Well, guess who got themselves into another mess? Yep, me. Back into the Alban Knights I go. Apparently Talvish wanted me to investigate a sudden zombie outbreak-Investigating Taillteann graveyard revealed it was the Prophetâs doing-I had a hunch that it was them, based off the Crystal Animals-I didnât get to fight them because Altam-whom is completely infatuated with me now..., and Avelin showed up, and they fled. Pft. Cowards.
After I learned that the Prophets were Fomors, Me, Altam, and Avelin headed for Tir Chonaill graveyard, where we were ambushed by a horde of zombies at nightfall. They apparently reeked of the Prophetâs signature ability, Unholy Light. After taking care of them, I went on a walk to unwind-only to find a strange necklace in the stream. Said necklace...is a repeat use memory item-aka instant unconsciousness with a free movie.
For the love of Aton Cimeni, Altam, choose your words better. You sound like a fucking creeper. Anyways, I kept the necklace a secret for the time being. We had to head for Iria, as zombies had been spotted near Qilla Base Camp. We were able to take the zombies down, but an Apostle appeared that we couldnât attack, and we were trapped in a barrier. Just as we found a way to temporarily break a hole in it so I could escape with Altam, both the Apostle and the barrier disappeared. Apparently Marcan was nearby controlling the unnamed Apostle and Talvish attacked him. He unfortunately bailed before we could defeat him.
I found out how exactly to become an apostle-you have to sacrifice your loved ones... after learning that I attempted to use the necklace to calm me down. It worked... not how I wanted it to. I ended up seeing a memory that turned out to be of someone of the Alban Knights of old-their first leader, the Elder. After explaining what I saw to Avelin and Talvish, they tried to take the necklace from me-which I wouldnât let them. I did, however, let Talvish look it over, only for him to be unable to access its memories at all.
I found out that the fortress that I saw in the memories was real, and that I could get to it-but also was told that the Prophets were headed to Belvast. So we headed for Belvast first. But while investigating, I found a path...that turns out to lead to the ruins of the fortress. Apparently you need an Alban Knightâs Divine Light to find the path and reach the ruins. But shockingly, the Prophets managed to follow us in. They boasted a bit, but didnât fight.
Things are spiraling out of control... Iâm just grateful we have backup coming, in the form of the two remaining generals from the two other units. I also insisted Altam join, but we were divided on the matter. Talvish suggested we check with the other generals first.
We made our way to the Assembly Area in Emain Macha, and met with Pihne, one of the generals, there. Unfortunately, before the other general, Caswyn, could arrive, we were ambushed again by zombies-they were taken down much more easily this time. But after that, still no Caswyn. While waiting, I heard a voice, but it sounded like mumbling. I donât know where it came from, but Pihne seemed to have heard it too, judged by her reaction. I ran off to comfort her, and promised not to tell anyone about the voices she was hearing-and I was somehow pseudo-sensing, pseudo-hearing-and once we returned, all of us went searching for Caswyn. He wasnât at his favorite spot in Taillteann, so we split up. I found him-SLEEPING ON THE JOB-in West Taillteann, and we fought, as if he was to test me.
Everyone agreed to bring Altam along-who proposed we adopt the name âCelestial Sixâ for our group-and Pihne determined that the Prophets would return to Courcle Village that night, after we traveled there for investigation. We waited, and sure enough, they showed up with another apostle-dubbed âZebachâ. Caswyn showed us how to defeat them, too-combine Divine Light with normal attacks. Exhausting, but practical.
I saw another memory with the necklace. Apparently there are four shards of a sacred mark, and each shard was sealed by its unitâs general. The first one, the Arthuan Shard, was in Vales. I also found out that these memories were in the distant past, not the recent past. Plus the Elder was the founder of the Alban Knights, and his body rests beyond Avalon Gate. Apparently the Prophets want to open the gate for some unknown reason. Unfortunately, the shard in Lunae Valley of Vales, at the Arthuan Shrine, was stolen by the Prophets, so Avelin expended her Divine Light temporarily for nothing. And we even had to fight Zombies and Zebachs. We then found there was a spirit alongside the shard that the Prophets just knocked out and left, and that they want to resurrect the Elderâs body.
Me, Caswyn, and Avelin were sent to rest at the Hot Springs, while Altam, Talvish, and Pihne began searching Iria for the Prophets. Me and Caswyn discussed the possibility of a traitor in the Alban Knights-he believes itâs Talvish, while I believe more investigation is in order, and then we were ambushed by zombies. After taking them down, everyone reunited, only for there to be no results. Pihne had another episode of freaky voices-and revealed that she started having them after encountering the undead, and after helping her through it, I checked the necklace again.
