As soon as the trio of Victor, Loy and Telle arrive at the Outer World Castle, there is a reckoning with Torne, Andre and Reetor.
Much to their detriment, the three blowhards are susceptible to Telle’s death spells.
At this point, Soul Devourer has ~50% chance of instant death and about 3 seconds recovery time. It’s a win button.
And even without Soul Devourer, there’s still Touch of Death…
Torne is the first to fall, then Reetor.
Andre managed to survive for a while since his golems shielded him. But he drops fast too otherwise.
Now all that remains to do is to follow the long winding path to the castle proper. Along the way, however, are elemental barriers that need to be crossed.
The first barrier encountered is the fire barrier; supposedly by picking the right dialogue option Victor can pass here without a fight but it hardly matters at this point.
The Fire barrier is susceptible to Soul Devourer, so…
Of course up on the path are more standard enemies to fight, Telle kills the majority of them with her death spells. At this point a critical hit from Victor’s rifle is p. much an instakill too.
Next barrier is the Air barrier. Again Victor fails to be diplomatic.
Next path ultimately leads to the Water barrier. This time Victor succeeds in talking it down.
Along the final path are several beholders. Their annoying attribute draining spells can disable Loy completely, but not Telle with her death spam.
Strangely enough, there didn’t seem to be an Earth barrier at all… there had been a random Earth golem along the way but it was not possible to interact with it.
The end of the road is the Rainbow Bridge.
They are approaching… and a new world is coming along with them… a world recast and reborn. [The Cat turns her contemplative look on you.] Now everything is up to you, Victor.
How much time do we have?
There is no more time. No one thought the invasion would begin so soon… the fleet of the Highborn has already crossed the border set by the mages, an express declaration of war. You must enter the Outer World Castle, Victor. You will find the Keeper there, and your talk with him will be the Last Initiation. No one knows how it proceeds, and no one except you can do it. Us the Keeper would destroy. Hurry up, please… Loy’s right, everything depends on your decision now.
Don’t worry, Telle. Your work is complete, I will do the rest myself.
[smiling to you through telltale tears] I know, Victor. I know…
[Loy is looking sadly at Telle with some deep-seated envy, after which she nods firmly and steps back. Silence hangs in the air and you realize that the time for words has gone. The time to determine one’s fate has come.]
That’s it then.
Crossing the bridge into the castle, Victor goes to speak with the mysterious Keeper.
What are you seeking here, wanderer? I don’t have visitors often…
If Victor picks any wrong dialogue option in the following conversation, the Keeper will attack Victor… and I’m not even sure whether that battle can be won.
Basically to gain the approval of the Keeper, Victor needs to act and think like a Dragon.
I want to rule the Middle World.
Have you a right to do this? [His cold young voice echoes a thousand fold within the walls of the deserted castle, and you realize your answer might change not only your own life.]
I do!
Good… your confidence is pleasing. Repeat, so I can accept your answer, but remember there is no return.
I have the right!
Have you a right to put out the flame of life?
People that believe in your destiny have died for you. Hundreds of people that refuse your rule will die by your command. What will you say to their souls when they come for an answer?
This world is mine and I’ll make excuses for no one!
Have you a right to chain freedom?
Who are you to bend anyone to your will? Who are you to lay down the Law, to deny people’s right of choice and to punish disobedience? What will you tell them, stripped of their voice and rights, imprisoned by fear?
I am the one responsible for everything. I am the one who guards the world from shocks. Only Power can maintain justice, only fear. There’s no other way…
[sighs wearily and slouches] Well… this might as well be it… [at this moment he seems terribly old and decrepit.] Say your vow, oh new Ruler.
I have the right! The blood of the Lords courses through my veins…
[A strange picture comes to your mind. A young mage who looks like Reetor is sitting on the scorched ground, wounded and drained, not daring to raise his head. Before him lies a lifeless body of a man in the black armour of a Dragon. Behind the young Reetor a redheaded woman whose face you can’t see, draws apart the shining fabric of the world. In the crevice you can make out the familiar suburbs of Moscow.]
I have the right! The blood of the Dragon Slayer courses through my veins…
[Left alone, Reetor falls back, turning his face to the sky. He screams, but you can’t hear the sound among the clouds. The Sun and the Moon circle the Earth in an impetuous whirlwind. It rains and grass covers the field. Reetor’s hair turns gray, his face withers, but the heavens are forever deaf to his mad cry for mercy.]
I have the right! The Unknown clan, the keeper of origins, has called upon me…
[Telle and Loy are sitting on the edge of a rock, watching how the black waves far below break against the golden shores of the Dragon Island. Neither is paying any attention to the approaching storm. For a second, the eyes of the last Unknown and the leader of the Clan clan meet, and with surprise you see the rivals smile at each other.]
I have the right. I have believed and I have come…
[You see a small lake by the road that winds along the Border. You see Telle feeding dry twigs to a small fire. By the fire a man is sleeping. Wrapped in a quilt, frightened, soaked to the skin, chilled to his marrow. A man that has lost his home. Telle is staring thoughtfully into the distance, but the darkness around has never seemed as thick as it is this night.]
I have the right! I have gained the power of the elements…
[You see Reetor sitting on the sandy shore of the island, unable to move as each effort shoots unbearable pain through his shattered bones. You see Torne, the leader of the Water clan, his body adrift on the waves that do not even try to wash it ashore. You see Andre, who has finally managed to get out of his castle. An Earth mage, resting upon a thin black rock rising up from the sea. You see the redheaded Liz, whose heart, in defiance of everything, is still beating within the blazing depths of Oros. All the mages are looking at the Outer World Castle – you can feel it in you. And their eyes are glimmering with faint and desperate hope.]
I have the right. Beside me stand my enemies and my friends. Within me is my love and my hate. This world is mine.
Do you accept it entirely? Life and death? Worship and scorn? Will you bear the responsibility?
Yes.
Will you decide what the fears and dreams of the Inside become? What they turn into among the Highest Ones? How they pass through the Middle World?
I will. Return to me my power, Keeper!
[Keeper gives you a hearty smile, as the rays of the sun pierce the clouds that had amassed over the deserted island.]
Let it be so. Your world is waiting for you.
And thus the quest is complete. Victor has become Dragon the Created.
Wait – naked Loy Iver toying with a severed head? I’d’ve liked a picture of that.