As the meditation immersed them more deeply, however, it became more
clear that they were not, in fact, dreaming from Volknore's perspective,
but someone else's. They witnessed the pilfering of the real Disc from
the thief's own perspective at last, and it is Alp who reveals herself
to the Dreamers. Merrily enjoying reliving her triumph, made possible by
the presence of the spectres and their memories, Alp confesses to having
manipulated Kryvar all along, from the idea to create a garden, to the
insistence on a Dreaming in this place. But it would seem that she too
had a price of arrogance to pay, for in her haste to teach humility to
Hubrisian through her punishment, she had doomed an entire people, and
become the focus of their hatred. Their long ages imprisoned, combined
with their wrath, allowed them also to intrude upon the dreaming, intent
upon torturing their goal-keeper in their thirst for vengeance. As she
attempted to depart, she found herself trapped, and the Dreamers trapped
with her. The passive spectres, absorbed in their brooding have had
their interest piqued by the presence of Alp in their home, and have
slowly closed in on her as the Dreaming progressed. Alp is nearly
invulnerable to a mortal hand, but against the furious spectres she is
in grave danger.

On the defensive at last, she implored the Dreamers to lend her their
aid, and in return she will give them the Disc she had once taken. At
the last moment, the Dreamers agree, and slay the greater spectre that
has been formed with August landing the killing blow. Entreri quickly
procures the Disc when Alp delivers it, and soon participants in the
endeavor to unravel the temple's mysteries gather from far and wide
alongside Hashan's citizens to witness the rededication of the Disc. In
honour of their accomplishment in cracking the code of the ritual,
Ciries and Synthesis performed it together, and the Disc shone with
renewed power. It slowly spun to indicate what Star was in dominance,
and the Valnurana declared that it was Noxtra, the star of Darkness,
which currently held power. Thanking those present for their diligence,
She left once more with cryptic words indicating much more had yet to be
revealed.

So came to an end the recent events within the Crown of the Ithmia, and
yet many questions remain unanswered. What would be the fate of Alp?
Could the Spectres be freed from their curse? When might the Disc spin
once more, as another star came into dominance? And would there be a way
to gain access to the lower levels indicated by Hettright? Much remains
to be discovered through time and research, but for now at least, these
events have come to a pause, as Kryvar is finally free of Alp's
tampering, and the Disc at least secured in its home once more.


Penned by my hand on the 18th of Ero, in the year 312 AF.