Bartholomew’s Ascension

Chapter VI — Bartholomew Inducted as Solar Scion

The Ascension of Bartholomew Reginald Baldwin XXIX (Arse) was a landmark event in the history of the Ecclesia Solari, marking both the first time a Kobold was officially inducted as a Solar Scion and the first time the Church formally declared that Kobolds possess Souls and are no longer to be categorized as Fomorians.

Background

Bartholomew, an Emerald Kobold who had been masquerading as a halfling Solar Scion for months, finally revealed his true identity to the Soul Shepherds during the Saturn arc. He had stolen the identity of a fallen Scion named Cassian Astor XXVIII, whose body he found in the aftermath of a battle where Cassian died protecting a group of Kobolds.

The Petition

Upon returning to Astraloftum, the Soul Shepherds presented Bartholomew’s case before the Ecclesia Solari Clergy and High Priestess Cetra, backed by the testimony of the Whispering Grove Druids led by Acting Archdruid Bramble. Bartholomew told his story honestly — the vagabond Kobold who found a dying Scion, took his medallion and identity in hopes of one day finding Paradise, who then went on to defend Astraloftum and saved thousands of lives.

The Clergy was moved. Cetra allowed him to proceed to the Mirror Realm trial.

The Mirror Realm Trial

The Soul Shepherds entered the Atrium Profanus in the Mirror Realm via the Eluvian Mirror in St. Ode’bbej Cathedral, with the SABER agent Thirteen (posing as a janitor) opening the portal.

Inside, Dark Arse — Bartholomew’s Dark Self — waited at a great pipe organ, playing an ancient Draconic melody and unleashing the petrified Fomorian Devil Generals (Iblis, Niggurath, and Cun’Ingus) via the Ebon Star.

Dark Arse taunted Bartholomew viciously, calling him a thief without honor or family. After a fierce battle, Bartholomew cornered his Dark Self — but instead of destroying him violently, he chose to grant Dark Arse a peaceful death, offering him an illusion of the home and family he never had as he faded.

Bartholomew also successfully reverse-engineered the dark organ melody, playing the counter-melody that forced the Devil Generals back into petrification.

The Shadow Dragon Vyvanix crashed into the Atrium and destroyed the Eluvian mirror, but Bartholomew shattered the Fomorian Ichor from Magus Xor’Ocu to teleport the party to safety.

The Ceremony

Upon their return to St. Ode’bbej Cathedral, High Priestess Cetra knighted Bartholomew as a full Solar Scion and made her historic proclamation: Kobolds shall no longer be deemed Fomorian. Bartholomew addressed the Church, declaring that his people possess Souls and vowing that finding Paradise to save those Souls is his divine burden.

Significance

• First Kobold Solar Scion in the Church’s history.
• Church doctrine on Fomorians formally revised.
• Bartholomew’s Piety counter begins accumulating.
• The Atrium Profanus contains three still-petrified Devil Generals — a potential future threat if the Ebon Star is ever activated again.
• Thirteen secretly reported his observations on the Soul Shepherds to High Priestess Cetra in the aftermath.