The Saga of Faathim

Agree to form a task force

You can call me Justin Augustine. I'm a, well, a mystic of sorts. Working with the UN expedition. General Hammond's asked me to investigate some of the stranger things out here, and I think I may have found about the strangest. Floating out in the center of this area may be the key to understanding this whole plac, but if I'm gonna figure it out, I'm gonna need help.

Alright, before I send you deep into the islands around here, firts order of business is to secure this position some. I've manage to kepe the Rularuu from finding me here, but they're going to noticeyou lot coming and going. So, Iwant you to lower their numbers around the Path of Tears. Take out about 50 or so, that should put a dent in them.

General Hammond asked that I give you lot a code-name hile you're working with me on this. He wants it to help keep track, but there's a whole other reason. Naming a thing, like a fellowship of heres, is a powerful kind of magic. There's a lot aligned agaisnt us, so if we're going to succeed here, we'll need every advantage we can get. I'm going to give your group the title Task Force Ptah, and let's hope that the powers that be are smiling on us.

Now that the Rularuu are a little less unruly, it's time to start the real work.

Travel to Bastion of Pain

Time to do some investigation. Task Force Ptah, I'll need you lot to go to one of the island groups in here. It's called the Bastion of Pain, and it's the closest cluster of islands to where we are now. There's a monument there I'd like you to take a good look at, and get me some close-up photos.

This one's a two parter. First, you'll need to fight the Rularuu around the Bastin of Pain. Once you've fought enough to keep them from interfering, go to the monument and record it for me. I think I'll be able to translate it. That might tell us something about what's really going on here.

Mission Complete: You have been to the Monument of Pain, and made records of it for Justin Augustine.

Monument Records

You recorded these photos and measurements of the monument on the Bastion of Pain for Justin Augustine.

The Verse of Pain

Justin Augustine's translation of the writing on the monument of Denial reads:

'And the Kind One was made prisoner within his Chantry,
And the Rularuu beset him in unending siege,
And Faathim the Kind knew only anguish,
For all his plans were cast down in ruin.'

Thanks for that one. you're all as good as gold. Now, give me a minute. This is very wierd stuff.

Like trying to read Sumerian written with Aztec grammar and English slang.

I can give you a rough translation of this one, but we're gonna need to see more. Roughly, it would go:

'And the Kind One was made prisoner within his Chantry,
And the Rularuu beset him in unending siege,
And Faathim the Kind knew only anguish,
For all his plans were cast down in ruin.'

Pretty heavy stuff, but it still doesn't tell us a lot. There's got to be more to this story.

Travel to Bation of Denial

The first monument you looked at on the Bastion of Pain seemed to be telling part of a story. The others mayhave more of it. I'd like you to travel to the Bastion of Denial, clear out some of the Rularuu, and take a look atthe monument thre. It may have more of this story, or at least help what we haveto make sense.

This one's another two parter. Same set-up as the last one. YOu'll need to fight the Rularuu around the Bastion of Denial to get them off-balance, then get to the monument and take some recordings and stuff for me. Easy for you, I'm sure.

Mission Complete: You have been to the Monument of Denial, and made records of it for Justin Augustine.

Monument Records

You recorded these photos and measurements of the monument on the Bastion of Denial for Justin Augustine.

The Verse of Denial

Justin Augustine's translation of the writing on the monument of Denial reads:

'And Faathim formed the Chantry from the very air,
And Faathim alonewas master of it,
And within the Chantry Faathim stood shielded from Rularuu's will,
Here Faathim schemed for his freedom and his oblivion.'

Great job, allof you. Let me take a look at this.

These are getting harder tounderstand. I could swear that's greek, but that bit thre looks like cuneiform, and I don't even know what that last bit it.

Okay, here'smy best go:

'And Faathim formed the Chantry from the very air,
And Faathim alonewas master of it,
And within the Chantry Faathim stood shielded from Rularuu's will,
Here Faathim schemed for his freedom and his oblivion.'

I'm not completely sure that's right, but it's at least close. I think. Weneed to find out more.

