As for my students, Klata believes that the Anzu, creatures as old as time, are not gone, but merely living among us... that perhaps a titan or even humans are Anzu. This is ridiculous. When has a titan ever built anything? And if humans were Anzu, don't you think we would have some sort of knowledge of that? There are stories of Anzu in the north guiding the Dominion's hands, but this seems like Dominion propaganda to me. They're much scarier if we all think they have some ancient being guiding them now, aren't they? The Anzu are gone, simple as that.

— Arcanist diary

Tassyn,

The North is on the move again. Large numbers. They have creatures with them I've never seen before. Can't confirm what it was. Human, but not. Hard to kill. Should be on my link. I hope you find it before anyone else does.

— Indigo

This is a finely crafted marksman rifle with a proud and bloody history. All weak point hits from this weapon gain power when you're hovering. Four Freelancers armed only with grenades and these rifles, turned an almost certain defeat into victory during the Skirmish at Skystone Garrison. They used skillful hovering tactics and legendary marksmanship to lure a superior Dominion force into a withering crossfire.

This assault rifle gained its name in one of the early skirmishes with the Dominion. A lone survivor from an ambush on a strider convoy stumbled upon the Dominion raiders while making her way back to Heliost. She used darkness, the hills, and focused vengeance to her advantage. She used her last shot to kill the final three Dominion troopers.

Little is known about Doctor Harken, a Dominion Arcanist, except for his spectacular and infamous failed experiment conducted during the invasion of Freemark. According to survivors, he was personally responsible for activating the Cenotaph, unleashing the Heart of Rage, and leveling the city.

"I got one last look at the Cenotaph as the Dominion filled the chamber... and what I saw filled me with a dread that still wakes me up at night. The most terrifying thing wasn't the ring of black-armored lancers closing in. It wasn't the machines they dragged in that looked like they'd been built to torture animals. It was the Arcanist. He stood in the center of all of it and just... smiled."

— Survivor's account of the Battle of Freemark

The Anthem of Creation is the ultimate power. The womb, the spark, the will of life itself. The Shapers used it to build this world. When they left their instruments behind, they did not mean for them to lay idle. They left them for us, their chosen ones. But our triumph was not pre-determined. The shapers gave us choice: to win or die. Our victory against the urgoth merely began our rhythm of mastery. All must follow this drum. To live is to serve.

— From Our Ascendancy

We thank thee, Sistrum, for showing us the way.
For bringing us the warmth of your capacity.
Oh sisters three, let us rejoice in you,
and bring the world, as you brought us,
into your sight.

— Dominion Prayer

Memo
Subject: Relic Collection
Problem: There are reports that lancers from nearby settlements have inhibited our collection of relics.
Solution: Kill lancers on sight. No quarter. Any trooper that returns from collection empty-handed will be submitted to serve for augmentation.
To live is to serve.

What is fear to those who serve a greater cause? Fear exists in us all, but we northern use it for a greater purpose. Fear is the root of courage, and courage is strength. Ours is the path of might. The path of knowing that mankind is not meant to hide, but to dominate. Our grand purpose is to follow the Shapers into greatness and make the world as we see fit.

— From Our Ascendancy

Monitor,

It appears the natural Brutes we've captured have an instinctual inclination to destroy our specialized Brutes, as though they sense the chimeric element present. I cannot confirm if this is a pattern or unique to the individuals in question. Requesting further study.

— Dr. Alesmir

To commemorate the Battle of Freemark, when the Dominion created the Heart of Rage by awakening the Cenotaph, Freelancers across Bastion continue their dedication towards driving Dominion forces back to the frozen north.

Participate in this Festive Event by completing Dominion Strongholds and explore and complete activities in Shadowmark during Freeplay.

This ferocious weapon ramps up its rate of fire as you depress the trigger. It was heavily utilized by Dominion troops when the first incursions from the North began. Sentinels nicknamed the autocannon Stral's Fist for its tremendous striking power, and it's been called variations of that for the last fifty years.

This archive contains stolen Dominion orders issued by the Monitor, obtained by Corvus Agent REDACTED at the cost of her life. Freelancer REDACTED recovered it from Fort Tarsis on a mission for Corvus to DETAILS REDACTED — NOT FOR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.
This archive was originally turned over to Corvus Factor REDACTED here at the fort, but has been returned to the Enclave as a trophy, following a careful examination of its contents by intelligence analysts.

The Dominion engage in numerous biological experiments inspired by their belief that they are meant to harness the Anthem of Creation's power. Furies are among the most visible and destructive results. Dominion defectors whisper about a factory where chosen prisoners were taken to “serve the cause” before they were exposed to the Anthem of Creation through Shaper relics.
After Freemark's destruction, Emperor Valus Dell proclaimed: “Like the chimera, Furies are no longer what they once were. Even their Dominion masters are wary of them, for their only thought is to kill. If you pity these poor souls, put them out of their misery.”

