Aurelian forces

Start-class article · First seen: s10 · Last seen: s23

The Aurelian forces are the military and enforcement arm of Aurelia: the knights, recruits, archers, confessors and binders who act in the name of the Pure Light. They are the campaign’s principal antagonist body. They ambushed the party in Umbrafall in session 10, occupied Eldwythe in session 14, beheaded Ruin and took The Egg in session 15, and executed Mike on the road to Aurelia in session 18. The party has been outside their territory since session 20, and in session 23 the DM said that the man who holds the Egg “is an Aurelian binder” [66].

Overview

The Aurelian forces are what Aurelia sends when it wants someone enforced upon: knights in plate, recruits in pale tabards, archers, a priestly confessor, hounds, and the elite hunters of heretics called binders and chain-masters. Where the Pure Light is the church and the doctrine, the forces are the patrol that comes through the door.

They have been the campaign’s principal antagonist body since session 10. At the end of session 16 the party sailed for Aurelia to get The Egg back [30]; after a patrol executed Mike it set that plan aside “for now” [31].

Known traits

  • Armour. The Paladin of session 10 wore Nullstone-runed plate [32], which gives advantage on saves against arcane spells [33]. The DM: “A lot of them are paladins, so they have divine magic, but even normal fighters have this on.” [34].
  • Radiant damage. The Paladin’s blows added radiant damage to slashing [35]. Hugo had taken him for a Smite user; the DM said “he’s just blessed by Aurelia” [36]. Glenn’s greatsword added radiant damage too [37].
  • Chain, whisper and aura. The session 15 leader fired a chain “that kind of extends unnaturally long” [38], emitted an aura that dealt force damage [39], and a colleague’s whisper dealt radiant damage with no save and disadvantage on concentration [40].
  • Ranks. Recruits are “cannon fodder” [41]; the session 18 patrol was three knights and a confessor [42]; binders outrank a cleric “by quite a lot” and are “the Inquisitors’ general attack dogs” [43][44].
  • Finding casters. “You don’t know how they pin them down, but they do.” [45]. A confessor raised a finger as Mike cast [46], and detection fades with distance from Aurelia [24]. Binders sense arcane use better than “the wards in Aurelia” [47].
  • Rules for travellers. Papers from the gate and registration [48], a permit for most enchanted items [21][49], and a cleric’s Shield still counts as arcane [50]. Asked about clerical items such as a Staff of Healing or Prayer Beads, and about passing True Strike off as a divine smite, the DM said “It’d be fine.” [51]. “Tieflings are exterminated on sight.” [52].
  • Reach. They held a whole town [53], sank a ship [14], ran sea patrols [16], took a man into “the road offices” [15], and hunted a silver dragon far to the north [54].

Relationships

Notable named figures

  • Aurelian Paladin (s10). Unnamed Paladin of the Umbrafall ambush. Killed by Ruin’s Eldritch Blast [60]; his plate went to Vasquez [61].
  • Aurelian chain-master. Unnamed leader of the session 15 patrol, masked [62]. His chain killed Ruin [63]; a chain from the smoke took the Egg [64]. Off-screen since.
  • Aurelian Binder. Unnamed leader of the session 20 patrol [65]. The DM has said the Egg’s holder is “an Aurelian binder” [66], without saying he is this one or the chain-master.
  • Glenn. Knight of the session 18 patrol, “just a patrolman” [67], who beheaded Mike.
  • Aurelian Confessor (s18). Unnamed priest with Glenn’s patrol, who judged Steven truthful and had Mike killed [68].
  • Father Thomas. A Pure Light priest from Glenn’s patrol, now with the party [69][70]. Not Glenn.

History in the campaign

Session 10: Ruin Joins, the Aurelian Conspiracy, the Plate Armour

Main article: Session 10

Four figures followed the party through Umbrafall: a Paladin in plate and three lighter men [71]. A dagger flew past Caelumn, and one of the three offered him “the winning side” [72][73]. The Paladin’s blows added radiant damage, which the DM put down to his being “blessed by Aurelia” [36]: “you feel Mharos burn as you take four radiant damage” [74]. Ruin’s Witch Bolt was “reflected off his armor” [75]. At the end he asked Hugo “Why won’t you go down, demon?” [76] and died to Ruin’s Eldritch Blast [60]. The Broker declined his greatsword but knew his armour for enchanted [77]; it proved to be Nullstone [32] and went to Vasquez [61].

