15. Ascension

General Summary

After defeating the last of the Sons of Avlar at the Hanging Tree, Lucian approaches Valeria, his true mother. Tears of joy glisten in her eyes, but her gaze suddenly turns serious as she stares deep into the fire while the Broken Banner Company tends to their wounds after the battle. “Lucian, there’s not much time,” she says, her voice now sharp and urgent.
Shocked, Lucian realizes that his long-sought goal of joining the Banner of the Broken Company to find his mother has taken an unexpected turn. He asks for details about her whereabouts, but instead of the warmth he anticipated, her serious tone remains. “We’re all in danger. Your mother, Isabella, has orchestrated so much death and suffering. I fear we’re running out of time.” The faint memories of blood and suffering of Isabella’s wrath glaze Valeria’s eyes as she recounts the struggles she’s faced due to Isabella’s schemes, emphasising Isabella’s ruthless pursuit of power and her piety.
Valeria emphasizes that stopping Isabella is paramount to the continuation of the cycle. “She intends to siphon the power of the land and the people. She is the matriarch of the Sons of Avlar. It must be connected to their actions.” Lucian, now steeled by his mother’s bequest and eager to help, gives her a lesser healing potion for her wounds before returning to the group. Valeria continues, speaking more cryptically about the golden key that the company acquired at the hanging tree. “All I can tell you is that this key has been passed down the Stormcloak bloodline - opens a room in the Citadel of the Nine. Seek it and you’ll find that the answers lie within.” The fire crackles with a quiet intensity as Buffman polishes his new armour—the last reminder of his homeland—while Roknar entertains himself with mirrored pranks using his new crown around the camp.
The group moves on, traveling toward Trinity. As they approach the camp, an eerie fanfare and trumpets blare out from the city. Valeria offers a final comment about the soul crystals. “The crystals,” she explains, “are connected to Avlar’s rise to power. There are thought to be two: one purple, one green. A green soul crystal indicates that a soul that has been reaped by Avlar. A purple crystal on the other hand represents a soul that has never fully completed the Cycle. In other words, the Green Knight has not sowed the soul to new life. “ Lucian, with a pouch of a dozen or so green crystals, listens intently as Valeria explains that these soul crystals did not exist until Avlar’s rise, and their current significance unclear. Suddenly, Valeria grabs at the air above Elara, and a spherical polished stone materializes in her hand. “Were you aware that you were being watched?” she asks. Elara, gifted in the arcane, inspects the stone, recognizing it as a scrying stone, a rare magical item typically tied to high-level spells. However her attention turns to how Valeria was able to see it when she couldn’t.
The atmosphere at the BBC is electric. The group feels uneasy, sensing that something big is about to unfold in Trinity. They enter the city as cheers and music grow louder, but the outskirts are completely deserted. Elara leads the group through the empty streets of Trinity, trying to strategize, but the group can’t seem to agree on the right path forward. They finally make their way to Ascension Square, where an ominous gathering of all the city’s people is taking place. Black robes, cloaks, and hats, fill the square, gathered to witness the Ascension of the High Prelate.
A towering figure of Avlar, fist and arm outstretched to the sky, stands before the crowd. The High Prelate, Avianna, cloaked in a ruby adorned robe, begins the ritual by placing a wreathed bowl in the centre of the circle of prelates. One by one, the prelate of each member of the Avanis Pantheon, approaches the bowl and presents their offering. There is a distinct cheer from the crowd from several prelates. Wilwarin, Prelate of the Green Knight, presents her offering and is met with clear displeasure as a hushed murmur descends to shouts and boos. Finally, Avianna steps forth and begins chanting as an umbral light grows from her palms. Divine and arcane mystic wisps weave around her as she is slowly raised off the floor. Avianna transforms into a near-godlike being, floating above the crowd as a stygian pulse radiates across the crowd. “A war encroaches on Trinity—the Federation approaches us, and we will unite! But first... we must cleanse. The Pearl of the Empire houses an infestation—arrest the nobles of Trinity. Bring me Isabella Stormcloak.” Her ethereal voice echoes in the minds of the crowd as they obediently leave the square in militaristic order.
Before the Broken Banner Company have the time to react, Avianna’s gaze shifts slowly to the BBC who are now alone in the square. “The Broken Banner Company. See me at once.” The group is ushered into the Citadel of the Nine, where Avianna confronts them. “The timing of your presence is nothing short of divine intervention. You must bring me Isabella. She seeks to dismantle the foundations of this city and grow in power beyond her ken.” Lucian steps forward, his voice filled with regret. “I am so sorry for what my family has done. I had no idea. I will renounce the Stormcloak name and bring a new light to my family. We will make this right.” Avianna sharply glances at Lucian - “Even the purest of blood can be tainted.” She orders the BBC to seek out Isabella and the Stormcloak banner. Elara questions whether the scrying stone was used by the prelates, and Avianna confirms that they’ve been keeping an eye on the group because they “know how to play the game.”
