The Aerbax story arc came to a conclusion when a great floating citadel appeared over the Bore at the center of the Obsidian Plains. Gate devices guarding the citadel were destabilized using enormous quantities of shadow shard material allowing Aerbax to be defeated. A shade remains in the citadel. With a recent rise in power in the Ley Lines, a new Isparian faction appeared called the Shroud Cabal. They set up bases in southern and northern Osteth to draw power from the Ley Lines.