The next morning, Zeroth was rudely awoken by the sound of someone banging against the door to his room. As he sat up, images of the previous day kept flashing through his head, fueling nightmares and making sleep nearly impossible to obtain peacefully. Shaking his head to clear it, Zeroth yelled at whoever was slamming against his door, "I'm up, damn it! I'll be out in a moment." The knocking stopped as Zeroth spoke and afterward, he heard Ardric yelling through the door, "Get your shit together, brother! Thalamar has been working through the night and has found some information for us." After Zeroth wiped the sleep from his eyes and did very little to straighten his messy red beard, he began to reach for his battle axe but faltered, his hand inches away from the hilt. Before Zeroth could decide to grab his axe, the axe seemed to shift slightly, just enough to be in his hand. "What...?" Zeroth mumbled, worried that it was moving on its own. As he pulled the axe closer, Zeroth could hear, "Don't forget, boy. You can't escape me that easy." echoing in the recesses of his mind, the voice of Vulcanix all too familiar. "Yeah, yeah, I'm stuck with you. I'm working on that little issue." Zeroth said to himself, trying to convince himself in the process. Sighing deeply, Zeroth swung his axe onto his back, Zeroth feeling energized by the warmth seeping from the axe. "Good. Accept my power, allow it to fuel you." Vulcanix whispered in his mind, mocking Zeroth with his venom.

Ignoring Vulcanix's presence, Zeroth stepped out into the corridor, the weight of his axe a familiar comfort on his back despite the growing unease in his mind. Ardric was waiting, pacing the hall with an urgency that immediately set Zeroth on edge. "Finally," Ardric exhaled, his voice a blend of relief and frustration. "Thalamar has made some headway, and it's not looking great." Together, they made their way to Thalamar's office. The air was thick with anticipation and the faint scent of old parchment. Inside, Tingle was perched on the edge of a cluttered desk, while Varic stood by the window, his gaze distant. Thalamar was the picture of scholarly anxiety, surrounded by tomes that seemed as ancient as the secrets they contained.

Thalamar looked up as they entered, dark circles under his eyes betraying his night-long vigil. He motioned to Varic. "Begin, please," he said with an anxious tremor in his voice. Zeroth furrowed his brow at Thalamar's anxiety, "What's going on Varic? Did something happen?". Varic's usual sarcasm had given way to something deeper, a certain gravity that Zeroth had seldom seen in the warlock. "Eldrinacht, the Veiled Infinity," Varic pronounced, the name falling heavily in the room like a meteor. "That's the name my patron has revealed. And with it, a declaration that I'm to be its champion in something called The Godswar." Zeroth felt a surge of heat at his back, a silent snarl from Vulcanix resonating within him, a tangible sign of the god's disdain for Varic's counterpart. Shifting the axe on his back slightly, Zeroth heard Thalamar clear his throat, drawing their attention to the parchments strewn before him. "These ancient texts," he said, fingers trembling as he turned the pages, "speak of the last Godswar. Of champions like you, Zeroth and Varic, chosen by beings of immense power." He looked up, locking eyes with Zeroth. "Vulcanix, your patron, is described here as 'The Emberheart, the Forge Incarnate,' a force of creation and destruction. His ambition is to remold the world, to test and temper its people through fire and strife." Zeroth felt the weight of the title, a shiver passing through him despite the ever-present warmth from the axe. "There's a reason ancient powerful wizards sealed his essence in that battle axe." Thalamar resumed, "Vulcanix lost the last Godswar against an unknown leader who answered his call but the texts don't say what diety if one at all." "And Eldrinacht," Thalamar continued, shifting his gaze to Varic, "is 'The Architect of Fate,' a being that weaves the strands of destiny, always seeking to expand the horizons of reality, to push the boundaries of what is known."

