Secrets of the Obscure story
A note on spoilers: Aside from a brief summary, this article assumes a basic understanding of the End of Dragons plot and previous stories. Since the story of Secrets of the Obscure begins circa 1336 AE, and the personal story takes place in 1325 AE, it is likely that this article will contain personal story spoilers, as story threads that began in the personal story may be continued with the expansion.
Secrets of the Obscure was released on August 22, 2023.
Setting[edit]
The old Elder Dragon cycle which has ravaged the world of Tyria for millennia has ended with the death of Soo-Won, the Elder Dragon of Water and Life, in Cantha while Aurene has become the benevolent One Elder Dragon to balance the All by herself. With Tyria's magic in balance and her task fulfilled for now, Aurene has entered into slumber and has entrusted her champion, the Pact Commander, to watch over the world.
In the quiet that follows, something unexpected has happened: the famous yet elusive Wizard's Tower which has levitated far above the town of Garenhoff for centuries has suddenly vanished for seemingly no discernible reason, leaving the townsfolk worried. Meanwhile, a demonic race known as the Kryptis intends to invade both Tyria and the mysterious levitating domain of Amnytas high up in the sky where the secretive Wizard's Court and the Astral Ward have been watching over the world below for millennia. With the Kryptis threat now about to emerge from the Mists, the two organizations must finally reveal themselves to the Tyrians below and share their secrets in order to face the upcoming calamity together.
Zones[edit]
The story of Secrets of the Obscure covers three new open world zones as well as an outpost.
Main characters[edit]
Allies[edit]
- Arina — The norn outrider and daughter of Frode who is scouting for potential Kryptis activity across Tyria. Her encounter with the Pact Commander sends her down an unexpected path.
- First Hunter Rian — The human leader of the Rift Hunters who is tasked with eliminating supernatural threats to Amnytas and Tyria.
- Frode — The norn leader of the Astral Ward who is dedicated to his duty to protect the wizards' secrets at any cost.
- Galrath the Undying — A former villain who sought the secrets of the Wizard's Tower before being stopped by the heroes of his time, he has since been raised as undead and now prepares the forces of the Astral Ward for battle.
- Gladium — A mute and observant charr scout who is paired up with R'tchikk.
- Narcisse — A playful sylvari specializing in medical magics and herbal remedies.
- R'tchikk — An easily excited skritt scout. She is paired up with Gladium whose sign language she interprets to others. She idolizes the Pact Commander.
- Uenno — A senior asuran member of the Astral Ward who was once a professor in the College of Synergetics.
- Zizel — A quirky Itzel hylek alchemist who was banished from his village and has since joined the Astral Ward.
- Zojja[1] — A famous asuran golemancer, member of the Destiny's Edge guild and apprentice of the late, renowned genius Snaff. She has been inactive for years while recovering from the damage her mind had sustained in the Elder Dragon Mordremoth's Mordrem Pod.
- Dagda — A jotun member of the Wizard's Court. She is distrustful of outsiders and protective of the denizens of Amnytas. She has been on the edge ever since the Kryptis invasion.
- Isgarren[1] — A secretive and obscure wizard of enigmatic origins and mysterious motives who leads the Wizard's Court. He is the owner of the Wizard's Tower in Garenhoff, which has recently disappeared from the town for unknown reasons.
- Lyhr — A dwarven member of the Wizard's Court who has avoided the fate of turning into stone unlike most surviving dwarves. He has learned the ability to split himself into the facets of emotion and logic.
- Mabon — A mursaat member of the Wizard's Court and one of Isgarren's oldest allies who bears the heavy weight of responsibility on his shoulders. He is trying to move past the mursaat's troubled history and use his powers for the benefit of Tyria, forging a particularly close bond with his current apprentice Zojja.
- Kryptis Rebels
- General Nephus — Former respected right hand of Eparch who has since been forced to retire due to refusing to carry out atrocities in the Midnight King's name. He commands significant respect from both the Loyalists and the Rebels but tries to stay neutral in order to protect his followers from either side's wrath.
- Peitha — The Lady of House Nephus and sister of Cerus, she has become curious of Tyria and the emotions its inhabitants have. She has set her sights on a particular Tyrian whom she hopes to help her achieve her secretive and ambitious goals.
- Ramses — A steadfast and philosophical ally of Peitha, he likes to observe natural phenomena.
Main villains[edit]
- Kryptis Loyalists
- Cerus — The Lord of House Nephus and brother of Peitha, he is struggling to live up to the legacy of his late brother Deimos. An intimidating huntsman, he has set out to lead the Kryptis on a hunt for a very special quarry in order to earn Eparch's favor.
- Eparch — The tyrannical Midnight King of Nayos, the Realm of Dreams, and overlord of the Kryptis. He and Isgarren have a centuries-spanning rivalry, and he is constantly scheming to find ways for his horde to enter Amnytas and Tyria to feast on their inhabitants' emotions and claim their knowledge and secrets for himself.
- Queen Labris — Mate of Eparch who is fully committed to her king's cause and willing to go to any lengths to secure his victory.
Story[edit]
Secrets of the Obscure: Act 1[edit]
Prologue: Uncertain Times[edit]
“The commander finds themselves with no shortage of things they could do, but at the same time, they are not feeling a pull toward any distinct purpose.
— In-game description
A friend of the Commander's-either Caithe, Rytlock, Faren, Braham or Taimi-has beckoned them back to their home city. Given that they're not especially busy, they are on their way.
This mysterious "friend" was nowhere to be found. Instead, the Commander was met by a reporter from New Kaineng named Mi-Rae - now revealed as the imposter - who pounced.She went straight into an interview, but the whole thing was such a blur. She asked several very... pointed questions about the events in Cantha, and - perhaps against the Commander's better judgement - answered her as honestly as they could. Unfortunately, the Commander got the sense that she was less interested in the truth and more that she was looking for something salacious. Thank goodness Taimi just happened to send the Commander a message right when things began to sour, allowing them to take their leave to find out what she needed. Mi-Rae said she got everything that she needed.
Chapter 1: Commander without a Cause[edit]
“The commander is called into action, giving them a much-needed reprieve from an otherwise relaxed vacation.
— In-game description
Taimi's mail includes an experimental upgraded comms device that allows the Commander to directly call people (and in most cases, hit their answering machines). She also mentions Ivan needs something, so the Commander contacts him and is asked to look into some strange occurrences in Garenhoff.
It turns out that the Wizard's Tower that has long hovered in the vicinity of Garenhoff has suddenly disappeared, leaving the residents of the town frightened and confused. The Commander investigates the last known location of some suspicious individuals who arrived just after the tower's disappearance, and finds a note signed "F" addressed to someone they call "Mongoose" that directs them to take their team to a location in Gendarran Fields.
Upon arrival, the Commander is rebuffed by the group that's set up camp there, and is unable to get in touch with Ivan to give an update. The Commander makes a plan to sneak in after dark and waits in a nearby lookout tower until nightfall, when some farmers are suddenly attacked by a group of monsters - the Commander's first encounter with the Kryptis. Upon victory, the Commander makes their way into the camp to investigate the situation further. They're able to gather some scattered pieces of information about the group and their intentions before the group's leader, Arina, calls them all together to begin a Kryptis hunt. The Commander follows them to a rift, engages in combat with the creature that comes through, then gets sucked into the rift.
Chapter 2: Hell Breaks Loose[edit]
“The commander is thrust into danger!
— In-game description
The Commander tried collecting their bearings from that place, which was like fishing a clear marble out of a canteen full of water. Their thoughts were cloudy. Their brain ached. Breathing the air burned their lungs. The Commander could hear Arina in the distance, rallying the other Astral Ward who were pulled into this mysterious realm.
As the Commander navigated the unfamiliarity of that threatening space, they were assaulted by a booming voice. Before long, they stood before an enormous, vile monster. He circled them for a short while, clearly playing with his presumed food. He was curious about the Commander's arrival, noting that they had "traveled from Tyria" to get to... wherever this place is.
As the great beast danced around the Commander, clearly unafraid, another voice prickled their ears. She called the thick-winged demon "Cerus." The Commander was not especially fond of this Cerus.
The Commander doesn't like to trust mysterious voices from unknown origin - especially after the events in Gyala Delve - but when this one urged them to run, they decided to follow the suggestion. They know when to admit defeat. Dying in that bloodied hall by Cerus's hands and... meat wings... was not an option. The Commander ducked behind rubble and debris to escape their pursuer, but before they could ponder their impending death, somehow a comms call broke through the haze and chaos. It sounded like Taimi, but the Commander couldn't quite tell. Then, another portal opened just ahead of them, and the Commander dove right through it to escape that tragic hellhole.
When the Commander emerged in Tyria, they were on the ground. "Inside?" they thought. Two figures stood before the Commander, watching - Zojja, who they hadn't seen in... years, and him. A mursaat. Mabon. The Commander's blood then went cold.
Lazarus's voice boomed through the Commander's head. "Another mursaat? Here in Tyria?" Their instinct was to fight - or flee, maybe - but Zojja and another norn named Frode talked them down. They informed the Commander that this Mabon is an ally, and, somehow, the Commander felt like everything they know to be true is about to be flipped over.
Once the tunnel vision faded, the Commander could hear the crackling of nearby fires and shouting. Wherever they landed, the fight was just outside. Mabon departed to search for the "other wizards," stirring an ever-brewing pot of questions in the Commander's mind. Zojja and Frode guided the Commander forward. There was a fight to be had before we could catch up.
