Cavas, Forgotten Spirit

Cavas, Forgotten Spirit (High Templar Venarius)
Cavas, Forgotten Spirit (High Templar Venarius)
Location(s)	The Coast (during Synthesis league) Memory Nexus (during Synthesis league) Synthesis unique maps as not targetable enemy
Quest(s)	Shattered Past (legacy) Into The Nexus (legacy) Figments Reforged (legacy)

Cavas was a major ally NPC (turn enemies in end game) in the Synthesis league, which granted access to memories. Currently, there is no way to encounter him, except as a non-targetable hostile boss encounter in synthesis unique maps. His true identity is High Templar Venarius and is referred to as such in all other content.

Encounter

Venarius appears in every synthesis unique maps. But only the CortexCortex
Synthesised MapMap Level: 83
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%25% increased Pack size
100% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 83
Map has (3-5) additional random Modifiers
Map has (2-4) additional Synthesis Global ModifiersCorruptedThough my life is gone, my purpose is not.
My will remains, emboldened and empowered by the righteousness of my cause.Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once. (and its replica variant) is a multi-bosses fight. In all of the unique maps, Venarius mainly act as the narrator of the boss fight of that map, as the map bosses themselves does not have voicelines.

The following content applies to Cortex map only, as that map is considered as the main boss fight of Venarius:

Cortex

Venarius himself does not fight the player; however, he will summon Synthesised bosses to fight the player instead.

• Fractal Gargantuan, a giant unique golem
  • Golem Whip: Two cleaves in front
  • Golem Beam: "Light of Salvation!" - Fires a long laser
  • Leap Slam: Charges and springs into the air before slamming
  • V Turret Slam: "Wraeclast needs me!" - Slams the ground, creating two lines of body-blocking turrets
  • Projectile Laser Combo: Fires a few projectiles that decelerate, then fires a laser beam swipe that explodes the projectiles
  • Projectile Spin Combo: "Darkness surrounds us!" - Fires projectiles that decelerate, then spins while firing two laser beams that explode the projectiles
  • Single Projectile Combo: Fires a single decelerating projectile before quickly shooting it with a laser beam, exploding the projectile
• Synthete Masterpiece, a humanoid unique monster
  • Beam Barrage: "Be no more." - Fires several lasers in one direction
  • Celestial Projectiles: Fires 3 slow moving projectiles
  • Wormhole Slam: "Feel the pull of the void!" - Summons several black orbs that follow the player, accelerating over time. If they touch the player, the player will be teleported in front of the boss. He then deals a heavy slam in an cone in front. (Can be avoided by dashing away just before he slams)"Yes, that's it! Death sweeps in."
  • Cross Mortar: Creates a set of 4 orbs that spin in a circle, slowly spreading out and dealing damage on impact
  • Charged Slam: "Sin surrounds you!" - Charges up a large area on the ground that slows the player before exploding in a bubble
  • Concentrated Beam Blast: "Burn away sin!" - Crosses four laser beams, detonating in an AOE around the overlapping point
  • Projectile Barrage: fires a barrage of celestial projectiles in an arc
• Intermission phase; "In this, the realm of the past, I am King, and you will bow!" - weaker synthesised monsters spawn from four portals
• Fractal Titan, a giant unique golem
  • Uses the same skills as Fractal Gargantuan, as well as:
  • Unstable Energy Phase: "Haha! Yes! Feed!" - Summons and begins to absorb several orbs of Unstable Energy to power up. These can be detonated by walking through them. After a delay, releases several rings outwards dealing heavy damage "Obliterate sin!"
• Synthete Nightmare, a humanoid unique monster
  • Uses the same skills as Synthete Masterpiece, as well as:
  • Multi-Teleport: "Belief overwhelms!" - Rapidly teleports around the arena, firing projectiles towards the player. Shortly after, a ring of orbs will appear, which sequentially fire and explode at a specific location.
  • Laser Cage: "Cleansing flames!" - Floats up, creating a ring of lasers that shrink towards the center of the arena before exploding in a large AOE. Must use a movement skill to jump out of the way.

Additionally, Venarius will constantly spawn ground effects in the arena which reset each phase:

• • Void Pits: Creates a small black pool on the ground which chills the player and slows their movement speed, dealing damage over time. Appears in all four Unique phases.
  • Energy Pylon: Summons stationary Pylons on the ground that continuously deal Lightning damage in a small area when touched; these can be deactivated by touching them again after a short cooldown. Appears in the last two Unique phases.
    • There is a bug where touching a Pylon while transitioning between the Fractal Titan and the Synthete Nightmare will cause the Pylons to persist.