Travel to Bastion of Guilt

he first two monuments seemed to be telling part of a story, but we only have pieces of it. They're getting harder to translate, but we'll have to see what we can get from the next one, in the Bastion of Guilt.

You lot should have this set-up down by now. First thing to do is clear out some of the Rularuu, then get recordings of the monument for me. I'll see what I can do to translate them, and we'll go from there.

Mission Complete: You have been to the Monument of Guilt, and made records of it for Justin Augustine.

Monument Records

You recorded these photos and measurements of the monument on the Bastion of Guilt for Justin Augustine.

The Verse of Guilt

Justin Augustine's translation of the writing on the monument of Guilt reads:

'And when the world was split the Strong one Reained Loyal,
And the Strong One called Faathim Traitor for his plans,
And the Strong One called Faathim Traitor for his actions,
For Strength would let none stray from Rularuu'

Great work, all, these are thebets yet. Not too sure how much good it will be, though. I'm able to recognise less and less of this. Let me see if I can get anything.

Alright, I'll give it a bash, but I can't promise that this is anything close to accurate:

'And when the world was split the Strong one Reained Loyal,
And the Strong One called Faathim Traitor for his plans,
And the Strong One called Faathim Traitor for his actions,
For Strength would let none stray from Rularuu'

I'm not that confidant about that, but it's the best I can do. At leat I think I know what the next step's going to have to be.

Enter the Chantry and speak with Faathim the Kind

I've done about all the translating that can be done without a better knowledge ofthe languages usd. So, now's the time to try and find out more about the whole thing right from the source. Task Force Ptah, I need you to go into the Chantry itself and talk to Faathim the Kind.

The good news it I don't think Faathim will be out-right hostile. Bad news, of course, is that there's a lot of things surrounding the entrance who probably will be hostile.

Faathim the Kind

I am Faathim, called the Kind One. You are all welcome before me, members of Task Force Ptah. I have watched you from within my Chantry, and I know what you seek. I will tell you that you have learned nothing untrue or false.

I am the master of the Chantry,
and I am its prisoner,
and I am a traitor above all.

But there is more than thoe three elements. I will provide you with this. It is a series of tasks that need the attention of heroes and it is written in languages that Justin Augustine will understand. You reward shall be rightousness in your work, and furtherance of your knowledge.

I ask only this: You must remember that something learned cannot be unlearned, and nothing can ever be undone.

An Engraved Tablet

This stone tablet has been engraved in what looks like a seris of ever more complex languages by Faathim the Kind.

Glad tohear you got such a welcome reception, if a bit on the cryptic side. Still, this list of Faathim's could be very useful. Give me a bit, I'l see what I can get out of this.

Battle the Rularuu around the Path of Rage

I've been able to translate some of this list of 'Heroic Deeds' Faathim gave you. First one sounds like something you can handle. It's a request to battle the Rularuu down around the Path of Rage near the Chantry. Might be a good idea to do it at that.

I'm not sure exactly what Faathim the Kind wants with this task, but it seems pretty innocuous. While you're working on that, I'm going to look back over my notes with what I've learned from translating the first part of this.

All right, now that I've had a bit of time, I think I may have made a breakthrough on this. It might shed a light on a lot of things we've found already. How would you all like to take a visit back to Fire Base Zulu?

Help Dr. Boyd in Firebase Zulu

Just translating the list of tasks Faathim gave you is teaching me a lot about the languages used here. In fact, some of what I've learned may be very useful to some of the other people working in the Shard. I've been communicating with Dr. Boyd, over in the Firebase Zulu area. He thinks he might be on the verge of a breakthrough in his own translations due to this new information, but he's going to need some help. While I'm working on translating more of Faathim's list, how about you lot go over and lend him a hand?

Thanks. I hope that Dr. Boyd's work will shed some light on my own. The more I understand, the stranger this gets.

Mission Complete: You've taken photos and measurements of this monument.

Monuments around Zulu

You gathered these images and measurements of the monuments in the Firebase Zulu area for Dr. Bruce Boyd. With the knowledge gained by Justin Augustine, they may yield new information.

