Near death induced visions.
The great Lich Acrerak's curse spreads slowly and darkly across the land. Those touched by the iralite act as conduits of his reach as it mingles within them. His dark gift spreads with each near death experience, each time a new vision presented for the player to interact with, or watch to play as they wait their final judgement. [Authors note: "I call it a gift, but really it is a curse."]
None who experience the visions and live to speak of them know if they have truly affected any course of events.
All they know is that they've been touched by a dark presence that is ever looming and judging from the size via repeat encounters with deaths door, it seems to be growing.