Uber boss variant

With the Memento Mori Atlas keystone passive, Venarius and his creations are fought in Area Level 85 and greatly increases in difficulty. The fight with Venarius will have the following changes:

• Area has the mod Monsters take 70% less damage
• Each unique phase will spawn an additional Unique Synthete (map bosses from Synthesis Maps).
  • Fractal Gargantuan - Altered Synthete
  • Synthete Masterpiece - Augmented Synthete
  • Fractal Titan - Twisted Synthete
  • Synthete Nightmare - Rewritten Synthete
• Energy Pylons will spawn in all four Unique phases.

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Note: Vivid Memories is a pre-requisite node for Memento Mori, which causes all zone modifiers to have 100% increased effect, increasing the difficulty of the fight significantly or even bricking some builds. This can be disabled by allocating Wandering Path; however, this also disables other beneficial notables like Neural Pathways and Synaptic Impulses.

The Keystone also works with Replica CortexReplica Cortex
Synthesised MapMap Level: 84
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%25% increased Pack size
200% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 84
Map has (6-8) additional random Modifiers
Map has (4-6) additional Synthesis Global ModifiersCorrupted"Did nobody think to report that we had acquired some sort of free-floating
Memory? Cease testing and lock this away immediately!"
- Administrator QotraTravel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once..

Uber Cortex will drop 3 additional Synthesised items with 3 synthesised implicit modifiers, rolling with less common implicits.

Drops

This boss drops a guaranteed unique from a pool.

• Offering to the SerpentOffering to the Serpent
  Legion GlovesArmour: (257-363)
  Energy Shield: (52-75)Requires Level 57, 44 Str, 44 Int<One to three random Synthesis implicit modifiers>+(15-25) to all Attributes
  (150-200)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
  50% reduced Maximum Recovery per Life Leech
  (6-10)% increased Attack and Cast Speed
  (15-25)% increased Damage while Leeching
  Life Leech effects are not removed when Unreserved Life is Filled"You covet the strength of your peers, mortal?
  Perhaps it can be yours, if you are willing to make an offering of their blood..."
  - Vaal Myth of the Third Snake (40%)
• NebulisNebulis
  Void SceptreSceptre
  Physical Damage: 50-76
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.20%
  Attacks per Second: 1.25
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 68, 104 Str, 122 Int<One to three random synthesis implicit modifiers>(15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  (15-20)% increased Cold Damage per 1% Cold Resistance above 75%
  (15-20)% increased Lightning Damage per 1% Lightning Resistance above 75%The vastness of the cosmos holds energies beyond comprehension, should one have the fortitude to grasp them. (40%)
• Bottled FaithBottled Faith
  Sulphur FlaskLasts (5.60-6.80) Seconds
  Consumes 40 of 60 Charges on use
  40% increased DamageRequires Level 27Creates Consecrated Ground on Use(30-15)% reduced Duration
  Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius
  Consecrated Ground created during Effect applies (7-10)% increased Damage taken to Enemies
  (100-150)% increased Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during EffectA tourniquet for the soul, squeezing ethereal into physical.Right click to drink. Can only hold charges while in belt. Refills as you kill monsters. (5%)
• Garb of the EphemeralGarb of the Ephemeral
  Savant's RobeEnergy Shield: (322-435)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 56, 600 Str, 752 Int<One to three random Synthesis implicit modifiers>(180-230)% increased Energy Shield
  +600 Strength and Intelligence Requirement
  Gain a Divine Charge on Hit
  +10 to maximum Divine Charges
  You gain Divinity for 10 seconds on reaching maximum Divine Charges
  Lose all Divine Charges when you gain Divinity
  Nearby 5.0m radius Allies' Action Speed cannot be modified to below Base Value
  Nearby 6.0m radius Enemies cannot deal Critical StrikesExceptional men and women of strong will can flicker a spark,
  but something much greater is needed to unleash the wildfire of true divine flames. (5%)

The following items only drop from the Uber Venarius encounter only:

• Forgotten Reliquary KeyForgotten Reliquary KeyI have already lost more
  than you shall ever possess.Travel to the Forgotten Reliquary by using this item in a personal Map Device. Can only be used once.
• Rational DoctrineRational Doctrine
  Cobalt Jewel<Three random synthesis implicit modifiers>You have Consecrated Ground around you while
  stationary if Strength is your highest Attribute
  25% chance to create Profane Ground on Critical
  Strike if Intelligence is your highest Attribute
  Effects of Consecrated Ground you create Linger for 4 seconds
  Effects of Profane Ground you create Linger for 4 secondsLogic wanes in shining faith, and in rationalism, ardour dims
  Thus, the cynic and the zealot are divided
  But can they not be one and the same?Place into an allocated Jewel Socket on the Passive Skill Tree. Right click to remove from the Socket.

