[Karazhan's Story] 2.0: Into the Past!

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Cinematic ending scene to the Terminus storyline:

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"Great sun, look! It's activating!" Suddenly, and with no warning, I found myself back in the real world. Or at least, I hope I was back to normal. Well...as normal as I could be, considering I was nothing more than a soul driving a sourcestone created body with who knows how many other souls as my passengers. A moment of amusement as I considered a group of shining balls of light (my idea of a soul) all sitting demurely in one of the Spirit-drawn carriages we employed in my home city. With a bone jarring thud, I landed, the breath knocked from my body. Well at least I had a body again. That weightless feeling of nothing, that blankness that happens when you sleep or die, had engulfed me the second I'd stepped into the breach in time that the Failsafe device had triggered was not a feeling I'd ever like to experience again. Ever. The brief moments before my mind went blank were the worst moments of my new existence. I thought I was going to die. Again.

     It took my heart a few moments to stop wanting to burst out of my chest. I'm sure I can be forgiven for having survived a face to face encounter with Regulos and gone through a time machine into the past at the same time. I could still see his horrifying face behind my eyes. I took a deep breath and hesitantly opened my eyes, half afraid I'd still be in that clearing at the base of the volcano, waiting to be devoured by Regulos. And my jaw dropped. It was like I was in a completely different world. And I guess technically, I was. A new, fresh Telara that had yet to be destroyed by the war that I'd come to prevent. Holy Spirits! It had actually worked! I'd hardly dared believe that there had actually been a way to reset everything. To go back and fix it so that the future I'd been reborn into wouldn't happen. I felt like cheering, or screaming. After the initial thrill had worn off, I glanced around curiously. I wonder where I ended up?

     I was standing on a metal platform that contained whirring and clicking gears. Behind me, a long metal arm extended out of the platform to a circle of metal overhead. A control panel sat nearby with a confusing number of dials and buttons on it that looked similar to the one Stavel was using. If I focused on bringing both this scene and the one from where I'd just come from, I could potentially see that they were the same machine. Which mean that though the timeline had changed, my location had been fixed. I'd travelled, not horizontally, but vertically, going through time to arrive at a different date but yet, not moving from my position. Even with my admittedly small understanding of time and physics, my mind just couldn't seem to want to wrap itself around the idea that time travel was actually, irrefutably, possible. It made me wonder why this device hadn't been used for other things. But than I remembered that it had taken a lot of Sourcestone to power the device. A king's ransom worth. That much sourcestone would be insanely expensive, not to mention, difficult to obtain. Another reason why everyone in the future was so fixated on my being their only hope. They literally couldn't afford to do it again if something went wrong. I forcefully pushed such grim thoughts away. It was all in the past now. Or the future...or something. What's done is done, I needed to focus on the here and now.

    Beyond the mechanical device I stood on, I could see verdant low hanging trees, gently sloping hills, and an old wooden bridge that led across a severe dip in the earth, like someone had scooped out a handful of earth. To the left the land tapered away into a short beach that ended at a sparkling body of water. Craning my neck to glance behind, I noticed a cobbled path that led to a larger, more extravagant bridge. The kind that led to castles and such. This bridge was beautiful, elegant and silver. Unfortunately, it seemed to be broken, snapped off support beams rearing into the air like accusing fingers. I wonder what happened to it.

     "Kremeny, something came through the portal..." said a different voice, which reminded me that yes I'd heard talking. I quickly swiveled around and stared at two men standing to the side of the platform, staring at me in open mouthed wonder and fear. "What is it?!" The man asked his fellow, Kremeny, who stared at me hard, as if trying to decide what type of insect I was. This brought back to me the importance that I needed to relay the information from Asha Catari from the future! The warning that the Ward would fall and Regulos would descend on Telara and destroy all! I fixed my eyes on the two men.

     "Hello." I said. My voice came out a bit scratchy and I realized I was thirsty. Insanely thirsty. I wonder if that was a side effect of the time travel. Ha, time travel. I still couldn't believe that it had worked! I looked up at the sky, feeling a grin stretching my features. My heart felt so light suddenly. I was so very glad to get away from that place of death and despair and entropy. Even now, it had mostly faded from my memory, repressed by my psyche no doubt. Probably for the best.

    "It speaks!" Exclaimed the same man again, at the same time as the other one said hello back. Kremeny rolled his eyes at his fellow guard. "Of course she speaks nitwit. Look at what she's wearing. Just think Ballard, what were we supposed to stay here and watch for?" He gave his friend a significant look, then gestured to myself. "Don't you see now? It's like Master Valis said! She's an Ascended from the future!" There was so much awe and fear and wonderment in his voice that I felt like cringing. The other guard, Ballard, turned back at me so fast I winced sympathetically, wondering if he'd strained something. He stared at me, face going even paler, and backed up a step.

     "An Ascended! Great sun! I can't believe it! No one ever thought the time machine would ever work! We've just begun trials on the Ascension process. And now there's one standing before me..." he trailed off, looking faint, and I quirked an eyebrow. Wait, like the others? There were more? I felt excitement claw at me.

    "Are you alright?" I asked distractedly in my gruff voice. It still sounded odd, hearing my words come out in a voice that was much rougher and lower than my own melodic Kelari accent. I wnt over what I was going to say in my head. Kremeny nudged his companion and rolled his eyes.

     "Yes, he's fine thanks. We're just a little shocked you understand! We knew what the machine was for of course. Everyone does. No one expected it to work so soon though! Except Orphiel...he predicted it. And you've come just in time!" I nodded absently, not really paying attention. I sent tendrils of elemental magic out on the air, testing the atmosphere. The thick cloying scent of death magic hung in the air and I frowned in alarm. Was I too late?

     "Excuse me. I am on a mission of utmost importance. Who can I speak to? I have vital information from...the future." I finished lamely, not knowing exactly how to finish. It was true, I was from the future, but it sounded so ludicrous saying it out loud. To his credit, Kremeny didn't chuckle or make a comment on my words.

      He rubbed the back of his helmeted head. "Well, Trinian Nillor is the resident temporal technologist. He knows all this sciency stuff. Me, I'm just a regular soldier. Freemarch is my home and I signed on to the Defiant's army cause they helped us when the rifts started appearing. I was sent to watch the Failsafe with my new pal Ballard here, as a show of unity between the Wardens and the Defiants" The man kept babbling and I wondered how long these two had been stationed out here to guard this device. I boldly took a step off the platform and the two guards hastily backed up a few more steps, then looked sheepish when I gave them a level look. With all that was going on in Telara they are scared of an ally from the future?

     "Where might I find this Trinian Nillor than?" I asked, keeping my voice quiet and neutral. Wordlessly, Ballard pointed behind him, where I could see a red robed male figure bent over another technical panel not far away. I was surprised he hadn't come to investigate all the antics these two were displaying. With a nod and murmur of thanks, I left the two guards discussing excitedly amongst themselves, easily eating up ground with my longer and more powerful legs. I will say this much about the Bahmi. They have well shaped bodies. I was muscular, with powerful limbs and weathered skin, but I also still had a well proportioned feminine shape. I also liked my hands. Fine boned and long fingered, they were artists hands. Or technicians hands. I grinned, imagining all the magitech experiments I could conduct now that I was among allies who encouraged such things.

     "Excuse me?" I offered to the man so as not to startle him. He gave a small yelp and fell on his rump. That wasn't exactly what I had intended. His sudden movement caused a deep seated instinct I didn't know I had to kick in, and somehow I found myself braced, staff in hand. A few moments went by where we stared wide eyed at each other in tense confusion, before I relaxed my battle stance and waved my hand in apology. The man frowned at me, than glanced behind me. I twisted my staff around and thrust it back through the harness across my back, then leaned down and held out my hand.

    The man took it, after giving me another confused look. He made a show of huffing and dusting himself off and I smirked, realizing that he must have become so absorbed in his work that he blocked out the outside world. I guess now I know why he didn't notice my sudden appearance earlier.

     "Who are you?" The man asked, his look of confusing transforming into wariness and suspicion. This may be a different world, but I could still see the marks of strife and tension on all of these men. Maybe I hadn't gone back far enough and this is only the beginning. Maybe now I have to relieve all the terrible things that had led to the future I'd been born into. Maybe...ugh get a grip Kara! I mentally chastised myself.