As they fought their way upstairs, they encountered even more of those creatures. Frode called them the Kryptis - a faction of demons from a place called Nayos (which seems to be another name for the demon realm). Even more rifts emerged, and Zojja handed the Commander a peculiar device that she called the Heart of the Obscure. She told them that it had the ability to seal rifts. The Commander picked it up without hesitation; there weren't any other options.
They pushed forward until they emerged from the fortress. Garenhoff - no, Elona... Fragments of places littered the horizon before the Commander, lifting into the sky. Another unfamiliar voice broke their concentration. A living, breathing (not made of stone) dwarf named Lyhr - who the Commander would soon learn was another of these wizards - shouted for aid from above. The Commander took a skyscale and made their way up.
Rejoined by Mabon, they were able to bash the rest of the Kryptis threats. In a moment of reprieve, all attention was turned straight towards the Commander: the stranger. with a great deal of patience, Mabon attempted to guide them through their journey to date.
This is the Astral Ward. They protect the Wizard's Court. Oh, and there are demons. A lot of demons.
Chapter 3: Mother of Stars[edit]
“The commander gets to know the mysterious Astral Ward and aids in their efforts to rescue Dagda, the Wizard of the Celestial.
— In-game description
Without any hesitation, Commander’s new “friends” – the Astral Ward, put them to work in this strange, millennia-spanning war against the Kryptis. The Commander is still adjusting to the revelation of this information, even though they are fighting the urge to call in a fleet of airships and resolve this whole issue. But the Commander chooses to trust the ward, at least for now. There are a lot of new faces to track, and the Commander notices that Zojja seems tense in their presence. Thinking about it – they haven’t spoken since her injuries in Maguuma, because the Commander didn’t know she’d left the confines of Rata Sum since returning there to heal. But as the Commander expects, that’ll be a hefty conversation. Plus, they suppose that it might even complicate things if someone like Logan were to fly up with a bunch of Pact or Seraph.
Everyone seemed to be busy tracking down Dagda and Isgarren – the other two missing “wizards”, the latter being the leader of this organization – so, in order to help, the Commander met up with Frode at one of the Astral Ward’s outposts. He informed the Commander of one of their more hands-on divisions: the Rift Hunters, who were led by a man named Rian. As the Commander got to know, this division has been tasked with tracking down and opening Kryptis rifts, in order to challenge the demons hiding inside. This tactic was a good distraction so that the rest of the Astral Ward could search for their missing. The Commander was taught by Rian how to use the Heart of the Obscure – the device that Zojja gave them in the battle before that they used to close rifts at the Beacon of Ages. Apparently, it was crafted by a kodan wizard named Waiting Sorrow, who has since left the Astral Ward on pretty precarious terms. Whenever the Commander channels the device’s power, it seems they are being guided forward by strange waves of emotion. And even though they cannot describe how, or why, they already seem to feel a strong connection with the Heart of the Obscure.
The Commander was also introduced to one of Frode’s right-hand soldiers, a brassy asura named Uenno, who assisted in the Commander’s training. Since spending any time in Nayos seemed to incite a lot of suspicion, she sent the Commander to one of the ward’s medical tents, where they were tested for possession. The voice in the Commander’s head urged them to keep their mouth shut, and since it helped them escape Cerus, the Commander decided to cooperate. Whoever that Peitha is, and whatever the motivations she had in order to help the Commander to escape, the Commander understands, that they are as much a stranger to the Astral Ward, as they are to her. So long as they don’t start clawing their eyes out or speaking in tongues, the Commander decides to keep Peitha under their helm, as dangerous as she may turn out to be. After all, she didn’t do anything to hurt them, at least for now, which in fact only piques Commander’s curiosity as to Peitha’s motives. The Commander’s mind is a bit bronzed after everything they have endured over the years, and now they try to evaluate should they play the right hand, so that they could gather more intel on Cerus and the Kryptis. After attuning their comms device to the Astral Ward’s local fluctuations, which only further separate the Commander from contacting their allies back at home, the Commander aids Rian in quelling some of the Kryptis and sealing rifts. Just in a few moments, Zojja and Mabon call the Commander back to camp, where they get to learn that Dagda has been found, and things aren’t looking great. The Commander is headed out to meet their new allies in the sprawling, fractured islands of the archipelago with the goal of finding her.
These particular fractals, as they’ve been described to the Commander, are a complete marvel; they’ve been used by Isgarren and the wizards for centuries to test many different possibilities that the future may contain and their goal with this – is to predict future threats. It seems that the end of the dragon cycle fractured Isgarren’s magic and these tiny realities were ripped from the Mists, since then, they manifested here – above Tyria. From what the Commander can tell, these fractals are not entirely dissimilar from the ones monitored by Dessa. The latter ones naturally occurring in the Mists, and Isgarren’s are deliberately formed – but the inhabitants that live within his, are pure flesh and bone. They’re outside of the Mists, they’re alive, and the Commander cannot even imagine the fear they’re experiencing. Of course, the Astral Ward is doing what is in their hands to contain the local threats, but the Commander is not sure if any of them knows what to do with the inhabitants. All the Commander understands is that their fear is potent to the Kryptis. The demons are being hunted, and keeping those impacted safe – should be one of the ward’s leading priorities.
Thankfully, Zojja and the others were able to identify Dagda’s location on one of these fractals – an abandoned observatory that was fixed inside of one of the floating islands. While Frode and Uenno guarded the entrance, the Commander with Zojja ventured inside. Getting a small group in – was the best idea, to not overwhelm Dagda under the worst of circumstances. Sadly, they couldn’t escape death. Before they even reached the wizard, Ceri, one of Dagda’s apprentices, ambushed them inside the cave. She was…gone. Her entirety was being possessed by a Kryptis, and there seemed to be no hope of quelling the beast inside her. Death was Ceri’s mercy. They took a moment before they were able to push forward, and the Commander stayed by Zojja’s side while she mourned the loss of her “found family”. The Commander acknowledged that Zojja has an entire life here: new friends, a mentor. And that they are just a stranger looking in.
Inside the observatory, they found Dagda, a jotun from another era of Tyrian history. She was also described by Zojja as “the Wizard of the Celestial”. The Commander’s presence immediately put Dagda on the defensive, as she growled in fear, claiming that the Commander was there to kill her as they had “so many others.”. It “hit” the Commander, that their reputation as the champion of an Elder Dragon preceded them. To the wizard, they were as unpredictable as Drakkar or Kralkatorrik’s Branded. The Commander was being seen as hostile and unfeeling. And they’ve never been met with that kind of hostility before.
It seemed that Dagda was already struggling against something or someone, and the Commander’s arrival only exacerbated her madness. Zojja tried to frame Commander’s involvement as benevolent, but as they thought, talking things out wasn’t going to work. The wizard was fighting back against whatever voice lingered in her mind. While Zojja cast a barrier over the arena to trap Dagda inside, the Commander attempted to take the situation into their hands and tried to expel whichever threat was occupying Dagda’s mind. She fought back with the power of the cosmos itself, summoning all manner of otherworldly entities throughout a protracted fight.
After a ruthless fight against an entire hive of demons, which by Commander’s knowledge (thanks to Peitha teasing in their ear) was led by someone named Vanda, Dagda finally came to her senses. Despite the wizard being cleansed and the Commander’s efforts in freeing her from possession, she still didn’t change her view on the Commander. Even though Zojja tried to convince Dagda that the Commander was an ally and not some “unpredictable force of nature”, the wizard was still skeptical. The Commander understood, that not only does the ward need to earn their trust, but the Commander also needs theirs.
Lyhr had mentioned to the Commander that the Astral Ward had been watching them for a really long time – just as they watched all magical anomalies. At best this was out of curiosity, but at worst it was out of fear. The Commander got to acknowledge that they would be afraid of themselves too, considering the fact that they’ve helped kill dragons and a god. But regardless, the Commander couldn’t find an answer to a really important question: Why didn’t wizards intervene? Did they ever consider ending the Commander’s life for the greater good of Tyria?
Secrets of the Obscure: Act 2[edit]
Chapter 4: Voices beyond the Veil[edit]
“The commander continues to aid the Astral Ward and the Rift Hunters as they fight back against the Kryptis.
— In-game description
While Dagda – who still seethes whenever the Commander gets near – focused on recovery from the possession, the Commander helped Rian to take down more Kryptis throughout the archipelago. Even though it felt like the fight back in the observatory finished recently – the Commander and Astral Ward had the next major goal – helping Lyhr track down his other half. As the Commander tried to crack down on the received information, they learned that Lyhr could split his consciousness into two. This wild tactic is being used to better protect himself from demons’ possession. Even if one half of his is compromised and currently missing, the other is ready and able to help. To the Commander’s surprise, they’ve never encountered someone like these nearly immortal wizards, who also possess unique and magical abilities.
While the Commander lingered at camp, Frode introduced them to two more members of the Astral Ward, who apparently would be aiding them in the days to come: R’tchikk, a shockingly eloquent skritt, and Gladium, a former member of the charr legions. R’tchikk possessed and shared her deep admiration of the Commander’s past accomplishments, which gave the Commander a chance to appreciate at least one proper ally in this mystical and unknown facet of the world. Both she and Gladium had maybe the warmest introduction to the Commander since their arrival.
