Urd's Successor

Urd's Successor is a Raid Event scheduled to start on June 1, 2017 at 8:00 PM (PST) and end on June 7, 2017 at 7:59 PM (PST). It is the twenty ninth episode of the Dark Stigma story and fifteenth in the Malice Canon storyline.

Half-time Reward Calculation Period is from June 3 8:00 PM to 8:59 PM (PST).

Feature Changes
Renewed card as Ranking Reward.

Raid Bosses Skill Cards

 * Vengeance-Driven Karrina (UR) Anti-Raid Boss Skill Card, obtained from the Oath of Survival Card Pack
 * ? (UR) Anti-Hidden Raid Boss Skill Card, obtained from the Oath of Survival Card Pack
 * ? (UR) Anti-Secret Raid Boss Skill Card, obtained from the Oath of Survival Card Pack
 * ? (UR) Special Evolution Card, Skill works against all Raid Bosses of the event, obtained from the Master of Fate Card Pack

Prologue
"Noble Einherjar, chosen by Urd, soar to Valhalla with the grace of a bird.

Overcome death so it may not spread, and turn back the specters of hate and dread.

They know only war and bring no solace, allied with the savage and lawless.

Yet never shall it claim those worthy of power, for Urd appears first in the fated hour...

Beneath the gray skies of Valhalla, the chooser of the slain Urd sung to herself. The song was one written by a nameless bard some centuries ago as an offering to her eminence.

Song, illustration, sculpture, and epic -- the creations of mankind are truly beautiful, well beyond the capabilities of both deity and demon. Yet this fact is surely beyond the grasp of that Ildanev.

......

Flecks of blurry light drifted in the inky blackness that was your vision. When cognition -- and pain -- returned, you found you were lying upon the cold ground. The last memory before your impromptu nap was a fierce blow from behind. Grunting, you reached for the blade at your side, but there was no strength to force your trembling fingers to grasp. It was then the buzzing in your ears clarified into an argument unfolding beside you between a man and a woman.

Why do you obstruct me, Leirada?

We're reapers, Darrow, not monsters. Only souls that are near death are ours to take, but I sense this one has plenty of life in it.

The foreboding tone of their words motivated you to fight the aches that suppressed your memory. Soon you recalled that Riki had informed you about the sighting of Stigmals in a region far from the capital. You were to investigate if either the Lightholders had brought them or some other sinister being was at work. However, no sooner had you arrived than you were ambushed, presumably by the one named Darrow. It was then you remembered Elimval and Salvador and became genuinely concerned.

Should this not be their fated hour, it is obvious they are close to death. I was merely intending to spare a bit of mercy.

What mercy?! YOU were the one who attacked in the first place! The only emissary of death who can actually kill is Urd!

Hmph, do not disparage me for carrying out her will to rebuild Valhalla at Ildanev's demand. Not only does he want the army of Einherjar expanded, but he wants the current warriors to be shaken from their sloth.

But there's nothing wrong with the Einherjar. At least, there shouldn't be...

That I will not dispute, if only because Urd chose them herself and earned their absolute loyalty. Normally, we would not cow to the bidding of mortals, even when it concerns the Empire...

Darrow paused for a moment to chuckle coldly.

Yet as you know, Ildanev issued a formal petition, so she must comply with his wishes. This means I have also been taking part in discussions with the Lightholders on whether souls unfit to be Einherjar can remain in their shells as Stigmals.

Though you were unsure if they were the same Urd and Einherjar from Neotellus, you were stunned to imagine that Ildanev held such influence over their equals in this world. The shock soon gave way to rage, and it was that emotion that caught Leirada's notice. She crouched over to touch your shoulder with her slender fingers. You could feel them transferring warmth into your body, slowly but surely. The stealth she exhibited to prevent Darrow from realizing her actions was not lost on you, and so you kept still.

That cooperation isn't like you. Usually, you'd leave that sort of thing to your underlings. Why the change of heart? Do you want to take over Urd's role that badly?

