Season Two Summary

See below for the cast and summary of Season Two of the Knights Chasseur plot. For all other synopses, please see the general Plot Synopsis.

## Dramatis Personae

See dramatis personae from Season One for all return players.

### **X’ahni Tia**

* An ex-Sultansworn, Ul’dahni miqo’te who was discharged over politics. Seeking a new life, and a more worthwhile cause, he moved north to Ishgard, seeking to join the Knights Chasseur in order to secure a future for his family in a ‘less corrupt’ land.

### **Jaliqai Orl**

* A xaelic Ishgardian of the defunct Orl tribe. A second generation immigrant to Ishgard, this young, scrawny knight insists she is nothing but Ishgardian, born and raised. Despite her pessimistic demeanour in the face of a life of persecution, slight glimmers of hope and optimism shine through her actions.

### **Aelina Forester**

* An Abalathian Highlander who joined the Knights Chasseur in hopes of securing a future for herself and her betrothed. Was once a soldier of the Furious Fourth.

### **V’zira Kett**

* Head nurse of the Knights Chasseur. Is Aelina’s betrothed, and left behind her family’s tavern. Helps Ramona with requisitions and supplies.

### **Jean Blanc**

* The liege and childhood friend of Domeric and Aelion’s. A so-called ‘feral-child’ who would rather follow his instinct than rule the Southern Lowlands. However, this desire is accompanied by a genuine care and empathy for his subjects and friends.

### **Arthur Myste**

* A war-weary veteran Dragoon, renowned for his skill and shining, silver armour.

### **Roderick Ward**

* A fresh-faced, young half-breed squire. Roderick was pressed into joining the Knights Chasseur by his liberal-leaning parents, hoping to turn their lazy, politically unconscious son into a ‘good and proper knight of the republic’.

## Chapter One - "Master of Puppets"

With the Steel War over, and settling into their new Headquarters, the Chasseurs were finally informed by Knight-Commander Halinard (Vilette’s direct superior) that Suidbert was finally ready to talk; and that he would be attending to listen in.

Suidbert appeared in the HQ alongside Clarisse, and thanked the Chasseurs for saving his daughters. He then revealed to them that the cult was recruiting through a popular preacher in the Brume: Evrain Chalois. Armed with this new information, Vilette sends Florian to listen in on this preacher’s words and investigate his connection with the Sons of Halone.

Looking for further leads, Arienne interrogated a captive from Houx, who confirmed that the Sons were attempting to summon a Primal Halone. Further it seemed as if the cultists didn’t *all* care about the fact that a Primal Halone was a ‘false’ Halone, and that the roots of the movement weren’t made up of just religious fanaticism, but *much more*.

Realising that the crystals that the cult acquired were likely from Suidbert’s mine, Eleisa suggested that they could have been the ones funding Zilotl in the Steel War. Vilette greenlights further investigation on the Steel War’s beginnings, and the Chasseurs set out to question the natives in Natalan.

What they discover is that the entire situation was originally a simple border dispute. The Ixali had sent two diplomats to Ishgard to plead their case to Parliament; but the diplomats were returned, beheaded. This sparked unrest among the Ixali, prompting Zilotl’s rise to power with her aggressive, fanatical rhetoric. While the source for Zilotl’s crystals was never found, the Chasseurs discovered that a man named Lord Lantrelloix de Distra was the one who oversaw the negotiations.

Aelion is the first to recognise the name, informing the Chasseurs that he is his House’s Vassal, and that they are a ‘pious House’.

Before they can go investigate House Distra, the Chasseurs are invited by none other than Yoric Lendel to dine at his estate. Eager to continue her investigation, Cassiopeia argues for the Chasseurs to go; and they eventually do. There, they learn that Lord Lendel wished to donate funding for the Chasseurs, as well as provide them with a *big* tip on their current Sons of Halone investigation (he knew about it from bribing Parliamentary overseers): the ‘Bishop’ is none other than Lord Beaumont; Florian’s estranged father.

Meanwhile, Florian, Nivaar, Cassiopeia, and Domeric each split off to snoop around the Lendel estate. Cassi and Domeric discover that Yoric Lendel has been earning a lot of gil by managing an elite mercenary force across all of Eorzea (and even Othard), working with a mercenary company known as ‘Pike Security Solutions’. They also discover a letter (hidden in his desk) from his daughter, Marianne, begging to call off her marriage engagement and let her stay in Sharlayan. Florian and Nivaar discover a series of coded letters, before being confronted directly by a very interested, yet not-hostile Marianne Lendel. She managed to sneak up on them, but promised not to tell her mother or father that they were there.

When Vilette pressed Yoric on *how* he knew that the ‘Bishop’ was Lord Beaumont, he plainly answered that he had a ninja in his employ. He said that if she didn’t believe him, she was free to investigate, herself.

