Faisal gasps in pain as the force of the giant’s blow drives him to his knees. Coughing blood, he lifts his head to see the massive wooden club descending on him for a third time. At the edge of his blurring vision, he can see Scarlet and Beppo stepping back from the massive creature’s reach as Nicholas and Shin battle with the barbarian shaman.

Free the beast quickly before it can harm the Dawnsister.

A brief flash of agony is followed by an all too familiar darkness…

A blazing, fiery light draws closer as Faisal once again finds himself floating in the heavens. But unlike his last experience in this realm, the feelings of contentment and peace are replaced by anxiety and restlessness. The bright blue skies are marred by reddish-green mists swirling and roiling through the air. Cold fear grows as the clouds draw closer, surrounding the young man and gnawing at his sense of self.

The blazing light draws near as Faisal can feel heat emanating from the beacon, driving back the mists and curbing the fear and discomfort. The foul haze remains distant from the angelic form, but closes in behind Her radiant glow.

The Goddess smiles at the young man, an expression both caring and sad.

Welcome, child.

The words echo in Faisal’s mind, reverberating deep into his soul.

I am pleased with your service and dedication to the guidance given to you by my Voice. Many have not heeded the warnings or accepted the wisdom passed through her Words, and you feel the results all around. The corruption grows and consumes, gaining power with each small victory, threatening to become unstoppable.

The mists around Faisal darken, and the feelings of fear and worry again grow. Doubt and uncertainty replace comfort and contentment as thunder rumbles in the distance. Faisal begins to feel the sensation of being pulled somewhere, an insistent and steady summons.

The Shadow of Death is upon us, Faisal, cursing our entire family. Pitting Brother against Sister. But that struggle is only a single drop in a Chalice of Tears and Blood.

The heavens begin to shake as the roar of the thunder reaches nearly unbearable levels. The Goddess drifts away, the dark mists roiling in her wake and obscuring Faisal’s vision of the light.

A final thunderclap shakes the holy warrior to his very soul as his corporal body gasps and sits bolt upright in bed, startling Brother Morric, Scarlet and Beppo by crying out The Goddess’ last words:

An ancient storm is rising.