Fallen Selene

John Noble awakes in front of a statue, a Pure Shrine located just outside of a Church. Before he can get his bearings he hears a familiar voice behind him. Aletheia calls out to him. She is standing with Father Basildes. The pair are shocked at John's sudden appearance. Basildes is confused while Aletheia runs over to John, who is coughing on the ground. She helps him up and asks if he is alright. John is disheveled and is equally surprised to see her. She asks what has happened and how he got there. He begins to respond by asking he is not sure and asks where they are. Aletheia explains about the light and looks to Basildes, asking what is going on. Basildes seems pensive for a moment. He then says that they should come to his chambers.

Basildes leads them to a small room with many books strewn about. He asks John if he remembers what happened to him as he sorts through some books. John recalls that he and Sam had gone to the South with a group of soldiers. Aletheia asks if Sam is alright. John responds that he is, they had successfully taken back the city. John trails off but then continues that he had fought a powerful Champion in front of some kind of Marble door. Basildes seems concerned and asks if he opened the door. John confirms that the Champion called the Djinn did. Basildes cuts him off and asks if there was anything guarding the door, a beast or dragon. John claims that there was a girl there, sitting, but the Djinn destroyed her.

Father Basildes stops flipping through pages and is silent once more. Aletheia asks Basildes what is going on. He explains that he has to travel to the South to speak with some important people. Aletheia is confused and John asks Basildes what happened. Basildes tells him that when John closed the door he was transported to the Pure Shrine in front of the Cathedral. John asks what happened when the Gate opened. Someone in the south told him about something called the Angra Manyu. Basildes stops once more and says that he isn't sure but some believe that opening the Ouroboros Gate is good and some believe it to be bad. This door whether good or bad will change things. What that is he doesn't know. Regardless of this, those that believe in it know that change requires sacrifice. This is just speculation though and he must find out more. He tells John to let him worry about this for now, John has more pressing issues.

Basildes looks to Aletheia who is deep in thought. John is puzzled and asks what is happening. Aletheia explains that Donofrey, the Black Jester is preparing to attack Selene. She was already on her way back to Selene to warn them. John is still somewhat injured but states that he will accompany her back to city. Aletheia smiles at this. John asks if Basildes can send another message for Sam.

John and Aletheia prepare her horse and Basildes sees them off. He relays that the message had been sent. He thanks Aletheia once more and places a large book into her bag as a gift for her rescuing him. Basildes says that he is very much against them going but he knows that Selene has a chance with them defending it. He tells them that they will speak again soon. The two then ride off into the night.

Heritage of Stars

Aletheia and John travel along the road toward Selene. They are conversing about her travels and experiences with the Firenne sisters during the trip. Aletheia then asks John how he knows Basildes. John details how Basildes took him in as his caretaker. When he was old enough, he had sent John to study at a monastery with members of his order. The monastery was called the Moon Temple. Aletheia asks about his parents but John tells her that he will tell her about them another time. They should continue on.

Aletheia and John are concerned as they see smoke far in the eastern woods as they reach the edge of the trees. They reach the city proper and see that Soldiers of Selene are gathering in the fields outside of Starvale. The pair ride up to the city and see many displaced families from Starvale being taken into the city. Starvale is being evacuated as all citizens are moved into the city walls. Soldiers of Selene are also helping them move.

Aletheia finds the King in the main hall of the Crescent Keep. He is surrounded by his Council as well as the Constable and Marshal. They see each other and the King is relieved that she is safe. He had feared the worst as she had been gone almost a week. Aletheia is somewhat distant with him but is glad that they received her message about the attack. She asks what they plan to do when he sees John.

The King is confused at his appearance and asks him how he is there and what happened in the South. The Constable interrupts claiming that he abandoned his men and duties. The Constable commands the guards to apprehend John. Aletheia protests and the King tells the men to wait. He asks John if this is true. John kneels and states that it isn't. He tells everyone that they succeeded in helping Visperad. They freed the Sultan and took back the city of Estahker for them. As for how he is there, even he isn't sure. The King asks what he means.

Aletheia interjects stating that something supernatural happened to John that she witnessed herself. Basildes saw it as well and is looking into it currently. The Constable claims that these are lies, they know who John is where he comes from. Aletheia looks confused. He is the son of the Shimmering Soldier, the scourge of Selene and the enemy that caused the incident in the Grey Plains. Aletheia is shocked and looks at John. The other councilors did not know this and are equally concerned. John is silent.

The King tells John that he had been told of his heritage by Basildes who was a friend of Victor Noble, the man they know as the Shimmering Soldier. He knew of who John was when they met but was willing to give him a chance to see who he is and his merit. Aletheia contemplates the situation and thinks of her own heritage. The King asks John if he speaks the truth. The Constable tells the King that he is the son of a monster and the King made a grave error in judgement by not imprisoning John.

Aletheia interjects and asks for what purpose. She speaks directly to the King. He did not choose his heritage and should not be judged from who and where he comes from. He is not the offspring of some evil person but a man just like them. John tells the council that he knows the atrocities that his father had committed. He never asked to be the son of such a man. One that could commit such acts. He had feared that he could become the same thing and so he had chosen to search in himself a way to avoid becoming what his father had become. A purpose that he could find honor in and possibly combat his own blood. He glances at Aletheia and states that he had found it when he came to Selene. A place to be someone who stands for something good.

