“And, thus Xaxoth, with a mighty cleave, thrust the massive sword forged in ancient times, into the belly of the terrible manifestation that stood before them. In a blinding flash, the continuum devourer was split nearly in twain, and its all consuming destruction set upon that plane was put asunder.”—Sillgorn Everstill, Lorekeeper

hile Marcus, Thorin and Romlynn discuss a method by which they can prevent Rebecca, Jaren, and Tristana from becoming suspended in time whilst in close proximity to the dark consuming shadows of the Continuum Devourer, the ever curious Jaren manages to sneak to the Tree of Life. The halfling climbs its rigid branches with a skillfuness allotted only to the most practiced of rogues, and then plucks and eats one of the large fruits. Once again, his disobediant nature overwhelmed what little wisdom the short fellow had amassed, and for a few moments, he is horrified by the transformation that takes place to his body – his once sparkling eyes become no more; replaced only by slightly recessed dips of skin and flesh. Stumbling about, he makes his way to the corner of the courtyard, where he slowly realizes that though his eyes are no more, he can see everything around him, and with perfect, unnatural clarity. Amused by his new ability, Jaren sneaks quietly behind Thorin and “borrows” one of the wizard’s arcane tomes, and begins to read.

Frustrated, and arguing furiously about the vagaries of time and using arcane magic to bend its will, Thorin, realizing that the formulation and creation of such a device will take several weeks, isolates the three inside a greater time bubble. While inside, Marcus studies over several tomes, reading magically infused tales of great leaders and battle strategies. Thorin and Romlynn, after several weeks, agree on their theories, and present an item: an armband of onyx, with a dim, pulsating blue strip around its circumference. The chronomancers explain that it should, through magic, allow the mortals to exist outside the flow of time. After making a few last minute adjustments, the three return to normal time, whereupon Marcus notices Jaren in the corner. Calling out to him, he is startled when the halfling turns to look upon him with no eyes. Jaren confesses to eating the fruit, but explains that it is a boon. Marcus scorns him for disobeying him yet again, but quickly returns to the matters at hand.

Veral steps forth, and says that he will examine an alternate path than the party. He explains that he feels it would be prudent to enlist the aid of one, or several, of the alternate versions of Zion. Romlynn agrees, and ushers Veral into the red stone. Marcus and the others, however, decide to go into the green stone. However, when Romlynn opens the portal, the party observes a great black void. Marcus bids Romlynn to open the portal into the orange stone, through which they see a vibrant green world. Uneasy about the stability of the green stone’s time line, the six decide to examine it further. Thorin distributes the armbands, and, along with Tristana, makes his way onto Xaxoth’s back. Marcus mounts Rebecca, and leads the party through the portal.

After arriving, it is obvious that there is truly nothing more than a void surrounding them. Marcus casts a daylight spell, and it is quickly pulled from around the party, disappearing into the distance in a bright streak. They give chase to the magic, making their way to a point where it disappears at a singular point. After several tests, Thorin determines that it is a hole in the world – the end of all things. Assured that the time line had been devoured, the five make their way back through the portal to the pocket dimension.

With no other alternatives, the party make their way through the portal into the orange stone’s time line, into the vibrant green world they had observed before. As the dragons fly above the forested green landscape, Marcus points out that he does not know what nation they are over. Thorin attempts to scry on New Tu’banor, but instead, sees a vision of a massive, sprawling platinum city – Ancient Tu’banor… above sea-level – the Mithril Spire gleaming under the sun – and stretching for miles. Thorin deduces from the time-flow that the cataclysm of the prime time line never occurred, and the ancient Tu’banorians were allowed to thrive, rather than being snuffed out. He teleports the party to the city, and, as they walk through the streets, they find the majority of their alternates. Veral, in stocks, being beaten by Marcus… Decimus, running a bakery… and Thorin, strolling down West Ivory Way. Aware that time is of the essence, the party make their way to the Glittering Orb, where they each gather up several magic items which may be of use to them in the coming battle.

As they step outside, the portal opens, and Veral steps forth. He informs them that the time line of the red stone was but a vast nothingness. Fueled by the urgency of having had two time lines devoured, the party leaps into action, Xaxoth and Rebecca taking flight and baring the party west. After a bit of travel, the six begin to see a dark blight on the horizon. As they had on their time line, they fly head on into the devoured space. Up ahead, in the darkness, Jaren sees a shape… the Continuum Devourer – head, torso, and legs. Before they can act, the Devourer leaps into action, charging at tremendous speed, towards the party. Jaren, with his sight, explains that something is wrong… that he sees only a misty shadow where he had once looked upon the solid form of the beast. Marcus and the others note no change in its form… but are met with the uneasy feeling that something has gone awry.

Wasting no time, the dragons meet the Devourer head on, each of the Legends assaulting the creature in their own way. Seemingly unphased by their blows, the Devourer begins running in circles around them, causing a mighty gale to churn up. On the horizon, at the edge of the blackness, Veral sees debris gathering. Orbiting the battle-field at its maddening pace, the Devourer lashes out at Xaxoth, smacking the great wyrm senseless for a moment, forcing Veral to leap from his back. Drifting in the devoured space, Veral unleashes Soul Shot upon the Devourer. Volley after volley of explosive arrows bombard the creature, supplemented by waves of fireballs from Thorin and Tristana. Marcus guides Rebecca in close, and makes solid contact with Vesica – but is confused when a blow that had once felt solid, felt as though it were dragging through water. The battle rages on, as the dragons attempt to stave off the maddening ferocity of the Continuum Devourer. In the heat of battle, something catches Thorin’s attention – a pulse in the air about the party. With sudden realization, but all to late, he screams that the wall of debris is collapsing towards them. Boulders, and chunks of landscape avalanche upon the party, savagely wounding Tristana. Marcus, thinking quickly, and casting shield other upon Rebecca, takes the brunt of the damage for the two. Jaren is bombarded, as are Thorin and Xaxoth. Veral is nearly lost in the virtual landslide… but from the dust explode several arrows, all of which find their mark in the beast. Despite their agony, the party members are suddenly overcome with a sense of being aided… as if they were being strengthened.

