in my dharma motor pool era

Dilly sends her bat, Badger, to fly up and scout the area, and she follows by swinging through the trees, leading the others in the best direction. In the distance, they hear a loud, low growl. Something has caught their scent. Dilly tells Badger to find it and take a look. More sounds…there’s more than one. Sister remembers creatures with many limbs and eyes, and they’re very scary. It’s time to run. 

They make it out, Dilly causing a distraction along the way, the predators leaving upon losing their scent. Sister takes off a necklace and puts it around Mercy’s neck, asking his forgiveness. He isn’t sure why…the necklace is enchanted to protect him from attacks. Ahh. They continue south, and there’s a bit of an uphill climb. Dilly asks if Badger can try to take a rope up and tie it to a tree. He will certainly try! It doesn’t really work. He’s a bat. Mercy tries to bound his way up so he can tie the rope. He does a much better job! But as he waves to his companions, a sinkhole opens beneath his feet and he starts to fall - luckily, he catches himself, and warns the others it’s dangerous up here. 

Dilly ties the other end of the rope to Sister, showing Badger, see that’s how you do it! Some carrion birds have noticed their presence as well…Dilly tells them to pack it in! They’re waiting for breakfast. She throws a rock up there and hits one, they disperse. Sister climbs up with Mercy’s aid, and the next bit of travel is uneventful. A loud sound echoes through the area, almost like a detonation of some kind. Sister reaches out to the fungal network to see if anyone knows what it was. There’s a cluster of walkers, with one surrounded. They hear, “can’t run, we’re coming.” Badger flies off to check it out; someone’s being chased and they’re making big noises. 

Mercy gives a battle cry to distract the chasers, and it works. They send someone to see what the noise was, and Mercy tells the others to hide and attack when least expected. He stands in wait, while Dilly and Sister hide, and Badger goes to annoy the chasers. Badger gets hit by an arrow and warns that there are a few of them. Five figures come through, including one that seems to be bound - this is Alphonse, a elven blood hunter wearing a horned skeleton mask. 

The other figures call out to Mercy, who admits to making the noise. Mercy imitates the chaser leader’s movements and tries to approach Alphonse, but they train their weapons on him. Mercy tells them they’re surrounded, and doing anything violent would be unwise. Sister uses her voice of dread to overwhelm the leader’s mind with terror. Alphonse’s mask falls as he turns into sand and shadow and teleports to the one holding his gun. He wraps the tubing around their neck and drags them over the ledge with him. Alphonse takes a shot, and Mercy aids him. 

Endroth the Inevitable, the bounty hunter after Alpohonse, tells his allies to attack. One swipes at Mercy, but he shields himself. Another shoots at Dilly and misses, and another deals a little damage to Alphonse with their dagger. The boss says they need Alphonse alive, the rest they can kill if they need to. The nearby bushes begin to rustle, and out comes Cagauma, a seraph (healer). They are SO SCARED, but feel they need to do something. Dilly takes a shot at the one swinging on Mercy.

Endroth shoots Alphonse, and Dilly takes some damage. Sister shoots magic from her staff at the one near Mercy, and Dilly shouts out to distract him and aid her. Cagauma recognizes the energy from Sister’s staff and continues to hyperventilate, but moves closer to Sister. Mercy pounds the crazy dude’s head in and crits, killing him! Endroth activates his allies, who let off a smoke bomb around them, clouding them from view. They try to shoot at Alphonse, but miss. Dilly sees through the smoke, watching them prepare something. She uses her ranger’s focus on Endroth and attacks him, while Cagauma encourages her from a distance, and she crits! 

Endroth thinks the tides are turning against them, and it’s time to run. Mercy takes off toward them and Dilly follows through the trees to do a tag team attack against Endroth. He’s VERY hurt, and in retaliation, he shoots at Mercy, who uses the talisman from Sister to reduce the damage. One of them grapples Mercy, and another shoots him. Sister moves up and hexes two of them to give them penalties to their attacks. Alphonse gets his eye on Endroth and prepares to fire. 

Endroth runs like the bitch-coward he is. One tries to hit Mercy and he deflects it. Alphonse takes his shot as Endroth flees, and Mercy aids him by clearing his line of sight, but it misses. One of the lackeys starts to run after Endroth, but Sister uses her voice of dread to paralyze them while Badger flies in their face. Mercy runs at one and Alphonse encourages him; Mercy attacks and they’re done for! 

BREAK TIME!

The smoke dissipates. Alphonse goes to burn the bodies, but Mercy stops him for a moment. He hacks off the limbs and takes them with him, then gives the okay for Alphonse to proceed. Cagauma chimes in to ask if they want to try to get some information before they dispose of the bodies, but Alphonse more or less knows why they were after him. Introductions are made. Dilly likes Alphonse’s skull; they can be friends. Cagauma says she could use some company, and Mercy is happy to be their friend. 

