1349 DR
Year of the Bridle.
Cecilia arrived on the Coast in late 1349, stepping off the
José Marina in The Drawing Down of Nightal. Her early days on the Sword Coast saw her as a shy, often curious and slightly gullible young paladin with an eagerness to please; making numerous friends and allies. Green in her oaths and experiences but full of promise, she was approached within her first week to join the Order of the Radiant Heart though her decision was not made and finalised until Hammer of 1350. It was through this offer and the circumstances surrounding it, Cecilia came to know Brother
Ameris Santraeger: Priest of Ilmater - the two of whom would go on to form a bond of fraternal nature.
1350 DR
Year of the Morningstar.
It was in early Hammer, 1350 DR that Cecilia met her first challenge as Paladin when a Celestial stone fell from the heavens and caught the eye of many an adventurer whom travelled to the Cloudpeaks to investigate. Though the stone, a Solar Vessel, brought with it demons who sought to claim it for themselves, the stone could only be held by the pure of heart. Picking up the stone which had responded to her touch, she and others fought back to protect it from the demon's clutches and saw it hidden away in the Temple of the Guardian where the Everwatch could guard it. It was at that time, she had caught the eye of Beric Engel; a paladin of Tyr and another Knight of the Order of the Radiant Heart who took praise and note back to the Order in which he served. It was many months later, after countless battles of good and evil all over the coast that Cecilia collected the stone and saw it returned to the Celestials. Later in that same month, she would go on to aid in the exorcism of a young boy, join the Order of the Radiant Heart as Squire to Beric Engel and begin courtship of Dawnknight Eldarian Al'maire.
The months that followed were a true whirlwind of duty for Cecilia as she grew in experience and capability, ever determined to see justice served. Continuing to serve within the Order of the Radiant Heart, Cecilia's squirehood was elevated to be mentored under the Tyrran Grandmaster of the Order, Eliphas Valkarian, after Beric Engel disappeared while on a mission of faith. Alongside Brother Ameris Santraeger, paladin and cleric went on to begin investigation of a possible mole within the ranks of the Brotherhood and Cecilia would strive to see the Order become a beacon of hope with her seemingly boundless enthusiasm ad drive. Though she went on to aid in the struggles of Beregost resultant of the tyranny of Guard Captain Antonio and clash with a number of the nefarious;
Kalma Hellstorm and Thom Sunder among them, it was the murder of her beloved at the hands of
Kahanak Habdilof that began a domino effect of events that would see them both pushed to breaking point. Kahanak, whom was posing as a merchant sailor and seemingly wished to court the paladin himself through gifts, became obnoxious at the news Cecilia had taken a lover and having lured the Dawnknight away from the Friendly Arm Inn did kill him in cold blood naught but three days after the courtship had begun. Distraught over his death, the paladin threw herself into investigating the incident surrounding such and spending the fortune she had gathered on buying diamonds for ritual that, by Vicar
Thomas Marlowe's hand and Lathander willing, would bring the Dawnknight back to life three days later. Dazed, burdened and suffering from a brief bout of amnesia but alive.
Cecilia's investigation continued amongst her other duties, Mr Habdilof refusing to answer any and all questioning on the matter, going as far as attempting to end his own life during questioning and turning to the Dead Crows and their leader -
The Red Sorceress - upon being investigated, paying her off to take the blame for his murder. When this came to light through a mysterious witness in the month of Alturiak 1350 DR, the Tyrran was then captured by The Red Sorceress and held within the Dead Crow's lair. Physically, mentally and emotionally tortured in the interest of seeking information the paladin was interrogated for twenty four hours. It was with the aid of an unknown figure in the shadows and a rescue attempt by Thedran that saw the paladin eventually rescued and with sensitive information regarding the base and those she had witnessed within. Sabel, the Red Sorceress was later brought to justice by Amnian forces and executed. Kahanak, however, remained elusive eve as Cecilia went on to recover from her traumatic experience and pursue the man through legal means, the matter mysteriously never made it into court and Kahanak would eventually go on to reveal himself as the leader of the Red Wizards Enclave of Baldur's Gate. Moulded by her experiences the Lady-Paladin grew out of her shy tendencies and developed into a more confident, bold and diligent young woman.
