These particular fractals, as they've been described to me, are a complete marvel; they've been used by Isgarren and the wizards for centuries to test the many possibilities that the future may contain in an attempt to predict future threats. When Isgarren's magic was fractured by the end of the dragon cycle, these tiny realities were ripped from the Mists and manifested here above Tyria. They're not entirely dissimilar from the fractals monitored by Dessa, from what I can tell—Dessa's naturally occurring in the Mists and these deliberately formed—but the inhabitants that live within these are flesh and bone. They're outside of the Mists. They're alive, and I can't imagine the fear they're experiencing. The Astral Ward are doing what they can to contain the local threats, but I'm not sure if anyone really knows what to do with the inhabitants. All I know is that their fear is potent to the Kryptis. They're being hunted, and keeping those inhabitants safe should be one of the ward's leading priorities. Thankfully, though, Zojja and the others were able to pinpoint Dagda's location on one of these fractals—an abandoned observatory fixed inside of one of the floating islands. Frode and Uenno guarded the entrance while Zojja and I ventured inside. A small group, so as to not overwhelm Dagda under the worst of circumstances. Before we reached the wizard, Ceri, one of Dagda's apprentices, ambushed us inside of the cave. She was...gone. The entirety of her being possessed by a Kryptis. With no hope of quelling the beast inside her, death was Ceri's mercy. Zojja took a moment to mourn before we pushed forward, clearly affected by the loss of "found family," as she called it. She has an entire life here: new friends, a mentor. I'm the stranger looking in. ***