Note: This page provides a summary of the (original) Balaurea campaign and thus contains spoilers. For more information see the "Trivia" section below.
The Balaurea Campaign sees the continuation of the original campaign (Elyos|Asmodians). Introduced with the 2.0 update, it follows the player as he/she travels to Balaurea to aid the Empyrean Lords in their battle against the Dragon Lords. As the campaign progresses the focus is slowly shifted from the player as an individual to that of his/her faction, and their role in the grander scheme of things.
The Balaurea campaign was originally set between levels 51-55, with a unique story for both factions (Inggison, Gelkmaros). It has since been expanded and revamped as the game progressed, taking in the stories of 3.0 (Sarpan, Tiamaranta), 4.0 (Katalam, Danaria), 4.7 (Levinshor, Kaldor) and 4.8 (Cygnea/Enshar).
In its final form the Balaurea Campaign told the story of 10 maps and 4 Aion expansions, and was set between levels 51 and 65. After level 56 the stories of both factions overlap; from this point onward players experience the same story, with just a few minor differences.
This page details the events of Aion 2.0 and 3.0.
Assault on Balaurea (Aion 2.0)[]
The Balaur invasions of Heiron and Beluslan were the last straw for the Empyrean Lords, who have decided that the time has come to bring the fight to the Dragon Lords. The player is summoned to Sanctum/Pandaemonium and learns that Lord <Kaisinel>/<Marchutan> has previously left for Balaurea with a large task force in tow, but has apparently run into some difficulties there. To this end player is asked to take command over a resupply fleet and lead it into Inggison/Gelkmaros, after which they are to join with the forces already stationed there.
AION Cutscenes HD - Gelkmaros Intelligence
Inggison/Gelkmaros Intel
Upon arrival the player finds that the recently constructed fortress is already under heavy attack from Tiamat's forces, who have even brought along a Dredgion. Although the situation on the ground is dire, the player and his/her reinforcement unit manage to turn the situation around and eventually send the Balaur running. In the aftermath of these events the player is introduced the local leadership and briefed on the situation.
While the Elyos managed to wrestle away Inggison from Balaur control, the Asmodians meanwhile achieved the same with Gelkmaros. The remaining Balaur have mounted a vicious resistance around the bulwark surrounding the main region of Tiamaranta, and the situation has thus reached a stalemate. The player's mission therefore is to keep the Balaur occupied on the ground while the battleship Eulos (Elyos)/Sardonir (Asmodians) is being outfitted and prepared for a direct attack.
Inggison (Elyos)[]
The player meets with Kaisinel's Agent Outremus, and is dispatched to assist the local Brigade Generals with a variety of tasks. The player repairs and installs several Aether regulation devices in the nearby area and even mops up a band of Balaur remnants loitering around a previously destroyed Drana farm in the Phanoe Valley, both feats pleasing the Brigade Generals and Outremus himself.
The next stop is Taloc's Forest, where a research group that was previously dispatched to investigate a problem with the giant Elim tree's aether generation powers has apparently ran into some difficulties. At the site the player meets Tialla, the team's leader, who is bewildered by her researchers' failure to even meet with Taloc and asks the player to meet with Taloc's Messenger Lothas in their stead. The player passes Lothas' test and is then teleported to the interior of Taloc's Hollow, where they use the received 
<Taloc Fruit> and 
<Taloc's Tears> to exterminate the parasites that are leeching off Taloc's energy. With the defeat of <Celestius> Taloc is at last free of his suffering, and the situation is resolved.
After these events the player relocates to the Inggison Outpost located near the center of the region, where they meet with Kaisinel's Agent <Veille>. The outpost is preparing to launch a full-scale operation to wipe out the remaining Balaur in the region, but finds their path obstructed by the presence of a large and active Drana farm nearby [1]. The player infiltrates the facility, killing several Draconutes, but ultimately is unable to destroy the already blooming Drana lumps. At the suggestion of a local Centurion the player kills some of the nearby Klaw and brings their digestive glands to Alchemy Master <Diana> in Sanctum, who then produces a poison that can destroy the blooming Drana flowers. After the player does so the attack on Tiamaranta can move onto the next phase.