Varic crossed his arms, his eyes now fixed on the archmage. "And The Great Old One warns of a convergence, an event that could shift the balance of power. It seems our fates are to clash, to vie for the favor of these... gods." Thalamar nodded, "It's usually a way for the more... supremely destructive deities to fight without destroying reality as we know it." "Wait," Zeroth interjected. "Vulcanix hasn't said anything about me becoming his champion, only his vessel." Thalamar held a knowing hand towards Zeroth and said, "He has to exist to declare another Godswar and if he's sealed in an axe, it doesn't count. Unfortunately, the more of his essence that extracts, the more he begins to officially exist in this realm." Zeroth rubbed his forehead, his head beginning to ache with the weight of the title his new "friend" had yet to officially inform him of.

As Zeroth mulled over everything in his mind, Tingle piped up, clearly jealous, "And what of Tingle and Ardric? Why hasn't Tingle gotten any prophetic dreams, huh?" "Tingle," Thalamar began, his voice tempered with kindness, "Ardric's path as a champion is clear due to his unwavering faith. Paladins like him have a bond with their deities that transcends the physical realm. We can travel to the temple of Luminara, where Ardric can seek her blessing and officially invoke her presence in the Godswar." Zeroth noticed Tingle shift from foot to foot, the gears in his inventive mind turning as he processed what he was hearing. "And Tingle? What about Tingle? Tingle might want to be a champion," he asserted with a mix of hope and a wisp of envy. "Ah, Tingle, your spirit is as bright as the explosives you so love to wield. The role of a champion is not one taken lightly, nor is it one given. It is earned, and it is fated." Thalamar paused, gathering his thoughts. "The ancient wizards that sealed away Vulcanix were participants in the Godswar, albeit in a different capacity. The texts don't tell us what they did to beat Vulcanix's champion at the time but maybe we can come up with a role for you to play in this and it may be that of champion after all." Tingle's eyes glimmered with renewed interest, a hint of understanding beginning to dawn. "I must delve deeper into the archives," Thalamar continued. "There is a possibility, Tingle, that you could stand in as a champion of the mortal realm, much like the wizards of ancient times. But it would require research, preparation, and perhaps a trial to determine if you are indeed meant to stand among the likes of Vulcanix and Eldrinacht's chosen." Thalamar pointed to Zeroth and Varic in turn as he said the names of the deities. Tingle nodded, the wheels in his head already turning with ideas and inventions that could tip the scales in the Godswar. "Tingle will help, Tingle will research too! If Tingle is to be a champion, Tingle will be ready!" Zeroth watched Ardric place a reassuring hand on Tingle's shoulder and say, "If there's a way for you to join us as champions, Tingle, we'll find it together."

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After the revelations and discussions in Thalamar's office, the weight of their destiny pressed heavily upon Zeroth. Despite the warmth of Vulcanix's power coursing through him, a chill of uncertainty gnawed at his resolve. As they stepped out into the cool air of the late morning, the path forward began to crystallize in his mind. "We need to visit Luminara's temple," Zeroth announced, his voice carrying a newfound determination. The others turned to him, sensing the shift in his demeanor. "Ardric needs to commune with Luminara, officially invoke her guidance for what's to come. And maybe..." He paused, grappling with the idea. "Maybe I can seek her wisdom about Vulcanix." Ardric nodded, understanding the gravity of the journey ahead. "Luminara's temple, the Sanctum of Dawn, lies beyond the Silvercrest Mountains, nestled in the Valley of the First Light. Thalamar went over a map to it with me earlier and I kept that map." Tingle, always eager, piped up, "Tingle can help prepare for the journey! Tingle has inventions that might ease our passage through the mountains." Varic, though reserved, offered a rare smile. "And I'll ensure we're not followed. The Great Old One has given me a glimpse into the shadows that trail us. It seems having an idea of what might happen is one of his domains." Their plan set, they spent the rest of the day in preparation, gathering supplies, studying maps, and strategizing for the challenges the Silvercrest Mountains might present. Zeroth was thrilled the guild had everything he could need, including as much food as he wanted.

