Lord Asriel's Campaign

Lore & Background

Asriel's campaign was rooted in his hatred of the Church and his determination to break its control. After losing all property following a trial, he transformed from an explorer into a military leader. His strategy relied on the energy released by severing children from their dæmons; specifically, he waited for Roger Parslow, who had been unwittingly brought by Lyra, to perform this act. Asriel used the resulting energy to open a window in the aurora, allowing him to travel between worlds. He allied with Ruta Skadi and her clan, securing their support for the war. His forces included King Ogunwe and Lord Roke, whom he tasked with rescuing Lyra from Mrs Coulter. The campaign escalated as Asriel built his basalt fortress on an empty world, gathering diverse armies to confront the Authority's powerful Regent, Metatron.

In Their Own Story

The battle lines were drawn when Lord Asriel arrived in Cittàgazze and allied himself with rebel angels under Xaphania. He traveled to a desolate world to build an enormous basalt fortress, rallying troops from across multiple realities. When Ruta Skadi found him, he revealed his plan for war against the Kingdom of Heaven and secured her clan's support. Later, Asriel directed King Ogunwe and Lord Roke to rescue Lyra from Mrs Coulter. Although they captured Mrs Coulter, Lyra and Will escaped with two agents. Asriel then attended to Mrs Coulter, attempting to influence the children who held the key to renewing Dust flow. In a twist of fate, he allowed Mrs Coulter to escape in an 'Intention Craft' while sending Lord Roke to follow her for intelligence on the Consistorial Court of Discipline. Learning the Church had built a bomb intended to kill Lyra at Saint-Jean Les Eaux, Asriel rescued Mrs Coulter just in time and destroyed the location with his craft.

Reader's Guide

The campaign begins with Asriel's lecture at Jordan College, where he displayed photograms of Dust and a city in the sky. He then traveled to Svalbard, enduring imprisonment by the panserbjørne under Iofur Raknison while waiting for Roger Parslow. The pivotal moment occurred when Asriel used the energy from Roger's intercision to open an aurora window, enabling travel to Cittàgazze and alliance with Xaphania. Following this, he established his basalt fortress on an empty world. The campaign culminated in a massive confrontation where Asriel's forces fought the armies of the Authority and the Church. During the final engagement at the edge of the abyss, Mrs Coulter tricked Metatron into attacking Asriel and taking Lyra's dæmon. As they stood on the precipice, both parents sacrificed themselves, falling into the abyss to take Metatron with them, condemning all three to fall eternally.

Did You Know?

• Lord Asriel was a fellow of Jordan College in his world's version of Exeter College, Oxford.
• Asriel used a severed head he claimed belonged to Stanislaus Grumman as a prop during his lecture at Jordan College.
• The bear warriors who imprisoned Asriel were known as the panserbjørne and led by Iofur Raknison.
• Lord Asriel destroyed Saint-Jean Les Eaux with an 'Intention Craft' after learning it contained a bomb meant for Lyra.
• Asriel's dæmon is named Stelmaria, a snow leopard.