The Commander headed back into the wizards’ “fractals” to track down more rifts and search for evidence of “Bad Lyhr”, while the rest of the team made plans for them to push toward the Wizard’s Tower – that march being their next objective. While the Commander was navigating the islands, they were struck by a voice in their head that froze them in place. This time it wasn’t Peitha, it belonged to a Kryptis named Eparch, the “Midnight King,” and he was on the hunt for Isgarren. His voice was so frightening that even Peitha stirred. But it didn’t take long as her words quickly overcame his. She warned the Commander of speaking his name too loudly – as it could attract Eparch’s gaze. Even though the Commander agreed to themselves, that it was against their better judgment, they still decided to listen to her.
R’tchikk invited the Commander back to camp, where the entire group was steeling themselves for their march on the Wizard’s Tower. Finally, “Bad Lyhr” had been located, but in order to retrieve him, the group understood that they had a hell of a fight ahead of them. “Good Lyhr” (his kinder half) and Mabon would need to forge a key to disable the tower’s defense mechanisms.
Just as the group was getting ready to depart, Frode turned to Dagda to inquire about a distress call that she and Zojja responded to in Commander’s absence. As they got to know, another Astral Ward member had been possessed and Dagda had to confine him to a prison cell to isolate the threat, but not before he’d managed to stab himself in the thigh. While listening to this horror, Peitha took the opportunity to remind the Commander of their place in this world: they are just a stranger in an unfamiliar place, with few friends. By processing these words, the Commander debates within themselves – should they reveal their connection to Peitha? But they also get to understand that Dagda, with whom the Commander is already on uncertain terms, may cut them down before the Commander even has a chance to explain everything. The Commander accepts the fact that there is no rationalizing their predicament with a task force that is solely dedicated to fighting a demonic enemy.
At this point, the Commander is not sure what Peitha wants. But they are fairly certain she doesn’t want them dead.
Open world: Unlocking the Wizard's Tower[edit]
Chapter 5: The Missing Facet[edit]
“The commander and their new allies march on the Wizard's Tower.
— In-game description
After meeting everyone back at camp and talking things through, the next steps of the Commander and the crew were clear. To enter the courtyard of the Wizard’s Tower – is not an easy task, and to achieve that, Mabon and Lyhr need to perform a ritual that will enable them to forge a key. From there, Mabon must cast an enchantment to unlock the tower itself. However, the Commander and their new companions will require more extreme measures to calm the tower down, because Isgarren is still not around.
The Commander has a choice to go after one of two routes: help them forge that key, or gather essences from sources around the fractals. The Commander is persistent and will do anything, that enables them to collect a king’s ransom of emotional, magical energies to power Isgarren’s rituals. All the Commander needs to do now is decide which route to take.
After gathering all the disparate energies that they needed, Zojja let the Commander know that their preparations for this march were complete. In just a few moments, the Commander will find out what all the hassle has been about.
As they were predicting, the missing facet of Lyhr’s consciousness was beyond the gates of the Wizard’s Tower – how he managed to navigate those defenses while possessed and while the Commander with Astral Ward were trapped outside – is another mystery. After clearing the inner courtyard of Kryptis and defending Mabon while he cast a powerful spell to bring the tower’s defenses down, they were able to help Lyhr stabilize his other half. With a friendly dwarf now rejoined and another strong wizard on their side, they had to admit that their chances for success had increased.
The Commander and Astral Ward are ready to make their way into this “feisty lump of bricks,” as Lyhr affectionately calls the tower. While the Commander is very intrigued at what lies on the other side of the portal, they know that they will have to face even more difficult challenges the closer they get to the boundary between Tyria and beyond.
Chapter 6: Tower of Secrets[edit]
“With Dagda and Lyhr saved, the commander finally finds their footing in this strange side of Tyria.
— In-game description
After entering the Wizard’s Tower, the Commander admits that it is unlike anywhere they’ve traveled to within the bounds of Tyria. It even looked much smaller from below. But an uneasy feeling hits the Commander once again – to think this place floated just above the coast of Garenhoff all this time, while silently watching them wage war against the Elder Dragons… The Commander still wonders why the Astral Ward didn’t intervene, but that’s a question for Isgarren when all of this is said and done.
It seems that just as “Bad Lyhr” managed to force his way through the tower’s defense mechanisms, so did the demons. The Commander and wizards decide to split into small groups – Mabon and Zojja go to clear one wing, while Lyhr and Dagda lead another. After “cleaning” the inner perimeter, everyone regrouped outside the Hall of Confluence – the heart of the Wizard’s Tower. Since the apex of the tower’s magic functioning once again, the Commander and wizards will be able to travel to Amnytas and support the rest of the Astral Ward on the front line.
But first, they need to gain access to the Hall of Confluence and Mabon takes a lead in an archaic ritual, reciting an enchantment called the Unlit Moon. Lacking Isgarren’s presence, the wizards asked Zojja to step up and assist them in the ritual. At first, she seemed reluctant, but Dagda and Mabon both encouraged her to step forward. To the Commander’s surprise, they have never seen Zojja out of her element or being so unsure of herself. They were used to the hypercompetent and defiantly confident golemancer of legend. This is a completely new side of Zojja that unfolds the more she operates in this strange Astral Ward and the Commander realizes how much she’s grown. The Commander is starting to understand how much the Astral Ward actually means to Zojja – and how much she means to them. After all, she calls this place her new home.
As soon as the wizards began to unseal the chamber and breathe life back into the tower, Kryptis emerged like a swarm. The Commander helped to fend them off as Zojja and others channeled the spell. Toward the end, Zojja gasped in pain against the swell of magic, but just in a few moments, it was all done. The tower unfolds itself and lets them inside the innermost chamber.
It drained a lot of their power. Mabon turned to them in a moment of vulnerability, stating that his ability to resist demons was dwindling. Even the Commander had been fighting off Peitha’s voice inside their head since they got into the tower, but as it seemed, they haven’t been attacked in the same way as Dagda or Mabon.
Mabon looked at the Commander and the wizards and took on a foreboding tone, which seemed unlike the calculated mursaat the Commander had gotten to know since aiding the Astral Ward. “When the time comes, do not hesitate.”. Even Lyhr remarked on the nature of mursaat’s cryptic message. Before his departing to Amnytas in search of missing Isgarren, Mabon made Frode promise that he’d watch over everyone in the meantime.
With Mabon headed to Amnytas and the tower secure, the Astral Ward rushed into the halls and tended to restorations. The Commander aided in various tasks too, but most importantly, they helped Dagda locate the bastion keys that would help to restabilize the tower’s portal system and regain direct access to Amnytas. While searching for them, Peitha expresses her curiosity and delicate surprise over Eparch’s fascination with Isgarren’s tower. The Commander gets a feeling there’s some history between those two. But shortly after, the Commander started to imagine what Aurene would think of this place, what with its grand pillars and celestial portals. Peitha, sensing the lingering emptiness in Commander’s gut, started to ask about their bond as scion and champion. While she is overly curious to learn of their relationship, the Commander senses a hint of jealousy in Peitha’s tone.
The Commander keeps wondering if Aurene even knows what’s up here. After all, she must have at least some kind of idea in serving as the filter for the entire magical ecosystem of the planet. The same way Soo-Won likely did before her or, as the wizards supposedly connect to the ecosystem to siphon their magnitude of power. The Commander hopes that Aurene will meet the wizards one day and with the threat of the Kryptis out of the way, she could work together towards that goal.
Once preparations were complete and the bastion keys were securely in Dagda’s possession, portal transport to Amnytas was regained. Before the Commander departed, Lyhr thanked them for all they’ve done to support the Astral Ward in their fight against the Kryptis. But that wasn’t all. He also grants the Commander a new title under the umbrella of the Astral Ward: Wayfinder. He explained that it’s bestowed upon individuals who have aided Isgarren and the Wizard’s Court throughout time. The Commander acknowledges that it’s an honorary title, and it fits them well, at least while they are here and helping the ward. Whatever happens to the world after all this – the dragons, now the Kryptis – Tyria needs people like the Commander to hold the torch and light the march forward.
The Commander, now known as Wayfinder, is headed to Amnytas next. It’s time to witness the bloody front lines with their own eyes. Isgarren is still missing, and after hearing Mabon’s somber message, the Wayfinder has a bad feeling the worst is yet to come.
And hey, Dagda didn’t toss the Wayfinder from a window after the title bestowal. Maybe she finally stops seeing Wayfinder as a bloodthirsty dragon killer.
Chapter 7: Mabon's Fate[edit]
“The commander, now dubbed the "wayfinder," must track down and attempt to save Mabon before it's too late.
— In-game description
With the Wizard’s Tower reoccupied and thriving once again, Zojja called the Wayfinder to meet with her and Frode inside the war room. They introduced the Wayfinder to Zizel and Galrath, representatives from the Bastions of the Natural and Strength. Without any lingering, they inform everyone that since Mabon’s departure, he has been sighted among the bastions and he was acting very differently. Newly introduced wizards suspect that Mabon may have been fighting off possession for some time now and he is trying to win more time for them to progress forward. He may be running out of time.
To help Zizel follow Mabon’s trail, the Wayfinder and Astral Ward needed to trace Kryptis’ energy spikes throughout the bastions. The best way to do this: opening and sealing rifts, and revealing clouds of consciousness that should help them to track Mabon to wherever he’s been hiding to spare everyone from his suffering.
Amnytas. This unbelievable place has loomed in the skies over Tyria, watching history unfold below. Each bastion represents a different magical school of thought, where the wizards share their ancient knowledge with the Astral Ward. Unfortunately, this place also has been ravaged by the Kryptis. The ward is trying their best to seal demonic rifts all over the sanctuary but they are holding on by a thread, while something bigger stirs in the clouds above The World Spire.