     "My name is Karazhan Solanta. I am an Ascended created by Sylver Valis and sent back in time to prevent the coming apocalypse." I said simply and seriously. My blunt words seemed to have the opposite effect I'd been expecting. The man's eyes widened in excited delight, as if he'd just found out that Fae Yule had come early. He veritably danced forward into my personal space, eyeing me up and down. I folded my arms and tried not to feel self conscious as he studied me. After all, it was much the same reaction as the other scientists back at the Life Factory.

     "This is amazing! Another one of you powerful beings will be essential in stopping the armies of Regulos and those blasted Guardians! Maybe soon we can have a whole army of you! Are you really from the future? Orphiel and Sylver were confident that the Failsafe would work, and that if it was needed, it would be used. He sent guards up here to watch out for such a thing...but no one actually thought it would work. Or so soon! Great sun! To think I've witnessed the success of all our work in my lifetime!" I gave an exasperated sigh at what I was beginning to realize was an overused expression. Great sun. Really, who came up with that? Probably the Eth. Oblivious to my inner musings, the man continued, "this is amazing. With this kind of power at our disposal, the Defiant will be victorious against all who oppose us!"

     I scowled. "I'm no one's tool. I am an actual person. I may be an ally but I don't like being treated like some magitech construct to be sent out to destroy enemies when the whim takes you." I admonished sharply. I may be willing to lend my considerable talent and newly awarded power to help the Defiant cause, because they were like minded individuals and I had no one else left, but I would not be used like some sentient weapon, to be aimed at anything the Defiant considered a threat. This may not be my body, but I was still me!

     Trinian had the sense to look slightly ashamed. "I'm sorry...Karazhan was it? I didn't mean for it to come out like that. It's just...we've been having so many things go wrong lately, and now the Guardians are constantly attacking us, and there's something stirring in the march, and we keep hearing rumors of death magic being on the rise, and our attempts at creating our own machineborn Ascended keep failing. It's a real mess here, and we could use any help we can get. That's all I meant." He smiled hesitantly, eyes searching mine earnestly. I stared silently at his sun darkened face than sighed and nodded.

     "Very well, I accept your apology. But I would like to ask a few questions, please. Are there other Ascended like me? What is the situation with Regulos? Has he attacked yet? What year are we in and what plans do we have to defend Telara against the Blood Storm threat?" I glanced around, making a vague hand wave. "I'm sure you can imagine this is a bit overwhelming for me. You have no idea the nightmare I've been through just to get here. And all those lives lost...Asha! Is Asha here? Is she alive?" I asked the last questions rapidly, suddenly remembering Asha's desperate last stand against Regulos. My skin suddenly felt cold when I recalled the flat, dead eyes of the destroyer as he stared right into my soul. I was very, very glad I was immortal, because I would not want to meet up with him after death. It was rumored that the Soulstream, where all souls went after being severed from their earthly ties, led to Regulos, the god of death. Trinian blinked owlishly at me for a moment, stunned.

    "Oh, right, of course!" Trinian looked around fondly. "This is Freemarch. It wasn't always called that, but we renamed it when we finally claimed our freedom against Jakub." He spat to the side as he said the name. I was curious as to who that was, but kept silent. I'm sure I could find out later. "It's year 1509, 5th moon. The year of the Ascended, as the Guardians have finally fulfilled their precious prophecy."

     I gave a puzzled head tilt and the man laughed, rather bitterly. "What, you haven't heard? Oh right, future. Well, earlier this month, the Guardians experienced a wave of powerful Ascended heroes arriving from the past. They'd suddenly disappeared after the Shade Wars, and everyone thought they were gone for good, but nope, can't get rid of those blasted Vigil worshipping fanatics. If they didn't have their hands full of their own problems we'd no doubt get a more personal up close look at their Ascended, instead of these missile strikes they keep sending. But now we have you, our very own Ascended! Although...I wish there were more of you..."
     He looked behind me in bemusement, as if expecting a dozen replicas of me to suddenly pop up. "I have heard rumors of other machine born creations, such as Asha Catari, Kira Thanos, and a few others. But I can't say for certain. I'm just one scientist, and not very important at that, so I don't hear much." He grinned. "How was the future like?" he asked innocently, eager for information.

     "I don't know, actually. From what I saw of Telara, Regulos was moments away from destroying what little that remained..." I tried hard to keep the emotions from strangling my voice and stopped to take a breath through my mouth. "This is Freemarch huh?" I said abruptly, wanting to change the subject.

      I had heard of the place before. It was where...wait. Year 1509? That means...I had died on the Ember Isles 25 years ago. I felt a cold shiver. Here I was, walking and talking, years past the date of my death. Feeling very morbid, I wondered if I'd find my tombstone if I ventured back to the Isle and looked for it. I would say I was taking that little fact very well except, compared to everything else I'd experienced, finding out that I'd died on an island far away from here 25 years ago wasn't exactly the most shocking thing I'd experienced today. Trinian and I lapsed into an awkward silence. Suddenly remembering the whole reason I was here, and how imperative it was that I relay my information to someone of authority, I fixed Trinian with a commanding look.

     "Who around here would have the highest authority? Where is an officer I can find to talk to? It's important that I inform someone of authority of what I've witnessed." Trinian Nillor blinked.

     "Oh, right, of course! Should have thought of that immediately. They will want to know about this. I can still hardly believe it....the future. You better go see Sanora Rellwyn. She's the commanding officer in charge of the defenses at the Arc. She'll definitely want to know that we have a hero from the future on our side." Inexplicably I blushed. Hero. That wasn't a word I'd labeled myself with. When hearing stories of ancient heroes who'd stood up against the dragons and done acts of bravery and selflessness, I'd always thought myself too fond of life to risk it for others, let alone strangers. But I'd changed. I could feel it. I wasn't the same girl I was before and I now felt pride in risking myself to save Telara. I shook my head to focus on the task at hand.

     Trinian pointed off to the side, where I'd seen the old wooden bridge. Now that I knew where to look, I could see a sheer smooth wall up against the point where the valley butted up against a sheer mountain. The sun winked off something shiny and red that was set into the wall. I thanked Trinian, assuring him that if I had time, I'd come back and talk more, since he looked so morose at my leaving. I made for the small, nearly invisible path that led down into the tiny valley.

     A high pitched whining noise proceeded the ground shuddering as a large flaming cannon ball slammed into the mountain to my left and I stared in shock. Glancing over my shoulder, I mentally traced the arch of the projectile's path, trying to guess where it had come from. Somewhere from beyond that broken silver bridge, I'd say. Who was lobbing cannons willy nilly? Was it those Guardians that Trinian had mentioned?

    I continued down into the dip of land, but kept my ears trained or any more projectiles. I'd rather not get reduced to a puddle of Ascended goo my first day back from the future. Even though it was still a shock to realize I was in a different time, a different Telara than I knew, I was already beginning to refer to this time and place as home. Unless another time machine could be invented to send me back to my time, I was stuck here. And it wasn't actually that bad. I'd find my place among the Defiants and I'd carve a place for myself here. I had the power and the strength and the magic to make a difference, and I sure wasn't going to waste it.

[Lore] XVI: The Failsafe Device

      Discovered and successfully engineered by Orphiel Farwind, the Failsafe Device, as he called it, is a temporal anchor through time with a machine attached to that anchor that would allow a being to travel through time to a different point in the machine's history. The official name of the device is the Distal Temporal Refraction Device. As far as is known, Orphiel never actually mastered time travel, but he was able to create this device which allowed Machineborn Ascended from the future to travel to the past and warn the peoples there of what would happen at the end of days. When asked to explain his device, Orphiel stated that it "confuses time on such a base level that time would rather ignore it completely than attempt to resolve the issue."

