Quest: The Hollow Saint

“Brother Caelum sought knowledge about the Shattering. The Voice offered answers. Now he glows with corruption, and you must decide: save him, kill him, or join him.”

Quest Summary

Overview

Brother Caelum, a priest of the Constellation Clergy, became obsessed with understanding the Shattering. His research led him to forbidden texts, then to the Rot, then to the Voice Beneath. Three days ago, he began speaking in tongues. Glowing symbols appeared on the chapel walls at Glimmering Spire. Now he’s Stage 1 corrupted, clutching a Rot-Shard, and preaching transformation.

This quest demonstrates Arc 3: The Voice Beneath—exploring whether the Rot is damnation, salvation, or something beyond human comprehension. Your choices define not just Caelum’s fate, but your philosophical stance on corruption itself.

Related: Arc 3: The Voice Beneath

The Hollow Saint (Boss)

The Hollow Saint - Brother Caelum Transformed

If you fail to save Brother Caelum or choose to let him transform, he becomes The Hollow Saint—a powerful boss combining his priestly training with Stage 4 corruption powers. His blessed vestments retain some holy energy even as the Rot twists him, making him uniquely dangerous.

Boss Stats (from game data): - HP: 260 / Attack: 22 / Defense: 17 / Speed: 14 - Attacks: Corrupted Blessing (corruption + disorient), Hollow Grasp (life drain + corruption), The Voice’s Whisper (fear + corruption), False Exorcism (area + heavy corruption), Martyr’s Stand (self-heal + defense) - Drops: Corrupted cloth, Hollow essence, Blessed corruption sample, Voice fragment, Hollow Saint’s Vestments (legendary)

Stage 1: The Rumor

Location: Skyport Eos - The Drifting Cloud Tavern

Scene: > You overhear two merchants arguing over ale. “I’m telling you, something’s wrong at the Chapel on Glimmering Spire,” one insists. “The priest, Brother Caelum—he’s been speaking in tongues. Glowing symbols appeared on the walls. My cousin saw it with her own eyes!” > > The other merchant scoffs. “Rot-madness, more like. Or your cousin had too much Aether-Wine.”

Choices:

[Approach (Cunning)]

Ask merchants for details → Success: Get directions, quest added (+2 CUN XP)

[Ignore]

Mind your own business → Quest does not start

[Intimidate (Strength)]

Demand they tell you everything → Success: Get information, but -5 reputation

Outcome: Learn about Brother Caelum’s corruption, receive quest objective

Stage 2: The Chapel at Night

Location: Glimmering Spire - Chapel (Requires travel: 10 Stamina, 2 days)

Scene: > You arrive at the Chapel as dusk settles. The ancient stone structure is carved with constellation symbols—but some have been defaced, scratched with crude spirals. A sickly green light pulses from within. > > You hear chanting. A man’s voice, hoarse and desperate: “Witness… witness the Unveiling… the stars lie… the Rot is truth…”

Choices:

[Enter Boldly (Strength)]

Kick door open, confront whatever’s inside → Direct confrontation

[Sneak In (Cunning)]

Slip through side window unseen → Success: Advantage in Stage 3 (observe first)

[Call Out (Piety)]

Invoke Constellation of Light, announce as holy → Success: Caelum weakened in Stage 3

[Wait & Observe (END 15)]

Patience. Watch through window first → Gather information, safer approach

Success Outcome (Sneak): > You slip through a broken shutter, landing silently in shadow. Brother Caelum stands at the altar, robes torn, skin covered in writhing black veins. Rot-corruption. > > He clutches a pulsing Rot-Shard, whispering to it like a lover. On the walls, crude drawings depict islands falling into darkness, consumed. > > He hasn’t seen you yet.

Rewards: +3 CUN XP, Hidden info revealed: “Rot-Shard Source: The Chasm”

Stage 3: Confrontation

Scene: > Brother Caelum faces you, the Rot-Shard pulsing in his grip. His humanity flickers behind corrupted eyes. > > “I… I heard the Voice Beneath the Aetherium,” he rasps. “It promised answers. The constellations are prisons. The Rot is freedom. Join me… or die.”

Choices (Branching heavily):

[Fight (Strength)]

End this. Strike him down → Success: Kill Caelum, retrieve Shard

Outcome: > Your blade finds its mark. Brother Caelum collapses, the Rot-Shard clattering to the floor. As life leaves him, his eyes clear. > > “Thank… you…” he whispers. “The Voice… it lied…”

Rewards: +4 STR XP, Rot-Shard item, +10 Clergy rep, -5 Rot-Touched rep, +5 Corruption

[Exorcise (Piety)]

Drive out corruption with prayer → Success: Save Caelum’s soul

Outcome: > You kneel, invoking the Constellation of Light with every fiber of your being. Holy radiance pours from your hands. > > The Rot-Shard SCREAMS—an inhuman sound. Black ichor pours from Brother Caelum’s mouth as the corruption is ripped free. He collapses, gasping. > > “I… I’m sorry… it promised such knowledge…” He’s alive. Broken, but alive.