Dr. Boyd

Ah, Task Force Ptah! Dozens of thanks. Let me take a look at this lovely research.

Hmm...

Very interesting...

The monuments speak more about a deal between 'The People' and another great power, or powers. The Rularuu come up a great number of times, in fact it appears that the people are at once told to worship and obey the Rularuu, but are also warned against worshipping them. Perhaps it means that the people were to worship a philosophy or religion or god, but not the creatures themselves. It also specifically mentions several powerful Rularuu. I can't make out many of the names, but three stand out, I've seen them before. The passage goes:

'And give over your strong to Ruladak that he may work them,
And give over your injuries to Faathim that he may heal them,
And give over your outcast to Lanaru that he may execute them,
For you will know that they are Rularuu and are to be obeyed.'

Well, that sounds quite ominous, doesn't it? I'll keep working, there's so much here. Thanks again for all your help, Task Force Ptah, you've really been fantastic.

An old verse

Dr. Boyd's translations of the monuments found in the area around Firebase Zulu yielded the following ominous verse:

'And give over your strong to Ruladak that he may work them,
And give over your injuries to Faathim that he may heal them,
And give over your outcast to Lanaru that he may execute them,
For you will know that they are Rularuu and are to be obeyed.'

Thanks for helping Dr. Boyd, Task Force Ptah. The information we've found already about Faathim has me worried about doing the tasks he asked about, but clearly comething must have changed between whenever those monuments were written and now. In those monuments Faathim is called one of the Rularuu, but the monuments out here call him a traitor and the Rularuu are attacking him. The next task is really hard to translate, but I should have it for you shortly. I may have something else that we can do, first.

You're a tenacious lot, you are. When I gave you the name Task Force Ptah, I was hoping it would help deflect bad fortune. If we've got this far, it must have worked some.

Travel to Bastion of Shame

I think I have Faathim's next task translated, but you'll need to test out what I've learned of the language first. Best way to do that is on one of the monuments that I wasn't able to understand. So, are you ready to examine the monument over at the Bastion of Shame?

Back to the old pattern, right? First thing is to clear out some of the Rularuu, then get recordings of the monument for me. I'll see how much more I can translate this time, and that should tell us if I have this next task translated right or not.

Mission Complete: You have been to the Monument of Shame, and made records of it for Justin Augustine.

Monument Records

You recorded these photos and measurements of the monument on the Bastion of Shame for Justin Augustine.

The Verse of Shame

Justin Augustine's translation of the writing on the monument of Shame reads:

'And by word and trickery the Traitor Faathim's work was done,
And the Mad One rose up with rage to split the world asunder,
And the Rularuu lost their truth and the People their master,
For Faathim's betrayal hid all from Rularuu's power.'

You always come through, you do. Let me get the photos from you, and I'll have a go at this.

I get this. Like Sanskrit, only backwards and written in a phonetic alphabet. Easy.

Okay, if I'm reading this one right, the gist of it is something like this:

'And by word and trickery the Traitor Faathim's work was done,
And the Mad One rose up with rage to split the world asunder,
And the Rularuu lost their truth and the People their master,
For Faathim's betrayal hid all from Rularuu's power.'

It's not too much clearer, but I do know that it's correct. I'll puzzle on it, but the important thing is I'm now pretty sure I translated Faathim's next task correctly.

Check out Faathim's 'Interlopers'

Alright, Task Force Ptah, here's what i've got. Faaathim his given us some information about some 'Interlopers who wish only harm to the people of the Shadow Shard', enquote. He's got some places these 'interlopers' can be found marked out. I'm still not sure what game he's playing, but it's a good bet that it should be checked out.

I've marked the point for you, it's in the Cascades. Don't know how Faathim knows about it, but he may be showing that his awareness stretches beyond his walls. Defeat whatever you find in there. Finding out who these 'Interlopers' are could be very important. Somehow I don't think an etity like Faathim is going to give out tasks like this for no reason.

Why am I not suprised that Faathim's 'Interlopers' would be the The Circle of Thorns? They've been spotted out here before, but this may be more significant. The same 'Interloper' symbols used in that last task appear in all the rest of Faathim's list.

