Excelsior

is the first episode of Exandria Unlimited: Calamity, the third installment in the Exandria Unlimited series of miniseries. The flying city of Avalir begins its triumphant return to the continent of Domunas while the Ring of Brass, a group of eminent city dignitaries, begin to uncover hints of something rotten within their gilded home...

Part I
It is the Age of Arcanum. Zerxus Ilerez, bloodied and exhausted, struggles through the streets of Avalir during a battle. He approaches his son Elias fishing in a hole in the ground, and Zerxus unexpectedly sees the stars of Cathmoíra through the hole and hears the phrase "Ghor Dranas" whispered from it. Though he does not know what it means, Zerxus whispers "Ghor Dranas" back through the hole. Elias reminds Zerxus that he will not look like this when Zerxus gets home and is pulled through the hole by the fishing rod. Simultaneously, Asmodeus crashes into the city and apologizes to Zerxus for being too late to tell him secrets kept from him. Zerxus steps into his hand and sees a memory of his husband Evandrin placing an amulet on the branch of a tree and collapsing. They are interrupted by Pelor, who says that Asmodeus is beyond redemption for having betrayed his kin. Zerxus stops Pelor from killing Asmodeus, and Pelor vanishes. Asmodeus asks, "Zerxus, if you look down and see the stars, what will you see if you look up?" Zerxus looks up and sees the ground fast approaching. He awakens in his room in the Tower of the First Knight in Avalir and notes "Ghor Dranas" in his journal.

Shortly, Loquatius Seelie begins his morning broadcast, projected throughout the city's Crystal Columns. He reminds everyone that tonight is the eve of the Replenishing and they will reunite with their sister city Cathmoíra tomorrow. After the broadcast, his assistant Aria tells him that repairs on the Crystal Columns are delayed by civic construction and the Architect Arcane is not responding to messages his messages. Loquatius decides to personally speak to the Architect Arcane, who is his ex-wife Laerryn Coramar-Seelie, before tonight's Feast of Imyr at Palazzo Por'co.

Laerryn is working over one of the city's arcane engines and thinking through how her secret years-long project fits into the Replenishment. She is informed that Avalir will arrive over Cathmoíra at about one in the morning and will be terrestrial again ten minutes before sunrise. Her Chief Artificer, who has been tracking the leylines in anticipation of tomorrow's Apogee Celestial Solstice using Laerryn's Grand Geometer, breathlessly alerts her that the Geometer measured 0.5, indicating a significant shift of leylines. Laerryn immediately returns to her personal quarters and is moved to tears that her work is finally coming to fruition and that she has little time to take advantage of it. She is interrupted by Loquatius, and they argue. Loquatius, wistful that they were married during the last Replenishing, asks if they can be on good terms for the month Avalir is earthbound for the sake of everyone in Cathmoíra. They both agree to be on their best behavior.

The Chief Bookkeeper of the Vault of the Golden Scythe complains to Guildmaster Nydas Okiro that the budget is exceeded. Nydas, insisting that the Golden Scythe is a symbol of Avalir's riches especially during the Replenishment, commands that a solution be found. Shortly after, Captain Badran Esperad expresses concern about not being able to pay the Stormbringers, but Nydas successfully convinces him to stall it for a month. Magister Milus Phren attempts to ask Nydas for a favor but, when Nydas realizes that Phren is speaking too openly for his social status, is quickly dismissed.

At the Hall of Eyes, Cerrit Agrupnin, Senior Sightwarden of the Eyes of Avalir, is told archmage Vespin Chloras was reported missing by authorities in Vasselheim, their last port of call. Vespin is rumored to have been attempting to ascend to godhood, like the Raven Queen. Because failed ascensions are common, Orwyn quickly closed the case. Now, Orwyn asks for Cerrit's involvement because Vespin's magical items were requested by a member of the Ring of Silver as an academic concern instead allowing them to be destroyed. Using psychometry, Cerrit investigates Vespin's sanctum. He discovers Celestial and Infernal glyphs, a fragment of a large bow destroyed by a powerful disenchanting effect through the area, and faint traces of a summoning circle meant to bind something that easily escaped. Realizing these are unusual details, he grows concerned and asks Orwyn to keep the case private between them. He holds onto the bow so he can ask some friends for their opinions on it. As he leaves, Cerrit is struck by the emptiness of the room.

