even more of them ambushed us on the path.
As we pushed westward, Poky saw a clearing ahead in the swamp—and Fading Aurora. We finally caught up.
***
A bit brave for a healer from the Shiverpeaks, Fading Aurora stood face-to-face with the titan. He called himself Greer, and nothing about us was threatening to him.
Aurora told Poky to flee, but the kid refused. We threw ourselves into the fight in a desperate attempt to keep Poky alive. Aurora was unexpectedly grounded, given the circumstances. She immediately looked for a solution to overcome Greer's rapidly spreading rot—magically imbued seeds. Aurora ordered us to kill Greer's minions so that we could cleanse the arena of twisted, rotten magic.
When we thought that we'd achieved the upper hand, Greer turned to Poky instead. Before the titan could attack, Aurora stepped between them. And in that moment, her façade finally dropped. After conjuring a spell far exceeding the capabilities of a humble healer from the Shiverpeaks, it became clear: Waiting Sorrow was standing before us. She halted Greer's attack with ease.
With her full powers revealed, overcoming Greer was an easy task. But all eyes immediately snapped to the missing wizard. Poky was distressed; his mentor had lied to him, and another facet of his once-comfortable reality was shaken. He told me that he needed to walk it off, so he's headed to a nearby research camp to do just that.
With Poky out of earshot, I turned to Waiting Sorrow for an explanation. Beyond establishing diplomatic bonds with the lowlanders, finding her was my next priority. Powerful, certainly, but not the intimidating runaway she was painted as—another melodramatic musing from Isgarren, perhaps? Her concern was with Poky first, and then the titans. Caithe and Malice, who remained as stalwart as you'd expect, prodded her with additional questions: Are there more? Are we safe? Waiting Sorrow was hazy, claiming that an uptick in Mistburn—energies radiating from the Mists—were causing unnatural disturbances on the island. She asked if I intended to detain her, but if a titan does indeed roam this island still, she might be the ally we need to shut it down, since she's helped us take out one already. Keeping her identity from the kodan might be a more complicated challenge given their hesitance toward magic, but at least the majority of the Astral Ward wouldn't be able to recognize her. She's kept her identity a secret for this long, after all.
Even while tensions are high, Caithe and Malice handled Waiting Sorrow's reveal with curiosity—leave it to the spymasters to be unphased by secrets. While they mull over the news, I'll see if I can track down Poky and see how he's doing. Kid's been through a lot, and he shouldn't be left alone in a place like this.
Janthir Wilds: Act 2
- 1337
Chapter 6: Storm Clouds over Janthir
I went to go meet with Poky at one of the temporary research camps—the Astral Ward and lowlanders are moving to the isle to help tackle the titan threat. But when I arrived, I encountered Stoic Alder instead. He said that Poky was distressed and headed north to catch a breath but didn't share many specifics. I assume the kid didn't tell him much, which is probably wise. Alder's worried about his son, and for good reason, but I need to follow Poky's lead and not interfere with their relationship.
While Poky gets some rest, Alder suggested that I help with some of the local titan research. Graced by Fire, who reminds me of myself in her inability to sit still following a bad fight, has already thrown herself into the thick of our investigation. Her scouting party was killed; she feels an obligation to them to keep moving—all things that I can relate to. With Greer dead and our hands temporarily tied, I offered my assistance. The more we can learn about the titan—or titans—the better.
She sent me to map the west. Even if the lowlanders have spent a little time exploring the isles, we're in unfamiliar territory. Dense pockets of forest, wilds, White Mantle ruins, the lasting effects of bloodstone fallout... Whatever happened here was brutal, and the lingering titan presence has only made it more severe.
After getting the lay of the land, I returned to Graced by Fire. For one final task, she had me collect samples from the local wildlife so we could better assess what's turning them and why. Like the journeykin we subdued near the village, the creatures here are violent and frantic. Waiting Sorrow mentioned Mistburn being rampant in the area thanks to Greer, so I think we can assume that's the cause. Maybe there's a cure, but we'll find out if there's not.
***
Just as I finished collecting samples, Poised Arrow came roaring over comms—the kid sure is getting good use out of Malice's gift. While he was reflecting on Waiting Sorrow's reveal, he stumbled upon evidence of a second titan to the north. Cracks in the earth and footprints too large to belong to any animal; he even described a peculiar smell. I told him to hang tight so I could make my way north.
When I met him near the shoreline, the northern research team was already busy tracking down any traces of this supposed second titan. The evidence collected thus far was evocative of a very different beast from Greer; while he thrived in the swamp, this one clung to the stormy coast. I collected some of the kodans' lightning rods at camp and helped set them up along the shoreline, hopeful that we could trace the creature's movements along with the storm. I returned to Poky and confirmed his report: we're on the tail of a second titan. Let's see if we can corner it.
Given the outcome of our fight against the first, we'll be done with this soon.
Chapter 7: Twice Stricken
After aiding Poised Arrow in field research, we followed our lead to what we believed to be the secondary titan's location. Since the Waiting Sorrow revelation, Poky's seemed a bit subdued from his usual gregarious self. Understandably, given the magnitude of the situation—titans and newly learned truths. Along our route, we fought through waves of protective minions, this time conductive in nature. We didn't have to travel far for our suspicions to be proved correct: Decima, a self-assured conduit titan, now confronts us face-to-face. Time to bring this chaos to an end.
***
Our allies put up a strong fight, utilizing techniques learned in our titan research; with the clever use of lightning rods, we pulled the odds in our favor—at least, for a time. But the tides quickly turned against us. Despite Poised Arrow's additional backup, Decima's defenses stood strong. Things went from bad to worse when it became clear midfight that Decima had the upper hand. And Greer...was not so dead. Not only is our prior opponent alive and likely healed despite our believing him defeated, but the two titans are working in concert.
As our weight shifted to the back foot, we did gain a potentially critical piece of information that explains our failure to defeat Greer in the first place: the titans' armor seems to protect some sort of vulnerable inner core. With the help of my journeykin, I proved my assumption and was able to remove the titan's armor, rendering her core vulnerable to attacks. And any vulnerability is worth exploring.
Tragically, our battle was cut short when Poised Arrow fell, injured. With an ally down and the threat of an appearance from Greer looming, I made the decision to retreat. Poised Arrow didn't take the decision well, blaming himself for our loss. Truthfully, even if all our allies had remained on their feet the entire battle, I don't know if our efforts would have been enough. While that prospect greatly concerns me, I have no time to linger on it now. First and foremost, our focus is on getting Poky into Waiting Sorrow's care. Once more, the titans must wait. Though at this point, they're not the only ones with tested patience.
