Atreus is returning from his sojourn to The Saelish and learning the ancient language of his people. He crosses into east Crestwold, but is slowed by flooding. There he is assaulted by the Highwaymen Stalkers of Crestwold when he attempts to cast a hold person spell upon what he believed were simple bandits. He was struct point blank by an extraordinary shot of a crossbow bolt, resulting in a critical wound that would have killed him.
As he is overcome with blackness, his last vision is that of looking down and seeing a bolt sticking right out of his heart. He feels a strange sensation all around him, as he is floating in a cloud of something. The attackers stand over him, and take his holy symbol as proof of the deed, and drag his body off the road to avoid being seen by travelers. He is in an out of consciousness, and he can see the door to the House of the Dead as he floats through time and space. Just as he reaches for the door as he stands on the threshold, and eye opens in front of him. The voice he is used to and recognizes tells him that his time is not yet complete upon Helca. He and his companions are meant for something larger. Though his death does not ensure it will not happen, this once his knowledge will be given a place of preeminence to achieve a great uplifting of the people of the world. The eye shows the way. Follow the Eye. As long as this path is followed, it will stand between you and the doorway to death. You understand you must seek it consistently or will drop over dead.
Slowly Atreus is roused with great pain. He is in a facility of some kind. He can barely breathe and his head is filled with a brain coming alive again from the brink of death. In and out of consciousness for days. Finally, he is recovered enough to speak to the apothecary that has been taking care of him. He is in Crestwold still, at the Southway Switch crossroads. He was brought in by a peddler and his son who found him, attracted by a light they thought was a campfire only to find his body and no fire. He was initially brought to Greg, located at the Broken Beak tavern. He took him to the apothecary because he saw the wrist band marker of the Pinfeathers he wore and had monied connections and agreements with them. He sent word to the Gallants in Aqua Pluma and they await his recovery.
WOUND: -1 Constitution