We have lost our name to an enemy that wears our legacy like a mask. When our fellow Paladins turned on us, we scattered and went dark. Some remain in the north, keeping watch over our fallen brothers. Some returned to the home of the Legion. We remain. We remember. Light the flame against the darkness.

Reports of Dominion movement have raised numerous concerns within Fort Tarsis. From practical questions regarding security and trade to larger fears of the Dominion's motives and odds of success, tension within the walls is rising. While local bar proprietor Max has seen an upswing in business, strider drivers have been overwhelmed with passengers trying to book passage and numerous shortages have been reported in the market as those standing with the fort begin stockpiling supplies. Officials have not commented at this time.

Fueled by resentment and frustration, Owen sabotaged your suit while going into the Fortress of Dawn. He stole the Javelin of Dawn, apparently intending to deliver it to the Dominion. He escaped the fortress without leaving any trail to follow.

After Haluk was ambushed by Dominion at the Fortress of Dawn, Owen came to his rescue. A little worse for wear thanks to his dealings with the Monitor, Owen gave you a seal from the Javelin of Dawn to help complete the Dawn Shield. And then left you to fight a Fury by yourself, because some things never change.

In an early conflict with the Dominion, an eager young Freelancer continually ran forward, let off a shot, and then retreated hastily back to his own line. His curious actions confused the Dominion troops and helped win the day. His weapon of choice was a forerunner of this shotgun; he gave it a curious nickname. If Grandmaster Solidus hadn't become one of the great warriors of Bastion, the name may not have stuck. But he did, and its name is forever "Papa Pump."

A combination of advanced technology and a dangerous disregard for personal safety. Freelancer Beckman—known for turning impossible situations into victories—is often cited as the inspiration for this weapon's creation. Beckman once stole the blueprints for an undeveloped Dominion weapon and then fled into the Grey Steppes. He made a dramatic last stand during a lightning storm near the city of Delian Gol. Months later, the stolen plans somehow surfaced at the Arcanist Academy.

Royal Proclamation:
It has come to my attention that Dominion soldiers were spotted in northern Bastion, and that Fort Tarsis may be under threat. I hereby extend the protection of Antium to Fort Tarsis. Sentinels will be sent to reinforce the walls, guard transports to and from Fort Tarsis, and monitor the Antium lock

In 468 LV, the Spear, a powerful Dominion Valkyrie leader, tampered with Shaper instruments in the Bastion region—this resulted in the formation of a Cataclysm known as the "Echoes of Reality." As a side-effect of this tampering, the Cataclysm unleashed a wave of energy that caused Shaper instruments throughout the region to activate unpredictably. One such instrument obliterated the ancient ruins of Sanctuary in the Emerald Abyss.

Created with raw materials that emerged from a Shaper anomaly, this weapon is effective against any foes who stray too close. Corvus stole the blueprints for this innovative technology from Dominion agents testing it in the field. An unrefined version of this weapon is used by the Bristleback—a close relative of the monstrous ursix.

The Storm is the latest in javelin design, using ember-cored seals to harness the power of the elements. Its ability to float above combat compensates for its light armor. Operated by a skilled lancer, the javelin's lightning, ice and other elemental attacks make it an invaluable tool against the Dominion.
The Dominion is far more advanced than we ever imagined. Frost, lightning, levitation... We must not fear this technology, but instead embrace it. So we have crafted an answer to the Dominion's Shocktroopers and Frost hounds. We will challenge them with the Storm.

A large Shaper ruin that destroyed the city of Freemark and produced the Heart of Rage (Cataclysm) Cataclysm when the Dominion attempted to seize control of it. Most of Freemark's population was unaware of the Cenotaph's existence until it was too late. How the Dominion knew that the Cenotaph existed remains a mystery, but there is little doubt they arrived at Freemark specifically to activate the ruin. It is not known if the Dominion expected the casualties on both sides that followed their attempt to control the Cenotaph. In 466 L.V., Freelancers entered the Heart of Rage to try to shut down the Cenotaph, but nearly all of them died in the failed attempt.

For our people, there were only two choices: Risk annihilation, or remain under the thumb of the urgoth. The latter was not an option. Even if our army was small, it was an army. A well-organized force that could defeat a superior foe. We just had to remain true to each other and reach more brothers and sisters.