Alphonse says he was meeting with some old friends when they came across Cagauma, who mentioned the city they all keep hearing about. Somewhere welcoming. Cagauma asks how long Sister has been using magic. A long time. Alphonse doesn’t believe the city exists, but he wants to know why the rumors came about. He thinks it’s a death trap, and maybe they can save people from it. Sister asks why the bounty hunters were after him. It’s his job, too. They must have gotten a high offer for him. Cagauma says they came from the Luzal Monastery near Desperloch. They worked as a delver and found something to take to the city, if it exists. 

Alphonse suggests they keep traveling for a while and get as far as they can before camping for the night. They continue southeast, with Alphonse helming the journey. He guides them so they stay on the high ground as much as possible and reach a safe point before darkness falls. They reach the Rotten Shallows, a swampy area, followed by a plain that is in a terrible state of decay. Large mesas that were once islands when the lake was full jut out from the plain. There is a mountain range in the distance, and three of its peaks are burning red. Around the bae of the largest one, there are lights glittering…could it be the city? 

They can go one of three ways: west toward the Tower of Oxudos, east to the Sorrowheart Sanctum, or in between them toward Oathwell. Dilly has been to Oathwell, and they’re not nice there. She doesn’t want to go back. Cagauma has heard of a prophet in the Tower of Oxudos, one who survived the Apostasy. Perhaps they could find more answers there. Dilly asks if it would make Cagauma less afraid to find the prophet, and Cagauma thinks so. They haven’t met anyone who was alive before the Apostasy - but Sister chimes in and says she was. Cagauma asks what she remembers…water, green, and movement. Alphonse asks what it was like, and if their suffering has been worth it. Sister says yes. He says Oxudos is very zealous, so they need to be careful if they go that way, but he is fine with it. He asks what Mercy thinks, and Mercy says he goes where Dilly goes. To Oxudos!

Sister recalls that prior to the Apostasy, the Tower of Oxudos was known as the Aetercium, and it was an island prison temple to the Veiled God Jeraydah, in the Elytros Lake. Now, it’s home to the Order of the Twilight Exemplars, who are still faithful to Jeraydah, the god of divine law in judgment. Sister knows they will destroy anything corrupted by the Umbra; thankfully, that’s not the case with Mercy’s affliction, but they may be difficult to convince of that. 

They descend into the marshes, and it STINKS. Mercy uses the fungril network to try to detect the safest route, and Cagauma helps. Sister uses her knowledge of the land the way it was long ago to guide them on the next leg of the journey. A large winged beast is hunting nearby, but it flies off for now. Dilly and Badger take to the trees and the skies to find the quietest way to guide them forward. The creature gets closer…

Mercy takes one of the arms from his bag and throws it as far as he can in the opposite direction to distract the creature. It works! For a while. They push forward into the night. Up ahead, the creature swoops and crashes into the trees. There are others there fighting against it. The group goes to help, and there are only two figures left, three dead. The group decides whether to sneak away or fight; if these are templars, they could gain favor by helping them. Mercy rushes up to the beast and squares up to intimidate it. Alphonse realizes this beast is a legendary one called the Tatchra, and it went mad after the Apostasy. He takes a shot at it to show Mercy he’s got his back, and does massive damage. 

The Tatchra retaliates by invading Alphonse’s mind, pulling a shameful memory from him. Then it kills another of the templars. It flies over and attacks Dilly, but misses. Sister hexes the creature and covers herself in shadow. Mercy’s bravery reminds Alphonse of what they’re fighting for, and he calms himself from the stress of the mental invasion. 

Cagauma knows how wise and intelligent this beast is, and wants to tap into the Tatchra’s memory of who it was before and bring it back to the light. They stare it in the face(s) and ask, “what ails you that is from within and not from without?” It’s a critical success! The Tatchra seems like it’s trying to recall an ability it once had, to seek connection. Cagauma tells the story of how someone they loved protected them from a raid, giving her life for theirs and their son, and Cagauma couldn’t save her, but she promised to help others. This is what they are here for. The Tatchra pulls Cagauma in, and in its eyes, they see sorrow and chaos and pain…they are reminded of Osha, and they lean their forehead against the Tatchra’s and comfort it, reminding it of its beauty. The Tatchra kicks off from her and knocks over trees as it panics, and takes off into the night. 

Violence isn’t always the answer, kids!

We rejoin Team Theater. Murray watches everything stabilize. As the play continues, Vokjan is betrayed. Hal hopes the message sticks with the audience, and thinks about how much it mirrors what happened to Thjazi. Azune and Vaelus run into Temelow and they introduce themselves. Temelow asks if Vaelus freed something, and Vaelus says yes. Temelow kisses her cheek and calls her a Wild Thing (in the best way). Fairies start decorating Vaelus’s outfit with wildflowers. 