As the group poured over the map spread across the guild's dining hall table, their dinner forgotten in favor of plotting the most expedient path through the daunting Silvercrest Mountains, the atmosphere was one of intense focus. They discussed potential hazards and the best routes to mitigate them when an unexpected interruption shattered their concentration. Thalamar appeared at the doorway, his usual composed demeanor replaced with an air of barely contained excitement. "Gentlemen, if I might have a moment of your time," he began, his voice echoing with urgency and anticipation. The group looked up, surprised by the intrusion but intrigued by Thalamar's evident enthusiasm. "We're a bit occupied planning our route, Thalamar," Zeroth said, gesturing to the map. "What's so urgent?" "It's about your journey," Thalamar replied, stepping closer to the table. "You see, Tingle and I have been working on a project for years—a project we believed would alter our travel across vast distances. And now, it's finally ready to be unveiled." The group exchanged puzzled glances. Tingle, unable to contain his excitement any longer, jumped from his seat, almost knocking it over. "It's our airship! Tingle designed it in secret originally but Thalamar found my drawings and designs. Thalamar is the one who helped Tingle create what keeps it afloat! Tingle believes it can carry us over the mountains in a fraction of the time it would take on foot." Zeroth, Ardric, and Varic stared in disbelief. "An airship?" Ardric echoed, skepticism mingling with curiosity. "Yes," Thalamar confirmed, his eyes twinkling. "A marvel of magical engineering and Tingle's genius. It's been a passion project of ours, concealed even from you, my friends, until it was ready. And now, it awaits just outside the guild, prepared for its maiden voyage." Varic raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with incredulity. "You're suggesting we entrust our lives to a...flying machine? And let Tingle pilot it?" Tingle bristled at the skepticism but maintained his enthusiastic grin. "Tingle has designed every inch of it, tested every mechanism. It's as safe as walking on the ground—safer, even, from certain perspectives."

Thalamar placed a reassuring hand on the map, covering the treacherous paths they'd been considering. "This isn't just about convenience. It's about innovation, about taking a leap of faith in magic and ingenuity. I wouldn't propose this if I weren't confident in its success. And yes, Tingle is the only one among us who knows how to operate it, making him the perfect pilot for this journey." After a moment of contemplative silence, Zeroth nodded, the decision made for them by the sheer audacity of the plan. "Alright, we'll do it. If this airship can get us to Luminara's temple quicker, we're in." Their skepticism slowly turned into a mix of excitement and apprehension as they followed Thalamar and an eager Tingle to the outskirts of the guild. Hidden beneath a camouflaged tarpaulin lay their ride—a compact, ingeniously crafted airship, its design unlike anything they had ever seen. The vessel was modest in size, designed to carry a small crew comfortably, yet every inch was meticulously utilized. Its hull was crafted from enchanted wood, giving it a gleam that seemed to absorb and reflect light. The deck was open, with a simple railing encircling it to provide safety for its passengers. At the center, a compact cockpit housed an array of levers, gauges, and arcane instruments, all positioned around a single pilot's chair. This was Tingle's domain, a testament to his genius and his eccentricity. Twin propellers were mounted on either side of the hull, their blades a blur of motion even at rest. Above, a balloon-like canopy, woven from enchanted silk and reinforced with protective spells, billowed gently. As the group boarded the airship, they couldn't help but marvel at the view. The craft promised not just speed but an unrivaled perspective of the world below, a chance to see the lands of their quest unfold from the skies. Zeroth clapped Tingle on the back, a silent vote of confidence in the gnome's abilities. With a final check of the controls, Tingle took his seat, his hands confidently grasping the levers. The airship's engines thrummed to life, a symphony of magic and mechanics, and with a lurch that turned into a smooth ascent, they were airborne. The guild, the mountains, and the challenges that lay ahead shrank away as they took to the skies, bound for the Sanctum of Dawn and the unknown adventures that awaited them.