Aerie's vision

Ornelia’s spell does not send you home. It takes you farther still: to a place where the air hums and voices sound both near and a thousand years away.

“At last!” the Archmage tells you. “You must have many questions. Follow me, I’ll explain what’s happening.”

She speaks to you with the calm of someone who has already lost too much.

“So that you understand: I am the authority of the mages of Arsinoe, and these are my companions. Arsinoe, the capital of this continent, is crumbling, and we are its last defenders… Urunesti, your town, will also cease to exist. You will lose your mother, your sister and everyone you love.”

A pause.

“While you sleep, you are in a vision of the future of our continent.”

Those who could not stop him

They are not alone. Beside Ornelia stand others, and each of them carries their share of the blame.

Prophet Tanzgue, servant of Danifae, the goddess of his order, cannot forgive himself:

“We have failed in our mission! We should have stopped Shandalar, the Lifeless One, the Sorcerer. But he managed to escape with his plans…”

Cleric Graivois, leader of the knights of Harpocrate of the Istar Gate, defenders of Arsinoe, keeps silent. Father Merlay, follower of Lalibela, “son of the gods,” watches you with a hope you are not sure you deserve.

“I hope to hear your name soon,” he tells you.

Now you know the name of the Mage from your dream. Shandalar. The Lifeless One.

Aerie

“Goddess Aerie!” Ornelia announces. “Here is the chosen one!”

The goddess does not speak like mortals. She speaks the way a storm speaks.

“Ragnarök!”

And then, more softly, for you alone:

“You must prevent this disaster from happening. This future does not have to come to pass… You can defeat the forces of evil. This dream is a cry for help: an attempt to create, to bring forth, a generation of heroes.”

She turns to the Archmage.

“Ornelia, open the portal. Your adventure begins here.”

“Pay attention,” Ornelia tells you as the portal opens. “We will send you back to Urunesti… but you cannot stay there. You must set out to fulfill your destiny. Franshille lives in your town: he knows he must show you the way. If you stay in Arsinoe, you will run into the Lifeless Sorcerer. That is why you must advance from Rune-Midgard.”

“Franshille, don’t forget!” Aerie calls to someone who isn’t there. “Good luck!”

The light swallows you once more.