Thankfully, the Wayfinder’s work of opening and sealing rifts has helped Zizel track Mabon. By exposing the corrupted energies by taking down Kryptis, Zizel was finally able to latch on to Mabon’s trail. When Zojja told the Wayfinder that mursaat had been found, the Wayfinder could hear in her voice that things weren’t looking good. The most important thing now – is to rescue their friend. And for that, the Wayfinder is headed straight to the Bastion of Strength to meet with the rest of the group.
The Wayfinder met with Frode, Dagda, Zojja, Galrath, and Zizel outside the bastion. The mood was gloomy and intense. Galrath led them inside, the severity of his tone evocative of what they would find.
The group was ambushed by Kryptis – the whole thing was a trap. Zojja ran far ahead of them while the rest were distracted. She was desperate to reach Mabon. Dagda called out to her, but Zojja was already out of sight. Unfortunately, the demons kept them occupied for a while, and it prevented them from going after her.
They fought their way through the halls until they found them both. Mabon hovered in the air, dark energies pulsing through his flesh. Zojja yelled out to him, but as the group approached, another Kryptis emerged from mursaat’s body, as if it had latched on to his very spirit before manifesting itself in front of everyone. They fought and prevailed.
Zojja shouted out. Mabon directed his final words back: “You did not die in that place.”. The Wayfinder and wizards fended off the beast, but not without sacrificing their ally. The souls of the mursaat and the beast were tethered together, with one keeping the other alive. The group did not hesitate, as their friend asked of them, as difficult as it was.
Zojja collapsed beneath the loss of another mentor. Her bonds with these people were formed long before Wayfinder’s arrival. The Wayfinder could hear the anguish and heartbreak in her cries, and shortly after, Zojja parted from the group. The rest of them gathered around Mabon’s body. The Wayfinder starts thinking – even though they knew Mabon briefly, this short period of time was enough to make an impact on them, too. After all, he was absolutely loved by these people.
Dagda approached Zojja in a small, quiet alcove. They sat together for a moment to grieve the loss of a precious friend. While the Wayfinder was caught in that tender moment, they saw what lurked behind Zojja’s emotion. Friendships ripped away too soon. Lessons cut short. Futures ended in the blink of an eye. First, it was Snaff, and now, Mabon.
Dagda reassured her that Mabon’s death would not disrupt her place in their wizardly world – in the Astral Ward. She even insinuated to something way bigger and more permanent. A new beginning. They want Zojja to join the Wizard’s Court.
Quietly listening to Dagda’s remarks and implications, even the Wayfinder got slightly broadsided. The Wayfinder start questioning themselves – would Zojja see their friends again? But she needed time to process everything – there was so much happening all at once.
Dagda and the Wayfinder silently exchanged a few words, where she reiterated to the Wayfinder that now Zojja’s home is here, and her past is behind her.
Zizel and Galrath returned to the Wizard’s Tower to deliver the sad news to the others, while Frode and Dagda remained near Mabon’s body out of respect for their precious friend. Before the Wayfinder departed, Peitha made a notice that she caught a whiff of something, or someone, in the air. Of course, she wouldn’t tell the Wayfinder what she was thinking, but whatever presence lingered around, silenced her omnipresent guff. The Wayfinder understands, that as they get closer to Isgarren, that tension will only rise, but even in Wayfinder’s belief, Peitha seems to be uncomfortable with the events that lie ahead.
Secrets of the Obscure: Act 3[edit]
Chapter 8: Into the Obscure[edit]
“The wayfinder and the Astral Ward continue in their march against the Kryptis; Amnytas is in danger.
— In-game description
The air within the Wizard's Tower was heavy, burdened with loss. Mabon was gone, and his apprentice, Zojja, was lost in her grief. After a tense exchange in the Wizard's Court, the Wayfinder, familiar with Zojja like no one else here, approached her in an attempt to provide solace. Leaving her to her thoughts, the Wayfinder encountered Dagda lingering nearby. Surprisingly, Dagda dropped her usual hostility, treating the Wayfinder as an ally, united by mutual concern for Zojja. Both shared a quiet helplessness in their inability to ease her pain.
Returning to Amnytas, the search for Isgarren pressed on, as shadows churned ominously in the skies. The Wayfinder approached Rian and his wife, Kamilla, a Rift Hunter collaborating with the Astral Ward to uncover unique enchantments tied to the Heart of the Obscure. Working together, they tested a device fueled by distilled emotions, using its power to attract formidable Kryptis. Midway through their efforts, Zizel contacted the Wayfinder, whispering of a strange call drawing them to the Bastion of the Obscure.
At the Bastion of the Obscure, R'tchikk and Gladium awaited the Wayfinder outside, sent by Zizel to guide them. As the Wayfinder delved deeper, broke through kryptis hoard along the way, they stumbled upon an ancient artifact, a vision of the past. Through its shimmering surface, they witnessed a poignant memory of Mabon and Isgarren, a reminder of the bonds, Isgarren taunted him and called his mursaat nature into question, asking why he didn't fight back. But Mabon didn't flinch. He was ready to die by Isgarren's hands. Before the vision's conclusion, the Kryptis broke the moment, forcing the Wayfinder back to reality. Clearing the area, R'tchikk and Gladium inquired about the artifact. The Wayfinder inferred from the vision that Mabon and Isgarren had once been enemies, likely before Mabon's ascension. He sounded harder. Life had not been kind to him up until that point. R'tchikk seemed unfazed, being someone surrounded by archaic magic daily. She departed with Gladium to report what they found to Zizel.
The Wayfinder hesitated for a moment, absorbing what they'd just witnessed. Soon after, Peitha talking to the Wayfinder through their mind, revealed Cerus is her brother, a uniquely terrifying Kryptis, has been circling the Wayfinder, watching and waiting. She hinted at his task, cryptically assuring the Wayfinder they're on the right path but warning of the danger ahead. With amusement and foreboding, she left them to face the looming threat.
Chapter 9: The World Spire[edit]
“The wayfinder and their Astral Ward allies march against the World Spire in search of Isgarren.
— In-game description
While processing Peitha's ill-timed revelation, the Wayfinder hauled themselves back into Amnytas and out of the stifling eeriness of the bastion. But just as they did, Zojja called on them.
Isgarren had been sighted at the Bastion of the Celestial—the gateway to the World Spire. And there was no time to spare.
They weren't sure what they'd find inside. Dagda had almost succumbed to her possession. Mabon had fallen to his, a loss that continued to loom over the Ward. The Kryptis were growing more powerful with each moment, and the time to deal with their threat was running out. If they couldn't rescue Isgarren soon, he might suffer a fate worse than dear Mabon. This would be catastrophic not just for the Astral Ward or Wizard's Court, but for Tyria as a whole. Without Isgarren, who knew what would slither forth from the Mists next? And worse yet, what sort of threat would a corrupted Isgarren be?
The group regrouped on one of the bastion's floating rings. Dagda and Zojja stood with Zizel, who was listening for movement. Kryptis were waiting to attack, so they marched forward to get the upper hand.
As they entered the spire, Peitha took on a defensive tone. "The veil is parting," she told the Wayfinder. Zojja overheard them despite their efforts to be covert. She asked if they were okay, assuming they were speaking to themselves. They managed to conceal Peitha's existence for just a bit longer. With tensions as strained as they were, the Wayfinder couldn’t risk being compromised—for fear of being removed from the field… or worse. But they didn't know how much longer they could keep up the deception.
Zojja was on the verge of launching into a lecture when she was interrupted by a Kryptis ambush. This fight likely wouldn't cool until something had concluded. The Wayfinder just didn't know if that something was going to be in their favor.
After fighting wave after wave of Kryptis, Peitha advised the Wayfinder to think of a particularly fond memory—something to hold on to in the moments ahead. They thought of their home. Their friends. Aurene... But Zojja, whose attention was already focused on them moments before, snapped. Was "one of them" in there? And before the Wayfinder could deflect, Peitha interjected.
Zojja's skin crawled, but before anyone else could process that revelation, someone more important hovered just ahead: Isgarren.
Isgarren, the Curator. A being of legend, boiled down to hostility and impatience. Whatever had invaded his consciousness was vicious; neither Lyhr nor Dagda could break through the glacier of ice that covered his mind. Even Dagda—with all her stoicism—was shaken by the sight of him.
Isgarren snarled at the group before retreating farther into the bastion. A brutal fight lay ahead of them. They pursued and cornered him in a small opening. His power flickered outward, as if only a piece of his consciousness was exposed. A distilled manifestation of his bitterness, and they needed to break it down one ornery thought at a time.
Dagda attempted to calm his spirit, but words alone wouldn't free Isgarren from the demon's grip. He threw Mabon's death at the Wayfinder’s feet in defiance. "Wayfinder" dripped from his mouth like venom, just as it had from Dagda on their first encounter.
They fought. Grotesque clusters of Kryptis energy burst from Isgarren's manifestation as they battled. They attempted to quell that corruption before it could reinfect him—returning his thoughts to sludge and impatience. As the conflict raged on, Isgarren pulled farther back into the bastion. Lyhr and Dagda were mortified by what he'd become. Whatever—or whoever—had their claws in Isgarren's soul had burrowed deep. And the words he uttered pierced like arrows. To talk any sense into him, they needed to expose his vulnerabilities—break down every jaded thought and ideal until there was no refuge in which he could hide. He had mistakes to own up to, consequences to face, and a demon to kill.