Session 14: The Gummy Mummy and Aurelian Eldwythe

Main article: Session 14

While the party was at the Candy Cottage, soldiers took Eldwythe: banners on the palisade, shields “marked with the sunburst of Aurelia”, men “checking carts, speaking to the locals, pulling open shutters”, and notice boards describing the party [53]. Everyone was being searched [78][79]. The party had been gone “two days total” [80]. The DM said that Aurelians “must carry out their divine right of exterminating all arcane users”, and that “tieflings are exterminated on sight” [45][52].

Session 15: The Death of Ruin and Althea Joins

Main article: Session 15

The patrol announced itself “by order of the pure light” [55]. Mharos whispered to Vasquez to “blame the arcane on her”; Vasquez stepped away and raised his own hand [81], and the leader’s chain took off Ruin’s head with no roll [63]: “a scripted death”, Vasquez’s player said [82]. Below the leader came a veteran knight whose 21 only Caelumn’s Shield stopped [83] and recruits the DM called “cannon fodder” [41], one of whom fired a gun-like signal into the air [84]. A whisper dealt Althea 9 radiant damage [85]. After Phil Flowerforge’s smoke bomb, a chain pulled Caelumn’s backpack, with the Egg, into the smoke [64], and hounds followed [86].

Session 16: Through the Sewers, Onto the Skiff

Main article: Session 16

The chase went on below ground. Dogs barked behind the sewer door [11], and at the outfall the Aurelians had “kind of captured the end of the sewer” [12]. The party slipped past them to a skiff, with no fight, and the DM’s closing narration spoke of “the holy legions of Aurelia” [87]. It chose to sail for the White Lantern Shrine [88].

Session 17: New Hands, the Black Mask’s Renegotiation, and the Rimeclaw

Main article: Session 17

The forces appeared through their effects. The DM’s opening retcon had them capture Vasquez and Althea while the party fled [89][90]. Mike and Steven were pulled from a wreck whose sailcloth bore “a half-scorched golden sunburst” [91], the work of Aurelians who had sunk their ship and “left you for dead” [14]. A coastal patrol boat on a search route passed too far off to matter [16], and Nessa told of her husband, taken “into the road offices” for “unauthorized studies” [15].

Session 18: The Wyrm Falls, the Catfish Escapes, and Mike Dies on the Road

Main article: Session 18

A patrol of “three rather large men in full plate armor and what can only be described as a priestly person” stopped the party [42]. The leader gave the gate rules and asked for reports of “arcane heretics” [48]. The priest raised a finger as Mike cast Message [46], and the confessor stopped the knight’s strike on Steven, “he seems to be telling the truth”, and sent him against Mike [68]. Glenn’s swings mixed slashing and radiant damage [37]; he took Mike’s head on the next round [92]. The patrol took the Mizzium Apparatus [93].

Session 19: A Penitent Priest, an Unmade Leash, and the Pixie in the Dark

Main article: Session 19

Their rules shaped the party’s retreat: “you need to have a permit to have that” [49]. A day inland the party was “far enough away that you don’t need to worry as much about your magic being detected” [24]. The DM called the officer who took the Egg the ranking man of his patrol, with no known title [94]. A guardsman from the patrol that killed Mike followed the party and proved to be Father Thomas, who had come “to atone for the actions of my comrades” [95][69].

Session 20: The Man Who Was Always Here

Main article: Session 20

Camped in Aurelian farmland, the party was visited at night by “a hound a mastiff the size of a horse basically”, two archers and a binder, “a elite fighter and magic detector of Aurelia” [65]. He pressed Father Thomas, “Did you check them for heresy?” [96], and doubted him. A light in the sky drew the patrol off with “I’ll deal with you later.” [97]. The party crossed the Eldwythe Bridge checkpoint as caravan guards, found the town’s banners gone but its doors and walls still marked by the occupation [98][26], and left Aurelia [99].

Session 22: The Dragon in the Statue

Main article: Session 22

Far north, in the ridge temple beyond Greysmere, a wounded silver dragon wyrmling, Rime, had an Aurelian bolt under his shoulder [100][101]. “Aurelian hunters found me and tracked me all the way here,” he said [54], and when Father Thomas came near he cried “wait wait they’re back please stop him” [102]. The DM’s history check said that Aurelia and Vhal’Zarim had “hunted down dragons to near extinction” [103], apparently metallic ones too, which sits badly with session 18 [104]. The hunters themselves were never seen.

Session 23: The Changeling in Manacles

Main article: Session 23

No Aurelian appeared, but the DM spoke for them. Arcane casters seen within Aurelian borders “are rapidly executed” [28]. The man who holds the Egg “is an Aurelian binder” [66], and binders “can sense arcane usage even more than the wards in Aurelia” [47]. Whether binders may pursue people beyond the borders was asked and left open [105], and so was whether a changeling’s change of shape counts as magic [106]. The party’s own plan was to stay away “until we’re strong enough” [107].

