Silent Faleeria

"Silent Faleeria" is the seventeenth episode of Regolus: Dark Age. It is the second episode of Book 2: Courting the Divine.
== Official Description ==
"In the wake of their escape from the Lighthouse of Longing, the Sigilbearers and their allies, led by the mysterious - once believed dead - Copper Legionnaire Værina, find themselves back in the desolate city of Faleeria. There, Commander Bertrand offers them an accord: answers in exchange for aid. But as dusk falls, a vision calls out to all Elder-Blooded—a summons from the one once called Elgariis, now known as Era’Harel… 
Join us as old pacts and new threats unfold beneath the mysterious mists of Faleeria.”Silent Faleeria (Youtube).
== Plot ==
=== Part 1 ===
* After a vision from the Elgariis and Aelys’ immediate reaction to get out, Commander Bertrand tells the group to find a tent for the night and come back at dawn for the briefing before they are sent into the town. Aelys storms out of the tent, JB follows her soon after, Katari goes to find her old team, Bubbles wants to find Dr. Iridia Thane for some outside input, and Synnove and Lenore start to set up camp for the night.  
* While walking through the encampment, Aelys notices a discussion between Solomon and Sally. Sally wants to help the Elvhen and go with others who will make their way to Üthevhenan, but her father wants her to stay here. Aelys chimes in and supports what Sally says, but Solomon tells her to stay out of it. Before the situation can escalate further, Sally pushes her father out of the way, packs up a few things, tells him to stay safe, and goes away with Aelys. Aelys assures her that she will be welcome in Heart of God and gives her a piece with her name on it that might help, and a map to get there. Sally notices the name Sa’Viraan, which translates to ‘without scholar’, and asks if Aelys was meant in the last part of the vision. Aelys is not sure how welcome she is back home, not until she can change that name back to where it should be, but Sally will let them know about her. With a brief hug, Sally leaves.
* JB approaches Aelys. He tells her that he is a bit confused as he did not get the vision, and tells her what he thinks happened in the tent. Aelys explains that there is something in the base of Üthevhenan that needs fixing and that they were called home because they, the Court of the Star, have finally found a way to do that. Aelys questions if Hareem made a mistake and should have brought her home with him. JB wishes he could have heard what was said in that vision, so Aelys shows him images of the key moments through their heraldic connection. When he sees the image of the Dreamscar, Aelys tells JB that this is what she is supposed to fix. JB doesn’t think Hareem made a mistake, he knew exactly who Aelys is and decided to not take her with him. Hearing that, Aelys, instinctively dismissive, leaves the conversation and walks back to the others. 
* Meanwhile, the sisters decide to set up their tent and get some materials from Rusty. Rusty informs them about what happened in the town. It happened slowly, and then all at once, that whatever came out of the train, a fog, spread all over the town. People died, but some of them are still in there and barricading themselves as best as they can, like townspeople and all of the official Inquisition folks and High Minister Matawa. 
* They put up the tent and Lenore, while facing away so Synnove can’t see her expressions, thanks Synnove for making sure they got out of the Lighthouse safely and letting her speak to Stella. Stella is like a sister for Syn so it was nice to share that part of her life with Lenore. 
* Aelys arrives next to them. Lenore apologizes for stopping Aelys back in the Commander’s tent. She was just worried that she would get hurt by the other person that was blocking the door. Aelys tells her that if Lenore would have tried to stop her further, Aelys would have hurt her.  Lenore doesn’t believe her. Just as Aelys pulls out the disintegration shard, JB arrives. Lenore and Aelys agree on doing a sparring session in the future. 
* When the night comes, JB takes the first watch. Bubbles comes back to the tent during that and goes to bed like the rest of them. During this time, JB can hear sounds of screams mixed with the grinding of metal. The fog seems to react to it but still hoovers above the town. 
* Before Lenore sleeps, she steps away from the others where nobody can hear her, and pleads to V for help. She wants to fulfill the task he gave her to get rid of Stella, but she does not want to hurt Synnove by doing that. As the stars shift around Lenore, V’s voice appears. He tells her that her sister is becoming and so must Lenore. It is too late to save Synnove and do it without hurting her, but Lenore still needs to do the task, and V will be there to guide her. 
