The Alchemist walked through his abode of obsidian with Argrave struggling to keep up just behind. Argrave thought that they were heading into the library once more, but the Alchemist reached into the walls as he walked to retrieve an obsidian staff. He slammed it on the ground, and the whole placed pulsed with purple lights.

Like that, the whole of it came alive. The hallway that theyd been walking through descended, forming a slope downwards. The walls and floors looked like ferrofluid manipulated by a magnet, glossy like metal but flowing as liquid. Despite this, each step that they took was as solid as stone. The Alchemists home had been manipulable in Heroes of Berendar, but now that it was beyond the constraints of the game, this place seemed capable of doing whatever the Alchemist pleased.

Argrave hated admitting it, but he somewhat hoped that the Alchemists back would split open to reveal a mouth that told him somethinganything. The silence, however, was deafening, broken only by the soft fleshy footfalls of the Alchemist and Argraves boots impacting against the malleable obsidian all around them. They headed deep, deep, and deeper, following the sloping path.

Eventually, when Argrave looked around, the path backwards didnt exist anymore. In all directions, it was endless blackness, disorienting enough that Argrave couldnt tell which way was the direction theyd come from. Up couldve become down long agoit seemed feasible, given the gravity-defying pathway theyd walked through just to show up at the underground jungle. All he could do was follow this silent giant, fearing to speak in case he sparked anger.

Finally, the obsidian pathway became a fair bit brighter, and Argrave narrowed his eyes to shield from the light. As his eyes adjusted, recognition dawnedthey emerged into the Alchemists chimera lab. A stairway descended downward into it, landing ungracefully in a secluded corner of the room. When Argrave finally took his feet off the stairs, they rose behind him and vanished. The Alchemist dropped his obsidian staff, and it sunk into the home like it never was.

The chimera lab was not a place with abominable creatures floating suspended in glass containers full of green goo. It more so resembled a morgue that had been taken over by a very tall librarian. The place had a ceiling about thirty feet tall. There were tall columns of impeccable white books imbedded in the walls, but between each tower of books, drawers resembling mortuary cabinets filled the space from bottom to top. In morgues theyd hold the deadhere, they held the living. Or unliving, in any case.

The Alchemist walked down into the chimera lab, his pace slowing somewhat. He raised his hand up, and it thinned as it stretched out. When it reached a certain shelf, he stuck his hand inside the obsidian, then pulled it open. From there, he grabbed the one within and lowered the subject down ungracefully. As he did so, he slammed the cabinet shut once again.

Argrave stared at this chimera as it was placed down. It was humanoid, and clothed in black robesa good start. But as he stared, he came to realize the thing looked uncannilyclose to him. Things were off in certain placesArgrave was bulkier than it was, but perhaps that was simply the difference between when hed left here last and now. The eyes were still the black-and-gold color theyd been the first few months after acquiring Garms eyes. The hairstyle was different, toocurlier, a little drier. And the face had some sort of uncanny wrongness to it. He certainly wasnt worried about any of his party members being fooled by this thing.

Hes let me out the box again, I see, the chimera muttered, then looked at Argrave. Nothings ever so blissful as seeing a face like yours. Well, honestly, Id say that to any face, so long as I get some time to walk and talk. He held a pale hand out. Im Pawn.

Pawn. In Heroes of Berendar, they didnt expect a player to blindly jump into a quicksand pit in the middle of the Burnt Desert to encounter the Alchemist. They didnt stopyou, of course, but the point stood; somethingor rather, someoneneeded to direct the player toward this place. Hence, Pawn.

The chimera Pawn was in many places throughout the game, all at once. Argrave had probably seenmaybe even talked toPawn before. His appearance was randomly generated, but the quests he gave remained the same. The Alchemist needed ingredients. Pawn was a tool to collect these. He traded with people, wandered the wilderness, hired adventurers hence, the player was eventually led to the Alchemist, either by investigating Pawn in suspicion or in earning his trust.

Youre the one who got new hearts put into me. The chimera tapped his chest in revelation. Things work beautifully. The Alchemist did a checkup on you when you entered here. And Pawn realized the awkwardness hanging in the air, and said, It seems he made us look alike. Its an obstacle well have to overcome. He straightened his robes. They say imitation is the best form of flattery. And flattery is a thing seldom drawn from the Alchemist.

Argrave stepped a little closer. Pawn, as ever, didnt act any different from a normal person. Indeed, most people found him quite likable. Likable or not, he was still the product of the most advanced necromancy in the world. He was powerful physically, possessing all sorts of superhuman enhancements made to aid in killing, like poison, acid, or simply nasty implements of bone and claw. These chimeras were no easy opponent, to say the least.

Argrave said, If hes brought you out, the Alchemist probably wants you to explain something to me.

Pawn nodded. Too true. It would give greater comfort both for the one conveying the words and the one hearing them. You can view me as a buffer between the Alchemist and yourself.

