Legion of Dawn lists all relevant cortex entries of Histories sub section found in the Library main section of the Cortex.
Collection Details
A total of 44 cortex entries make reference to the Legion of Dawn.
The following Cortex Entries try to explain about the Legion of Dawn.
Arcanist Runes
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An ancient form of coded communication unknown to modern Arcanists. With only a few accounts of unseen messages being used to pass information to allies during times of war, runes became a victim of their own legacy of obfuscation. Their existence was questioned and outright denied by scholars for centuries. With their recent rediscovery, scholars believe the runes could be a treasure trove of long-forgotten knowledge.
Arden Vassa (1)
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A key Legion of Dawn member, Arden Vassa invented and built the first javelin. A master of ember manipulation and Forge blueprints, Vassa reportedly constructed the first javelin in just five days.
When the Legion of Dawn divided into three, Vassa led a great throng to Antium and was received as a hero. He invented Antium's fortifications and transformed it from an insecure village to a safe haven. While there, Vassa made numerous discoveries and breakthroughs in technology, then passed that knowledge onto his children, Fortuo and Dell. In turn, they taught their own children. Fortuo eventually left to found his own city, but Dell and his bloodline have remained rulers of Antium.
Arden Vassa (2)
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The feats of design and engineering attributed to Arden Vassa are too improbable to be believed. Are we to accept that one man invented the javelin while hiding in a cave somewhere in the Bastion wilderness? It seems unlikely that the same person could have designed the walls of Antium and the gardens of the Academy, and yet both are attributed to Vassa. It is far more likely Arden Vassa was a group of Arcanists and Engineers whose work has been misattributed.
— From Antium Journal of Archaeology, Arcanist records
Garred the Chronicler
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One of the first Legion of Dawn members, Garred the Chronicler spread the word of General Tarsis and her accomplishments to inspire others to join her cause. Garred was master of the written word, a charismatic speaker, and is best known for writing a historical document about the Legion called The Volume of Tarsis. Little else is known about Garred, for he rarely wrote about himself. It is known he was married to General Tarsis, but he died before her own passing.
Interestingly, Garred's works appeared to be written past his death, and it is believed that others took up the mantle of recording The Volume of Tarsis for at least 30 years after his death. In his honor, Empress Vassala Dell gave the title of Chronicler to cyphers who transfer information to other cyphers.
General Helena Tarsis (1)
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The first lancer and leader of the Legion of Dawn. Helena Tarsis is humanity's most revered and celebrated hero. The Volume of Tarsis claims that she was the lone survivor of an escaped group of slaves, though the General reportedly spoke little about her past.
Tarsis, her husband Garred the Chronicler, and inventor Arden Vassa recruited and trained an army to overthrow the urgoth. At the Dawn Gates, Tarsis fell in battle preventing the urgoth's final act of vengeance, the attack on the human settlement of Antium. Sometime after her death, she was reportedly spotted near Anshar, prompting the belief that she would rise again and inspiring construction of the Helena's Walk temple.
General Helena Tarsis (2)
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Can we be certain that General Tarsis truly made Fulminous, whatever that may be, into a sword? Speculating on the accuracy of The Volume of Tarsis is a waste of our time. Instead, let us consider what the text tries to teach us—that humanity came together to overcome oppressors through ingenuity, communication, and organization... this should be our focus.
General Helena Tarsis (3)
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The acts of Tarsis have been conveniently politicized. The Path of Might, the Path of Valor, the Path of Resolve... these actions should be taken as a whole, not as one example that defines an entire faction.
Liatrelle and the Path of Resolve (1)
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Before the Battle of Antium Pass, the Legion's Test of Resolve had a different basis. It began with Liatrelle, the General's oldest friend. When Tarsis first raised an army against the urgoth, Liatrelle was with her. They hadn't yet found Arden Vassa. No lancers, no Arcanists, no javelins, no weapons, no fortress. Not even a good hiding place. Nothing but the vision of Helena Tarsis, and Liatrelle's unbreakable will.
The two set out to find the urgoth. The plan was simple. Follow the raiders, and warn villages in their path. At first, they succeeded in getting word of the coming urgoth to people in time. Villagers fled to safety. But the longer the urgoth went without prey, the faster it spurred their hunt. Finally, Tarsis and Liatrelle arrived at a village with the urgoth close behind. Flight was impossible. So, they stood and fought.