The next shard, the Heruin Shard, turned out to be at Port Ceann-and it also turns out that there is a security device protecting the altar. When all of us finally met up there, Caswyn was nowhere to be seen. After a brief wait, he reappeared, alongside both spirit and shrine. Turns out he modified the security device to capture both Brilluen and Pennar! But freaking Marcan showed up, bailed them out, and left us with zombies and a WINGED Zebach. We took them down quickly, and thankfully still had the shard. But Altam brought up the possibility of there being a traitor-of which I lied claiming I was to get them to shut up. I was then requested to not share the memories of the necklace for the time being.
All of us got to relax then-though I did have to restrain Caswyn so Talvish could look him over. Talvish then later suggested I cook everyone a meal. Despite Avelinâs protesting, everyone agreed, and all of us split up to gather ingredients. Afterwards, I cooked a massive seafood feast! I think I might have eaten most of it, come to think of it. Pihne had an even worse episode after dinner-of which I helped her through again. This time, even Iâm starting to be affected by them emotionally, as they sound so similar to the Cave of Remorse... After we regrouped, the Prophets ambushed us again-only for us to chase them off...and the FOURTH Prophet, the Black Wizard, to seal us and make off with the Heruin Shard before unsealing us.
The next memory was fuzzy. But I was able to note that the Eiler Shard was in Blago Prarie. After getting Talvishâs permission, I shared it with everyone. Unfortunately, Pihne was having trouble just as we arrived there. But she was able to reveal the shrine. Sadly, the chest was empty. The Prophets beat us there, and left us with more Zombies and Zebachs. But then Pihne ran off, and Talvish assumed the Prophets got the Elved Shard. I was then sent to chase after Caswyn, who was chasing after PIhne, while the others chased the Prophets to Belvast.
I...I found them both near Raspa Volcano. Pihne was trying to kill herself! Apparently she was corrupted at some point, the voices were proof, and she didnât want to turn into an Apostle! But even my attempts to stop her were futile, as she turned into one anyway...me and Caswyn tried to change her back using a method only he knew, but it failed. And Brilluen had to rub salt in the wold and make off with her!
The full phrase the voices were saying...it was...âIt shouldâve been me who died.â Pihne also envied me. According to her, Iâm not sick, and canât die. She also believed I was happy. Oh, what lies she believed...
We soon returned to Belvast, without Pihne. But I had to break up a fight between Caswyn and Talvish, as the whole traitor thing spiraled out of control. After succeeding, I found out that Pihne fears opening up, and, like me, doesnât wish to show anyone else their weak side. I checked the necklace, hoping it would tell me something to solve either of the problems we were dealing with...but the elder told me to stop eavesdropping, and the necklace crumbled to dust.
After some discussion, me and Caswyn then utilized the same object I used to find him to enter Pihneâs subconscious. Upon going inside...and I felt like I was hit with every single bad memory I had. Pihne and I were too similar. We were both sick from an early age. But unlike me, she ended up essentially sacrificing her parents to heal herself. Since then, she was plagued with voices...
It got worse. She soon became an Alban Knight, and the voices stopped, though her visit to the Cave of Remorse rehashed everything. And then, it got worse. She hid her pain behind a mask, just like I did, and she was only herself to Caswyn, like I was with Lystel. There are just too many parallels...I learned all this all while defeating corrupted spirits, culminating in a battle with Pihneâs apostle self...but we succeeded. And I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
PIhne thankfully recovered, and I learned a new skill out of it-I learned how to link with souls. Pihne thanked me, but I insisted it was Caswyn who should be credited. But before I could talk to Pihne without the others around, Avelin summoned me, and brought me to Lunae Valley. Turns out it was really Brilluen, who trapped me with Pennar. We both fought until Talvish and Caswyn both showed up, one after another. Pennar disappeared, and the three of us fought, yet again, Zombies and Zebachs.
Once we all reunited, Pihne revealed not just her past, but the Prophetâs plan: They wanted to turn the Elder into an Apostle. We stormed into Avalon Gate, only to be met with zombies. Taking them down, we then encountered all four Prophets. We chased them off, defeated THREE Zebachs, including one that was super-powerful, but during the fight, all of the others were taken down, but Talvish got back up again and assisted. Unfortunately, we failed. The Prophets used the shards and entered Avalon gate. ...and promptly got trapped thanks to a plan of Talvishâs. We then split up. I made sure to talk with Pihne for a bit, and Altam gave me his-rather embarrassingly filled-journal. I guess now, itâs just me until something else comes up. I just pray that the next time isnât as painful...