Status

As of session 23. Active, but outside the party’s reach. The party has been beyond Aurelian territory since session 20 [99], and no Aurelian appeared in session 23. The forces hold The Egg through a binder [66], killed Ruin [108] and Mike [109], and took Vasquez and Althea in the retcon of session 17 [90]. Rime’s hunters were last heard of far to the north [54].

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 10, line 778-807: A Paladin in plate and three lighter men follow and ambush the party in Umbrafall; one tries to turn Caelumn with "the winning side".
  2. ^ Session 10, line 821-836: The Paladin's blows add radiant damage that burns Mharos; the DM puts it down to his being "blessed by Aurelia".
  3. ^ Session 10, line 1025-1054: The Paladin asks Hugo "Why won't you go down, demon?" and dies to Ruin's Eldritch Blast.
  4. ^ Session 10, line 1639-1644: The Paladin's plate is identified as Nullstone armour; the DM says even normal fighters wear it (L1687) and that it gives advantage on saves against arcane spells (L1784).
  5. ^ Session 14, line 1556-1566: Eldwythe is occupied; banners, tabards, sunburst shields and notices describing all five party members.
  6. ^ Session 14, line 1616-1619: The DM on Aurelia's "divine right of exterminating all arcane users" and "tieflings are exterminated on sight".
  7. ^ Session 15, line 94-134: The patrol arrives "by order of the pure light"; its leader's chain takes off Ruin's head.
  8. ^ Session 15, line 289-322: A veteran knight hits on a 21 and is stopped by Shield; the leader stands back with his arms crossed.
  9. ^ Session 15, line 383-441: A whisper deals Althea 9 radiant damage with no save; the leader's chain strikes and aura; "cannon fodder".
  10. ^ Session 15, line 496-541: A chain from the smoke pulls Caelumn's backpack with the Egg away; hounds follow.
  11. ^ Session 16, line 1123: Dogs bark behind the sewer door.
  12. ^ Session 16, line 1603: The Aurelians have taken the end of the sewer; the party slips past to a skiff.
  13. ^ Session 17, line 130-140: The DM's retcon has the Aurelians capture Vasquez and Althea (L785 repeats it); the Hat of Disguise is gone; wreckage with a scorched sunburst sail.
  14. ^ Session 17, line 200: The Aurelians sank the ship that Mike and Steven tried to escape on.
  15. ^ Session 17, line 973: Nessa's husband was taken "into the road offices" on a charge of "unauthorized studies".
  16. ^ Session 17, line 1187: A coastal patrol boat on a search route, too far off to matter.
  17. ^ Session 18, line 1988-2018: A patrol of three knights and a confessor gives the gate rules and the reporting protocol.
  18. ^ Session 18, line 2044-2115: The confessor detects Mike's Message cantrip; Glenn's first two swings bring him down.
  19. ^ Session 18, line 2176: Doctrine: in Aurelia the question is whether you are using unsanctioned arcane power; Bladesong counts.
  20. ^ Session 18, line 2274-2332: Glenn beheads Mike; the patrol takes the Mizzium Apparatus; the DM calls Glenn "just a patrolman".
  21. ^ Session 18, line 2378-2380: Enchanted items need a sanction, "like a gun permit in the US".
  22. ^ Session 19, line 242-243: All magical equipment needs a permit; healing potions included.
  23. ^ Session 19, line 668-708: A guardsman from the patrol that killed Mike turns out to be Father Thomas, who has taken leave from his order.
  24. ^ Session 19, line 1071: Far from Aurelia the party need not worry as much about being detected.
  25. ^ Session 20, line 267-295: A binder's patrol (a hound and two archers) questions Father Thomas and leaves to investigate a light in the sky.
  26. ^ Session 20, line 553: Eldwythe still bears marks of the occupation, with the notices torn down.
  27. ^ Session 22, line 864-915: Rime carries an Aurelian bolt; Aurelian hunters tracked him to the ridge temple; he takes Father Thomas for one of them.
  28. ^ Session 23, line 1299: DM: arcane casters within Aurelian borders "are rapidly executed"; Arcanthys and Aurelia are in "kind of a Cold War".
