Kindling

"O great Aelfric, Bringer of the Flame. To you I offer my soul and my blood. With your First Flame, I kindle this fire. May it forever shelter the people of this land. Through the sacrament of the Kindling, grant us your mercy and your blessing." —Ophilia Clement, performing the Kindling

Ophilia beginning the Kindling in the Cave of Origin

The Kindling is a rite performed by the Order of the Sacred Flame. Every 20 years, the Church's chosen Flamebearer must take up the ember of the Sacred Flame from the Cave of Origin, carrying it to the three cathedrals across Orsterra and lighting their flames anew.

Associated Locations

• Cave of Origin
• Flamesgrace Cathedral
• Saintsbridge Cathedral
• Goldshore Cathedral

History

The Kindling was created 900 years prior to the events of Octopath Traveler, when the Church of the Sacred Flame first discovered the First Flame burning in the Cave of Origin. Saint Odypus crafted a device called Aelfric's Lanthorn to carry the flame, and thus the sacrament of the Kindling was born.

300 years later, pilgrimages to Sacred Flame locations became popular among followers of the Church. The Knights Ardante were founded in order to protect believers on pilgrimage.

20 years prior to the events of Octopath Traveler, Archbishop Josef performed the rite of the Kindling.

Story

Archbishop Josef's daughter, Lianna, has been chosen to carry out the next Kindling ceremony. However, when Josef falls ill, Lianna's adoptive sister Ophilia visits the Cave of Origin and takes up Aelfric's Lanthorn in Lianna's place, so that Lianna can remain at Josef's side while Ophilia performs the duty of the pilgrimage.

Ophilia kindles the Sacred Flame in Saintsbridge without issue, but encounters an unexpected trial in Goldshore. She finds herself unable to perform the Kindling because Bishop Donovan has not completed the necessary preparations. After investigating the root of Donovan's nervous behavior, Ophilia discovers that Donovan's daughter Lysa has been taken hostage, held for ransom in exchange for the Sacred Flame. Ophilia ventures to the Seaside Grotto in order to rescue Lysa from the kidnappers, a pair of cultists devoted to the Savior.

Upon returning to Goldshore, Ophilia kindles the Sacred Flame. Afterward, she is approached by Lianna, who bears news of their father's death. In an unexpected betrayal, Lianna drugs Ophilia's drink and steals Aelfric's Lanthorn, following the Savior to Wispermill in the belief that he can resurrect her father.

Shortly after her arrival in Wispermill, Ophilia finds herself tricked and taken prisoner by the villagers. She subsequently discovers that the town belongs to a cult led by Mattias, the Savior, who intends to use Lianna to kindle Galdera's Accurst Flame. Lianna secretly releases Ophilia, but insists on completing Mattias's ceremony in the hopes their father can be resurrected.

Ophilia follows the cultists to a dark altar in Ebony Grotto. At Mattias's behest, Lianna has begun to corrupt the Sacred Flame, causing it to burn black. However, Ophilia interrupts the ceremony and brings Lianna back to her senses. Enraged that his plan has been thwarted, Mattias attacks Ophilia, only to perish at her hand.

Her trial complete, Ophilia returns to Flamesgrace to finish the Kindling ceremony, and Pontiff Julius congratulates her on her success.

Trivia

• At the beginning of Ophilia's Chapter 2, the Sacred Flame in Saintsbridge's cathedral flickers fitfully, as if it were sapped of life. However, the Flame flares back to full strength once Ophilia completes the Kindling, suggesting that the ceremony is necessary to keep the Sacred Flame burning strong.
• According to Bishop Bartolo, the ember borne during the Kindling reflects the heart of the Flamebearer who carries it. This can be seen in a number of ways:
  • When Archbishop Josef carried the ember, it "burned bright and strong, full of vigor and passion."
  • Ophilia's ember, on the other hand, is "a warm and gentle flame."
  • Lianna's fixation on the afterworld temporarily corrupted the ember, transforming it into the Accurst Flame.
• In travel banter, Cyrus calls the Kindling "the experience of a lifetime"; he can hardly contain his excitement at seeing the ritual with his own eyes.
• According to Archbishop Josef, some of the clerics chosen to perform the Kindling never returned from their journeys, beset upon by lawless villains and savage beasts.