Online:The Ascendant Magus

The Ascendant Magus (lore page)
Location	Sword's Rest Isle
Race	Breton	Gender	Male
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Faction(s)	Ascendant Order

The Ascendant Magus

The Ascendant Magus is the second-in-command of the Ascendant Order. He can first be encountered in the basement of Sword's Rest Keep.

Later on, he can be encountered again on High Isle.

Related Quests

• A King's Retreat‎: Chase down and cleanse a number of cursed medallions.
• Of Knights and Knaves: Investigate the missing ships.
• People of Import: Investigate the Ascendant Order.
• To Catch a Magus: Track down the Ascendant Magus.
• The Ascendant Storm: Defend All Flags Islet from a frontal assault!

Quest-Related Events

A King's Retreat‎

After it is revealed that the Society of the Steadfast's medallions were sabotaged to kill whoever wore them, you race against time to locate the medallions that were handed out and dispel the magical trap on them. However, Valessea soon contacts you with bad news, she can no longer get in contact with Lady Arabelle who was delivering the amulet to High King Emeric directly on Sword's Rest Isle. When you arrive at the island with Jakarn, you find that the Ascendant Order have already attacked. And according to the Ascendant Champion's New Orders, the new plan is to murder King Emeric.

The Ascendant Magus on Sword's Rest Isle

While trying to find Lady Arabelle in the Keep, you and Jakarn will witness a conversation between the Ascendant Champion and her superior—the Ascendant Magus:

The Ascendant Magus: "Have you breached High King Emeric's quarters yet?"

The Ascendant Champion: "Soon, my lord. We are almost through the wards."

The Ascendant Magus: "I will suffer no more delays. You have this last chance, Champion."

The Ascendant Champion: "Yes, Magus."

<The pair will walk away from the location.>

Jakarn: "Just how many people are in charge of the Ascendant Order?"

Moving along the passage, you will witness another conversation between the Magus and the Champion. This time about Lady Arabelle:

The Ascendant Magus: "What news of the woman?"

The Ascendant Champion: "She still eludes us, Magus. But there are only so many places she can hide."

The Ascendant Magus: "A careless mistake. Deal with Emeric. Then find the woman and kill her."

The Ascendant Champion: "It will be done, my lord."

<The Magus opens a yellow-red portal and disappears.>

Jakarn: "It sounds like they haven't found Lady Arabelle yet. Come on, let's get to her first!"

Of Knights and Knaves

In the Abhain Chapel crypts, the Magus and his superior, the Ascendant Lord has convinced Quentyn to join their cause and betray the peace talks:

Lady Arabelle Davaux: "Down there! It's Quentyn. Let's listen and try to figure out what's going on."

The Ascendant Magus: "A new age of peace is upon us. An age of free peoples standing together, not kneeling to distant thrones."

The Ascendant Lord: "This is not your war, general. What say you?"

Guild General Quentyn: "The war took everything from me. I … I am with you. How can I help?"

Lady Arabelle Davaux: "The Order is trying to recruit Quentyn? We have to put a stop to this!"

You'll venture into another crevice, where you see the Ascendant Magus giving orders to Quentyn to kill Lady Arabelle:

Guild General Quentyn: "Each delegate carries a medallion like this one, Magus. It serves both an invitation and a key."

The Ascendant Magus: "Keep it. We may need your access later. Right now I want you to kill the meddling investigator nipping at our heels."

Guild General Quentyn: "Lady Arabelle? But she's…."

The Ascendant Magus: "No longer working alone. She's found some capable help. Deal with them."

<The Ascendant Magus disappears and Quentyn walks away>

Lady Arabelle Davaux: "Oh, Quentyn. I guess you've made your choice."

Eventually you will confront Quentyn who has already made up his mind to fight against you:

The Ascendant Magus: "Here is your chance, Quentyn. Stop these fools and strike a blow for the people!"

<The Ascendant Magus disappears again>

Guild General Quentyn: "I'm sorry, Lady Arabelle, but I've made my choice. For the Ascendant Order!"

Lady Arabelle Davaux: "Do what you must. We can't allow the general to stop us."

People of Import

Once you read through Duchess Elea Dufort's investigation notes on the Ascendant Order, the Ascendant Magus and his forces has attacked Castle Navire:

Castle Navire Sentry: "We're under attack! Seal the gates! Protect the duchess!"

