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4 ist & iUsrrors Be ee ae a “ : : VEK

The knells of the Bell echo along the endless corridors. The mist engulfs everpthing. i ai era

Those glassy eves that chase pou whereber Pou go are none but Pour own,

(ree Glass Purgatory is a place f divided between two worlds, § floating in an eternal limbo between reality and illusion. Woe to the souls who venture into its labyrinthine balls, for they will be stripped of all that makes them |. themselves.

In the Seepest part of the Purgatory, a cloaked figure lies between the cold stone walls. St rests, contemplating the glass shards scattered on the floor.

“J have torn my flesh looking for warmth, for humanity... only to darh sludge.”

“And yet, for that brief instant, my eyes were mine alone.”

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GinwWs nd WH 2993 WWD VERMIS il AEBWIe II WIRE F Yiecore

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Aa = = o OD ee “ i) ' TheUndying Sun

GBhe shouting, the chatting, the clinking of coins: the songs of humanity. Ghese are rare sounds to stumble across outside of Agerutt: the lands beyond the desert rot in silence duc to their deep and incurable wounds. Fn Agerutt, on the contrary, life continues as usual: the living stay above the sands while the rest lie under them. Ghe sheer vastness of the desert is what has hept the city isolated from the neighboring domains; foreigners are a most uncommon sight in Agerutt.

4K merchant refuses to buy the relic. dered by a tomb robber. The shopheeper insists that it was an offering to the Dead Sun; when it was stolen from its rightful place, a curse fell upon it. Ghe Wayfarer shamefully covers the purple blemishes that sully bis hand. and goes away without a word, letting the relic, fallrte the-ground.

Sanctuary of Silence Dunes of Silber ‘

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. "Dead Sun's Shrine Agerutt South x: Third solstice RTE A A NTN EF RE SN Y « an «

Tbe bones d0 not bide secrets. Despite not having Rongues, they can tell tales, amd even though they are bellow, they are full of power fee those who hnow how to mse them. Gbe Bone Funters are tefamous for beheading their victims and offering their shulls to Ghylah. Decapitation is a common practice among the followers of the god, the most devout going as far as to offer their own beads to the cause.

Gpplak Fetish A small iol made of wood or, occasionally, ivory: a carving of a coiled snake with the head of a woman. €xploration Gear Various materials, containers, and tools commonly used during the expleration of ruins and temples Crooked Fang AA fang from an emissary snake. Jts venom enhances its user's strenath and reflexes for_a short period of time before rendering them unconscious.

ice though all SSone Hiunters share a common goal, they act in very different ways in order to please the dark desires of their god. Some of them could be seen as opportunistic bandits that, after robbing their victims, sacrifice their bodies to Ghylah. it while others revel in the massacres they commit. Ghen there are those who rummage thicough sand-covered tombs for bories torpile on altars of the Coiled One: Bhe Hunters tend not to socialize among themselves since some of them do not hesitate | to hill whoever thep come across without caring which god they serve, with the only i exception being if they stand on Ghylah's holy grounds.

’ Dhe mete utterance of his name still instills fearin marty dnd devotion in a faw. Old god of death and darkness with many titles, the Owok Headed Snake and the Vengeful One are but the most common ones. Ghylah was condemned by Marko with the Eternal Curse, thus sealing both of their fates since the devotees of the snake god wasted no time avenging, their fallen aod. Yarhd was i Teiee and Safed hence: suffering the same fate as \ Gbylah.

| En Hf |

Blach iron was originally discovered in what is now hnown as the flestilent Mines. Over the course of time, it has been used for B weapon manufacturing, food preservation, and refrigeration. Tt is unusual to stumble across this mineral outside of Agerutt since the mines m are no longer active, and blach iron was mainly * exported to the desert. BE LET SS ES |

Alone, the Wayfarer rests next to a campfire, the faint warmth of the embers soothing bis restless bones. We tries to close his eves, but bis tormented mind does not allow bim to. So long has he been wandering the sand that he remembers not bis past life. He meanders from place to place, plundering tombs and snatching the life out of those who dare to importunate him, offering them to his insatiable god. He cannot recall when it all started, at what moment the hunter became the hunted.

Aust for brief moments does his burden lighten. the times in which he forgets about the shadows. Fle never stops for too long, afraid of them catching up to bim: be sleeps for short periods and walks all day. His faith in Ghplak allows him to face his enemies without fear: however, he cannot help but shiver whenever he thinks of what stalhs him from behind. Ghey plague bis nightmares, allowing him to catch brief glimpses of their faces. Sometimes they just looh eerily familiar, other times downright monstrous.

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ne ee er ee me are ee See eS ee

Ghe stranger moves away from the wall and slowly approaches the Wayfarer, limping. He seems shaken. He unsuccessfully tries to bide bis right arm within bis cloak; it is completely petrified, Ghen, he pulls out a shiny epe-shaped trinket for the Wayfarer to see.

Faced Beast eHee he Sag ‘7 «

] Ghe creature lies dead in a puddle of black blood with a bronze sword stiching out of its side. Mear the creature rests a stone crown, Ghe Wayfarer draws near to examine it, but he immediately notices just how heavy it is. Next, he approaches the head of the beast and, without hesitation, proceeds to gauge out its epes with a dagger, pocheting them thereafter. After inspecting the sword up close, the Wayfarer realizes that it has solidified inside the corpse of the creature. Ghe blood of the beast has reacted with the bronze after coming in contact with it, forming a stony scab around the wound. After pulling on it a couple of times, the sword emerges intact save the part of it that resided within the beast. which has acquired a porous texture and a dath tinge.

