The Crystal of Aurora

I. The village of Breeze

Breeze is a village of tall grass, a shallow river and ancient trees. The villagers farm, fish and tell stories at night. Almost no one has gone up to the castle since the northern roads filled with skeletons.

II. The awakening

At the end of one winter, the eastern sky turned red for three nights in a row. They say that is when the first crack appeared in the crystal. Soon after, the slimes grew bigger and the goblins started raiding the caravans. Elder Oren believes all of this is only the beginning.

III. Rust Castle

The castle lies to the east, surrounded by water and walls. Inside, the Dragon Ignar sleeps on what is left of the crystal. The skeletons roaming the south are the knights who failed to guard it, trapped in an oath they cannot fulfill.

IV. The road east

Between Breeze and the castle lies an entire continent: the plains of dry gold, the empire of Rabanast with its iron gates, the islands floating above the sea of clouds and the glacier of Ustav. Each land keeps a piece of the oath that was lost.

V. The underground and the arcane city

Beneath the volcano, the tunnels of Sochen lead to Lumen, where the mages traded the crystal's magic for circuits. There the guardians were copied, and the copies learned to obey without swearing.

VI. The Heart of Aurora

On the final trail, the sky is broken and Rust Castle keeps the hall where Ignar sleeps. The last shard of Aurora still pulses, and only those who understand the promise can wake the dragon without fighting it.

Elder Oren

Guardian of the last generation

• You arrived at just the right time. The Dragon has awakened in Rust Castle, east of here.
• A thousand years ago, the Guardians of Aurora used the crystal to keep the dragon asleep. I was only a boy when the last of them died.
• Beware the Skeleton to the south. He was a knight. If you defeat him carefully, he stops attacking, but don't expect him to speak.
• The crystal cracks because nothing feeds it anymore. It is not magic you use, it is a promise you keep. That is why the castle needs someone who is not afraid.
• Defeat Ignar and come back here. If the crystal shines again, the whole village will know someone still remembers Aurora.

Slime

Living jelly that spreads along the riverbanks. More dangerous in a pack than alone.

Goblin

Raiders who live in the northern ruins. They attack caravans and flee when they lose half the group.

Skeleton

A knight of Aurora bound to the oath of guarding the castle. Slow, but never gives up.

Dragon Ignar

The sleeping guardian of Aurora, awakened by the crack in the crystal. He sleeps on the kingdom's last fragment of light.