Chapter Sixteen - Finally Some Answers

The Master asks the heroes to accompany him to the Temple of the Sublime way, up into the mountains of the Spine of the World.

After a harsh travel through the Darklands and a difficult climb, they finally reach the Temple. There, they find rusted weapons and bones from an ancient battle. Imperial insignias can be found mixed with the tunics of the Adepts of the Sublime Way.

As they enter the Temple, the Master realizes that the vaults have been breached, and the Weapon, an artifact of immense power, has disappeared.

After settling down, the Master finally gives some explanations to our Heroes.

The Sublime Way was created to protect that which matters most, the Weapon. No one really knows what the weapon looks like, but all know that to possess it means to unbalance the scales of power. It was then decided that the weapon remained buried under the Temple, for no one to take.

The Master of the Sublime way taught the worthy, among them a valiant warrior named Aramus, Gully's father. Aramus became a master of the Stone Dragon Discipline, and a master in his own right. His disciple, and friend, was Rudd.

There came a time when Aramaus abandoned the Temple, only to come back with a powerful army of Imperial legionnaires, and with Emperor Cnaiur Godsbane himself. The Emperor demanded the Weapon, but the Master would not reveal the secret location of it.

In the ensuing battle, all the disciples were slain, except the Master himself, who was condemned to rot in Manzessine, the Underdark prison, until he decided to reveal the location of the Weapon.

Without anyone knowing, rudd also survived the battle, and escaped with the sword of the White Raven discipline, The Blade of the Last Citadel, sworning revenge.

The Master met Aramaus one more time, as he was a prisoner in Manzessine... apparently, Aramus had managed to arrive in the prison, only to be captured himself. was he there to free him? And for what purpose? Still at the bidding of the Emperor, or to quench his guilt? The Master did not know for sure, although the only words Aramus told him, before been sold away to Undead horrors, was "I'm sorry".

Now, the Master believes that the Emperor has come back and stolen the Weapon, and feels he needs to inform all the other powers of the theft. On request of the group, who fears that a war will arise from this, the Master agrees to wait a season, giving time to the heroes to find out what happened to the Weapon.

In the meanwhile, he tasks Rudd to look for prominent warriors to train in the Sublime Way.

After their farewells, the group travels back to civilazed lands, first visiting the opulent capital of the Republic of Norvosa, Ilarosa the Beautiful, and then finally reaching Hammerborg.