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ee [aike Ha pi 5

Whispers in the Darkness After many hours roaming through the desolated temple, the Wayfarer starts hearing murmurs in the distance. With bis paranoia only growing as he marches on deeper and deeper. he considers giving up and loohing for a way out, afraid that the shadows could have followed him all the way bere. However, at that moment, an archway distinct from the rest catches his eye...

The Goblin Queen Ghe self-proclaimed queen of the goblins, in pears past, consort to the last hing of the Great Citadel. She orchestrated the murder of her husband and fled into the woods accompanied by her personal guard. Ghere she established her own hingdom and erected a castle over the bones of scrawny creatures that fearfully followed her every command. Bhe Queen gave birth to daughters two: a beautiful girl of argent lochs and jade shin, and a hideous abomination, a punishment for her sins, She chained her second child in the depths of a well lihe she was no more than a beast, heeping her fed with the flesh of her serfs.

if! é Once on the other side of the threshold. the Wayfarer finds bimself in a pillar-filled room, What before ware incomprehensible mumbles turn into a weird melody that

A large mirror stands amid bony remains. Ghe sheletons rest at the feet of pillars. Ghe melody ends abruptly while the Wayfarer observes the eerie scene Startled. the Wayfarer swiftly unsheathes bis sword before the mirror, We has seen many things during the course of his travels, but such a flawless reflection of bis own self was not one of them. Quichly realizing the true nature of the figure that stands in front of him, the Wayfarer approaches the mirror to inspect it up close

Pale Sun Some old bones clad in an ornate armor covered with icons of the Undying Sun. Ghe needle-like rusty sunbeams make it impossible to remove any of the armor’s pieces. he warrior supports itself on an unusuallooking blade with no signs of wear; in the torchlight, the sword shimmers with an intense golden brown sheen.

Fn the reflection, a huge Soorway leading to a long corridor looms over him. Jt stands a few steps behind him. Stunned. the Wayfarer turns around. only to confirm that there ts nothing there but the dark forest of pillars. stretching as far as the eye can see And vet. when be looks at the mirror’s image once more, the gate is still th Fntrigued, he starts walking backward slowly while keeping b enough. b the walls of that mysterious ball

those tho obserbe the world with eves of glass Will find their wap into the Purgatory. ENTERING THE GLASS PURGATORY

B.” Deeper thé Wayfarer sinks into the enigmatic reflection, not breahing visual contact with the glass § for a moment. Ffowever. before long, he thinks he can hear a murmur bebind him. He tums bis head to find only the emptiness of the hallway, illuminated by the quivering light of bis torch. Ghe Samp air glil lithe diamond dust, creating an alluring otherworldly ambiance. When he tums toward the mirror once again, he finds bin taring at a stone wall instead; the doorway is nowhere to be found. Ghe Wayfarer reaches for the wall with bis hand and nervously fe t, making sure it is not an illusion. While he do. notices a brich unlike it displays a strange has never seen before. Producing a papyrus sheet, the Wayfarer creates a rubbing of the

Sy, 7a }eo O Si hh ; The al

Light pours ovgr the face of the Sphinx:.a contorted grin unveils before the % ‘Wayfarer. A ghastly aura envelops the stone beast. Stopping to examine the unnerving statue, the Wayfarer is fast to realize that its left epe greatly resembles the relic he possesses and that where its right eye should be, only a hollow is. He reaches down to bis pocket.

Ghe Wayfarer fitsithe relic: ine’the statue's eye sochet. After a few seconds, the/relic starts sinhing further, into the cavity, a perfect fit At that moment, the’ Wayfarer's right eve begins trembling: We panics but can do nothing as bis eye becomes loose and fallsito the floor. le collapses amid screams of agony. * After a while, the piercing pain recedes and the wound stops bleeding. It is then that the Wapfarer notices that if he covers his left eve. he can see throuah the eves of the Sphinx:-be sees himself. with a hand over bis eve

the SO CHAA [ee to erses o2 eros the central platform starts rotating, Dust and small debris rain down Stairway from the vault above. Ghe stairs turn along with the floor, the Gnknown detaching from the doors. Ghe movement stops when one of them reaches the feet of the middle throne, | thus unveiling a new pathway. x SE oF CALC

The Red King Ghe Red Hing is an entity that hides bebind a mirror’s image. In the deepest corer of the nauseating Red Nest, a foul place riddled with disease and putrefaction, lurks the most twisted of hings. Fle abandoned his buman carcass long ago, adopting a new form with which to reign over bis very own bell. Ghe sting of a bastard of the Fed Hing carries white bives, a fate worse than death. Flying Effigy Bhe flying effigies patrol the Purgatory without rest. Strange creatures carefully sculpted in stone decorate the walls of the flurgatory. Jf a mirror is shattered, these figures awake and tear themselves off their resting places to give chase to the heretic. Dheir shining gem-like eyes are able to emit a petrifping light ray. Ghose who manage to evade their gaze can still be paralyzed by their venomous tail.

