Deleted member 304046
D
Deleted member 304046
Regarding the end of the True Story, I think that it will be mostly the same as the Arkain Books, barring few differences here and there.I think it makes sense and I think I understand what you mean - however, it poses a vital question I would say:
What do you expect from the end of the True Story of Arkain? What do you (both you, Jay, in particular, as well as everyone else reading this) expect how the campaign will end?
I think the answer to that question, the exact expectations you have, is very much relevant here.
-The human storyline will follow Gardon's path, with him killing Van Durce and defeating the Golden Guard, stopping the Demon Invasion, launching the attack on Gates on Hell, his plans being sabotaged by the Undead, and him becoming the ruler of New Zyainor. Everything that happened in the Second Human Book will occur in the True Story. The only difference I can think of is that the Orcs/Tribal Dominion may not appear in Van Durce vs Genethas chapter, Zarin, Horgar Whitebeard and Praxeus vs Kobolds mission, and in the battle for the Purifactor. Maybe there will be a showdown between Aedale and Zelech and/or between Aedale and Orie, but that's about what I can think of.
-For the Undead, I don't think that anyone, besides the Bonelords, will perish by the end of the True Story. Ornassion, rather than Lord Brian the Fallen, might be the one to finish off Kersidar, but I doubt it. I assume that Kersidar will fall, but at the hands of Brian. Honestly, the Undead might be a bit of the weak link in the True Story and they would not achieve anything notable throughout the course of the story. Ironfist win against the Demons, ending their invasion, and establish the New Zyainor, as well as having the Elves as their vassals; the Orcs conquer Salria, form the Tribal Dominion and destroy the Bonelords, who were among the strongest of Aridon's servants, but the Undead won't get their "slice" that the Dominion and the Ironfist did. I do not mean to sound negative, critical or pessimistic, I just cannot think of anything for the Undead. While the True Story is great, I think that the Arkain Books (especially the Second Undead Book, if it wasn't shortened, though I understand why it was the case) and anything from 552 E. F./20 Z.R. and onwards is much better place for the Undead to shine to the fullest and do something really interesting.
-Now the Orcs/Tribal Dominion. Following the Red Day chapter, there will be missions that focus on the Undead and the Humans, but after that there will be chapters about the Tribal Dominion fighting against the Bonelords and defeating them for good, forcing Aridon to question his purpose and go into seclusion. It would be a nice bookend for the True Story, as it started with the two Orc chapters and it would end with the two Orc/Dominion chapters, followed by the final interlude for the Orcs and the Epilogue focused on the Undead and Largoth (the prologue was with the Undead user interface, so it would make sense for the epilogue to do the same). Maybe the final scene will feature Largoth talking with an Imperial adjutant (as it was the case in the Golden Guard ending of Second Human Book) or perhaps some brief tease of Vermon and the Mindslayer Legion.
My expectation is that each of the three races get separate Epilogues focused on them after their respective final missions. After the Gates of Hell chapter there is a Human Epilogue. After the final Orc/Dominion chapter there will be the Epilogue dedicated to them. The final chapter for the Undead will occur between the last missions for Humans and the Orcs, but the Undead Epilogue will happen after the Orc Epilogue (two cinematics in the row) and it will be the Epilogue for the entire True Story.
Another expectation that I have is that the final scenes of the True Story could tease new characters and faction, showing either the faction from the Espionage short story and/or Vermon and the Mindslayer Legion as mysterious, shadowy individuals, or perhaps some new, never before seen threat.