Thaisha notices many of the spirits are still confused, so she sends a fog and communicates with them that they are safe to move on. A version of her appears in the Tenebral Reaches to communicate with them, and she introduces herself to Vokjan’s wife Azhmi. She asks for Azhmi’s help with a project…Azhmi calls for the other spirits and they head toward the lake. Thaisha asks them to cover herself in the paint and walk the path, so that this place can also be colored with their story. They do so, and the forest becomes vibrant. Azhmi leaps through the wall of paint and grows into a large, radiant celestial. She says it’s time to go, but they can leave their story. 

As Lash performs, she pulls Vokjan out of him and throws him through the paint, too, and he becomes as she is. This is new. Kaedra; new angels forging a technicolor path through the woods. Vokjan and Azhmi bid them farewell, and they, along with the others, move down the path. Vaelus and Azune find Thaisha, having witnessed all of this, and Vaelus is assured she did the right thing. Azune commends her, and she asks what language he was speaking. It’s been a while since she’s seen a dragon, and Azune didn’t even think they were real. They fill Thaisha in, and Vaelus gives her the moss from the cavern. 

The play is ending, and there are so many more stories to tell. What’s happened here is only the start of something that needs to continue to be nurtured so it can grow. Lash begins his final soliloquy, as Vokjan, calling out to the people to look to the spot where Azgra once stood - now in its place is the Villa Aurora. What ironic symbolism. The crowd feels it. “You’ll see. One day.” Perhaps that day is today.

Hal wishes Alogar and Thjazi were here as he listens to Lash’s final line, and he says to himself, “I believe,” to enhance his own charisma. He creates a magical falcon on a branch above the fallen form of Lash’s Vokjan Murzat on the stage. It takes off into flight and follows the Path, and Murray skywrites their magpie symbol. The play ends, and the crowd goes WILD! People are sobbing, and Thaisha calls upon the thunder of Hannan’s spell. 

Everyone takes their bows, and Hal goes out on stage carrying an old lute and he gives a speech. He tells everyone to tell their friends and neighbors that faith has returned to the city - faith in all folk free and fair. He starts a folk song and everyone joins in, and a party procession begins. Niveda compliments Lash on having less than 5 mistakes, Romina greets Lash with flowers, Olgud is happy they won’t need to shut down and lose their jobs. 

The veil closes. Hal pied pipers his way through the city toward the Lloy estate and through to the Rookery. Thaisha uses the paint to write “REMEMBER.” Azune casts detect magic to monitor things, and notices a new magic around the pariah blades, which has given every commoner in the vicinity a shit ton of temporary hit points. The fairies are headed back through the fae doors. Thaisha and Vaelus notice a tiny painted chameleon with a painted mask in its mouth run across the stage and jump into a box toward the coffin…

Thaisha runs after and talks to it…the mask it’s carrying says it’s Bolaire. It wants to get in the box. The chameleon drops the mask and says he’s Figment. It also wants to get in the box. Vaelus tries to grab the mask and it says ow. WHAT IS HAPPENING? They do NOT want to let them go in the box. Vaelus takes the coffin and they all start heading out.

OBRIMUS MANOR

Occtis and Julien look to the roof of the manor. As they land, Occtis feels something wrong where his heart should be. The pain fades, it feels like an arrow being pulled out of him, and now it actually feels better. He notices Thimble hasn’t followed them and wants to go back in after her, but Julien says it’s a bad idea, they need to go. Occtis asks why he cares, and Julien says his family may still want to use him for something nefarious, but Occtis will not let Thimble die in there. Julien asks what the fuck is on the roof. Occtis says he doesn’t care what Julien does, but he’s going back in. Julien will not let Occtis leave his sight, and he activates his boots. Occtis casts spider climb on himself, and they go up the wall. They look for whatever the figure on the roof was, and spot Hannan. 

Thimble flies through the manor and hides in an office, where she finds the papers about the ship schematics. She hears a woman call out to Nausha that the gate guard and Koral are dead, and the manor is under attack. They know the “Davinos beast” has awakened, and they are going to call for Primus and the children. FUCKING GET OUT OF THERE, THIMBLE. They awaken something in the house and the temperature drops. GET OUT. 

Hannan just goes and KNOCKS ON THE FUCKING FRONT DOOR. DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH, MAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? Trimus answers and he says a member of his order is being held there against her will. Thimble cuts pages off the book and takes them. Hannan asks to retrieve Mara while Thimble makes her escape, and Hannan notices her. She makes eye contact with him and tries to communicate that he needs to leave and they have Mara. Trimus plays dumb. She says the house is cursed and haunted, and he asks if she wants him to remove that. She is truly dumbstruck by that offer. Hannan goes into the courtyard and starts some kind of ritual, which disanimates a bunch of undead and lessens the shadows they just called. 