     Stavel, Sylver's assistant, runs the actual mechanics of the Failsafe up on the hill before you are confronted by Regulos and use the device. When you speak to him he says "I have prepared Orphiel's Failsafe Device to Sylver's specifications. I've been running tests on the gateway while waiting for your arrival. It should be ready." So originally it was Orphiel's Failsafe, but than he disappeared before the destruction of Meridian. No one knows where. A body could not be found. But they couldn't give up their plans and studies on finding a way to create their own Ascended, so the remaining Defiant scientists went into hiding after Meridian was sacked, bringing their technology and plans with them to protect it from the Guardians and than later, the Blood Storm. Did they pack up and move the Device or leave it where it had been built? I can't say. Maybe they only brought parts of it with them and than reconstructed it after venturing out of the Life Factory in the future, after the world had been all but destroyed. If you ask Stavel "How does Orphiel's Failsafe work?" he will say, "It took us some time to decipher the genius of Orphiel's construction, but the Failsafe is fully functioning. As you may know, all of our data shows that the device can only send you back to the time of its creation. But that should be enough time for you to stop this future from repeating." Curious. That seems to imply that Orphiel never actually left instruction on the Device. Meaning that he hadn't planned on disappearing? He was planning on coming back to that that time and continuing his work? But if he DID use the time machine himself, he would have altered history and would have than ended up in a different timeline, unable to return to the timeline he had originally left behind. That would explain a lot actually of what happened to him and why he wasn't present during the end of Telara. And than also, upon activating the device, Stavel exclaims "Something isn't right! Regulos must be blocking the Temporal Stream!" Curious. Regulos can do that? Can he see the temporal stream? But if he had that kind of power, wouldn't he able to stop the Ascended from slipping through time and preventing his destroying the planet? Although Asha did have him distracted with her assault. It seemed for a few moments that she was evenly matched against him. Of course only for a few moments because in the cut scene after that, he overwhelms and kills her with his own power.

     According to citizens who survived the destruction of the world at Regulos's hand, the Failsafe device in the future would bring the Ascended to a point in time just after the Failsafe device had been built, at the beginning. This would be Year 0 in the Rift timeline, as the calendar started over to mark the coming of the Ascended and the arrival of the Rifts. What's strange is that the knowledge collector states a fixed point in time after the machine was created, but the people say TO the point in time of its creation. Do they not know that you can travel to other times? How did these people know where exactly the time machine would send the Ascended? Was there a way to alter your temporal destination? Had others gone to different times in the past, in the testing of the device? I would assume that the device had been tested because leaving it to chance when all hope rested on the Ascended reaching their specific destination seemed rather reckless and irresponsible. It is known that Orphiel succeeded in placing items in the time device and having them appear at a different fixed position in time as long as it happened after the machine had been built. You could always go forward in time but not back because the device had been built in a certain year so any years before that were unreachable unless some other means were discovered. So what impact did these objects have on the study of the device? How was one to determine when the object would appear? How could one determine the correct calculations to each year?

     The time machine consists of a few distinct parts, located in different places. There is the Temporal Flux, the Resonance Capacitor, Automata Inflector, and the anchor device, controlled and programed by Sylver Valis, who is Orphiel's assistant when it comes to magitech machines. In the future, at the end of days when Regulos is ready to swoop in and destroy the remaining part of the world, Terminus, the Temporal Flux is located in a cave in the Sinkhole. The Resonance Capacitor is located across from it in a field controlled by Guardian zealots. The Automata Inflector is located in Castrum Hiberna on the right side tucked away behind all the houses down a hill and the actual machine that sends you through time is located up a hill past the Rubicon. In the past, the year the Ascended return to upon using the device, the anchor machine is located in a hill beside the bridge that led to Silverwood while the other parts I'm unsure of.

     A knowledge collector located next to the Temporal Flux in the cave says:

"Greetings Ascended, I am an automata designed to recount tales of history." When initiated, it has this to say on the Failsafe Device and the Temporal Flux:

• 1.)Do not initiate the Temporal Flux unless preparation has begun to initiate the Failsafe Device. The Temporal Flux is necessary to initiate the Failsafe Device but is dangerously unstable and could potentially unravel elements of the temporal tapestry.
• 2.)Once the Temporal Flux has been initiated, do not allow it to be interrupted. Doing so could also potentially unravel elements of the temporal tapestry.
• 3.)Do not eat or drink near the Temporal Flux.
• 4.)Initiation of the Temporal Flux is likely to attract the attention of Regulos the Destroyer as a large amount of sourcestone will be burned.

     This suggests that the Failsafe Device requires a vast amount of energy and effort to power up and use successfully, which might explain why there seems to be only one Ascended sent through in that timeline. Of course, when you the Ascended travel through the time machine, you are given blueprints to bring back with you so that Defiants in the past can recreate the process of making Machineborn Ascended. That implies that history will be changed since they could than start creating their own Ascended earlier than originally intended. What happens than to the Terminus timeline? Does it collapse? Keep running alongside the timeline that the Ascended find themselves in once they travel to the past? Completely destroyed by a successful and vengeful Regulos? Asha says that you must go through the time machine and make sure this future never happens. So we can assume that the future Terminus doesn't in fact happen after all once we go through time, because we rewrite history itself by appearing in the past.

     Another odd thing to note. Before Trion changed around the starter zone quests to make it easier and faster to get through the zone, one of the quests was to initiate the Temporal Flux. I am actually quite depressed that they took this quest out of the game. After you initiate the device, power goes through it and a man comes to life on a platform next to the Flux. He is named "Defiant of Old" and says "Regulos, your curse is broken! The Ascended has released me. I shall send your minions back to the foul plane of their ignoble birth". What exactly was a Defiant doing stuck in that machine? Was he stuck in time? Trapped? Perhaps he was one of the test subjects sent through initially while they were testing the Failsafe. If so why did he say that Regulos cursed him? Perhaps while lost in the temporal stream Regulos cursed him? Rather interesting I'd say!

     In conclusion, it's rather frustrating that I don't know more about the Failsafe Device! Maybe more information will come to light as I continue through the game. For now, all I have is lots of questions about the subject. And one last note. It seems that Orphiel disappeared sometime before the destruction of Meridian, which implies that it was right after his construction of the device. That leaves us to wonder: Did he use the device himself, untested? If he did, where did he end up? He could only have gone to the future because you can't go past the creation point of the device. While in the future did he find the plans to create Ascended? What else did he discover? By using the device, he would irrevocably altered history yet again and would have changed his own future. The Orphiel that sits in his tower in Meridian might or might not be the same one that created the Failsafe Device. He seems mysteriously quiet about everything and does not associate with anyone else in Meridian, instead he seems focused on a giant telescope. What exactly can he see from that position? Is he mapping constellations and stars? Does that determine the time you can travel to in the device? Who knows, I certainly don't.


References: The information for this lore excerpt can be found in the Terminus zone/the starter zone for the Defiant by reading the little knowledge collectors strewn about the zone. There's actually quite a bit of information there. Also, I recorded quest information from before the changes made to the zone so have a bit more lore than is given to us now.

[Karazhan's Story] 1.5: At World's End

      I struggled along behind the construct as it easily ate up the distance. After we'd left the ruins of the village behind, I found that we'd veered to the northwest. There, against the sharp sides of the mountain, was a small path hewn into the rock. I paused as I studied it thoughtfully. Had the path been here before the Defiant set up their forces, or had they themselves cut a path into the rock? I wondered, again, why the Failsafe was so far from any of their outposts or army encampments. It made no sense that something so pivotal wouldn't be better protected. I shook my head as I followed the construct up the rocky incline. I guess the reasoning was irrelevant now.
      I cringed as the construct mulched its way through the forces of Regulos that seemed to be laying in wait for us on the mountain edge. At last the construct slowed and no longer seemed to bristle with threat. Curious, I jogged to catch up and peeked around the large machine. Up ahead, the ground evened out to my relief. My shins were already burning from the steep uphill climb. A barricade of wooden stakes cut off the path and I was ever so glad to see men clad in red and silver and gold armor guarding the passage. It seems I'd made it to this Rubicon. My heart felt light but at the same time a flutter of unease grew in my belly. End game now. I took a deep breath. It was now or never. And I never really had a choice anyway. The eyes of the guards flicked over me with somber wariness as I drew abreast of them, assessing my potential as a threat. I stood still, not wanting my superior height to intimidate the shorter Eth men.

     "Ascended?" One of the men inquired cautiously, quietly. I nodded. The two glanced at each other and some of the tension seemed to leave them. Their eyes gazed at me with hope now, and resolve. Inwardly I cringed. "I'm here to activate the Failsafe." I said, softly. Nevertheless, the words seemed to echo all around me. The two guards bowed and shuffled to the sides. The construct, having been still and silent this whole time, now lumbered off without a word. I watched it go, somewhat at a loss.

