Echoes: The Dead City

**The Dead City of Celephais** was the name given to a lost nation of mages from early Aquilan history, and according to many accounts the symbolic birthplace of the Old Ways. Much mystery and legend surrounded the city as its true location and even name were forgotten to time throughout the imperial era, its once gleaming skylines and vibrant culture reduced to naught more than fanciful folklore. In 4852, however, the Dead City's ancient gates were opened once more as a sinister plot perpetrated by the Acolytes of the Beyond and their unknown benefactor brought living spirits into the nation for the first time in perhaps millennia.

The Dead City is the second 8-person raid in the *Echoes of Aether* questline, unlocked shortly after the completion of Echoes: Sanitarium Zeta. Guided by their new ally Adam, the heroes uncover the lost country's location deep within the Rift and travel there in search of the rogue Vitiate Prime and its mysterious black-masked minions. The party, charged with securing the legendary titan Eztrakir's staff Mordherag and defeating Vitiate, may be comprised of any combination of the available heroes:

* Manny (Alchemist)
* Octavius (Paladin)
* Marc (Swashbuckler)
* Finn (Trickster)
* Roselle (Rogue)
* Sutther (Chirurgeon)
* Luna (Wizard)
* Jojosamu (Magus)

* Adam (Bard)
* Morganne (Spellblade)
* Isaiah (Pugilist)

## I - The Forum

Arriving in the Dead City, it becomes clear that the entire nation of Celephais and its people have been trapped in an unending temporal loop, forced to relive the same few moments repeatedly unto eternity; different sections of the city appear to be trapped in alternating events, with some lasting hours and others mere moments. The Forum, the city's grand central plaza, is in a state of total chaos, with panicked citizens running wild from an unseen foe while the elite guard attempt to restore order. Spotted, the party is beset by a cohort of elite spellblades culminating with the captain of the guard, Caligula.

 Gallant Blade
 Lionhearted

The city's noblest defender tangles with the party to the bitter end, refusing to yield an inch to "the Titan's dark minions" as long as he yet lived. However, he eventually falters, and his unceremonious defeat sends the Forum into an even greater uproar - though almost as quickly, the panic quells, and it appears that this section of the city has been freed from the temporal prison. The Forum falls silent and the veil of time lifts, revealing vast tracts of ancient ruins totally overrun with vibrant greenery where moments ago there stood a gloomy facsimile of a great city on the verge of ruin. The party advances onward in the direction of the Lupercal, the governing district of Celephais, from which a strange magickal confluence seems to be emanating.

## II - The Atrium

The heroes fight their way into the Lupercal past several waves of Time Wraiths and Paradox Scourges, alien abominations whose sheer presence torments the people of the city. As the beasts' numbers are thinned, fortunately, more of Celephais seems to be cleansed from the ancient curse, its restless dreams at last surrendering to the solace of non-existence. Past the great antechamber of the Lupercal lies the Atrium, the decadent courtyard and lobby for the capital building just to the north. The plaza is eerily silent as the party advances forth until a cadre of Noumenons emerge from the shadows - mages of eld with mastery over the light and the shadows. As the master mages are defeated, their priestess Valens emerges from the Basilica, swearing that she will protect the sacred capital from intruders at all cost. She is assaulted by a horde of Scourges who corrupt her being with the Paradox, transforming her into an exceptionally ravenous Time Wraith.

 Timeflare
 Invoke Paradox

With the fair Valens defeated, the Atrium falls silent once more, allowing the party to enter the grand Basilica.

## III - The Chancel

Stepping into the political and spiritual heart of Celephais, the Basilica, the party are awed with its absolute splendor, adorned with countless statues of armored knights and mages triumphing over terrible beasts which eerily resemble the Paradox monsters currently plaguing the city. A dozen Noumenons are huddled in prayer at the grand alter on the far side of the Chancel, and upon spotting the heroes quickly disperse into the shadows. One single figure remains - clad in gleaming armor and armed with a sword and shield fit for a champion of ages. The greatest hero of Celephais stands before the intruders, the chosen hand of the convocation sworn to defend the city in its darkest hour.

