**Name:** Cadmus

**Faction:** Asmodian

**Class:** Spiritmaster

**Known Companions:** Sparks (Fire Spirit), Bluey (Water Spirit)

**Original Employment Payment:** Approximately $20

**Current Goal:** Get home. Preferably alive.

---

**Location:** [[Locations/Ishalgen/Fafnir Fortress|Fafnir Fortress]], although I didn't know that yet.

So, here's the situation.

I got hired for a job.

Twenty dollars.

That's it. Twenty fucking dollars.

I don't know what I was expecting for that amount of money, but whatever is happening right now was definitely not mentioned in the job description.

I have absolutely no idea what's going on.

I've somehow ended up somewhere dangerous, and nobody has bothered to provide a satisfactory explanation.

Fortunately, a mysterious woman helped get me out.

Also, she has a boob window.

I feel like that's important enough to document.

I don't know her name, what her job is, or why she decided to help me, but I appreciate not being trapped anymore.

I suppose I should be grateful.

Actually, I am grateful.

I'm just confused.

- Alive, apparently.

- Completely lost.

- No understanding of the situation.

- Saved by a strangely dressed woman.

- Still owed a satisfactory explanation.

---

**Location:** Outside the [[Locations/Ishalgen/Fafnir Fortress|Fafnir Fortress]]

Well, I'm out.

Still don't understand what happened, but at least I'm no longer trapped.

More importantly, I have a fire spirit now.

I've named him [[Characters/Campanions/Sparks|Sparks]].

Yes, [[Characters/Campanions/Sparks|Sparks]].

It's a fire spirit. What else was I supposed to call him? Bartholomew?

Apparently, I can summon elemental creatures.

That's certainly going on my résumé.

I'm not entirely certain how this works. I don't know how intelligent Sparks is, what he thinks of me, or whether he even likes his name.

Still, it's nice to have company.

Especially since I have absolutely no idea where I am.

I suppose having a creature made of fire following me around might also prove useful.

At least I won't need to worry about lighting a campfire.

Maybe.

**Current companions:** [[Characters/Campanions/Sparks|Sparks]], Fire Spirit.

---

**Location:** [[Locations/Ishalgen/Aldelle Village|Aldelle Village]], [[Locations/Lands/Ishalgen|Ishalgen]].

Well, I've finally figured out where I was.

[[Locations/Ishalgen/Fafnir Fortress|Fafnir Fortress]]

Apparently, that place was a big deal.

Would have been nice to know before I ended up there.

After passing [[Locations/Ishalgen/Aldelle Hill|Aldelle Hill]], I eventually reached a settlement called [[Locations/Ishalgen/Aldelle Village|Aldelle Village]].

Civilization!

People!

Buildings!

Somewhere that doesn't immediately look like it's trying to kill me!

At the gate, I met a man named [[Characters/Aldell/Andre|Andre]].

He seemed particularly surprised when I mentioned the fortress.

Apparently, escaping from there isn't exactly an everyday occurrence.

Wonderful.

He directed me to the village chief, [[Characters/Aldell/Pelleir|Pelleir]].

She seemed helpful enough.

According to her, my best chance of getting home is to reach [[Altgard]].

Never heard of it, but at least I have a destination now.

She also mentioned that [[Locations/Lands/Ishalgen|Ishalgen]] isn't what it used to be.

Apparently, this land no longer belongs to the [[Characters/Races/Daeva|Daeva]].

Whatever that means.

Speaking of which, people keep using the word [[Characters/Races/Daeva|Daeva]] like I'm supposed to understand it.

I'm beginning to suspect there's a great deal about this world that nobody has bothered explaining to me.

Pelleir also mentioned something called a **Kibelisk**, a magical object that supposedly allows you to return to a location.

Sounds useful.

Another strange thing: I'm apparently not the only outsider who's arrived here recently.

There are other unfamiliar people around.

Maybe they escaped the fortress like I did.

Maybe not.

Still haven't found anyone I recognize.

At least there's Sparks.

**Current objective:** Learn about the Kibelisk, gather supplies, and find a way to Altgard.

---

**Location:** [[Locations/Ishalgen/Aldelle Village|Aldelle Village]] and [[Locations/Ishalgen/Munihelle Forest|Munihelle Forest]].