***
Poised Arrow is now recovering under the care of Waiting Sorrow. Despite his initial hesitance, Poky allowed Waiting Sorrow to perform some recovery magic on him. Though he needs rest, he already appears on the mend, as does the fractured relationship between the two. With Poised Arrow recuperating, the rest of us must figure out a plan for eliminating the titans. I feel as though we're on the verge of a breakthrough with the recent developments in information regarding the titans, but I'm not sure it will be enough to defeat them entirely. Perhaps there's some other missing piece critical to us securing a victory. One thing's for sure: the titans won't wait around idly while we figure it out.
Chapter 8: Finding Balance
With Poised Arrow recuperating, I took the opportunity to check in once more with Frode. I updated him on our most recent face-off with Decima, careful not to arouse suspicions about Waiting Sorrow. I think I navigated the interaction well enough to keep the reveal of Waiting Sorrow's true identity in my pocket. For now, at least. However, before returning to the field, Frode dropped his voice and suggested that I take a peek at a book he left for me upstairs. I found his demeanor...curious. Perhaps he's trying to nudge me in the right direction?
Much to my surprise, the journal revealed that Isgarren broke seer rules to ascend Waiting Sorrow to the Wizard's Court. But the greatest shock came in the form of another confession: The legendary missing Voice, the very one whose tribe the present-day lowlanders are descended from, is in fact...Waiting Sorrow. My mind is ablaze with countless questions: Why return to the lowlanders now, after all this time? How will Stoic Alder and Poised Arrow react? How old IS she?
I paid Alder and Poky a visit soon after, with my original intent of checking on the kid. Though my mind was swimming, I kept as collected as possible. Their family has more than enough on their plate, and, as I've said before, this situation is Waiting Sorrow's to address. Although, the more I learn, the more suspicious I am of her...
Alder was not pleased to see me, to say the least. While I've long accepted that my lifestyle comes with a certain amount of...risk, I can hardly blame a father concerned for his son's well-being. I must say, Poky's resolve to take responsibility impressed me. He also de-escalated the situation rather smoothly—I imagine he's had practice getting his father to come around. And his help was certainly appreciated. For now, I hope to make amends with Alder, in part by aiding some restorative efforts. Oddly enough, Alder's frustration served as a perfect distraction from Waiting Sorrow. Like Poky's approach, perhaps time out in the wilds will help me get my thoughts in order. Some space to reflect on everything that's happened is probably best for me, and for all of us.
***
Staying true to my promise to Stoic Alder, I rescued some damaged flora and fauna, which I'll rehabilitate at my homestead. Thinking back to my arrival here, I recall some whispers of weather and environmental changes among the villagers. At the time, I was too preoccupied by other matters to show much concern. Now I'm experiencing firsthand just how much the titans' presence has disrupted the local ecosystem. Hopefully, our efforts will help curtail the casualties. But I can't overlook the reality: we're treating the symptoms while the disease looms large.
***
I returned to my homestead and, as promised, tended to the rescued flora and fauna. While there, I checked in with Waiting Sorrow and Poised Arrow. Poised Arrow's health appears to be on the mend, as do his spirits. Stoic Alder was not present, as I imagine he has a slew of matters to attend to at the moment. But it's probably good for Poky and Waiting Sorrow to have some together to patch things up. Their relationship does seem to be strengthening. I witnessed them chatting much like they had before the current upheaval. How things will change when he discovers his mentor is the missing Voice of legend...remains to be seen. For the time being, it's best not to disturb his recovery process. And it's rather nice seeing my homestead become a haven for rest and relaxation.
***
I've continued my work of helping restore the environmental balance around Janthir Syntri. My efforts, though small in scale, do seem to be making an impact, no matter how slight. I'll take any signs of encouragement where I can get them. More encouraging yet, I received a call from Malice and Caithe boasting a potential lead involving bloodstone that could bolster our chances against the titans. Though I'm still keeping my hopes in check, I'm eagerly making my way to the Astral Ward's research camp to see what this new development entails.
***
At the Astral Ward research camp, I met with Malice, Caithe, and an unexpected guest: Waiting Sorrow. She had apparently overheard our plan to scope out the bloodstone. Leaving Poky in the care of Deft Lahar and Patient Willow, she came armed with an interesting idea. Since the titans have been using the area's bloodstone to replenish their energy, Waiting Sorrow proposed neutralizing it with the Heart of the Obscure. Clever. But like any hypothesis, we had to test it.
Our attempt at neutralizing the bloodstone was successful, but not without consequences. The magical blowback from the exploding bloodstone is quite powerful and must be handled with care. Waiting Sorrow managed to shield us from the explosion, but if we intend to use this strategy during battle, we'll have to coordinate our attacks with her defense.
As it turns out, Waiting Sorrow wasn't the only unexpected visitor we'd encounter. The bloodstone's explosion revealed the ghosts of several individuals sacrificed during the White Mantle's occupancy. Speaking with them, we came away with an unsettling picture of Gavril, the village that stood here long ago, and the dark history that plagued it. Overall, our work proved bittersweet. We leave with our strongest strategy yet for defeating the titans and a harsh reminder of the blood with which history's pages are written.
With all that's happened, it was finally time to confront Waiting Sorrow about her true identity as not only a wizard, but a wizard of legend. Unsurprisingly, she echoed her request that I not say anything to Stoic Alder and to keep the additional details of her identity hidden from Poky, assuring me that she'd handle the fallout. While my patience is running thinner than Willow's weaving thread, the genuine hurt in Sorrow's voice is a stark reminder that if I'm feeling worn down by this situation, the pressure she's under is immense. Ultimately, she's going to need to come forward, and she'll need to do it soon. Easier said than done, I suppose, but there's no way around it. Still, I don't envy her position. I may be weary, but I'll give her that much.
Chapter 9: Against the Wall
I headed back to the homestead to meet with the rest of the group, who were waiting for me inside. Waiting Sorrow grew tense when I entered, knowing well that I carried a secret in my pocket that could complicate her situation even further. But Malice immediately jumped to the point: the titans could be on the back foot. Attacking now, while they were recovering from our prior encounters, should be the top priority. Before we could strategize further, Poky pulled our attention away. Stoic Alder walked up to the door, and Waiting Sorrow needed to decide on a story. Fast.
It's not our place to stand between a kodan Claw and his son, so Waiting Sorrow nodded for me to usher him inside. This conversation was inevitable. He immediately looked to her, clearly confused; to him, in that moment, Fading Aurora was alive. Thankfully, Waiting Sorrow chose fairness and revealed her identity. Alder was understandably distraught—even more than Poky was. The kid stepped in to defend Sorrow's choices. He tried to assure his father that their Aurora still stood with them, and that Waiting Sorrow is no danger, but the Claw was clearly struggling with the news. He was betrayed. His son's life was jeopardized... And we still have a couple of titans to kill.