In addition, the boss also drops:

• Imperfect MemoriesImperfect Memories5Jewellery
  Item Level: 100
  Three-Implicit
  SynthesisedEverything is eroded by time, but sometimes the edges that fade can make a wonderful memory even more beautiful.
• The HookThe Hook8Level 21 Transfigured Gem
  Quality: +23%
  CorruptedEvery obsession began with a single, innocent taste.
• DementophobiaDementophobia1110x Delirium OrbI never truly understood the depths of my insanity,
  until I realized the voices beckoning me towards the abyss,
  were none other than my own.

Above table only listed the loot from finishing CortexCortex
Synthesised MapMap Level: 83
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%25% increased Pack size
100% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 83
Map has (3-5) additional random Modifiers
Map has (2-4) additional Synthesis Global ModifiersCorruptedThough my life is gone, my purpose is not.
My will remains, emboldened and empowered by the righteousness of my cause.Travel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once., Replica CortexReplica Cortex
Synthesised MapMap Level: 84
Map Tier: 11
Item Quantity: +100%
Monster Pack Size: +25%25% increased Pack size
200% increased Experience gain
Monster Level: 84
Map has (6-8) additional random Modifiers
Map has (4-6) additional Synthesis Global ModifiersCorrupted"Did nobody think to report that we had acquired some sort of free-floating
Memory? Cease testing and lock this away immediately!"
- Administrator QotraTravel to this Map by using it in a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once. and Maven's Invitation: The Feared bosses encounter. In Cortex and Replica Cortex, the unique is a guaranteed drop, but in the invitation fight it is not.

Do not leave the zone/map after killing the Synthete Nightmare, as this may prevent Venarius from dropping loot (due to a delayed animation).

Lore

Atlas of Worlds expansion

Venarius was first mentioned in the Shaper Memory Fragments that introduced in Atlas of Worlds expansion (version 2.4.0). Such lore and lore objects were superseded by War for the Atlas expansion, which introduced the Elder as an endgame boss. Subsequent atlas expansions, Conquerors of the Atlas, Echoes of the Atlas and Siege of the Atlas did not supersede the existence of the Elder and Venarius, only pushed the event of the killing / re-sealing of the Elder before the start of Epilogue (unknown it is "before Act 1" or "after Act 1" or "after Act 10"). These events were thus completed by NPC representing older player protagonists known as the Elderslayers, instead of the players themselves.

For the only superseded lore of Venarius, the High Templar Venarius gave Valdo Caesarius a box that contains pieces of a golden device. Caesarius proactively assembled the device and "slipped into dreams". Venarius discovered the completion of the map device and used Zana, daughter of Valdo Caesarius, as a threat to force Valdo open the entrance to the dreams. Venarius then entered the dream realm with four Templar Guards, Valdo destroyed the map device, but was also sucked into the dreams, trapped until he eventually became The Shaper. The four High Templar's personal guards are hypothesized to have become the four Shaper Guardians.

War for the Atlas / Synthesis league

War for the Atlas expansion was released in version 3.1.0 which superseded the end game storyline, which the lore from Shaper's Memory Fragment are replaced by new version in Book of Memories. Synthesis league (version 3.6.0) further explore the past of Venarius despite Zana did called the memories revealed by Cavas the Forgotten Spirit were fake.

In this version, High Templar Venarius was the previous High Templar of Oriath, preceding High Templar Dominus. Scattered memory fragments give pieces of his past: even as a child, he knew how corrupt the Templars were and secretly despised them, yet joined their ranks so that he could seize as much power for himself. When the Templars discovered a strange device in an expedition in Wraeclast, Venarius tasked Chief Archon Valdo Caesarius to research the object. Valdo mentioned little of his findings on the device, and once Venarius discovered he had been withholding its secrets (the entrance to the dream as well as the Shade), he tortured and publicly shamed him to force him to reveal its secrets, and it wasn't until Venarius threatened to kill his daughter where Valdo agreed.

