Episode 1: The Salvaged Job

Looking into the keyhole, Daniel is unable to tell if the door is locked, as the mechanism is not designed to reveal such.

However, he is inspired to check the door jamb and see if he can spot any type of bar or other indication that something would prevent the door from opening.

He discovers that the first door Coda and the others passed through is totally flush with the jamb, and he cannot tell if there is any locking bar that has been engaged. Either the construction of this door is that precise, or it is stuck.

The door at the far end of the hallway does appear to be locked, as there is something between it and the jamb.

Map

With a satisfying click, Daniel feels the lock disengage. The door leads to a small chamber with bas-relief carvings of warriors armed with shield and sword, engaged in battle against hordes of skeletal creatures of various sizes. Above them are four larger figures, three of which are similar as the warriors, but each has a halo around their heads. These three stride towards the fourth figure, an armor-clad skeletal creature that seems to rise out of the hordes below.

In the room are three large sarcophagi, each made of stone and engraved with a haloed warrior at rest. Several urns rest at the bases of each one.

Map

It takes some time, but as Maenor has walked these passageways and inspected the different carvings, he finally recalls tales from his religious studies. He remembers an order called The Eye of Ios that once stood against evil, seeking out and destroying the dark practice of black arts. Much of the tales surrounding The Eye of Ios are couched in allegory and fables, having evolved into idealized examples of good along with cautionary tales of bad.

Maenor recalls a small story regarding four brothers, the sons of the king. Each were powerful in their own right, but the youngest brother was regarded as the runt of the clan, and teased as brothers are wont to do. The youngest, perhaps in order to prove himself, coveted greater strength and in secret, allied himself with necromancers and studied dark magic. Soon his power and skill surpassed his siblings, but in turn he had become twisted and cruel, visiting horror amongst the people.

The other three brothers united against their kin and chased him across the mountains and plains until they met at the dark one's black throne. A tremendous battle was fought until blades and shields were sundered, and at last the youngest son lay dead upon the earth. The elder brothers, though alive in body, were horribly wounded in spirit; having laid low their own blood, their hearts broken by the realization of what he had become.

Here the tales often diverge depending on the audience. Young children are often told that each brother set off to form their own kingdoms, taking the guilt of how they treated their sibling and using it to ensure that no one need suffer those same mistakes. Others are warned about treating with dark powers they do not understand and the downfalls of those who covet power.

Rare and archaic tomes depict a different ending, of how the three brothers considered their failings to be the ultimate dishonor and took their own lives, physically putting blade to their broken hearts while they stood above their fallen sibling.

Kalis strains against the sarcophagus, but the stone lid does not budge.

As the others inspect the chamber, an invisible presence manifests next to Coda.

Kalis finds assistance in opening the sarcophagus.