Cecilia's capture and torture at the hands of the Crows, however, so soon after his own death had taken a great toll on Eldarian whose aid in retrieving his lover had been rebuked and threw him into despair. Falling victim to a demon at the hands of Shar, the Dawnknight found himself possessed - a burden that would continue to drive a wedge between the couple whom were submitted to trial after trial. Though Cecilia strived to support the Dawnknight in his downward spiral, it was a path laden with strife and suffering over the months it continued; having shut himself away the beast slowly destroying him from within while Cecilia fought to balance the desire to aid him and continue her duty to the people. During these months, Cecilia immersed herself in the justice system and was involved in a great number of trials in the Duchal Court and in the halls of the Flaming Fist as an enforcer of the tenants of the Just God. These ranged from the trial of
Cara Joriani as a Priestess of the outlawed god Myrkul in Ches 1350 DR to the apprehension of a necromancer, playing the part of prosecutor. After surmising who and what what possessing the Commander Eldarian, it was decided that an exorcism would be possible through the use of a sun stone - one which was rumoured to reside within ancient ruins of a long forgotten sun god. The stone was retrieved, Cecilia almost burning herself to death in stubborn determination to not only prove herself pure of heart, but to save the Dawnknight from his deadly fate. A great number of lessons were leant that day but it would be some time before the complicated exorcism could be conducted.
Despite hardships, the Lady-Paladin went on to become involved alongside others in the politics surrounding the tainted ruins of Triel restored and the blight removed. The cause, lead by the Ilmateri, was one which many rallied around but it too was met with it's own opposition and much scepticism. In the late days of the month of Ches during a collective effort of multiple faiths to pray over and consecrate the shrine of Chauntea within the tainted lands of Triel, the Zhentarim lay siege to said party, Cecilia amongst them. Many were slain, while others fled and Cecilia, mortally wounded, attempted to bargain for the lives of Ameris Santraeger and Brenda Du Vale whom were to be taken captive. It backfired, the Zhentarim taking the three into the depths of the Darkhold fortress. The Ilmateri Brenda committed suicide within the first hour of arrival, the Priest Ameris tried and hung by Zhentarim forces the following day. The Paladin Cecilia was tortured for a tenday by both physical and magical means that left her bloodied and broken in exchange for a ransom of three hundred bags of coin offered to the Order of the Radiant Heart as well as the demand that the cache of Holy Avenger Swords be destroyed. The ransom was declined and Cecilia's memories were altered by a powerful mage whom had her scribe a parchment of untruths before she was slowly hung from the ramparts of the fortress.
A miracle and the good graces of Lathander, Ilmater and Tyr saw Ameris and Cecilia returned to life, though the paladin's memories remained foggy. Though she could remember clearly the tortures inflicted upon her, conversations, names and faces were all a greyish haze accompanied with an unpinnable sting of betrayal. The experience changed the young woman, some would say irreversibly so and to a greater extent than any of her previous trials. Cecilia became untrusting and suspicious of all those around her save for a select few whom could be counted on less than one hand. She grew hardened, steeled in her actions and words with the belief that she had been returned to life for one reason alone; the unyielding weapon of the God of Justice. This was eased for a time with the excorcism of the Dawnknight Eldarian, the attempt made in the weeks that followed.
With the outlook grim, Paladin Cecilia and Priest Ameris had taken it upon themselves to do all they could to save the Dawnknight's life with the help of an elderly wizard by the name of Myhun Kren whom had previously added in the retrieval of the sun stone. It was then they were warned by the Most Radiant that should they fail in their attempt, not only would Eldarian die but they too might meet their permanent doom. Knowing they could not leave an innocent life in the hands of such wickedness, Cecilia, Ameris and Myhun did enter into Eldarian's consciousness to battle that which tainted him directly. It was there they each fought fiercely against all manner of the Demon's wicked minions, fiends and hounds in support of their friend and loved one. Ultimately, it was the Dawnknight's own faith in the Morninglord that saw him surrender himself to Lathander which was the beasts undoing. Finally, in the month of Mirtul 1350 DR, Eldarian Al'maire was freed and his soul became his own once more.