Unfortunately, now is not the time to dwell. Alder, while still distraught, also recognized the fleeting opportunity to resolve our mutual plight. He offered to join his son in battle, if only to make sure that his people and Poky were safe. But his discussion with Waiting Sorrow is not done. That is another inevitability.
I checked in with Sorrow and the others before heading out; her guilt sat heavily on her shoulders. She knows it's time to talk to Alder...and Isgarren. No more hiding. Just have a couple of titans to kill between now and then.
***
We headed toward the mountain pass, where we suspected Greer and Decima were hiding. Malice, Caithe, Waiting Sorrow, Stoic Alder, and Poky readied themselves for the fight.
The titans hovered near a bloodstone, as we predicted—they desperately needed healing. We attacked Decima first, who stood between us and the bloodstone, while Greer fed from a safe distance. Once we weakened her enough, we were able to neutralize the bloodstone by using the Heart of the Obscure—just like we practiced! The explosion, albeit contained, was just enough to interrupt Greer.
***
Irate with our disruption, Greer flung himself into the arena to attack us next while Decima scuttled away to feast on another bloodstone. We exhausted Greer enough to interrupt Decima's feeding, and by utilizing tactics we learned throughout our encounters, we slowly chipped away at their armor until they were both weak and looking for an escape.
***
With the bloodstone neutralized and the titans weak, the battle was ours to win. Or so we thought...
Before we could land the final blows, a third voice roared over the horizon, halting us and rallying our opponents. She called herself Ura, and thus the third titan had revealed herself. While Decima was hesitant to exit the fight, Greer relaxed at the sound of Ura's voice. She commanded the two of them to flee, and they did, with little protest. I leapt to pursue them, but Ura raised a steam wall, blocking our path forward. Poky roared for us to charge forward, and all of my instincts agreed, but Waiting Sorrow and Stoic Alder urged caution. We don't know what Ura is capable of; it could be a trick. I made the hard call to stand down and regroup.
Chapter 10: Sorrow in These Halls
Following the fight, I met with my allies back at Harvest Den. After all our research, all our struggle...nothing is dead. An airship could've crashed outside, and the mood would still be solemn. Caithe had already informed Dagonet and the alliance, and Poky was just about ready to kick down a wall in frustration as Malice talked him down. We're all disappointed, but we're alive.
I was surprised to see Waiting Sorrow there, too. Stoic Alder explained that Fading Aurora had mysteriously turned back up—a small blessing on a sour day. Sorrow's identity was secure—at least for now. For the sake of the kodans' clarity of mind in trying times, holding her reveal until a calmer moment feels critical. Learning that their friendly healer from the Shiverpeaks is a millennia-old wizard might not be the existential realization they need...and Alder and Poky don't even know about whole "missing Voice" part yet, either.
While everyone reflected on the battle, Waiting Sorrow asked me to accompany her back to the Wizard's Tower. With ambiguity looming on the horizon, keeping herself hidden from Isgarren any longer would only complicate things. I agreed, and she opened a portal for us to cross through.
***
When we arrived in the familiar, crisp air of the Wizard's Tower, I asked how she managed to get past Isgarren's defenses. Very matter-of-factly, she told me that she cast those defenses herself. Waiting Sorrow is no threat to the Wizard's Tower.
Before entering the War Room where Isgarren waited, Sorrow thanked me for not telling Stoic Alder and Poised Arrow about her darker history. It's simply not my story to tell, but she should, soon. Between Poised Arrow, Stoic Alder, and Isgarren... I don't envy her situation, but I do empathize.
When I entered the War Room, I was surprised to see Anise fully at home, going over intel with Isgarren and Dagda. During every stage of this journey, I've both been surprised and completely accepting of the countess's involvement with the Wizard's Court. If anyone knew about them before the rest of the world, it'd be her. When Isgarren looked to me for news on Sorrow's status, I played ignorant, knowing all too well that his target would be walking through that door... And then she did.
Dagda's jaw dropped to the floor as Sorrow entered the war room. Instead of launching himself at her, which would've been a fascinating battle to witness, Isgarren turned to me instead. Sorrow, exposed and vulnerable, posed no detectable threat to him, but Isgarren sought to assign blame. I let him be mad. I'm the one who brought her back, after all—I just didn't bother with chains or shackles. The rest was on the two of them.
Thankfully, Dagda snarled Isgarren down. Her friend had returned, and she wasn't going to let the room come to blows.
When Isgarren's temper finally calmed enough to have a mature conversation, Sorrow's tone dropped. She asked Isgarren if Mabon was dead, and while our ancient friend was gearing up for a guilt trip, Sorrow said that she "felt it." Her words had weight, and even I didn't know what that weight meant. Isgarren picked up on it immediately, though, and asked Dagda to usher the countess and me out of the room without another word.
Titans... Missing wizards, now found. Mabon's memory, suddenly suspect. What's going on here?
Janthir Wilds: Godspawn
- 1337
Chapter 11: Trial and Error
After receiving an urgent letter from Steward Gixx, I set out to the priory library with Caithe and Malice to investigate the disappearance of their lead titan researcher, Farrah Baelseeker.
We met Farrah's research assistant, Archivist Sestina. Sestina explained that leading up to her disappearance, Farrah had been engrossed in her research to the point of obsession. After sifting through Farrah's research and personal journals, we discovered a lead suggesting Farrah went to the sulfurous base of Mount Balrior in Janthir Syntri. Her notes indicate that she's planing to conduct self-directed research on the titans and their possible relationship with the Mists Tides. A risky endeavor, given the isles' dangerous reputation.
Sestina herself was none to pleased to learn of Farrah's plans and asked that we retrieve her from the isles. While Farrah's enthusiasm to find an exploitable weakness for the titans is appreciated, her recklessness certainly is not. Hopefully, we'll track her down before the titans do.
I arrived in the sulfur baths of Janthir Syntri, meeting Caithe, Malice, and another familiar face: Poised Arrow. He seemed to be in higher spirits than when we'd parted ways after our last brush with the titans; his productive enthusiasm held ever strong.
We made quick work of our search for Farrah, following a literal paper trail of her research. Though the trail led us into the thick of titanspawn territory, our recuperated group handled the ambush without much trouble. Our confirmation also gave us an up-close look at these titanspawn and the geyser characteristics they share in common with Ura. After battling our way through the geysers, we heard a shout and rushed ahead, fearful that we might find Farrah in danger. Sure enough, we discovered Farrah, who was less grateful for our intervention than we'd expected. She'd apparently been studying the spawn in question, and our efforts succeeded in...destroying her research specimens. A mistake, sure. But an honest one, given the situation.
