Prologue for August 2026

Father John O’Malley, ally of Travance, and repentant Blazing Sun sat in his simple monastery room. His prayers of late were more contemplative, and tonight he contemplated belief. 

All of his life he’d believed in the Gods. He believed in justice and mercy. He believed in doing the right thing, an ideal he’d hoped to dedicate his life to. Then he met Michael Halligan, self-proclaimed Pontiff of the Blazing Suns, who promised he would do the most good. However, what Halligan ended up turning him into was the furthest thing from “good.”

Halligan was the kind of man who had a mad scientist turn his adopted daughter into a psionic time bomb so she could be a weapon for his personal vendetta. That same scientist had captured and tortured celestials, used them in experiments. The Blazing Suns had corrupted O’Malley -  transforming him into something twisted. Something he would have remained if not for Travance.  

Yes, all his life, he’d believed in the gods. Now, just as equally, Father O’Malley believed in Travance. 

Despite everything he had done, the Heroes of Travance had saved him, purified him. Whether they spoke the name of the gods, they acted with the ideals those gods represented. They dealt with Halligan and the Scientist. They saved Halligan's daughter, collecting the profound amount of energy that had been growing in her body. They had worked miracles. 

The work wasn’t done though. There were still foes to defeat, and celestials to save. There was still so much yet to be done, and yet - he believed. He believed in Travance just as they had believed in him, as they believed in each other, and as they believed in the Gods and other great powers that they wielded. The Blazing Suns had only believed in the destruction they wrought, and all it had brought them was destruction in return. 

O’Malley believed that as an organization they were dying. That these were the final days of the Blazing Suns. 

*****

Templar Hyram of the Blazing Suns could not find a name for the small hamlet he had found himself in. Stopping in this particular town brought him far closer to Travance than he would have liked, but it was the shortest and fastest route to reach his destination. Mother Mary, Confessor to the Blazing Suns, had been very clear when she’d summoned him back - that he was to return to her hide out with all speed, as something terrible was going to happen and he would have to take over watch of Pontiff Halligan as he healed. 

It was for the sake of the Pontiff that she had sent him on his mission in the first place. “Something important Dr Krystophsky was searching for; something divine. It would heal the Pontiff who was very sick,” she had said. Hyram didn’t know what was wrong with Pontiff Halligan. Mother Mary had spirited him away after the violent attack by Travance, and ever since  she would allow no one to see him. She simply said the mission was urgent, and now returning was urgent. She was frantic, erratic, and confused. 

Hyram was happy to return. He hadn’t found anything. He had begun to wonder if Mother Mary needed one of her special sessions with the Dr Krystophsky, who had also been isolated of late. Hierarch Proctor had called the Doctor "a soulless abomination who should be destroyed," when last they talked, but Hyram never liked how the Hierarch had watched people, and after her time with Dr Krystophsky, Mother Mary had always seemed more committed to the cause, less confused or worried-- more herself. 

Hyram’s head swam for a moment. Perhaps it was the long road, but he’d begun to feel groggy, and sometimes he’d dreamed that he was someone else. Walking in someone else’s shoes, running from the Blazing Suns, instead of fighting for them. Perhaps he was also confused. With luck he would also be able to arrange a session with the good Doctor upon his return, assuming he was available. 

He was pulled from his thoughts by the sudden sound of shouting, and the sharp scent of smoke. He saw banners with the mark of the Blazing Suns, and heard people shouting about “cleansing the sin for the Pontiff!” 

Was it possible that Pontiff Halligan had finally recovered? Had divine providence brought the Templar to the very people he should be with? He started to rush forward, but as he approached  he could see that there was something wrong. The banners were hastily painted, the soldiers in their poor excuses for lines marched out of step. For a moment he assumed it was his absence that caused this lack of discipline, until he saw strange shadow creatures, not fighting these Blazing Sun, but marching with them. Something was deeply wrong. Hyram would have to set it to right.

*****

Samuel Proctor, Hierarch, no Pontiff of the Blazing Suns. The only member who truly understood and believed in what he was doing, until it was all violently stripped away by the wicked center of evil called Travance, stood amidst the burning hulk of a village. The place was small, it wouldn’t show up on any maps. It had no name. The cowering villagers stood before him, whispering soft prayers of salvation. 

If these people were calling to the gods, or worse their supposed heroes to save them, then they were already too far gone. They were nothing- no one would save them- and once they were dead, no one would remember them. All that would be remembered is that sacrifices had to be made so he could rise.

He looked at the divine artifact in his hand. He could feel the power flowing from it, the strength of the power, the righteousness he felt in wielding it - it could only come from Valos. Proof that the God King had chosen him to be his vessel. That his quest was to wipe away the scourge of Travance was the right one. It was his destiny. That all who stood with him would ascend, and all who stood with Travance deserved their bloody end. 

*****

In his room, Father O’Malley contemplated belief. 

He believed the Blazing Suns were dying. But a wounded and dying animal is at its most dangerous in its death throes. In his mind, there could be no question - These were the final days of the Blazing Suns. 

The only question was how much harm would they do before they were gone.