After the dinner, the Chasseurs gather to discuss their findings. Florian, shocked at this revelation, goes AWOL — but not before Vilette makes him promise to confront his father and find out the truth. The group tried to figure out just *what* exactly was going on — and Yrys suggested that there could be a likelihood that Lord Lendel was the real ‘Bishop’. Still, the team had much to confirm.

However, investigations are paused once the team catches wind of a lead: the Sons of Halone were in Dravania, mining something near Idyllshire using goblin slaves. Ordered by Commander Halinard to rescue the goblins to prevent a diplomatic incident, the Chasseurs set out. Once there, they fight the cultists defending the mine, aided by an unknown ally. Upon defeating their enemies, the Chasseurs head deeper into the mines, they come into contact with the *‘Reclaimers’* once again — this time, alongside their leader, a self-proclaimed Allagan, self-proclaimed Warrior of Light… Acastus nan Rolt.

Acastus informs the Chasseurs that he’s not hostile — and that he’s on the same side as them. He reveals that he was Suidbert’s Imperial contact, Albus — and Vilette remarks that she knows that Acastus no longer works with the Empire, which he confirms. He then goes on to show the Chasseurs what the Sons were trying to find in these mines — another set of those strange ruins. Claiming that they’re from a time from before history was even written, he says that the Chasseurs are too focused on the minor details, on the politics — and that there was something grander at play. He claims that all of the current machinations in Ishgard are being engineered by beings known as *Ascians*, and that the only way to kill them is in these mines. An uneasy alliance is formed — and Acastus pledges to try and open the vault hidden in the mines, and let the Chasseurs know when it’s open.

Some time passes, and Florian returns from his absence (for reasons unknown), and reappears in Ishgard, investigating Evrain Chalois. He discovers that the man didn’t have any direct ties with the Sons of Halone, and that they were simply *using* his sermons to recruit. Of particular note was the man’s rhetoric — it turned out that Fiona’s Dragon form had not gone unnoticed, and rumours of it were spreading like wildfire, which Evrain capitalised on in his sermons. He preached about how the Republic was rooting out dissenters through the use of dragons; prompting much backlash and unrest.

Florian follows Evrain to his home, and confronts him — fully intending to kill or capture him — but is reminded by Evrain himself that doing so would make him a martyr. Convinced, Florian hastily retreats, and goes to the Pillars to confront his father instead.

He is, however, followed by a curious Cassiopeia; who had been trying to find Florian during his whole absence. The two pair up to sneak into the Beaumont estate, and split up once inside. Florian is caught by his father (who was somehow expecting him), and admits that he is, indeed, the Bishop — but one of two. Florian’s father reveals that the Sons of Halone is warring among itself, and he now has a rival Bishop: Emile de Bazin, who is much more willing to go to extreme measures. Lord Beaumont tries to convince Florian to join him, and rule Ishgard as father and son — and states that he doesn’t want to summon a primal, just bring Ishgard back to stability. After a brief conversation about Florian’s mother — he declines.

He also learns that the ‘Bishop’ responds to a ‘King’ — who currently favours Bishop Emile, and not Lord Beaumont. The identity of the King is unknown, and he communicates with the Sons of Halone through ‘His Messenger’ — an enigmatic, hooded and masked man.

Meanwhile, Cassi is caught by someone else entirely — Marianne Lendel, who had followed her and Florian into the Beaumont estate. She helps Cassi hide from Beaumont guards, and then reveals to her that she had been stalking Cassi ever since she was snooping around in the Lendel estate. She gives Cassi a linkpearl frequency scanner, and asks if they can become friends. Cassi realises that Marianne must be Yoric Lendel’s ninja. They end up talking a  bit about Marianne’s abusive childhood and controlling mother (Lady Maria). Marianne then promises to not stalk Cassi again, and leaves, before Florian arrives. They leave, and report their findings to Vilette.

Soon after, Vilette requests that Lord Jean, the liege-lord of the Screaming Empty; take Aelion, Domeric, and Cassi with him to investigate Lord Lantrelloix de Distra, and his involvement with the Ixali executions. When there, they discover that the Distras have been building a private army made up of Pike Security mercenaries. Expecting them, Lord Lantrelloix invites the Chasseurs to dinner, where they admit to killing the Ixali diplomats, and attempt to kidnap the lords and lady to use as political leverage; as they planned to rebel against Jean, Aelion, and Domeric’s families. Aelion attempts to burn the place down; but is soon attacked by an Ascian, who was manipulating Lantrelloix to prematurely trigger his rebellion. They manage to narrowly escape with the help of Acastus and his *Reclaimers*, but now, the Southern Lowlands are embroiled in civil war….