Well, I've bound myself to a **Kibelisk**.

The statue is purple now.

Apparently, that's normal.

And apparently, I'm a **Daeva**.

Daeva.

Deava?

No, Daeva.

I think that's how you spell it.

Does that make me a different species? Is it a title? A profession?

Does it come with benefits?

A pension?

Dental insurance?

Nobody has explained.

A girl named [[Characters/Aldell/Ellin|Ellin]] gave me some health potions.

Very nice of her.

Then I visited [[Characters/Aldell/Stellan|Stellan]], who provided spare equipment.

Which brings me to an important detail.

I've been wearing white clothes and flip-flops.

Yes.

Flip-flops.

I accepted a twenty-dollar job dressed like someone going to the beach and somehow ended up escaping a fortress.

In hindsight, that might have been a mistake.

Fortunately, Stellan's equipment is better.

He also gave me twenty **Return Scrolls**.

Very useful.

I'm starting to appreciate magical transportation.

Naturally, Pelleir had another job for me.

Some supplies had been stolen by something called **Mumu**.

Mumu.

Stupid name.

I was sent to help a man named [[Characters/Aldell/Maard|Maard]] recover the supplies.

Turns out the Mumu aren't people.

They're large animals.

That explains some things.

Still a stupid name.

Good news!

I can summon a **Water Spirit** now.

Apparently, when it attacks, it can help restore some of my magical energy.

That's brilliant!

I spend magic to summon it, and it helps me recover magic while fighting.

Extremely useful.

Haven't decided on a name yet.

Things took a strange turn when I encountered a woman named [[Characters/Aldell/Elvida|Elvida]]

She was trying to destroy some kind of magical pillar.

Maard called her crazy.

So I listened to him.

That may have been a mistake.

Apparently, Elvida follows something called the [[Three Sisters of Fate]].

She also claims the magical structures around here are being used to brainwash people like me.

Excuse me?

WHAT?

I'm starting to wonder whether she's actually crazy or whether everyone else is lying.

I need answers.

---

**Location:** [[Locations/Ishalgen/Munihelle Forest|Munihelle Forest]], [[Locations/Lands/Ishalgen|Ishalgen]]

Well, I spoke to [[Characters/Aldell/Pelleir|Pelleir]] about [[Characters/Aldell/Elvida|Elvida]].

She tried to downplay the whole situation again.

Apparently, she's worried about something called the [[Items/Veil Jewel|Veil Jewel]]

Supposedly, it protects the village.

And she wanted me to go investigate it.

Fair enough.

Then she said something rather concerning.

Excuse me?

We've gone from investigating suspicious magical objects to assassination?

That escalated quickly.

On my way toward the lake, I met [[Characters/Aldell/Caldern|Caldern]], who warned me about dangers along the route.

Naturally.

Why wouldn't there be?

While travelling, I spotted a strange column of rising air.

An updraft.

Interesting.

I decided to step into it.

After all, how powerful could some rising air possibly be?

...

Turns out that thing was considerably stronger than expected.

And the ground was not especially welcoming when I landed.

Extremely hard.

Very painful.

New rule: Don't test suspicious wind currents with your body.

Eventually, I reached the lake and found the Veil Jewel.

The magical object everyone was so concerned about.

I went to investigate.

And...

MY SOUL.

THE ONE INSIDE ME.

THE ONE I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO KEEP.

Apparently, this thing wanted to turn me into a gemstone.

NO.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I like my soul where it is.

Inside me.

Not in a rock.

Not in a crystal.

And certainly not in somebody's jewelry collection.

Let's review.

Pelleir told me Elvida was dangerous.

She insisted the jewel protected the village.

She suggested killing Elvida.

And then the jewel tried to steal my soul.

Does anyone else see the problem?

Because I certainly do.

I'm beginning to suspect that Elvida was telling the truth.

Also, something occurred to me.

Where exactly does Stellan get all that spare equipment?

If people keep arriving here, and the jewel is turning people into crystals...

Is he recycling the equipment of previous victims?

I have no evidence.

But that's an extremely unpleasant possibility.

I'm keeping the armor.

It's better than flip-flops.

But I'm washing it.

