The War for the Ley Lines

The Attack on Arcangrove

In the present, Malgor sends Dragonlords against Arcangrove while ordering Gar to keep watching you. The Tower of Magic's library holds knowledge of the ley lines, and corrupting those channels would give him a hold on the world's Mana.

The attack comes while Warlic is away, overwhelming Rayst's barrier and leaving the mages captive. Paddylump escapes by hiding and now wants to help as you arrive with Warlic and Galanoth's DragonSlayers to recover the tower before its secrets can be used.

You push back the Dragonlords while Warlic extinguishes the fire and breaks the tower's wards. After overcoming the Shadow-mutated dragons, you reach the observatory with Warlic and Galanoth. The captives are still alive.

When Rayst refuses the Titan Dragonlord's demand for cooperation, the invader orders the mages executed. Reens calls it a bluff because he needs them, but he answers that the library can supply their secrets instead, leaving you to interrupt before the order is carried out.

You defeat the Titan Dragonlord, and Galanoth strikes him down as he boasts that Malgor can replace him. With the remaining enemies abandoning the fight, Warlic and Galanoth stay to protect the ley lines while Paddylump finally charges in to save everyone. His friends welcome him and promise more chances to help.

Mahou and the Ghost Nexus

Yokai is still mourning its wars when Shimazu, an onryo reawakened by Malgor, occupies its graveyard. Once one of Jaaku's men, he now directs his anger against Miko's people, keeping mourners from their dead and Miko from her father's grave.

You restore the graves and their offerings, then summon and defeat Shimazu. His remaining spirits still need to be driven off before the mourners can return.

Malgor is also moving toward Yokai's Spirit Roads and their shifting nexus. Miko sends you to Mahou, the wizard who serves as liaison to its ancestral keepers. Varga warns that he could become one of Malgor's strongest allies. You hope to reach him first.

Mahou accepts your gift but asks you to leave, observing that his tea has better manners than his guests. He initially trusts the guardians to protect the nexus. After you persist, help him and prove you can survive Osanshouo, he agrees to guide you.

Mahou attunes his lantern to three Spirit Roads and locates their current intersection. Grandmother Hasu leads the guardians there, but cuts short his attempt to speak: she asks whether he thought she could be fooled.

When Hasu declares that the danger is already present and attacks, Mahou urges you to fight her, believing strength may persuade the guardians to listen. Afterward, she tells you to look behind you, where Malgor's soldiers are standing with your guide.

Mahou has already chosen Malgor, convinced by years of war and loss that ending the cycle is worth the betrayal. Hasu refuses to let him destroy the world and draws both of you into the Ghost Nexus, while Miko and Varga remain to protect the mortal side as you follow.

Hasu keeps part of Mahou's soul safe while showing you the memories behind his choice, beginning with Akio, a child who loses his parents during a Chaos attack and is taken in by his aunt and uncle. You help them reach safety, a rescue he remembers as he grows up wanting to protect others as you protected him.

In a later memory, adult Akio fights beside you against an Infernal invasion, having trained to protect the family who raised him. The Nether Warlock strikes him with green fire, and his uncle cries out. The man holding Akio's body is Mahou.

Hasu reveals that she and Mahou hoped to give their orphaned nephew a peaceful life, but Akio was not his only loss: his wife also died during the war with Jaaku. Mahou no longer believes the losses will end.

You accompany Mahou as he faces his grief, rage and anguish, and although the pain remains, he finds some hope again. He says his lantern showed him Malgor as a hero broken by war, reflecting his own despair, and he wants to try reaching him. If that fails, he will help stop him, while Hasu expects him to repair the harm he caused.

The Song of Fate

After failing to seize Yokai's nexus, Malgor sends Oh'Garr against Mythsong in search of the Song of Fate. The invasion overwhelms the city's musicians, and Dorian Mode calls for your help.

Dorian says the lost composition can change reality. You defend the city and seek clues to its location while keeping the bards supplied and preventing the invaders from taking Mythsong's energy.

Oh'Garr captures Mozzy, who refuses to talk and immediately reveals that the Song is at Lorestockapalooza. As the warband leaves to find it, Dorian asks why Mozzy never told him. Mozzy replies that he never asked.

After strengthening Mythsong's resistance, you pursue the invaders to the festival grounds, where Oh'Garr already has the scroll and has begun performing it. You stop him before he finishes and take the Song.

You, Dorian and Mozzy perform it together, wishing the scroll out of existence. You admit that you first tried to wish Malgor away, without success. Mozzy guesses you did not truly want it. You wonder whether you resisted killing an absent enemy unable to fight back. You promise not to waver when another chance comes.