The BBC travels to the Stormcloak manor, where Cedric Stormcloak greets them with disdain: “Ah, the disappointment of the family. Leave now or come and die.” Lucian doesn’t hesitate. “We’ll see who the disappointment is,” he says, turning to Aldan. “Fuck Cedric up. I hate him.” Lucian calls out to his sister, Lyssandra, however is met with a hesitant, yet cold stare. The room grows tense, and the confrontation erupts into battle. Aldan is immediately struck by Lysandra’s arrows as the party charges in.Elara’s eye greedily casts a fireball on the Stormcloak formation that is magically absorbed into Cedric’s hand. Without giving Cedric time to prepare another counterspell, Oruwin quickly fires another fireball from his wand, leaving behind scorched body and land. Aurelia’s hand sparks with a azure light as a lightning bolt flashes through the Stormcloak guards and cleanly strikes Cedric. Per usual Roknar fashion, his long leaps nimbly avoid a pit trap before a ki blast erupts from his palm, imploding one of the guards and knocking Cedric back. Pluto impales two of the final guards eye to eye and cries out “An eye AND an eye!”
It was over almost as quickly as it started. Lyssandra, Lucian’s sister, retreats into the manor, but she is soon lost to them. Aurelia casts a spell to compel Cedric to talk about the whereabouts of his mother. “I… don’t… know!!” With one final, defiant act, Cedric infuses a fireball into his blade, striking Pluto. A volcanic eruption emits from his blade, sending searing flames to the surrounding BBC before he collapses. Roknar hogties up his charred, unconscious form. Meanwhile, Elara warps through the manor to chase the sound of a broken window. She sees Lysandra escapes into the forest. Elara swiftly follows suite, but despite her speed, Lyssandra narrowly evades capture. Aurelia uses “Speak with Plants” on a blue flower in the garden. As if with heavy shadows beneath it’s eyes, it humourlessly cries out a shaky “Isabella is a dark and bloody woman – there have been unspeakable horrors beneath the manor. I would know - my roots run deep!” The flower hints at dark secrets hidden below Stormcloak Manor.
The group searches the manor. Lucian instinctively approaches his mother’s chair. As his hand intuitively runs along the arm rest and runs over a light switch that magically unveils a hidden staircase beneath his mother’s bookshelf. The BBC proceed down the stairs, as an unapologetic waft of rust and blood washes over them. They are met with bloodsoaked stone walls and blood splattered granite floors surrounding a chair. Their attention is drawn to a glowing mural on the wall. Buffman approaches the mural and roughly discerns the figure on the right as the first man of the Ea-Galwen. The figure on the left raises his eyebrow, but deduces that it could possibly be an early depiction of an the elven Arbiter, or perhaps more assertively, Wynn.
In one cage, a small halfling woman, covered in gashes and bruises is imprisoned. She introduces herself as Wilwarin, the Prelate of the Green Knight. She reveals that she has been held captive for months, following the death of the last High Prelate. “She seeks to become undeath itself,” she whispers, speaking of Isabella’s twisted plans. Will mentions that her husband, Elric, had killed himself repeatedly, only to be resurrected by Isabella. The BBC takes Will and Cedric’s hogtied body to the Molten Spire, where they meet Caine, Prelate of the Mason. After a brief arcane connection, Caine and Will are reunited, illuminating a conspiracy involving the votes of the prelates. It becomes clear that Isabella’s goals was only to delay the vote to stop Caine from taking the position of High Prelate.
The group returns to Trinity and hand Cedric to Avianna. She appreciates the capture of Cedric and rescue of the old prelate but reminds the group that their work is far from done. “Bring me the Iris of the Sky,” she commands, handing a mysterious weapon— a porcelain gun with a ruby-infused stock to Oruwin. With a swift wave, the BBC are sent back on their mission to defeat Isabella. The group return to Ascension Square to recollect their thoughts. Elara attempts to eavesdrop on the prelate chamber using “Clairaudience.” As if walking through spider webs, it was too late for Elara to recall the spell. Avianna’s voice echoes through her mind: “I have lived a long life. I have met fools, charlatans, and those who would seek ruin. Never have I met someone so bold.” Her mind broken, Elara’s usual retorts are reduced to a mumble as her consciousness returns to her body. A stupefied Elara slouches in her chair as the BBC figure out what to do next.
The group returns to the Citadel’s library in seek of the golden keyhole Valeria mentioned. The BBC spend hours searching through the library labyrinth, until Roknar calls the groups attention to a misty gate amidst limestone rubble. Instinctively Lucian uses a blade to bloody the golden key with his blood before sliding the key into the veiled keyhole. Inside, a woman with golden eyes awaits them. “I was wondering what was taking you so long,” she says, her voice full of anticipation.1