righ is the sovereign of the Glass and Castle, which hides within a mirror. at started as a prison ended up coming a comfortable home for the vain wizard since be is always greeted by his majestic figure no matter where be loohs. Lost in his delirium. he rules over bis hundreds of lopal reflections, who quiver under bis might. Living Cage GDhe living cages are torture devices designed to punish those who intrude into the Purgatory. Rusty iron behemoths covered with spihes and blades. Ghey remain inert until a prisoner is loched up within them. Ghe mouths of the living cages are open at all times, offering a view of their interiors in order to intimidate those who oppose them with the pained expressions of their captives. a

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= 4 @ S Q ao) & Gi 2) @ @ a oS Q vet i

Monstrous creatures that inhabit the Beepest parts of the flurgatory. Concealed in a permanent penumbra, these abominations patiently wait in their nests for their next victims. Ghe closer ome is to a cellar daughter, the thicker the Sarhness grows. Ghey are capable of imitating the cry of ‘en infant in order to lure or unsettle their prey. Only the tolls of the Mell can drive these creatures away, and only = a blessed blade can give them death. Lord of Worms In the Chamber of the Silent Mlades, the Lord of Worms resides. Bhe Lord of Worms is a being that obtained a humanoid body and mind of its own after centuries of wriggling and feeding on corpses. Within the Chamber there are only ghosts and rot: nevertheless, the Lord of Worms rose to reign over them.

re ~ The Conjoined Witch Ghe Scepter of the Primordial Glass is a being created by the flurgatory to protect tts heart. Dhe putrid amalgam holds a vast knowledge in many fields of magic. for it possesses the collective intellect of the bodies that form it. Bt remains dormant in the Glass Nest, contemplating the Primordial Glass. Ghe Sword of the firimordial Glass is a being created by the Purgatory to protect its heart. A creature that was molded out of the rotten carcasses of the most shilled and powerful warriors who lay dead within the flurgatory. Ghe Conjoined Warrior is an opponent like no other: unstoppable and with devastating strength, Tt was trusted with the mission of bunting down anyone who dared to enter the Heart of the Purgatory.

! ‘encounters: carefully. i bide és

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The ispering : Fountain f , ( 1g

A dim light of unknown origin showers over a cloaked statue as it pours an unending stream of water with a tempting and relaxing sound. Alllured by the promise of fresh water, the Wayfarer lets himself sink shoulder-deep in the dark nectar. Lost in thought while glancing at the wavy reflections, he feels revitalized, his whole body loosening up in a rare moment of peace. However, he soon discerns a small shiny object lying at the bottom of the basin. Approaching it, the Wayfarer ends up in a deeper part of the fountain; be dives in.

He panics, for be ts quichly running out of air. He gurgles, “Ghylah!” a cloud of bubbles escaping his mouth, She eases her grip. Ghe water's surface breaks, and the Wayfarer gasps for air. He swims for the fountain’s edge as he recovers from the shock.

The Black Water Devourer The Sunken Amutet and the Shape-Shitting Beast

ML Peak UE OU Fighting against bis fear, the Wayfarer stares bach at the monster. We tries to reach for his sword, but the creature immediately notices and breaks the standoff. lunging over bim like a coiling cascade of fangs and scales. Chance of obtaining Chance of obtaining Monstrous Bones Shiny Amulet

= Knells in the Haze BDhe tolls grow louder, they are almost deafening, Suddenly. a mist engulfs everpthing. and the Wayfarer finds himself standing in front of a foaged-up mirror, the same one be touched before appearing at the fountain. tingling sensation mahes him realize that bis left arm has returned, as if nothing had happened.

Ghe Wayfarer is stunned: the feeling of the air against bis torn flesh and the warmth of the blood on bis clothes are still fresh in bis mind. He is quich to check if bis right epe is bach, but be only finds the hole left by the Sphinx's deviltry. Ghen he looks at his right hand, hoping to find it freed from the curse, however, he notices that the mauve has only grown since the last time he saw it.

The Eyes in the Murk fndless corridors full of fogay mirrors as far as the epe can see, Ghe Wayfarer marches ‘among hnells, breahing through the mist, ee eee ne As be ventures into the unknown, be exchanges glances with the innumerable ri ions clouded by the dew. Ghe Wapfarer sees far more than bis ‘own image in them: he sees things that make bim shiver and quicken 7 A withered old man. nothing A hniabt bearing a sword A sheleton wearing an but shin and bones. He is } anda shield blazoned with * absurd bat, also missing bis missing his left arm and bis the image of Ghplah. t left arm. t jaw is dislocated. | NE eT

Ghe prerarets body Che Wayfarer, missing bis A. worm-eaten bein: cleaved in half near the left arm and clutching the } rotten purple flesh. waist. dt stands up stump. j wobbles slightly, barely straight, immobile, standing up. Ghe Wayfarer bearing a ° \ _A puppet made of bones and Ghe Wayfarer, turned to wide blissful smile devoid of { scraps of an armor that the stone. flain marks bis barely ' malice. | Wayfarer recognizes as his recognizable face.

A sheleton wearing an gured and A. doorway leading to odd-loohing hood. also disproportionate _semblar darkness. Ghere is missing bis left arm. fe some rubble on the other side of it. Ghe Wayfarer, dressed in A windmill surrounded A white bives victim. Wis ceremonial clothing, face by greenery under a wax-like shin is riddled with painted white, Jt all looks cloudy shy. holes; insects heep sprouting 4 eerily familiar. out of them.