**Next destination:** [[Locations/Ishalgen/Elvida's hideout|Elvida's hideout]].

---

[[Logs/Origin of the Lake/Origin of the Lake Documents|Origin of the Lake Documents]]

[[Logs/Verdandi's Journal Documents/Verdandi's Journal Documents|Verdandi's Journal Documents]]

**Location:** Near Elvida's Hideout.

I've found some documents.

Actual written records!

Finally!

Something that might explain what the hell is happening.

Unfortunately, the information is horrifying.

The first document belonged to someone named **Verdandi**.

Apparently, she used to guide Daeva through something called the **Ascension Trial**.

She led them toward a hidden cave entrance near the lake.

She also wrote about having to leave because of a prophecy.

Before departing, she intended to entrust her duties to her students.

And guess who was supposed to watch over the place?

[[Characters/Aldell/Elvida|Elvida]].

Yes.

The alleged crazy witch.

Apparently, she was meant to greet someone destined to lead people to a place called the **Land of Rest**.

No idea what that means.

But Elvida is looking considerably more credible.

The second document explained something even more interesting.

Apparently, the lake was once a place of healing.

Its waters could mend scars and fractured souls.

Some people even recovered forgotten names.

That's beautiful.

So how did it become a soul-stealing nightmare?

Apparently, the **Balaur** and a Dragon Lord named **Fafnir** were involved.

Fafnir seized Ishalgen and scattered magical jewels throughout the land.

The jewels began speaking to people.

Saying things like:

Oh, I remember that!

IT TRIED TO DO THAT TO ME!

And:

Apparently, those who listened lost their personalities and emotions.

They continued breathing, but the writer considered them already dead.

That's horrifying.

Imagine losing everything that makes you yourself.

Your memories.

Your feelings.

Your identity.

No.

Absolutely not.

C-A-D-M-U-S.

I'm keeping it.

Apparently, there's a sacred sanctuary beneath the lake.

A place connected to the original Waters of Ascension.

According to the record, it remains untouched by Fafnir's corruption.

The writer wondered whether a Daeva might resist the jewel, discover the hidden entrance, and perhaps save the world.

...

No.

I recognize where this is going.

Some ancient prophecy.

An evil [[Dragon Lord]].

A mysterious chosen individual.

Well, let me make something clear.

Saving the world is not included in that price.

There will need to be substantial renegotiation.

The final note came from a scribe who heard Fafnir's whispers.

Apparently, the voice was full of lies.

The scribe decided to leave the lake and never return.

FINALLY.

A SENSIBLE PERSON.

Unfortunately, I'm already involved.

And I still need answers.

**Current assessment:** Elvida appears to have a legitimate connection to the original Ascension sanctuary. The jewels are dangerous. The village is suspicious.

---

**Location:** Tunapre Lake Cave and Ascension Subspace.

Well, I found the cave.

The hidden entrance mentioned in Verdandi's journal.

Getting inside involved swimming.

Wonderful.

We've now added underwater exploration to my job description.

At least the cave was beautiful.

There were lovely little butterflies.

For once, something that wasn't trying to murder me.

Then I heard a voice.

A creepy voice.

Apparently, it wanted me to come closer.

And it kept calling me its **fragment and shadow**.

Excuse me?

YOUR WHAT?

I don't remember agreeing to be anyone's fragment.

Then I encountered a woman made of water.

Or associated with water.

Something like that.

Honestly?

Kind of hot.

Unfortunately, she tried to drown me.

WHY WOULDN'T SHE?

Apparently, she's the **Lake Guardian**.

Sparks was not particularly happy about the situation.

Understandable.

He's made of fire.

My Water Spirit, however, seemed considerably less bothered.

Which reminds me.

I've named him **[[Characters/Campanions/Bluey|Bluey]]**.

So now I have Sparks and [[Characters/Campanions/Bluey|Bluey]].

Perfect names.

We survived the guardian's test.

Somehow.

Afterward, I found myself in another strange room.

There was a mysterious figure named **Asahr**.

Couldn't see his face.

Naturally.

Nobody in this world believes in normal introductions.

Apparently, Asahr is **AION's ego**.

And apparently, I'm a **Fragment of AION**.

...

WHAT?

Who is AION?