  29. ^ Session 23, line 1357-1363: DM: the man who holds the Egg "is an Aurelian binder"; binders sense arcane usage better than "the wards in Aurelia"; whether they may pursue beyond the borders is left open.
  30. ^ Session 17, line 99: Inline citation.
  31. ^ Session 19, line 229: Inline citation.
  32. ^ Session 10, line 1643: Inline citation.
  33. ^ Session 10, line 1784: Inline citation.
  34. ^ Session 10, line 1687: Inline citation.
  35. ^ Session 10, line 1008: Inline citation.
  36. ^ Session 10, line 836: Inline citation.
  37. ^ Session 18, line 2094: Inline citation.
  38. ^ Session 15, line 408: Inline citation.
  39. ^ Session 15, line 420-430: Inline citation.
  40. ^ Session 15, line 385-390: Inline citation.
  41. ^ Session 15, line 440: Inline citation.
  42. ^ Session 18, line 1988: Inline citation.
  43. ^ Session 20, line 280: Inline citation.
  44. ^ Session 20, line 285: Inline citation.
  45. ^ Session 14, line 1616: Inline citation.
  46. ^ Session 18, line 2044: Inline citation.
  47. ^ Session 23, line 1359: Inline citation.
  48. ^ Session 18, line 2012: Inline citation.
  49. ^ Session 19, line 243: Inline citation.
  50. ^ Session 19, line 1229: Inline citation.
  51. ^ Session 18, line 2374-2376: Inline citation.
  52. ^ Session 14, line 1619: Inline citation.
  53. ^ Session 14, line 1556: Inline citation.
  54. ^ Session 22, line 904: Inline citation.
  55. ^ Session 15, line 103: Inline citation.
  56. ^ Session 10, line 662-664: Inline citation.
  57. ^ Session 20, line 374: Inline citation.
  58. ^ Session 15, line 655-660: Inline citation.
  59. ^ Session 15, line 693-700: Inline citation.
  60. ^ Session 10, line 1054: Inline citation.
  61. ^ Session 10, line 1318-1319: Inline citation.
  62. ^ Session 15, line 416: Inline citation.
  63. ^ Session 15, line 117-119: Inline citation.
  64. ^ Session 15, line 496-501: Inline citation.
  65. ^ Session 20, line 267: Inline citation.
  66. ^ Session 23, line 1357: Inline citation.
  67. ^ Session 18, line 2332: Inline citation.
  68. ^ Session 18, line 2115: Inline citation.
  69. ^ Session 19, line 695: Inline citation.
  70. ^ Session 19, line 708: Inline citation.
  71. ^ Session 10, line 778: Inline citation.
  72. ^ Session 10, line 796: Inline citation.
  73. ^ Session 10, line 807: Inline citation.
  74. ^ Session 10, line 827: Inline citation.
  75. ^ Session 10, line 964: Inline citation.
  76. ^ Session 10, line 1025: Inline citation.
  77. ^ Session 10, line 1328-1332: Inline citation.
  78. ^ Session 14, line 1577: Inline citation.
  79. ^ Session 14, line 1650: Inline citation.
  80. ^ Session 14, line 1566: Inline citation.
  81. ^ Session 15, line 111-116: Inline citation.
  82. ^ Session 15, line 134: Inline citation.
  83. ^ Session 15, line 292-300: Inline citation.
  84. ^ Session 15, line 207: Inline citation.
  85. ^ Session 15, line 385: Inline citation.
  86. ^ Session 15, line 541: Inline citation.
  87. ^ Session 16, line 1626: Inline citation.
  88. ^ Session 16, line 1735-1740: Inline citation.
  89. ^ Session 17, line 130: Inline citation.
  90. ^ Session 17, line 785: Inline citation.
  91. ^ Session 17, line 140: Inline citation.
  92. ^ Session 18, line 2274: Inline citation.
  93. ^ Session 18, line 2287: Inline citation.
  94. ^ Session 19, line 181: Inline citation.
  95. ^ Session 19, line 668: Inline citation.
  96. ^ Session 20, line 273: Inline citation.
  97. ^ Session 20, line 295: Inline citation.
  98. ^ Session 20, line 417: Inline citation.
  99. ^ Session 20, line 696: Inline citation.
  100. ^ Session 22, line 864: Inline citation.
  101. ^ Session 22, line 901: Inline citation.
  102. ^ Session 22, line 911: Inline citation.
  103. ^ Session 22, line 909: Inline citation.
  104. ^ Session 18, line 1769: Inline citation.
  105. ^ Session 23, line 1360-1363: Inline citation.
  106. ^ Session 23, line 1409: Inline citation.
  107. ^ Session 23, line 1387: Inline citation.
  108. ^ Session 15, line 119: Inline citation.
  109. ^ Session 18, line 2276: Inline citation.