The Ascendant Magus: "Bear witness! Tamriel's salvation begins today! Join us or be swept aside!"

The Ascendant Magus: "Storm and fire will bring down the old regimes. Lightning and lava will herald in a new age!"

You'll reach Lady Arabelle, Lord Bacaro and Jakarn who witness the Ascendant Magus who will warn them of what's to come in the future before disappearing:

The Ascendant Magus: "This was a warning. No one is beyond our reach!"

The Ascendant Magus: "Stand aside and you will find a place in the new regime. Stand against us, and you will be brought to your knees!"

Escape from Amenos

After more investigations, you will eventually find that the three missing nobles, High King Emeric, Queen Ayrenn and Prince Irnskar were washed ashore on Amenos. It is a race against time to locate and rescue the nobles before other parties working for the Order find them first. After locating Emeric and Ayrenn, you will find Prince Irnskar was captured by the Green Serpents and is being held at the Old Coin Fort.

After rescuing Prince Irnskar and leading him out, you come across the Green Serpents leader, Deesh-Jee talking with the Ascendant Lord and Magus:

Prince Irnskar: "There! Let's listen in."

Deesh-Jee: "We will have your missing nobles by day's end, my lord."

The Ascendant Lord: "See that you do. Magus, summon the Order. We meet on High Isle on the morrow."

Prince Irnskar: "Enough! Let's get down there! Arghh!"

<Prince Irnskar jumps down and begins fighting.>

The Ascendant Magus: "My liege, we must go!"

<The Lord, Magus and Deesh-Jee all go their separate ways.>

To Catch a Magus

When tracking down the Ascendant Magus, you infiltrate an Ascendant Order meeting held in the Navire Chapel crypts. While there, you and Jakarn will witness the Ascendant Lord speaking with his followers about their upcoming plan:

<The Ascendant Magus kneels before his Lord.>

The Ascendant Magus: "Our ships are ready, my lord. We can attack All Flags Islet on your command."

The Ascendant Lord: "And you can control the druid magic? It will take great power to breach the keep's defenses. We cannot afford another mishap."

The Ascendant Magus: "I can, my lord. The alliance leaders will have nowhere to hide after I tear down their walls."

The Ascendant Lord: "Go, then. Begin the attack."

Jakarn: "They know we took the royals to All Flags? And the Magus has ships ready to attack? We can't let him get away! Try the door to the right!"

Chasing after the Magus, you and Jakarn reach the Underground Docks, where when you read the Sailing Orders, the Magus will make his presence known:

The Ascendant Magus: "Lady Arabelle's hounds. Did you think you could sniff around undetected?"

<The Magus is standing on some scaffolding above you.>

Jakarn: "You bastard! What have you done with Lady Arabelle?"

At this point, the Ascendant Magus is willing to speak with you:

"You are annoyingly persistent. Well, my foolish adversaries, the Ascendant Order can be persistent, too. Did you really think you'd defeated us when you retrieved your precious royals from Amenos?
All you did was gather them in one place for me."

What do you hope to accomplish, Magus?

"Would-be emperors have brought nothing but conflict and turmoil to Tamriel. Lord Bacaro is a fool to think peace can be won with gentle words.
It's time to throw down those who aspire to the Ruby Throne—and mete out justice with the sword."

If you kill the alliance leaders, how will you achieve peace?

"We will assume power and put an end to this wretched war. Strength can win the peace Lord Bacaro hopes for. Hard choices must be made, but one day the peoples of Tamriel will thank us.
A pity you are too blind to see this simple truth."

Truth doesn't hide under a helm. Who are you?

"You really don't know? I suppose even the legendary skills of Lady Arabelle Davaux were no match for the Ascendant Lord and his brilliant strategy.
But come now. You've worked beside the investigator. Surely you learned something. Make a guess."

You're Viscount Jonne Mornard.

"Not even close! I am Count Damard Dufort and you are too late to stop me. If only Lady Arabelle were here to see this.
Ah, but she is! My knights found her outside. She now faces justice in the dungeons below. If you hurry, maybe you can save her."

You're Count Damard Dufort.