What do you mean fragment?

Was I always a fragment?

Is there a larger version of me somewhere?

I HAVE QUESTIONS!

Then something amazing happened.

ACTUAL WINGS!

I CAN FLY!

This is incredible!

Although...

Oh, gods.

My clothes.

I'm going to need holes in all my shirts.

Do you have any idea how expensive custom tailoring can be?

I JUST GOT NEW EQUIPMENT!

Fortunately, it turns out I can retract the wings whenever I want.

Oh, thank goodness.

At least that's one problem solved.

Apparently, this wasn't the end.

Asahr introduced an **Ascension Gauge** with additional requirements.

The list includes quests such as **Verdant Melody** and **The One Who Hears the Voice**, along with reaching 100% gauge progress.

More quests.

More trials.

More magical nonsense.

Of course.

Still, I have wings now.

That's pretty amazing.

**Current companions:** Sparks and Bluey.

**New ability:** Flight.

**Current questions:** What is AION? Why am I a fragment? What exactly does Ascension mean?

---

**Location:** Aldelle Village, Anturn Cliff, and the crashed airship.

Well, my aura seems different after Ascension.

No idea exactly what that means.

But now I have another goal.

Apparently, there's an airship somewhere.

An actual flying ship.

Sounds useful.

I have absolutely no idea how to pilot one.

But no time like the present to learn.

I returned to Aldelle Village.

Naturally, everyone was concerned about the destroyed Veil Jewel.

I told them I couldn't find Elvida and that monsters had kept me busy before I could stop the jewel from being destroyed.

A perfectly reasonable explanation.

I'm certainly not telling them everything.

Especially after what I discovered.

Meanwhile, **Menos** seems interested in doing some particularly horrible things to Elvida.

Not merely killing her.

Making her suffer.

Charming fellow.

Pelleir then asked me to investigate a crashed airship.

Finally.

A job that makes sense.

Find survivors.

Help them.

Possibly find a way out.

On the way, I met **Milred**.

She explained how updrafts work.

...

OH.

SO THAT'S HOW YOU USE THEM.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY USEFUL INFORMATION BEFORE I FELL OUT OF ONE.

But fine.

Better late than never.

I climbed Anturn Cliff and discovered a campsite.

Not a bad one, actually.

Someone had left a fire burning.

There were supplies too.

I considered taking some, but that would be stealing.

And the owner might still be alive.

So I left everything alone.

See?

I can be responsible.

Occasionally.

I found a survivor named **Garlond**.

Apparently, he had been aboard the crashed airship.

I helped him.

Because I'm not going to abandon someone who's clearly in trouble.

Besides, he might know how to pilot the thing.

The **Balaur** were involved in the disaster.

AGAIN.

Those bloody creatures keep appearing everywhere.

At some point, I decided to test my new wings.

Flying was amazing!

The freedom!

The view!

The ability to travel through the sky!

Then something happened.

My flight energy started running out.

Wait.

WHAT?

WHY WAS NOBODY EXPLAINING THIS?!

I fell.

And this time...

ACTUALLY DIED.

The ground made a very convincing argument against my continued existence.

Then some magical stone brought me back.

Apparently, resurrection is possible.

Which is an interesting discovery.

And a deeply uncomfortable one.

Death is a hell of a thing.

I don't particularly want to repeat it.

After that incident, I started thinking about home.

I really need to return.

Enough adventure.

Enough soul-stealing jewelry.

Enough flying accidents.

But...

What's the name of home again?

Strange.

I can't seem to remember.

Probably just exhaustion.

I've been through a lot.

Still, maybe I should keep writing things down.

That's important.

[[Logs/Garlond's Airship logs Documents/Garlond's Airship logs documents|Garlond's Airship logs documents]]

I returned to the campsite and discovered it belonged to Garlond.

There, I found his airship logs.

I made copies.

And the contents were disturbing.

Apparently, [[Characters/Garlond's Crew/Garlond|Garlond]] and his crew had investigated a place called **the [[Bulwark]]**, near **[[Morheim]]**.

They were driven away by people who seemed to be [[Characters/Races/Daeva|Daeva]].

Their base was already destroyed.

Then they tried travelling to **[[Altgard]]**.

