Advena Avis

The Advena Avis
The Advena Avis is a ship that sailed from Lotto Valentino to the North American continent in 1711, carrying a crew of thirty alchemists fleeing from the city's persecution.

Aboard the ship, the alchemists hope to summon a demon who will grant them eternal life. Once the 'demon' is summoned, he gives the passengers the Grand Panacea - though he shares the recipe only with Maiza. Sylvie is the sole crew member who does not immediately drink the immortality elixir.

Once the ship arrives in North America, the alchemists abandon it on the beach. By 2003, it is on display at a maritime museum on the North American east coast.

It should be noted that the Advena Avis' sails and helm were greatly simplified even for ships of the era, "making it rather simple for even three people to maneuver the vessel on their own." It is an incredibly fast vessel - though it needs an adequate number of hands in order to move at maximum speed.

Procurement and Departure
The Advena Avis was procured at a great debt to the Mars Family (see Trivia). Dalton Strauss is the one who devises the passenger list, placing Gretto and Sylvie on it at their request (listing them as assistants to the alchemists). Denkurō, Nile, and Zank are sent to Lotto Valentino by Majeedah Batutah to help with the ship's departure -- since the three of them are experienced sailors, the alchemists will depend on them during their voyage.

The Advena Avis has some trouble during its hasty departure from the Lotto Valentino docks. A delegation from House Dormentaire (led by Carla Alvarez Santonia) attempts to stop the Advena Avis from leaving, and the Mask Makers wreak havoc in the city, setting off explosions left and right. The alchemists manage to shake off the Dormentaire soldiers at the dock, but as they make their way through the waters they are pursued by what they think is a warship. Victor Talbot emerges from his hiding place and confronts the alchemists with a flintlock pistol.

Their confrontation is interrupted when they realize that the warship is not really a warship at all, but a ship carrying three people - one of whom is waving at them. It turns out that the three people are Huey Laforet, Szilard Quates, and Elmer C. Albatross - three last minute additions to the passenger list (courtesy of Dalton).

The ship is scheduled to restock on supplies of food and water from members of Majeedah's floating workshop at the ports it visits on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. If they hear word of danger, the Advena Avis will be joined by escort ships in the Mediterranean. Along the way, Denkurō, Nile, and Zank are expected to instruct the others in the ways of seamanship while keeping the ship afloat.

The Summoning Ritual
Maiza Avaro initiates the summoning ritual towards the end of their journey. Standing on a spell circle carved on the deck of the Advena Avis with Gretto and Denkurō, Maiza recites the following incantation:

"I summon thee here to this place. Thou art my heaven's Earth, the night of day. Thou art the darkness of light, the goodness of the wicked. Thou art the one who sees, and the one who is seen. Thou art the creator of all destruction, the lover of all men who thou dost despise."

There seems to be more to the incantation, but Maiza is interrupted by the 'demon' himself. saying that their words are useless -- especially "the ones in their heads." The summoned creature further explains that the simple thought of his being in their minds was enough to summon him.

"The words you use to summon me are nothing more than tedious trinkets. I hear your words constantly, especially those you speak inside your head. The simple thought of my being brings me instantly into your midst."

Maiza is given a bowl that is full of the Grand Panacea. Szilard Quates is the first to drink from it. He is initially skeptical that it is real, but is soon convinced he is immortal when the demon slashes his head, and he comes back to life moments after.

Post-Immortality
Immediately after the crew becomes immortal, the Demon imparts with several vital pieces of information concerning immortality: The 'demon' announces that he has given the elixir's recipe to the one who has summoned him - that is, Maiza. Maiza decides that he will keep the recipe a secret; everyone agrees except for Szilard. However, Maiza later changes his mind and and tells half the recipe to his brother Gretto.
 * By placing their right hand on a person's head and think "I wish to eat", an immortal can devour the person and absorb all their knowledge and experiences.
 * The only way an immortal can die is by having another immortal devour them with their right hand.
 * Immortals must use their real names when conversing with other immortals. Supposedly, any immortal who uses a fake name when talking with another immortal will forget their name forever. However immortals seem to be unable to lie about their identity to another immortal, such as when Czeslaw Meyer is unable to lie about his real name when talking to Isaac and Miria on the Flying Pussyfoot, unaware that they were immortal.
 * Anime only: By placing their right hand on a person's head, an immortal can give knowledge and memories to the person. (Note: This is not so in the novels. However, an immortal may transfer their knowledge and memories to their own homunculi via this method)

(In the 2015 manga, the order of events is reversed - Maiza decides to tell Gretto the full recipe, but stops halfway through after realizing the potential consequences. The discussion with the alchemists happens the next day, and the alchemists agree with Maiza's decision to keep the knowledge to himself).

Szilard is determined to obtain the formula at any cost, and devours a total of thirteen immortals - including Gretto, through whom he obtains half of the formula. He nearly devours Maiza as well, but the alchemists force him overboard.

Eventually the Advena Avis reaches the New World. The remaining sixteen immortals, knowing Szilard will eventually return and the danger he poses to them, scatter throughout the continent.

The Fate of the Advena Avis
Once the alchemists reached the North American continent, they left the Advena Avis to rest at the seaside. Eventually the ship is recovered, and by 2003 it is displayed at a maritime museum on the American east coast. The ship has been left preserved in its original state, in accordance to the wishes of its passengers. According to the museum curator, they are striving to make this preservation as authentic as possible, so they have left the damage from shipworms along rather than fixed them.

The museum has also managed to recover some of the alchemists' research notes. These papers are currently protected in the museum archives, where they are undergoing study.

In 2003, Accardo's Descendant visits the museum to look at the Advena Avis. Around the same time, the FBI requests access to the preserved research material aboard the ''Advena Avis. ''The papers are collected by FBI agent Victor Talbot (one of the original passengers) and FBI Inspector Jessica Sullivan.

Original List

 * Lebreau Fermet Viralesque
 * Maiza Avaro
 * Begg Garott
 * Czeslaw Meyer
 * Denkurō Tōgō (sent by Majeedah Batutah)
 * Nile (sent by Majeedah Batutah)
 * Zank Rowan (sent by Majeedah Batutah)
 * Gretto Avaro (listed as assistant)
 * Sylvie Lumiere (listed as assistant)
 * Pierre (named in Episode 07)
 * Italo (named in Episode 07)
 * Fifteen other alchemists

Addendum by Dalton Strauss

 * Szilard Quates
 * Huey Laforet
 * Elmer C. Albatross

Addendum/Stowaway

 * Victor Talbot (hid in a crate in order to detain the ship; Dalton foresaw his actions and added his name as well to the list)

Etymology
In Latin, Advena means "stranger" or "foreigner," and Avis means "omen" or "sign." Thus, the name Advena Avis can be roughly translated as "Sign of Strangers" or "Omen of Foreigners."

Trivia

 * The name of the ship is spelled Advenna Avis in the 2007 anime. However, in the official English translations of the 2015 manga and The Rolling Bootlegs, it is spelled Advena Avis. This wiki page has been updated to reflect those translations.
 * The Mars Family (the family who procured the ship) is a vampiric family from Vamp!, one of Ryohgo Narita's other light novel series.
 * The alchemists aboard the ship hail from various origins, including Northern Europe, Southern Europe, and the Near East.
 * Denkurō was the only Asian aboard the ship, Sylvie was the only woman, and Czeslaw was the only child. Zank was likely the only Polynesian.
 * Szilard Quates was the oldest passenger on the ship.