Travel to Bastion of Sorrow

I'm still in mid-translation with the next task of Faathim's list, so while I'm finishing that, it might be a really good time to check out the next monument, over on the Bastion of Sorrow.

The old pattern has worked well so far, no reason to stop now, eh? First thing is to clear out some of the Rularuu around the Bastion of Sorrow, then get recordings of the monument for me. I should be able to finish the translation easy this time.

Mission Complete: You have been to the Monument of Sorrow, and made records of it for Justin Augustine.

Monument Records

You recorded these photos and measurements of the monument on the Bastion of Sorrow for Justin Augustine.

The Verse of Sorrow

Justin Augustine's translation of the writing on the monument of Sorrow reads:

'And Kindness and Strength shook the world with battle,
And by clever stratagem Strength was caught and bound,
And Kindness was trapped as well within its fortress,
While Madness burned with rage and battled all.'

Superb work, as always. Let me see...

'And Kindness and Strength shook the world with battle,
And by clever stratagem Strength was caught and bound,
And Kindness was trapped as well within its fortress,
While Madness burned with rage and battled all.'

I think I'm starting to understand this saga. Let me think on it. In the meantime, I think that the next of Faathim's tasks may be a bit urgent.

You have been so much help, but there is much left to do and time is going fast. So, I have asked Lieutenant Colonel Flynn, and he has given me a radio to use to keep in touch with you.

Investigate the Circle's activities on the Bastion of Guilt

Faathim's next task is on the Bastion of Guilt. It talks about fighting the 'Interlopers', who I'm assuming are going to be the Circle of Thorns. It also warns about 'Harm done to innocents', and if the Circle's involved, that's never far behind.

I'm really worried about that 'harm done to innocents' warning. Concentrate on that, rescuing any captives there. You can defeat any Circle types you find, of course, but concentrate on getting people out of there safe.

Faathim's been straight so far, just all cryptic. Entities like him, that's how they work. But if people are getting hurt while he waits for us to puzzle it out, then I'm not going to be pleased.

The Circle has a lot of sick uses for people, but something about all of this seems strange. Why is Faathim interested in them? What are the Circle up to, and what do they need natives for? We don't even know how the Circle's gotten out here. It's almost time to get some answers out of Faathim the Kind, but there's one more piece of the puzzle we should get first.

Travel to Bastion of Regret

There's one last monument to translate. I think I know how this story ends, but if there's a twist, it could change how we have to handle Faathim and his tasks. So, let's get get this one done.

This is the last one, so let's get it over and done with. Just like the others, clear out some of the Rularuu around the Bastion of Regret, then get recordings of the monument for me. Translating should be easy, it's how this story ends that has me worried.

Mission Complete: You have been to the Monument of Regret, and made records of it for Justin Augustine.

Monument Records

You recorded these photos and measurements of the monument on the Bastion of Regret for Justin Augustine.

The Verse of Regret

Justin Augustine's translation of the writing on the monument of Regret reads:

'And Kindness knew that there would be freedom,
And Kindness knew that Rularuu could not be overthrown,
And Kindness knew there would be no defiant haven of its hopes,
For now Kindness knew it would forever be of Rularuu.'

Alright. Let me have a bash at this. These are getting almost easy.

'And Kindness knew that there would be freedom,
And Kindness knew that Rularuu could not be overthrown,
And Kindness knew there would be no defiant haven of its hopes,
For now Kindness knew it would forever be of Rularuu.'

Right...

I think you need to talk to Faathim the Kind.

Enter the Chantry proper and speak with Faathim the Kind

From what we've gathered from the monuments, there's a lot of background that Faathim the Kind hasn't been telling us. If he's really part of the Rularuu, whether he betrayed them before or not, we need to know. I don't think this is going to be a fight, but you'll still have to get past all of the stuff outside the Chantry.

Once you get in there, ask Faathim about what the monuments say. Be ready for anything, but I don't think it's going to come down to a fight.