Yes, because seeing a mirror image is very comforting, Argrave thought, but kept those words in his head. The Alchemist certainly lacked the finer graces he was attempting to display here, but an effort was madea good sign for his health, to say the least. When Argrave looked back toward the towering figure, the Alchemist walked to them and placed something down.

It was a mapnot of Berendar, but of the whole world. Argrave had seen it plenty of times before, and talked about it in forums discussing whether or not Heroes of Berendar might get a sequel on another continent. Berendar was a tall, somewhat narrow continent shelved away in the bottom right of the map, and relatively isolated. He saw Veidenlarger, but also mostly uninhabitedand all the other continents. The player never left Berendar. Instead, the other denizens of the other continents came to them, each in a grand crusade for whatever god or warlord had seized the continent.

Where does Gerechtigkeit descend? Pawn asked.

Argraves knelt down in front of the map, his finger tracing the parchment before landing on a spot in Berendar. It was southwest of Jast and northwest of Elbraille, right in a vast plain between the two. As soon as Argrave lifted his finger away, a needle pierced the spot hed been holding. The Alchemist adroitly wielded various different instruments to measure things. He appeared to be doing some sort of arcane calculations, but Argrave didnt pretend to know what they might be.

Please, mind him not as he works, Pawn explained amicably. Now we have a long series of questions.

Argrave was asked the location of a vast multitude of gods. Some of them he could place, because they had consistent ties to the land like the elven gods. Others were left to the wind. A needle quickly stabbed each spot he pointed out, and then more arcane calculations were made.

After a while, Argrave finally mustered the courage to interject, I can save you a lot of trouble asking. The one I brought with me, Ingothe Alchemist mustve seen the blessing of the god on him. He pointed to Pawn. And if your boss can take the blessing harmlessly, make his body whole again, do it without issue we might be able to see right into the path to finding how to end the cycle of judgment. Argrave tapped his chest. I remember the Alchemist talking about my blessing last time. He said it was interesting, didnt he? He said he wondered what would happen? Thats what I offer here, today. Or perhaps something adjusted, he said, still hesitant to bring Ingos point of view up. Perhaps since you know I come from Earth you can cure Ingo, and give it to me.

Pawn stared for a few moments of uncanny reflection. It is true that a blessing from a god draws the Alchemists attention. For your other assertion, an argument: this power was bestowed on Ingo by a god. No one, god or mortal, has broken the cycle. Why would a blessing prove capable of spotting the key to end this cycle where all other gods before have failed?

Argraves pointed finger curled. But with the things that Ive seen the secrets I know

Pawn smiled bitterly. I do not mean to offend, so please try and take this as objectively as it was intended. Factually speaking, you are one of many who have endured Gerechtigkeit. What gives you superiority over them in ending the cycle? It comes once every one thousand years. Gerechtigkeit does expend a great deal of effort in making people forget his existence, but reality and simple probability dictate that some exist like the Alchemist who know he will come. Foremost among those knowing when the calamity comes are gods, lest we forget. Pawn paused, letting his point sink in.Even supposing your alleged transplantation from Earth is not something arcane or divine in naturean implantation of memories to explain foresightwould possessing Ingos blessing truly allow you to succeed? Do you have greater intellect, strength of will, than thousands of others before you?

Pawn inhaled deeply as he finished speaking. In summary, what convinces you that you have ability deserving of this blessing? Unless you know how to end the cycle of judgment now, you may never know. And Durran was clear you do not know. Despite that, he entered an arrangement with the Alchemist.

Argrave took a step back and looked away, thinking hard. From the beginning, the Alchemist made that bet expecting Durran to die. His anger flared, but Castros words came to him, speaking of the importance of intellectual humility. And as he considered it more, Argrave finally realized why those words were so applicable to him.

These memories I have arent divine or arcane, Argrave looked not at Pawn, but at the Alchemist. And theres a reason Im here, in Berendar.

What reason? said the Alchemist this time, his splintering voice coming out once more.

I dont know. But Im ready to find out, Argrave stated firmly, finally admitting and seeking remedy for his biggest scarhis existence here. It was the greatest act of intellectual humility he could ever hope for. And considering how urgently you came at me I think you know my knowledge is more than mere delusion. He looked up firmly. I have my deal, Alchemist. Ill cooperate with you, remedy both of our ignorance about the mystery that is me. Let us delve into what I am, and why I might be here. Get the white-haired elven womandoubtless shell be interested in unraveling my secrets.

The Alchemist stared down at Argrave for a few moments. Then, Pawn started walking away, heading for the walls. A stairway appeared to accommodate him, and he vanished.

She will be contacted. In the meantime lets begin with your mind, the Alchemist rasped.

Not so fast, Argrave held his finger out. Lets discuss the finer detailssafety being the first among them.