Despite airing her frustration, Farrah took advantage of our combat prowess to help her test a theory. She proposed that the titans had been using the Mists Tides to bolster their vitality. She suspected that when the storms cleared, the titans would lose their edge. To test her hypothesis, she led us to a large champion titanspawn that she's been surveying since she arrived—and more to our benefit, this titanspawn was unlike Greer or Decima's, leading us to believe that it belonged to Ura herself.
Much to our relief, Farrah's hypothesis was proved to be accurate; the titanspawn was easier to fell outside of the Mists Tides. And because of that, we've formed a plan of action: The day after tomorrow, the storms are predicted to clear for a brief window of time. And that is when we will stage our attack against Greer, Decima, and Ura.
With a plan of action devised, I took a portal out of Moon Camp to inform the Astral Ward of our intentions. But upon my arrival as the Wizard's Tower, I found its residents had given the War Room a wide berth. My confusion quickly cleared as I approached its closed doors, hearing muffled bickering just behind it. I knocked and was eagerly let in by Dagda...to find Isgarren and Waiting Sorrow in the midst of a heated argument. Dagda, at her wit's end, encouraged me to intervene in the hopes of distracting the two from their squabble. I debriefed the room on our discoveries via Farrah's research and announced the plans for the titan battle ahead. Isgarren hurried off to tell the ward of these plans, while Waiting Sorrow sought to return to Harvest Den to help her bearkin prepare. Unable to be deterred, Dagda insisted on joining her friend and former mentor in the village.
While the battle ahead is a grave endeavor, I believe uniting to achieve a common goal will do some good in mending the broken bonds between Isgarren and Waiting Sorrow. But perhaps that's just optimistic thinking.
Chapter 12: Battle's Eve
With the battle on the horizon, I received an invitation from Stoic Alder to join in a celebration known as a battle's eve feast, a lowlander tradition. The celebration is described as a "precautionary good-bye," though the general mood was much more upbeat than the description might suggest.
Upon arriving at the feast, I met Poky, along with several allies from the Astral Ward and the Tyrian Alliance. The initial atmosphere was ... unenthusiastic, through no fault of the lowlanders. Despite their varying experiences as diplomats and leaders, the alliance and the ward found themselves being overly cautious. Perhaps it was the upcoming battle, or maybe guilt that past bond hadn't been maintained with the bearkin—either way, I took it upon myself to set things in motion.
I began by introducing Queen Jennah, Dagonet, and Anise to some of the lowland council members I'd become acquainted with. Jennah and Waiting Sorrow, still operating under her Fading Aurora alias, obviously had much to discuss and wasted no time delving into conversation. Dagonet and Agriculture Master Soaring Crest hit it off right away with talk of environment and ecology. And as for Anise and Barbed Vale, well, you could mistake the two for old friends if you didn't know better.
The party continued to gain momentum as the predinner activities commenced. Anise "kindly" volunteered me for a friendly sparring match against Barbed Vale, a gesture I plan to repay her for in time. At the risk of looking a bit silly, I also helped kick off the dance circle by showing off a few moves. My display encouraged several of the guests to cut loose and enjoy the moment despite the daunting mission ahead of us.
Afterward, I caught Stoic Alder alone, practicing for a speech. Guests began to gather, and the bearkin's leader offered our alliance a moment for opening remarks. Isgarren took the opportunity to say some words of ... encouragement? I can say with some experience that speeches are no easy thing. Isgarren seemed a bit off his game, causing some confusion among the lowlanders and alliance members alike.
Fortunately, Stoic Alder restored the mood by delivering a rousing speech of his own. To the backdrop of music and celebration, our allies took a moment to step aside from the festivities. Few words were said, but an unspoken understanding of the feat that lies ahead of us held strong.
Chapter 13: Balrior Peak
Bright and early, I met our allies at the base of Mount Balrior. Malice had already scouted ahead, putting eyes on a small pocket of ruins that would make for a fitting foothold before pushing on the titans. Before starting our ascent, Caithe informed the group that reinforcements wouldn't reach us in time due to weather conditions being more pressing than we'd anticipated. The Mists Tides approached. With that, our window of opportunity to locate and defeat the titans drastically narrowed.
Just before setting out, Barbed Vale caught up with us. Unwilling to let the Claw of her village fight the titans without her help, she insisted on lending her combat prowess to our front line. And so we began our climb.
Making our way up the mountain, we fought back ambushes of titanspawn and established camp in the ruins to catch our breath between battles. During our respite, Dagda informed us of another complication: she sensed that the titans had split up and each taken a stand in a different area of the mountain. Thinking on his feet, Poised Arrow proposed we do the same to divide and conquer our foes. We all agreed: the kid's plan was good. Dagda and Waiting Sorrow scouted ahead to keep eyes on Decima and Ura. Meanwhile, the rest of the group made our way to Greer.
Our journeykin homed in on Greer's scent, directing us toward his den through the treacherous mountain pass.
We cornered Greer in his den, still weakened from our prior encounter. With the Mists Tides temporarily subsided, he was unable to fully heal before our arrival. Tired and separated from his own, Greer lunged forward, and the fight began.
Malice smirked at the beast, who desperately attempted to convince our charr companion to follow her ancestors and switch allegiance. But she only scoffed, throwing all of her rage into the assault. Another titan would never manipulate the charr or harm the kodan, if she could help it. The Blightbringer was finally defeated.
With barely any time to catch our breath, Dagda's portal appeared before us. It's time to take the battle to Decima.
After stepping through the portal, we caught up with Dagda. She was positioned just outside of another large clearing atop the mountain. Decima was just ahead.
Together, we entered, and Decima's enraged voice boomed across the mountain. Her brother was dead, and the fight ahead did not look forgiving. While she was similarly weakened, her ferocious storms raged on. To my surprise, Poky's voice boomed against the titan's. He harnessed all of his contempt and misery for what the titans had inflicted on his people, and we all followed his charge. Decima, knowing that this was the end, called out that she'd meet her brother in the fire. The Stormsinger was felled.
Despite our victory and growing optimism, the group was severely fatigued; only Dagda and I were ready for another fight. Barbed Vale volunteered to watch over Stoic Alder and the others while we moved on toward Waiting Sorrow and Ura.
Just a little further to go before Janthir's blight is quelled. Dagda and I caught up with Waiting Sorrow near the apex of the mountain. Aside from a large piece of bloodstone, it stood suspiciously empty. Of course, we knew not to be fooled by the titan's theatrics. Even with Greer and Decima defeated, we'd yet to face Ura herself. I touched the bloodstone in an attempt to draw her attention, and sure enough, she roared into the arena. The titan imperatrix was finally revealed.