His tone changed at her question.

A weakling like you would never understand how glorious the name of 'Urd' is. Of the four reapers she has selected, only I am worthy of bearing it.

I guess. I'd rather just finish my service and see her off to Asgard in peace.

In peace? Is that your remaining bourgeois complacency speaking? Urd granted you such a lofty position in spite of your blindness, and you yet refuse to let go of your past?

Don't talk like you didn't come from a noble family too, Darrow. That's not to mention you're the most mortally ambitious deity I know, and foolish on top of that. You don't seriously want to let the Stigmals into Valhalla, do you? Or were you going to lend them your quarters?

If the Empire demands, so be it. No sacrifice or measure is too great.

And that includes murdering random people to further crowd Valhalla with unprepared Einherjar?

But Darrow only smiled, so Leirada spoke again.

You're clearly under the impression that Urd won't even give you a second glance if you don't spend every waking hour hard at work, so then why didn't you want to make that archer you just killed an Einherjar? He seemed more than strong enough. ...Don't give me that look; of course I saw you do it. If I had been a little closer, I would've been able to save him like I did this one.

Your mind was frozen in horror, but you slowly lifted your head and looked around to ascertain if her words were true. It was not long before you saw him beside Elimval, both lying motionless in a pool of blood. Elimval was merely unconscious for her skin held a faint glow of life. However, the deathly pallor of Salvador's face and his gaping, clouded eyes revealed his horrid fate. Your blood ran cold. Both grief and rage gushed from deep within, but through Leirada's fingers, you could hear her voice streaming through your nerves.

Don't move. Darrow's prattled on for so long it'll only be a little more until your strength will return. If you want to save your friend, I'll take you to Valhalla where we can recover his soul.

You shifted your neck so Leirada's head would enter your vision. Her face was covered in an armored mask, reinforcing the notion she was without sight. Before any further inferences could be made, Darrow took a step closer.

Move away, Leirada. I have tarried long enough; I must finish off this warrior and claim one more Einherjar.

Suddenly, you felt her body press against yours.

Sorry, Darrow, but I'll be doing the claiming here.

In the next moment, a powerful gust of wind arose and the ground began to steadily quiver. After a few more moments, the skies above were plunged into darkness.

Are you in your right mind?!

But Darrow's words were nearly inaudible above the roaring storm. Black clouds bulging with mystical power swelled larger. Leirada spoke to you once more.

Don't worry; take a closer look past the thunderheads and you'll see Valhalla. I'll make sure the elf joins us, too. But first, I need you to focus on the clouds for me.

You would travel to the darkest pits of Hades to save a dear ally, so you obeyed her directions.

Enough! Do you mean to oppose the total ban against the conveyance of living beings into Valhalla?!

Darrow attempted to take another step, but the wind pushed him back two paces as if it were shielding you.

Why are you doing this, Leirada?

If you weren't so full of yourself, it'd be obvious. Open your eyes already.

Nonsense! You have no right to tell ANYONE to open their eyes!

But I see more of the truth than you ever will.

The gale intensified even further, ripping the neckerchief away and revealing the Stigma.

...Ahh, that's the murderer!! Now I see you are planning to take Urd's position for yourself after all! But you will never succeed if I have any say in the matter! And I will make them an Einherjar and earn the emperor's favor!

The clouds descended upon Darrow, smothering him and his tirade.

Perfect, just like that. You don't need to move a muscle; just keep concentrating. Valhalla will come to us in a flash.

Further veils of black enveloped you, allowing you to feel a mysterious pulsation. It was aggression, but the sentiment was not directed towards you, instead manifesting as an electric impulse that streaked through the air.

What'd I tell you? Here we are. Welcome to Valhalla.

With Leirada's voice, you were greeted by a new vista. However, something seemed amiss. You expected to see an idyllic field dominated by a stately manor instead of skies of gray and rivers of lava. You felt no reason to doubt your rescuer, but you could not suppress the apprehension building inside."