There are seven tasks involved in the ascension process. You can get hints for all necessary steps if you place your A Call to Duty card into the Dreaming Verb when it appears. However, they're only hints, and are naturally elusive about what they really mean. Below are each of the steps, first hinted at and then explained.

Hint: What this is asking you to do is simple. Don't overthink it.

Explanation: You will need to raise your Edge lore to its highest possible level. You can do this by defeating Enemies, or visiting shrines dedicated to the Colonel and slotting in your Edge lore.

Hint: Submit yourself to the sufferings of battle.

Explanation: You will need to bring a Debilitation to a shrine of the Colonel and slot it there. Do this this at least three times.

Hint: You're fighting a war. Fight it.

Explanation: You will need to end the game with at least 12 Resolution, which means completing at least 12 of the Main Objectives available at Warzones.

Hint: The sword lies in a place beyond the charting of men. That should narrow down the list of those who can direct you to the sword.

Explanation: Put the Doves opportunity into the Operate Verb and provide a source of Heart when prompted. Travel to the Unseen Lake using A Vision of the Lake. Once there, you can scout at the lake to find Whispers on Wings. Assemble seven Whispers on Wings, and you will unlock the Secondary Objective that can lead you to Ebrehel, the Ragged Sword. Complete it.

Hint: If you scout diligently, you'll come across the first component necessary for convincing Medusa to help you. If you keep scouting diligently, you'll find the second.

Explanation: In Kyiv, you will need to scout for and complete the Secondary Objective: Pechersk Lavra. Complete it, and you will receive the Mandate-Stone. After that, go to either Odessa or Voronezh and scout to find Medusa. Present her the Mandate-Stone, and she will agree to help you open the Stag Door at the Battle of Stalingrad.

Hint: Defeating an Edge-Long in combat is impossible. That's why it's so impressive.

Explanation: If your Enemy Long is the Warmaker, you will need to dream about the Contemplation regarding him until it reaches its highest possible progression. Once you have completely realized the Contemplation, scout at any Warzone - there will be a chance to find the Continental, his Corrival-partner, whenever you scout at a Warzone and also possess the completed Contemplation.

Speak to the Continental about A Call to Duty, and she will tell you how to challenge the Warmaker to a special dueling sacrament. She will give you an Iron Spintria, which you must offer at a shrine of the Colonel alongside the corpse of an enemy. Once you do this, a Many-Winged Strix will agree to deliver a letter to the Exile, who must attend the duel to represent you before the Edge-Hours. A countdown will follow. When it ends, you MUST be in the Ruined Country without any Allies in your retinue.

After that, all that remains is to fight the Warmaker. It goes without saying you should have maxed-out Edge lore, as many weapons as you can carry, some Tools and expendable Supplies, and the Inviolate Defence card. Good luck.

If your Enemy Long is the Iron-Eater, you will need to dream about the Contemplation regarding him until it reaches its highest possible progression. Once you have completely realized the Contemplation, you will need to place a Wolves opportunity into the Operate Verb and slot in the Contemplation when asked. This will give you a card for a new Contemplation: A Wolf-Kept Dream.

You will need to dream about the new Contemplation and pass several challenges. Complete the challenges, and you will receive Kazimir's Shashka (a weapon) and Killing Insight (a special Lore card you can use against the Iron-Eater). The next time you encounter the Iron-Eater, use the Killing Insight to defend against his attacks three times, and he will run away into the Lonely Places Between. You can make him run away multiple times, and he will not appear so long as the Lonely Places Between card is on the table.

If you so choose, you can pursue the Iron-Eater into the Lonely Places Between. You will be able to take all your Allies (Local and non-Local) to chase him down. Once you're in the Lonely Places Between, scout there and find the Iron-Eater. After that, you'll need to fight him.

It goes without saying you should have maxed-out Edge lore, as many weapons as you can carry, some Tools and expendable Supplies, and the Inviolate Defence card. Your Allies can be used to attack/defend against the Iron-Eater, but any Allies used against him like this will die. You will need to wound the Iron-Eater three times to defeat him.

Hint: Go to Stalingrad.

Explanation: Go to Stalingrad and complete its Objectives.
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Fulfill all these requirements, and the Colonel will make of you a Name. Good luck.