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a iii i #8

Gathering the last of his strength, the Wayfarer delivers a powerful slash. Silence dawns upon the hallway, brohen only by a metallic sound as the fiend's helmet bits the stone floor and once more when its inert body drops its sword. Ghe Wayfarer stands motionless, panting and gasping for air. Ending the shadow's life has provided him with immense relief: he feels like he can finally face bis fears. After a few seconds, the Wayfarer falls to bis knees, exhausted.

The Bieeding Shadow Bhe shadow drops to its hnees in front of the Wayfarer in the same manner. The Wayfarer occasionally wondered if those chasing figures that tormented him were nothing more than Seliriums. Ghough, having executed one of them now, be has been able to disprove one of bis preoccupations,

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aH Wit Het iu * au au 2

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a 2327issy ahd Fgctieeds L ay Hea

‘With the first blowing, the birds became quiet: with the second, the dogs barked: with the third, the mbistling turned into a-scream that made bim shiver. Ghe peasant did not believe _ in ghost stories, but such was the dread that that whistle made him feel that be buried it so tt could not be used again, * Ghe days went by, but/| that strange iescrigtasn would not abandon bis thoughts. We bad the feeling that something really was after him. Since the day he blew that whistle, he would wake-up drenched in sweat every night; terrible nightmares deprived him of bis rest. * Daeing a stormy moonless night. the peasant was visited..Something hnoched on'bls door. fand the squall died down: tt hnoched again, and the dogs barked: It hnoched a third. tme.. “White there?” he quavered..Afler'a brief silences loud whistle froxe bls blood. }

After going around the room one more time, light is suddenly pouring out of the doorway, Ghe Wayfarer pecks through it and finds a stairway leading up. Gentatively, he takes a few steps up the stairs, and then be feels a gentle breeze against his cheehs. He gasps, and fresh air cleanses his lungs. The Wayfarer is dumbfounded, be climbs the stairs as fast as he can, Ghe breeze grows stronger and the light gets brighter. Yliss and relief wash over bim when be starts hearing birdsongs not too far away. finally reaching the top. the Wayfarer marvels before the vast and unfamiliar expanse.

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Pde

eltered under a stone arch on that bale at the starry night shy for the first ani

Bhat night. the Wayfarer had no dreams at all. S35

—~—. EEA epee | e, Ghe imposing body of the creature stands headless, completely still, like a macabre statue. Bhe hnight. exhausted, drops her longsword on the floor with a loud clang, and, after failing to stand up. she too collapses.

Bhe hnight, although visibly wounded, tries to rise to her feet again, using her sword as support. As soon as she hears the Wayfarer's steps, she speahs with a soft yet firm voice while she tries to bide her obvious exhaustion and grave wounds,

Ghe knight falls down once more, blood sliding out of her dented helmet and onto the cobblestones. Ghe Wayfarer draws near to inspect the body. Ghe longsword is far too heavy for him to use, ant the armor could fall apart at any moment. She is not carrying anything else of value. Ghe Wayfarer heeps walking until he reaches the main gate. It is ajar. Slipping past it, he admire the majestic sequoia forest that be finds on the other side, a completely foreign environment to him. He quivers at the sound of drp leaves and branches under his feet. Wasting no time, the Wapfare: lets himself be swallowed by the forest's entrails, amazed at the new world that opens before him.

Ghe Eclipse Gowers are ancient consecrated monuments raised for the search of enlightenment. Since time immemorial. the Gowers have remained sealed, but it is hnown that devotees still dwell within them. Mantras can still be beard through the walls of some of them. _ALl of them are shaped the same way: soaring chimneys that rise as bigh above ground as they sinh beneath it. bones from this place }

_Abpssal Devotee Hevotees that left their humanity behind. Ghey got lost during their journey toward illumination, their fragile minds consumed by ; madness. Ghey have survived devouring the bodies of thetr fellow devotees and learned to move and even climb while in complete darkness, _ Seeker of Light hep are deep ina conscious lethargy. Despite their bodies having been mummified by time, their incessant mantras can still be + beard. hep are not a threat. Chrpsalid Devotee Devotees that have found thy knowledge that they sought and have been granted a superior form by it. Gheir bodies are slowly consumed to give birth to an illuminated being. Staying close to a chrysalid devotee drains sanity.

Awakened Devotee Devotees that have finally awohen. Gbeir bodies lose all | function, and their minds open up as a means to expose the others to the wisdom of the Light. Cooking directly into their light causes instant insanity, Enlightened Bhe illuminated minds o these few devotees have abandoned their old bodies, leaving bebind a mass of dry flesh and bones. | Ghey emit a constant highpitched whistle that induces dizziness and nausea in those nearby and are able to project images in people's minds, Touched bp the Light | Ghe very few devotees that | are touched by the Light lose their minds and beings and metamorphose into corpse-lihe | spheres that float ominously and are only perceptible in the dark. Despite their disconcerting appearance, they are not a threat. Ghey cannot be destroyed.

An Ethereal Freedom Ghe Wayfarer treads the forest as the sunset dyes the landscape amber, a worrying thought plaguing bis mind. We cannot stop recalling the image of bis ere at the feet of the Sphinx. Wondering what would happen if he were to close his left eye again, he tries to do so, but bis own body rejects the idea and refuses to go through with it, Fe cannot be sure if the Sphinx’s influence would still be able to reach bim, given that he is so far away from the accursed statue now, but the mere thought of going back to that somber place through the eves of the idol and confirming that a part of him is still trapped there is terrifying enough for bim to give up trying. With the light growing dim, the Wayfarer starts loohing for a place to hole up for the night.