Tarsis hoped to slow the urgoth enough that some villagers could escape. The two fought alone, armed with simple weapons, and were little more than an annoyance to the enemy. But they fought. Despite greater numbers, strength, and weapons, the urgoth could not subdue them. Finally, with Tarsis wounded and Liatrelle exhausted, the two prepared for the end. But then, the villagers rallied. With tools and improvised weapons, they joined the battle and routed the enemy. Many innocents were taken that night, but not all of them. That night, people fought the inevitable.
— As told by the Bard
Liatrelle and the Path of Resolve (2)
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This is the story of how the Legion endured its own destruction.
While Arden Vassa and Stral argued about the remaining Legion's path, Liatrelle prepared. She prepared her oldest friend and other fallen for burial. And she prepared the way for those still to come. She took Garred's Volumes of the Legion from the Fortress of Dawn before it was sealed. She left Helena's signet in the General's tomb so it could someday be claimed again.
Liatrelle would not abandon her friend, or her path, even though the battles were over. The world would always need Tarsis. And Tarsis would always need Legionnaires. She followed Vassa to Antium for a time, and left the Legion's records with trusted lancers to be maintained and passed down by generations.
Once her preparations were complete, her plans in motion, Liatrelle walked out of Antium and vanished.
— As told by the Bard
Magna Stral and the Path of Might (1)
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Magna Stral came to the Legion of Dawn as a young girl. Her village was raided and her family taken by urgoth. She was so small, she hid inside a basket. The urgoth surely caught her scent, but considered her too weak to bother taking. Alone, unarmed, she followed the secret Arcanist signs to Sanctuary, where the rebels hid and plotted. There, Stral begged General Tarsis to let her to join the Legion, to grant her vengeance. But, the General refused. Stral wasn't ready, Tarsis said.
Stral couldn't accept that. So she went out alone to fight the urgoth. She set traps and ambushes. She poisoned spears and knives. Any small advantage she could take against a superior enemy, she gladly took. She nearly died dozens of times, but vengeance drove her onward. She carried urgoth trophies to the Sanctuary. Day after day. Week after week. Finally, General Tarsis spoke with her.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“I want to join the Legion of Dawn.” Magna replied.
Tarsis looked at Stral's many urgoth trophies.
“Why? You already have your revenge.”
At first, Stral had no answer. Then, she said, “It's where I belong.”
“Then you're finally ready to join us,” Tarsis said.
— As told by the Bard
Magna Stral and the Path of Might (2)
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Let me tell you the final tale of Magna Stral.
When General Tarsis fell, those closest to her mourned. Each carried grief in their own way. For Stral, the loss of her friend and leader summoned rage. She couldn't rest while a single urgoth lived. They were already broken by the Sword of Fulminous, terrified, fleeing to the dark corners of the world. But Stral followed, hard on their heels. When at last her scouts found no more enemies, she returned to the Fortress of Dawn. There she found the doors sealed. The Legionnaires were preparing to leave it forever.
While Stral eased her grief with battle, Arden Vassa fixated on his duty. With her final breath, Tarsis made him swear Antium would not fall... no matter the cost. At her command, Vassa prepared to take the Legion of Dawn south to guard Antium.
Outraged at this perceived desertion, Stral ordered the lancers to halt. And they obeyed. Her General secured a future for all people, not just Antium. She called for the Legion to follow her, to battle the enemy in the darkness where they'd fled. Stral was admired—some say revered—by many, and they gladly joined her cause.
Vassa called them traitors. Stral declared those who stayed behind were cowards. And the Legion broke. Those who followed Magna Stral called themselves Paladins, and went north to pursue the enemies of man. They vanished into darkness, and were never heard from again.
— As told by the Bard
Midderon and the Path of Valor (1)
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Midderon was the son of Arcanists. He lived his entire life hiding in a cavern underground. At ten years old, he'd never seen the sky, or an urgoth, or any beast but humans. The world was utterly unknown to him, except for tales of horror and woe. But among stories warning children to hide and obey, Midderon heard one other. A whispered tale of a rebellion against the urgoth, and a Legion rising to free all people. So, the young Midderon left the safety of the Arcanists to find the Legion of Dawn.
Raised to be a scholar, he could read the secret signs of the Arcanists. He followed them through the wilds toward the Legion of Dawn. The chimera... had a different plan. Midderon had never seen a chimera. He'd never even seen a grabbit, but he was a very good student. He learned all the warning signs that he was being hunted, and remembered stories about laying false trails. He led the chimera on a winding path through the rocks. Back and forth. He could never shake the creature, but it could never find him. Then, other hunters came.