     "Isach Undugar, the master at arms, would no doubt have some instruction for you." The Defiant guard standing nearby startled me with his words. I turned to see him giving me a friendly, if somewhat nervous look. I pushed a smile onto my face and thanked him. At least I won't have to wander around in confusion. I continued up the path until I'd passed the barricades. A tall banner in the familiar red and gold colors of the Defiant stood to the left of the path, rippling in the breeze. I gazed thoughtfully at the design. It was rendered beautifully on thick red cloth. A bird of some sort in flight with its beak pointed up, encircled by sourcestone. Idly, I wondered what the bird and sourcestone represented. More guards and centurions bowed to me as I passed, or murmured thanks.

     Isach was dressed in a red button-down overcoat with gold embroidery and had on an unusual-looking helmet. He carried a heavy double-barrel shotgun and had a grim expression. He smiled at me, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

     "Great sun, an Ascended!" He exclaimed, startled, as he noticed my presence. I quirked a dry grin. As if I haven't heard that before. "I'm glad you've made it, Ascended! You've surpassed every expectation we had in you for saving us. Time is running out for us though. We need to get you to Orphiel's Failsafe before Regulos discovers our plans and it's too late to stop him!" I nodded, fighting the urge to bite my lip. This seemed so surreal to be true. All this time I'd been running from point A to point B without really stopping to fully realize my situation. Here I was, saving the world. Me, a young clueless mage who wasn't even supposed to be chosen for this body. It seemed rather unbelievable.

     "I'm ready sir." I said, hiding the quiver in my voice. This was a lot to take in for anyone.
      Isach nodded, looking relieved. "All is in place for the Failsafe to carry you back to the moment it was first installed. Only you, Ascended, are strong enough to stop the future by fixing the past." I frowned at that. That comment, along with the earlier one about surpassing their expectations, gave me the impression that I wasn't the first one they had tried sending on this mission. Had others been sent from the outposts and failed, I wonder?  Isach's next words brought me out of my reverie. "Sylver's assistant, Stavel, is up the hill making the final preparations for your journey. This is all on you, friend. Go no, before Regulos discovers our plans to alter history!" He pointed urgently and I turned, seeing yet another path going up an incline. I couldn't see anything over the hill but I assumed there must be a plateau or a flat space for the Failsafe to be sitting on. My eyes were drawn further upward, where they were held by the dancing fires of the volcano. Up here in the mountains, the volcano was closer than ever. I could almost imagine that I felt the heat from the lava, burning my skin and drying out my eyes. The red ash that floated into the air seemed to drift down in our direction specifically and I shivered. I needed to do this, for all the lives that had been lost, for my world that had been destroyed by that monster. I gave Isach a nod and he inclined his head at me, a show of respect. All the guards around him raised their fists at me. I took a look around. It was now or never. I almost winced. Such emotion charged the air. I wonder what it feels like for them, knowing they put their very lives into the cause of helping a few lone Ascended return to the past. If I do this correctly, this future will cease to exist. Will these people cease to exist as well? Or will they be there, but not there? The same people, but different for not having been through this terrible ordeal. I wonder, would I cease to exist, since I was resurrected in this future? Or maybe since I traveled into the past physically, would the world just find a way to squeeze me into the great wheel of things? How far into the past will I go? Will I see my younger self? Relations? Ancestors? Descendants? Ok, that was just too weird, time to concentrate.
      As if sensing my internal debate, the master of arms placed his hand on my shoulder. "I know you can do this, Ascended. Sylver Valis wouldn't have chosen you otherwise." I smiled, but inside just grew more uneasy. That's just it, I thought desperately as I gazed up the hill, dread filling me. I was a mistake. What if I'm not the Ascended he needs? I was competent for what was expected of me back on the Isle, but after I'd died....something I refused to think about it even for a moment...who knows? Even with my newly exalted status I might not be enough to do any good.

     "We face destruction, Defiant and you are our only chance. Now go!" Isach spoke, a bit more urgently and harshly. He looked up, eyeing the darkening skies. I stood up straighter and before I could second guess myself, marched up the hill. So be it, I'll do my best, or die trying.
      I headed for the incline that would lead me, finally, to the end of my mission here. The results that I'd been striving toward for what seemed like an eternity. In reality it had hardly been but two days. The time seemed to pass differently here, blurring together. Just before I set foot on the bottom of the incline, a hand on my arm stayed me. I glanced to the side to see a young Eth woman in a pretty pink dress standing off to the side. I looked into her eyes and was startled by the sharp intelligence I saw shining back at me. Her face was blotched and red from crying and her eyes watered even as I looked at her. I gave her a questioning look.

  "I used to believe in the Guardians, you know. Then they failed us. I stopped believing in gods, heroes...all of it. Belief is nothing more than a comfortable lie. We Defiants, we think and we do." She nodded at me as if that should make sense. I frowned. What was she getting at? I didn't have the time to tarry and comfort some lone weeping girl I'd never met and would likely never meet again. I blinked as I felt something being thrust into my hands and gazed down at a smudged roll of parchment. "As soon as you enter the Failsafe, this land will be overcome with death invasions." The woman said, looking terrified. I felt my mouth fall open slightly as dismay filled me. A pang of compassion caused me to fold the note and deposit it into my bags, before I turned my attention fully to her. "We hoped to hold out a little longer, but we had to reroute all power to the Failsafe, to ensure you made it to the past. This means it is all solely on you to carry our findings to the past." She wet her lips and looked down at her hands. I felt the blood leave my face. All on me? Sure, I knew that I had to go back and warn some important people about what was to happen, but what did she mean, all on me? I shook my head, stunned.

     "By my calculations, you should arrive shortly after we discovered the original life factory, twenty years ago." I perked up at that. Finally a bit more concrete information on what to expect on the other side of the Failsafe. "Deliver these papers to Sanora Rellwyn. Remember that name! She is a trusted Defiant loyalist and will be able to direct you in the past. It will give the Defiants of the past the secret to crafting Ascended beings and will serve as further proof of who you are." I placed my hand over the my bag that contained the letter. Oh. I had thought it was some love letter she wanted me to give to someone, but now that I thought about that, it seemed rather silly since when I travelled to the past, this future would never happen and there would be no need for such a letter. I can't believe I am holding the blueprints to creating Ascended. That much knowledge and information, being entrusted to me? I gazed at the woman more closely. She didn't look like a scientist or a technomancer.

     "I will try my best to ensure this information is given to this Sanora." I said quietly. "Spirits willing, I won't fail." The woman's eyes overflowed with tears again.
      "Thank you, thank you!" She exclaimed, looking sad and tired and relieved all at once. I grasped her cold hands with mine and squeezed her fingers gently, hoping to lend her some of my strength. "What is your name?" I asked her. I felt maybe I should find her in the past and let her know that I had succeeded. If I succeed. I pushed that last thought aside. The woman smiled at me, making her look radiant against the dark backdrop of the mountains.

     "Quaeni. My name is Quaeni Nidain." She smiled up at me and I smiled gently back. Than I let her hands go and looked up the path. "Farewell, Quaeni." I said. She raised a fist in salute. I felt emotion catch in my throat and was stunned to realize that tears were making their way down my cheeks. Despite the short length of time I'd spent in this bleak future, among these Defiants I'd never met before and would likely never meet again, I felt something for them. A kinship and sense of purpose that we all shared. United under one cause. I can only hope I can fulfill the task given to me.

     Atop the hill was a small plateau, as I had guessed. A magitech's dream was sprawled out across the flat area. There were machines, trinkets, tubes, gadgets, sourcestone, tools and boxes everywhere. In the center of the small field a raised platform took center stage. My eyes were immediately drawn to it. There was a long handle-looking prong that that extended upward from the platform and hovered over it. A large red circle was embedded in the overhead machine and glowed dully. Large chunks of sourcestone littered the area around the platform. Idly glancing around, I finally spotted an Elf standing behind what I assumed to be the control center. There was a small red tent behind him packed full of various odds and ends of the magitech variety and I had to clamp down on the souls inside me as the strong desire to run over there and investigate it all shivered through me. We didn't have time for that! Time to see what I was made of. Come on, Kara!

  The man called Stavel Rosso, the assistant of the notorious Sylver Valis was standing on another raised platform fiddling with a control panel with many wirings, tubes and technological devices snaking away from it. He was a pale, tall man in heavy robes. He looked intensely relieved when he saw me approach.

     "It is an honor, Defiant. I have prepared Orphiel's Failsafe device to Sylver's specifications. I've been running tests on the gateway while waiting for your arrival. It should be ready."