She was tall, with a rugged exterior shell far more robust and fortified than Greer or Decima's. Sulfurous fumes and toxic steam rippled from fractures in her armor, stinging our nostrils; even the wizards seemed small in her presence. But we didn't have long to observe. Ura smelled Greer and Decima's corpses on our garb, and this only enraged her. She attacked us with her entire might, filling the arena with explosive geysers that threatened to melt our flesh and bone.
I went to work on neutralizing active bloodstone shards with the Heart of the Obscure, and we were able to plug the geysers with the drained fragments. This allowed us just enough room to mount our journeykin to pull away at her armor.
After a few rounds of foiling Ura's attempts to conquer the arena, we had the beast cornered. With her kin defeated, our foe was closer and closer to defeat; and as her power dwindled, we moved in to land the final blow. Ura was done.
Just as victory settled in our minds, Ura muttered a few words that would shatter any sense of security: "For the door we came through sits wide open." She died bemused that some unknowable secret still sat in our path. What door could she possibly be talking about? Despite our success, the three of us stood there in silence. None of us quite knew how to absorb the ambiguity of Ura's final words.
While Waiting Sorrow and Dagda returned our tired allies to the village, I decided to remain atop Mount Balrior a few moments longer. I stood by Ura's body, contemplating the events that us led us here. Even with the three of them dead, I still have questions. Where did they come from? Why? And how does it all relate to the door Ura mentioned? Until I know these things, sleep will not come easy.
***
Back at Harvest Den, the atmosphere has been one of tired relief. Poised Arrow explained that after a successful battle, lowlanders celebrate their victory with a night of well-deserved rest. I, too, found the silence of Harvest Den a welcome solace. At least, while it lasted.
I regrouped with our allies, checking in on everyone's wellbeing. Caithe and Malice are headed home, glad to have helped but undeniably relieved to get back to their respective responsibilities. No matter the challenge, Tyria always persists.
Poky suggested that we head inside, where Stoic Alder, Waiting Sorrow, and Isgarren waited for our arrival in the tense, silent air. And then, Waiting Sorrow finally revealed the extent of her identity to the Claw and his son ... that she's not just a wizard, but the fabled Voice from the ancient kodan tale. Koda's voice raged in her mind—almost turned her mad—but Isgarren helped her sever that connection, and that's how she became a wizard.
Alder was understandably rattled by this new layer of deception. Poky, while shaken, was more curious than upset. Before leaving to comfort his father, he reassured Sorrow of his support for her. A mature gesture by any standard.
With the three of us finally alone, Isgarren—in an attempt to distract Sorrow from her guilt—redirected the conversation toward more pressing matters. Prior to our battle atop Mount Balrior, when Sorrow returned with me to the Wizard's Tower to reveal herself to Isgarren, the mention of Mabon turned both of them still. When he died in Amnytas, Sorrow "felt" Mabon's death all the way in Janthir.
Isgarren revealed that Mabon had secretly placed a ward over the city of Bava Nisos after the destruction of the mursaat. This was to protect a Mists gate hidden deep within the city. But when Mabon died, the ward in question fell. Isgarren suspects that this Mists gate is the very door that Ura referred to in her dying breath; even he has no idea how it was opened, or if it still is.
Finding and sealing this door is our only priority. We're headed to Bava Nisos before any more titans—or worse—emerge.
Janthir Wilds: Repentance
- 1338
Chapter 14: Into the Valley of Shadow
Still haunted by Ura's cryptic words, I received an update from Countess Anise. The Tyrian Alliance, Astral Ward, and several lowland kodan volunteers have teamed up to survey Janthir's northern isles.
So far, they've managed to push into the outskirts of Bava Nisos, yet they find themselves unable to enter the city gates. Anise has requested my aid and asked that I rendezvous with her, Isgarren, and Waiting Sorrow at their base in the isles. Furthermore, I've been tasked with escorting Poised Arrow to the meeting point. Rather than reaching the location by the convenience of magic, we'll be traveling...by boat, at the cub's naive insistence. For both our sakes, may we have fair winds and following seas.
***
I met Poky for our departure at Thunder Bay Point. I warned him that although he'd been on shorter boat rides around the isles, this trip would be a trying one. However, he brimmed with so much excitement about the prospect of his "first real voyage" that I could almost forgive him for signing us up for this unnecessary headache. But my patience soon ran thin when he spent the entire first part of the trip singing old lowlander sea shanties.
Around his fifth verse of "Tap the Cask and Down the Hatch!" I threatened to toss him overboard–but that's when the winds began to pick up. I managed to keep us on course, but the increasingly choppy waves made this no easy task. Poised Arrow aided me as best he could but grew unsettled by the strength of the storm. To his credit, he held his own longer than expected, then he retired to the side of the boat where he spent the rest of the trip heaving.
***
After what seemed an eternity, we made it ashore. Both of us were worse for wear, but Poised Arrow was especially shaken. I doubt he'll be pining for another sea voyage anytime soon. Experience is the best teacher, as they say.
Upon arrival, we met Isgarren, Anise, and Waiting Sorrow and formed a plan of action. In addition to the survey teams' difficulties accessing the city, Isgarren pointed out that the spectral agony still plaguing the area would be the cause of further complications. I could already feel its heaviness just stepping foot on the isle. Waiting Sorrow also proved very attuned to it, sensing a particularly large well of the agony pooled in the northern part of the isles. Validating her instincts, Isgarren confirmed that the area had been the site of a significant battle in the war between the seers and mursaat. With that being our only real lead, we directed our search north.
***
I set out north to begin my search. My surroundings seemed to slump, as if burdened by the weight of foreboding and grief. Desolation stretched in all directions, punctuated only by the occasional flora or fauna.
Seemingly endless scouring turned up no results. Just as I was mulling over how to break this disappointment to Anise, I saw it: a glowing wisp. Or at least, that's the best way I can describe it. I contacted the countess, eager to finally have something to report. I made to investigate the wisp more closely, but Anise strongly advised that I not follow an unidentified entity off into unknown territory. Level-headed as always.
I'm headed off to reconvene with our party and eager to get back on the trail of this mysterious sprite.
***
I set out again, this time accompanied by Isgarren, Waiting Sorrow, and Poised Arrow. Despite Isgarren's protection, the spectral agony began to weigh on me and Poky; we had nowhere near the level of agony resistance that the wizards do. But agony's ache was soon replaced by a new concern: whispers. A voice familiar, yet unseen. The hushed echoes haunted us the further we went. And then, just like that, the wisp appeared once again.
