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Friday, March 24, 2023
Book 3: Convergence - Chasing Answers
Hey there, heroes!

Book 3's main story continues! With everyone finally gathered in Swordhaven, it's time to get some answers!

Jaania and Akanthus have left, and the Rose airship has already begun its journey. Which means our heroes have to figure out what to do next...

But do they have the resolve to do what must be done?

Also, the reward from this quest will be upgradable in the future.

Head over to the throne room in Book 3 Swordhaven to play this week's quest: Chasing Answers!

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And that's all for this week!

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Did we hear of this Sobieslav before? Or is it the first time he's been mentioned?

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@Primate Murder

We saw Sobieslav all the way back during the Thorn's saga quest with Theano. In it he and Theano stole soulforged weapons from Krasimir and an Ignominious from a Magester. The community has long since suspected him of being one the most likely candidates for Akanthus' identity and this quest pretty much confirmed that prediction. Funnily enough, Theano made a comment about powerful things being locked away and collecting dust all the while not being used for their true purpose. It feels like the comment was supposed to foreshadow what we know now. That being said, this quest pretty much confirms that Akanthus is a human and one of Lore. One of which was taken, as a child, to the Wastes as an experiment as a means of solving the problem of the Magesterium's dependency on the Mana Core piece or more accurately solve the problem of being further disconnected from the Mana Core and cut off from basic magics. Problem here is the Magesterium clearly created the exact opposite of what they wanted in terms of their actual end goal and that was someone who can't use magic at all. On that note, Ostromir stating Sobieslav became a normal child after the experimentation makes me believe that Akanthus could access magic before the experiments occurred given that the Magesterium has a habit of taking children with an affinity for magic for a myriad of positions for the Magesterium but it's also likely they would have tried and experiment on new ways to use magic as well and what better way to do that than use the naturally gifted. Moreover, if its true that Sobieslav was able to use magic at one point then it explains why he's so envious and angry at those that can interact with magic. He would have basically had the gift that he had since birth effectively stolen from him forever. Additionally, from Sobieslav's point of view he would have had the heavy expectation placed on his shoulders to be this newly perfected mage that would help his country usher in a new era had he actually developed magical abilities. For that moment to never have come? Well that must have been a blow to the ego at some point. As a result, in a fitting act of revenge in his eyes, he seeks to tear apart a reality that took something precious from him.

I have to imagine the research expeditions Sobieslav ran in the Wastes were meant to see if he could find a way to access magic though I wonder what caused this "accident" at his outpost. We know Akanthus has a habit of killing all his staff to hide evidence of tools or knowledge he doesn't want to risk others interfering with so it seems to me he might have found something that set him on the path he is now. That or whatever he was working on failed and he killed everyone in a fit of rage.

Either way hopefully this outpost of Magesters has the research needed to take Akanthus down for good.

On another note, I like that Victoria isn't going to give the throne up just yet to Alteon when we return as it seems she's more than aware the situation requires her perspective to get things done even if she's hates it. Though hopefully our robin hood can put the crown down when this mess is concluded, if, of course, that's what she wants.

Also, it was only a matter of time before we traveled through the Void again, eh? Dang it, Ostromir! Although, that teleportation circle Warlic drew looked oddly familiar can't remember from where though.

It's also nice to see some of the old class animations out of Seppy and Alteon, really shows their age. Also, it would seem our previous speculation of Seppy channeling his doom powers into his sword was accurate as it's doesn't have the same doom glow it did when fighting Akanthus. Which actually reminds me of Achilles's doom spear going from an on and off mode in his in Inn fight. And speaking of the two former knights, looks like Alteon is start to catch on to his ol war buddy. I'm sure that won't present a problem later.

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Speaking of Akanthus... Warlic's suspicions were confirmed along with mine. He's not native to Lore.

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I was so confident lol. But I do like to be proven wrong in some cases, and this is one of them. Given how we knew Akanthus had history in Azaveyr and with the Magisterium specifically, as well the role of Sobieslav in Theano's backstory as Vaalirus has pointed out, this makes much more sense. It also puts my world-building concerns to rest too, regarding the Atealans and Shadowscythe and other otherworldly beings.

And he had blonde hair and blue eyes, AND he had access to a Magister's home... It all makes sense. Well played, team!

