Inglorious Bards

Reluctant and weary, Hemlock guides the Guardians back through the searing heat of the Magma Gauntlet with Shilara’s grudging assistance. Meanwhile, Jericho learns that the enemy of his enemy might just be a friend—for a price.

Lead Wizard Mallbeck’s search for the cause of reality’s unraveling goes wrong when he accidentally creates an extraplanar bomb capable of obliterating Navarre. Jericho and Hemlock risk their lives to disarm it. Zaldor completes a months-long side quest that ends up breaking Jericho's heart, and Galen firmly reminds the Guardians that friends don’t let friends scout alone.

Lord Ansgar Icebeard has been called a patient dwarf—but he does not like to repeat himself. When Headmaster Videl finally acquiesces and grants the heroes passage into the basement of the Luminae Academy, Ansgar learns a difficult lesson: one must be careful what they wish for.

The moment the Guardians broke free of Xecsa, they were summoned to the Luminae Academy for an emergency meeting of the High Council. Calienvaroe was nowhere to be found—but in her place sat an uninvited stranger, one who made it unmistakably clear just how dire their situation had become.

The Guardians reach the top of Vlesarra Technology and find Crystal Bell, the CEO and keeper of the location of the Key. The moment she leaves with them, Arc Sec 1 surges after them in a storm of chrome and gunfire, and a tireless hunter plans his attack.