This time I examined it, although I was still unable to identify it. Waiting Sorrow suggested using the Heart of the Obscure. I was skeptical, to say the least. Sure enough, the heart set things into motion. All at once, we were surrounded by countless mursaat ghosts. We'd triggered a spectral ambush!
Waves upon waves of ghosts swarmed us. After we finally felt we'd put a dent in them, the worst of them appeared: Yagon. She seemed to harbor a particular hostility toward Isgarren. Later, he told us that her anger derived from her death during the seer-mursaat war...a death for which Isgarren was responsible. The two kept at each other's throats throughout the fight as we fought off the remaining ambush.
Our surprises weren't done just yet. Poky drew our attention back to the wisp, only now it took the form of an old friend: Mabon. What appeared to be a memory of his began to play out. We watched his arrival in Janthir in the aftermath of the titan destruction, his pain and frustration palpable. As the vision came to a close, we eventually broke our shocked silence with the agreement to return to Anise. The revelation hit hard, for Waiting Sorrow especially. It seems Isgarren had known who the voice belonged to. Why did he keep that to himself? Well, speaking from experience, the only thing more haunting than the memories of past enemies are those of past friends.
Chapter 15: A Legacy Damned
Our party regrouped at base to inform Anise of our unexpected reunion with friends and foes past. Our developments surprised her, to say the least, but it was the news of Mabon that hit hardest. Compounded by the Alliance's increasing impatience, I certainly don't envy the pressure Anise is under.
That being said, if any good came of Mabon's surprise appearance, it was to provide us some much-needed direction. We've decided our next best move is to try and retrace Mabon's steps. In following his path, we hope to gain some insight into what we might be overlooking. It may be a bit unconventional as far as leads go, but if Mabon left such memories behind, it was certainly for a reason. As I took my leave, I was advised by the Alliance's Researcher Rin to direct my search south. And that's just what I plan to do.
Venturing southward, I kept my eyes peeled for signs of Mabon's presence. And sure enough, not long into my search, I discovered a wisp hovering near some bloodstone. Unsure how exactly to proceed, I consulted Waiting Sorrow, who suggesting using the Heart of the Obscure on the bloodstone. Her advice was ... less reassuring than I would've liked. Still, I threw caution to the wind and gave it a go.
Surprisingly, the interaction yielded ... a letter. Odd, but preferable to a spectral ambush or an explosion. The letter spoke of Manikaz, the unhinged mursaat researcher whose ghost I had the displeasure of meeting in Sanguine Crater. Apparently, he and his lackeys increased bloodstone sacrifices just before the Door of Komalie was opened. More lives ended in vain.
I continued exploring, encountering a few more wisps here and there. All seemed to have anchored themselves near bloodstone shards scattered across the area. With some help from the Heart, I uncovered a historical text, and shockingly, the ghosts of two of Manikaz's victims. Judging by the deep-seated terror that haunted them even in death, I can only imagine what torture the "Blood Phenoms" subjected them to while they were still alive.
One of the victims provided me some extremely useful information. She pointed me in the direction of the Golden Lake. According to her, Manikaz hid there in his final days as the city fell. Now that I've gotten Waiting Sorrow up to speed, I'll be making my way there. Though I'm none too eager to run into the executioner himself.
***
Arriving at the Golden Lake, I was caught off guard by its strange serenity. Like the eye of a storm, if you forget the turmoil surrounding it, you could almost mistake it for peaceful. But the illusion was short-lived. Again, I used the Heart on a nearby bloodstone shard. This time, it brought to life memories of Manikaz's death. His dying shrieks echoed across time as he was torn asunder by his pursuer.
Not much later, I found myself staring down the very same fate. A titan champion, not in memory but in the flesh, appeared before me and began closing in.
Fortunately, backup arrived. Waiting Sorrow, Poised Arrow, Anise, and Isgarren sprang into action. With a coordinated effort, we beat back the beast. Curiously, this titan didn't seem to share any kind of resemblance with Ura, Decima, or Greer. I didn't want to jump to any conclusions, but the implications made me somewhat uneasy. There was little time to dwell on the matter. We'd barely beaten the thing into submission when a wisp made its appearance.
The wisp floated into a chamber in the ruins, as if goading us to follow it. Now accustomed to its game of hide-and- seek, we followed. When we reached the end of the chamber, it rewarded us with another of Mabon's memories. We looked on as Mabon visited the site of Manikaz's then-recent death. He cursed the corpse of Manikaz, damning his heinous acts. In the heat of his denouncement, he was interrupted by a new presence. He called out, and the vision ended with Mabon in pursuit of it. Shaken by these revelations, Anise especially so, we decided to regroup at base once we found our bearings. Who or what exactly Mabon was pursuing in his memory, I'm afraid we just might find out.
Chapter 16: Penance for the Past
I visited the countess after giving her space to process recent happenings. Normally confident and collected, it was clear that Mabon's memory pained her. I had done my best to provide her a supportive ear, but aside from the isle's exploration, I was afraid there was little I could do to lessen her burden. As I was prepared to depart, I noticed that Anise's parting words were drained of her usual cunning. Equally deflated, I set off toward the one area of the island our party had yet to explore: the central region.
I trudged along, mulling over the situation, when my thoughts were interrupted by a wisp flickering into view. This time, I was in no mood for its cageyness. Thinking on my feet, I realized I'd been overlooking one of my most trusted allies: my warclaw. With its refined nose to guide the way, we recovered the scent and were back on the trail. Just as soon as I had the sprite in my sight, it darted off toward the door to Bava Nisos—a door we're still unable to breach. I informed Anise and used this moment to have a look around as I awaited backup.
***
I made use of my time by browsing the Grand Athenaeum. Strict as they could be, the mursaat had a refined sense of architecture, based on the ruins. During my visit, I found some useful historical tomes. One book in particular gave context on Yagon, her role in creating spectral agony, and also her role in killing the seer leader, Sidony. This was a major turning point in the war. Another tome, written by another mursaat, painted an especially menacing picture of Isagarren. Having worked with him the past couple years, it can be easy to forget I'm working with the most powerful wizard in known history.
I satisfied my curiosity and cleared out various pests in the process. Afterward, I sought to regroup with my allies. It was then that I caught a final glance of the wisp as it sauntered right through the door to Bava Nisos. I chatted with some nearby researchers examining the obstruction, but sadly, neither got a clear look at the wisp. As I waited for my friends, I imagined the wisp taunting me from just beyond the gate.
