Ha, I've never ever had actual goosebumps from a game - until now, despite only playing through this in safe, reassuring daylight... not looking forward to bedtime now =/ thanks, scriptwelder...
Same situation as others; after the initial mission (killing the pyons) I encountered the Apprentice on my next mission. He slaughtered 3 of my 4 party members as I tried to flee around a lake but then got stuck, so now I have a lv2 mana scholar shooting across the water at him. Any idea how long this will take?
[SPOILER WARNING] Haahahahaha I was about to get REALLY cross with the badge-awarding thing, because I didn't bother getting the good ending (first I repeatedly hit escape when I was told by the 'helper' that I had completed the game, and then I kept repeating the 'trapped forever' ending) but the badge didn't award.
Then I went and tried to get the good ending, because I figured I'd invested enough time that I at least wanted to complete the game, even if I couldn't have my badge. When I got the good ending, the badge awarded, and I was on the cusp of having a hissyfit when I realised that I had been fooled by the 'don't bother getting the good ending' instruction =/ Feeling like an idiot, I thought the only thing to do was to share my stupidity.
 "Deep Sleep"){kind=icon}
 "Valthirian Arc"){kind=icon}
 "SHIFT 3"){kind=icon}
 "Refraction"){kind=icon}
 "Depict1"){kind=icon}
No problem, at your service :D