Aletheia continues. She states that Victor Noble was a human being. One who fought for what he believed in. He had friends and his own life that they know nothing of. He did wrong but there are those that would regard the Shimmering Soldier as an honorable man who died for his cause. John has proven that he is a man who does the same. She tells him that John's father was a Champion and was not a monster any more than she is.

The King is silent and the council looks to him. He states that he believes him. He then states that he doesn't know how or why John has returned but they need to prepare for the battle ahead. At this, a soldier interrupts, telling them that there is a Jester at the Gates of the city requesting an audience. Everyone in the room looks shocked.

The False Jester

The King and the others gather at the walls to the city where the Jester is standing on the bridge in front of the gates. A horse is near him but he is otherwise alone. The soldiers were still bringing everyone into the city and the gates had not been raised. The Jester greets the King.

Donofrey starts by stating that the countryside of Selene is beautiful as he had not been able to admire it the last time he was there. The King asks what he wants. Donofrey states that he has come to negotiate. He wants Aletheia and nothing else. He had thought about taking the city but asks why. There is only one thing in Selene worth such an endeavor and Aletheia alone is worth one hundred cities. He will not move on Selene and the people will be safe.

The King responds that the Princess is not collateral to be bartered with. The Jester agrees and states that he has learned more about himself since he met Aletheia than all the years he has been alive. He states that he wishes to court the Princess. The King then tells him that even if he could be trusted, he would never give up his own daughter. The Jester responds that he had requested an audience with the King who did not even speak to him face to face. He warns the King that he could always take her by force right now and none could stop him. However, he states that he will show both the King and Aletheia that he is worthy of being her suitor. He will take the Kingdom of Selene as his own. He then mounts his horse and rides off.

Aletheia tells the King that his forces must not engage the Trionfi in the field. The Trionfi forces have advanced weaponry that she has seen first hand. John then suggests that they must retreat inside of the city until Sam returns. The Marshal asks his councilors the amount of provisions and foodstuffs they have in the city. The Constable protests that they have yet to fully harvest their crops and believes they would not last a siege. They need to strike immediately before the Trionfi are ready.

John tells them that the Black Jester is an invincible Champion and cannot be harmed. Both he and Aletheia have seen what he is capable of. Aletheia states that they may outlast the attack but they cannot defeat the Jester. John states that only Sam or Aletheia can defeat the Jester as they are the only true Champions. The King says that he will not allow Aletheia to fight but she objects to this saying that she has faced him before. John continues saying that he would never think to put Aletheia in harms way. Sam knows of a way to defeat him with his Alchemy. He can create a device called an Artifact that can defeat him.

The Marshal responds by asking John how far away Sam and the others are. John admits that they have been informed of the situation and could make it back in a few weeks.

The Constable addresses the King that there is no time to prepare for a siege. The Constable requests that the King let him organize a preemptive strike on the Trionfi while they are not prepared for it. John and Aletheia protest but the Constable tells him to remember his place. He tells him that they do not need a High Champion with powers to fight their battles. True strength comes from brave men. The Marshal and Chancellor agree with the Constable. The King is silent but then gives the Constable the order for a preemptive attack on the Trionfi.

The Hawk Above

John rides through Skyvale looking for any other people to relocate them inside the walls of Selene. It had been two days since the Constable left with soldiers to ambush the Trionfi. John and several soldiers have checked the last houses and decide to return to the city. As they begin to depart, they hear a horse behind them running at full speed. John stops it but sees that it is dragging the lifeless body of the Constable. John yells that they need to return to the city now as two soldiers are hit with arrows in the chest.

John sees that the arrows are being shot from the trees across the field. John dives through the window of a shop to escape the hail of arrows. He finds a shield hanging on the wall and grabs it. He then runs out of the shop and jumps on his horse, shielding his head as he goes. He rides back to the gates of Selene as the soldiers on horseback begin to pour out of the forest heading toward Skyvale. John makes it to the gates and the drawbridge is raised behind him.

Aletheia is helping the people of Selene settle into their homes as John rides past. The king is preparing soldiers in the square as horns bellow indicating the arrival of the Trionfi. John rides up stating that the attack failed and the Constable didn't make it. The King curses them and orders the soldiers to their posts. Aletheia approaches and tells them that it is possible that their full force had not arrived yet as there were few Trionfi at Silvayne Manor.

The King scolds her why she is not at the Crescent Keep but she ignores this. John asks her what she means and Aletheia says that the full force of the Trionfi had been summoned but had not yet arrived when she was at the Manor. John speculates that their full force could not be there and they may have a chance. The King tells Aletheia to go back to the Keep as he heads toward the battlements. John thanks her for her kind words earlier. He asks if she truly believes them. She states that she believes in him. There is a small moment between them. John begins to leave when Aletheia sees a hawk in the distance. It is coming from the South and is approaching the city. Aletheia whistles and the hawk lands on a perch with a message. Aletheia takes it and summarizes to John. It is from Sam stating that he has three Artifacts imbued with his own power of Alchemy that they can use. He had made notes with a list of chemical ingredients for creating an explosive solid naptha called Dark Powder.

John recalls that Sam had shown him the process earlier that year. Aletheia posits that it is something they could use. John tells her that with the Artifacts and notes they can create a flame large enough to take out the Trionfi's weaponry leaving the attackers without their biggest advantage. Aletheia says that she will get the items and she makes for the Crescent Keep. John reaches the outer wall and looks out into the field where a large Trebuchet is being assembled.