In that same month, naught but a few days afterward a quaking within the township of Beregost and surrounding areas saw Cecilia rally a small group of nearby adventurers by the names of Kregan, Emi and
Monty to investigate the area. Venturing into the depths of Ulcaster's Ruin, the group was met with the sight of horrific human experimentation though who, or what had done it remained a mystery. In a great chamber they came across a large red dragon, one whom took up the area almost entirely and was assuredly the cause of the great quaking of the ground above. With combined effort, the four succeeded in slaying the beast and sending it to it's eternal rest. Wounded and weary, the group pressed further into the ruins to perhaps learn of the experiments which had occurred within. Hordes of undead were put to rest and doused with holy water, surmised to be twisted experiments gone wrong. It was at the end of their journey the group encountered and destroyed a Beholder and it's portal, retrieving what notes they could from the library left behind and the door magically locked on their exit.
The end of the month of Mirtul saw Cecilia depart on a pilgrimage North that lasted the span of almost a month. Though her courtship had been saved from death, much had changed in those months that left them both burdened and confused. With Eldarian having returned to visit his family in Waterdeep and the Lady-Paladin reaching a dead end in her investigation of what few details she could retain of Darkhold and those within, she had decided to travel in an attempt to reconnect with her God and find some peace. Return saw the mending of two paths which had become battered and worn from constant turmoil, their bond strengthened more than ever before as the courted paladin was invited to Waterdeep to meet with the Patriarchal Al'maire family.
Through an Ilmateri ritual with the intent of breaking chains in Flamerule 1350 DR, Cecilia's memories of Darkhold were restored to her in their entirety - four months having passed the incident had occurred. In doing so, Cecilia publicly exposed a number of Zhentarim agents at the request of Brother Ameris and Gaervin Goldenshield of the Order of the Radiant Heart; action which would go on to spark a series of events along the Sword Coast, inevitably both good and bad. With her mind restored, the paladin was further convinced that justice was to be wrought with her own hands, driven to duty and with it a flurry of activity within the Order of the Radiant Heart.
Cecilia Lafayette, Squire of Grandmaster Eliphas, apprehended fellow Squire
Ronin Marcus of the Order of the Radiant Heart in Elesias, 1350 DR after his actions resulted in a portal materialising in the Farmlands from which Drow and Orcs of the Underdark mercenary group Bregan D'earthe came forth. Brother Ronin had willingly travelled beneath the surface after conspiring with Drow in an attempt to raise one of them from death and further agreeing to aid them in an Underdark war with the Dev'lin. Upon his return to the surface through this portal, along with several diseased slaves and the Drow, Ronin did stand alongside the enemy and prevent them from coming to harm. One of whom marked a rune to those very Farmlands. Delivered to the Flaming Fist, a trial was held for the Paladin to which he was found guilty with a plea for leniency. Cecilia, whom had been given permissions to act on the Grandmaster's behalf in his absence, did attend what was to be a
public execution by the Dukes where she would perform the beheading. It was after Ronin's Drow lover made her presence known and she was slain, that he was instead banished by Duke Eltan and branded with the mark of exile. As was customary, Cecilia allowed the former-squire to retrieve his belongings before publicly stripping him of his armor and his place among the Brotherhood.
Later in the month of Elesias 1350, the Paladin went on to expose her mentor Grandmaster Eliphas Valkarian as
Eliphas the Deceiver, favoured of Bane and Dread Lord of the Zhentarim Cell. Though she stood alone before her Brothers and Sisters of the Order in the accusation of her mentor, willing to forgo swearing future oaths to the Order to see the deceiver brought to justice. The paladin's keen observations and careful investigations over the previous eight months were a testament to the dogma of the Just God. Eliphas, confronted, showed his true colours for what they were and though he managed to escape with a holy relic through the use of vile blessings, his influence and hold over the Brotherhood had been relinquished. Cecilia was later knighted for her efforts and nominated for the role of Grandmaster, the tied votes for leadership broken only when Arkaine Halforken voted for himself to once again take ownership of the Order.
