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[Morrow]

“I'm no good at this, “ said the young girl, her blue eyes piercing the dim candle light.

The old woman took her hands in her own and cradled them in her lap. “What is that, my child? Release your burden.”

“But I'm no good at this, at remembering. All my life, I've followed my heart. It led me here... to you, but I feel that I've lost my way, Mother Anna.”

“My dear Margaret, do not feel that you have lost your way. There are many paths that one may take, but they are all equal in the eyes of Aster.”

“I fear that may be the problem,” said the girl. “I have been protecting my friends and the Lady Vanderborn, but I have shed much blood, and I fear that the lives I have taken cannot be justified if all paths are equal.”

The high priestess laughed. “There is no shame in death. You should know this by now. And there is no shame in taking a life when your own is at stake. You have chosen a noble path in life, and it is important that others hear your voice. If you should fall, we would welcome you back. I know that you would embrace your undeath and continue in your faith. Please, tell me what has happened that has shaken you so.”

“I don't know. It all happened so fast. We were on our way back to Vanderborn Estate to warn Lady Vanderborn...


Empire's Fall was just getting into full swing. As we made our way through the city, we saw the revelers, costumed as the dead, and I so wanted to join them, to rejoice in the celebration that the living and the dead can co-exist in harmony. Garnham had gone ahead, and suddenly, Elyosha, Dexter and I were overtaken by those I had been so entranced by. There was an acrobat and some stilt walkers. They accosted us with burning oil and knives. I was so confused, but my heart beat quickened, and I knew I must fight them to defend my friends. We overtook them easily, but it felt wrong... feeling so alive and jubilant one moment, and smashing in skulls the next.

I had very little time to reflect. It was clear that Lady Vanderborn was in danger, and we feared that Garnham may have been attacked as well. In fact, he was, but he too prevailed. The house had been overrun by bullywogs under the command of a man named Drevoraz. Captain Jarvel had given us a letter that should have ended things peacefully, but the bullywogs were not prepared to negotiate. When the first battle was over, most of them lay dead. I saved those I could, but what makes my life better than theirs? We are no different. Even worse, I felt entirely inadequate, unable to even heal my friends entirely.

We came upon a dwarf named Caskus Kell. He told us that his friends had been captured along with Lady Vanderborn, and he joined us in our quest to save them.

As we made our way into the courtyard, there was a female bullywog smoking a cigar in the dining room. I tried to talk to her, but she said that it was fun killing adventurers. Killing for fun! Imagine that. It was a shame to fight such a strong woman, but she gave us little choice. Eventually, she surrendered and told us where the others were being held.

We made our way upstairs and arranged a surprise for Drevoraz and his lackeys, with Garnham planning his attack from outside the window. Lady Vanderborn was tied up along with Caskus's friends. And Cora... poor Cora! Her throat had been slit! I am certain that dear woman has never harmed anyone, and yet there her tiny body sat, still warm and covered in her own blood. I have never been so ashamed of my humanity.

Drevoraz's shaman had some nasty tricks up his sleeve, but when I saw Cora, my blood began to boil, and I had very little mercy for them. I could tell Dexter felt the same way. Garnham busted in through the window, and hit the shaman soundly from behind. We defeated them, and released the captives, but there was one still missing- their sorceress.

We found her in the basement, being tortured by Lorpth, the leader of the bullywogs. He was using a poor, defenseless creature that destroys metal objects to frighten her, but the creature could not help what it was. I was so ashamed that we had to kill it, lest leave ourselves defenseless. At any rate, we defeated them and freed the sorceress.

Lady Vanderborn was very grateful and set us up with new lodgings at the Sultry Siren, and now she has commissioned us to accompany us to the Isle of Dread, to the Farshore Colony on the southern peninsula, rich in natural resources, but very dangerous...


“Mother Anna, I have done as you have said. I have experienced the world, but I don't see how this violence furthers our cause. I don't see how this new mission serves Aster.”

The old woman looked down at the poor creature and sighed, smoothing back her hair. “My child, you have developed talents that may serve Aster in ways I had not expected. I would like you to bring Aster's teachings with you to this godless colony. It may be dangerous, but who would be more qualified to defend herself while spreading the word of our god?”

The girl looked up into the high priestess's wise, old eyes. This time, she looked hopeful.

“You will fight, young Margaret, but you will fight for Aster. You will fight for equality and respect for all. You will be our first missionary in Farshore.”