* After the vision, Synnove felt like a veil was hanging above her eyes. As soon as she closes her eyes to sleep, she finds herself in a white space like she has been before. In the distance are five people standing in a V-shaped formation, Sol in the front. But it is not the only head that is illuminated - there is now a second bold head next to Sol. Stella is standing next to Synnove and tells her that it is closer now and the message they saw means they must help the Elvhenan. But Stella says they are looking in the wrong places. She can hear them, that which they found once before, but they are singing the wrong tunes. Stella and Synnove can heal these wounds, even if they might lose themselves to save this world. Stella wants Synnove to know her worth but that means they need that change and find the rest. Stella warns her to keep them to herself when she gets them because there are those with her that are misguided and with an ignorant will, and ignorance is inexcusable. She can only trust Aelys, because she has purpose and Synnove can’t let her stray away from it. The others she must make to see, or they are as wounds themselves, and they fix wounds if they come across them. Stella then tells her that a second carrier has found the light, but they are fighting for the light under the fog that is above all of the town. Syn needs to find them, at all costs. 
* Before Lenore takes the second watch, she asks JB about his name and about Stella. JB tries to see the person as separate from the words and their beliefs, so he thinks Synnove is a good person, even if he doesn't like her beliefs per se. JB is not very religious, same as Lenore, as she says so herself. She works for a god and knows they exist, but that does not mean she worships them. Her relationship with V is so different from Synnove’s relationship to Stella so she thought she might get a second opinion. And Lenore knows that Synnove respects and trusts JB so she is glad that Syn has people she can listen to when Lenore is not around. 
* After Lenore’s watch, it is Synnove’s turn. She is already awake but as she steps out of the tent, Gold activates and decides to join her for her watch, but instead deactivates again to try to dream while Synnove holds them. 
* Aelys has another vision. In pitch blackness, a large silver serpent makes its way towards her. It opens its sickening, plagued spit-laden jaws and reveals another pit of pure darkness in its mouth. In that pit, something glints with light unseen. Aelys can only see the edge of what looks like a triangular shape made of something metallic. From that shape, it says: "You are a rival -- unfit to mother. Seek us and be challenged…or are your regrets too heavy?". Aelys lets out a guttural scream before she dashes towards it and grabs whatever it is inside that mouth. As she reaches out for it, the last thing she sees is a blade coming towards her, before she wakes up in a cold sweat, the dawn across the horizon. 
* After a wake-up-call by Gold, that wakes up the entire camp, and some attunement to some items, they make their way to Commander Bertrand. 
=== Part 2 ===
* Katari joins them before they reach the tent. She tells the others that Voltaire got the message from Era'Harel too, Barri and Chrom are fine, but that Daisy is currently far away because something about the fog interferes with how they communicate. 
* Commander Bertrand is waiting for them in front of her tent, bathrobe above her chainmail. They follow her into the tent, where a history lesson about the Copper Legion and Sentinel and their briefing for the mission starts. 
** “The legion was founded 900 something years ago by Xenarius, the Clearhearted. She's the statue you will see in almost every commanding office of the Legion throughout the Prime. She was a devotee of the God of Sacrifice, the Patron Saint of Mortal Kind, who reportedly and secretly led her down into [...] a Lighthouse of Longing. [...] It is not entirely clear how much she was told, those records are not kept particularly well, and Xenarius’ handwriting was garbage from the records we do have. But what was and is clear is that there was something old to be protected for the sake of everyone here and it was crucial that as few people as possible know about it. It was information that was worth giving one's life for and taking life for. First, and still, the individuals charged with the explicit protection of that information are known as Watchers, those who must keep vigil, must stand guard over the Realms. We call ourselves Sentinel. [...] So around Sentinel a watchtower of sorts was built, a vast number of people to hold fast a shield without questioning what they were protecting, a Legion. Thus, here we are, this is the purpose the Legion serves, to do good by those who would seek our services, to accept jobs and complete them without question, so in turn we are not questioned.”