Patia Por'co, Keeper of Scrolls at the Library Incantatum, arrives at the Archsept at the request of Loras, a member of the Ring of Gold and apprentice to Eldamir the Wise of the ruling Septarion. She is met by Loras and, unexpectedly, Eldamir. Loras informs her that Eldamir's other apprentice is retiring. Additionally, Eldamir is concerned about Aeor's plans to test something by attacking Lathras, another flying city; Loras urges her to see to it with the Ring of Brass. He adds two "minor" notes: the Hall of Prophecy is closed today because the oracles are apparently exhausted after some problems with the approach to Cathmoíra, and Eldamir has also heard that Cerrit has possession of magical artifacts related to Vespin's attempt to ascend to godhood. Patia is disdainful of ascension attempts because she feels godhood "hollow" in comparison to the powers of mortals. Loras says that Eldamir is concerned about such dangerous magic and instructs her to inform Loras directly of anything she learns from Cerrit, instead of going through normal channels.

Part II
As the sun sets, Patia prepares a prestigious party at the Palazzo Por'co and is informed that a champion of the divine from Vasselheim has been invited by Magister Hollow of the Ring of Silver. Partygoers arrive. Loquatius brings a date Bolo, a strange woman from Aeor. Before the party, Zerxus, disappointed that he has not received a letter from Cathmoíra, takes a flight around the city and Cathmoíra on his griffon, Tempus. He sees the home of Eaedalus Okiro, Nydas's brother, is hosting a small feast. Nydas is said to have received a letter from his sister-in-law Irmé during the day that Elias is well but in low spirits ahead of Avalir's return. She urged Elias to write to Zerxus and asks Nydas apologize to Zerxus on her behalf. The Ring of Brass—Patia, Cerrit, Loquatius, Nydas, Laerryn, and Zerxus—gather at a private table protected from eavesdropping by magic.

After a toast to Zerxus as First Knight, Zerxus admits that he almost did not come and tells them about his nightmare. Some of the others agree with Zerxus that it may be his anxiety from seeing Elias again. Zerxus relays the phrase "Ghor Dranas". Loquatius and Nydas recall that the phrase has a connotation of something that dragons fear, and Patia remembers that it is a specific threat made by Asmodeus after his defeat in The Schism. Meanwhile, Cerrit realizes that Zerxus had this dream multiple times and is sincerely deeply shaken. Cerrit brings up his investigation of Vespin and assumes that Patia was the member of the Ring of Silver asking about it. Normally, failed copycat attempts at ascension are dismissed, but Cerrit suspects there was some success in this one because people are talking about it. Patia vaguely says that the Library Incantatum has an interest in magic that is too dangerous for others. He shows the group the bow fragment, and Zerxus and Nydas together recognize it to be the celestial bow of a solar. Laerryn realizes it was destroyed by the mere presence of something incredibly powerful. She additionally realizes this can be used as a component to travel through the planes and puts it in her bag.

Purvan Suul, the divine champion from Vasselheim and in service to the Raven Queen, arrives. Zerxus is encourages by a mage to speak to Purvan as Zerxus derives his divine magic without a relationship with a god. Zerxus assures her that he will eventually. Returning to Zerxus's dream, Nydas believes that the Hall of Prophecy, which Patia tells them it's closed. Loquatius and Laerryn find it odd they have not heard the Hall is closed, and Cerrit realizes this is unprecedented. Though Loquatius says they should investigate this, only Zerxus and Cerrit are actually interested in doing so. Zerxus leaves the table to speak to Purvan.

Zerxus joins a conversation between Purvan, some mages, and Dean Lacrytia Hollow, who requested Purvan's presence. Purvan wishes to speak to the Septarion about divine matters, but he is met with derision. Conversation turns to the Raven Queen's ascension. Purvan says that the ritual for ascension was won by the Raven Queen and thus hers to do with as she pleases. Hollow, conversely, claims that the Raven Queen is still "one of us" mortal mages and that the world no longer belongs to the gods, so the Raven Queen must welcome the mages behind her. In an applause for Hollow started by Nydas, Purvan leaves.

