Tales and Revelations

Bird Statue

## Trophies

"**Tales and Revelations**" is the ninth chapter of *A Plague Tale: Requiem*.

## Plot

### Synopsis

> In search of answers to Hugo's unexplained dreams, the siblings met Sophia again. At the heart of the island, they discovered a map based on the Order's symbol. It led them to a sanctuary, once owned by the college of alchemists. There, they secretly witnessed a pagan ritual led by the Count and his wife, who longed to become the parents of the Child of Embers. Amicia and Hugo also learned about the existence of a former Macula Carrier, Basilius, and his Protector, Aelia, who was taken away from the child and brought to a fort.
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### Summary

#### Exploration

Amicia and Hugo wake up in the palace. They have been given new clothes. They leave to explore the island and search for the reason Hugo dreamt of it. They travel through the palace grounds and leave for the village.

They are intercepted by Sophia just outside the palace walls. She knows Arnaud is in jail, and inquires into the situation. Amicia explains that he betrayed them. Sophia asks why they spent the night in the palace, but she is reassured by Amicia's insistence that she kneels to no lord.

Hugo finds a statue of a bird that looks like the one from his dream. It appears to be looking at something, so they decide to go that way. The siblings explain Hugo's dream to Sophia. They find the bird statue was looking at another, so they follow where that one points. Following a series of statues, they realize they are being led in a spiral, and they are heading to the center.

The bird statues lead them to concealed ruins. They appear to have been a sort of theater. There is grass growing over a massive mosaic, so Amicia burns it to reveal a map of the island. Sophia speculates it is hundreds of years, likely Byzantium. Hugo identifies the symbol of the Order, and Amicia explains what the Order is to Sophia.

#### Towards the Sanctuary

They read the map and determine they need to go to the mountains, which Hugo has been calling "the teeth". Sophia identifies them as Las Madres, "the mothers". There's a temple in the mountains called Sanctuary. The trio travel to the base of the mountain, then start the long climb to the temple.

#### On the Mountain

The trio climb the stairs to the temple. They are hoping to find something to help Hugo; he wants to find the bird, pond, or tree from his dream, but Amicia is hoping for something like an elixir.

They soon find their path blocked; the gate has been closed for a ceremony. Security is tighter due to the trouble Arnaud stirred yesterday. They discover the Count and Countess are in the Sanctuary for the ceremony. There is a goat shepherd at the gate, and the trio may help him recover one of his goats. As they get closer to the Sanctuary, they watch a soldier escorting villagers out, as the ceremony is about to begin.

#### Entering the Sanctuary

The trio enter a forbidden area; they must not be spotted or kill any soldiers. The checkpoint is crawling with them. Sophia introduces a trick; she has a prism which can catch the light and make smoke in tall grass. The trio sneak through the checkpoint.

They need to pass through the bridge, but the portcullis is down. They walk across a narrow ledge; a piece crumbles and Hugo almost slips, but Sophia and Amicia catch him. They get to the bridge safely.

Soon they find themselves in a decorated section of the island. A trail of pink petals leads through the ruins. Soldiers are deployed and the trio have to take cover quickly. Using Sophia's prism and Amicia's skills, they sneak past the guards, but just as they are approaching the gate, it is closed. Hugo spots an old tower and suggests they climb it to get inside. Sophia says it looks like an old access point, so they try that instead.

Once inside the tower, they can approach the Sanctuary, where they hear the Count and Countess calling that it will begin soon, but they are waiting for a few latecomers.

The trio approach a small gathering of people in red robes and masks, each accompanied by a child. The Count and Countess begin the ceremony. A woman and child enter a nearby tent and come out wearing robes and masks - the trio sneak inside and put on robes and masks of their own, disguising them alongside the others. Amicia and Hugo join the ceremony while Sophia follows nearby.