     "Thank you." I said softly, nervously eyeing the machine sitting in the center of the clearing. I have to admit that I was quite a bit apprehensive now that the moment had arrived. Who knew what would happen? They say that it will work but do they know for sure? What if I end up stuck in the temporal stream? Or end up in a different time than I need to? What time exactly will I end up in? I opened my mouth to ask when Stavel interrupted me, although politely. "I don't mean to rush you, but I don't know how long we will be able to hold this gateway to the past open, nor do I know how long our defenses can last. Prepare yourself and let me know when your ready." As he finished he gave me a reassuring smile, as if sensing my forboding. I tried to smile back, sure it looked more like a grimace.

     "I am ready. Activate the device." As soon as I said the words my heartbeat sped up. This was it. No going back. I've passed the point of no return. This was further evidenced by Stavel's nod. He hit a switch and a whirring noise from behind signaled the powering up of the device.

   I wandered over to inspect the machine more closely as he played with the wires and gadgets on his end. Suddenly Stavel yelled something. From where I was, over by the Failsafe platform, I couldn't hear what the exact words but from his tone of voice it didn't sound like anything good. I turned back toward him and raised my arms in a shrug-like motion to indicate I hadn't heard and than I noticed that his eyes were wide and horror-filled and were gazing at....I turned sharply back to the Failsafe and gasped. Dark tendrils and strange tentacle like ropes were descending rapidly from the sky and converging on the platform. I dived out of the way of one such tentacle to avoid being skewered.
     "It's Regulos! He must be blocking the temporal stream!" Finally, Stavel's fear-tinged voice reached my ears and a shiver of dread went through me. No! I did not want to tangle with the Destroyer.
     I was making my way hesitantly back across the clearing to the Eth scientist when a strange, red robed woman blinked into existence in front of me, hovering several feet above my head. I jerked back, surprised.

     "By the gods!" I exclaimed. Where did this woman come from? Immediately I knew she was a threat. I glanced at Stavel out of the corner of my eye.

     "Fools! Do you think my master would allow you to escape so easily? Your petty machines will help you no more than the gods you spurned!" The woman screeched hatefully, pointing a long, hooked finger at me. Her voice was hideous, filled with evil and strong magic. The woman waved her arms and chanted something in a language that sent prickles of unease up my arms. Death magic. Undead minions crawled their way out of the ground all over the clearing, confirming my suspicions. I braced myself for combat, shaking my staff free of its bindings and planting it firmly in front of me. Instead of attacking me as I expected, the undead creatures set themselves on the components of the time machine and I realized that this must actually be a real threat to Regulos if he'd attack that first. So mindlessly focused on the magitech's destruction were the zombies that it was an easy enough task to pick them off. I called upon my own magic to swiftly put an end to the threat. I was panting with exertion and fear as I finished off the last one.

     "Why do you resist the will of Regulos? Are you really so eager to die again?" The woman's voice boomed again, startling me so badly I nearly dropped my staff. Yes, fearless Ascended here. She bent her head and muttered something else and I tensed, waiting for more zombies. This time, though, it was some mutated planar creature I'd never seen the like of before. It was horrifying.

     The creature, large and gray, lumbered toward me with all the grace of an ox and I knew that reflex and finesse would win this fight. The creature was big and strong, but it was incredibly slow. I was easily able to dodge its wide swings and avoid its hits, attacking from behind with quick bursts of magic and veiling myself in protection spells. Slowly I wore the beast down but I could practically feel time ticking away. Finally, with an outraged roar the abomination collapsed to the death-shrouded ground, victim to my fireballs. I wiped sweat off my forehead.

     "Enough of this foolishness! I will slay you myself and my master shall consume this world at last!" The woman's zealous cries were really beginning to irk my rather mild temper. At this point I was quite looking forward to sending one of my spells right at her face. Thankfully the whole situation was causing my fear to shrink. I was too busy protecting the device and putting an end to the creatures of the Death Plane to act like a terrified rabbit. The woman floated to the ground and said a few words of arcane death magic. Her skill in death magic was quit impressive, unfortunately. Obviously she'd had a long time to master her skill. I'd always veered away from death magic, knowing nothing good would come of it and finding that elemental magic came easier to me. I wasn't quite prepared to fight a mage of her caliber. I'd only been expecting to enter the Failsafe and go the past. I shuffled to the side uneasily, waiting for her to make the first move.

     "Not while I still draw breath, betrayer!" I gasped, recognizing that strong voice. I glanced behind me, keeping the woman in sight and grinned upon seeing Asha Catari run up behind me with a handful of Defiant defenders. She was definitely a welcome sight. Thank the ancestors I wouldn't be fighting this woman alone.
    "Perfect timing, Lady Catari!" I called with relief.

     "Asha! I welcome your petty gesture. Your end is long overdue!" The woman shrieked, sounding infuriated at seeing Asha. Obviously there was some history there I didn't know about. I glanced over uneasily at Asha, wondering what her plan was. Seeing the determined look in her eyes, I readied my staff and planted my feet firmly. As an Immortal Ascended chosen by these people to be their savior, I would do my utmost to defeat this wicked woman.
     
      Asha explained to me as the fight drew on that the woman we faced was a mage named Alsbeth. That meant nothing to me since I've never heard of a woman named Alsbeth, although it seemed that she was someone of importance at one point by Asha's expression of dismay. It was almost as if Asha felt saddened by having to fight the corrupt woman. As I parried the net of dark magic that Alsbeth threw at the group, I kept glancing uneasily at the sky. We were taking too long. I knew that the longer the Temporal Flux and the Failsafe was running the stronger was our risk of gaining Regulos's attention and that was something I seriously did not want to happen. Maybe someday when I am strong enough I could face Regulos with impunity and take him down (I snorted in disbelief), but right now, I was nothing but a newly reborn elf in a strange body, in a strange situation, who didn't really have a firm grasp on her abilities, her beliefs, or her ideals. I felt like a leaf in the wind, being blown from one destination to the next without really alighting on anything solid. If I ever finish this mission successfully and get myself to the past I must better prepare myself for the tests I would face. Alsbeth sneered at me and chanted a dark spell. I gasped and quickly bound elemental energy to my form, creating an absorption shield to mitigate the damage. I could feel the pressure of the spell on my mind as it pushed for a weakness in my magical armor, but I held firm, hoping that my magic was stronger than hers. She may be a powerful mage with ties to Regulos, but she was no Ascended, resurrected with a specially created sourcestone body and woven through with multiple souls and strong new ties to the energy of the planes.

     I flung a bolt of ice at Alsbeth and while she was distracted by deflecting it, Asha finished the mage with her beautiful, deadly sword. The woman cried out in fury before falling to the ground. I leaned on my staff, heart in my throat. I had no idea if the woman was dead or not, but I didn't want to go over and investigate. That was most definitely intense. Without even a glance at the body, Asha raced over to Stavel.

     "Stavel, we're out of time. Get this portal open NOW!"
     "I'm working on it!" Stavel shouted back, no doubt frustrated. A pause, and than he said with relief, "the temporal matrix is stabilizing. It shouldn't be too much longer now."

     I sagged with relief myself. Finally, I can complete this mission. I couldn't wait to finally be done with this crazy adrenaline rush. It was one constant roll from point to point. I had no moment to rest, no moment to actually understand what happened to me. In a way, that was good because I didn't want to find myself depressed or sorrowful over my losses, but I would have liked a moment to say a last silent farewell to all the people I'd left behind when I'd died. Unless Regulos ate their souls....okay enough of that line of thought. Suddenly the sky went black. I shrank back uneasily, fingering my staff. Now what? Enormous pulsing tentacles, darker and more malevolent than before, appeared out of a rip in the air and thudded to earth all around us. I gasped. This was definitely not a good thing...