Tiamaranta is shielded by a powerful aerial aetheric field, which is to be disabled if the Eulos is to advance into the region [2]. The player is therefore sent to seek our a Reian tribesman living in the region, who has knowledge on the field's generation device. Upon consulting him however it is learned that the person the player needs has been long since been captured by the Balaur, and is now imprisoned in the Balic city of Hanarkand. The player once again returns to the drana farm from the previous quest and retrieves a map as well as several Balaur armor pieces, which are then brought to Sanctum's Tailoring master <Daphnis>. With her help a disguise is created that allows the player to infiltrate the Balaur city and replace the prison warden undetected, after which the Reian prisoner is freed. From her it is learned that generation device is located inside the Beshmundir Temple.
Reaching Beshmundir Temple means traversing Silentera Canyon, and to that end the player partakes in efforts to bring Inggison's two fortresses under Elyos control [3]. After doing so the corridor to Silentera Canyon opens up, and the players sets out for Beshmundir Temple after retrieving some aether bombs from the Abyss. In the structure the player locates and destroys the Wardstones shielding the Field Generator, after which he/she retrieves the generator's core and destroys it near the bulwark surrounding Tiamaranta. Upon doing so the Balaur's aerial Aetheric field disappeared as if it were never there, and the way is at last upon for a direct assault on Tiamaranta.
Gelkmaros (Asmodian)[]
-WIP-
Ascension (Aion 3.0)[]
Aion Online - Assault on Tiamaranta - Veille's Vs Tiamat
The Elyos and Asmodian armies advance into Tiamaranta, but are quickly met by a fully empowered and combat-ready <Tiamat>. <Veille>/<Mastarius> attacks the Dragon Lord but is instantly defeated, after which Tiamat turns her attention to the armies themselves. Aided by the power of Siel's Relics, the 5th Dragon Lord is unstoppable and begins to decimate both armies until <Kahrun> appears with an airship and has his troops rescue the survivors. Tiamat gives chase but is stopped by Veille/Masterius, who sacrifices her/himself and narrowly manages to buy the survivors enough time to escape.
The player is discussing the aftermath of the failed attack with the ship's captain when the opposing faction boards the vessel. Chaos ensues, but soon <Kahrun> appears and immobilizes everyone, declaring his Will which will forbids any infighting between the races for as long as they are on Reian soil. With no choice but to agree, an uneasy alliance between the Elyos, Asmodians and Reians is born.
Sarpan[]
With both airships now safely docked in the skies above Sarpan, the player consults with <Killios>/<Aimah> to decide on their next move. Both agents believe that quickly establishing a favorable relationship with the Reians is the best course of action given the current situation, and thus dispatches the player to seek out a Reian commander named <Kutos> as he recently filed a request for aid. As per his request the player heads into Kamar's dungeon and quells a Dragonbound prisonbreak (E)/clears out a severe Klaw infestation (A), a feat which greatly impress Kutos.
Several days later Kutos calls for the player again, this time informs them that a man who identified himself as a Lepharist Revolutionary strolled into the guard's headquarters yesterday with the message that Lephar wishes to meet the player. The player discusses this with their faction's agent, who suspects that Lephar may be moving against Tiamat as well since the Dragon Lord is a threat to both of their interests. Killios/Aimah advises the player to meet with Lephar but to keep their guard up.
The player travels to Garldar Village and meet with the Lepharist contact, who then sends the player to Lephar's hideout in the Abyss. Lephar begins his conversation by introducing himself as Empyrean Lord Israphel, long since thought to be dead, and tells a shocked player that Atreia will fall to Tiamat if the Dragon Lord is allowed to keep hold of Siel's Relics. Before sending the player back he stresses the urgency of taking Siel's Relics away from Tiamat, as the Dragon Lord cannot be defeated for as long as they remain under her control. Back in Sarpan, the player conveys Israphel's words to Killios/Aimah, who likewise is shocked by this turn of events but believes that if Lephar indeed is Israphel it would explain many of his past actions. The agents agree to prioritize discovering a way to neutralize Siel's Relics, and send the player to meet with <Kahrun> and ask for his co-operation.