Occtis thinks they should let Hannan continue doing what he’s doing. Thimble takes off. She finds the room where Teor was supposed to be, sees the gnome statues, but knows he never made it here. She sees the ghouls pack up the statues into crates, and she continues to look for Teor. Occtis spots his family in the sky on their way back…they have to go. Thimble arrives at her destination and sees the monster corpse of Raimond Davinos, and the bodies of Teor and Cyd. She hears the arrival of the Tachonises and notices the monstrosity is very close to being destroyed. She feels something of Faerie here, there is a chance. She sneaks in to attack Raimond. 

Occtis and Julien try to leave, but Julien’s shadow drags him down the stairs. Occtis goes after him and attacks the shadow, which he assumes is a shade, breaking the shadow’s grapple and dispelling it. Thimble flies in and makes her attack, flying into the chest cavity where Teor’s torn banner is and up through the head, and it destroys him! The real Raimond Davinos would have been horrified to have killed Teor Pridesire, but now he is free. 

Teor’s spirit had also chosen for Thimble, should she have found his body, to instantly attune to the Bracers of Oak and Birch, and so she does. The bracers float toward her, and she recalls stories she’s heard about fairies who became strong enough to really be a part of the human world. As she reaches for the bracers, her body grows in size to that of a human, and her strength is now more than 6 times higher than before. She picks up Teor and Cyd, as well as Raimond’s sword, Ingrid’s axe, and the banner. She touches Raimond and tells him to be at peace, then casts plant growth around him. Time to go! 

Thimble carries everything back toward the river and goes small again to get through; as she does, the bracers shift into armor, and she gets out. Occtis asks Julien what that was, but they don’t see Thimble. They have to go. Occtis reluctantly goes with Julien, and they see Primus, Ethrand, Ryah, and Petra arrive. Primus looks at Hannan and asks who he is and what he’s doing. Trimus introduces him and says Mara is no longer there…Hannan says his order–but he is interrupted by Primus casting power word kill. (WHEN I CATCH THAT PHOTARCH-FUCKING LITTLE BITCH, IT IS ON SIGHT. ON SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.) Goodbye, fair Hannan. 🌸 (I actually sobbed about this for a long time after the shock wore off.)

Trimus asks what the fuck Primus has just done, and he force-chokes her and says it doesn’t matter. They’ll either rule the world or all die. (I’m very much in favor of the DYING part.) He doesn’t care. He drops Trimus and says they leave tonight. Julien fights his impulse to kill them now. He looks at Occtis, who is having a very hard time. Julien leads him away. 

BREAK TIME. I am emotionally compromised.

Occtis spots the Halovar carriage flying toward the manor, but they can’t tell who’s in it, so they continue on their way to Hal’s house. Wick tries to message Team Birdwatching, but he doesn’t get a reply, so he knocks on the gate. WHY IS EVERYONE JUST KNOCKING ON OBRIMUS MANOR TONIGHT?! He charms the guard into letting him enter the courtyard. Primus is there, and several carriages are being loaded up with a bunch of shit. He’s yelling at Ethrand, and when the guard announces Wick, Primus turns and kills the guard with a firebolt. THIS MANIC FUCKING IDIOT IS FULLY UNHINGED. 

Primus asks why Wick is there, as Wick spots a blood-soaked canvas over a dead body in the middle of a druidic circle…he begs forgiveness and says he came to talk to Petra and Ryah. Primus doesn’t believe him. Wick insists he just wanted to pay them a kindness, but Primus is unmoved. He says the twins aren’t allowed to marry because they kept killing their fiances, and now he’s found his heir dead. Primus is curious whether Wick is truly Yanessa’s heir, so he drags over a random cab driver and tells Wick to slit her throat, or Primus will kill him instead. Wick takes the blade and says he will prove himself, and he stares Primus in the eyes as he does what he was asked. Primus says the twins are busy and excuses Wick. 

Wick says he is indeed his grandmother's grandson and he knows her secrets, he is happy to share them. He tells Wick his daughters are very good at magic, but an embarrassment to the house because of their strange proclivities. They cannot marry, and it’s no good to try and bed them. He dismisses Wick and raises the dead cab driver as a zombie. Wick gets back in the carriage and goes to Hal’s, crying the whole way there. 

Tyranny runs into Cruelty and tells her the tailors went nutso and killed each other. She says she killed Kattigan herself and produces his finger as proof. Cruelty says the flying lady talked to the Phony-tarch about the mask, and that the Cormorays need the mask back. Enmity told them Tyranny has it, but Tyranny says she gave it to the tailors, so it must still be there. Cruelty wants to go get it so she can earn brownie points, and Tyranny tells her to go for it. Once she’s gone, Tyranny borrows a horse and heads to Hal’s as well. 

