The Lake of Tears
During their downtime in Lux Astra, the heroes prepared for the journey: they stocked up on food and potions, while Bro purchased a magical belt of giant strength and striped pants. On the final day, the group visited Fregnar to collect the cryptex. Aden decided he also needed a bag and attempted to steal one from the gnome. However, Fregnard caught him, caused a commotion, and kicked the adventurers out.
Frustrated, Aden decided to take revenge and sawed through a hammock stand in the yard. Unfortunately, he was caught by the city guard and thrown into jail. To gain his freedom, he had to pay a hefty fine of 3000 mysteries and surrender his sword, which turned out to belong to journalist Datalia, as confirmed by official documents.
Distraught, Aden drowned his sorrows by drinking with Fenris. Tipsy but determined, the entire group used astral travel to arrive at a forest near the Lake of Tears.
In Terragon, the group encountered a picturesque winter landscape: fluffy snow, tranquil silence, and mesmerizing beauty all around. On the way to the lake, they met a tearful couple holding an infant. Near the Lake of Tears, they saw a small fairy named Mota fluttering about. She asked the heroes to fetch a flower from a nearby meadow.
When they brought her the flower, Mota sprinkled them with glitter and flew away joyfully. Suddenly, five clawed monsters emerged from the lake. The group engaged them in battle but quickly realized that the creatures were their own reflections, with every blow dealt to them mirrored back onto the heroes.
When it became clear that the monsters posed no real threat, Mota returned—only to transform into a hag named Morgotha. After a brief fight, Morgotha incapacitated Danaya and Bro, stuffing them into a magical bag. Tary, Fenris, and Aden were left to continue the struggle.
While Aden lay near death, inhaling toxic fumes, countless thoughts raced through his mind. He realized that the questions that had led him on this adventure had already been answered, and his life now felt utterly meaningless. Even after his companions revived and healed him, these dark thoughts lingered.
Trying to shoot Morgotha, Aden realized it was futile. Instead, he used Misty Step to teleport behind her and deftly cut the bag containing Danaya and Bro from her grasp. He tossed it to Tary, trusting she would catch it safely.
Aden retrieved a small vial of purple liquid he had been saving for a desperate moment. Crushing it in his hand, he let the liquid spread over his body. Understanding there was no time for goodbyes, he placed his hand on Morgotha’s head. The purple substance began to engulf her as she screamed in vain resistance.
In mere seconds, both Aden and Morgotha were completely enveloped in the shimmering substance, which glowed with a cosmic light, resembling a starry sky. The two merged into a single entity and vanished, leaving behind a tiny purple cube with intricate facets, within which the cosmos seemed to swirl.
With Morgotha gone, her illusions dissipated. The Lake of Tears revealed its true form—a pit surrounded by skulls and remains of both humanoids and beasts, with a stone slab at the bottom. The ground around it was trampled and soaked in blood.
The heroes, realizing the magnitude of the danger Morgotha had posed, were deeply grateful for Aden’s sacrifice. They vowed to uncover his fate and ensure his act of bravery was not in vain.
Thick white snow continued to fall from the sky, while the setting sun bathed the Lake of Tears in crimson hues. Tears streamed down the heroes’ faces, adding to the lake’s waters.
