Event synopsis: Babel
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| “ | Babel, a land of dreams where the past calls to the future. The tower that resolves differences points towards the truth. The King of Sarkaz steals the flame of hope, and the sparks reignite war. Kin turn their swords on each other, and heroes rise from the ruins. An assassination puts an end to their differences, but fate is inextricably linked to the truth. The visionary calls out the idealist's epitaph. The King may be gone, but her dreams live on. | ” |
A Tower Reaching the Heavens[edit]
After the End[edit]
In the year 1094, on the outskirts of Kazdel, Ascalon is intercepted by Scareye, a Cyclops who leads Scar Market, the largest black market in Kazdel. Scareye taunts Ascalon that she has fallen for their diversion and revealed that Babel has been betrayed, with their leader, Theresa, killed by assassins sent from Theresis and the Military Commission of Kazdel. Scareye also declares his intent to kill Ascalon as well, in an attempt to fight against the fate he foresaw, where he will die at the hands of Ascalon. The two then engage in an intense fight before falling off the edge of the cliff.
In Londinium, a group of assassins stood down as their objective, Theresis, has announced the death of Theresa. With this, he is now the sole leader of Kazdel, and demands the assassins to swore fealty to him. Despite their reluctance, they agreed to do so, knowing that their cause is lost. After they had sworn their new oath of alligence to Theresis, they were given the next task: to enter the Mausoleum of Kings and stage an ambush to kill all Steam Knights, the most elite force of Victoria. Knowing that this mission will certainly mean death to almost everyone involved, the assassins reluctantly complied, carrying their grief for Theresa and hatred for Theresis to their inevitable graves.
Meanwhile on the Rhodes Island landship, an enraged Kal'tsit leads Mon3tr into a rampage against assassins aboard. As one assassin bleeds out, he begs Kal'tsit not to reveal their names and face to the public, as they are too ashamed of their actions. After reaching the room of Theresa's office, Kal'tsit orders Mon3tr to tear down the locked door immediately, hoping for the slightest chance at saving her friend. Unfortunately, it is too late: Theresa lies in a pool of her own blood, with Amiya tightly held in her clutches. Dozens of hornless assassins are strewn dead across the floor. The only other survivor is Doctor, who lies unconscious right next to Theresa.
Kal'tsit worst fear is confirmed. Theresa is dead, and the cause of Tower of Babel died with her.[1]
Vision and Purpose[edit]
It all began in the Terran year of 1030, during the reign of the twin Sarkaz kings, Theresa and Theresis. At the time, there was an ongoing war between Gaul and Leithanien, and other Terran nations were becoming increasingly more advanced while Kazdel was left far behind. The two Kings saw a need to reshuffle the War Council and form the Military Commission to strengthen their power. They discussed with the other members of the Royal Court: Nezzsalem of the Nachzehrer Court, Laqeramaline of the Banshee Court, and Duq'arael of the Vampire Court. Theresa had also managed to get the Damazti Cluster's approval. In addition to the Commission, Theresa has also been working together with Kal'tsit to form Babel, an institution where Sarkaz and other races could become equals and work together as one.[2]
In the year 1068, a Leithanien Kurfürst collaborated with several Siracusan famiglie in order to destroy Kazdel. The Nachzehrers and Banshees held off their advance while the nomadic city charged into the middle of a Catastrophe to evade them. While leading the civilians to safety, the two Kings met a young Ascalon and decide to take her in. It was also around this time that Manfred joined a Military Commission institution and studied under Theresis. The two would later become rivals who were constantly at each others' throats.[3]
Over the years, Babel tried to foster a good reputation with the local Kazdelian Sarkaz by offering food, medicine, and education. However, since its inception, there had already been brewing hostility and resentment towards its members, partly fueled by hatred towards non-Sarkaz, signaled by isolated incidents of conflict. People were afraid to send their children to study under Babel, though some participated in secret tutoring sessions. Tensions spiked in 1086 when a Babel teacher accidentally killed someone from the Military Commission. To avoid further confrontation, Babel, joined by Theresa, withdrew from the city. Over time, more and more began to side with Regent Theresis' ideals, believing in a new future at Londinium. Seeing that even the Royal Court and the Confessarius has sided with him, Theresa solemnly accepts her people's decision and leaves Kazdel. Several people, like Julie, choose to follow her. Ascalon decides to leave with Theresa, while Manfred remains by Theresis' side.
Seeds of Doubt[edit]
Kal'tsit was made aware of Babel's troubles and offers greater assistance towards Theresa. She informs her that within the Rhodes Island landship they had excavated in Rim Billiton, she discovered a Sarcophagus that holds the key to understanding the secrets of Originium. In the summer of 1090, Kal'tsit unlocks the Sarcophagus, awakening the Doctor inside. Although initially disoriented, the Doctor quickly adjusts thanks to Theresa and Kal'tsit's help. The Doctor knows that Kal'tsit woke them up for a reason and promises to help as best as they can.
