Aquarion the Thunderous

Excerpt from “The Age of Thunder: A Detailed Look Into the History and Theories Surrounding Aquarionic Proselytism on the Sword Coast Since 1492 DR.” Volume IV. Page 833.

Chapter 79: “Folfi: Fate, Death, and Ascendence Theories”

Author’s Note: Please refer to preliminary texts such as “Folfi: Hero of the Faith” (Vol.I, Page 82), “Folfi: Disciples and Legacy” (Vol.II, Page 646), and “Folfi: Works and Influential Literary Criticisms Thereof” (Vol. III, Page 107).

Almost a century after his disappearance, the fate of Aquarion’s most famous anointed hero still remains unknown. Folfi, the Light in the Dark, seemed to fade from existence. There are two major schools of thought: this classical belief is that Folfi ascended into godhood, becoming a demigod and existing immortal by Aquarion’s side; while scholars of the past fifty years or so claim he descended into madness and was imprisoned in the abyss of the sea by his patron. This essay seeks to introduce a third school of thought that ties in the valid supports of each theory.

Various contemporaries of the hero (Tilly Havensham and a sultan from the City of Brass being the most notable) claim he remained faithful to Aquarion until the very end. Many scholars, however, critique these claims to be hearsay and mark them down as just desperate attempts to protect a madman’s legacy. There are also conflicting accounts of Folfi’s moral character (including a memoir written by the cousin of the aforementioned sultan). Could one of the most well-known holy figures, a household name in every fishing village from the Ten Towns to Murann, actually have been harboring seeds of evil within himself? This author thinks not.

The surge of legends regarding Folfi as the faithful-turned-evil have surfaced the past half-century due to various “sightings.” Allegedly, a man who wields the weather and sea itself walks among us, a madman who seems to be a shell of his former self. Though reliable records of these events are few and far between, they consistently describe the cloaked figure as “strange,” “erratic,” and “having red hair.” These whispers point towards the latter theory mentioned above; however, archaeological discoveries within the past decade have come to light, casting immense doubts on the accuracy of conclusions drawn from these legends.

There are always discoveries being made about Folfi’s works and heroism. They are abundant and can be read about in the the sections mentioned in the Author’s Note. The archaeological findings that we are going to look at are a more peculiar sort that may not seem relevant at first. Eight years ago ancient temple ruins were discovered of the goddess Cegilune. Previously, not much was known of this lesser deity other than that she was despised by the sylvan pantheon and worshipped by hags. Since its discovery, a wave of academic writings have been rolled out as many findings from the ruins have propagated new theories regarding the goddess and expounded on her relationship to her devotees. This book is the first instance to my knowledge of this information being connected to the disappearance of Folfi the Faithful.

According to inscriptions detailing Cegilune’s history, she was the original queen of the moon upon its creation. She was powerful, beautiful, and feared in the world, but a combination of her complacency and volatile nature soon rotted her character. Her selfishness drove away many of her worshippers as they turned to the welcoming arms of other deities. Filled with hate, she then massacred many of the “traitors,” but this tantrum left her weakened and ruined. Devoid of beauty and most of her power, she fled to find solace in Hades. There she lives with hatred for anything divine, always plotting vengeance. Her remaining worshippers, tainted by her dramatic fall, became the monstrous hags often found in the darkest corners of the lands.

Hags, notoriously repulsive, magical creatures, have always acted with completely unfathomable decision making. They typically keep to themselves, but when they do interact with the world it is evil and chaos in its purest form. Their connection to Cegilune has been expounded upon in the recently discovered tablet histories found within the temple. They suggest that Cegilune is quite active with her followers, using them to her ends to get back at deities. Hags, though worshippers of Celigune, appear to have a hatred towards her, but their cursed nature forces them to serve her. She often uses them to target other deities through trickery and various magical ends, forcing the hags to commit atrocious, cruel, and chaotic actions. This is not to say the hags would shy away from such acts given autonomy.