Isgarren eventually pulled away, retreating farther onto the ring. The group pushed forward, fighting against their heartbreak. Isgarren aimed his words—at the Wayfinder, at Mabon. Dagda remarked that in normal times he had a cavillous nature, but this far exceeded his worst days. Lyhr maintained his composure, keeping a keen eye on the situation and pointing out that Isgarren was headed straight for the heart of Amnytas: the World Spire. The only thing fending off a full-on Kryptis invasion.
They pursued Isgarren to the next opening. His attention pivoted squarely to the Wayfinder, accusing them of only causing pain here—as they had all over Tyria. A lifetime of hurt starting with Zhaitan and leading to this moment. Isgarren only saw a threat. While the Wayfinder "reacted" and "scrambled" below, he claimed to protect this world from above. But the Wayfinder knew damn well that his inflated ego was just that. He may have protected them from the Kryptis, but they had kept the Elder Dragons from ripping the entire world apart. Toxic and vulgar manifestations ripped from his essence and lashed against them—Isgarren's subconscious attempting to defend his choices. They'd festered for far too long, and Isgarren needed a proper reminding of what was at stake: Tyria. Their mutual home, that they’d each sworn to protect in their own way. His, the more dated.
Battle-worn and exhausted from their battle of benevolence, Isgarren fled from them once more. But they did not give him respite and cornered him soon after. With few options left for escape, Isgarren froze in place. His snarling spirit simmered, but something… strange happened (even stranger than the events that had come before). As they defeated Kryptis that appeared to feed on Isgarren, they dropped essence of unity—revealing that within Isgarren was at least some flicker of truth. He heard them.
Isgarren saw that the only way to move forward was to do it together, with the Astral Ward. With the Wayfinder, even. When they threw this essence to him—into his manifestation—he was propelled forward. His icy shell began to crumble, a glimpse of the real Isgarren showing through. He crept forward, one step closer to the spire.
As quickly as that shield fell, Cerus's voice boomed forth from Isgarren and the wizard pulled away—this time, to protect them. A portal to the World Spire opened in his place.
They pursued him to the apex of Amnytas, atop the World Spire. Everyone held firm, ready to defend their home. Eager to keep Tyria safe. The group broke off to fight Kryptis, while Dagda instructed Zojja and the Wayfinder to keep Isgarren busy while she and Lyhr attempted to expel Cerus from his mind.
Glimpses of the real Isgarren broke through as they fought, but those moments of morality were stifled when Cerus pulled his yoke. A surge of energy overcame the group, knocking most of their allies unconscious—only Dagda, Lyhr, and the Wayfinder stood.
They slowly approached him, but before they could make the final blow, Cerus shifted his plan of attack and tore open a rift just before them. Isgarren and the Wayfinder were pulled straight inside.
Chapter 10: Treachery[edit]
“The commander faces Cerus. Hopefully for the last time.
— In-game description
The Wayfinder awoke in that decaying place again. Their head pounded as they gathered their bearings. Isgarren was crumpled on the ground nearby, nearing death but still hanging on by a thread. Peitha's voice rang in their ears, but their attention turned to the demon before them: Cerus.
Cerus circled, mocking them as he closed in the same way the lumbering beast had tried to kill them before. He celebrated his impending victory: he'd returned to Nayos with Eparch's prized bounty, Isgarren, and a prize for himself. The champion of an Elder Dragon. The scourge of Tyria. Blood-tinged saliva dripped from his jaws in anticipation. This fight was done.
As Cerus gloated, Isgarren called the Wayfinder to his side. With his last remaining strength, he cast an enchantment on them before Cerus took notice. But expending the energy rendered Isgarren unconscious. With Isgarren incapacitated, the demon's attention snapped to the Wayfinder. This time, he wasn't going to let them crawl out of here alive.
They fought viciously, but it felt like an unwinnable battle. The Wayfinder was knocked to the ground, death threatening them once again. Before Cerus could land the final strike, a sardonic chuckle broke his concentration. The Wayfinder knew who she was before she stepped from the shadows.
Their blood turned cold. Was this what Peitha wanted, to serve them on a platter to her brother? The siblings mocked the Wayfinder as they danced, Peitha maneuvering between her brother and them. For a sliver of a moment, the Wayfinder was all but sure she was preparing to steal her brother's kill. Regret flooded their thoughts—they should've told Zojja. Should've told any of them. But it was too late.
But Peitha did not raise a hand against them. Once she was positioned between them, she instead dragged the tyranny of Cerus and Eparch into the light. She'd had enough of their treachery. Of their disregard for their own kind.
Peitha snarled at the Wayfinder to get to their feet. Even with a Kryptis lord in their corner, the fight ahead would prove a brutal one. While they fended off Cerus's blows, the siblings traded verbal jabs. Peitha had abandoned their king, and the Wayfinder had walked straight into the meat grinder of sibling rivalry. From what they could parse, Eparch had done as much harm to Nayos as Cerus and he had done to Tyria.
The battle persisted and eventually they weakened Cerus enough that Peitha called on the Wayfinder to land the final blow. "He did not deserve to dream," she growled, and the Wayfinder purged the life from her brother's body.
Isgarren stirred awake but didn't recoil at the sight of their new "friend." Little could faze someone who had lived for millennia and wrestled with demons for as long as he had.
With Cerus dead, Peitha insisted that they take their leave. Eparch was surely watching and could ambush them at any moment. The Wayfinder followed without hesitation.
When they emerged from the portal, they were back in the opulent embrace of the Wizard's Tower. Zojja's voice broke through the crowd first. She rushed to the Wayfinder’s side, inspecting them for injuries. Similarly, the Astral Ward flocked to Isgarren—eager to have their leader back—but Dagda's gaze immediately fixated on Peitha. For once, someone else stirred a bigger reaction from her than the Wayfinder.
Peitha, however, was unfazed. If anything, she appreciated the jotun's reflective nature. Before the two came to blows, Isgarren stomped on any impending escalations. He was home now, and drama like that would not be tolerated. Sharing Dagda's curiosity, Isgarren turned to Peitha. He had questions that demanded answers.
While Peitha and Isgarren headed somewhere more private to talk business, Zojja pulled the Wayfinder aside. She'd finally made her choice. THE choice.
She told them how she struggled against those thoughts: wouldn't she be leaving her friends—the remains of Destiny's Edge, the colleges, and Dragon's Watch—behind if she chose to ascend? Would she be leaving the Wayfinder after reuniting after so many years apart? They did the only thing they could: they supported her. Whatever she chose, this was her family now. These were her people. And, regardless, the Wayfinder had their own path to travel. Whatever version of Zojja they met on the other side, they’d support her just the same.
She held back tears as Dagda approached—Isgarren and Peitha called for the Wayfinder. Zojja nodded, encouraging them to go ahead. She was going to be fine.
They rejoined the group. Peitha and Isgarren were already at odds. Peitha told them that the situation in Nayos had devolved and was beyond anything they could imagine. While war raged against the Kryptis in Amnytas, another conflict had been stirring in the burrows of Nayos for millennia. The Kryptis may be a bit prickly compared to Tyrian standards of etiquette, but Eparch was an entirely different beast. He had reduced their people to cattle, feasting on their bodies and souls to his benefit. Even with Cerus out of the picture, they'd barely snatched victory from his jaws.
Peitha was Kryptis royalty. And she needed their aid in the fight against her corrupt leader.
Isgarren was entirely strategic—almost clinical—about her request. He posited that allowing Eparch to bring his world to ruin might spare theirs, but Peitha shook off those remarks. She insisted that Eparch would simply come here when he'd had his fill, invigorated and ready to conquer. And he was quite fond of their world. Isgarren analyzed the situation before eventually asking for the Wayfinder’s input.
Peitha had been a fixture in the Wayfinder’s mind this entire journey, and while they questioned her allegiance until the moment she rose up against Cerus, she had not harmed them once. She protected them from Eparch's whispers—she guided them in battle. She may be a Kryptis, and they may not know all of her motivations, but they hadn’t seen all that Eparch was capable of. And they did not want him here.
They offered to go with Peitha to her home world. Isgarren, at first hesitant, eventually agreed. The ward needed to recover before he could lend any meaningful aid, but as soon as Peitha was ready, the Wayfinder would join her in Nayos.
After their impromptu war council concluded, the Wayfinder stepped aside to speak with their cross-dimensional ally. At first, it would just be the two of them embarking on her mission—Peitha feared bringing too many of Isgarren's forces in too quickly would threaten the greater Kryptis society, so the Wayfinder would act as her champion while they rallied support from the inside.
Before they were pulled into that rift in Gendarran Fields, the Wayfinder questioned what came next. With the Elder Dragons dead and Aurene settling into her new role, they...didn't know. Didn't know what they wanted or what the world wanted from them. They supposed Zojja and they shared similar struggles. But now the world felt cracked wide open. With the discovery of the Astral Ward, they realized that there was a whole side of Tyria they didn’t know about. That nobody knew about. And with the arrival of the Kryptis, they might be seeing new threats from the Mists emerge in their place more frequently.
Tyria needed to act. They’d been granted a reprieve from the onslaught of the Elder Dragons—and there had been no signs of any rogue gods. It was time to rebuild and heal. With the Kryptis being pushed back into Nayos, they had time to figure things out. For now, at least. The Wayfinder just hoped Isgarren chose to inform the rest of the world of this darker threat before the hour was too late.