General Tarsis discovered the chimera stalking the boy while she wore the first javelin built by Arden Vassa. The General was just learning to use her javelin. No one knew what it could do—not even the man who made it. Not trusting her suit's strength in a direct fight with a chimera, Tarsis lured it into chasing her instead. While it ran after Tarsis, Liatrelle found the boy and spirited him away to safety.
Liatrelle took him to the Legion's camp. When Tarsis asked where he lived and who his people were, Midderon replied, “You're my people.”
The others tried to persuade him to return home, but Tarsis said, “He is home.”
Midderon then served as a page in the Legion of Dawn.
— As told by the Bard
Midderon and the Path of Valor (2)
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It's time to tell you how the Freelancers began.
Midderon was raised by the Legion of Dawn. He witnessed Tarsis testing the first javelin. He was at the General's side when the Fortress was built, earned his own javelin, and eventually fought beside her. Of those that stood with Tarsis and held back the urgoth at Antium Pass, only Midderon survived. In grief, the Legion tore itself in two. Half went with Magna Stral. Half with Arden Vassa. And one Legionnaire who went with no one.
Midderon remained at the Fortress of Dawn, even though the gates were sealed and the lancers gone for good. Alone in the courtyard, Midderon heard a distant roar. It was a sound he remembered, for it haunted his dreams. The roar of the chimera Cindermaw. The monster that stalked him long ago. It had vanished for more than a decade, but returned upon the General's death.
Though Midderon stood no chance alone, he saw that the village of Anshar lay helpless in the creature's path. He found the chimera's trail and followed it—not to the monster, but to its lair. If he silenced the relic that created it, Cindermaw would be defeated. Midderon found the relic, though the monster lurked nearby. Midderon remembered his childhood of laying false trails. He woke the chimera and it chased his false tracks while he slipped past, silenced the relic, and defeated the beast that stalked him long ago.
Cindermaw fell. In that moment, Midderon knew his calling was to walk the Path of Valor, even if he walked it alone.
— As told by the Bard
The Legion of Dawn (1)
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The lancers who first created javelins fought back against urgoth oppressors, and won humanity's freedom. General Tarsis led the human revolution while piloting the first javelin, invented by Arden Vassa. The Legion's ranks included notable heroes like Sanadeen, Liatrelle, and Magna Stral. Their tragedies and triumphs were recorded by Garred the Chronicler in Bastion's most famous book, The Volume Of Tarsis, though the text was printed long after Garred's death.
The Legion of Dawn (2)
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And so the Legion divided into three once the urgoth were defeated. Singing the Path of Resolve were the Sentinels, sworn to protect, their voices full with service to the people and high city walls. On the Path of Might, the Paladins were convinced that strength and force should lead the way. Lastly, the Freelancers followed the notes of valor sung by General Tarsis herself.
The three melodies sung together caused only discord, and none could bear the sound. So it was that one Legion became three. Spoke Vassa: “We must sing the Anthem as we hear it, and none should be forced otherwise.”
—From The Volume of Tarsis
The Legion of Dawn (3)
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The Legion left monuments throughout Bastion, and into the Reaches and Mirelands, but the meanings of these artifacts have been lost. Were the statues depicting real people? Were they celebrations of victories or memorials for the fallen? We may never know.
The Legion of Dawn (4)
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Historical records indicate that the Legion was meticulous in retrieving the bodies of fallen soldiers. All remains were cremated, and fragments from the Volumes suggest that they feared the urgoth would steal corpses from graves. Whether or not this ever occurred is unknown. No indication is given in the Volumes as to what the urgoth did with the spoils of grave robbing.
Tomb of Tarsis
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The resting place of Legion of Dawn leader, General Helena Tarsis. Over the years, many have searched for the tomb. In particular, Arcanist researchers have been frustrated in their attempts to discover the location of the Tomb of Tarsis. Garred's The Volume of Tarsis states that the General was buried in the place most beloved to her, inspiring speculation that her tomb could actually be inside the Fortress of Dawn. Other historians believe Tarsis was buried somewhere in the valley that is her namesake.
Tarsis and the Mountain
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Fulminous lived atop a mountain too steep for humans to climb. From there, he sent giants and terrible storms like a dreadful, fiery wind.
A day came when Tarsis declared her people would suffer Fulminous no longer. She brought the most trusted of her flying Legion to the lair of the mighty creature. For three days, they battled amid fearsome lightning, until Tarsis brought Fulminous to heel. She pried his thunderous voice from his throat and forged it into a sword... the Voice of Heaven to sing a song of triumph.
