Ascendant

Overview
Not only survivors, but masters of the Halls of Ascendancy. At the very least possessing ancient weapons of mysterious power and at most thrumming with the power of their progenitor itself. Each Ascendant wields tremendous power and influence within their civilization, most often acting as the leader of their entire society. Although multiple Ascendants have existed at the same time before, presiding over separate areas of Veneran territory.

They are seen as demigods when compared to the average Veneran, indeed each one holds a place within the Pantheon of Ascendancy, their names and lives recorded for eternity. The Pantheon is not merely a concept, rather a monumental structure raised in their honor. A grand statue of each Ascendant is erected within the Pantheon upon their death, arranged in a great row that will one day extend into two rows, then a third, then a fourth until they stand as a stone army of remembrance.

Warfare
Though supremely lethal, an Ascendant is not infallible. Though a projectile piercing her chest will be shrugged off, that same projectile piercing her skull would doubtless result in her death. As such she commonly deems it wise to avoid direct combat with an opposing army, instead deploying herself to situations where she may exert her dominion without needless risk of death. Rare occasions throughout Veneran history have seen two Ascendants leading their own armies against one another, generally electing for single combat to spare the lives of their followers. The resulting duels are a sight to behold, each combatant possessed of few viable means to kill the other and leading to a long and vicious exchange in which their true combative prowess is shown at its height.

A typical Scion of Venera is already possessed of greater speed and strength than any human, however this disparity is fully on display when gazing upon the Ascendant. She wields her weapon with apparent ease, recovering from a swing or thrust with such haste one would think her armament weightless, it is not. A blow from her crashes through almost any metal without pause and her very flesh seems to actively disdain injury, healing rapidly and sometimes resisting sword strokes with merely a scratch. One would think her a formidable opponent even without the addition of the savage Kynivar she often rides into battle.