Escharian Ascension

**The** **Ascension** was an event resulting in the destruction of the First Escharian Empire, where most of the country of Escharia performed a ritual outside of the ruins of old Soleanna city and are claimed to have ascended to the realm of the Luminarium. It happenned in 1593 ASC (February 1, 2021). The following prayer was recited by the performers:

```
*Today is my triumph.* *This world created by the Father, turned out to be rotten.* *A World torn apart by endless wars is not a world worth living in.* *I will not stray from the path of the All-father's light.* *Today I transcend.* *To a Better world.* *Although it may seem that I have given up.* *Defeated, lost...* *I reality I won.* *You may think me gone, you are far from wrong.* *The flesh is weak, the spirit strong.* *Solaris, hear my Song.* *Banish me now, i will always return.* *The Lilies will always grow in the serenity.*

```

After this they jumped into the flames of a brasero, claiming to be "Ferlekse", spirits in Escharian folklore. Since then the ascended have been seen in black robes and a mask with gemstones. Beneath the mask there is not known to be any real form. After this the ascended performed another ritual which caused the city of Lileanen to be shattered, and the Western part of Tessel to sink beneath the waves of the Osterium Sea. Soon after this several buildings in Lileanen would go in to sink, notably the palace Archerumslyre. Following this, some of the spirits would go on to attack Bardonian cities, winning immensely.

This however, left a power vacuum in Nieden and northern Sparwood. Several Imperials who weren't chosen to ascend made successor states such as Annuvin, Kaheren, Locetia, and Argentor. Theionikos and Yimmu-Audal were released prior to the ascension so the change did not effect them as much. The spirits claim to defend former Imperial territory from encroaching foreigners such as the Azurian Syndicate which has claimed southern parts of Escharia. or Shiny which claimed the whole Empire, however the ability to even enforce these claims was debated

## Legacy

    Nowadays the site remains mostly untouched, although lanterns are often lit by the eternal flames of the site that are then used to create more holy sites. From these pilgrims who have taken its fires, the blue flames can be seen in other locations such as outside castle Gentumar. The Soleannen of the area now often take pilgrimages to the region to pay respect to their forefathers. In light of the Ascension, ritual suicide is a common occurrence in New Niedene cultures as many nobles have died this way since the event.

The A.R.C (Ascension Research Center) was a city founded on the site of the Escharian ascension and is located beneath the altar. It was founded to study the magic of the ascension and in an attempt to harness the holy sites power for themselves. It was created by a newly joined player, Annamian. It was eventually discontinued before being claimed by Church Officials.

The Ascension itself has become somewhat of a taboo subject. Many devout Soleannen see the event as leading the Niedene home and out of suffering, some alive question it. The primary argument against it is how there are a good number of Niedene left after the Ascension. The Ascension itself is noted for removing Niedene magic from the world, as only those who could not perform it remained. This has seen Niedene lifespans, enhanced intelligence, and magical prowess decrease.

After a period of approximately 10 years, the Spirits' strength started to decline, leading to a situation where Niedenes and Soleannen wouldn't be able to oppose incursions of barbarians in Nieden anymore. This is why the Soleannen Church and the spirits entrusted one of them, Zelorm, to constitute a political entity able to protect the Niedenes and the Soleannen faith, the Aesperium Niedea, which was founded in 1605 ASC (Marc 1, 2021).