TEAM THEATER

Olgud is druuuuuuuuuuuuunk, Niveda is smoking a cigar, things are rowdy! Murray is also drunk. She finds Azune and asks where Kattigan is. Her curiosity has become concern. The archmage Kohlesturm appears and puts a hand on Azune’s shoulder, and he goes with her for a private word. She leads him to a giant carriage pulled by huge rams, and Otto is inside with his sons and Harondus. Murray is watching from a distance as Azune enters the carriage. 

Otto greets him and says his evidence was very useful. He asks if Azune has any other, more circumstantial evidence. Azune tells him he thinks their goal is to raise an army of the dead. One of Otto’s sons starts speaking angrily to Harondus in Helvarian. They argue a bit and Otto stops them. Azune says he doesn’t have hard evidence yet, but it’s connected to the candle. He tells them his “partner” Murray consulted on the matter (hehe). 

Meanwhile, Romina is sitting in Lash’s lap (you go, girl). Thaisha and Vaelus notice some Sons of Dawn mercenaries eyeing up Hal and then leaving. Thaisha sends Hala after them. The carriage door opens, and the archmage invites Murray in. Otto asks her exactly what she saw, and Azune tells her to speak the truth and subtly casts guidance for her. Drunk!Murray fumbles a bit and frustrates Otto at first, but she tells them about the sailboat trip to the underworld with the paladins on the sea of Lachris, and casts a minor illusion to show him her vision. 

Vaelus knocks on the carriage door to check in, and Azune tells her they’re okay. She speaks to them in giant and tells them to have a good evening. Otto recognizes her and asks what she’s doing in the city; she says she came to see the play. She asks again if everything is okay. Azune says this is fortuitous because he was considering recruiting Vaelus. Otto invites her in and asks when she last saw Occtis, she says this morning. 

The Einfasen start arguing in Helvarian again, but Vaelus can understand them as they talk about how they could make a stand against the Tachonis. Otto stops them again. Josefir politely intervenes and reminds them that Primus killed his son, and asks if Otto would do the same. Azune asks how many Einfasens fell in the Shapers’ War because of the Tachonis. Otto excuses Vaelus and Murray. Runbrom explains they were fighting side by side with the Royce and Cormoray, but Josefir rolls his eyes and says no good can come from an alliance with the Tachonis. 

Harondus is hesitant, but archmage Kohlesturm comments sarcastically about how the Tachonis are so great, they totally destroyed the Royces…oh waaait, the Royce still live. (I like this archmage.) They will gather strength secretly behind the scenes, and send an envoy to the Golden Orchard to help. When the time is right, they crush the skull. They thank Azune for his time and excuse him. Josefir compliments Azune on his thoroughness. Azune says he’s still worried about how powerful the Tachonis are, but Otto is confident. Azune leaves. 

Hala sees that the Sons of the Dawn are coming, along with some honor guard of the Revolutionary Guard, led by Zebani Halovar and Oscuro Milanti, the leader of the Archanade. Thaisha warns Hal, and they decide not to let them get to the tavern. Thaisha tells Hal how proud she is of him and kisses his cheek before going to find Vaelus and Azune to intercept the soldiers. Azune alerts a magpie who goes off to tell the others, and Murray makes an illusory magpie fly through the crowd. 

Murray asks Vaelus and Thaisha if they’ve heard anything from the rest of the group, but nothing yet. Vaelus tells Thaisha that Hannan went after Team Birdwatching. They need to regroup. Hal stays back with Shadia and Hero. He tells them to stick with Elodie, who congratulates Hal and agrees to look out for the girls. Outside, Thaisha sends lightning to the ground, startling the troops. Azune positions himself between them, and Oscuro approaches Thaisha while Filoneus approaches Azune. Vaelus sticks near Thaisha, and Murray hangs out nearby; there are also magpies on the balconies of the nearby buildings.

Oscuro greets Thaisha and says they’ve come to arrest Hal for stealing the pariah blades, which are missing. Thaisha says that’s fine. Is there a problem? They’re HER family’s blades. They’ll discuss the paperwork in the morning. Filoneus tells Azune they’re going to arrest Hal, and Azune says he can’t undermine him like that, not if he’s to be the Halovar’s inside man. Vaelus heads back toward Hal. Oscuro walks over to Filoneus and Zebani to tell them about the misunderstanding, but Zebani doesn’t buy it. Thaisha calls over and asks if there’s a problem. Zebani starts going on about the content of the play, and Thaisha asks what that has to do with the blades. Oscuro takes his honor guard and leaves. Thaisha tells Zebani to go in peace and calls down another lightning bolt. Outplayed by a badass druid, they leave!