     "Did you mortals really think you could stop the power of Regulos?" The voice, dark and sinister and death incarnate, almost made my heart stop with fright. "Oh no. Oh no, no, no!" Desperately, I backed up, not wanting to awknowledge what I knew I saw. A monster hovered in the air where the mage Alsbeth had first appeared. Monster is the only way I could describe the thing that appeared. It wore the tattered remains of a dark colored robe, had long bony claws and a reptilian tail. And its face...was a nightmare to behold. Violet magic, the magic of death, burned in the eye sockets and the mouth was a vast cavern that promised death and agony to all. I whispered a prayer to anyone who would listen, glancing back to where Asha stood. She had gone pale, the strange blue runes glowing brightly against her ashen skin. "Oh no, Regulos!" She cried. How I heard her above the gale of death magic that swept the clearing, I've no idea. The form of Regulos glanced down at the body of his devoted follower with empty, emotionless eyes. If he felt anything toward her, contempt, disgust, regret, it didn't show on his monstrous face. Asha came up beside me and spoke in an urgent whisper, "I'll keep him busy while you go through the portal. Hurry, I don't know how long we can hold him back! Go, go!" I gawked at her. Surely she must be joking? Hold off Regulos? Where would she get such power? Regulos would squash her. I would have laughed if I wasn't afraid it would come out half mad and hysterical. This was just too much. I was overwhelmed by everything. And now, Regulos, the Destroyer. Right here, in front of me. I had at one point wished for adventure, for intrigue, heroic battles, the chance to study the world and learn all I could. Obviously someone out there was playing a cruel joke. Before I could actually awknowledge Asha's command, she turned and squared her shoulders. Her chin went up and she drew her rune-etched sword.

     "What made you think you would ever defeat us without a fight, monster!?" She yelled in challenge at the creature in front of her. The avatar of Regulos shifted until it faced her, staring down at her in all his entropic glory. I may have squeaked. But I won't admit to it. As Regulos fixed his attention on Asha and the centurions she's brought with her, I carefully sidled away from the group. I knew that Asha was sacrificing herself in the hope that our mission could still succeed. Behind the bloated body of Regulos, the Failsafe Device hummed and whirred. A jagged strip of light appeared, tearing wider kind of like a ripped seam. A ripped seam in the fabric of reality, I thought distantly as I watched, unable to tear my eyes away. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Asha make a strange gesture with her free hand. A beam of strange, glowing light shot from her sword and struck Regulos above the breastbone. The monster reared back slightly, as if in pain, and I wondered again where Asha Catari, a humble Eth woman, could have gotten so much vast power that she could threaten the Destroyer of worlds himself. Of course, even as I watched, the beam thinned to a trickle. Unfortunately, her power appeared to come with a price and was not unlimited. Regulos grinned, displaying a mouth full of elongated vampiric teeth. It made me cold all the way to my toes. A beam of violet death magic struck back at Asha, meeting her own magic midway and fizzling as the two magics fought for supremacy. Vaguely, I heard Stavel shout, "Okay, the Temporal Matrix is stabilized but I don't know how long I can hold it open! Get through the time machine now!" I glanced back and sure enough, the rip in time had become larger, large enough to allow someone of my height through. It had also changed color, turning such a brilliant white that it hurt the eyes to stare at. I glanced between the time machine and Asha, who appeared to be losing the battle of magic between herself and Regulos. She noticed my glance and glared at me. "You heard him, Defiant! Only you can stop this. Get through that portal and make sure that this never happens! Go!" I glanced up at the monstrous embodiment of death, who was struggling to disengage with Asha so that he could deal with me, a petty, insignificant threat. But I could see real concern in his aura now.

     I took a deep breath. The air was hot and tainted, tasting sharply of death and entropy. It felt like it was becoming harder to breathe. I coughed, choking on the thick evil in the air. The sky was entirely black, no glimpse of light could be seen. A shadow of a great ashen dragon came into being inside the death rift, rearing up on its hind legs with a wingspan to blot out the sun. It fixed its beady eyes on me, victory dancing in their depths. Not if I could help it! Not knowing what to expect, or if I would even survive such a journey through time, I dashed for the portal. Behind me, Regulos shrieked, an inhuman, draconic sound that made my ears bleed. There was a blinding flash of light; Asha cried out, a sound of mortal pain. I flinched but did not look back. The blinding white light encompassed my entire field of vision. I saw nothing beyond white. Blinding white brilliance even behind the protection of my eyelids. I felt like my brain was on fire. I was falling. There was no sense of direction, no sense of self. Nothing. I was nothing. Did Regulos kill me after all? 

[Karazhan's Story] 1.4: Tempest Station

     "It's done." I said simply to Asha Catari upon returning to her in Lastlight. The general was quite pleased with my effectiveness and gave me further instruction on how to reach the Failsafe. Knowing that time was of the essence, especially since I'd now effectively powered up this Failsafe device, I nodded at her, wondering if this was the last I'd see of this brave woman.
      "Farewell Ascended, all our hopes go with you." Asha called, than seemed to think of something. "Wait! The raw power and potential you display as a new Ascended is impressive, but to survive the journey to the past, and to aid in reclaiming that past, you will be required to push yourself to limits you don't even know you have yet. You need a master in your art to aid you in the necessary techniques to using your skills and spells effectively. I know you have precious time to reach the Failsafe before Regulos turns his eye upon us-I know more than anyone in fact-I think this is important. Once you have arrived in Tempest Station, find Mistress Ashear; a Mage like yourself. She will be able to help you in channeling the elemental power to their greatest effect!"

     "My thanks Lady Catari, may the Spirits protect you." I responded softly, making sure to meet her eyes so she knew of my sincerity. She gave me a bit of a puzzled look. I was glad also of her advice about finding a Mage trainer. I was heartened to hear that there was one in this desolate place.
     Asha's parting words stayed with me as I quickly I moved across the old wooden plank bridge that led me to Tempest Station, mulling over the Failsafe and what would come after. Where would I end up? When would I end up? Would I see any of these people there, or even recognize them? What were my plans once I was there? I knew that I wanted to find out what had become of the Isles and maybe make a trip back there. Maybe my family was even still alive, depending on the timeline. No doubt the Defiant would wish me to continue to aid them in their fight against the cultists and other threats. And I would help in any way I was able. I did not want this future to be the future I had to look forward to. I would defend Telara with my last breath if need be. Which led my thoughts on a tangent about immortality and how it would affect me.

     Before I knew it, I'd crossed the bridge and had discovered Tempest Station. The first thing I noticed was that there was a lot more activity here than in the previous outposts I'd come across. The people seemed more determined, more on edge. And yet, they were also calmer. Everyone seemed to have a job to do and had no problem doing it. Tempest Station was a small camp set up against the back of what looked like another ruined village. Magitech creations littered the area like cast off toys-albeit deadly toys-and sourcestone glittered everywhere one looked. In the center of the camp stood a large technological device that I didn't even recognize. It had three arcs of machinery that met in a dome overtop of a sourcestone canister. A Bahmi man pacing by the machine caught my eye just as he opened his mouth.

     "Regulos! I am Rodan Ismos, slayer of Rhamm Dragonbane and I do not fear you!" He paced around the machine with a relentless air, as if eager to get his hands on the Destroyer himself. Uneasily I glanced upward, waiting for Regulos to answer this taunt, but of course Regulos wasn't here. If he was, I'm sure his answering this man's challenge would be the least of our worries. "Enough waiting!" the Bahmi called Rodan Ismos yelled again, suddenly. "If we must die, let the battle be now!" Obviously he didn't take well to waiting. Of course, I could imagine how it would be, sitting in this tiny camp with nothing but your sourcestone-generated constructs and your fellow man to protect you if Regulos and his forces did indeed storm this remaining bastion of Telara. They would all be crushed. The waiting and the knowing of this would be a great weight on anyone's mind. I forcefully pushed that train of thought aside. I didn't want fear and anxiety to color my actions when I needed to focus. I had a mission to accomplish.

     Another male Bahmi inspected a giant warrior construct, muttering to himself and yelling at his assistants by turn. Shockingly, I could hear him clearly despite being across the camp, if I focused on him specifically. "What's taking so long? I need another construct ready to move NOW!" came his curt, gruff voice, full of authority. I found it interesting that there were so many of the Plane-touched race here. From what I remember, the Bahmi didn't much like getting involved in wars and such. Of course, the end of the world cause us to do what we normally would find disagreeable. At least I would fit in among this faction, as I wouldn't be the only so called Bahmi who was interested in the technology and magitech that the Defiant had to offer us. The man's next sentence had me smiling slightly, "It's the end of the world you know, we don't have all day, move it!" I shook my head and continued looking around, not exactly sure of where I needed to go. There were several paths out of the outpost, and I could see that a lot of activity seemed focused on the northern edge, toward the volcano. Of course. I didn't feel comfortable just brazenly barreling ahead into who knows what kind of dangers, but I didn't know enough about what was going on either way.
      