Search for the Protector[]
Aion 3.0- Sarpan Campaign.0 Cutscenes - Sarpan Campaign
The player returns to Kamar and meets with the Reian Leader, who in turn introduces them to <Garnon>, a young Reian woman who will serve as the player's emissary. After hearing the player's story Garnon notes that the Reian guard had spotted a band of Tiamat's soldiers near an area in the south, and that they seem to be frantically searching for something.
On Garnon's advice, the player travels to the area and captures one of the Balaur for interrogation. From this is it learned that the Balaur are searching for a woman named Oriata, a powerful Reian Protector who is said to possess an ability that can neutralize Siel's Relics. The player then travels to an underground Jotun studio located in northeast of Sarpan in search of the Protector's trace, but is ambushed by the opposing faction. Israphel appears however and vanishes the attackers, warning the player to not disclose their findings with Garnon as she is bound to pass any information on to the other members of the alliance - including the opposing faction.
The player return to <Killios>/<Aimah> with the message, who wonders why an Empyrean Lord that never showed particular favoritism before would now ally himself with the player's faction in particular, but nevertheless agrees that the opposing faction cannot be allowed to learn of Oriata's existence or whereabouts. The player is thus told to keep quiet and continue the investigation alone. Before leaving Kamar the player meets <Garnon>, who gives the player a necklace along with the message that it will protect them in their hour of need.
After a long search the player at last uncovers the entrance to Oriata's realm, but upon venturing through finds that the Balaur are already there. A big fight ensues, but just as the player is about to get overwhelmed Garnon's necklace activates and unleashes a large shockwave which pushes the Balaur out of the realm. At the same time Protector Oriata begins to wake from her slumber.
Oriata is reluctant to share her powers with the player, but concedes when <Garnon> appears with an ambassador of the opposing faction. The player receives Oriata's powers along with a warning of the responsibility that comes with wielding it.
Tiamaranta[]
AION Cutscenes HD - Tiamaranta Intelligence
Now in the possession of a way to neutralize Siel's Relics, the Reian-Elyos-Asmodian alliance shifts their focus to Tiamaranta. While the forces are being gathered in the recently constructed Rancora Fortress the player meets with their faction's detachment captain, and learns that the entrance to Tiamat's Castle is guarded by four mini-fortresses known as Hearts. Neutralizing them is a must if the alliance is to move onto the 5th Dragon Lord, and the player is thus dispatched to work with <Garnon> and come up with a solution.
Together with Garnon the player travels to each of the Hearts in Tiamaranta, shielding her as she conducts a number of experiments. It is soon learned that the hearts nullify magic and allow the stationed Balaur troops to detect the presence of intruders from miles away. After some more experiments Garnon concludes that each of the Hearts must powered and protected by an incarnation of Tiamat herself, and that defeating these avatars should power down the Hearts. To test this theory the player travels to the Heart of Petrification and slays its incarnation <Petriscale> during siege time. As the avatar is vanquished the Heart is powered down and relinquished to Elyos/Asmodian control, affirming Garnon's theory. The leaders of the three factions rejoice at the success, and assert the player that the battle will soon be moving to Tiamaranta's Eye.
Tiamat Stronghold[]
With access to the inner area of Tiamat's castle now open, the Elyos and Asmodians have dispatched scouting teams to gather intel on the area. Garnon asks the player to meet up with their faction's scouting party and accompany inside, but shortly after the player does so the group encounters the scouting party from the opposing faction. Old grudges and sentiments flare back to life, and upon learning that Kahrun's Will isn't active there is no holding back.
Shortly after the smoke has cleared <Garnon> appears with a Reian detachment, and is enraged when she hears that both factions re-enacted their hostilities on the very doorstep of the enemy. Before she can say anything more the Balaur come swarming by the numbers, forcing the allied troops into a hasty retreat.
