Fyl-Cia

**Archangel Fyl-Cia** or **Fylcia** was a Messenger of the One who appeared on Enselonde between 997 AW and 1013 AW. She appeared in the western Marenbach Mountains before Alwin the Holy, blessing him with the Blade and Crown of Fyl-Cia and supporting him during the existence of the Kingdom of the One.

She disappeared shortly before the decisive Battle of Rosendorf in 1013 AW which led to the death of Alwin the Holy and the downfall of the Kingdom of the One.

## Biography

In 997 AW, Enselonde was going through an uncertain period in history. The Sapphire Empire, long dominating the South, was in a state of active collapse, with many provinces and successor states coming forth from the Empire's ruins. While the South was in chaos, the Marenbach Mountains, in contrast, were a beacon of stability. However, this was all to drastically change.

On one ordinary day, a local hunter from Rosendorf, Alwin Kauber, went on a regular hunt. Instead of deer or rabbits, he came across the Archangel Fyl-Cia in the woods, who named him her Champion. She bestowed upon Alwin two artifacts: a blade and a crown and told him to return to Rosendorf and spread word of the One's glory.

Confused but determined, Alwin returned to his hometown, where the people were in awe at his tale and the artifacts in his possession. It didn't take long for people to start following him, considering him a prophet, and giving him the name "Alwin the Holy". Fyl-Cia began appearing in front of the crowds of Alwin's followers, furthering zeal and causing rumours and tales to spread across Marenbach and beyond, including to the kings back in Marenistadt.

While at first delighted to hear about the miracle happening in the western parts of the kingdom, relations between the crown and the movement quickly deteriorated. The main cause of this was Fyl-Cia steering Alwin the Holy towards a path of rebellion. With her guidance, he founded the Brotherhood of Grey Knights, which took control of not only Rosendorf but countless towns, castles and forts in the area. Once this was done, Fyl-Cia had Alwin the Holy crowned regent of the newfound Kingdom of the One, which sparked a war between the Grey Brotherhood and the Kingdom of Marenbach.

Led by their holy regent and the Archangel, the Grey Knights score many victories against Marenbach. Desperately outmatched, Marenbach called on the Kingdom of Fühlgart to assist them, which would turn the tide of war. Now that the Grey Knights were outnumbered, they were slowly but surely driven back. By 1013 AW, Alwin the Holy gathered all his troops and met the joint Mareni-Fühlgartian force at the Battle of Rosendorf. He sought out Fyl-Cia shortly before the battle began, yet she was nowhere to be found. Fyl-Cia had disappeared off the face of Enselonde and was never seen again. While some of the Grey Brothers chalked this up as an ill omen, Alwin the Holy nonetheless marched onto the battlefield. The Battle of Rosendorf was a bitter defeat for the Kingdom of the One. Alwin the Holy died during the battle and Rosendorf falling soon afterwards. The Kingdom of the One had collapsed, yet the Grey Temple had not.

While Fyl-Cia has remained absent since 1013 AW, some groups continue to worship her or view her as a patron. While the current Grey Temple maintains her teachings and values, a few select groups worship her and actively fight in her name, though they are a minority of the Grey Temple's forces. The overall trend amongst the groups of the Grey Temple seems to be moving away from Fyl-Cia specifically and focusing more on worshipping the One directly, cutting out Fyl-Cia as a middlewoman.

## Champions

*Main Article: Champions*

While Messengers of the One are not known to take Champions like the Divines of Enselonde, Fyl-Cia is an exception to the rule, clearly favouring Alwin the Holy and bestowing upon him two artifacts and a portion of her power. The claim that their fates were linked can be made, as the two rose and fell together.

## Artifacts

*Main Article: Artifacts*

Fyl-Cia created two artifacts which she gave to Alwin the Holy, both of which survive to this day, though their power has severely weakened after her disappearance.

* **Blade of Fyl-Cia** - The Blade of Fyl-Cia was Alwin the Holy's personal weapon. It had two forms, the regular one which resembled a normal sword and a more destructive one which coated the blade in bright white flames. After Fyl-Cia's disappearance, it was no longer possible to produce the white flames. The sword is made from an unknown metal that closely resembles Ildiusite, able to pierce through any material and – hypothetically, though never tested – wound or kill Divines.
* **Crown of Fyl-Cia** - The Crown of Fyl-Cia was Alwin the Holy's crown. It was not a symbolic crown like those of kings but can be mounted on helmets. It gave Alwin the Holy increased strength, intelligence, and speed, which led him to many victories on and off the battlefield. After Fyl-Cia's disappearance, these effects – while still present – severely weakened, to the point of barely making any difference. The kings of Marenbach captured the artifact and did turn the crown into a symbolic piece, keeping it in their personal collection.