Peitha suggested they do the rounds and meet with their allies—enjoy a moment just to breathe. Because, as soon as she was ready, they were headed to Nayos.
Secrets of the Obscure: Through the Veil[edit]
Chapter 11: Duress[edit]
“The wayfinder is called back into action by Peitha and the Wizard's Court.
— In-game description
As the Wayfinder recovered from the battle with Cerus in Nayos, Peitha's familiar voice rang in their head, calling them back to the Wizard's Tower. When the Wayfinder arrived, they found Peitha and Isgarren discussing a recent spike in Kryptis activity—it was time to join her in that fight. Isgarren expressed some reservations about the Astral Ward delving deep into Nayos, but Peitha proposed that a small force would be preferable to acclimate the Kryptis to their presence. The Wayfinder was still not certain of Peitha's ultimate goals, but taking down Eparch seemed like a worthy enough cause.
As Peitha and Isgarren made a few last preparations, Frode pulled the Wayfinder aside to give them a chance to be reacquainted with an old friend. Zojja, having fully ascended into wizardhood, had lost most of her memory, as predicted. She...had hardly any idea who the Wayfinder was. Knowing she made this sacrifice willingly didn't make it any easier. They'd only just reconnected after all this time apart, and just a short time later, the Wayfinder had lost her again. They were barely more than an acquaintance now. But this was what she wanted, and the Wayfinder needed to support that choice.
For better or worse, the Wayfinder had little time to dwell on their friend—as Isgarren readied to open a portal, a rift tore into the courtyard, spilling Kryptis into the Wizard's Tower. Unable to seal it from the outside with the Heart of the Obscure, they were left with no choice but to jump through and attempt to seal it from the source—inside Nayos.
Between pained gasps, the Wayfinder once again found themself breathing the thick air of the demon realm. They had only seconds to wonder at the strangely beautiful surroundings—nothing like the horrors they'd seen fighting Cerus—before they plunged into battle. Zojja instructed the Wayfinder to collect the essence of the Kryptis they defeated, using it to enhance the power of the Heart of the Obscure and seal the rift.
Isgarren and Zojja rushed back through the closing rift to the Wizard's Tower while Peitha opened her own portal. She ushered the Wayfinder to yet another location deeper in Nayos, near a fledgling Astral Ward camp in an area shrouded by a kind of magical fog. Kept secret and safe by Peitha following their rescue, they still lived after all this time. The Wayfinder approached to find the camp under assault by Eparch's loyalist Kryptis. Leading the defense, Arina fought alongside a hardened crew of ward survivors, as well as Peitha's dedicated Kryptis ally, Ramses. The Wayfinder joined the effort and swept the camp clear of enemies.
After their brief introduction when the Wayfinder was first pulled into Nayos by Cerus, they were relieved to find Arina alive—both for her sake and Frode's. It turned out that Arina and her ward had crawled out of that chaos before Cerus could sniff them out, and they'd worked together to survive and build out a small camp not far from what would turn out to be their next objective: Heitor's Gate. Peitha and Ramses had located Arina and her crew just days ago and called on the Wayfinder to begin the push forward.
Although the Wayfinder had yet to paint a full picture of Peitha's motivations, her story continued to prove... earnest. Arina trusted her. Ramses would likely die for her. Whatever fight lay ahead, the Wayfinder thought they might be on the right side.
Chapter 12: The Survivors[edit]
“The wayfinder finds their bearings in Nayos, the Realm of Dreams.
— In-game description
Heitor—Cerus's former mate and a "cousin" of Peitha (as best the Wayfinder could gather, Kryptis family dynamics are ornamental)—holds the fortress blocking them from reaching Eparch. Nothing goes in or out of his domain as long as the gate stands closed. Peitha seemed open to the possibility that Heitor could join their cause, but Arina shut that line of conversation down, believing this to be a kill-or-be-killed situation. Either way, they needed to cut their way through Heitor's Gate if they'd ever have a chance to confront the Midnight King.
First, they had to strengthen their foothold in Nayos. To accomplish this, they set about chipping away at Heitor's forces in the region—defeating Kryptis patrols and taking down their leadership.
In the wilds of Inner Nayos, Ramses caught wind of someone in duress. After beating back a group of attackers, they found a Kryptis named Irja, cowering and confused. The Wayfinder explained to Irja that they were with Peitha's forces and directed her to the Astral Ward camp. Surprised that they had come to her aid, and not entirely trusting of non-Kryptis, Irja agreed to head to the safety of Arina's camp; after all, she was merely game to Eparch's hunters.
With the loyalists sufficiently weakened, the Wayfinder returned to camp themselves. Irja had made her way there, and Ramses and the Wayfinder did their best to make her feel comfortable. Getting comfortable wasn't part of Peitha's plans for the Wayfinder, though—she called a meeting for them to plan their assault on Heitor and the forces at her fortress. It was time to act.
Chapter 13: Heitor's Gate[edit]
“The wayfinder confronts Heitor, one of Eparch's generals, and frees the outer reaches of Nayos.
— In-game description
When Peitha, Arina, Ramses, and the Wayfinder gathered to discuss the assault on Heitor's Gate, Ramses relayed the news that despite their earlier efforts, Irja had disappeared from camp. Likely too fearful of the Tyrians, she'd fled back into the wilderness.
Just outside the grotesque fortress, they were greeted by the relentless onslaught of Heitor's forces. In the wake of their defeat, Arina was eager to move forward and confront Heitor themself, but the Kryptis allies lingered momentarily while Ramses offered a prayer for the fallen.
Inside the fortress, they approached Heitor's chamber, and a familiar voice cried out in pain. Irja hadn't fled—she'd been taken prisoner. Bolting into the room, they finally came face-to-face with their enemy. Peitha traded barbs with Heitor as Irja looked on, held captive and frozen with fear.
They pressed the attack. At first, it looked as though Heitor would fall quickly. Suddenly, Heitor consumed Irja, absorbing her essence as she thrashed and screamed in the throes of death. Ramses yelled in horror, and Peitha snarled with rage. There would be no peaceful outcome, and suddenly Peitha's ambition was clear and just.
Heitor, unhinged, desperately clung to their allegiance to Eparch right up to their unceremonious death.
Peitha walked away in anger and frustration, asking them to check for survivors. They found only corpses. When the Wayfinder met Peitha outside, they agreed to regroup when the time is right to proceed deeper into Inner Nayos. The rumors of what might await them there are troubling—zealous loyalists, imprisoned innocents, ruthless generals—but it's becoming clear that Peitha fights for the good of her people against a tyrannical and increasingly treacherous king.
Secrets of the Obscure: The Realm of Dreams[edit]
Chapter 14: The War Council[edit]
“The wayfinder helps Peitha weaken King Eparch's control.
— In-game description
The wall of toxic fog blocking the path beyond Heitor's Gate dissipated. The plan can now move forward.
Peitha called on the Wayfinder to attend a war council and meet with "one of Isgarren's pets" at the Astral Ward's camp in Inner Nayos. The mysterious animal turned out to be Galrath, and as Peitha's war council began, he barked—Isgarren had refused to offer the full support of the Astral Ward in their war against Eparch. Ramses protested, but Galrath reiterated that the ward was still recovering from the Kryptis attack on Amnytas and that Peitha's battle was not the ward's battle. However, the wizard would allow for volunteers to join Peitha at their discretion. With further proof of Peitha's ability to keep the Kryptis out of Tyria, Isgarren could be persuaded to offer the Astral Ward's full support.
Peitha put a stop to the squabbling and divulged her plans for overthrowing Eparch. To do so, she needed to locate and persuade a powerful tactician, a hero of the Kryptis, to join her side: General Nephus.
Formerly Eparch's second-in-command, Nephus protested the manner in which Eparch and his queen, Labris, ruled over their people. As a former general and leader of his people, Nephus commanded too much respect and loyalty to warrant execution. Instead, he had been held in exile, living among the commoners of Inner Nayos. As Peitha saw it, convincing Nephus to join her cause could inspire the masses to follow in rebellion against the Midnight King. But they had to strike before Eparch or Labris could react.
With the plan in place, the Wayfinder accompanied Arina to meet with some of the new Astral Ward volunteers. As they approached, the Wayfinder recognized Major Emund, who gathered the troops to attention. Unexpectedly, it was Frode who led them. He had reunited with his daughter, Arina. They'd been apart since the Wayfinder had first spied on her camp outside Lion's Arch, before that initial encounter with Cerus. It all seemed like a distant memory, back when the Wayfinder had first learned about the Wizard's Tower and the Astral Ward.
They kept their reunion professional in front of the troops. Sensing their emotion, the Wayfinder ended the conversation to give them a moment to catch up in private, however brief. It would soon be time to put Peitha's plan into action and journey deeper into Inner Nayos.
The Wayfinder struck out into the wilds of Nyedra Surrounds, carving a path through Eparch's loyalists and creating diversions while Ramses's scouts tracked down General Nephus. During the mission, Galrath unexpectedly contacted the Wayfinder, requesting to speak at the forward bivouac.
He told the Wayfinder about the existence of ancient artifacts that describe forgotten fighting techniques. Galrath believed these could be useful in fighting the Kryptis as part of the ward's arsenal, so he proposed that the Wayfinder track them down.
The Wayfinder scoured the Nyedra Surrounds, eventually gathering all the ancient artifacts. Returning them to Galrath, the Wayfinder was given his blessing to experiment with the new fighting techniques they described. Whether additional goodwill had been earned toward convincing him and Isgarren to commit the Astral Ward into fighting the war remains to be seen.
