Whispers in the Dark

Learn about Empress Aurelia, the powerful undead wielder in Songs of Conquest. Discover her history, abilities, and impact on the world of Aerbor.

Hey there! So, you're diving into the lore of Songs of Conquest and want to know about "Whispers in the Dark"? That's actually a bit of a misnomer for this section, as the source text here is all about Empress Aurelia. Think of her as a central figure, even though she's not a playable character right now. She's a super powerful undead wielder who once ruled the Aurelian Empire, which was massive! Even centuries after her death (around 593 AA), people still remember her fondly, especially in Arleon. You'll find her statues in Shrines all over the place, and her image on paintings and even coins. But, fair warning, not everyone remembers her so kindly. The Rana she fought, and even some of the Baryans she ruled, see her as an evil empress. Her former allies, the Faey, weren't too happy about her resurrection either, though they did appreciate her getting rid of the dragons. What's really interesting is how she exists now. She's like a disembodied spirit, able to appear as a ghostly image and do some pretty wild stuff. She's firm but gentle with her loyal followers, giving them warm feelings. She's even known to show mercy to enemies, not executing them, but hoping to recruit them later. However, don't let that motherly image fool you completely. Aurelia can be quite shrewd and manipulative. She's shown to be able to peer into people's minds using something called [Everthink], figuring out their desires to get them to swear her Oath. When someone like [Bihgli Satherdown] refuses, she's not above making him a public enemy to rally people behind her. And while she talks about peace, a lot of her [Oathbound] soldiers have 'Bound to conquer' as their main goal, so her empire was pretty aggressive. As a wielder, she's a master of essence. While alive, she created the Oath (which can raise followers after death!) and built Essence Spires and Archway [Portals]. Now, as an undead, she can enter other wielders' minds across huge distances to talk to them (though [P'Cha, the Hermit] can do this too). The [Faey Nobles] warn that she can twist minds, but she can also borrow essence from others to do magic and communicate. She can sense who's taken her Oath and draws strength from her devoted followers. She even claims to hear prayers! After being freed from the Urn, she could sense her bloodline still in the world and use the Oath to raise her faithful wielders, even after they're defeated multiple times. **A Little History Lesson:** The Aurelian Empire was so important that the calendar is split into Before Aurelia (BA) and After Aurelia (AA). The unification of [Arleon] was probably a bit rough, with baronies needing to be 'kicked and dragged' into her 'warmth and comfort'. Baron Gaius of Loth was one of the first to kneel in 2 BA, making [Loth] a favorite. She even appointed new barons, like Lenora Stonefell as Baroness of Greenoak. The Barony of Stoutheart joined last, after Aurelia adopted the infant Hector of Stoutheart. To keep things in order, she reformed the military. In 5 AA, the Aurelian [Legion] was formed. [Legionnaires] swore loyalty to the Empire, not their baronies. Legions like Evermarch, Everstorm, and Evercrest were formed, and even though they're gone, you can still see echoes in local reserves like Corvus, Eagletine, and Hawkwing. So, while there's no specific mission called "Whispers in the Dark" in this text, Empress Aurelia's story is full of intrigue, power, and a touch of darkness. Keep an eye out for her influence as you play!