—From "Our Ascendancy", an official Dominion history book

Of course there have been cyphers who wanted to be lancers. Take the old story of the cypher who wanted to fly. In Satomi, this is not just a folk tale, but a lesson to be heeded. The story goes as follows:

Benwick Xan, a brilliant cypher in his day, thought he could pilot a javelin whilst ignoring his own heightened awareness. Although his initial tests were encouraging, things were not so simple in the face of genuine danger. He hired a Freelancer to escort him into the wild; they hadn't gone three steps when they were attacked by skorpions. In the heat of battle, Benwick could not focus. He found when one of the beasts attacked, his attention was split: sensing a rise in Shaper energy to the East, picking up Arcanist distress signals, noting the rise in humidity due to recent rain, and dozens of other things that did not help at this moment. He tried to fly, but accidentally fired his cannon. He tried to fire his cannon, but instead punched a nearby rock. He had no control. Tragically, it was he and not the skorpions who killed his escort.

You see, lancer and javelin are connected to the Anthem via gateway… but it's a single connection. Slim and direct. We cyphers are already connected to the Anthem, and for us, the gateway is not direct but… engulfing. Javelins cannot possibly channel our every impulse, because our impulses are too many, too vast. The result is a disaster.

There are whispers, of course, of those in the north experimenting with the "creation" of cypher-pilots, but I have yet to see proof of whether they exist or how. 'Tis a rumor and a wish, not a reality.

— From In The Chair: Interviews with Negan Dell

The expansionist, military regime from Stralheim, that destroyed the city of Freemark when they attempted to control the Cenotaph. While their technological advances are noteworthy, their methods have shown little regard for life or individuality.

“The Dominion had a strange creature with it today. It seemed like a brute, but was wearing a helmet or canister of some sort… and it was … it wasn’t a chimera but it was darn close, shooting off ice and such. I decided to put it out of its misery and shot the canister. Then the thing when crazy! Took out all the Dominion soldiers. Serves them right. What they did to that Brute was an abomination. Animals are dangerous, yeah, but they don’t deserve that.”

— Transcript, Corvus files

My dearest.

I cannot wait to come back to Stralheim. The weather here is very hot, and I miss the cool air of the north in my lungs. Each day is a test, one I fear I will fail. Our Monitor is unbending in his will, and the southerners are not as weak as we thought. The only thing that gets me through is thinking of being with you again. You are my light.

Sincerely
Gehert

Dominion scheming in the region set off a Cataclysm that activated a number of Shaper instruments throughout Bastion— one of which obliterated a wide swath of the Emerald Abyss.

An unending, violent Cataclysm created when the Dominion attempted to seize control of the Shaper relic known as the Cenotaph. The ensuing forces destroyed the city of Freemark.
The Heart Of Rage is like no Cataclysm we've seen before. The wind throws around enormous debris like children's toys. Striders have little chance of surviving the Cataclysm intact, and lancers have died attempting to travel inside. There is no immediate solution, but if its expansion remains unchecked, the creatures and destruction it creates will ravage the countryside. Shadowmark has already been evacuated. Fort Tarsis may eventually be next

— From Cataclysms and their Effects, 44th Edition

A rare Dominion operative who is both a skilled lancer and cypher. He is invaluable to the Dominion's expansion plans. Monitors undergo special training to make them into near-omniscient secret police. Corvus first heard whispers about the Monitors from small bands of refugees fleeing south from Stralheim to Freemark.

He was there when the Dominion activated the Cenotaph. One of the few to get out alive. But he's not like other soldiers. Monitors are always deadly, but he's different. Something happened to him... something deeper drives him. He will try to reach the Cenotaph once more, and will destroy anything in his way.

— Transcript. Corvus files.

Monitor:
We followed the link coordinates, but there are no bodies or equipment. There's also no sign of battle or animal tracks. No sign of Shaper energy, but that does not discount possible relic activity.
Will investigate further.

Excavation was going as planned until we hit a cavern full of crystals. These crystals are illuminated with an argent glow and appear to be a source of energy. We've collected samples to show potential buyers. Gotta make a living, even if it's off Dominion funds.

—From notes recovered on-site, author unknown

“The Spear” is the call sign of Vara Brom, who is believed to be the highest-ranking lancer within the Dominion Valkyries. She is feared throughout the north for leading bold aerial attacks against heavily fortified targets.

“As the final enemy wave descended upon the Legion, Magna Stral threw aside her rifle, long since run dry of bullets, and took from the grasp of a fallen urgoth a great spear longer than a man was tall. Armed with the spear, she charged the enemy line. And before her might, urgoth scattered like leaves in a storm.”

— From " Battles of the Legion "

Many of the Dominion's top lancers have sought a place in Vara Brom's battalion. The most talented Valkyries form her inner circle of friends and advisors, just as the Legionnaires once did for General Tarsis.