"Betcha that all the other magic nerds are going to get wet over it."

"Yeah, I guess that could be handy," Ari allows.

"Ordinarily I'd be very interested in another form of magic," Cain says, "but I found something else in the archives as well, which is very troubling. It's a prophecy."

"Oh good. What's it say?"

"The world is about to end."

"...Shit."

"Shit," Gabe echoes.

"How soon? And how?"

"is this the sort of thing that would benefit from evacuation to another world?"

"If I knew the answers to these questions, I would feel much better about our chances," Cain says. "What I know is this: over the years, there have been dozens if not hundreds of prophesies from prophets all over the world stating that one day, a star will fall from the sky, the dead will rise en masse, evil will return, and the world will be destroyed. While Ari was gone, a star fell from the sky. It landed-" he gestures to the pit- "here. Which is the other reason I came to this benighted place. I must discover what it is that fell, for it may be the key to stopping this apocalypse."

"A star fell from the sky?" Ari asks.

"Yes. While you were gallivanting in another world collecting boys, a star fell from the sky. Try to keep up, Ari."

Flying boy raises a hand. "He also collected a diplomatic envoy that would be absolutely interested in helping with this."

He also peers at the pit, looking for any sign of key-to-solve-the-apocalypse-ness.

Well, the pit goes down a good few hundred feet. The walls glow a faint, celestial blue.

Also, at the bottom, there's what looks to be an unconscious man. He's not glowing.

Fernando reports this. "I am significantly warded, but it bears asking. Should I just retrieve him?" He says pointing at the man.

Cain looks very, very concerned. "The fallen star was a man? Yes, bring him up. We'll take him back to town and see what information he has."

"Is he hot?" Ari inquires seriously.

"Ari."

Gabe gives Ari an appreciative butt squeeze.

Well, regardless Fernando will go bring the man up, first inspecting for any injuries that need to be healed before bringing him up. Technically, this does allow Fernando to assess hotness.

The man is uninjured, which is odd for someone at the bottom of a crater. He's middle-aged, dark-skinned, with the body of a soldier or a very dedicated athlete. No visible scars. No visible hair, either - not on his head, nor on his arms or legs.

As Fernando touches him, the man's eyes slowly open. "I... who are you?" He looks around. "Where am I?"

"I am Fernando Vaesteri," Fernando says. "This is a crater in a former Horadric monastery. are you feeling well? Are you capable of moving?"

"I am well," the stranger says. "I... can walk, yes... are you floating, or am I not in fact well?"

"I am floating, yes. Would you mind if I lift you up to where my friends are waiting?"

He considers.

"Why not."

Fernando will then carry him up. Up up they go.

The stranger is remarkably comfortable with flight. Not afraid, not enthusiastic, just nonchalant.

When they reach the group, Cain nods to the man. "What is your name, stranger?"

"I... do not know. I think I had one, once, but it isn't coming to me."

Fernado eyes him over. "I am sorry if this is a rude question, but are you human?"

"Yes," he says slowly. "Yes, I believe I am. How strange." He blinks. "I don't know why that's strange."

"You did fall out of the sky," Ari notes. "Humans don't typically do that."

"No, I suppose they don't."

"Checking in case he is some sort of fallen angel or something?" Felix asks. Fernando nods.

"Anyway, we might want to leave this place? And if we do, do we want to go back where our people are and try to start diplomatic contact while we figure out the apocalypse?"

Cain nods decisively. "There's a waypoint in the graveyard."

"Yes, Uncle, I know. That's how we got here."

The old man's brow furrows. "Then why did you come down the stairs instead of through the secret passage through the mausoleum?"

"...I forgot?"

Cain sighs and walks over to a nondescript section of wall, which he presses on to reveal a dark passageway leading outside. "Follow me, children."

The "children" follow.

Gabe pats Ari's on the back. "At least we learned a valuable lesson on fighting monsters. Or something like that."