Hear... Feel... Think...
When the adventurer opens their eyes, the darkness is replaced by the sight of a vast expanse filled with swirling aether. Slowly, they feel themselves falling, drifting until their boots gently touch an invisible, solid ground.
Standing in this strange realm, they look around in confusion, wondering exactly what kind of place they have stumbled into. Out of the vast emptiness of the ethereal void, a gentle female voice echoes—speaking not to their ears, but to their very soul.
"Hear... Feel..."
A mysterious light appears in front of the adventurer, its warm orange glow possessing a strange allure, beckoning them to come closer.
As the adventurer approaches the floating light, a purple miasma erupts between them, turning the welcoming warmth into a dark and oppressive sight. A hooded figure emerges from the darkness, blocking the light. The strange man raises his head, revealing a face obscured by an ornate red mask.
As he stands there—clad in a long coat laced with metal decorations and spiked shoulder pauldrons—the gentle voice pushes through the intimidating presence, speaking once more to the adventurer's soul.
"Hear... Feel... Think..."
The imposing sight of the dark-hooded man is swallowed by the mysterious light as it surges toward the adventurer, bringing its warmth ever closer. The oppressive air dissolves into a gentle embrace as the glow suddenly intensifies. It envelops the adventurer, burning brighter and brighter, until their world is consumed by a blinding flash for just a fraction of a second—before dissipating entirely, leaving them with a lingering sense of profound empowerment.
As this newfound power surges through the adventurer's body, they feel an inexplicable urge to vanquish the oppressive presence of the mysterious hooded man. With determination and focus, a weapon of light manifests in their hand as they shift into an offensive stance, ready to strike.
The dark-hooded man suddenly exudes a purple miasma as dark energy begins to build around him. He locks eyes with the adventurer just as a glowing crimson glyph materializes before his mask. The adventurer gathers their own radiant energy, bracing themselves as the dark figure lunges forward.
The ethereal realm erupts in a blinding flash of light—but as quickly as the clash begins, the radiance shatters. Darkness takes hold, and the world goes utterly black.
Related reading
- A Tale of Two Beginnings — context on the ARR cinematic versus a new character's start