 Crossfire
 Bloodfire

The Outlander falls, defeated. The disgraced hero appears ready to yield but refuses, determined to see his quest to the end. He succumbs to the Shadows within and undergoes a horrifying transition into a chthonic beast, resembling his original form as if it had been corrupted by the Paradox. This shall be a difficult storm to weather.

 Manhunt
 Being Alive

The entity vanishes, dissipating into the Void. So great is the presence of the Paradox in the Basilica, though, that none of the gloom dissolves, remaining in the temporal loop. The party race up the grand staircase and make their ascent to the meeting chambers of the convocation, reluctant to linger too long and be forced to duel the Outlander and his shadow once more.

## IV - The Conclave

At last, the party arrives at the highest level of the Basilica, the seat of power for the ruling convocation of Elders. As they enter, the heroes witness a series of events unfold: First, the Elders celebrating the successful theft of an artifact called the Heart, which has granted them the untold powers of the divine. To keep it safe, the convocation hide the artifact in a place called Leivithra, deep within the forsaken land of Aornum where the gods would never dare venture. Next, an emissary of Aquila's titan-father Avromemnus attends the convocation, explaining that they had angered their lord and would be made to pay a heavy price. The Elders were given an ultimatum: Either they all surrender and throw themselves upon the mercy of memnus, or offer up one innocent child of Celephais as tribute to be made to suffer for all time as recompense for the Elders' sin. The convocation choose the latter, and in the ensuing scene a frightened child named Ithax is bound in chains, hoisted above the Conclave alter within a stained glass coffin. The Elders offer up their prayer to the titan and the child, kicking and screaming in horror, is consumed by the chaotic energies of the Void, condemned to an eternity of ceaseless torment. The titan's wrath and the guilt of the convocation warps the child into a twisted being, the manifestation of the Elders' corruption. Hades is born, and they immediately claim dominion over Celephais, subsuming the convocation entirely.

Hades embarks on a crusade across their world, claiming the spirits of all he found and imbuing them with their dark powers. Soon they lead a vast army of mages bent on revenge against the gods, determined to permanently right the wrongs of the convocation by excising the gods from the mortal plane entirely. However, it was not to be, and in time Hades and their servants are permanently sealed within Celephais. Fuming with unbridled rage and resentment by their very nature, Hades' wrath slowly throws the city into chaos, bringing about an age of suffering which concludes with a spell so powerful as to commit suicide to escape their enduring torment and anguish. The titan, intent to make the convocation keep their word, prevent Hades from committing suicide by entrapping the child and their entire nation in an unending temporal loop.

As the visions conclude, the chamber stirs to life and mournful Hades rises, their being still palpably filled with agonizing torment and unquenchable rage. It is time to right an ancient wrong.

 Greater Foul
 Omnicluster
 Yersinia Misera
 Quietus
 Stygian Call
 Mournsong

In a blinding flash of phantom energy, Hades dissipates, their dark quintessence slowly released back into the world and permanently removing the temporal curse from Celephais. Though all of its former residents have crossed over to the Beyond, they will now spend their existences in blissful nothingness rather than unending torment thanks to your intercession. As the last of Hades fades into the Void, a faint reflection of the child Ithax remains, silently observing the world around them in disbelief that the agony has finally passed. They turn to you and smile weakly for a moment before fading away, their spirit at last freed and scattered unto the wind.

Shortly after Hades passes, another figure enters the room - the clone Vitiate Prime. Though you ready for battle, he shows no interest in fighting, instead watching you curiously. He commends the party for lifting the veil of misery from Celephais, remarking that the tragedy of Hades was simply another example of the vanity of the gods. Revealing himself to be Eztrakir, honored son of Moros using Makro's vessel as a matter of convenience, he declares his intent to permanently destroy the painful legacy of the gods by resurrecting his father with his own heart, believing him to have been defeated as he could no longer sense him. With the Ancient Fear restored to his full power, he could at last make the world whole again and reset the universe so as to begin again, with his faithful servants from their previous existence as his champions. The dark titan genuinely beseeches the heroes to see reason and put aside their differences so they may usher in a fairer world where man controls his own destiny, though they adamantly refuse, remaining staunch protectors of their own flawed world.

Before you can give pursuit, Eztrakir warps away, his legendary staff Mordherag in hand.