With these ancient fighting techniques added to the arsenal, the Wayfinder continued to battle loyalist forces in the area.
Eventually, Ramses contacted the Wayfinder; his scouts had located the elusive General Nephus somewhere in Nyedra itself. They need to get to him before loyalists overrun Inner Nayos.
Chapter 15: Forced Hand[edit]
“The wayfinder seeks a powerful ally.
— In-game description
The Wayfinder met Ramses on the outskirts of Nyedra. They made their way past Kryptis dwellings and temples and engaged loyalist guards in the streets. Eventually they met up with Peitha and followed her toward the general's last known location, whispers of the people of Nyedra trailing them.
Deeper in town, more guards confronted them—but these soldiers were loyal to Nephus. Just as it seemed a battle would ensue, their elusive target emerged from the shadows.
While Nephus's guards worried for his safety, the general himself exuded calm authority. He posited that it was Peitha who was in danger, not himself. But Peitha refused to leave without the general hearing her proposal. Rather than finding a safe, quiet place to talk, General Nephus ordered Peitha to speak right there in the Nyedra streets, in front of a full Kryptis audience.
Peitha used the audience to her advantage. Her speech gained momentum as she addressed the crowd directly. She might well have convinced the people of Nyedra to join her then and there, but one of Nephus's guards cried out an alarm: Queen Labris and her royal guard had arrived. Tension was high. Peitha urged the onlookers to join with them and fight, but General Nephus, in an attempt to remain neutral and protect his people from slaughter, ordered them not to take up arms against the queen's forces.
Left with no choice but to defend themselves, Peitha, Ramses, and the Wayfinder held off Queen Labris's initial attack, battling the royal guard to a stalemate. Labris called for her forces to stand down and proposed a parley with General Nephus, which he accepted.
The Kryptis queen, stately yet menacing, made her proposal: in exchange for turning Peitha, Ramses, and the Wayfinder over into her custody, Nephus and his people would be granted clemency and left in peace in Nyedra with her blessing and that of King Eparch.
Nephus seemed initially receptive to the proposal. But slowly, they watched as his anger toward his queen built. He swore fealty to Peitha and renounced Labris and Eparch. With this one swift decision, war was truly declared, and Nayos was thrown into chaos.
Queen Labris ordered the royal guard forward, sparking an all-out Kryptis-on-Kryptis clash. The people of Nyedra rallied to General Nephus, and with their combined forces they beat back the opposing force and eventually destroyed Labris's royal guard entourage. Labris then retreated under the protection of her elite Queen's Circle.
Peitha thanked General Nephus. He answered in tightly controlled fury that his hand had been forced. He challenged Peitha to make up for the violence and misery that her brother and uncle had inflicted upon the Kryptis. "You owe our people. Your family owes us," he said as he walked away. "Bring us something other than death."
Unfortunately, that request would have to wait; both he and Peitha knew that Labris had to be dealt with. More bloodshed was on the horizon. But the Wayfinder was prepared for the coming battle against the queen.
Chapter 16: Eventide's March[edit]
“The wayfinder deals with Queen Labris.
— In-game description
The Wayfinder rendezvoused with General Nephus outside of Eventide's March, a sacred landmark that Queen Labris and her dwindling army were using as a base of operations. The general had taken great pains to remain neutral and felt that Peitha had forced him into a conflict that put a great number of innocent Kryptis lives at risk. Still, he realized they now had an unprecedented opportunity to remove Labris and her army from the field. Peitha had put him in a position to take advantage.
Nephus split their forces, sending Peitha, Arina, and Ramses to attack the queen's position from the flanks while he and the Wayfinder led a direct frontal assault. He hinted that he'd battled at Eventide's March in the past, and they watched as he masterfully employed varied tactics to clear their path to the queen.
They reached the cathedral-like walls of Eventide's March and regrouped with their allies, sweeping away Labris's last lines of defense. With nowhere left to run, the queen descended the grand stairs to make her stand. You'd never have known that she was outnumbered and backed into a corner with how regally she stood in defiance.
She claimed that Peitha would lead the Kryptis to extinction and that the rebellion leader did not have the willpower and conviction to govern her people. Silence hung in the air for a moment, then it was broken when Peitha simply laughed, shattering the queen's seemingly unshakeable façade.
After exchanging barbs, Peitha looked to Nephus, who grimly ordered them forward to confront and execute the queen.
Labris fought bravely. And lost. She seethed with rage, nearly on the brink of madness. But it was all for naught. Nephus ordered her death.
But Peitha had other plans.
Seeing an opportunity to rally the Kryptis to her side with a show of force, Peitha stayed the queen's execution. It was time to show the people of Nayos that Peitha could win, that Labris and Eparch were not invincible. Peitha had a valuable asset in the weakened, tyrannical Labris. Now she just needed an audience...
As Peitha planned to haul the defeated Queen Labris to the Coliseum of the Midnight King and show the Kryptis the might of her rebellion, General Nephus quickly caught the Wayfinder's attention. While he had reservations with Peitha's chosen course of action, he felt that it should be performed in front of the largest audience possible—that if this was going to be the plan, they should go all in.
The general sent the Wayfinder to find an elder Kryptis, Tecla the Venerable, back at the forward bivouac. She had knowledge of an array of beacons spread across Inner Nayos. These would serve as a call to the people of Inner Nayos, drawing them to the coliseum and giving Peitha a massive crowd to draw support from.
The Wayfinder activated the beacons as quickly as they could while Peitha and their allies marched on Nyedra. With a massive crowd assembled and the defiant Queen Labris now a feeble captive, Peitha stood on the cusp of bringing the vast majority of the Kryptis people to her cause.
As the throngs filed into the coliseum, Peitha called the Wayfinder to her side to witness her speech. The Wayfinder arrived just as she paraded the beaten queen before the assembled masses. The rebellious leader spoke with conviction—that not only can Eparch and his loyalists be defeated but that unlike the present monarchy, she is willing to show mercy to the vanquished.
"Children of Nayos," she began, before calling attention to the defeated Queen Labris and Eparch's weakened army.
The Midnight King must've sensed the power of Peitha's position—felt her threat through the Veil and how she was turning the Kryptis against him. In that moment, a rift formed, and Eparch's calm, powerful voice filled the coliseum.
The king—an ancient, massive beast—stepped through, drawing all eyes to his terrifying form. Eparch hardly acknowledged Peitha's existence, asking the gathered crowd to speak if his upstart niece had truly won their trust.
The arena fell silent.
Eparch then turned his attention to the upstart rebel leader and his captive queen. Calm to this point, they could now hear the tightly restrained fury in his words. He made a single offer of negotiation: release Labris, and Tyria would be spared. Peitha would be allowed to live there in exile.
Whether Peitha believed this offer to be in good faith is still unclear. What is clear is that Labris believed it. Even in her weakened state, she would not allow Peitha to use her as leverage to undermine all that she and Eparch had built.
The defiant queen sacrificed herself to her beloved king's cause, forcing the last of her essence into him as the rest of them looked on in horror.
The crowd erupted in chaos—some declaring allegiance to Peitha, some to Eparch. The rest fled in terror. Even the king was stunned by his queen's martyrdom. Roaring in fury, he vowed to devour all who opposed him and challenged any who stood with Peitha to bring the fight to him in the citadel of Zakiros.
Peitha's scheme to inspire an army and overthrow the king was thrown into disarray. They were left with no choice but to fall back, regroup, and take stock of the aftermath of a disastrous day. Will Peitha's ragtag army be enough to invade Eparch's fortified citadel and challenge him in his full fury? Can they count on the Astral Ward? It remains to be seen whether the rebel upstart can overcome this misstep. The Wayfinder will help to the best of their ability, but they don't know if it will be enough to carry Peitha to victory.
Secrets of the Obscure: The Midnight King[edit]
Chapter 17: Desperate Measures[edit]
“The wayfinder gathers with allies and prepares for the assault on Zakiros.
— In-game description
The Midnight King hunkers in Zakiros, consolidating his forces and strengthening his fortifications. Given Labris's sacrifice and Eparch's rage, the Wayfinder didn't expect his patience. Even General Nephus seemed puzzled about Eparch's retreat. Puzzled...and wary. It's hard to know what awaits in Zakiros when they attack. If they attack.
Tensions were running high at the forward bivouac, and Ramses asked if the Wayfinder could intervene. When they arrived, Nephus and Frode were nearly at each other's throats—the Wayfinder stepped in before they came to blows. Frode argued that without reinforcements, the risk of invading Zakiros was too high, and that they'd be fools to invade Zakiros without them. Nephus countered that the troops were spread thin, the front was near collapse, and they'd be foolish to wait for troops that might never materialize; unfortunately, Galrath had returned to the Wizard's Tower and left no indication whether he'd recommend the Astral Ward fully join the assault.
Tempers again flared, but luckily Peitha arrived, and she demanded that the two leaders show each other respect. She agreed with Nephus that they should attack, and she also posited that perhaps Eparch's position was weaker than it seemed—after all, he'd not gone on the offensive despite opportunities to do so.
Nephus was pleased that Peitha agreed with him, but he cautioned against underestimating Eparch, particularly since they could sense an army amassing in Zakiros. Nevertheless, a decision had been made.
The assault on Eparch's citadel would begin after they stamped out some of the smaller conflicts in Inner Nayos. The Wayfinder took to the field to assist the troops while Nephus and Frode crafted the battle plan.