#### Day and Night

Amicia and Hugo follow along with the others and attempt to blend in. The symbol of the Order hangs from the ceiling inside the sanctuary. In front of a large fresco of a child on a throne, the Count and Countess tell the story of a child born on the island. In the next room Amicia and Hugo identify a fresco from their mother's laboratory at home.

The Countess calls for a woman and child to carry the torch through the child's trials, and choose the disguised Amicia and Hugo. They are given the torch and must walk alone through water, then under a waterfall that puts out the torch, and down a dark hallway. They realize La Cuna's religion is a misinterpreted history of a carrier from centuries ago.

They return to the group in a large, dark temple. They are now chanting. The Countess identifies herself as the Mother, and ignites a brazier, revealing a statue of the Child of Embers beneath a phoenix. The light also reveals a number of cultists - more than just the pairs of women and children - also wearing masks and robes.

Sophia appears behind them and says she has found a passage around the back. The trio split off from the chanting cultists, certain their absence won't be recognized due to everyone looking the same.

Through the passage, the trio find a courtyard with a pond circling a large weeping willow. Hugo runs to the water and puts his hand in it, while Amicia and Sophia approach a child's throne. Amicia tells her about the Macula and the Order. She begins to tell her about the rats and Hugo's control over them, but chooses not to.

Hugo approaches, feeling defeated. The water did not heal him the way it did in his dream. Amicia tells him it was just a symbol. She shows him the child's throne and two names carved on the back: Basilius, the carrier, and Aelia, his protector. She says something called him here, and if there is a cure, this is where they would find it.

#### Phoenix

Sophia finds a door to another section of the temple, which appears untouched for centuries. It is Basilius' room. They discover he was likely the same age as Hugo, and treated like a king.

In the next room they find Aelia's room - Basilius' protector. She was a fierce warrior, with armor and a large variety of weaponry. There are toys and a child's drawing evidencing Basilius and her close relationship.

In the next room, they find a mosaic of the phoenix overlayed by the symbol of the Order. Hugo is dismayed to realize the phoenix is their symbol, too. Sophia remarks that must be why it is above the Carrier in every depiction of him. Hugo believes they did not care about him, they thought they were better than him.

In the next room, they find an alchemical laboratory. Amicia does not understand the ancient machinery, but remarks that Lucas would. There is a table with straps, where they would experiment on Basilius. Hugo is distraught and claims nothing ever changes.

Sophia finds a passage behind curtains; an observation hallway. Upstairs, in a room above the alchemical laboratory, they find a library. There is a section of the floor where they would observe Basilius on the table in the room below.

The scrolls are written in Latin. Amicia can't read it, but Sophia can. The last entry was in the year 541. They discover Basilius was taken away from Aelia. She rebelled and was taken somewhere close to a round tower, to a "capella"m a chapel in a fort.

#### Immersion

The trio hear a door open in the courtyard and decide to leave. The Count and Countess enter and approach the willow tree, then enter the pond beneath it. Sophia spots a way out through a grate - they will have to walk through the water. While the trio make their way there, the Count and Countess recite a prayer.

The trio walk through the disgusting water and Hugo tells them about his dream. They finally escape. Amicia wants to go to the fort where Aelia was taken, but Hugo is disappointed his dream was not literal. Amicia and Sophia reassure him that the dream did help by putting them on track to learn as much as they did.

## Gallery

Bird StatuePrayer around a treeSanctuary WaterfallAncient Order Alchemical Laboratory

Navigation

* I – Under a New Sun
* II – Newcomers
* III – A Burden of Blood
* IV – Protector's Duty
* V – In Our Wake
* VI – Leaving All Behind
* VII – Felons
* VIII – A Sea of Promises
* IX – **Tales and Revelations**
* X – Bloodline
* XI – The Cradle of Centuries
* XII – The Life We Deserve
* XIII – Nothing Left
* XIV – Healing Our Wounds
* XV – Dying Sun
* XVI – King Hugo
* XVII – Legacy of the de Rune Family