On the way, masked figures attacked them.

These attackers looked like Daeva.

But they fought alongside the Balaur.

DAEVA WORKING WITH THE BALAUR?!

That seems like something people should be concerned about!

The crew barely escaped.

When they reached Altgard, the place was burning.

Wonderful.

That's where I'm supposed to go to find a way home.

Naturally, it's in ruins.

The survivors searched for somewhere safe and heard about a place called the **Immortal Isle**.

They even discovered treasure in an unfamiliar cave.

But their airship was falling apart.

Eventually, the controls failed.

They crashed in Ishalgen.

And Garlond's final entry revealed something rather unpleasant.

Apparently, Daeva have no place here.

...

Then why does Aldelle Village look so nice?

Why is there a functioning settlement?

Why does everyone act like everything is perfectly normal?

Why are newcomers constantly arriving?

And why was there a soul-stealing jewel near the village?

Oh.

Oh, I don't like where this thought is going.

On a somewhat brighter note, I found a **Wind Stream**.

Naturally, I tested it.

It was FAST.

VERY FAST.

Wasn't prepared for the landing.

Apparently, having wings doesn't automatically make someone a good pilot.

I've developed a new respect for rocks.

They're extremely solid.

Usually at the worst possible moment.

Garlond seems unsettled by the village too.

And honestly?

I don't blame him.

This entire region is supposedly under enemy control, yet Aldelle Village is conveniently welcoming.

It's suspicious.

Very suspicious.

I'm starting to think the village might exist to lure people like me into a trap.

I can't prove it yet.

But I intend to find out.

---

**Location:** Near Azrakar Brigade Camp, Ishalgen.

**Current objective:** Rescue Garlond's missing companions.

**Companions:** Sparks and Bluey.

**Known allies:** Garlond and Anders.

Well, apparently we're going on another rescue mission.

Garlond wants to find his missing companions.

And honestly?

I can't blame him.

He survived an airship crash, ended up stranded in Balaur territory, and has no idea how many of his friends are still alive.

That's awful.

So I've decided to help.

Because apparently, despite all my complaining, I cannot bring myself to leave people behind when they might still be saved.

Wonderful.

Having a conscience is becoming rather expensive.

We're heading toward an enemy camp.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Something occurred to me during the journey.

Remember Fafnir Fortress?

The enormous, horrifying place I escaped from?

Well, I've been thinking about how far it is from Aldelle Village.

And I realized something.

THIRTY.

MINUTES.

THAT'S IT.

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!

I escaped from a fortress connected to a Dragon Lord who apparently conquered this region.

And then I arrived at a perfectly friendly village practically next door.

With supplies.

Equipment.

Healing potions.

A helpful village chief.

And a magical jewel that steals souls.

I was so relieved to find civilization that I overlooked how suspicious the entire situation was.

Garlond's records say the Balaur control Ishalgen.

So why is Aldelle Village still standing?

Why hasn't it been attacked?

What happens to all the outsiders who pass through?

I have theories.

I need evidence.

On the way toward the camp, I found another one of those magical statues.

A **Kibelisk**.

It's near the camp.

Convenient.

Especially considering my previous experience with death.

Apparently, dying is a possibility I should account for.

I would rather not.

But having a return point nearby seems sensible.

Good news!

We found another survivor!

A man named **Anders**.

Apparently, he's one of Garlond's companions.

And he's alive!

Even better, a few others apparently survived too.

That's genuinely wonderful.

For once, something good has happened.

Someone we were looking for is alive.

We don't know the full situation yet, but it's progress.

Unfortunately, there are still missing people.

And we may be able to find clues inside the nearby **Azrakar Brigade Camp**.

Which means...

Yes.

That's right.

I'm going to investigate an enemy military camp.

Me.

Cadmus.

The idiot who accepted a twenty-dollar job wearing flip-flops.

The man who fell out of an updraft.

The man who discovered his wings could run out of energy by dying.

Apparently, I'm now qualified to investigate a camp full of hostile Balaur.

How exciting.

I'm sure nothing could possibly go wrong.

...

That was sarcasm.

Just in case anyone was wondering.

At least I have Sparks and Bluey.

And at least we've found some survivors.

I suppose all I can do now is continue investigating.