Venarius and his Templars was led to a portal into a dream world, and into the Elder's prison. This version of the storyline Valdo entered the dream together with Venarius as a tour guide. In the Atlas, The Elder asks Venarius to pull the sword sealing his body in exchange for power. Venarius agreed to the deal, and pulled the sword out of the Elder's chest, releasing it into the Atlas once again. It was assumed Venarius was wiped out by the Elder shortly after, but in truth he survived.

In the Synthesis league timeline, he is but a wandering spirit with no memory of his past calling himself Cavas. The player met Cavas in Act 1 and triggered the plot during the Epilogue, in maps. When Zana attempted to have Cavas investigate the Shaper's Memory Fragments, she discovered that he had been altering them. This led to the revelation of Cavas' true identity as the High Templar Venarius, his threats towards Valdo, and his fate in the Atlas.

"

After obtaining your first Shaper Memory Fragment, your next memory will be a special one in which Cavas regains his memory, discovering that he is in fact High Templar Venarius -- the man who sent the Shaper into the Atlas and who freed the Elder.

This revelation does not come as a surprise to Zana, as she was present when Venarius demanded that her father (the Shaper) build the map device he eventually used.

Venarius, however, has a bit of a saviour complex, and sees himself as the only man who can save Wraeclast from the eldritch horrors of the Atlas. Also he can apparently modify the Fragmented Memories, rewriting what they contain. He plans to rewrite the memories of living people so that they follow him and support him in his planned fight against the Elder. Zana is not on board, and neither are you! So he flees, and Zana takes over his duties in the hopes that the two of you can recover these memories before Venarius has a chance to rewrite them.

"

- Official Path of Exile website

Synthesis league was not added to the core game due to poor reception, and Cavas Venarius' Synthesis league storyline and betrayal were scrapped; Synthesis rewards were reintegrated into other league mechanics instead. Player can still met Venarius in unique synthesis maps, but the preceding lore was absent in-game due to the removal of Fragmented Memories and dialogue, and the Book of Memories was removed after the introduction of the new atlas expansion Conquerors of the Atlas. However, based on the existence of the Vault of Venarius, or based on the dialogue of The Last to Die, the existence of Cavas/Venarius and presumably his encounter with the Elder is still canon, despite lack of in-game lore objects and dialogues to tell the whole story arc.

Conquerors of the Atlas expansion

In the Epilogue questline of the Conquerors of the Atlas and Echoes of the Atlas expansions (version 3.9.0 to version 3.16.3c), Officer Kirac and the player visits the Vault of Venarius in the Haunted Reliquary, which contained pieces of another map device needed to reopen the way into the Atlas.

This area is no longer accessible after the introduction of the Siege of the Atlas expansion (version 3.17.0), in which a time-skip occurs wherein Sirus has already destroyed Oriath. While impossible to directly verify the canonicity of the Vault of Venarius still existing, the events of sealing the Elder still exist as memories in the new endgame, so the storylines of Venarius, Valdo (The Shaper) and The Elder lore is presumably still canon.

Scourge league

The Last to Die, NPC of Scourge league (version 3.16.0), mentioned that there were "countless" alternative Wraeclasts. Of those, the only one that managed to survive the Scourge was one "dominated by the shade of High Templar Venarius." She seemed to believe that going there to ask for help would be ill-advised. Scourge league was not added as a core game mechanic, and the canonicity of the Last to Die in the current timeline is unknown, as the player can no longer encounter her.

Siege of the Atlas expansion

The new dialogue added into the game in Siege of the Atlas (version 3.17.0) dated the trapping of Valdo Caesarius (The Shaper) in The Atlas, due to the action of High Templar Venarius, was 20 years before the Epilogue. While the Epilogue of Siege of the Atlas timeline itself is a year after Act 10. We don't know the timespan of Act 1 to 10, but the event of Valdo Caesarius is probably 19 years before the Act 10. There is no other mention of Venarius in-game, but since the itemized memories existed as unique synthesis map, probably the whole map device, Valdo (The Shaper), Venarius, and The Elder's story arcs are still canon - albeit the player's character was not directly involved in any of it.

Dialogue

These dialogues only existed in-game during Synthesis league:

Introduction

An Exile...? Please, you must help me.

I-... I don't know where I am or how I got here. I don't remember my name... I don't-... I don't remember anything. I suppose for now you can call me... Cavas...

Memory Fragments

Even shattered as I am, I know that memories floating around like this is not... normal. I believe something terrible has happened to me.

What if other men fall victim? What if mothers forget their children? What if... what if the children are left alone and scared to fend for themselves in a world of nightmare... Exile, can you fathom the horror?

