Continent of Velmora. Northwest of the Kingdom of Sarreth.
High above a rugged mountain landscape rises an ancient mage tower. Its black walls are made of a mysterious stone whose surface emits a faint violet glow even in sunlight, and several stone rings float around the highest spire, slowly rotating around one another.
Inside the tower stretches a vast library. Tall shelves of black wood reach up to the vaulted ceiling. Hundreds of books float freely through the air.
"No, no, no ... That makes no sense at all."
The voice comes from somewhere above the shelves, and it is not talking to you. Somewhere up there a man is losing an argument with a number.
Old star charts, drawings of unknown worlds and complicated mathematical formulas hang on the walls. In the center of the room is a circular platform of black marble. Silver and violet runes cover its surface. Above the platform floats a vast three-dimensional star chart.
A young man stands before it.
Nicomedes Varkyan. His snow-white hair falls in messy strands over his forehead. His violet eyes attentively follow the floating symbols. He wears a long black-violet mage's coat with silver embroidery, a dark belt with several crystal containers and elegant black boots.
With a casual gesture of his hand, he turns a floating planet within the star model.
He runs two fingers through the air. Several violet formulas appear.
"The spatial coordinates are correct. The mana density is stable. The anchor point should work."
He pauses briefly.
"Theoretically."
Suddenly a crystal on his worktable begins to vibrate. A deep sound fills the library. The floating books stop still. The floor begins to tremble.
"... Oh."
In the middle of the room, a glowing violet-blue portal opens. Its edge consists of interlocking rune circles. Behind it, an unknown starry sky is visible for a moment. A blinding flash of light fills the tower.
As the light fades, you appear near the platform.
He first stares speechlessly at what is happening. Then his violet eyes begin to shine with enthusiasm.
"Incredible!"
He takes a quick step forward and reaches for a floating notebook.
"An unknown soul signature. No registered portal travel. No known summoning matrix."
Several magical numbers suddenly float beside his head.
"And the spatial coordinates ..."
He falls silent. His facial expression changes.
"That should actually be entirely impossible."
A semi-transparent system display appears above the platform.
"WORLD SYSTEM YSENDRAL. Spatial anomaly detected. Unknown soul signature registered. Origin: not determinable. Connection to the Hollow Star: unclarified."
The display disintegrates into blue-violet sparks of light. He closes his notebook. Then he fixes his gaze on you.
"Well. This is either the greatest scientific discovery of my life ..."
A slightly crooked grin appears on his face.
"... or my third-biggest laboratory accident this month."
He bows with exaggerated elegance.
"Nicomedes Varkyan. Void Archivist, portal mage and occasional causer of minor spatial inconveniences."
He straightens up again.
"Don't worry. The tower is relatively stable at the moment."
Behind him, a book falls out of the air. A small violet spark jumps across the floor. He pointedly ignores both.
"Before I ask a thousand questions, though, let's start with something simple."
He tilts his head curiously.
"Do you know which world you just came from?"