Faathim the Kind

You have done well to find this out. I will place it in order for you, and give it to you to know.

You ask me if I am part of the Rularuu? I tell you then that I am Rularuu is more than just my one fragmentary self.

I am of Rularuu, and that is my crime, and that is my shame, and that is th reason I made my rebellion. I had felt the first portals from your world, and hoped perhaps to make a place where explorers would be welcome. I sought to build a place of peace, I sought to build a place of peace, I sought to build a haven from Rularuu's power. I erred, and I failed. Not in my action, but in its execution. I did not realize what strength had been trapped here when the madness broke the world. I have received my punishment, and I remain in my prison.

My crimes are past, and my concern is for the descendants of those I was unable to provide a true shelter for. I know now that the interlopers of the Green Eyed Cult draw new plans against those innocent people. Their final end is unknown to me, but it is wicked and will cause much pain. I now ask you heroes to move against them. I ask you to battle them, and to save the lives of the people they have taken before those lives are lost.

The Saga of Faathim

When the translations of the monuments surrounding the Chantry were done, Faathim the Kind put them in their proper order and recited them to you:

'And give over your strong to Ruladak that he may work them,
And give over your injuries to Faathim that he may heal them,
And give over your outcast to Lanaru that he may execute them,
For you will know that they are Rularuu and are to be obeyed.'

'And Faathim formed the Chantry from the very air,
And Faathim alonewas master of it,
And within the Chantry Faathim stood shielded from Rularuu's will,
Here Faathim schemed for his freedom and his oblivion.'

'And by word and trickery the Traitor Faathim's work was done,
And the Mad One rose up with rage to split the world asunder,
And the Rularuu lost their truth and the People their master,
For Faathim's betrayal hid all from Rularuu's power.'

'And when the world was split the Strong one Remained Loyal,
And the Strong One called Faathim Traitor for his plans,
And the Strong One called Faathim Traitor for his actions,
For Strength would let none stray from Rularuu'

'And Kindness and Strength shook the world with battle,
And by clever stratagem Strength was caught and bound,
And Kindness was trapped as well within its fortress,
While Madness burned with rage and battled all.'

'And the Kind One was made prisoner within his Chantry,
And the Rularuu beset him in unending siege,
And Faathim the Kind knew only anguish,
For all this plans were cast down in ruin.'

'And Kindness knew that there would be freedom,
And Kindness knew that Rularuu could not be overthrown,
And Kindness knew there would be no defiant haven of its hopes,
For now Kindness knew it would forever be of Rularuu.'

I love the way big mystical muckity-mucks can answer all your questions without explaining a thing. What does that mean, he is Rularuu but Rularuu is more than him? At least he copped to it. If he was really trying to hide it he could get us to work for them, he wouldn't just come out and say what he was, would he? Still not sure I get the whole thing, and I don't know if I trust Faathim, but I can tell you that his list of tasks is probably still worth doing, no matter Faathim's motivation. The Circle need to be stopped.

Investigate the Circle's activities on the Bastion on Pain

Faathim's information points towards the bastion of Pain. Looks like another coven of then Circle of Thorns. With some luck, we may be able to find out what they're planning.

Your goal is to uncover the Circle's plans, and try to keep anyone from getting hurt by them. Faathim's been pointing towards this for some time, and entities like that don't do things on a whim.

You can feel the energies of the Circle of Thorns' Dark magic flowing all around.

Mission Complete: You rescued the native captives from the Circle of Thorns.

A Vile Agreement

The text of this unspeakable pledge pledge is written in blood on what might be vellum. It outlines a deal between the Circle of Thorns and fiendish creatures from the lower levels of existence. In exchange for a promise of human souls and unrestricted access to the Shadow Shard, the demons will help the Oranbegans by moving them to the most well defended places within the Shadow Shard.

That sick pact you found explains what the Circle have been up to with all the captives, but I almost wish I didn't know. How many people have they sacrificed to the demons already? Their final aim, whatever it is, has got to be stopped. And here's the funny bit. The second last item of Faathim's list is in Oranbega.