During the Doctor's time on Babel, they saw how Terra has changed over the course of millennia. The Doctor witnessed how Originium causes an incurable disease, causing grief and suffering to all afflicted. They saw how Catastrophes wreak havoc across the lands and how the Sarkaz are persecuted by other nations. In 1091, the Doctor had rescued a young Cautus girl by the name of Amiya. Seeing such a young girl suffering from Oripathy motivates the Doctor into finding a cure for Oripathy. The Doctor decides to bring Amiya to the Rhodes Island landship in order to conduct more effective research there.
Theresa also showed the efforts of her own research into Originium. She revealed that she had found a way to reverse the Assimilated Universe in Originium, creating a field of blooming flowers in a barren wasteland.[4] This both impressed and terrified the Doctor. On one hand, the Doctor knew this could be a breakthrough in the research of Oripathy and give new hope to Terra. On the other hand, Originium was a project of the Doctor's civilization that had been going on for millions of years. Babel's research would sacrifice everything the "Predecessors" had worked towards and bring only ruin.
Doubts began to seep into the Doctor's mind, causing them to drown themselves tirelessly in work. The Doctor even used themselves as a test subject for Oripathy medicine. This stress culminates in the Doctor passing out while taking Amiya on a stroll. Worried about the Doctor's worsening mental health, Theresa decides to peer into the Doctor's mind. What she finds is unexpected: a world where everything has been assimilated into Originium. Kal'tsit explains that the vision represents one of the possible futures for Originium. Even so, Theresa feels the Doctor's sincere emotions towards Babel's cause and continues to believe in them.[5]
Yet the Doctor's inner turmoil only grows stronger. In the winter of 1093, the Doctor meets with Theresis in secret, proposing a collaboration. In exchange for the technology to control Originium, the Doctor wishes for Theresis to destroy Babel and scatter its followers, then letting Theresa in on his plans for Londinium. This arrangement would solidify the Military Commission's rule while secretly advancing the Originium Project. However, Theresis is dissatisfied and insists on a harsher condition; only with Theresa's would Babel truly be vanquished. He reasons that Theresa will never Babel while it still exists, nor will she idly stand by and allow its eradication. Theresis demands that the Doctor ensure Babel’s unconditional surrender and eliminate its leader. He further promises that, should Theresa fall, no harm will come to the remaining Babel survivors. As Theresis departs, the Doctor is left grappling with this idea, uncertain whether to follow through.[6]
Fall From Grace[edit]
The ongoing civil war between Babel and the Military Commission reaches its climax in the spring of 1094. Theresis and his army had departed for Londinium, leaving Kazdel defenseless. The Doctor uses the opportunity to order a siege on Kazdel to reclaim the city. However, this operation serves as a pretense to deploy all of the landship's combat Operators, leaving it equally vulnerable to attack. As the operation progresses, the Doctor isolates themselves in the control room and disables the shipwide defense system. Sensing the Doctor's inner turmoil, Theresa tries in vain to stop the assassins sent by Theresis from infiltrating the landship.[7]
Just then, Amiya enters Theresa's office. To protect her, Theresa traps Amiya inside a black bubble and confronts the Deathveil Assassins alone. Acknowledging the assassins’ commitment to their cause, Theresa honors their decision to die for Theresis’ goal, fighting them while promising to remember each of their names. Meanwhile, inside the bubble, Amiya listens to a story narrated by an illusion of Theresa. Theresa tells Amiya a veiled version of her life's story, concluding with the protagonist's failure. Upset by the story's tragic ending, Amiya asks Theresa if there is a way to change it. Theresa confesses that she cannot change the ending, but she can give Amiya the power to do so; with her remaining strength, she bestows the Civilight Eterna onto her.
After putting Amiya to sleep, Theresa continues to battle against another wave of assassins until all her strength is exhausted. Perhaps out of guilt, the Doctor comes personally to witness her final moments. Though saddened by the Doctor's betrayal, Theresa still senses their truest wish: to cure Amiya's Oripathy. In one last act of both revenge and kindness, Theresa dives into the the Doctor's mind and begins to erase their memories. Within those memories, she sees the Doctor partying with other Operators, confessing their guilt, and their first meeting with Amiya. Finally, at the end of the memories, she encounters the Doctor's past self, codenamed Oracle. Oracle thanks Theresa for trusting in them, even to the bitter end, and slowly fades away.[8]
With the Doctor's memories completely wiped, Theresa collapses to the floor. She cradles Amiya gently as she breathes her last. Kal'tsit arrives just as Theresa passes away. Amiya wakes up, but Kal'tsit quickly discerns that Theresa's consciousness has possessed her body. Through Amiya, she asks Kal'tsit to protect the girl, and warns that Theresis will soon bring destruction upon all of Terra.[9]
A somber elegy lamenting Theresa's death echoes in the ears of every Sarkaz on Terra. Theresa is gone, but Amiya and Kal'tsit will carry on her legacy and ideals.