King Alteon and Swordhaven

The Fall of King Alteon and the Chaos Dragon

Alteon's worsening infection is passing into the land through the bond between king and kingdom, leaving Swordhaven to suffer with him as rumors of his decline undermine its security. Determined that his family and realm survive whatever happens to him, he entrusts the city's defense to you, directing you to Denara for plans and Rufus to carry them out.

The Archives recall Alteon fighting for peace with Lynaria and later comforting Brittany after her mother's death, promising to teach her to be queen. Now Denara helps you investigate the corruption spreading beneath that kingdom. You gather samples for the Sisterhood of the Dishpan Hands and defeat the Sludgelord in the sewers, but the city's danger remains.

When Alteon worsens after drinking water, the guards arrest Page Alan despite his protest that he only poured it. Elsewhere, Brentan finally proposes after Brittany teases him about their childhood quarrels, promising to defend her and those she loves before she accepts.

With Chaos attacking the city and escaped prisoners stealing its weapons, you help recover the armory's supplies, arm civilians and support the Sisterhood's work on an inoculation. Joining Rufus and the defenders to hold the approach, you defeat the Chaos General and win a reprieve for the damaged city.

Brentan remembers Alteon blessing the marriage beside the royal dragon statue and asking whether he understood the duty of protecting a future queen, who would herself need someone to guard her. As you help with the wedding preparations and barricade the chapel, Alteon admits that he can sometimes see through Chaos spies' eyes, but insists on securing his daughter's future while he still can.

During the ceremony, you must subdue the Royal Justiciar as he succumbs to Chaos, only to see Alteon transform before his family as well. Brentan urges Brittany to take her sisters away, but she refuses to let her father continue while the king accuses you of acting too late and declares that the dragon will rise.

When Alteon reaches Tara through her dragon ring, Brittany sends you to free her sister while she confronts him. You break Tara's thralldom, but Alteon's attack kills Brittany, bringing him a brief recognition of what he has done. He asks you to protect his family and end his struggle before leaving, as Brentan, grieving his wife, demands the king's death.

By unwillingly spilling his heir's blood, Alteon fulfills the condition that awakens the royal dragon statue as the twelfth Chaos Beast, lighting another rune at Drakath's gate. Urged onward by Lady Celestia, you confront the three-headed dragon on the castle roof above the burning city before falling into the ruined throne room.

Alteon holds back from attacking as you appeal to the Sisterhood's search for a cure and, if you already know of them, the possibility of finding more Tears of the Mother. He refuses to trust either hope, explaining that although Chaos itself may be neither Good nor Evil, Drakath has given it a dark purpose. With less than an hour left as himself, he will not risk more lives and leaves to see Swordhaven once more.

You follow him through the Chaorrupted city to its overlook, where he still finds hope in what his daughters can rebuild and asks you to choose. You can accept his request, deliberately slaying him while honoring the king he was, or promise him a cure and refuse, only for him to attack and force you to strike back.

Alteon thanks you as his friend and warns that ambition and revenge may divide Good's armies when defeating Chaos must come first. If hope fails, he asks you to trust Gravelyn and the strength and light she can bring to the struggle, and you take his crown to return to his heirs with a promise that Drakath will pay.

After Alteon's death, Victoria, Brentan and Tara's supporters advance rival claims to Swordhaven. Victoria asserts her right as the eldest surviving daughter, while Tara herself is less interested in ruling than the advisers advancing her claim. Victoria chooses to protect Lore before defending her throne, taking her forces to Shadowfall rather than fighting two wars.

Brentan's faction and Tara's advisers appeal for Gravelyn's support in the succession dispute while offering excuses for neglecting the Alliance. Victoria and Gravelyn refuse to let that struggle hand victory to Drakath, so you help prepare Mobius's weapons, Arcangrove's magical defenses and Dwarfhold's resistance to the Chaos Drow before their representatives gather at Shadowfall.