***
Soon, Isgarren, Waiting Sorrow, and Poised Arrow came to meet me outside the gate to Bava Nisos. Our reunion was interrupted by a chilling familiar voice. It was a reminder of a menace yet to be dealt with: Yagon. The ghastly mursaat crone showed no restraint or decency, which sowed the seed of her downfall. Tensions between her and Isgarren came to a head when she accused the late Mabon of cowardice. Infuriated by her callous words, we dispatched this wicked remnant once and for all. Wielding the Heart, I sealed away what remained of her.
With Yagon removed from the site, the wisp reappeared in the battle's wake. This time, we were met with a scene of Mabon cornering the unseen presence from the previous memory. In doing so, Mabon confirmed the fear that had been in the back of my mind: there was another titan. We watched as Mabon went so far as to challenge the titan to kill him. Instead, the titan fled into Bava Nisos. Mabon pursued. The memory ended.
There we found ourselves at the entry to Bava Nisos, its gate unyielding before us, barring us from the answers awaiting us inside.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Janthir Wilds: Absolution
- 1338
Chapter 17: Forced Entry
After our previous efforts left us standing outside the locked gates of Bava Nisos, it was clear we needed a new strategy. Something deliberate and well thought out to achieve our goal. What we've gotten is the exact opposite, at least based on Anise's most recent call. Fed up with the pace of our progress, Livia has now decided to barrel straight into Bava Nisos armed with the Scepter of Orr. As her colleague, I'd call her decision both inconsiderate and reckless. As someone aware of the Scepter's fraught past, I'd call it potentially catastrophic. And that's not even getting into the politics of her acting directly in contradiction of the Tyrian Alliance's vote. For now, I will be making my way to the city, hopefully to stop this situation from spiraling into an even greater mess.
***
I arrived at Bava Nisos and had no trouble locating my allies due to the heated argument in progress. Isgarren and Waiting Sorrow were vehemently opposing Livia's brash approach. Poised Arrow was in over his head trying to mediate the situation. All the while, Anise was trying to weigh the options on the table. And she was understandably stressed.
Upon my arrival, Poky asked that I talk some sense into everyone. I did what I could, plainly stating my stance, but it did little to calm the situation. But before anything resembling a decision could be reached, we were ambushed by a wave of Mistburned. They surrounded us, likely summoned by the Scepter of Orr as a side effect of Livia's heightened emotional state. We fought back, but at some point in the midst of the chaos, Livia managed to slip away. There was no question: she was on her way to open the gate, discussion be damned. With the Mistburned cleared out, we pursued Livia before she could cause irreparable damage to herself, to us, or to Tyria as a whole.
***
Little to our surprise, we caught up with Livia just as she was using the Scepter of Orr to punch a hole in the arcane seal guarding the city. Fortunately, no apparent calamities have come of her actions...so far. The wizards presumed this newly opened entrance safe, so we took the chance and pushed onward into Bava Nisos. However, the "city" we expected to be a mere pile of rubble turned out to be something far more sinister: a colossal titan! It seemed that the titan had existed in the city for so long that it had melded with the ruins, each indistinguishable from the other. At least, that was Isgarren's theory.
We had little time to take in the magnitude of our surroundings as we tailed Livia. We quickly found her engaged in combat with a group of titanspawn acting in an unusually coordinated effort. We provided her backup, eventually warding off the spawn. With the enemy defeated, Isgarren mulled over their heightened behavior, believing the titanspawn's increased cooperation to be a sort of immune-system response to protect the titan.
Though the party was more than ready to air their frustrations at Livia, they would have to wait yet again as we stumbled upon a nearby ruined camp. After a bit of snooping, we gathered that the camp appeared to have belonged to a trio of White Mantle, originally sent here on Caudecus's behalf. I investigated further, looking through the debris and abandoned personal effects to try to piece together their story. I uncovered some bizarre journal entries belonging to the White Mantle's youngest member, Judge. At first, I thought they were diary entries written in the form of some sort of poetry or prayer, and I assumed the kid had a bit of an artistic streak in him. But upon closer inspection, the writings appeared increasingly more deranged. Even more disturbing, they seemed to imply that a voice (maybe real, maybe imagined) kept beckoning to him in the night. From his descriptions, the whispers sounded like instructions to open the Mists gate. Given Judge's mental state, they may not be the most objective form of evidence. However, if true, they place responsibility squarely on the White Mantle for opening the Mists gate.
I regrouped with the party in an attempt to relay the news. Instead, I walked smack dab into the middle of an even more heated argument than the first. This time, Anise's stress levels had hit a boiling point. She made her sentiments very clear to Livia, to put it mildly. The argument eventually came to a head, leaving team morale at an all-time low. Since no one else was in any mood to collaborate with Livia, I agreed to partner with her to push farther into the city. The others would remain together, surveying the rest of the area. The strategy would be to keep the group intact while everyone calms down. And me keeping an eye on Livia certainly doesn't hurt matters.
Chapter 18: A Titanic Undertaking
Livia and I ventured farther into Bava Nisos–or rather, farther into the innards of the titan. We fought off several further attacks from the titanspawn "immune system" and set to work incapacitating what appear to be the titan's inner organs. After making a fair amount of progress, I received a call from Waiting Sorrow. Although she didn't state so directly, she seemed to imply that she's found another of Mabon's memories. She also asked that I regroup with her and the others...without Livia. I understand her hesitance to trust Livia given all that's happened here. However, Waiting Sorrow has her own history of keeping secrets. Although she's earned my trust, that sort of approach is the last thing our party needs to repair its fractured bonds. For now, I'll humor her request and see if my suspicions about a newly discovered memory are correct.
***
Humoring Waiting Sorrow's request, I ventured alone to meet with the rest of the allies. As suspected, Waiting Sorrow informed me that she had indeed discovered another of Mabon's memories. Eager to see what message Mabon had left behind this time, we gathered round to witness his memory.
Upon our viewing, the wispy visage of Mabon revealed the very secret that he'd long been holding on to. We witnessed him pursue the titan–Saevus, according to Mabon–into the ruins of Bava Nisos. After confronting it, Mabon conjured what appeared to be a killing blow. However, at the last moment, he instead cast a protection ward over the city. In doing so, Mabon chose not only to spare the lone titan's life, but also to protect it from further harm. Why exactly he had this change of heart is not entirely clear. Was it pity? A sense of kinship over being the last of one's kind? When confronting the titan, I did notice that Mabon's words seemed to echo that of his altercation with Isgarren. The very one that began their friendship. In that moment, perhaps he sensed the futility of senseless killing. And rather than perpetuate the cruel acts of his kind, he gave Saevus the option to live, the same as Isgarren had given him. Or was it something darker–did he assume Saevus would die here, forever trapped? Whatever the truth may be, it rests with Mabon.
