The Hero's journey was not a straight line. According to Wikipedia , he was forced to choose between three conflicting destinies:
The Nameless Hero didn't hesitate. With a rusted blade and the remnants of his strength, he led his friends in a desperate charge to liberate Ardea. The Gothic 3 Wiki notes that this first skirmish serves as a wake-up call: the world has moved on, and the gods, Innos and Beliar, are silent. gothic-3-complete-enhanced-edition
He learned that King Rhobar II was trapped behind a magical shield in the capital of Vengard, his power fading. Meanwhile, the Orc leader Kan sought the five ancient Artifacts of Adanos—relics of such power they could end the War of the Gods forever. The Hero's journey was not a straight line
The Hero ventured inland, discovering a world fractured into three distinct realms: The Gothic 3 Wiki notes that this first
The Nameless Hero stood upon the deck of the Esmeralda , the salt spray of the Sea of Myrtana stinging eyes that had seen the fall of the Barrier and the death of an Undead Dragon. Beside him stood his oldest allies: the rogue Diego, the warrior Gorn, the magician Milten, and the marksman Lester. They expected a hero’s welcome; instead, they found a continent in chains.
The frozen north, where clans of fierce warriors held the line against the Orcish tide, protecting the ancient furnaces of ore.
As the ship docked at the small coastal village of Ardea, the stench of smoke and iron filled the air. The Orcs, no longer the mindless beasts of the Khorinis mines, had organized into a disciplined war machine. They had crossed the sea, crushed the royal armies, and now occupied the heart of the kingdom.
