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DemonicDarkwraith -> Eternal Sentinel (12/20/2025 9:35:22)
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[image]https://media.artix.com/encyc/df/banners/Frostval.jpg[/image]
Eternal Sentinel
Location: Book of Lore -> Eternal Sentinel
Requirements: Completion of A Cold Open
Release Date: December 19th, 2025
Objective: Placing your trust in the strange voice echoing around you, you venture out into the cold...
Objective completed: Kezeroth is here.
Experience rewarded: Scaled
Gold rewarded: Scaled
Monsters
(5) Blade of Kezeroth
(6) Frost Reaper
(6) Glacial Troll
(1) Glacial Troll, (2) Blade of Kezeroth - Boss
NPCs
Amadeus
Aria
Artix
Lynn
Narrator
Rewards
Helms
Helm of the Fallen Star
Rings
Distant Comet Ring (I-VI)
Access to Cold 2 Loot for DCs.
Dialogue
*Scene opens with the moon on a starry, snowy night; now out of Falconreach, you, Aria, and Artix discuss their plans to stop the Kezeroth threat while they plan to go to Battleon.*
Aria: I'll make fake tracks leading out of Falconreach in the opposite direction.
Aria: They're very convincing. Grams used to go in circles whenever I wanted to stay out late.
<Character>: Ha, I bet! ...be safe. Don't take any risks.
Artix: Rest assured, I will protect Aria and Falconreach with my life. Both of you, take care.
<Character>: Both of us...
*Scene pans downward to show you moving in a snowy forest outside Surewood as you travel to Battleon as per the Narrator's words.*
Narrator: Our Hero forged onward, warmth pulsing in <his/her/their> veins, as <he/she/they> passed through the... Neverglades?
<Character>: Uh... we just left Surewood.
Narrator: Hmm, let me think… Mhmm, this is the right way.
Narrator: It might just be an empty meadow here, but that Battleon does exist in another time and space. Should be enough to work with.
<Character>: And I've had enough! You need to tell me who you are, and what you want!
<Character>: Why did Aria and Artix say you sound like me?!
Narrator: ...Yeah, you're right. You should know the full picture.
Narrator: Just please believe me, and don't tell anyone else. It might break things, or rip open a wormhole…
*Despite hearing who the Narrator really is, you still became confused.*
Narrator: Actually... Hold that thought. I think— Yes, she's here! I have a surprise for you!
Narrator: Ehem! Our Hero sees a flicker of a campfire in the distance. <He/She/They> squinted and noticed a familiar shade of red.
*You run through the snowy forest, where you find a camp, signified by a campfire.*
<Character>: What?! No way. Is that who I think it is?
*You stop running upon entering the camp, where you meet a familiar face...*
Narrator: To the Hero's amazement, they reunite with the Empress of the—
*Scene shifts to focus on Amadeus, who punches the Narrator's speech scroll; this hurts the Narrator.*
Narrator: Ow!, Amadeus: Speak another word and my hand will find your throat, even if it's invisible!
*Amadeus glares at you.*
<Character>: Lynn! Amadeus!
*Scene pans outward to show you meeting Amadeus and Lynn again.*
<Character>: You're back in Greenguard?
<Character>: Why—
*Despite that Amadeus made peace with you, he appears to be angry at you; this is due to the Narrator's voice being similar to you.*
Amadeus: What have you done to my daughter!?
<Character>: H-huh?
Lynn: We meet again, <Character>. My liege father and I are pleased to see you.
Amadeus: Sweetie, we went over this, I'm just your father. Not your liege...
Lynn: Unsheathe your steel. We have a crusty Glaceran to hunt.
*Upon hearing Lynn's words, you became confused; this is caused by the Narrator's magic.*
<Character>: ...Why is she talking like that?
Narrator: ...Okay. Baby Gravelyn isn't what I expected, but that's fine! All good!
Lynn: Hmph, I hear the quaver in your voice. Let me make this clear. I am more than enough.
<Character>: Oh... oh jeez, Amadeus, you think I did this to her 'cause I sound the same as—
Narrator: The young Empress of the Shadowscythe—
*Amadeus looks down at the Narrator's speech scroll; he corrects the Narrator that Lynn is not the Empress of the Shadowscythe.*
Amadeus: No. Absolutely not.
<Character>: That isn't me. I don't know why everyone thinks it sounds like my voice, but I've got nothing to do with this.
<Character>: Did it force you to come back to Greenguard?
Amadeus: If this is some sort of trick—
<Character>: I'm as fed up with this useless ghost as you are!, Narrator: !!!
*Amadeus is surprised that you are not cooperating with the Narrator.*
Narrator: ...
Narrator: ......
*Lynn looks down at the Narrator's speech scroll as she calls the Narrator useful.*
Lynn: ...You aren't useless., Narrator: .........
Narrator: I... no, <he's/she's/they're> right. And I'm sorry. I thought they could help.
Narrator: "The Glaceran's arrival prompted Empress Gravelyn and her father to return to Greenguard."
