The Cradle of Centuries

Trio pushing brazier in Order defense mechanism

## Trophies

"**The Cradle of Centuries**" is the eleventh chapter of *A Plague Tale: Requiem*.

## Plot

### Synopsis

> During their confrontation with Milo, Hugo swept away part of the island and its population. He's devastated to have again destroyed a place he adored. Under the island's map, the trio found an entrance to an underground temple. There, they discover the fate of the former Carrier and his Protector: Aelia failed to save Basilius. Feeling abandoned and alone, the boy died, unleashing the Justinian plague as he did so. Yet, this shows Amicia the truth - that Hugo will live if Amicia stays by his side, and they live a peaceful life.
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### Summary

#### Emergence Aftermath

Amicia, Hugo, and Sophia exit the ruins and return to the main area of the island - only to find that it is swarming with rats. They use torches and Sophia's prism to pass through them, passing dead islanders along the way. They find survivors, but they are quickly swallowed by the rats.

They find a cart with a brazier, but its wheels are blocked by a beam. Amicia pulls the beam free using an anchor point, then the trio chase the light while the cart rolls downhill. They roll it uphill together. Hugo claims his life doesn't matter, Amicia disagrees, Sophia assures them there are likely survivors in the palace.

#### Back to the Map

They reach the theatre ruins where the map is. All they have to do is check underneath it to find where Basilius was taken. The trio speculate that the Order likely hid their "most valuable treasure" underground, and the map might be an entry point. Amicia and Sophia push a pillar from the ruins onto the map, revealing a passage into the earth.

The trio head below ground into a sealed hallway. Hugo continues to be reluctant, but they continue anyway. The hallway leads down further underground.

#### Sealed Passage

Amicia lights a brazier, which in turn lights more fires, revealing a massive underground temple. There is an Order symbol on the ground. The trio believe they will find Basilius here. They find empty tanks of a mysterious fluid.

#### Byzantine Technology

A large door has been blown open. Sophia identifies burn marks. They find another area with signs of a blast, and realize Aelia escaped from the chapel and was fighting to get Basilius back and they are following her trail.

They find a metal door stuck in the frame. Sophia identifies the tanks as Greek fire, an element that was likely used to keep fires burning, but can also be used as an explosive. She carries a sealed tank to the stick door and takes cover with Hugo; Amicia ignites it with Ignifer and blows the door open.

They continue exploring and eventually find Aelia's trail again: a series of skeletons that Amicia identifies as the Order's guard.

They find a door that appears to have collapsed behind Aelia. To get through, they raise a portcullis holding back a cart full of tanks of Greek fire, blasting the door down.

#### Defense System

The trio enter a massive underground area. There is a bridge leading to a gate over a deep cavern, but first they have to pass through a large area with a system of braziers. Before they can get through, rats burst from the ground. Amicia uses the braziers to get the trio through the area.

On the bridge, they find dozens of skeletons of Order guards. Hugo says he feels "dark", like he did in his dream.

#### Aelia

They find Aelia's final resting place. Her skeleton is surrounded by those of dozens of Order guards. Her helmet reads "Protect one, protect all." After an emotional moment with Hugo, then another between Amicia and Aelia, the trio have to find a way to solve another puzzle to open a large door.

#### Rat Tank

The trio open the gate and find a foreboding hallway. The inside is overgrown with a rat's nest.

They enter another enormous temple room. There is a mechanical bridge allowing them to pass over the rat's nest, but a portion of it is missing. Sophia finds a steep way down to where the mechanisms are. Amicia goes first and tumbles far below; she is relatively unharmed, but has to run to a torch while the rats awaken and swarm at her. She is separated from Hugo and Sophia.

While at the bottom, she fixes the mechanisms, allowing Hugo and Sophia to continue along the bridge. While Amicia finds a path through the rats, Sophia reassures a worried Hugo. Amicia released the second bridge, freeing the two to pass all the way.

Amicia works on finding a way back to the two. She uses a cart with a brazier to get part of the way, but it is blocked by a wreck. Sophia and Hugo roll a tank of Greek fire down to her and she blows the wreck out of the way, pushing the cart to a ledge where she reunites with them.

#### The Well

The trio continue forward. They find a deep well, similar to a cathedral, and know Basilius is at the bottom. Amicia speculates that the area looks like what the last threshold would do, and that because Aelia failed to reach Basilius, he unleashed the macula. The walls are covered in the rats nest and sacs of rats.

Hugo protests strongly while Amicia insists they continue, and near the bottom he stops, pleading to go back. Amicia carries Hugo the rest of the way to the bottom.

#### Ancestral Corruption

Amicia, Hugo, and Sophia find Basilius. His corpse is chained to two pillars, and agony is still visible in his face. He was imprisoned by the Order in a prison specifically made for him, but they couldn't hold back his power. Basilius started the Justinian plague.

Amicia panics, realizing the macula brought them there. There is no cure. Then she realizes that Aelia failed - the macula doesn't consume the Carrier unless it is brought on by grief or rage. If she gives Hugo a good life, he could live happily to an old age. Unfortunately, Hugo is filled with grief and rage at the sight of what happened to Basilius, and vows that when he dies he will also cause as much harm. Meanwhile Sophia has her eyes on one of the sacs of rats, which looks to be preparing to burst. Amicia tries to explain her revelation to Hugo, and that he doesn't have to die.

The rats flood the prison. Hugo, Amicia, and Sophia sprint up the stairs with the rats on their heels. The entire fort is collapsing around them. They run across the mechanical bridge and find light. The trio get outside just as the exit collapses, sealing the rats inside.

Amicia assures Hugo that he will live, but Hugo doesn't care about that; he just wants the suffering to stop. Amicia tries to comfort him. The trio plan to leave the island and find a home where they can live in peace.

## Trivia

* The chapter's title, "The Cradle of Centuries", refers to the name of the island, La Cuna. **La Cuna** means cradle in English, and the island has been home to Basilius for centuries.
* The mechanism built by the Order to defend against rats is similar to that found in the Château d'Ombrage; for this reason, the music from *A Plague Tale: Innocence* that plays when the castle is found is also played here.
* When the trio must flee the prison of the carrier while the rats flood inside, the music is frantic cellos and choir. When the choir read the score, they told the composer, "It's impossible for us to do this as the cello is doing it," to which he responded, "No, no, no, I don't want you to perfectly follow the notes. I need you to give a sense of craziness and agitation."

## Gallery

Amicia and Sophia push a pillar in the theatre ruins to break the map of La CunaAmicia and Sophia urge Hugo to enter the sealed hallwayThe Order's underground templeHuge room with mechanical bridgeDefense mechanism roomHugo, Amicia, and Sophia pushing brazier in defense mechanismThe trio find Aelia's skeletonAelia's skeletonTemple with door puzzleUrging Hugo to continueBasilius' corpseHugo kneeling before BasiliusThe carrier's prison
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *YouTube* – "A Plague Tale Requiem - Composer Walkthrough - Chapter 8" by Derivière, Olivier. Published November 16, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.

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