A Snowy Realm Touched by Nightmares

They say some Liberi can only sleep when hanging upside down.

*Hooo*... *hoo*...

Mister Andre is in really deep slumber.

Yeah. I will leave a note for him.

Instead of asking Andre to come along a potentially tiring trip, our hero simply lets him rest and sleep off the days of exhaustion.

But before leaving, Typhoeus needs to recite a small prayer.

It's been her habit for years.

Strange. I sense the ritual from the energy they're giving off, but the notes never mentioned these <entry=narrativeNote_30>witchcraft creations...

Never mind. If they're blocking our way to the shrine, we'll eliminate them.

I'll need your help, Endmin.

The two see horrifying creations that could only exist in nightmares, and slow their pace.

"Are we getting closer to the shrine, or are we walking into danger?" Typhoeus thinks to herself.

A Sami dreamcatcher. It's hung inside the house to let good dreams through while keeping bad dreams out.

Typhoeus approaches the dreamcatcher and retrieves it. The light extinguishes, and the runes go dark.

I thought I left him a message to stay put.

Oh dear...

That's the way to the other shrine.

The ritual used it as the eye of the array, a link between dreamscape and reality.

Very interesting ... and dangerous too.

Yes. They should be similar. We must take these dreamcatchers to the Sami Snowpriests at the Oathkeepers' fort.

Products of ancient Originium Arts... We should take them to the Snowpriests in the North.

But we can do that later.

The ritual keeps bringing spawn of witchcraft into reality. If we let it continue...

Think about those witchcraft spawn. Traveling alone will be unwise.

Although the rampant energies of the dreamcatcher have been pacified, the girl senses its danger and power.

She cannot help but admire the Snowpriestess even more.

Mister Andre?

Finding the two shrines takes priority.

Mister Andre...?

It's calling me...

Hardly anyone has visited the forest for years. They're starving. They will do anything to keep Andre trapped ... and dreaming forever.

Endmin ... we should take Mister Andre back to the cabin.

Poor Andre. To the spawn of witchcraft, he is just a sweet juicy fruit.

The ritual continues at another site...

The witchcraft spawn gets their energy by eating people's dreams.

People with really weird ideas like Andre ... would be delicious to them.

Mister Andre!

The girl takes her last arrow. Longingly she runs her finger along the fletching, bidding it a gentle farewell.

I know Amma made me bring you all along for a reason — it was for this moment.

Thank you for accompanying me all this time.

Thank you. Ice pack made it much better.

I thought I could take down the shrines to end the ritual's hold on Andre. I thought he'd be awake again.

But it seems his consciousness is trapped too deep in the dreams. Destroying the shrines failed to return him to reality.

While I was out there, I found other notes written by the Snowpriestess.

And that's why I brought them all here.

Sorry, Endmin... I was too slow.

In dreamscape, Andre's soul will be subject to torment. Everlasting torment, unless...

...unless his brave friends enter the terrifying dreamscape to find him and bring him home.

Mister Andre!

The notes say that the Snowpriestess attempted to find Feranmut Sami in the dreamscape. But most of the writings are too dense. I can't decipher anything without the Lexicon.

Ordinary arrows won't end the ritual. I'll try with these three instead.

It's alright. Amma gave them to me so that I could help others.

If they're the only way to end the ritual, then Fate must have chosen me as their carrier, and I shall be its archer.

I must fire these three arrows to answer Her call.

In the center of the shrine floats a rune that resembles a dreamcatcher. It distorts the surrounding space, and tears open a passage.

From the passage, they can hear the howling of the witchcraft creations.

If the ritual links to the dreamscape, then the passage must be a very dark nightmare indeed.

What a terrifying power...

It hurts...

I'll tend the wound later... I must rush back.

*Sigh*...

It's calling me...

Hello? Mister Andre...?

Clearly, this is not a good sign.

What's calling out to you? The shrine? The ritual?

It's calling me...

Endmin, take the dreamcatcher quickly! It's influencing Andre.

The spawn of witchcraft disappears. Typhoeus can finally study the cave that has been sealed for ages.

The aroma of bitter herbs, haphazardly placed mats, and a mess of runes drawn on the walls...​

She concludes. The Snowpriestess has spent her last moments in this forest at this place.

I'll go to the last shrine on my own. Endmin, please stay here and take care of Mister Andre.

Andre is being targeted by the spawn of witchcraft. Someone must protect him, and I'm the only one who can dispel the shrine arrays.

This is the only choice we have.

Don't worry, Endmin. Once the last shrine falls, everything will be fine again.

Endmin, anything else you need help with?

If it's not urgent, we can talk later after we save Mister Andre.