Striding through the forest thichet. the Wayfarer comes across a huge stone entrance that is born from the soil, Within, verdant stone steps that melt into the darkness, He descends the stairs, hand against the green that grows on the walls, Sew damping bis callous palm. A pleasant aroma can be smelled bere. Sy the time the Wayfarer reaches the bottom of the stairway, he can clearly hear chants in the distance.

Following the chanting, the Wayfarer reaches a large chamber full of scrawny darh-robed people with their faces hidden under hoods. Dhey all cease their song and turn toward bim in complete silence. A strange figure rises from the bach of the group. TGhe abominable-loohing effigy casts its unsettling gaze upon the Wayfarer. Ghen. it emits a deafening erp, and the hooded figures charge toward him.

-As be closes in, the last acolytes launch a desperate attach against the Wayfarer. Ghe repulsive being observes as the cloahed ones vanish with each swing of the Wayfarer's sword. With the death of its last protector, the monster starts spinning frenetically in a way ahin to a top. Ghe Wayfarer is tahen abach. and the creature's body slams against him. violently striking bim many times. “He tries to bloch the attachs with bis sword, = but before be can think of a way to respond to the unusual onslaught. the brittle arms of bis enemy snap, and the broken horror falls to the floor. Tt lies immobile; its unnerving eye stares into the Wapfarer's very soul for a few seconds before he sinhs bis blade into its head. Ghe creature melts awap immediately, leaving onlp bones behind. ee The Black Smoke One of the figures gesticulates while murmuring some words and points at the Wayfarer. All of a sudden, the entire room falls silent. A barrage of cold bony hands grab and scratch at bis armor, denting it with unnatural strength. Overwhelmed, the Wayfarer struggles in vain to unsheathe bis sword, deaf even to his own screams. Grasping at a hidden dagger that be always heeps close at hand, the Wayfarer manages to stab one of the robed ones; the figure instantly dissolves into a dense cloud of blach smohe and dissipates into the air. One by one the acolytes fall before the Wayfarer. Individually they would not be a match for him, but the sheer amount of them leaves him wounded and exhausted by the time that the battle is over. After the fray. only the monstrous beast remains, surrounded by the last of its servants, Chance of obtaining

S~— The Cursed Blade I~

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fail Hi He H

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Oks Te

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i : ; 5 é

meee ae f Ghe mirror shatters into hundreds of pieces against the Wayfarer's fist, and then into many more as be stomps on them repeatedly. His hopes lie broken on the floor. Sitting in a corner of the room, he ponders. We chechs under bis armor only to find that the marh of the curse has spread over bis shoulder, a grim reminder that bis time wears thin. finding no reason to continue, the Wayfarer remains in the corner until he falls asleep. emma

The Dream

\ HH Huge qin | A Sed of Brume

~ The Crumbling Bones “Ghe pendant emits a dazzling flash of light that illuminates even the deepest crevices of the hallway. A shrill scream can be heard within the light. Once he recovers his vision, the first thing the Wayfarer sees is a tall sheleton draped in dark clothes in the process of collapsing. Its bones hirn into dust the moment they bit the stone tiles. Ghe pendant’s light dwindles and then dies, Ghe Wayfarer, baffled by the sheer power of the amulet. decides to wear it on bis nech to heep it within hand's reach at all times. Fe approaches the dusty remains with caution. Ghe ragged garments bide nothing of value except for a staff that clasps an orb of amber. Jt ts warm to the . touch. Holding the globe up to the light of bis torch, the Wayfarer finds an insect preserved in it

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PrHreridanne Han Ui wat | aie 7

The Mirror -As soon as the Wayfarer tahes a step toward the cloahed wight, it gestures around the shard with both hands, and the mirror piece starts rotating in several directions at once. Following the shard's movements, the entire room leans abruptly, making the Wapfarer lose bis footing immediately. THe falls to the ceiling and the walls, smashing be several mirrors $ “ on bis way. Ghe glass fragments find their way into the Wayfarer's atmor and slice his shin as he “S— tries to recover. Ghe chamber 8 : suddenly stops, staying upside down, allowing the Warfarer to stand up, Ghe figure dissolves within a mirror and reappears out of a distant one. : Ghe shard starts spinning once y more. Ffurt and exhausted. the ., Wayfarer braces himself, but, to Sania. bis surprise, the room remains still. Instead, all the unshattered mirrors tum to face him once again, casting a blinding light upon bim.

o— es smemnceaaitasiiait Once bis sight returns, the Wayfarer finds himself completely surrounded by a myriad of Wentical wraiths ceaselessly spinning around him. His legs give out at that moment and be almost falls to the floor, out of breath. He hnows he could faint at any moment, Ghe Wayfarer flings bis sword toward the specters in a last-ditch effort to stop their maddening dance. Ghe blade plunges into one of the many figures, shattering it. Ghe rest of them scatter. disappearing almost instantly, as glass pieces fall to the floor. Ghe Wayfarer is left surrounded by floating mirrors: one of them lies broken in front of him. ‘With little strength left, the Wayfarer clumsily runs toward his sword and almost falls on it, With bis hand almost touching the bilt, the Wayfarer hears a sinister whisper behind him, “Look.” We turns around, eves closed, and; as he does so, he clutches the grip of bis sword and delivers a wide swing with it toward the direction the voice came from. A faint sound. of Slag ae ashen ein ienatore reer ny plece it was holding’ broken. Before him. on the floor, lies the figure; next to it, tts severed hand and the mirror iy Shattered Master Mirror —

