Storyline pt. 2

*2 minute read - Glossary at the bottom* - *Special thanks to **Zhidao and Mokijn***

*[This page covers in-game progress up to and including The Archway]*

**The article "Storyline pt. 2" contains spoilers from the Raws!**
This article contains spoilers from the Raws and could reveal untranslated details. Do **not** continue reading if this is a problem for you.

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## Tower of Sky, Master Otrados

Leaving Ergenstadt behind for the locals to rebuild, the presence of the orcs began to come into focus for the heroes. The bridge leading onto the Aldwood had been destroyed as a defensive measure against the barbaric creatures and there was no choice but to help rebuild the bridge in order to make it across. Once there, they clawed their way through web infested paths as the trees creaked around them, the remnants of the Imperials and the Purge having left their marks. The Fae creatures of the Aldwood, spiders and Kobaloi that were generally reserved and kept to the shadows, were now openly attacking travelers as a direct result of the violence brought to them. This was compounded by orc onslaughts that had made it as far as the Tower of Sky, where the entryway was soaked in blood and horrors awaited our heroes.

Working their way up the tower where Amras used to study, the tragic circumstances faced by his former peers, Charon and Moros, began materializing. Journal entries indicated that their mentor, Master Otrados, was dealing with cryptic and forbidden manuscripts at the Sky Sanctum, which was most odious for someone who was the head of the High Circle of Mages. Moreover, he had left his apprentices right before the Prince’s murder, falling outside his typical pattern of behaviour. Preceding his departure, Otrados had Charon translating the manuscripts, its vile energies slowly consuming Charon. Ultimately, the forbidden texts eventually made their translator unrecognizable while driving Moros to madness as they resorted to using those dark magics to defend against the orcs and brought about a most unholy abomination; The Aspect of the Shepard. The heroes made short work of the monstrosity but the entire episode, with his master’s strange behaviour and the consumption of his former colleagues, left Amras disturbed.

Moving forward, the heroes regrouped at the False Crow tavern in the Archway where Corso with a surprise guest. It was Lord Margrave, Emperor Tertian’s retired Chancellor, who was secretively investigating the Prince’s murder for the Emperor. He explained to Reynar that Tertian had his concerns, believing the Iron Crowns, along with his safety, had been compromised while expressing his suspicions that all the incidents leading up to it were far too coincidental. As his lineage had just been erased, the Emperor needed to be most vigilant as there were indicators that there would be challenges made for the throne. While Verazza had been overtaken by city-wide riots, the Blind Saints had been called in to help with the murder investigation which hinted to the heroes that dark magics might have been involved. Lord Margrave pointed out that Bayard, the Prince’s cousin, was at the Banquet and there were witnesses confirming he had survived whatever had happened there. Shockingly however, a very credible City guard claimed he had witnessed Bayard murdering a priest and had been taken to the city’s prison. Although this was very hard to believe, the heroes agreed with Lord Margrave that their best way forward was to locate Bayard so that he could shed light on the situation and they left for Verazza to investigate further...

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