Back in Kamar, a furious <Kahrun> tells the player to return to Sanctum/Pandaemonium with the message that the Reian people will face Tiamat alone. As the player relays the message however the voice of Empyrean Lord <Kaisinel>/<Marchutan> suddenly resounds. The Lord tells the player to return to Sarpan and offer Kahrun his/her assistance in a bid to keep him away from Siel's Relics as long as they can, noting that the usefulness of the alliance with the Reians is nearing its end. To this end the Lord gives the player a manifestation of his command, which will force Kahrun to accept the player's help as even after the Cataclysm the Reians remain bound in servitude to the Empyrean Lords.
The player returns to Sarpan, where a reluctant Kahrun allows the player to accompany him during the main assault which is due in a few days. When said day comes however the player still hasn't received any word from the Reian leader. Upon asking Garnon it is learned that <Kahrun> fooled the player and had already left. As it turns out, Kahrun had been rambling on about the Elyos/Asmodian treachery for days, and never had any intention of taking the player along from the beginning. Garnon however believes that slaying Tiamat is not an event that can be brought about by acting seperately, and tells the player of Kahrun's whereabouts so that they can follow him and help him where needed.
The player rushes after Kahrun and arrives at the Throne of Blood, where instead of Kahrun they find <Tiamat> looming over them. Even in the maw of death the player refuses to yield to the Dragon Lord, and is therefore saved by <Kaisinel>/<Marchutan> when Tiamat unleashes a raging fire attack.
An epic battle between Tiamat and the Empyrean Lord ensues. Tiamat is seemingly unfazed by the Empyrean Lord's attacks and begins to activate Siel's Relics, but the player sees a widow of opportunity and uses the ability they received from Oriata. Siel's Relics are temporarily disabled, leaving a weakened Tiamat who becomes no match for an Empyrean Lord at full combat strength. <Kaisinel>/<Marchutan> unleashes his ultimate attack, and Tiamat perishes with a terrible roar.
Israphel's Plot[]
Aion 3.0 - Tiamaranta Campaign
Tiamaranta Campaign
Kaisinel/Marchutan is about to take Siel's Relics when <Kahrun>, who Tiamat had banished to the past, is returned to the present. During this moment of distraction Israphel appears and immobilizes everyone, thanking both parties for their efforts as he takes Siel's Relics for himself before teleporting out.
Kahrun's first train of thought is that the Elyos and Asmodians have betrayed him yet again, and lashes out at the player for failing to understand the importance Siel's Relics to his people. Kaisinel/Marchutan however pays Kahrun no mind, and orders the player to focus on tracking down Israphel and retrieving Siel's Relics.
Back in Kamar however the player is summoned by Kahrun, who continues to scold the player and his/her faction. He contemplates banishing both races from Sarpan, but ultimately stays his hand as he believes that the player's past services to the Reian people makes them different from the rest of their faction and their treacherous Empyrean Lords. Kahrun collects himself and asks the player to co-operate with <Garnon> to retrieve Siel's Relics.
The player discusses the situation with <Killios>/<Aimah>, who notes that the relics seem to emit some kind of magical energy signature, and asks the players to retrieve a number of samples so that Garnon can study them. At the same time they tell the player to only share the absolute minimum amount of information with Garnon, since the opposing faction won't hesitate to seize Siel's Relics for themselves either if given the opportunity.
After studying the samples <Garnon> eventually pinpoints Israphel's location to the Anaz Forest, but as the player reports this to <Killios>/<Aimah> the agent reveals that he/she already had the faction's own Sorcerers also investigate the retrieved samples in secret. Through this they were able to create a portal to Israphel's inter-dimensional hideout, and now that they have the exact temporal coordinates thanks to Garnon's work <Killios>/<Aimah> sends the player ahead to retrieve Siel's Relics before the Reians and opposing faction realize what has happened.
In Israphel's hideout, the player confronts the fallen Empyrean Lord and learns of his motivations and plan. Israphel's goal is to combine Siel's powers with his own to restore Atreia to its former self, before the arrival of the Balaur, from which point on he alone will lead Atreia into an age of prosperity. Not thrilled by Israphel's proposal to play for Aion and become Atreia's eternal dictator, the player tries to neutralize Siel's Relics once again but fails, at which point he/she leaps at Isprahel out of desperation. Isprahel is unstoppable, but just when all hope seems lost Siel's Ghost appears from the relics and reveals that everything that has happened so far is in accordance with Aion's will. A massive light envelops the area, and when the player regains consciousness Israphel and Siel's Relics are nowhere to be seen.