HAL’S HOUSE

Kattigan is the first to arrive, and he goes in through a window. Where the fuck is everyone? 😂 A delivery arrives…a barrel of apples? Kattigan signs for it, and out pops Misha! (I love him.) “Who are you, apple person?” 🤣 Misha tells him about the play, and Kattigan’s sorry he missed it. Shortly after, Occtis and Julien arrive. Kattigan asks what the fuck they’re doing together. Julien tells them all to be vigilant, Misha doesn’t really understand what’s going on, but he agrees. He’ll organize Kattigan’s things…and he finds and puts on Bolaire. Bolaire makes it nice for him, he can watch whatever play he wants in there. 

Tyranny arrives and greets everyone, distressed that Wick isn’t there yet. Occtis says a Halovar carriage was going toward Obrimus Manor. Tyranny freaks out. She asks for a drink and Kattigan finds the yahrgraz. Fortunately, Wick arrives just a few minutes later. Tyranny recognizes that he’s got blood on him that’s not his own. What the fuck is up with that? She asks why the fuck he would have a Creed carriage come here, but Wick is too distraught to have a proper answer. Kattigan sends Wulferic to comfort Wick, who tells them he killed a woman. Tyranny gives him some yahrgraz, and he spit-takes it. Seeing Julien and Occtis, Wick asks where Thimble is and he’s upset that they left her behind. Julien is very intensely looking outside for any sign of the Tachonis. 

A short while later, Team Theater arrives. Hal sees Bolaire on Misha and immediately accosts him, but Bolaire assures him it’ll be fine and he’ll leave in the morning. Murray asks who else they’re waiting for, and Occtis and Julien fill them in on Thimble going back for Teor and Cyd. Occtis hands Mara to Thaisha, who heals her. Murray checks on Occtis, knowing about the stone, but he seems okay. Vaelus checks him as well, and Murray tells them what happened at the play. Julien drinks some yahrgraz and passes it around. Occtis tells them his father killed Hannan. Julien says Hannan gave Thimble and Teor a chance with what he did. 

Meanwhile, Thimble has finally made her way to Hal’s with the bodies of Teor and Cyd, passing by Thjazi’s grave as she does so. Julien spots her approach and yells to Azune to open the door. Kattigan runs to Teor and desperately tries to cast spare the dying, it’s all he can do, but it doesn’t work. 💔 Thimble hands Raimond’s sword to Julien, and tells him the Tachonis won’t be able to do anything more to his father. Thimble says it was her fault, but Occtis tells her no. In her larger form, she hugs Occtis, who absolutely loses it. He asks why she’s big, and she doesn’t really know. 

Murray hands out some towels for everyone to clean up. Julien gives Murray the yahrgraz. Kattigan grabs two of the soul fabrics, and Murray asks where he was as she wraps up his finger. He says he was tricked. Occtis helps Kattigan with preparing the bodies. Murray begs them to tell her all this wasn’t in vain. Occtis says they got Mara out, and got the soul gem for Alba. Occtis summons Pin as Murray casts identify on the gem. It needs to be brought back to Alba and she will be restored with a remove curse spell, though Murray can’t cast it herself. 

Murray asks how the meeting with the Sundered Houses went. Tyranny explains what they went through with the tailors. Wick says he knew Teor was in trouble and went to the manor to try and help. He explains how he felt it when Teor died, and tells them about what Primus made him do. Occtis says it wasn’t Wick’s fault. Julien says there’s no honor in the face of Primus Tachonis. (TRUE.) Tyranny tells Wick to wait for her next time he decides to go off alone, and she tells Thimble the Creed is going to be on the lookout for her. Thaisha explains how they tried to arrest Hal, and Azune talks about their chat with the Einfasens. Murray says everything they worked for did come together at the theater. 

Mara wakes up! She asks if she’s dead. Not yet. She greets Thimble, Occtis, and Azune - they’ve never met, Thjazi wouldn’t let her meet them, but she knows about them. Hal introduces himself and heals her a bit more. He asks if she was there when Thjazi died, and she affirms. Seeing Teor and Cyd’s bodies, she says she can do the rites if needed, but Thaisha says she’s got it. They tell Mara about Thjazi’s soul not being in his grave, even though he has the scar. She explains a bit about what they were trying to do, preparing for Thjazi to get to the underworld in a safer way. She asks about Pascard, and Occtis tells her he’s dead. 

Mara says she arrived in Dol-Makjar just in time to see Thjazi at the gallows. Seeing Mara made him aware their plan had been compromised, and he changed his mind about breaking the glyph and getting out of it; instead he decided very quickly to take the way that was before him, even if it was harder. Mara feels guilty. She thinks she should have tried to do what Thjazi did, but the group points out that if she had, she’d be alone rather than there with them. They can figure it out together now. 