Carefully.

Very carefully.

Because there may be more people who need help.

And I refuse to abandon them just because this place is dangerous.

Here I am.

Standing near an enemy camp.

With a recently discovered Kibelisk behind me.

Garlond searching for his companions.

Anders alive.

Sparks and Bluey beside me.

And the uncomfortable suspicion that the village I thought was safe might be part of something terrible.

I still need to get home.

I still don't know why my memories of home seem so unclear.

I still don't understand everything about AION, Asahr, or this whole Ascension business.

And I am still dramatically underpaid.

But there might be people in that camp who need rescuing.

So I suppose I'm going in.

Let's go find some answers.

And preferably avoid dying this time.

---

---

| Name | Type | Notes |

| ---------- | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| [[Characters/Campanions/Sparks|Sparks]] | Fire Spirit | Cadmus's first spirit, named shortly after escaping the fortress. |

| [[Characters/Campanions/Bluey|Bluey]] | Water Spirit | Helps replenish magical energy; named during the lake cave expedition. |

| Name | Known Role | Cadmus's Opinion |

| ------------ | ------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |

| [[Characters/Aldell/Pelleir|Pelleir]] | Chief of Aldelle Village | Increasingly suspicious |

| [[Characters/Aldell/Andre|Andre]] | Village entrance guard | First person encountered at the village gate |

| [[Characters/Aldell/Ellin|Ellin]] | Village resident | Provided health potions |

| [[Characters/Aldell/Stellan|Stellan]] | Equipment supplier | Helpful, but where does his spare gear come from? |

| [[Characters/Aldell/Maard|Maard]] | Villager involved in supply recovery | A dick, according to Cadmus |

| [[Characters/Aldell/Caldern|Caldern]] | Traveller near Tunapre Lake | Warned of danger |

| Elvida | Guardian connected to Ascension | Potentially one of the few people telling the truth |

| [[Verdandi]] | Former Ascension guide | Left responsibilities to students |

| Asahr | Claims to be AION's ego | Mysterious cosmic guide |

| Milred | Traveller who explained updrafts | Advice arrived far too late |

| [[Characters/Aldell/Menos|Menos]] | Aldelle Village resident | Threatened Elvida; concerning |

| [[Characters/Garlond's Crew/Garlond|Garlond]] | Airship crash survivor | Potential ally |

| [[Characters/Garlond's Crew/Anders|Anders]] | Airship crew survivor | Confirmed alive |

| Location | Significance |

| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |

| [[Locations/Ishalgen/Fafnir Fortress|Fafnir Fortress]] | Where Cadmus's adventure began |

| [[Locations/Ishalgen/Aldelle Village|Aldelle Village]] | Apparently safe settlement, now strongly suspected of being a trap |

| [[Tunapre Lake]] | Location of the Veil Jewel and the hidden Ascension sanctuary |

| [[Locations/Ishalgen/Elvida's hideout|Elvida's hideout]] | Site of important historical documents |

| Ascension Subspace | Where Cadmus met Asahr and awakened his wings |

| Anturn Cliff | Location of Garlond's crash investigation |

| Azrakar Brigade Camp | Next investigation target |

| Altgard | Possible route home; Garlond's log reports destruction |

| Morheim | Region from which Garlond's group fled |

**Verdandi's Journal:** Describes the Ascension Trials, Elvida's responsibility, and a prophecy concerning the Land of Rest.

**Origin of the Lake:** Describes the lake's former healing powers, Fafnir's corruption, the danger of the jewels, and the hidden Ascension sanctuary.

**Garlond's Airship Log:** Documents the fall of his company's base, Daeva-like figures working with the Balaur, the destruction in Altgard, and the crash in Ishalgen.

1. Why was Cadmus originally in Fafnir Fortress?

2. What became of the mysterious woman who helped him escape?

3. What is the full nature of Cadmus's connection to AION?

4. Why is Cadmus having trouble remembering his home?

5. Who exactly is controlling Aldelle Village?

6. Are its residents willing collaborators, victims, or both?

7. What is the true purpose of the Veil Jewels?

8. What happened to Altgard and Morheim?

9. What is the Land of Rest?

10. How many of Garlond's missing companions are still alive?

---