Though the medium and extent to which hags were involved in Folfi’s last years is hotly debated, all scholars agree that it’s undeniable he had a fixation on their redemption in the latter part of his life. Accounts detailing Folfi’s last recorded crusade, which was two years before he disappeared from all written records, speak of occasions where he proselytized to all types of monstrous humanoids, including hags. These occasions are repeatedly referenced by modern academics as evidence of his failing mental health. His disciples were adamant in their writings, however, that Folfi truly believed any creature capable of worshipping a deity, even one as evil as Cegilune, was redeemable and eligible for renewed life and purpose in Aquarion. There are, however, no records of a monster ever converting.

There is an unfrequented story of Folfi’s last days, usually written off as simply a tall tale for children, where he sailed to the desolate crags off the southern side of the Sword Coast in order to take his message to the covens of sea hags located there. Sea hags are the first of the hags: water-walking priestesses turned into monsters after Celigune’s rampage. The story ends with Folfi being taken up by Aquarian before them and the sea hags melting into the ocean. This story is peculiar in that it predates even the earliest manuscripts discussing Folfi’s disappearance; however, due to its absurd nature, lack of corroborating accounts, and the fact that recent expeditions to those crags he allegedly visited show them to be deserted it’s been universally ignored; at least, it’s been universally ignored until now.

During a separate archaeological venture into an abandoned dungeon a year ago, the skeletons of a trapped coven of hags was found in a crypt south of Baulder’s Gate. Each skeleton wore a different type of attire. The outfits, jewelry, and regalia matched priestly garments worn by worshippers of various deities. It is not uncommon for hags to shapeshift into forms that further their goals; however, it was not a magical guise. These hags were actually wearing confirmed attire for various evil and neutral deities. This discovery proves that some hags, like the worshippers Cegilune massacred so many years ago, are still seeking release from their wicked goddess. It should also be noted that autopsies showed no physical damage to the bodies of the deceased hags and no forced entry into the crypt. Perhaps, Cegilune still punishes those that desert her.

There is one further detail to note before a conclusion is reached. There have been instances of powerful hags being able to possess the bodies of the deceased. It is rare, but it is possible. The ritual is permanent, though a hag can attempt to possess another body through suicide with the proper conditions met. The even more powerful ones typically have several preserved bodies on standby in case of emergency. A fresh body possessed by a hag functions as normal except for the major difference that it no longer ages as long as the hag keeps her strength up.

So what then? Given the evidence I have outlined, you have most likely ascertained the general direction I am moving. Indeed, I am claiming that this madman running amuck is not Folfi, but rather a sea hag possessing the hero’s body. Furthermore, I believe that Folfi was not killed, but rather he ascended into an exalted form, or “the body of the sea” as the writings of Aquarian call it, leaving his mortal shell behind.

The “children’s story” referenced earlier, if taken literally, provides the perfect opportunity for these verbs to occur. Folfi, a faithful servant of Aquarion, went to try and convert the sea hags. He was often one to go solo knowing Aquarion would be with him wherever he went. His faith was like a raging sea. This journey lines up perfectly with his mentality in the last days according to corroborating accounts. He saw the sea hags as the perfect potential converts given their nature. Aquarion must of had other plans, however, and chosen that moment to grant Folfi divine rank. The ascended Folfi left behind his mortal body for the new, exalted “body of the sea” granted by Aquarion. A powerful sea hag could have easily possessed this new body and eventually left the crags to stir up chaos on the Sword Coast. Possessing a holy body such as Folfi’s, even a dead body, would certainly drive the hag mad. They certainly could use it as an opportunity to ditch Celigune and follow Aquarion. It is unimaginable what that would look like, though.

An alternate theory includes Celigune forcing a hag into the body to try and exact vengeance on Aquarian and his followers. Also, if there were numerous sea hags on the crags they could have been destroyed by Folfi, Aquarion, or even the hag possessing Folfi’s mortal body, leaving no trace. No matter how the possession happens, however, it perfectly explains the erratic behavior, youthful appearance, and tempest powers seen in this figure causing chaos across the Sword Coast. A figure many falsely believe to be a fallen Folfi. Given the hero’s nature, this author and many others cannot accept the premise that he turned his back on the faith. He was too good. And we know that he now rests with Aquarion the Thunderous.