      Here in Tempest Station, there was so much activity and tension that it was hard to concentrate. Over to my left, a couple of red and gold tents were picketed. Two raised platforms stood beside it hooked up to long curved arms of metal that had sourcestone embedded in them. Large crystal spheres were attached to the front of the platforms. I wonder what those are for? A tall, liquid filled canister stood empty next to the platforms, presumably waiting to be filled. For some reason that empty canister made me shiver. It seemed eerie. Magitech was an exciting and intriguing notion and the wonder of discovery and study had always drawn me, but I've always wondered at what point do we stop. At what point does it turn darker?
     Assuming that the red and gold tents meant authority at the station, I set off for them across the clearing. Despite the energy and focus in the camp, there were those who still spotted me. They stopped and nodded or saluted me as I walked by, before immediately turning back to what they were focused on. Here, everyone seemed to know about the successful engineering of Ascended, but were just too worried about the end of the world to pause in awe. I approved of this more. I don't like fawning attention, especially when I haven't even earned it yet.
      I stopped in front of the red and gold tents, glancing among those arrayed around it. Asha Catari had said seek out Mistress Ashear to help realize my potential as a Mage. I wasn't arrogant enough to believe that I could continue to use my low ranked spells against the foes found here in this new world. Being Ascended meant that I had potential for so much more. I could feel it inside me, the ability to learn many more new and powerful spells and while a small part of me was frightened by the limitless power I seemed to now have, the largest part of me leapt with excitement at testing out what my limits in magic now were. The souls I housed within were also eager to experiment with this, especially the Ethian soul that I'd come to think fondly of. I've always been rather fond of the Eth and their determination. I'd never had the need to leave the Isle to visit such beautiful cities like Fortune's Shore and Charmed Eboni, but it would be wonderful to see. I sent this thought inward, aimed at the Ethian soul and received a sharp sense of loss and sadness in return. Before I could consider that better, an older woman swathed in dark red and brown robes beckoned to me with her staff. Relieved that I wouldn't have to go around asking random people what to do, I walked beneath the tent.

     "Hello dear, you looked a bit overwhelmed. Welcome to Tempest Station. Are you an Ascended?" Before I could respond, she was nodding and speaking again, "I can see that you are. Your aura is much different than everyone else's here. More refined and strong. I can also see that you are a fellow Mage such as myself." I blinked and gave her another, longer look. Sure enough, now that I knew to look, I could see the air of old magic she held around her that signified another of the magecraft.

     "Mistress Ashear?" I asked hesitantly. The woman smiled pleasantly and nodded. A long elaborate headdress that trailed down her back bobbed with her nod. "Asha Catari in Lastlight suggested I should seek you out to help me expand on my potential as a Mage. She strongly implied that you were one of the most powerful Mage's left here." At finding myself fidgeting with my cuirass, I stopped my fingers and gave my attention to the woman more fully, scolding myself for acting like a novice. Just because this woman knew more of the craft than I, did not mean I had to act like a silly girl just learning magic for the first time.

     Mistress Ashear smiled at me, showing wrinkles at the corners of her mouth. "Of course dear, I knew Asha well. She has great power, but it comes at a price for her, I'm afraid." She shook her head. "As for you girl? Let's see what we can do to teach you. I'm afraid time is precious and far too short for proper lessons in expanding your knowledge, but I can show you how to unlock certain spells that you might not have used before. The potential for all magic is locked inside each of us, you just need to know how to coax it forth."

     A loud, derisive snort had both of us glancing to the side. Standing by the platform was a tall man dressed head to toe in exotic armor I'd not seen before. Even his head was covered completely by a strange, horned mask. He glanced at us dismissively and folded his arms. I looked back at Mistress Ashear, who was giving the masked man an exasperated look. She rolled her eyes dramatically for my benefit and focused back on me. "What the stubborn creature over there is trying to say is that we'd better hurry it up, he has orders to give you about your journey to the Failsafe." My eyebrows went up in understanding. At least I'll know what to expect. A bit intimidating, I admit. Especially that mask. I glanced at the man again out of the corner of my eye but the Mage cleared her throat and I brought my eyes back to her to see her grinning. She made a show of rolling up her sleeves and planting her staff in front of her, readying herself for helping me. I liked her already.

     I spent the next indeterminate amount of time learning new ways to harness my magic and discovering new spells. For that short time, I forgot about the stress of my mission, about the loss of my home and city (which surely must have been destroyed with the rest of Telara), the end of the world, and the heavy presence of the Death Plane all around us. I focused completely on the magic and the knowledge I gained from Mistress Ashear. It felt so wonderful to share my gift with someone else again, to speak about magical theory, the elements, and other magecraft-related subjects. All too soon, Mistress Ashear was bidding me good luck and farewell, having filled my head and heart with so much potential that I was actually eager to go out and face the minions of Regulos so that I may test out my new knowledge. I embraced the old mage and thanked her before turning my attention to the masked man who had been waiting impatiently for me to finish my impromptu lesson in magic.

     The "Faceless Man" as he was apparently known, spoke like one long used to being in charge. I didn't really like the way he addressed me, but I held silent as he explained the latest news on the Failsafe and the efforts at holding Regulos's forces at bay.

     "Before you head for the Failsafe, there are a few tasks I'd like for you to complete that would greatly aid your success." His voice was low and gravelly and seemed to suit him. I nodded; what else was I supposed to do? I hardly think he'd take no for an answer and I had no desire to get on anyone's bad side here. After all, I'd apparently had the choice of joining the Defiant taken from me upon waking in this new body.
     "Shyla Starhearth, a Priestess of the Vigil, has betrayed the Guardians." Contempt filled his voice as he spoke, no doubt unimpressed with these 'Guardians.' "Corrupted by the empty promises of Regulos, she now serves her dark master as a harvester of souls. Though fallen, her soul is still filled with great power-power which we can use to make more Ascended." I felt my attention caught there. More Ascended. Images of many of us Ascended, united against the common enemy, filled my mind and my heart with light. I may not be able to get my family back, but I could forge a new family with fellow Ascended, united by our common goals and uniqueness. The Faceless Man was still speaking, "Our guards have managed to contain her for now, but you must use the Soul Reclamation Device to extract her soul. We can use her essence to craft a new soul. Be wary though, she will need to be subdued or dead for the extraction to work." I sucked in a breath. It was all well and good to approve of the art of creating Ascended, but the methods to achieve those goals? Those were another matter. The idea of sucking someone's soul out of their body seemed a little too extreme. The Faceless Man, oblivious to my crisis of faith, thrust a small empty canister into my hands, dismissing me. I glanced down at the innocent-looking device, warring with myself over this task. In the end I sighed and went along with it. Though I did not approve or like the situation, I knew too little about the circumstances in this dark future to start going against the Defiant now. They were my people now and I had to conform to their views. Besides, I can't even begin to imagine what designs had led to their dark choices and willingness to sacrifice life for the sake of victory.

     I learned that the dead town nearby was Castrum Hiberna, a name I wasn't familiar with. The Defiant centurions apparently had this Starhearth cornered on the far side of the ruined town, in a hollow by the mountains. Unfortunately, the town wasn't as empty as it first looked. Indeed, it was crawling with undead minions of Regulos. I had to quite literally fight my way through the eerily silent streets to reach my destination, the only sounds being the undead creatures I cut down and the sizzling of my magic in the air. I took care not to gaze into the shells of the houses and buildings after the first such glimpse. Red, limpid eyes had gleamed back at me with sinister intent and I could almost feel the weight of death bearing into my mind. By the time I'd reached the shallow impression where Shyla Starhearth had been contained, my nerves were frayed and I was mentally exhausted from shielding myself from the evil whispers of Regulos's pawns. I'd also been dismayed to note many dead men and women littering the streets of Castrum Hiberna, each one clad in the red and gold of the Defiant colors.