The purging of the Order of the Radiant Heart brought about a new era of the Order of the Radiant Heart, Cecilia intent that it would rise from the ashes of betrayal and shine once more as a beacon of hope. It was not to last, however, the strain of months of hardship - murder, capture, possession, various tortures and stinging betrayal had finally caught up with the Tyrran whom grew restless over the sleepy inaction of the Brotherhood. In the final days of Eleint 1350, Cecilia found herself at a crossroads and
resigned from the Order. Plauged by self-doubt in the wake of all that had occurred, the experiences made all the more painful by the judgement of her former Brotherhood and the betrayal of her fatherly mentor Cecilia began to silently but steadily spiral downward. As the paladin's faith wavered, she became easily vexed by incompetence and her ever-present suspicions began to border on the impolite. What was left of her smile faded and became rare in nature, her gaze intense and unyielding. Though she strived to hold onto her paladin oaths and ideals, Cecilia could feel herself beginning to slip.
The months of Eleint and Marpenoth 1350 DR saw a shadow beast break free from a sigil found by a bardic companion. Cecilia found herself at Ameris' side once more, accompanied by Eldarian Al'maire,
Laitae Lafreth and the Bardess. Under the guidance of an Ilmateri Deva, those involved sought to track, locate and bring end to the beast - a master of illusion whom seemed to grow in power with every day that passed and trailing destruction and despair in it's wake. Midway through their endeavours Cecilia's blessings and spells bestowed upon her by the Even-Handed began to wane before flickering and snuffing out altogether. Things seemed to go from bad to worse for the group but after enduring a great many trials over those few tenday, both physical and personal, they were met with success and Cerin Triggerblaster was laid to rest. The end of the month of Marpenoth was celebrated by the Song of the Morning temple's first annual Masquerade Ball which was lead in it's organisation by both Cecilia and Eldarian, the event deemed a huge success and raised a decent amount of coin for both the temple's mission and the people of Beregost.
Despite the frivolity of both fayre and ball, Cecilia's questioning of her faith gave way to silent despair and she rollercoasted between the optimism presented by the Lathanderites and her own questioning as to whom she was, what she was and where she was meant to be. Determined, she began seeking and questioning others on their faith though her research was none more prominent than on the Lathanderite faith - one which had played a big part in not only her time on the coast and her relationship, but her life from birth. This all came to breaking point when Cecilia, at her limit, offered up the entirety of her being to the Morninglord in a final attempt to overcome that which she despised; casting aside sword, shield and birthright until the Sun God took her into his embrace and forged a new path for her. Two weeks later, Cecilia was welcomed into the halls of the Song of the Morning as brethren having battled inner demons of self-doubt and set on a new path by an Aspect of Lathander.
Unfortunately, the changes Cecilia would meet were not all pleasant. Two days after her baptism into the Song of the morning, her lover Eldarian Al'maire chose to terminate their courtship in the interest of giving her the chance to freely embrace her new dawn without previous burdens. The shattering of such a foundation, after months of betrayal and hardship, hit Cecilia harder than anyone would ever realize. Perhaps even harder than she herself had realized. Despite the hot and cold relations that flickered between the Commander and the Dawnbringer in the months that followed, the two remained separated. Having laid her heart bare and left her true feelings in the hands of her once-courted, she pressed on during the final month of Nightal to rebuild herself in Lathander's name..
Settling into her role of priestess, Cecilia astounded those around her with her dedication to her studies and practices of the divine. It wasn't long until she began to stand out from the other awakened. The month of Nightal was a whirlwind of duty for Cecilia, whom in addition to aiding in the investigation of shadow-fires on the Coast, being involved in yet another attack by the Dead Crows (this time on the Sheriff De Oca himself) and converting a lost soul, was sought out for aid in the exorcism of a fiend,
Berea Merrimen. With many hours spent researching the case, previous instances and the method in which the devil may be extracted, the exorcism ritual was held in the countryside with the support of some of the victim's closest friends. Within their own minds, the two waged war on the fiend - forcing through through terrorising instances before reuniting in a link between minds and slaying the cornugon in battle. It was a success, yet lingering effects from that day remain. In Cecilia's case, she were left with a mark, among other things, as a reminder. A single copy book was written on the topic by her hand, "Adfectus Imperium", and offered to Candlekeep's library.