— From The Volume of Tarsis
Tarsis and the Sword of Thunder
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The Voice of Heaven whispered to the General, and with its guidance she forged a new ambition. She gathered the Legion at their old sanctuary as the enemy, cunning and cruel, surrounded them. As warriors filled the valley below the mountain, they laughed and cheered, certain that no human could escape.
But Tarsis planned well, and once the urgoth committed their greatest forces to the battle, she unleashed the Voice of Heaven upon them. The mountain shattered as it sang and the urgoth were buried beneath waves of rock and earth
— From The Volume of Tarsis
The Last Stand of General Tarsis
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With their multitudes buried in the avalanche, the vengeful urgoth turned the remainder of their forces south, toward Antium—the hope of humanity, a town beyond the mountains, untouched by urgoth will. Once again, Tarsis gathered a trusted few and, with the speed of flight, arrived at the mountain pass to stop the urgoth.
The urgoth gathered a great host, yet Tarsis would not yield, and she held the pass for three days until more Legionnaires arrived on foot. With a chorus mighty and strong, Dawn swept in behind the urgoth, pinning them against the mountain walls until their ranks fell dead. Antium remained untouched.
Yet victory came with tragedy, for Tarsis herself was among the slain. The Legion carried her from that place to pay her proper honor.
— From The Volume of Tarsis
Zhim’s Legionnaire Archive
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This appears to be the fragment of an archive written by the Legionnaire Liatrelle the Unbroken shortly after the death of General Tarsis. It has been heavily annotated by Regulator treasure-hunters as they searched for the tombs. The Legion of Dawn counted many different members among their ranks—Arcanists, Engineers, healers, cooks, and, most importantly, the lancers known as Legionnaires. "The Volume of Tarsis" celebrates famous Legionnaires such as Magna Stral, Liatrelle, Sanadeen and Midderon, but hundreds of other warriors fill their own pages. Mentions are given to lancers Artinia, Cariff, Gawnes, Alnwick Marigold, Verithan, Yvenia, and the twins, Durnwin and Felux, though they are mentioned mostly in passing without great detail.
Artinia the Sharpshooter (1)
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"...with Vassa's students, to watch the stars for signs of the General's return. Her keen eyes and perfect calm shall protect their search for truth long after the rest of us have turned to dust."
"If it's in the Bullet Mires, we're never going to find it. I lost my own javelin in those ruins once, and it took me three months to spot where I'd left it."
Artinia the Sharpshooter (2)
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Though the enemy took her right arm, that did not matter inside a javelin. No Legion lancer could wield a rifle like the Sharpshooter. With my own eyes, I watched as she parted a rope bridge from its supports with a single shot, sending the bridge and all the urgoth upon it tumbling down into a watery abyss.
— Liatrelle's Archive, text fragment
Artinia the Sharpshooter (3)
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When they speak of her, let them say Legionnaire Artinia, Sharpshooter of the Legion, never wasted a shot. And should the sun and stars one day cease to brighten day and night, I will know it was Artinia who struck them from the heavens
— Liatrelle's Archive, text fragment
Cariff the Tactician (1)
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"Let him stand guard upon the battlefield where once we fought side-by-side to end the urgoth threat forever. Without him, it would have been the tomb for all the Legion."
"The battle she's talking about had to be at Sanctuary, right? Isn't that the old tale?"
Cariff the Tactician (2)
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On the mountainside, we were attacked by foul creatures we had never seen before, seemingly forged from spite and malice. Beyond counting, they overwhelmed us. But the Tactician, clear-eyed and calm as stone, waited and watched until the wretched things were gathered in great number. Then he unleashed his mortars, striking the entire throng at once.
— Liatrelle's Archive, text fragment
Cariff the Tactician (3)
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We found him on the battlefield, surrounded by rings of fallen urgoth like ripples in a pond after the stone lands. If any lancer could outwit death itself, Legionnaire Cariff would be the one. We placed him among the honor guard, so when our General returns, her Tactician will be at the ready.
— Liatrelle's Archive, text fragment
Gawnes the Blademaster (1)
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"Lay him to rest beside our great stronghold. He shall watch over the approach in death as he did so often in life. Blade at the ready, waiting to greet aspirants with a challenge.”
"Couldn't get close enough to investigate that cavern. Too much wildlife. Have to send suits to the Fortress to check it out."
Gawnes the Blademaster (2)
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The enemy came upon us in waves, and the Blademaster cut each of them down. It took three heartbeats to reload my rifle, and in those moments, he had shattered the urgoth line single-handed. As they fled the field, with barely a shot fired, we stood among their fallen and marveled.