"Well done! Perhaps you are a worthy foe. Still, it's too late to stop me. If only Lady Arabelle were here to witness this.
Ah, but she is. My knights found her outside. She faces justice in the dungeons below. If you hurry, maybe you can save her."

You're Steward Hercian Stalo.

"The steward? You are not as clever as I thought. I am Count Damard Dufort! If only Lady Arabelle were here to see this.
Ah, but she is. My knights found her outside. She faces justice in the dungeons below. If you hurry, maybe you can save her."

No matter your deduction regarding his identity, the Ascendant Magus—Count Damard Dufort—is done speaking with you and leaves:

The Ascendant Magus: "I wish we could chat longer, but the tide waits for no one! Do give Lady Arabelle my regards."

<The Ascendant Magus leaves.>

Jakarn: "He's gone, damn it. Come on—we've got to find Lady Arabelle!"

The Ascendant Storm‎

The magus will be leading a large assault on All Flags Islet in an attempt to kill the alliance leaders. After you gathered the alliance leaders to lead them to Memorial Hall, the Ascendant Magus has grown tired of the resistance of the defenders that he will try to collapse the castle onto you:

High King Emeric: "As much as this galls us, this is the prudent course. The Ascendant Order can't breach—"

The Ascendant Magus: "You think yourselves safe? I will bring this castle down on top of you!"

Prince Irnskar: "You were saying, high king?"

Queen Ayrenn: "The wards are breached! To arms!"

After you repel off Ascendant Order forces, he will call upon you to confront him in the courtyard:

The Ascendant Magus: "Hiding in your hall? Then it shall be your tomb!"

Queen Ayrenn: "We can't stay here. He's trying to topple the castle!"

High King Emeric: "I've just about had it with this Ascendant Magus!"

High King Emeric: "To the courtyard! Friend, join me!"

Prince Irnskar: "And we'll take the battlements!"

Once you head to the west courtyard, the magus will greet you with two Vulk'esh that he is restraining before he unleashes them onto you:

The Ascendant Magus: "The so-called leaders of the failed alliances. Prepare to fall to the Ascendant Order!"

When the battle commences:

The Ascendant Magus: "I am Count Damard! I am the Ascendant Magus!"

He will call in a Vulk'esh behemoth after you deal some damage to him:

The Ascendant Magus: "You are formidable! But let us see how you handle this!"

Prince Irnskar: "Hold on, friend! I've got something for that beast!"

Midway through the fight, the Ascendant Magus will call down magic which Queen Ayrenn will shield you from:

The Ascendant Magus: "Enough! Time to end this. I call upon the strength of the mountain!"

Queen Ayrenn: "He's conjuring something big! Ward yourself with my magic!"

<You are shielded.>

Queen Ayrenn: "Good! Now release the energy back at them!"

In the last stage of the fight, the Magus will become invulnerable:

The Ascendant Magus: "No! I can't fail now!"

Queen Ayrenn: "The storm's growing stronger! We have to stop him!"

High King Emeric: "More beasts! I'll deal with them!"

Queen Ayrenn: "He's drawing in too much power, but you and Emeric together can beat him. Help Emeric with those creatures!"

Prince Irnskar: "Now's the moment for my last shot. Say the word!"

Once the Vulk'esh are all gone, Queen Ayrenn will enact the last bit of her plan, using the Energy Blast ability after getting close to the Magus to direct his power back at him. He will utter his last words of defiance before expiring:

Queen Ayrenn: "Now! Get close to the Magus and brace yourselves!"

High King Emeric: "This had better work, Ayrenn!"

Queen Ayrenn: "Good! Now release the energy back at them!"

<The Ascendant Magus is struck and dies.>

The Ascendant Magus: "I may fall … but the Ascendant Lord will still triumph …."

<Prince Irnskar jumps down.>

Prince Irnskar: "The Magus falls and his minions scatter. Cowards!"

High King Emeric: "We cut down the Magus, but the Lord is still out there. Somewhere."

Queen Ayrenn: "The Magus has fallen. We will deliver the same fate to his Lord."

High King Emeric: "Our friend here made this victory possible."

Prince Irnskar: "Indeed! And they got us to work together. Amazing! Now let's go find Lady Arabelle!"

Gallery

• 

  Concept Art

• 

  Concept Art