The inners Purgatory

capt eT Hear the Restless Souls That Haunt the ~~ ee % Inner Purgatory Petey that morning star c in its favor trapped in one of the many Inner Purgatory

forged from the iron of hundreds of magical weapons, this strange hnight guards the gates of the Chamber of the Silent Mlades. ven though it lacks a will of its own, it possesses devastating strength, and no weapon is capable of denting its ferrous body. With the hnell of the Well, a blade rises amid the brume. Ghe echo of the great warrior seehs out those who dare enter the Inner flurgatory in order to grant them the same fate he once suffered Ghe specter only appears when the fog is at its zenith.

Gargoyles that defend the Great Well Gower. Ghey camouflage among their inert kin while clinging to the Gower's walls, waiting for the best moment to strike. Jf they cannot execute an ambush, they gather in small groups in order to overwhelm their victims. Gheir bites can cause petrification. The To Bhe twisted and defiled body of a once venerated knight, filled with straw and stichs. Jt stands upright, immobile, inducing a deep malaise in those it lays eyes upon. “It changes locations when it is not being locked at.

Ghe Wayfarer pushes forward through the tunnel without respite, crossing the haze as the view in front of him repeats in an endless cycle. Eventually, he comes across an opening unlike the others, for a bright light emerges from within it. When he reaches the entrance, he is amazed to find a tiny verdant grotto bathed in a gentle light. In the center of the haven, surrounded by moss, rests a small pond. wasnt igh 2) fees oa bear and —— Ghe Wayfarer leans into the cave: minuscule droplets of water fall on bis helmet. He looks up, puzzled, and discovers that the grotto extends upward as far as he can see. Under the light drizzle, he approaches the pool to slake his thirs!

The Liquid Mirror ———————— As bis hand reaches for the pond, the Wayfarer aotices that its liquid is not water at all; it is opaque and metallic, He stares at bis wayy reflection for a moment, then tahes a step bach and sits next to it. Caaatssthe accu Uoabsatahbs a stalusiaf'o woman. Jer facial features are eroded beyond recognition, and her eyes are two small mirrors. Ja that unusual corner, under the gaze of the statue, the Wayfarer feels strangely at ease. Ife mahes bumself comfortable on the soft moss. er ca. 2 i z z z bs discover that the curse has hardened bis fingers and left them bony. see tee oe ening Oh be armor to chech bis condition.

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@ froven corpse hides within the * mountains, ier humanity was lost long ago, pet hor duty remains, Wer promise of protecting het holp land fas | kept her cold bones, Wandering through the | snow!

Dhe Wayfarer awahens from bis slumber agitated and disoriented. Ghe grotto is now dimly lit, and, past the arch, only darkness can be seen. Ghe light rain has died, and everything is shrouded in an eerie silenc He hears bare footsteps coming from beyond the entrance, fast approaching. Losing no time, the Wayfarer stands up and grips bis sword, bis eye fixated on the archway. Ghe footsteps stop abruptly. THe stares into the pitch-blach unknown, terrified.

“J habe a tongue black as coal. I habe a crown made of bones. “D WiLL fear off pour skin. 9 Will feast on Pour entrails. J will gnaw each bone, » Mothing will be Left... not even pour sou.”

The Long Cait Ghe words coming from the void bore into bis ears and make bis heart beat faster. Ghat bellowed name resonates in bis head; be finds it strangely familiar. So much time has gone by since the last time that the Wayfarer’s name had been spoken that it had fallen into oblivion. Sut, the moment be realizes to whom that name belongs. he freezes in terror, bis legs give out, and bis hands start shahing, As the hours go by, the Wayfarer remains immobile, bis blade pointing toward the darkness, waiting for the voice to reveal itself... but nothing happens. Finally, after what seems like dn eternity, the candles outside the room revive; there is nothing waiting outside. Warily, the Wayfarer stands up, ready to continue,

The Wartarer matches forward tirelesstp, crossing a sea of fog and clashing his blade against fearsome opponents. Mlanp are the times he falls, pet he alwaps rises back up, for the path must be walked,

Among hnells, the Wayfarer walks, tightly gripping bis sword. Fe never stops even though be cannot see past bis helmet. We can feel it in his guts: he is getting close to something. bears the tolls growing louder; vibrations ripple through bis body with each one of them. Mis once dsownhearted footsteps have now turned into a hopeful march, Waving been witness to the ever-changing nature of the Purgatory. he is now sure that. unlike before. he ts about to reach a place of significance.

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The Lam Looking Glggse

The Mirror of Truth ‘ Ghe Wayfarer averts his gaze from the dark mirror, eves tightly shut not to get trapped in its glass. fEver since he was expelled from the last mirror, he has been avotding loohing at them, for he is convinced that they reflect nothing but lies. Ghey try to instill fear and f bewilderment in those who set eves upon their surfaces. Bach in that tiny room, bis hopes shattered with the glass, We felt bis freedom away between bis fingers, tahen away him. Yet, bis despair turned into resolve to truly escape bis ordeal; he defied the fate set upon bim by this accursed place. soon After way Wa) and As LP zi 2 z

Ghe Wayfarer touches the mirror. Against bis fingers, the cold glass starts rippling. We slowly sinks bis hand in, then bis Foctorme is Uribe ware no. sicre yam woler. We feels a breeze on the other side. i + After pulling bis arm out of the dark surface, the Wayfarer ; makes sure that there is nothing wrong with it. Ghen, he holds \ bis breath and crosses the mirror.

