The standard base game (no downloadable content) follows a truncated version of The Hero's Journey quite closely, albeit with some departures from the base formula.
- Easing into the Adventure: You start the game by fighting through a small wooded area on your way to answer the Call to Adventure put out by the Summoning Guild.
- You stop by The Good Kingdom of Brightcandle where you learn more about the impending doom plaguing the Shattered Realms from the Order of the Gilded Rose.
- Crossing The First Threshold: You're sent by The Order to put an end to a Bandit Clan nearby that was threatening Brightcandle as a way to prove to the guild your capability. They then task you with finding their Chosen One, the Dawnbringer, who has gone missing. This is also the last time you will return to Brightcandle.
- The Land Of Adventure: You enter a strange forest where the undead and spirits abound that has a rule set different from every other location in the game (you start each combat off with 1 Poison that increases +1 per battle that only rests if you take an Opportunity path).
- Road Of Trials: In the following area, you meet The Goddess, a White Magician Girl who has been enchanted by The Temptress, a succubus. Saving this Damsel in Distress and defeating the temptress allows you to progress and she will join your party, offering you healing and spiritual cleansing moving forward.
- You can also be tempted into making a Deal with the Devil, sacrificing the Bandit Clan you may have recruited at the end of Canto II to her as new toys to play with and dodging her boss battle entirely.
- Also, in the previous chapter you recruited a Necromancer who now informs you that the stone statues that you've been using for buffs up until now, are actual part of an ancient power that may or may not be trustworthy, i.e. The Shapeshifter.
- Night Sea Voyage: You enter a ghostly, oceany area that is actually off the path to the Big Bad. However, completing this area by defeating the ocean themed mini-boss will send you directly to the Big Bad's lair.
- Time Out Before The Big Battle: Inverted. Unlike the typical hero's journey, there is no rest, but a Boss Bonanza and enemies harder than the previous areas.
- Apotheosis: You confront the Big Bad, Arch Demon Dantelion, at which point revelations about your journey up until now are made clear, upending what you previously thought.
- Confronting The Boss: After some discussion, you tell The Chosen One that actually, this isn't their fight and fight the Arch Demon on your own. Defeating him saves the Shattered Realms.