Cavas' Past

I remember nothing at all, save the flash of the sun on my mortal skin in a dream. I was a living man. I know I was. Ask me again when we have retrieved further memories, and I shall hopefully have more to tell you.

---

I was... a good man! I fought for God. I remember saying so. That symbol... the Descry... it stirs my half-remembered blood to think of it. I wanted to do good things. Important things. Can you imagine finding the truth of oneself on the wrong side of morality? I have thought long on this fearful notion... but now I know, exile, and that relieves me. I am no longer afraid to recover more of my memories.

---

I'm certain now that I was a Templar. Yes, I remember watching their mighty parades through Oriath Square as a child, and I can still feel that sense of satisfaction the day I truly donned the mantle. All of the pain and sacrifice was worth it, to do good, to protect mankind... to protect the children...

---

I was a Templar, yes, but now I remember that I secretly despised them. I understood that they were a diseased organization prone to brutal oppression. Friend, was I exiled as well? I cannot imagine my resentment would have gone over well with my superiors. Maybe I kept my thoughts to myself and lived a life of quiet desperation, but I feel like I was the kind of man to act.

So what did I do?

Memory Bridges

Exile, there is something about all this that I cannot fathom. The memories I somewhat understand. A man's thoughts, a woman's remembrance, a child's sorrow - these things come from the living, or the once-living. They are real. But the ancient bridges that you cross between memories? Those were already out there. They came from no man, woman, or child of our land.

I suspect those pathways are not made of the iron we think we see. To dwell on their origins or true nature could send one over the brink, I suspect!

The Synthesiser

These are memories, yes, but they are also real in a sense. We feel pain within them. We find real material objects within them. Yet some of these objects are not quite right. It is as though they are stuck, half-remembered.

There's a device in the Nexus that seems attuned to such objects. It seems to draw upon their properties to create something new. Its creator must have been seeking something very important in his or her past... I wonder if they ever found it.

Plot

Retrieving Cavas memory

Somewhere during map tier 5 one Cavas memory fragment leads to The Templar Laboratory but in the past. There are three men there and following dialogue happens.

Cavas: "I recognise these men! That's High Templar Venarius with his guards. The other man is Valdo Caeserius. A man of science. They are building something together. Something important."

Venarius attacks Cavas and somewhere in the middle of following dialogues, enemies start to appear and attack the exile.

Cavas: "That can't be right. Venarius was - is - a - good man. He would not lash out like that. No he must have been provoked."

Cavas: "Valdo is shouting at him, you see? Threatening him. The High Templar has no choice!"

Cavas: "Oh, dear! What just happened? Was that... because of me?

Zana appears

Zana: "Apologies for the intrusion, Exile, but when we found my father's memory fragment, I thought we could explore it with Cavas' help... Now I know what a mistake that would have been. Cavas has altered this memory and he has likely been altering many others..

Cavas: "That's ridiculous. I'm innocent. All the memories we've seen clearly prove that."

Zana: "Of course they do. You've made sure of that. You're no stranger to rewriting history... High Templar"

Cavas: "No"

Zana: "Yes"

Venarius: "Was I... Am I...? I am the High Templar... Venarius? It's starting to make sense now. I sought power to wield against the evil..."

Zana: "Stop! Can't you see what you're doing?"

Venarius: "... And I found it. Yes, this is a start. This is more than I possibly could have hoped for when I drew the blade and awoke -- yes, of course! Now I can protect Wraeclast properly."

Zana: " ... protect Wraeclast...?"

Venarius: "Demons, child. Countless. They watch us from the darkness. They claw at the thin veil that keeps our world separated from theirs. A great tide of evil that wishes only to crash down upon us and sweep our civilisation into oblivion. But I will stand against it."

Zana: "Then we're on the same side. The entity that fed on your memories is doing the same thing to my father. Help us stop it!"

Venarius: "Oh, little one, it is you who will help me... Your memories will show what I need them to show, for the cause. Every thinking man and woman of Wraeclast will come to simply know that they must unite... under me. It is the only way to guarantee a unified defence."

Zana: "We won't let you get away!"

Video

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Version history

Version	Changes
3.20.0	Pinnacle bosses, Map bosses, Incursion architects, Betrayal targets, Breachlords and others no longer have 33% or 66% less effect of curses on them respectively.
3.18.0	Added 7 new uber versions of Pinnacle Boss fights, accessible through Atlas Keystone Passives. These fights are extremely difficult, so only attempt them if you have a very powerful character.
3.6.0	Introduced to the game as NPC.
2.4.0	Introduced to the game as part of a lore.