— Liatrelle's Archive, text fragment
Gawnes the Blademaster (3)
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I have gathered up the pieces of his shattered sword. He will need them where he is going. Lay him with the rest of the honor guard, and on his stone write: Here lies Legionnaire Gawnes, Blademaster of the Dawn. He looked death in the eye, and cut it down with his own hands.
— Liatrelle's Archive, text fragment
Yvenia the Forgewright (1)
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In life, she was the rock upon which we all stood. Let her hold up the watchtower forever more. With her strength to support it, the pass shall never again be threatened."
"The Legion watchtower became Fort Tarsis, didn't it? Has anyone seen signs of this tomb nearby?"
Yvenia the Forgewright (2)
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On the field of Blackstone, as Tarsis and her troops held the front against the enemy, the Forgewright moved in the shadows, gathering materials, rendering aid and repairs to the fallen, so that the Legion's might would not falter over the long battle.
— Liatrelle's Archive, text fragment
Yvenia the Forgewright (3)
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Upon the stone that covers her, let them write: Here lies Legionnaire Yvenia, Forgewright of Dawn. She stood with Tarsis and shall stand forever more among her honor guard. We who have been broken, we who have been wounded, we who have been lost, owe her thanks. And if time dares erase what has been written there, let time face the Legion's wrath.
— Liatrelle's Archive, text fragment
Vassa and the Runes (1)
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Grey-eyed Idris and his apprentice, a young Arden Vassa, were won in battle by loathsome F'Kark, whose urgoth temper was written daily on the hides of his servants. The beatings continued until Idris secretly planned to join the free people, for Idris knew the secret signs.
Vassa and the Runes (2)
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Vassa and the Runes (3)
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Idris pointed to a rock that was seemingly plain, yet when the moon smiled, the rock smiled back. The apprentice Vassa noted the rock displayed directions to go west through the trees and look for the next sign.
“Where will this lead?” he asked.
“To the haven,” Idris said. “For that is the learning passed on to me. And now, passed to you, so that you may grow.”
Vassa and the Runes (4)
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Through the canopy and over many waters they sped, seeking shelter in caves and crevices too small for urgoth to enter. F'Kark pursed them upon his foul beast, but the runes revealed secret places that no urgoth would think to go. At last, Idris and Vassa came to the haven, and upon its entrance was the declaration “All are safe within these walls.”
Vassa and the Runes (5)
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The free peoples welcomed Idris and Vassa and, in time, the newcomers learned to gather secret ingredients and craft the beacons of hope they’d followed in the dark. They ventured south, marking canyons and forests, visiting other free peoples, gathering word, and whispering about the possibilities of freedom.
Vassa and the Runes (6)
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Vassa was no longer a boy when he met Helena Tarsis, and grey-eyed Idris had gone on to the great wheel. Tarsis, already called General, saw strength in Vassa, and she joined his wanderings, leaning secret ways and leaving the signs for those who know.
Vassa and the Runes (7)
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Years turned over, and Vassa followed the teachings of Idris and the Emberlings. Tarsis worked to thwart the urgoth, freeing all in her path, relying on runes to aid their flight until that day when Vassa crafted a suit of armor, plated in ember and hope. This would make General Tarsis stronger than the urgoth, than the ursix, than the titan. This would be humanity's salvation. A spear, hurtling towards freedom. A Javelin of Dawn.
And so, the free people grew from a few who dared to follow the moonlight, into a legion waiting for the sun to rise, ready for the bright rays of victory.
Vassa and the Runes (8)
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One by one, Vassa assembled the Legion's battery. For Magna Stral, whose fists were like avalanches, for the quick and stealthy Sanadeen, for Liatrelle the Unbroken, and for Midderon, the Legion's own son.
Gone was the rune instructions to hide and cower, replaced with the knowledge of weapons and armor that would force the urgoth to their knees. And soon, javelins designed by Vassa, but not built by him, struck at urgoth masters.
Vassa and the Runes (9)
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The day came when Helena asked Vassa to create a new haven for the people. Vassa imagined and worked before he presented a fortress made of light and crowned in gold, trimmed in the splendor of the world. Upon the brow of this haven—in secret writing that honored all that had come to pass—was a declaration. “All are safe within these walls.”
Vassa and the Runes (10)
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As the moon chased itself across the night sky, that declaration was revealed to the free clouds, and they wept.
Tarsis removed her helm to address the throng. “Free people. Know this is only the first of our cities. When the urgoth are nothing but ash, we will build palaces and gardens and homes. We, the Legion, promise you and your children yet unborn… all will be safe within those walls.”
— From The Volume of Tarsis