Laerryn requests that Nydas send four automatons be sent with her to the Heart immediately and also leaves. Nydas sends a hodmedod to fetch them. Cerrit tells Hollow that he though nobody has come close to replicating the Raven Queen's ascension. Hollow says she does not know, but Cerrit's ring suggests she is lying; he recognizes that she is of the Ring of Silver. Nydas asks Patia if she has offered his services to people like Phren, and Patia angrily realizes that her circle has been breached. Nydas leaves to fetch an additional four automatons and follow Laerryn. As Nydas leaves, he and Zerxus promise to speak later. Patia casts Detect Thoughts to scan the guests for who spoke to Phren. She overhears a hodmedod whisper "Ghor Dranas" in its thoughts. It collapses. Cerrit grabs the hodmedod and takes it into a back room.

Zerxus and Loquatius chase down Purvan in Excelsior Plaza and apologize for the rudeness and arrogance of the other guests. Purvan tells them that the Raven Queen senses something dark moving across Exandria but it is beyond her sight. His investigation into this concern ended in Vasselheim when he found Vespin missing. Loquatius asked if he saw where Vespin attempted to ascend. This surprises Purvan, who did not know Vespin attempted this, and Loquatius magically alters his memory to remove this information. Though Loquatius offers to help Purvan talk to the mages of Avalir and help the Raven Queen, Purvan is dispirited. Purvan relays that the Raven Queen believes that Vespin recklessly attempted not an ascension but some other ritual in which he contacted a Betrayer God. He then vanishes. Zerxus and Loquatius speculate that Vespin is trying to motivate the Betrayer Gods to break from their banishment.

While investigating the collapsed hodmedod, Cerrits notices someone invisible is in the room with him. He attacks and instantly kills them: a stitched-together person with a mutilated face wearing rags covered in Infernal runes. Behind him, he hears a voice taunt, "You will never reach the Wildmother's embrace in time. Are you looking for something?" He turns to see Vespin in a mirror, enshrouded in fog and face mutiliated. Vespin lunges for him, the mirror cracks, and Vespin vanishes.

Featured characters
{{div columns
 * col1=

Player characters

 * Cerrit Agrupnin
 * Laerryn Coramar-Seelie
 * Loquatius Seelie
 * Nydas Okiro
 * Patia Por'co
 * Zerxus Ilerez

New

 * Akami Rowe, Guildmaster of the Navigator's Guild
 * Alessander Kyrus
 * Aria, assistant to Loquatius at the Herald's Tome
 * Asmodeus, in a dream
 * Bolo, a woman from Aeor
 * Badran Esperad, captain of the Sailor-Marines of the Harvest Moon
 * Calum Staffwright, Laerryn's Chief Artificer
 * Costello
 * Dweomer, aeormaton assistant to Laerryn
 * Dynaeria
 * Eldamir the Wise, long-time member of the Septarion
 * Elias, in a dream
 * Evandrin, in a dream
 * Feromyne, a sphinx asked to be in the Parade of Beasts
 * Gwyn Tenpace, record keeper at the Herald's Tome
 * Loras of the Weaver's Mask
 * Magister Lacrytia Hollow, Dean of the Throne of Necromancy, member of the Octothurge
 * Madara Glyph, Valedictine Abjurer of the Hall of Symbols
 * Magister Micah Cormorant, Speaker of the Fourth
 * Melindra
 * Milus Phren, Magister
 * Orwyn, detective of the Eyes of Avalir
 * Purvan Suul
 * Tempus
 * Vespin Chloras
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Returning

 * Galdric
 * Pelor, in a dream

Mentioned
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 * Arcturus
 * Eaedalus Okiro, Nydas's brother
 * Essel Longbolt, member of the Octothurge rumored to be retiring for the Magisterium
 * Kir, Cerrit's five-year-old child
 * Imyr Por'co, Patia's late grandfather who completed the enchantment on Avalir's brumestone
 * Irmé Okiro, Nydas's sister-in-law
 * Longwyn Valehelm
 * Matron of Ravens
 * Maseera Caine
 * Maya, Cerrit's seven-year-old child
 * Octavius Frost
 * Romar, child of Eaedalus and Irmé
 * Ramira, child of Eaedalus and Irmé
 * Volucia of the Heart's Emblem, Eldamir's apprentice who is retiring soon

Trivia

 * The literal meaning of the word "excelsior" is "higher".
 * If read that way, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem titled "Excelsior" is permeated with notes seeming comfort and impending doom, making it the perfect name for an episode set on the eve of the Calamity.