     As I approached the area, I swiftly assessed the situation. Four Defiant guards were spaced around the area, each facing inward, tensed to attack at any moment. Several of them held out round silver disks that glowed blue. Beams of blue energy struck a tall, slim elf at the center. Shyla Starhearth had been beautiful once. I could still see it in her. She was pale with long shining hair. She was dressed in pink and gold, although the color was faded and muted. She didn't look at all concerned to be cornered, instead giving the guards a secretive, pleased smirk. The look made me uneasy. I opened my mouth to say something-I know not what-when several things suddenly happened at once. The guards, noticing my arrival, relaxed their battle stances. Shyla Starhearth also glanced over at me. Her smile grew wider and more triumphant. An evil glint appeared in her eyes and she looked like she'd been expecting my arrival. Instead of looking worried, she nonchalantly cast her hand out in front of her in a wave and whispered a few soft words in a strange dialect that brought to mind images of dead, silent graves, causing me to shiver with dread. Instantly, all four guards dropped dead, two being flung backwards across the clearing to smash into stone outcroppings. I sucked in a breath. The Faceless Man had said she was contained! Although I was seriously dreading the act of murdering an evil woman to harness her dark soul, I wasn't quite ready to take her on in a battle! Dark magic pulsed within her, lending her strength.

     Shyla laughed shrilly, the sound raising the hairs on my neck, and gazed around at the dead guards. "Your flimsy technology will not save you from the power of Regulos," she said calmly, in an offhand manner. I suddenly felt heated, full of fury at the needless slaughter of those good men. They were only following orders. They had no idea of the real power this monstrous woman possessed and were not prepared for her magical assault. Immediately I dived into the magical core of my being, feeling the air sparkle with magic around me. The souls woven into the matrix of my body leapt eagerly to help. Drawing my staff in one swift motion, I spun it in front of me and when the staff reached the full revolution let loose a bolt of lightning at the elf woman. She neatly negated my magical attack with a wave of her hand and sidestepped over a dead guard. We traded magical blows back and forth, each seeking to end the other. I refused to give in to her death magic, scouring her with my storm-based abilities. Having trained as a Stormcaller, I had a natural affinity for the elements, especially those of air and water, and to a lesser extent, fire. I employed them all to the fullest against Shyla. The more I cast my spells the more confident and stronger I felt and was able to employ the magic to stunning affect against Shyla. Soon I could see the toll my magical assault was taking on her death-touched body. She may have succumbed to the promises of Regulos, but her body was not meant to hold such dark and deadly magic and she grew tired while I grew stronger. Her spells were potent indeed and I felt the sting of death magic on my arms and face, but refused to back down. White hot needles lanced into my mind, but I continued to drive her back, hitting her with lightning, bolts of fire, and neural prods. I even employed the spells that Mistress Ashear taught me how to call, casting thunderbolts and cloudbursts and icicle blasts.

     Finally, Shyla fell to her knees with a groan of pain and I continued to bombard her with magical attacks. "Why fight your fate?" She whispered, half with wonder and half with despair. I moved closer cautiously to hear. "Look around you, this world is already doomed. Regulos is eternal!" I shook my head sadly at the dying elf. "Nothing is eternal," I answered, vindication coloring my words. "I would never give in to a creature so completely opposite the things I believe in and fight for. I would protect this world with my last breath, as would any true Telaran!" Before her violet eyes closed for good, Shyla seemed to give me a look of approval. Despite the fact that she had been a Vigil worshipper before being corrupted by Regulos, I felt myself feeling sorrow and loss for her death. I had a feeling she was a magnificent paragon of good before she had fallen. And now she was just another casualty of the war Regulos brought to our world. Gently, I rolled her lifeless body over and positioned the sourcestone container over her heart. I wasn't sure exactly how to work the machine, or what to do, but thankfully it sorted itself out. The minute I moved the container over her body, it began to hum in my hands and heat up. A black and silver mist streamed from Shyla's body and seemed to be drawn into the container. Soon, the container was filled with an oily black and silver cloud. I stood up, feeling the ache of the battle, and made my way back through the dead town to Tempest Station, feeling old and weary beyond my young life.

     "Ah, you were successful, excellent." The Faceless Man's words didn't make me feel any better about the situation and I stayed silent as he inspected the contained soul. "You can certainly feel the taint of Regulos on this soul. Lucky for us, I believe you have harvested in time to cleanse it." I just nodded silently. At least once cleansed, the soul could return to what it once was before Regulos had lain claim to it. One less spirit in the grips of his corrupted evil. Feeling scrutiny, I tilted my head and eyed the masked man back, lifting an eyebrow in question. Why was he looking at me like that. Even with the full helmet, I could feel the weight of his measuring gaze.

      The approval in the Faceless Man's voice warmed me with satisfaction. And I was glad to have removed the taint of Regulos from that poor soul. One more spirit that Regulos doesn't have control over. After speaking briefly in low tones with the man I'd heard earlier complaining about needing constructs NOW, the Faceless Man turned to me and said "The Wraith Battle Constructs are ready to be employed to take you to the Failsafe, we just need a few more moments to augment the fallen souls." It spoke a lot to how used to this scene I was becoming that I didn't even react to the idea of binding souls to dead metal. At least my body was organic, meshed with sourcestone and molded to properly house a soul. But I was relieved I would have a companion, machine or otherwise, to accompany me the rest of the way. From the Faceless Man's words, I gather that my task is almost complete. I wasn't sure what to feel about that. I was relieved that the mission was almost over. I could use the Failsafe device and that would be it. I wasn't sure what came after, but it would no longer be my problem right? I would deliver my message to those in charge and than I could...I wasn't sure what I would do. Further my skill in magecraft, for sure. I'd really like to continue my studies on research and Telaran history, and I can see that going hand in hand with my new abilities and immortality. I suddenly had all the time in the world to fulfill my dreams, which seems selfish, but I would also still be part of the Defiant and who knows what the timeline will be like when I exit the Failsafe on the other side. For all I know, going back in time will only change events for the worse. The enigma that was the time-space continuum always confused me during my studies. I moved idly about the camp while I waited for the magitech engineer, a dark skinned Eth named Raj Tahleed, to finish augmenting the battle constructs. The longer I waited, the high my dread built, until I was sure I was tasting acid in my mouth. What if I couldn't do this? What if Regulos came? What if I was lost to time, stuck somewhere in between? After all, has anyone tested this machine to see if it works or not? I was about to start asking this questions of the Faceless Man when Raj Tahleed clapped his hands.

      I followed Raj as he walked over to one of the massive battle constructs, attached to wires and metal spokes. He instructed his assistants and everyone gathered around to watch him work. Inserting the soul fragments in certain spots with deft movements, he worked with Engineer Mossam in making the battle construct ready. A sense of urgency and fear filtered through the crowd who watched, as each Defiant there knew this was their last and only chance to free the world from the yoke of Regulos's control.

     Raj turned to me and smiled a smile full of sadness and hope and determination. "The Wraith Battle Construct is ready for action. Those minions of Regulos won't know what hit 'em. We need to get you through the cultist lines between here and Rubicon, where the Failsafe is located, and this construct should do the trick. Careful though, there are dozens of cultists between us and the Rubicon. Farewell, Ascended and may your gods protect you." The crowd murmured variations of the last sentence. The Wraith Construct gave a jerk and the crowd moved back as it clumsily climbed off the platform. The construct was immense, towering over even the tallest Bahmi here. It halted and made a series of whirs and beeps.

     "I have studied the Planes my entire life, you know, and I have never expected to see our world converge so completely with a Plane. It has been an interesting, if tragic time to live in." Raj spoke quietly. I pursed my lips grimly but did not respond. What was there to say? The construct suddenly lumbered forward.
     "Self-assessment complete. All systems in working order. Let's bash some heads!" The metallic voice that emitted from the construct seemed eager to enter battle. The Battle Construct headed for the path that led up through Castrum Hiberna and I swiftly followed. At the top of the steps before leaving Tempest Station behind for good, I paused and turned, gazing at that small camp. These people...my people. Defiant to the last. They all gazed back at me with varying expressions and I attempted to burn the faces into my memory. I would never forget you, I vowed, and I would avenge you if I got the opportunity. I would never let Regulos win. I clenched my strange new hand into a fist. An impatient rumble behind me reminded me of my duty and with one last sad look, I turned, leaving everyone behind to an unknown fate as I followed in the wake of destruction the construct created as it plowed through the minions of Regulos on its way up the mountain to the Rubicon. The construct proved to be a good protector, attacking any creature and cultist in sight. I recalled that these crazed fanatics called themselves the Endless Court and had joined Regulos willingly for a taste of his deadly power, and had no qualms whatsoever about their messy deaths at the hands of the construct.