Thimble produces the papers she took from Obrimus Manor, and Julien takes out the paper his shadow had been reading. Kattigan takes out the stuff from the tailor shop. The letter from Koral talks about how their lack of understanding about the Old Path led them to lose track of Thjazi, and how druids could possibly bypass the scar and hasten the journey down the path. Julien tells the group that it was his shadow who found this letter initially. Thaisha remembers that Thjazi was referred to as Shadow in the letter from the Professor. Thimble turns the lights off and then stands next to Julien to make a shadow. Nothing happens at first, but Bolaire takes the scissors from the Mercanauds and touches the shadow with it. Julien feels compelled to try and hit Bolaire (not of his own volition), though he stops himself. 

Wick asks if Julien felt anything weird at the execution, and Thaisha casts detect magic. Occtis recounts the ways the shadow has interacted with Julien, and he and Thimble are certain it sounds like Thjazi. Julien goes pale as a ghost. Bolaire recalls seeing the shadow attach itself to Julien after Julien spit on him, and Thaisha asks Julien, “What if I told you that you saved the soul of Thjazi Fang?” 😂 She laughs, and Julien grabs the yahrgraz and walks out. Thimble and Hal follow him, and Thimble is freaking out with excitement. Hal tries to talk to Thjazi. Julien is in denial. Thimble thanks him, and Julien yells, “FUCK!” Mara comes out and asks what their plan is. Thaisha looks at the nail over the door and has Azune help her take it out. She tosses it to Julien, and the shadow falls to the ground in pain. Julien is freaking out. 

Kattigan carries Teor down to the cellar, where the drinks are. He tells him he’d spit on him, except that he knows he’s partying it up with Cyd. Occtis follows Kattigan, carrying Cyd. Tyranny reads about the soul fabric. Mara talks to Thimble about the Cloak, and says they were meant to contact her if anything happened to him. Mara says she needs to fly north to find the Professor, and Thimble can come talk to him - or her. She asks them to take her to the theater to see the bridge. 

Murray asks why they were trying to do what they were doing, and she says they’re trying to fix the underworld problem and re-anchor the afterlives. Murray and Thimble ask what Mara’s motivation is for all this, and Bolaire asks why the coffin was brought here. It was just a piece of the puzzle. Murray says none of them asked to be involved in any of this, they got dragged into it. Mara says they were never supposed to be involved, but Murray points out that according to Mara’s own version of events, Thjazi was eventually going to loop many of them into the plan for various reasons. 

Kattigan asks Occtis where his family thinks they go after death, and if he’s a daddy’s boy. He says no way. Kattigan says Occtis is good with him, then, and he heals him. Mara says she’s just telling them what she knows; they were picking up the leftovers of the Tachonis dig sites. Murray asks who wants to go on a field trip to the theater. 

SMASH CUT TO THE HALLOWED ROUND

“HOLY SHIT!” Mara exclaims. She’s going to break the Cloak’s rules…she was supposed to meet Bogrey, who has a diving-bell type thing for the underworld. The plowshare, the paint, and the stone make a stable trinity. They were going to make a small, secret path somewhere out of the way, a teeeeeeny tiny one. So much for that plan! 😂 Bolaire starts freaking out about the box. She says the box is phase two - they have to do this seven times. Also, Thaisha has only just learned that Bolaire is a mask and not a dude. Mara says the Drowned Men had a mask, which they threw into the coffin. Termina. He asks where they found her, and freaks out some more because now that mask is running around and is apt to kill a lot of people. Valid crashout, honestly.

Mara says the theater is the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. She says they’ve announced something with this, though, and their enemies can come here and hurt it. They have to act more quickly now. Mara says anyone who wants to go north with her is welcome to do so, and she asks where the coffin is. Thimble asks why Bolaire is so upset. He says Thjazi threw magic around without thinking about it, but Thimble says he never did anything without thinking about it. He is terrified of what Termina could do. Mara offers him her protection, he can come along and meet the Professor. Thimble says they need to plant the seed for the Miller’s Road. Vaelus says she knows a good place, and they go to plant it. 

Mara says they need 3 artifacts in each place, and all they have right now is the coffin. Occtis asks if Wick is okay. Nooo, he’s not. They talk about how much Primus sucks…Occtis doesn’t even know birthday parties are a thing. Vaelus and Azune bring everyone to the anchor. There are sprites and nixies everywhere, and Temelow has set up shop. She greets Thimble happily and shows her the cavern. Thaisha casts enrichment on the area and a giant cherry tree springs up and blossoms. Temelow says she’ll tend to the spot in Thimble’s absence. 