The memory stirred a cacophony of emotions among all of us. For me, one particular truth still shone clear: if we're going to succeed, there's no place in our party for infighting and petty division. I firmly stated my stance, and the group agreed, some a bit begrudgingly. Nevertheless, I called Livia to check in. She reported that her efforts had succeeded in knocking out the titan's major organs, and she was now in the heart chamber wearing down the heart. Midconversation, the battle seemed to take a heated turn, and we lost the connection. We're headed there to provide backup and complete our objective as a unified team.
***
We arrived at the heart chamber and rushed to Livia's aid. It was soon obvious that in order to stop the constant "immune system" attacks for good, we needed to find a way to seal the Mists gate and stop the flow of magic that Saevus feasted on. After clearing another round of enemies, Isgarren tried convincing Livia to sacrifice the Scepter of Orr, as it seemed the only viable option suited for the task. As might be expected, this suggestion went over like a lead airship. The Mists gate reactivated, spitting out hoards of shadow creatures. Strangely enough, the scepter proved ineffective against these creatures during battle, creating a new obstacle. Midambush, the shadow creatures cornered Anise. Before I or any of the others even had time to react, Poised Arrow sprang into action, guarding Anise against the onslaught. If the cub didn't already have my respect, he sure earned it for his heroism when it was sorely needed.
But this was not the time for feel-good celebrations. Just when the ambush seemed to ease, the scepter began trembling in Livia's hands. Suddenly, in an entrance as grand as the wizard himself, Mabon emerged from the Mists gate! This was no dreamlike memory of Mabon. He or his essence greeted us with his typical warmth, as if just stepping off a Canthan beach. Wasting no time, he cast a ward over the Mists gate to prevent more unwelcome visitors from seeping through, anchoring himself to the spell.
We...had questions. Fortunately, Mabon had answers he was willing to share. To sum it up, he suspects the three titans we'd defeated were forged by the souls of the three White Mantle members whose camp we discovered earlier. To put an end to the chaos, he believes that we must release their souls from the Mists using a touchstone important to each during their lifetimes. My next objective is to track down these touchstones across Tyria. Though Mabon is a powerful wizard, he can't hold the gate closed indefinitely. And so, my race against time begins.
Chapter 19: Salvation's Cost
Upon returning to Bava Nisos, I received a letter from Livia detailing the journey ahead. I am now preparing to set out across Tyria to find the three White Mantle touchstones. Although the scope of the journey is daunting, I suspect that narrowing my search to known havens of White Mantle activity will be a good place to start. And with time limited, I have no choice but to be strategic. Best be on my way.
***
After some consideration, I decided to make the first stop of my search at Rurikton in Divinity's Reach. Here, I found Judge's prayer book. These seemingly innocent prayers are a stark contrast to the more sinister ramblings into which his later work devolved. It's tragic to imagine the life of a young person fueled by zealous belief in a cause that later uses them as a discardable pawn to realize its vision. Youth is ripe for manipulation. It makes me wonder what wayward paths myself and those I consider friends could have veered down had the wrong influence wrapped its tendrils around us in the times we were most vulnerable. A eye-opening thought, surely. But one it's best not to dwell on. Not that I have the time to do so.
***
I made my next stop at Wendon Steps in Brisban Wildlands. Here, I was able to locate Tatyanna's White Mantle badge. This search for sentimental objects has me wondering what sort of item would represent my life so strongly it could unbind my soul from the depths of the Mists. For Tatyanna, it seems her badge represented a place of belonging. Although I certainly can't condone the company she kept, I understand how the desire to belong can underpin one's life to such an extent. That's something inherent in all of us. But wickedness has a way of preying on such needs and redirecting the pain for its own purposes.
***
Finally, I made my last stop at the Shire of Beetletun in Queensdale. Here, I found a torch gifted to Ulrich by Caudecus. Based on the recounting of their interactions, Ulrich seemed to be something of a favorite of Caudecus. Not sure that's quite the compliment Ulrich would've believed it to be. Although, a mentor's praise has a way of filling a need for approval in those who long for such reassurance. Perhaps Ulrich sought such validation. But there's no time to wonder - I must return to Mabon with the touchstones and prepare to walk among the dead once more.
***
I returned to Bava Nisos with the tree touchstones in hand, ready to begin the next leg of the journey. I debriefed the party, which turned to some moral philosophizing about the justice of releasing souls who served in the name of atrocity. But overall, the potential for lives saved far outweighs the fate of three no-name cult members. And with the prospect hanging in the balance, the Mists await. The Realm of Torment is not a place I look forward to revisiting, but to put it simply, we must do what must be done.
***
We entered the Realm of Torment, searching for the tormented souls that are anchored within. Our party varied greatly in their experience with the Mists; while the wizards were plenty familiar, this was Poised Arrow's first time in this nightmare. Regardless, the place succeeded in putting everyone thoroughly on edge. To add to the disquiet, we encountered packs of demons roving across the barren abyss.
Finally, after navigating the hellscape, we located three White Mantle souls. Each soul was merged with a demonic entity, a clear indicator of how the three titans had been formed. We fought each of the tormented solus, weakening them to their most vulnerable states to maximize the touchstones' efficacy. The souls' wicked taunts made it easy to forego sympathy for bludgeoning them to bits. Finally, after a trying effort, we managed to release all three of the souls.
Once successful, we returned to Mabon, and he prepared to seal the Mists gate from within for good. Our good-bye was an emotional one. It was gratifying to see Waiting Sorrow finally given the opportunity to say a proper good-bye. And Isgarren... well, he betrayed the most genuine expression of care for a friend that we've ever seen him display. I gave Mabon my word that I would trust in Isgarren as we continue our work for Tyria's well-being, and I meant it. With that, Mabon took the Scepter of Orr from a resigned but accepting Livia and sealed the Mists gate. A partying every bit as painful as the original, but this time tinged with the bittersweet closure that comes with saying good-bye.
***
With the gates closed and the parting good-bye long overdue, I returned to the Tyrian Alliance. I debriefed the council on the journey's events, assigning credit and responsibility wherever appropriate. With the formalities out the way, it was time to celebrate. I must admit, not having the stress of battle looming ahead helped me achieve an ease I hadn't felt at the battle's eve feast. Inspired by an optimistic speech delivered by Jennah, I chatted among friends. Rather than talk of combat and strategy we spoke of... life. Of hopes and plans for the future and our excitement for the promise of days head. A welcome relief. I don't know what the days ahead hold for me. But at this moment, I feel a sense of peace that has long evaded me. And for as long as the feeling may last, I will allow it.
.png)