Narrator: That's how I made them come back to you. I think my impression of Gravelyn affected her too.
Lynn: It would have bothered me more if we weren't called upon. Now, out with it.
Lynn: The oceans are freezing over, so why are we on our way to Battleon?
Amadeus: Hm? Battleon is days away from where we are.
<Character>: "Our Battleon" is. Apparently we're going to "their Battleon" to defeat a Glaceran named Kezeroth.
*Amadeus becomes confused upon hearing that he and Lynn are going to Battleon to defeat Kezeroth.*
Amadeus: Half of those words don't mean anything to me.
Narrator: I can fix that! Glacerans are from a planet that's practically a block of ice!
<Character>: Aliens. Great.
Narrator: In that unforgiving world of snow and blood, Warlords are born to fight until one remains.
Narrator: That's their meaning of life – the only reason to exist.
Narrator: Kezeroth and his brother were their greatest and deadliest. He took to the sky, seeking to make destruction the destiny of all life—
<Character>: Run that back. A brother? There's another one coming?
Narrator: I sure hope not. Karok isn't as powerful as his big bro, but he's just as bloodthirsty.
Lynn: Father? Is Karok not a familiar name?
*Amadeus confirms that Karok is part of a story.*
Amadeus: It is. A curiosity of a folk tale about catching a fallen star.
Narrator: Karok was here? No way! Who defeated him?
Amadeus: Defeat? Hm. That's one way to put it.
Amadeus: I know where this 'Battleon' is now. Will Lynn return to the way she was if I lead the way?
Narrator: Yes, and I'd offer my neck in apology if I could.
Lynn: <Character>? Even if you won't trust this 'ghost.' Won't you trust my father and I?
*Despite your tense relations with Amadeus, Lynn, and the Narrator, you decide to work with them for now.*
<Character>: ... Alright.
Snowy Forest
*You fight various Glaceran ice monsters; during your exploration, Amadeus, Lynn, and the Narrator comment on your progress; you also find frozen blocks of Aria and Artix as well as parchments of a journal, which details the story of Karok and the doctors who treated him (see other information).*
Amadeus: What's that over there? A piece of parchment?
Narrator: A page from a journal? This could only have been taken from 'Battleon.'
Lynn: Father, allow me to dispatch the vermin cluttering our path., Amadeus: No need for that. "Our Hero" can handle it <himself/herself/themself>.
Amadeus: ...Tell me, voice. In what universe would I treat Lynn like a servant?
Narrator: It isn't anything like that! It's... different! But… It's nice to see you two together., Amadeus: ...
Narrator: Aria? NO! "Our Heroes came across Aria. She was frozen and buried neck deep in snow."
Narrator: Artix... "...was frozen, but alive. Kezeroth must have left them here to scare our Heroes.", Amadeus: Hmph.
Lynn: Kezeroth's leaving us a breadcrumb trail.
Lynn: The Glaceran may have already arrived at 'our Battleon,' and he's luring us the rest of the way.
*Eventually, you, Amadeus, and Lynn enter a clinic, where you find the dead corpse of Karok, Kezeroth's younger brother.*
Narrator: After a long and arduous journey, our Heroes come across...the corpse of Kezeroth's younger brother.
Narrator: Karok arrived far earlier than he did. What could have killed him?
Amadeus: There's a quaint folktale about this area.
Amadeus: A cold star fell from the sky to fulfill a wish that could never be. Before his light faded, a doctor rescued him.
Amadeus: It was a bitter soul that no fire could melt, but the doctor was just as jaded as he was.
Lynn: Warmth sparks from understanding. Two stones clashed and made a fire.
Lynn: The doctor opened a clinic, and used wisdom from the star to teach a new generation of Clerics.
Lynn: When he died, the star set out on a journey.
Lynn: "I was given hope, and I must find a way to keep it alive."
Lynn: It's hard to tell if the star succeeded.
Amadeus: This was a story I heard from a doctor who treated me during the rebellion.
Amadeus: I wrote it off as a fanciful anecdote to teach kindness to children, and told it to Lynn on occasion.
<Character>: Turns out, it was real. The star was this Karok guy.
Narrator: ... <Character>, I'm a little jealous of you. Something like this could only happen here.
Narrator: "Hope lived in the lost Glaceran's chest. Gravelyn bravely reached into—"
*As Lynn is about to touch Karok's chest, Amadeus stops her.*
Amadeus: Don't test me.
<Character>: I'll take care of this, Lynn.
Narrator: Wait…
Narrator: "Sepulchure sensed the impending danger and reacted just in time!"
<Character>: What!?
*Suddenly, true to the Narrator's words, Kezeroth throws his hammer at you, Lynn, and Amadeus; upon realizing that Kezeroth is near, Amadeus tries to stop Kezeroth's attack; scene cuts to black.*
TO BE CONTINUED
Complete Quest
Loot for DCs - opens Cold 2 Loot for DCs shop.
Other information
The frozen block of Artix acts as a healing source during the quest.