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Stupefied by the landscape that opens up before him, the Wayfarer feels that be has crossed a gate to another world, Amid an ever-present sea of fog, an imposing lugubrious tower looms over everything, its terrifping presence ahin to that of a slumbering giant whose awakening seems utterly inevitable. A cold dampness hangs in the atr, and an untraceable zephyr dances with the brume. Walking the misty dunes toward the stone behemoth, Ghe Wayfarer stumbles across a grim scene...

A shiver runs down the Wayfarer’s spine when he reaches the maws of the Gower. Utter darkness awaits him beyond. Specks of fire from his torch float down into the darkness as he ascends the ruinous staircase, with the ever-growing abyss always a couple of steps away. His heart races every time be has to circumvent a gap for he hnows that bis next step could very well be bis last. % nono ry 1k HEWN ene

Ghe walls tremble around him, and stone debris falls from the stairs above as metallic wails echo in the distance. Ghen, the strident knell of the Sell arrives, rumbling like thunder. A piercing pain assaults the Wayfarer's ears, and a disturbing image is burned into bis retina... (atari: nt ny pneenerraepcemeey: A

Ghe Wayfarer tahes out the amber staff to light bis way... GBhe Bell hnells now and again; its deafening sounds are always accompanied by the fierce winds. Ghe higher be ascends, the harder it becomes to fight against their strikes. Every time he hears the Bell's prelude, be lies down and clutches onto the stairs with all bis might. Mis cars ring, and bis legs heep giving out, pet nothing seems to break the Wayfarer’s will, Despite not being able to see the end of bis torturous journey. he heeps moving forward...

The Bell’s Presage puns: Dhe Yell’s insistent clamors have stopped by the time the Wayfarer reaches the last steps of \ the stairway, but a strange noise can now be heard instead... the sounds of flesh tearing and J bones craching: they seem so familiar. ‘With his heart beating faster and faster, be arrives at the belfry.

a Wapyfarer's heart ships a beat when he stumbles across a macabre scene right out of \ tmares: a creature of purple shin crouches on a pile of massacred bodies, clutching their heads in its bony hands. Ghe corpses’ wounds are brutal, as if they bad fought abeast. Ghe air is thich with the smell of blood. i Ghe Wayfarer’s hand trembles ever so slightly as he reaches for bis sword... ‘ Ghe creature rises, revealing the extent of its injuries: muscle tissue and bones pohe out of | its severed nech. And yet, it stands. Ghe Wayfarer is shoched to discover that the head that the creature holds is his own. His ‘ | lifeless visage stares at him as the creature lifts it over its shoulders and places it on its nech. Ghe head stays in place for a few seconds before falling to the floor and rolling ‘ toward the Wayfarer's feet.

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The Familiar eee . oe srstgEr

Ghe Wayfarer lets go of his sword and pushes the monster to the floor. -As it lies inert, he moves closer and grips bis weapon to remove it from the body. Sut, suddenly, the restless creature grabs the blade. Ghe Wayfarer pulls as hard as he can, slicing off one of those shinny hands. Affer stepping bach to a safe distance, the Wayfarer stares at the pathetic being. Ghe longer be observes it, the more he sees the crude reality.

A gentle breeze blows. flearly rivers of mist flow throughout the shy. A dark will slowly vanishes in silence. Ghe mauve that taints bis butchered body dissipates into nothingness. Ue feels the beating of bis heart. Relief. coldness, pain... Fis many wounds start bleeding. From bis wrist flows a stream of red. Ghe Wayfarer falls to the floor.

Vineeling in a puddle o body he has left behind. Yavfarer stares at the

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_ Ghe W. Seeks Some ar at his scarlet self. Be ee cradoer sbretbak atthe sare

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| Ses eae oA } | 4 single fol

n illusion shatters. & man awakens.

( He contemplates his reflection, withered before the mirror that started it all

DMisoriented. he stares with both eves at his starved visage: bis lips are cracked. bis eves sunken, and bis shin grayish and dry. He barely has the strenath to lift his numb arms off the floor; they feel as heavy as if they were made of stone. Where before was the marh of the curse, now there is not even a vestige of its existence. His many mortal wounds are equally gone. oO { He bathes in the serenity of that remote place, feeling unburdened. Ghe toll of 4 the Well still resonates in bis head. : i} The man closes his epes, sinking into his thoughts. There are no gods, no | monsters; no shadows, no mitrors, only warm darkness. 5

ye ‘ : 3 PO nt > The Daughter of Ash a The Vessel pats, ae i The Host of the 2 eatin ft stad - Forbidden Blade 5. The Pale Sun Knight * " a tbe el ee re eee

me «+» Now Travel Theirs © The Lorekeeper of Num q : : Che Parasitic Mage Nba i 5 | PPS sige > The Broken Heart | The Vengeful Soul 2 4 : =

The Daughter of Ash Bhe Daughters of the Voiha Forest were raised to be one with the nature that surrounded them. Such was their harmony with the forest that most of them transcended their humanity. protect her home when it needed her the most still gnaws at her consctence. “J am but a coward...” she repeats to herself over and over again. Dhe last flower of the Voiha Forest. Ghe life force of its carrier prevents it from wilting, Jn return, it only offers ber melancholic memories. A seed from her god, capable of growing an entire forest within months.

