The Ascalon
Overview
The Ascalon is a Bravos Company specializing in Leviathan hunting, commanded by Sol. The Company bears two notches on their armor, marking two Leviathan kills. The Ascalon serves in the Rediscovery Endeavor, safeguarding aerial convoys against titanic aberrations in the cloud sea. Sol seeks to recruit Basira al-Arshad as the Company’s Alterer, as the Ascalon requires one now that they contend with The Tumult.
Membership
The Ascalon consists of veterans organized into specialized roles:
Command
Harpooners/Lancers
- Veora - Lancer and harpooner; Sol’s acrobatic combat partner
- Priya - Lancer and signaler; locates Leviathans through cloud cover; guided AES Tempest to ambush site
Wingsuit Jumpers/Fliers
- Magda - Wingsuit jumper and flier who dives upon targets with the precision of a hawk
- Zeke - Wingsuit jumper
- Chalbo - Wingsuit jumper
Beaters/Spotters
- Maanus - Beater and spotter; former woodcutter; uses conch horn for signals and morning reveille
Scouts
- Sae - Scout
- Yejun - Scout/lancer
- Tokota - Scout/lancer
- Salbaan - Scout/lancer
There are two types of harpooners in the Company: those who stay on ships and arm turrets, and acrobats like Sol and Veora who use mobility and Alteration to summon ammunition. Wingsuit jumpers use Aerolith belts, jet packs, and parachutes to act as both bait and beaters.
Hunting Tactics
The Ascalon employs Aerolith barrel charges against Leviathans. Barrels of Aerolith are chained together on ejection rails in groups of six, weighted to plummet toward the earth. Lancers guide them toward the Leviathan in freefall, then drop ballast and fire propulsion javelins to anchor the charges to the beast. A series of detonations triggers the mineral’s exothermic properties. The Company drilled this maneuver extensively, destroying dozens of balloons in exercises.
Equipment
The Company operates from transport barges equipped with kelonic sconces for lighting, firing slits along the fuselage, ballistae at harpooner stations, rear loading ramps for deployment, and ejection rails for Aerolith barrel charges.
Timeline
393 AC, October - Flying Dockyard Base
The Ascalon established operations at a Bravos advance base—a former bastion covered in inactive Sap and Aerolith. After two failed clashes with Halua, Sol proposed a new strategy. Other captains made clear this was the Ascalon’s last chance.
393 AC, October - Halua Hunt Rally
Following the destruction of AES Sune by Halua, Sol rallied hunters in the mess hall to hunt the Leviathan, with the Ascalon leading the effort alongside Afena, Requiem of Seti, and Gift of Nuur.
393 AC, October - Halua Trap Operation
The Ascalon led a coordinated trap against Halua using AES Tempest as bait to lure the Leviathan into an archipelago hollow. Lancers deployed in freefall, firing kelonic-propulsion spears to detonate an Aerolith mine field, followed by a kiloton of stockpiled Aerolith. Despite the massive explosion, Halua survived. Kauri mounted on Puff intervened to block Sol’s subsequent attack.
Relationships
- Sol: Commander; Exalt and Palladium recipient
- Halua: Sol’s Alter Ego; Leviathan targeted in trap operation before Skein-bonding (393 AC)
- Bravos: Parent faction
- Basira al-Arshad: Exalt whom Sol seeks to recruit as the Company’s Alterer
- Kaizaimon: Basira al-Arshad’s Alter Ego
- Rediscovery Endeavor: Expedition where the Ascalon serves
- Tagmata: Elite military organization; Sol rose through its ranks
- Little Red Riding Hood: Eidolon who answered Sol’s call during her Imhallat
- The Huntsman: Eidolon who mentored Little Red Riding Hood
- AES Tempest: Battleship used as bait in Halua trap operation (393 AC)
- Kauri: Muna Exalt who intervened during Halua hunt (393 AC)
- Puff: Kauri’s Alter Ego; blocked Sol’s attack on Halua (393 AC)
- Priya: Lancer and signaler; guided AES Tempest to ambush site
- Zeke: Wingsuit jumper
- Chalbo: Wingsuit jumper
- Tengu: Eidolon Sol summons through The Avgrunn
- Beowulf: Eidolon Sol summons; wounded Halua before disruption