The Gifts of Asti

On the black terrace of the forgotten mountain retreat of Asti, Varta, the last of the virgin Maidens, stands beside a strange, scaled companion. The shattered city of Memphir smolders behind her, its cries still echoing in the wind, while barbarian hordes press against the ancient shrine. Charged with a solemn duty to the enigmatic god‑like ruler of worlds, she prepares to leave the ruined temple and follow a rite that has not been performed for centuries.

Inside the austere sanctuary, stone pillars frame a colossal, robed figure whose outstretched hand once held a miniature sun and its orbiting worlds. By touching the hand, Varta awakens the tiny celestial sphere, a luminous diadem that guides her deeper into hidden chambers. She must decipher old records and manipulate forgotten mechanisms, venturing through a secret passage that leads far beneath the mountain toward the heart of the world itself.