Rewards: +5 PIE XP, +15 Clergy rep, -10 Rot-Touched rep, Caelum becomes ally, Shard destroyed

[Reason (Cunning)]

Try to reach the man beneath the Rot → Success: He resists Voice, hands over Shard

Outcome: > You speak calmly, recounting his years of service, the people he’s helped, the prayers he’s led. > > Tears stream down his corrupted face. “I… I wanted to understand the Shattering… I thought the Rot held answers…” > > He places the Shard on the altar and steps back, trembling. “Take it. Destroy it. I’m not strong enough.”

Rewards: +4 CUN XP, Rot-Shard item, +10 Clergy rep, +5 Outland Clans rep, Caelum lives (penitent)

[Steal Shard (Cunning)]

Use alchemy knowledge to safely remove Shard without killing him

Outcome: > Your alchemical training guides your hand. You identify the exact pressure point where Shard meets flesh. > > Quick as lightning, you strike—severing the connection. Caelum screams and collapses, but lives. The Shard is yours.

Rewards: +5 CUN XP, Rot-Shard item, +5 Sky-Guild rep, +3 Corruption, Caelum comatose

[Mercy Kill ((Strength) + Corruption 20+)] (Hidden if corrupted)

Embrace the Rot, take the Shard, inherit his “gift”

Outcome: > You understand now. The Rot isn’t evil—it’s evolution. You take the Shard from his weakening grip as he dies. > > As his life fades, the Shard pulses in your hand. Warmth. Power. Knowledge floods your mind—whispers of the Aether’s true nature. > > You are changed.

Rewards: +3 STR XP, Rot-Shard (bonded), +20 Rot-Touched rep, -20 Clergy rep, +15 Corruption, Ability Unlocked: “Rot-Touch”

Stage 4: Consequences

Location: Skyport Eos - Elder’s Hall

Scene: > You return to Skyport Eos. News of the Chapel incident has already reached the Elder—sky-ships carry gossip faster than you’d expect. > > The Elder studies you carefully. “So. Brother Caelum. What happened?”

Choices (Dynamic based on Stage 3):

If Caelum Died:

[Tell Truth]: Explain corruption, you had no choice → +10 Outland Clans, +5 Clergy, 75 Aether-Coin

[Lie (Cunning)]: Claim he attacked you unprovoked → Variable rewards based on success

[Show Shard (Corruption 30+)]: Reveal power, explain its nature → Banned from Eos, +25 Rot-Touched rep

If Caelum Survived:

[Tell Truth]: Explain exorcism/reasoning → 100 Aether-Coin, +15 Clergy, +10 Outland Clans, Item: Elder’s Token, Achievement: “Redeemer”

[Request Reward]: You saved him, you deserve compensation → 75 Aether-Coin, modest reputation

[Recommend Exile]: He’s too dangerous to remain → Caelum exiled, political consequences

Resolution Paths

Quest Interconnections

Arc 3: The Voice Beneath

• Central quest demonstrating core arc themes
• Caelum’s fate affects Sister Morrigan’s recruiting efforts
• Introduces player to Rot-Touched philosophy

Arc 1: The Hidden Corruption

• If Caelum saved, can help diagnose Elder Mira’s condition
• If Caelum corrupted, becomes cautionary tale

Character: Sister Morrigan

• If Caelum dies resisting, she mourns “another lost to fear”
• If he transforms willingly, she celebrates “another awakened”

Design Analysis

Core Themes

1. Knowledge vs. Innocence: Caelum sought truth, found horror
2. Salvation vs. Damnation: Is the Voice evil or misunderstood?
3. Power’s Price: Every ability costs something
4. Compassion Under Pressure: Easy to judge, hard to save

Replayability Factors

• 5 resolution methods in Stage 3
• Dynamic Stage 4 based on previous choices
• Hidden corruption path (requires 20+ Corruption to see option)
• Multiple entry approaches (sneak vs. bold vs. holy)
• Reputation consequences ripple to future quests

Player Archetypes

• Paladin: Exorcise + Tell Truth (pure hero)
• Pragmatist: Fight + Truth (necessary evil)
• Scholar: Reason + Truth (understanding)
• Corrupted: Mercy Kill + Show Shard (dark path)
• Profiteer: Steal + Lie (amoral gain)

Related Topics

• Brother Caelum - Central NPC
• Sister Morrigan - Rot-Touched counterpoint
• Arc 3: The Voice Beneath - Major story arc
• Glimmering Spire - Quest location
• Sky-Rot Overview - Corruption mechanics
• Rot-Touched Faction - Faction implications

Quest Status: Planned (PRD Example)
Design Note: Exemplifies moral ambiguity and corruption path viability

“He sought knowledge. He found the Voice. Now you decide: was his fall damnation, or were we blind all along?”