An undisclosed amount of time later, Corvo is in jail, and being forced to sign a confession under torture. Corvo refuses, while the Lord Regent mocks Corvo and tells him that now that the royal family is dead that Dunwall will need new strong leadership and slates Corvo for execution tomorrow.
On the day of the execution, a guard gives Corvo his last meal, which consist of a loaf of bread and under it the key to his cell, and a note saying that he is needed, and in order to save Emily he needs to escape the prison by blowing a hole to the sewers.
After escaping the prison he enters a dream like world where he meets the Outsider and is granted the arcane powers that were used by the assassins earlier. After mastering his powers he is given his first target which is the High Overseer and his army of religious zealots.
After being framed for the murder of the Empress, bodyguard Corvo Attano is offered the chance to exact vengeance against the Lord Regent and others responsible by The Outsider. The Outsider grants Corvo its mark, imbuing the disgraced bodyguard with magical abilities.