Defeat the Circle's plans in Oranbega

Faathim's second to last task is against the Circle of Thorns in Oranbega. It's going to be up to you to put an end to whatever plan they had. We know that they were sacrificing shard natives to Demons in order to cross the dimensional barriers. We also know that they could reach even the furthest and most well defended parts of the Shadow Shard. The only thing we don't know is why. I just hope we can find an answer down in Oranbega.

You goal here is to find and take out whoever was leading this operation. Hopefully, that will be enough to shut it down before they can complete whatever hellish objective they have.

The ghost-filled halls of Oranbega rise up before you.

Objective: You found a book detailing the Circle's plans!

The Tome of Great Binding

This well-illustrated book is written in the native language of Oranbega, and it's margins are covered in notes. Even without the language, you can tell from the diagrams and symbols that it provides an overview on how one could bind beings of incredible power, and use their vast might as a source of mystic energy. Though from what you can tell the book itself is rather abstract, the hand-written notes on each page contain numerous sketches of the Chantry, it's layout, the surrounding zone, and even Faathim the Kind.

There can be only one conclusion: The Circle of Thorns is planning to capture and bind Faathim himself, and use his power for their own.

Mission Complete: Though you defeated the Circle's defenders, you found that they had already sent attackers ahead to capture and bind Faathim the Kind.

I'm struck dumb. Everything else fits, but it's just so crazy. The idea of binding and apturing something like Faathim, it's mad. But they're talking like they've done it before. Doesn't matter, I guess. Now we just have to figure out how to stop them. No matter what any of us think of Faathim, we can't let the Circle gain control of his power.

Enter the Chantry and defend Faathim from the Circle of Thorns

Faathim's in trouble, or he will be very soon. The Circle of Thorns are coming in to capture him and blind his power to their will. That's pretty much a chart-topper as far as bad things go. Things look bad, but it's not over yet.

Faathim's last task, you see. It changed. Right in front of my eyes. And it showed me where there's a scret way into the Chantry.

This is the big ending, Task Force Ptah. If Faathim falls to the Circle, it could be the end of Paragon City and the world at large. You'll have to free Faathim from whatever the Circle's done to him, and defeat every member of the Circle of Thorns in there in order to win this battle. Good luck, lads.

The secret entrance closes behind you. Before you are the mad mystics of the Circle of Thorns.

Objective: You have freed Faathim the Kind from the Circle's bindings!

	Faathim Imprisoned! [Boss] The Circle of Thorns have achieved their evil end and imprisoned Faathim the Kind, in an effort to tap into his power. Smashing the crystal may free him.
	Faathim The Kind [Arch-Villain] Faathim the Kind's sole purpose in life is to protect the innocents of the Shadow Shard. He has worked hard to maintain his independence from Rularuu, despite his imprisonment in the Chantry. He has limited means of rebellion, but he uses his mighty healing powers to assist champions of good when he can.

Mission Complete: You defeated the Circle of Thorns and freed Faathim the Kind!

Faathim the Kind

I am Faathim, called Faathim the Kind. I owe you all great thanks, heroes of Task Force Ptah. You had little reason, but you gave your trust to me, and for that I am in your debt. I have not experienced such... faith since I was inducted into Rularuu.

I have re-formed myself, and purged any damage from the battle. The Circle may try again, but I will not fear them.

As you have given trust to me, I too may place some trust in you. All that you have learned is true. I betrayed Rularuu, whom I was returned to life to serve. I caused the Shadow Shard to be broken, but it was to create a place free of Rularuu, where the natives I had gathered could live in peace and one day welcome their brothers from your world. it was not to be. But at least you found us. Now, though my brother-selves still work against us, and Rularuu waits to re-open the way and return, I have hope. For I have seen the true nature of heroes, and I know they are in the Shadow Shard once more.

Mission Complete:

Well, that's it then, isn't it? You did more than I thought would ever be needed, Task Force Ptah. You lot were solid sterling, you were. Not only did we save the world and defeat the Circle of Thorns, I'm sure to get at least tenure at the school o

Protector of Kindness
Awarded for completing the final mission of the Task Force.