The Vessel Every time that the body of the Augur died, bis followers transferred bis soul into a newborn through a ritual, turning them into the new Vessel of the Augur. Sharing their vitality with another soul put a great strain on the Vessels’ bodies, slowly withering them. Teaver scouring Although the young man was destined to preach the Augur's visions to bis people, he decided to run away and mahe bis own path, Bhe Visage of the Augur bad to be worn by the Vessels as if it were their own shin. ® Soul of the Augur After consuming a piece of Marko's flesh, the Augur received the aift of prophecy and started bis own cult. €ven though bis body died long ago. be lives.

The Host of the Forbidden Blade For generations, the Custodians of the Sword have devoted their lives to guard the infamous blade that imprisons the Evil One. However. in the end, they could not prevent the foul relic from being stolen by those who wished to liberate the beast. Es After recovering the sword, the foolish Custodian submitted to its tempting whispers, which promised a life of glory and power, Bhe blade is now an extension of himself. Jt bleeds and pulses lihe bis own flesh, constantly trping to exert its will over the Custodian’s. * . s sian, 3 Hill “Faith Strength ‘Broken Oath -A damaged emblem: a spmbol of his conviction. “Ff it were to be lost, bis mind and body would surrender completely to the blade.

Covered with prichly armors, the faithful servants of the Undying Sun strike fear among the blasphemous and blindly obey the will of the Solar Deacons. aN Staring at the heretics whose newborn he was tashed to execute, the Hnight found himself split between his duty and bis morals. For the first time, he questioned bis previous acts and the holiness of the Deacons. A boly weapon used to punish those who act against the Undying Sun, Its virtuous blade must be cleaned after each execution. @ Mind dau’ "Faith Strength

The Lorekeepet of Hum Dhe Library of Num holds the largest trove of information in the known world. Years of careful gathering and cataloging have been spent in order to build this hope for the future of mankind. few are the tomes and scrolls in Sum that the Loreheepers have not memorized pet. When he came across that codex of Sark writings. be instantly knew that he was holding a weapon of immeasurable power. His three questing brothers wanted to tahe the booh bach to the Library, for every tome is sacred, but he hnew that every trace of those vile inscriptions had to be erased from existence, even if that meant ending his brothers’ lives since they bad already memorized part of the booh. W A staff carried by all Loreheepers. Jt can be used to cast spells, but due to the non-violent nature of their wielders, they are mainly used for reading in the dark. i seem. ae 6 “ey Eye of Dorvus Mind eo Faith MStrength A well-polished sheet of a translucent magic gemstone. Ff it is held Cr eoee a piece of text, the reader will see said text in their mother tongue.

The Parasitic Mage Parasitic mages slither among shadows, feeding on snails and slugs, longing for a life of ostentatious luxuries and comfort. As soon as they lay their slimy eyes ona life they desire. they do not hesitate to take it for themselves. Ghey strike at the perfect moment and supplant the individual, no matter if they are an infant, a maiden, or a duke. Some of them have lived the life of a person from cradle to grave without ever being discovered before moving on to their next life. ; Liar’sS. epter. : A fragile mother-of-pearl scepter used by parasitic mages to change their shape. Af it is lost, a new one can be made within a few months. eat A shell containing a powerful slumbering poison used before tahing over a victim's appearance.

The Vengeful Soul A queen ill with white hives gave birth to her second son. While her firstborn was a healthy boy full of life, the younger of the two was weak, scrawny, and constantly afflicted by illnesses. He grew up with a bloodboiling hatred for bis brother. Ghe day that his brother was crowned hing. the prince sneaked into bis bedchamber and tried to murder him. However, it was the older brother the one who accidentally ended the covetous prince's lil ich was the fury of the fallen prince, that he came bach from the dead with an insatiable thirst for vengeance. An opulent sword belonging to bis brother, worthy of being wielded only by a hing. atl’ "Faith; Strenath Bhe child of a woman afflicted with white hives receives the blessing of eterath, god of wrath and putrefaction.

The Broken Heart GBhe light of bis beloved dwindled with each day that passed. After hearing of a mysterious fountain whose waters were capable of curing all ills, be traveled to the remotest places in search of the cure, devoting bis life to bis quest, never losing hope. Vet. by the time he came bach victorious in bis mission, it was too late. So devastating was the loss that it led him to madness. Tt beals its wearer of any affliction and can emit a bright light that obliterates evil. Jt has enough magic left for one last use. A ring from bis beloved. Ft envelops bim in a soft warmth, ali “Faith Strength

Vermis II September 2023 - first printing Published by Hollow Press www hollow-press:net Contact: evohe.hollowpress@gmail.com Artworh: filastiboo Editor; Wichele Nite Graphic design: Christian Nolz Wayarrt Graphic supervisor: Narco Cirillo Pedri english Granslation and Proofreader: €. Printed by La Pleve floligrafica s.r Vermis II Copyright 2023 Wichele Witri, all rights reserved. Al artworks, coppright 2023 fllastiboo, With the exception of artwork used for review purposes, none of the contents of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of the © owners. —————S— er | fore Game Books —————

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Who stares back from the dark glass?