1351 DR
Year of the Crown.
As the passing of the moon turned the year, Cecilia packed her belongings and returned to her home in Cormyr. It was a myriad of reasons that pushed her decision; heartbreak and conflict, an official summon to return, and the need to realign herself with her family's wishes. Life returned, for a time, to what it had been before she left; re-immersed in the world of noble house politics, events and the ever-present pressure to marry. Duty of a different kind had it's way of finding it's way to Cecilia, however.
Mid-Hammer, 1351, the blonde was whisked from the comforts of the family manor to bare witness to the fall of Eliphas Valkarian in a ghostly apparition. She, along with a handful of others, found themselves in a location of limbo - drawn by power of the stolen Gauntlet of Torm and the looming decision of The Deceiver. Verbal, emotional and mental warefare was waged for the soul of the Zhentarim Dreadlord, the chosen group baring witness to a series of memories outlining Eliphas' past. Alas, those whom attempted redemption were divided in their goal and whether or not this affected the final outcome can only be assumed. Faced with a choice in the presence of both Tormite and Baneite Champions, Eliphas chose to keep and use the gauntlet for vile means, channelling the will of Bane into the once holy gauntlet and slaying the Champion of Torm. With his decision made and the threat of his power as Chosen looming, Cecilia had no choice but to attempt one final, desperate act. Despite the seeming ethereal forms they had all been cast in, she drew the blade of a fellow paladin and plunged it into the chest of her former mentor - both met with shock and confusion at the success. Eliphas, in his attempt to control the gods, was slain. Those involved, returned from whence they came.
In light of recent events, Cecilia took news of the Dreadlord's death to the Knights of the Purple Dragon, Cormyr's elite military force with whom Eliphas had served in his past. She weaved for them her former mentor's story, and the part she played in it. For her service to the crown, she took further vows of fealty and was offered an honorary position within the ranks of the Purple Dragon Legion. Such an honour, however, did not aid in keeping her family from it's inevitable downfall.
In the weeks that followed, a scandal was brought to the fore in the ever present battle of dominance between noble houses. Exposed was the unknown embezzlement of their fortune, the contracts with shady entities and the complete shame of the Lafayette name - a campaign puppeteered and manipulated by none other than her scorned former betrothed, Lord Jarin Gregory Aurubaen. Unfortunately, much of what was exposed rung true and the House of Lafayette was stripped of it's titles, it's wealth and it's status. Shamed. Scorned. Outcast. A small pardon was made, however, for the children of Lord and Lady Lafayette; a clean albeit title-less slate in which they could forge their own future without the taint of their parents actions. Reduced to the simpler living of high-class commoners, Cecilia spent a great deal of time reconnecting with her roots whilst serving with the Dragons. The actions of her family under her own nose caused the woman to re-evalute her entire foundation, the coals of justice that simmered in her heart were stoked and burned anew. Truly, she had served Tyr all her life before her fall, yet something had inevitably changed her through the redeeming dip she had taken into the Lathanderite faith. A tempered mercy, a broader understanding of redemption and the need for light where there was none.
Cecilia knew what she had to do, and the final stages of her redemption could only be found in one place. In late Ches, the third month of the calendar, the Lady-Knight's ship on which she took passage arrived back within the city of Baldur's Gate, where it had all began. Here she would seek her penance, her retribution. Here, she would piece back what was lost, piece by piece. However, another romanced sparked upon her return with an incorrigible sailor known only as the Copper Fox. Cecilia had found a measure of happiness once more, yet the disappearance of her new found partner in the budding stages of their relationship left the woman heartbroken once more. She returned to Cormyr and continued serving in the army of the Purple Dragon Knights.