End of the Alliance[]
Upon setting foot in Kamar the player is approached by <Kahrun>, who tells them that the Reian people have been reporting massive Aether currents washing over everything. The player tells Kahrun what happened, who then becomes infuriated and berates the player for failing to understand how important Siel's Relics are for his people. Kahrun takes no heed of the player's apologies and tells them to get out of his sight.
The player reports everything to <Killios>/<Aimah>, who asks them to keep quiet about the matter for now and await the summons from Sanctum/Pandaemonium. Shortly after the player indeed receives the call and travels to his/her capital city.
At the inquiry, the player is told that he/she will not be held responsible for the destruction of Siel's Relics, but must still partake in a number of measures to prevent the damage from spreading further. The faction believes that if word of what happened were to get out the people would lose their respect for the Empyrean Lords; fear and suspicion would take a hold of their minds as they would start to wonder if (and when) the other Lords might turn against them as Israphel did, and some might even begin to question Aion itself for having sent them such a corrupt Lord. If this were to happen society would fall into chaos, and with the Balaur and opposing faction lurking nearby it could very well spell the end of the Elyos/Asmodians as a whole. To prevent this the player is ordered to sign a special treaty, which will forever forbid them to disclose the truth of what happened with others. As the player signs the treaty he/she is reminded that they, of all people, should know what happens to those who make an enemy out of Sanctum/Pandaemonium.
The next order of business to ensure <Kahrun> keeps silent as well. To this end the player is sent back to Kahrun to deliver the message along with an Empyrean Missive, forcing his submission. Kahrun is infuriated by the attitude of both governments, openly wondering if their arrogance knows no bounds in spite of their treachery, but nonetheless agrees that this matter should be kept secret. He does however warn the player that the alliance with the Reians is over, and that the Elyos and Asmodians should not expect any form of assistance or aid from them from now on.
As the player leaves Kahrun's office a distraught <Garnon> comes running up to them. Garnon tells the player that Kahrun is preparing to banish the Elyos and Asmodians from his lands once and for all, and although she feels that the player is at least partially at fault for this she says that they cannot let things end this way. <Tiamat> may have been defeated, but she was only the lowest of the Dragon Lords - before long other forces within the Balaur will move to fill the power void left behind. Garnon does not believe that the current alliance can still be saved, but urges the player to do Kahrun a few favors to appease him.
The player agrees to Garnon's suggestion and sets out to locate and hunt down four particular ringleaders in Tiamaranta, whose forces had been harassing the Reians for years. Upon reporting the results to <Kahrun> the Reian leader somewhat comes around, saying that the player has done him quite the favor and that he indeed might have been a bit rash with his decision to expel all the Elyos and Asmodians. Kahrun does however stress that the alliance with the Reians is finished, and asks the player to make sure that the message is delivered to Sanctum/Pandaemonium.
Back at home, the Elyos/Asmodian governments are indifferent to Kahrun's decision as they feel that the alliance was merely a means to defeat <Tiamat> and acquire Siel's Relics to begin with, but nevertheless thank the player for their efforts and allow them to go on leave for a while. During this time the player visits Poeta/Ishalgen to visit <Pernos>/<Munin>, and is shocked to learn that he already knows about everything that happened despite the player not telling them. Pernos/Munin wonders who or what will come to fill the vacuum left behind by Tiamat's death, and advices the player to be ready for the future.
Continued in: →Balaurea Campaign (Chapter 2)→
Trivia[]
- In the revamped campaign the latter half of the Inggison/Gelkmaros campaign (everything related to the advance into Tiamaranta) was omitted and replaced by standard quests which involve dealing with a band of Balaur loitering around the entrance to Silentera Canyon.
- Similarly, a number of other changes were made. The most prominent of these were made to the Gelkmaros campaign, where any mention of Siel's Relics was removed. This leads to funny but lore-wise inaccurate cases where Kumbanda is now suddenly "leading" the very same Balaur he was originally fleeing from.