Wheeling around, the dragons take care to mend their wards. Jaren uses a wand of cure moderate wounds to attempt to stave off Thorin’s blood loss. Tristana, barely conscious, continues her barrage of fireballs, despite her grievous injuries. Rebecca heals Marcus, who, in turn, lays his hands upon Jaren… and the battle rages onward. Marcus activates the Napesh Luck Token, and, like a man possessed, unleashes his full fury upon the Continuum Devourer… raining blow after blow upon the creature with Vesica in a single instant. Once the magic of the pendant wanes, he is horrified to see the Devourer no worse for the wear. Almost as if to retaliate against Marcus, the beast lunges out at Jaren, who had fled to Rebecca’s tail. In a split second decision, Thorin dispels Jaren’s armband, freezing him in place. As such, the Devourer’s assault passes harmlessly through the halfling. Xaxoth, seeing an opportunity, launches towards the beast, pouring his flaming breath across its entirety. In return, the beast dives through Xaxoth’s center, mortally wounding him. As the dragon plummets from the sky, Thorin is forced to leap from his back with Tristana. Again, Thorin detects a disturbance… but before he can bring it to the party’s attention, he is overcome with agony. The Devourer, with a roar, explodes into likenesses of each member of the party, and, in an instant, mirrors what damage had been done to it – smiting the Legends. Again, they are overcome with the sense of aid… a sense of compulsion to do battle with the creature.

Rebecca, no longer able to fly, simply floats through the devoured space, attempting to steer Marcus from harms way. At his wits end, Thorin casts a wish, that each of the six would be restored to full vitality. His spell is successful, and everyone quickly returns to the fight. Almost instantly, however, a second wave of debris crashes into the party, again causing grievous wounds amongst their ranks. Suddenly, mercurial spheres appear before the faces of Marcus, Veral, and Thorin. In the distance, Veral sees a golden light – hundreds of glowing objects approaching the devoured space.

Behind the Devourer, Xaxoth takes his human form, and with a wave of his arm, calls forth his greatsword. Taking it in one hand, he closes his eyes for a moment, his blade taking on a blue glow. With a guttural roar, he flies directly into the center of the beast, causing a blinding blue emanation to explode out and away from the melee. When the light subsides, Xaxoth is no more, and the Devourer is split nearly in two… reeling in agony, and emitting shrieking cries. Not, for a moment, intending to allow Xaxoth’s sacrifice to be in vain, Marcus reaches out, in faith, and grasps the sphere before him. At the same instant, Veral explains that golden eagles are approaching, mounted by beings with spread white wings. Marcus is overcome by a presence, which introduces itself as Estelldorn. The sphere quickly takes the shape of a greatsword.

In an instant, Marcus’ mind is flooded with the knowledge of a race of beings known as the Narkati – timeless creatures, existing outside of Thallamachronorestaris’ realm – creatures responsible for miracles and fortune – beings that alter the time lines from outside, avoiding the repercussions of what they deem as “elementary” chronomancy. Estelldorn explains that the Narkati have been battling the Continuum Devourer on the other time lines, and that they have been aiding the party. Thorin and Veral claim the spheres before them as well, and are met with the staff Syrinthaa and the rapier Tudorath, respectively.

His thoughts crashing back to reality, Marcus charges into the stunned Devourer with his weapon from the Narkati, as do Thorin and Veral. Within moments, the golden eagles are upon the beast, and it is quickly destroyed. When it is, however, the world about them becomes a darkened void. The Narkati explain that the Devourer has been destroyed here, and, as such, the time line has been reset to the moment of Creation. Confused, Marcus begins questioning Estelldorn. Suddenly, the party finds themselves standing in a great golden city – the Narkati city. In the sky, overhead, Marcus is astonished to see seven moons… each of a color corresponding to one of the seven stones. Estelldorn explains that the Devourer is complete, and has collapsed back to the prime time line He also informs the party that, while Xaxoth should have been destroyed by his ploy, he was devoured, and is now safely back upon the prime time line The Narkati offer the party rest, which Thorin and Veral eagerly accept. Marcus however, continues to question the beings.

He learns that the Narkati have always been, and that they shall always be. They do not wish to see the time lines destroyed, and as such, they have thrown in their lot to save them from the Devourer. He also learns that the ancient Tu’banorians managed, somehow, to find a way to the Narkati world – an impossible feat – and crafted the seven stones, their time traveling devices, in the likeness of the Narkati moons. He learns, also, that the Tree of Life is also a creature that exists outside of time, and has existed for ages. He is told that it is doubtful that Thallamachronorestaris will release the Gods of Good, Neutrality, and Evil once the Devourer has been destroyed. He is also told, that a possible future lies ahead where the Legends will be as powerful as the Gods they worship. At peace with the answers he has gleaned, Marcus gazes overhead to the blue moon – upon which he sees a twinkling light. Estelldorn answers, without his having to ask, that the light he sees on the moon is the Beginning of All Things. Estelldorn bids Marcus and Rebecca to rest – for as long as they remain in the Narkati city, the flow of time is interrupted – and the Devourer can do no harm to the prime time line. Exhausted, the two retire to rest before their final battle… before the end of all things.