The Wayfinder struck out across Inner Nayos, assisting their Kryptis allies and the Astral Ward volunteers anywhere they found them. With every skirmish won, they freed up the forces that Nephus and Frode needed to put the battle plan into action.
After Ramses alerted the Wayfinder that their forces were ready, they returned to the forward bivouac to discuss strategy. Nephus, Frode, Arina, and Peitha awaited their arrival.
At the bivouac, strategic planning was in full swing. As they walked through camp discussing the plan to split their forces between Zakiros's towers, a wounded Kryptis in the infirmary leapt at Peitha. Her cry, "Death to false king!" signaled a vicious attempt on Peitha's life.
They staved off the initial assassination attempt, but chaos ensued. The rock-walled corridor exploded in a shower of stones, and loyalist guerillas struck from all angles. They desperately beat them back, holding out against waves of assassins. When the final loyalist fell, the Wayfinder found Frode and Nephus with Peitha. As they took stock of the situation, Peitha jarringly burst into laughter. Ramses questioned her, and she asked him what he smelled on the assassins' remains. "Fear," he answered, almost in disbelief.
Could it be? Was Eparch acting out of desperation? Did he truly fear the assault on his citadel, despite the numbers at his back?
The Wayfinder supposes they'll know soon enough; the time to strike against the citadel of the Midnight King has finally come.
Open world: Into the Spider's Lair[edit]
Chapter 18: The Eleventh Hour[edit]
“The wayfinder ascends the Spire of Dreams.
— In-game description
Eparch had retreated up Zakiros's central tower toward his throne room, ostensibly guarded by his army waiting above. Though their forces dwindled, the Wayfinder knew they'd have no better chance to strike at the king. Nephus ordered Dagda, Frode, and Arina to cover their vulnerable flanks outside the citadel. The Wayfinder would join Peitha, Nephus, and Ramses in the final push on the Throne of Midnight.
Arina hadn't come this far to turn back at the last minute, however, and she told Peitha as much. Peitha acquiesced, and the five of them—a pair of Tyrians and a few Kryptis rebels—began their trek up the tower as Frode and Dagda disappeared through the portal back to the coliseum.
They fought their way up Zakiros's central spire as Peitha, Nephus, and Ramses sensed the ever-present loyalist army looming above.
As they neared the army, Ramses feared that they marched to certain death. It was jarring to hear him say such a thing. Peitha confirmed her sense of the overwhelming size of the writhing forces arrayed against them. Her plan, it seemed, was to attempt to win some of them to their side. Somehow.
Ramses interrupted in disbelief, and the Wayfinder couldn't blame him. But Peitha answered simply, "There is no other way."
Just as they approached the army's position, Peitha and the other Kryptis sensed something happening to the army, and they picked up the pace. Nephus ordered the breach, and they piled inside, hoping to turn the enemy to their side but ready to fight to the death. Instead, they found themselves in a massive reliquary room, filled wall to wall with the essence of the Kryptis dead.
There was no army.
The Wayfinder realized that what Peitha, Ramses, and Nephus had sensed was the writhing essence of countless numbers of their people, sacrificed—willingly or not—to fuel Eparch's strength.
The Wayfinder knew that Eparch, Labris, and their followers had consumed their own kind. They’d witnessed it with Heitor and Irja...even with Labris's sacrifice to Eparch himself. But this... The scale was unimaginable. They also found it hard to imagine the power Eparch must've consumed as he'd drained the reliquaries just minutes before.
Ramses moaned in horror as Peitha recalled what Labris had said about having "the strength to do that which the common Kryptis will not." All the Wayfinder could do was help Ramses release the essence from the reliquaries, preventing it from ever being consumed in the future, if nothing else. With every second counting against them, Peitha spoke a few quick words for the dead, and they moved on in grim silence. Having just feasted on countless Kryptis souls, Eparch awaited in the throne room ahead.
Inside, the Midnight King loomed over the Throne of Midnight—the throne and title that Peitha went to war to usurp, back before the Wayfinder had ever set foot in Nayos, or even been aware of the existence of the Kryptis. Flanked by the hulking twin generals Alkaeus and Zantharon, Eparch exuded control.
There would be no negotiations; the king demanded nothing less than Peitha's life. Zantharon ordered her to speak her last words.
Peitha's "last words" did not please the king, to say the least.
Snarling in rage at the insult to his wife and queen, Eparch's control snapped. Hungry for even more power, the king shockingly consumed his own general, Alkaeus, in blind fury. Zantharon, seeing his own brother murdered and absorbed by the king he'd sworn fealty to, turned against Eparch. The throne room erupted, loyalists shouting accusations and changing sides as Eparch himself attacked indiscriminately.
He was practically invincible. Fast as they could hurt the Kryptis king, the strength of the Kryptis essence healed him faster. Even Peitha, strong as she was, couldn't stand before him.
Their attack was on the verge of falling apart. Their strategy failed. Peitha would fall. Eparch would reign, unchecked. They needed to retreat. Retreat, or die.
A portal ripped open, and Isgarren stepped through.
The wizard and the Midnight King faced each other for the first time in centuries as the battle raged around them. The Wayfinder was told that the tables had turned since the last time they'd met—it was clear that even Isgarren couldn't harm Eparch now. Not alone, at least.
But Isgarren didn't fight alone. They combined their strength—Isgarren and Peitha, with the Wayfinder wielding the Heart of the Obscure—hitting Eparch with a blast of magic strong enough to prevent him from healing himself.
Through their combined efforts, with Nephus and Ramses on their side and chaos swirling around the Throne of Midnight, they finally brought Eparch to his knees.
In his last moments, the king of the Kryptis conceded that Peitha would rule. He acknowledged that Peitha would take the throne, that she would be the Midnight King. Knowing his fate was sealed, Eparch didn't scream in defiance; shockingly, he instead urged Peitha to consume him. To take his power and use it, as he had, to lead the Kryptis from a position of strength.
The Wayfinder saw no hesitation. Peitha lifted Eparch into the air, and then, in a display of both strength and willpower, she blasted him into pieces. The Wayfinder wonders—did she consider, even for a second, taking his power? It's likely they'll never know.
After a tumultuous campaign of triumphs and setbacks, alliance and attrition, the Throne of Midnight and the title of Midnight King were now Peitha's. Isgarren had waited until the last possible moment to intervene, but intervene he did, and while General Nephus let his frustration be known, cooler heads prevailed. King Peitha would set her house in order and pay Isgarren a visit in the near future.
The Wayfinder exchanged brief good-byes with their Kryptis allies, knowing they'd reconvene soon at the Wizard's Tower.
Chapter 19: Sovereign of Nayos[edit]
“The wayfinder witnesses the signing of a historic treaty.
— In-game description
With Peitha on the Throne of Midnight, a new era dawned in the Realm of Dreams.
The Wayfinder returned to the Wizard's Tower, where a delegation from Nayos—including the king herself—would meet with Isgarren and the Astral Ward leadership. On the way, the Wayfinder found Arina lingering outside. She’d come for a quick look at the sight of the Kryptis delegates gathered inside, but she seemed more than happy to let her father and the wizards handle the politics. She was ready for some well-earned leave.
The Wayfinder made their way to the delegates and found Peitha and Galrath, of all people, exchanging good-natured barbs. Even more surprising was the presence of Zantharon, Eparch's surviving general, who’d come as part of the Nayosian delegation—despite the fact that he’d only joined Peitha’s side at the last possible second while witnessing his brother’s death. The Wayfinder would've been less surprised if he’d been executed, but here he was, acting as though his presence made all the sense in the world.
The Wayfinder listened closely as Dagda laid out the agreed-upon terms: all Kryptis incursions of Tyria would immediately cease; the Astral Ward would maintain a presence in Nayos; amnesty would be granted to the Kryptis; and Peitha would be recognized as the legitimate sovereign of Nayos.
The Wayfinder wondered how Peitha felt about some of the terms, but she obviously knew them already and formally accepted them without argument. Isgarren gave a stern warning that further hostilities would not end in negotiations, and then the Wayfinder was asked to give a brief statement to the gathered delegates.
Once those formalities were handled, Peitha announced that Ramses had earned a position as Nayos’s ambassador in the Wizard’s Tower, which pleased all involved—not least Ramses himself.
The Wayfinder had a chance to mingle, and then Peitha and Isgarren pulled them aside, offering their appreciation for all the Wayfinder had done for Tyria, the Wizard’s Tower, and Nayos. From learning of the wizards (and Zojja!) and defending the bastions alongside the Astral Ward, to allying with Peitha and taking the fight into the Realm of Dreams, the Wayfinder had experienced so much since suffering that first defeat to Cerus and hearing Peitha’s uncanny voice ring in their head—it was hard to fathom how far they'd come.
The war with Eparch, Peitha’s fight to save the Kryptis people from destruction, was ended. So too was Isgarren’s centuries-long conflict with the power-hungry ruler of Nayos he’d once thought to ally with. Tyria was freed from the Kryptis threat. But uncertainties remained…as did a healthy amount of caution. Could Peitha even maintain peace? Or would Eparch’s assertion that demonkind must always feed prove true? Would Isgarren reveal the existence of the Astral Ward or their new Kryptis allies? Or would he fall right back on old habits?
If nothing else, maybe the alliance between Nayos and the Wizard’s Tower could serve as an example to the leaders of the nations of Tyria—if Isgarren could be convinced to reveal it. Could such an alliance even hold? Perhaps the Wayfinder would find out soon…
References[edit]
- ^ a b After the Dragon Cycle,guildwars2.com