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I have to imagine the research expeditions Sobieslav ran in the Wastes were meant to see if he could find a way to access magic though I wonder what caused this "accident" at his outpost. We know Akanthus has a habit of killing all his staff to hide evidence of tools or knowledge he doesn't want to risk others interfering with so it seems to me he might have found something that set him on the path he is now. That or whatever he was working on failed and he killed everyone in a fit of rage.

I figured it was all a plan to make his escape. As you say, he certainly isn't above killing everyone and making it look like an accident. Or it really was a failure on his part, and he was able to twist the situation in his favour. Either sounds very much like Akanthus to me.

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It's also nice to see some of the old class animations out of Seppy and Alteon, really shows their age. Also, it would seem our previous speculation of Seppy channeling his doom powers into his sword was accurate as it's doesn't have the same doom glow it did when fighting Akanthus. Which actually reminds me of Achilles's doom spear going from an on and off mode in his in Inn fight. And speaking of the two former knights, looks like Alteon is start to catch on to his ol war buddy. I'm sure that won't present a problem later.

Ha, I'm just surprised his cover hasn't been completely blown by now. Mind you, with everything else that's happening in the story I suppose it's natural that the characters that aren't in the know (yet) are too preoccupied to properly interrogate Jaania's emissary about his supposedly new-found spooky doom powers. Speaking of which, you may be right about how his sword functions a bit like Achilles' spear and shield. Using his "Drain" skill does indeed change it's appearance to what it looked like when he attacked Akanthus. It seems he's created his own sort of pseudo-Doom Weapon.

I also find it somewhat amusing that in reaching Outpost Yeden to find out how to deal with Akanthus... We've essentially already beaten Jaania to the Fissure. Everything's being set up nicely for the final confrontation.

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Here's my wacky little theory about what's to happen next in a broader sense. Some things are going to happen and Jaania will realize she's making mistakes and is on the verge of causing more harm than good with her pursuit of the fissure. Akanthus will see that and say something along the lines of "its too late for you to realize now" and incapacitate her. Alex and Warlic will be in range to see and have some character moments where they check to see if she's alright and/or attempt a counterattack on the general. Obviously it doesn't work and he overpowers them and beats them back.

The hero and his party come back from the outpost and they obtain something that might work against the Aka. It's like a mistletoe for Baldur or krptonite for superman thing, its supposed to make them vulnerable for damage. If thats the case, this could go a number of different ways but I will list two.

One is that what they procured actually works and Akanthus becomes vulnerable. When that happens, he's able to use magic again and could decide on stopping his deeds and being content with being normal again, or could use his renewed abilities to seek vengeance on the ones who robbed him of his life or something like that. Villain stuff. Big battle ensues, everyone gets their shot in and their character moments, maybe a couple of one liners and a team-up with Alteon and seppy, then they emerge somewhat victorious, probably a bittersweet ending if someone like Jaania bites the dust, or the king (leaving Victoria having to be queen permanently).

What I'm hoping will happen is that the heroes get to the outpost somehow and nothing exists for them to use, or they do find something to use, but it turns out ineffective and they run into the problem where not a single thing any of them do can stop the general now. He betrays jaania and gets what he wants from the fissure. Widespread destruction is released but in turn, he gets reconnected to lore and to mana. He grows ultra powerful and uses magical attacks and whatnot against the heroes. One of the more intelligent members note that "if hes able to use magic again, he must be connected to mana, meaning he can be affected by our attacks now." Big battle ensues, everyone gets their character moments against him, he powers up or simply remembers how to fight with magic again and overpowers everyone. The hero and dragon fight off against him solo (duo?) and it starts looking bad for them. Suddenly everyone enters hypertension and busts out the last of their power. we see a team-up attack with the old war buddies Alteon and Seppy. We see Jaania, Warlic, and Alex make up ever so slightly and put their differences aside to fight alongside each other and they assault Akanthus with powerful magic. it does decent damage but he puts up amazing resistance and looks to be overcoming the onslaught. The hero steps in with dragon and does one final joint attack. It works? No, he just got his life back, it won't end like this. Akanthus gigantamaxes and a titan fight ensues. Primal earth and primal nature powers activate. He goes down. Where did it all go wrong? Ez, you mess with the best, you go down like the rest. Peace restored, credits roll, book 4 here we go.

This is totally ignoring every other plotline there could possibly be which would make it so that every single thing I said above would be rendered completely null, but it's still fun to theorize.