** The Commander thinks some members of the current Vanguard are aware of their purposes, but she can tell for certain that the current highest ranking member and head of the Coalition, Beatrix Avalon, is aware. They were comrades once and she still keeps many secrets on Bertrand’s behalf. She is not sure how much longer those secrets will stay hidden after yesterday’s message though. She will tell them more about everything when the mission is done, including where she thinks the other Lighthouses are. 
** The Commander then gives them as much information she knows about the creatures and tells them what they have already tried. There are still citizens in town but she is not sure for how much longer they are safe. If they are infected, they cannot be saved. The goal is to get to the train station where it all started, but stay safe and not get infected. Reports say there is something living in the station, that the station itself may now be living. If things go too far, they should get out. But if they decide for that option, the Commander has to call in a favor with the Vanguard and this will not end well for the town.
** Bertrand gives them a few healing potions and a pure shot of Lyrium to take with them in case they need it.
** Bubbles thinks Dr. Thane and himself might be able to get them in and out more succinctly, but he needs Lenore’s help for that. They will catch up with the others soon after they enter. 
** Before they go, Lenore tries to help the team magically and asks Synnove for her approval, but when she agrees and the magic reaches Synnove, the book hums and the pages glow gold, as Stella stops the magic before it affects Synnove. Synnove just hears: “Filth, let it be gone.”
** Commander Bertrand gives them one last item before they leave, an amulet with the Sentinel symbol, that will protect them if they need it. 
* The group splits up, Bubbles and Lenore head away to the tower, while Aelys, Katari, JB and Synnove head to the gates to the town, where Euphoria greets them and asks if they have seen a human mage called Sethius. They did not, but that is fine as it probably means he is not around. She then gives them instructions how to enter and get back out, before they open the gates and the four of them step inside. 
* A heavy atmosphere descends on them, as the fog around them gets heavier. They decide to stay as undetected as possible, but when they hear human voices in the distance, and Aelys asks if they should investigate that, Synnove wants to save the people and also gets a message from Stella: “There is a carrier here. Find them.” They make their way into the direction of the noises, when they see a barricade that is protected by some individuals, and in front of the barrier are three creatures, surrounded by body parts. They look similar to the creatures they fought before, but these are not just flesh but have pieces of metal grown into them, and wear the remains of torn and tattered humanoid clothing. 
* While Synnove tries to get the survivors out of here and back to the gate, the others draw the attention of the creatures and fight them. Katari stays near Synnove to protect her. Synnove uses her Sigil Energy to persuade them to come with her, and as a flash of green light washes over them, the survivors begin to run and follow her. The person Synnove first talked to thanks her, and as Synnove touches his shoulder and lets out a bit of her magic, inspired and almost out of instinct, he begins to shave his head and says “For the light”. When the creatures are defeated, they lead the group back to the gate.
* JB levitates up to try to get a better view, but the higher he goes, the thicker the fog gets. He realizes that if he stays up here for too long, he will lose his sense of self, so he returns to the rest of them at the gate. 
* As the doors close again, the ground almost rumbles and the fog vibrates, and a voice appears: "You slay your own young -- misbegotten fools. Come hither. We wish to meet you...".
== Characters ==
=== Player Characters ===
* Aelys Sa’Viraan
* Bubbles Bathington (portrayed by Will)
* Jean-Baptiste
* Lenore
* Synnove Oleander
=== NPCs ===
* Bertrand
* Katari
* Acastarok
* Dr. Iridia
* Solomon
* Sally
* V
* Stella
* Gold
* Xilyreon
* Rusty
* Sol
* Euphoria
* survivors in the town
===Mentioned===
* Hareem Lord Hareem
* Voltaire
* Barridyne
* Chrom
* Daisy-Mae
* Xenarius
* Beatrix Avalon
* Sethius
== Locations and Organizations ==
=== Locations ===
* Faleeria
* Disterra (mentioned)
** Lighthouse
=== Organizations ===
* Copper Legion
* Sentinel / The Watchers
* Court of the Star
* Vanguard
== Tarot Card and RP Warmup ==
The tarot card for the episode was The Empress, drawn by Jon.
The roleplay warmup question was: "Where is your character’s favorite place in the whole world?"
== References ==