Thaisha says she’s going to head to Dol-Rungja to talk to the circle about breaking their neutrality. Wick is going to stay in town. He wants his family and the Tachonis to pay for what they’ve done. He wants to avenge Teor. He wants to kill Primus (GET IN LINE!), if it’s okay with Occtis. Occtis tells him by all means, DO IT if he gets the chance, but warns him about Petra and Ryah. They kill their fiances. Tyranny warns everyone to be careful because her sisters can look like anyone. 

Bolaire says he belongs to Thimble, or to Hal if not her, since Thjazi only ever saw him as a thing. Thimble says he doesn’t belong to anyone. He asks if that means she thinks Thjazi was wrong. Hal tells Bolaire he’s going to have to let Thjazi go, and Julien says that’s difficult when Thjazi won’t let go of them 🤣 Julien is a different case entirely. Thimble says she doesn’t know everything Thjazi did to him, she thinks maybe he was afraid of what Bolaire is. Thimble tells Bolaire to come with them. He wants to stop Termina and find the rest of his family. He says he doesn’t really have one now, but Occtis says family is different than siblings. 

They show Bolaire the tiny paint versions of Bolaire and Figment. Azune tells Bolaire to look at what he’s created, and asks if things dream or create. He tells Bolaire he’s a lot more human than he thinks he is, and maybe he needs to get out of his comfort zone and find out who he is. Bolaire talks to Little Bolaire, who cries and says “I’m not alone.” 😭 Bolaire touches the box and hears the song of a distant fiddle…he realizes the god he was created to destroy is still up to their tricks, because there are souls still trapped in their afterlife. Little Figment crawls onto Bolaire and drops the mask so they can talk. Bolaire apologizes to everyone, and says he wishes he had been able to see the play. He will go with Mara, and Mara says she will die before she lets someone throw him in a box. 

Occtis says he’ll go too, since he can’t stay in town. Azune is staying, and Thimble tells him he’s doing great and to keep at it. She believes in him. Kattigan has no idea what’s going on, but he asks Thaisha if she can do anything about his finger. Tyranny wants to keep it because Yanessa might want physical proof, too. Thaisha thinks Tyranny can use her words instead. Okaaaay. Thaisha restores Kattigan’s finger, which now looks like it’s welded on with a little piece of wood. Badass! 

Mara says the discovery that the afterlives still exist will shake the whole of Araman. The Creed is active far and wide, and they will attempt to destroy everything. She tells Azune they have to buy time. Occtis points out his family will weaken as there are fewer and fewer souls. Julien wants to head with Mara, too, by way of Timmony and the Golden Orchard, and Thimble says they have to check on it. Azune asks if a relic from the Orchard could help them, and Mara agrees with their points. She suggests the Professor could meet them at the Orchard - she can fly ahead to get him, and if they can protect the coffin, they can all meet up there. Julien also wants to travel with Bolaire so he can hear stories about how terrible Thjazi is. Typical. 😂 

Vaelus will go with them as well, then maybe on her own to the Mournvale after that. Kattigan asks what gets him closer to bashing Primus’s head in with a rock. Julien tells him to come with them; he thinks they can figure out a way to kill Primus MANY times (which is a beautiful sentiment, if I do say so - save one for me!). Occtis tells Vaelus he appreciates what she did, and asks if she thought about what destroying the stone might mean for him. She says no. 

Murray asks Bolaire to check on Demodus and tell him hello for her. He will, and he gives Murray his apartment keys. Hal says he’ll miss Bolaire, and Bolaire hopes someday he’ll be able to tell him some stories. Occtis (where Thaisha can’t hear) asks Murray about getting information on what he did with Dame Gaya. Tyranny tells Thimble and Kattigan she’s sorry about Teor, that they’ll miss them, and she assures Kattigan that they will get Primus. Occtis asks Julien for the shield glyph he gave him, and then he gives it to Wick. 

The new Seekers group rests in the fairy cave before they depart. Bolaire thanks Azune for being there for him all this time. He asks where he gets his name and if he’s pronouncing it correctly. Azune says he isn’t, no one ever does, and Azune tells him the secret true pronunciation of his name. Bolaire asks him to go with him to his apartment to grab some stuff before he heads out with the Seekers. Julien gives Azune the Einfasen axe. He looks at his shadow, and sees it embrace two large lion-shaped figures. Occtis and Thaisha exchange I love yous and goodbyes, and Thaisha puts a sewing needle on his lapel so she can keep track of him. 

Bolaire drops off of Misha and Azune puts him on. Bolaire and Misha had been having a wonderful conversation in his head, and Misha hugs Bolaire as they part. At Bolaire’s apartment is a note from Demodus, along with a flip-book of a cat that leaps off the page. He’s cried enough today. Azune brings him back to the cave and lets the Seekers take over from there.