Episode 48 Synopsis

The Harbingers ride the newly activated elevator into the upper reaches of the Twilight Temple. Beyond two ancient doors, they recover a heavy Veyan rune bearing the name Karn, uncover a faded mural of Veyan warriors raising their spears beneath an unknown clawed creature, and climb to the tower's crown, where the Eye of the Twilight Temple rests upon a retractable pole. Removing the enormous glint disables the elevator, but Whisper discovers how to reset its mechanism. At the following twilight, the restored Eye sends spokes of light north by northwest toward Aurorius Falls. The group then places the Karn rune into a second, submerged arch within the temple gateway and opens a new portal.

The Karn portal carries the Harbingers into a colossal iron tower hidden deep within the Sheer Peaks. A disembodied Watcher orders each visitor to drink a sweet ceremonial draught, which heightens their senses while filling them with sickness and paranoia. A vast winged Shryke descends from the mist and attacks as the drug drives some Harbingers to freeze, fight at a disadvantage, or turn against one another. Torrin eventually casts Daylight, stands unflinching before the creature, and causes it to lower its claws. The Watcher declares that the Harbingers have held their blades against the Shrykes, opens seven exits onto a blizzard, and grants them seven bonded mounts and a pearl-like whistle. He identifies the tower as Karn, also called the Link, and warns that flying farther into the mountains will kill both riders and Shrykes.

The Shrykes carry the Harbingers south at tremendous speed. The group discovers a dragon's cave within the mountains and glimpses something enormous moving above Tyve's cloud layer before descending into the flower-covered ruins of Norn. Bjorn walks his companions through the remains of the civilization he once led, returns to the surviving hall of chiefs, and finds a stone left for him with the message, “We are lost from each other,” and the name Starren Woods. Ernan appears strangely peaceful and familiar with Norn despite denying that he has ever visited. At the grave of Bjorn's wolf Niels, the wind lifts flower petals toward the Path of Chiefs and whispers that it is time. Bjorn follows the summons, sees a white-robed woman beyond the threshold, entrusts the restorative apple and Shryke whistle to his companions, and enters the path alone as Helvegen begins to glow and white flowers bloom behind him.