Final Moments

<i>Albert Watson</> … I made it. Such a geo-gravitational pull. Unheard of. Where’s my notebook? I need to— My legs… I can’t…feel them. Guess I’m not going far, then… The others… Did anyone else make it? If I could just… Argh! That’s better. A good view. I deserve that. Ah. The stars… My old friends. You were always…there for me, weren’t you? … And to think we came so far just to…see you again. I hope the others...had more luck than I did. Hell, what am I saying? As if luck had anything to do with— ‘... Yex…’ What was…? Who? ‘... Rōdhō idh yus tīwēdh…’ Yeah…that…sounds about…right…

<i>Mira Brown</> Tsk! You know what they say: if you want a job done well, do it yourself. For all the good Antonia insists this research can bring, I can’t possibly fathom it being worth so many lives lost. But we never did see eye to eye. What sorry friends we were... Disagreements aside, a job is a job. And I’ll be damned if I’ll just sit around waiting for Antonia to stop hallucinating and help. Getting inside this gravitational well surely wasn’t easy, so it better be damn well worth it. Now, to reach the bottom… Wait, is that…the Bound? Here?! No… How? So many… This—this changes everything. I need to warn Antonia! I need to—

<i>Laven White</> ‘Expect the unexpected.’ The truth is, I never expected to be chosen for this expedition, nor did I expect it to be my last. This massive magickal well… The gravitational anomalies surrounding it. I knew I should have been more careful. Samhir must smell the ’new fish in the pond’ on me. On the way here, he kept lecturing me about the risks of the true Realmwalker experience. I just wanted to prove to him and the others that I was ready. The rim of the well is treacherous. Flying rocks at ever-shifting high speeds. Unpredictable trajectories… I don’t have anywhere to leave my final thoughts, so I leave them with the stars of this Realm. I’m sure Albert would have appreciated that. Mom, if you’re listening, the Realms are just…as marvellous as the stories…you told me

<i>Alma Templeton</> This isn’t happening. This can’t possibly be real. Brother… Weis… He’s going to die here. And it’s my fault. Why didn’t I stop him? Could this be a hallucination? The machinations of the Fae, perhaps? It’s no secret that they carry disdain for humans, so why not sabotage an expedition that— Ugh! Curses, that hurts. Ah, of course. You. What a wound you became. Even if Weis returned, I wouldn’t be here to greet him after all. What I wouldn’t give to see his cheeky smile and a 'Reporting for duty, Ms Templeton!' just…one more time… I thought that, when I met my end, I would feel proud of my achievements. Joy over having Weis with me. Or maybe just the excruciating pain that slowly brings me closer to the edge. Instead, the only thing I can…feel right now…is...regret.

<i>Weis Templeton</> You’ll be fine after all, sweet sister. I can’t believe our luck. So much was lost in the crash, but I’m confident that Alma’s condition is bound to improve with this. Let me just— Throw all of this away to make space. There. Hopefully, this will convince ‘Ms Templeton’ to go back to the labs! We’re Calcularians, after all. Truthfully, her intellect—and mine, in fact—are wasted out here. Alright, time to— What’s that sound? A heartbeat? Oh, no… No, no, NO. I need to hide now. Please don’t let them see me. Please, please, please. Alma…

<i>Samhir Daskalov</> Just my luck. Argh! This should be far enough. Finally, some alone time, some…peace and quiet. What a cruel joke. A sand crawler’s poisonous bite just when retirement was around the corner. I can feel… Ugh. The fever. It has begun—no way around it. I hope Antonia and the rest of those fools find whatever the hell they were looking for in this damn Realm. Hell, after what we’ve seen, I’d like to know myself. Heh, I almost sound like a scientist. Must be the poison. Curses… My leg is burning. Little bastard’s toxin works fast. Laven’s potion. Just want a sip… But my arms. It’s no use. Take care, lil’ Laven. Hopefully, a thing or two I had to say got stuck in that…hard head of yours. Now, I think…I’ll just rest my eyes for a moment…