Pop-up headline during the quest:
quote:
Even though he's frozen, Artix still radiates a holy aura of healing! Transcriptions of the parchments:
quote:
MEDICAL REPORT
Name, age, species unknown.
Condition - Suffers from a major concussion, multiple broken bones, lacerations, and hypothermia. Injuries are characteristic of a long fall despite being found in an open meadow. Lacerations do not bleed, but heat causes them to open wider. The patient needs to be in a room with open windows to allow the winter air to help them heal.
quote:
MEDICAL REPORT
Name - Karok
Age - Impossible to discern
Species - Self-proclaimed 'Glaceran'
Condition - The patient's physical injuries are healing quickly, but he suffers from delusions. War, conquest, and glory are especially lacking in this neck of the woods. His 'Destiny' even more so. Karok has attempted to kill me twice now, but the best he can manage is breaking furniture and screaming at walls. It's nostalgic.
quote:
MEDICAL REPORT
Name - Karok
Age - "You are but a mayfly tossed about by the winds of my eternity." Okay.
Species - Alien. Definitely an alien.
Condition - Karok's body has almost fully recovered, but his mind still suffers delusions.
Apparently, he was a Warlord on the planet Glacera, and the leader of the greatest army the tundras had ever seen. After declaring this, Karok started punching a tree until it turned into splinters, and muttered the name 'Kezeroth.' I've only ever gotten this angry when it was over family.
quote:
MEDICAL REPORT
Name - Frosty the Man-Child
Age - Whatever three hundred triplet moon cycles means.
Condition - Depressed. We managed to line up our calendars and Karok realized his 'destiny' isn't here yet. It's apparently centuries too early, and he threatened to rip me in two for delivering the news. I accidentally smiled. He reminded me of someone I used to admire a great deal. We started looking at old maps and diagrams, dreaming up campaigns that'd spread across the Kingdom.
quote:
MEDICAL REPORT
Name - Frosty the Man-Child
Age - Whatever three hundred triplet moon cycles means.
Condition - Depressed. We managed to line up our calendars and Karok realized his 'destiny' isn't here yet. It's apparently centuries too early, and he threatened to rip me in two for delivering the news. I accidentally smiled. He reminded me of someone I used to admire a great deal. We started looking at old maps and diagrams, dreaming up campaigns that'd spread across the Kingdom.
quote:
MEDICAL REPORT
Name - Kung Shing Something
Age - 33 in Lore years.
Condition - Bitter and self-loathing. This human was the personal doctor and advisor of a conqueror far from this continent. Too many victories and distractions would lead to his downfall, but he would not listen to his doctor. To protest the warlord's arrogance, the doctor drank lethal poison to show how serious the matter was. The death was meant to shock the conqueror, but his liege decided to join him as an apology. Their soldiers were able to revive one, but not the other.
Weak and foolish. I would have listened.
quote:
MEDICAL REPORT
Name - Something I can't parse.
Age - He is but a new-born in Glaceran years.
Species - I believe the doctor is a 'human.' Luckily for him, he isn't the human from my visions.
Condition - Embarrassingly weak of body and mind. My mere presence causes his skin to turn black and blue if he doesn't wear protective clothing. Despite this display of might, he refuses to believe my destiny and purpose. I have come to his planet to seek 'destiny.' A 'human' at the focal point of fate. Bathing in their blood will give me the power to conquer the stars.
Ignore that. Karok broke into my room.
quote:
So we're passively aggressively passing notes now? I can't believe you're jealous of a dead man. But, you're right. My lord's downfall was brought about by our bond. I went into self-exile in atonement. Why does that matter?
I told you that I believe you. Let me follow you, and help realize your great destiny before Kezeroth tries to steal it. I won't make the same mistake again. It doesn't matter what it costs, I will pay everything I have for it.
quote:
Doctor. I had a wife, son, and daughter. They were taken captive, and I surrendered to see their safe return. All I received were scraps of stained fabric and buzzing flies. The wrath and fury I felt drove me to become a legend, but...I don't want to go through that again.
Why am I telling you this...
quote:
Karok brought a number of children to my home and told me that they were my responsibility now. Where did he find them? Are they orphans? What am I supposed to do?
It's been an hour, and one of the kids told me that their parents were still alive.
It's been another hour. This wasn't a kidnapping. Karok paid their parents. I don't know if that's better or worse.
quote:
MEDICAL REPORT
Name: Karok
Age: Five hundred triplet moon cycles.
Condition: Doctor Eirwen here. Karok's health has been failing ever since his first Doctor passed from old age. He persisted several lifetimes in our years, but won't live as long as the average Glaceran. Forging that sword he saw in his visions accelerated Karok's declining health. Gramps made peace with this despite our family's efforts, and asked us to leave this place. He intends to meet with 'his destiny,' and give them what they need to defend themselves from his brother.
That sword he made...it carries the hope this planet gave him.
"A gentle planet that raises gentle souls. This is what might and power is meant for. To create a world that doesn't need either."
Next Up: ???
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