V’neef Kai and Peleps Maera meet with Saffron Veil to address their encounter with Righteous Shrike. Veil expects the Prince will reject the offer from Thorns.

Maera visits Yin Guan and tells her Thorns is coming, and asks her to help evacuate Jiara if necessary.

While on the road back to Jiara, Mnemon Sarissa throws herself into a major crafting project. The increasingly paranoid Cathak Shao Dun spends every moment of his time worrying about the warstrider. Sarissa does her best to keep his mind occupied on other things.

Maera and Kai secure a warehouse to house the warstrider.

The kinship, minus Tepet Sanzo, reunite at the gates of Jiara. As the warstrider is brought to the warehouse and revealed, Shao and Maera go over safety arrangements. Maera tells him of Righteous Shrike’s visit and Saffron Veil’s intended rejection. As the discussion goes on, the two share a brief, intimate moment.

Shao and Maera return to Kai’s villa. Inside the anteroom, Shao becomes immediately aware that a malefic spirit is present. WIth Maera’s help, Shao locates the ghost. During his questioning, the ghost attempts to retreat, but Shao smashes open the ceiling and destroys it through exposure to sunlight.

Kai and Sarissa arrive, and Shao and Maera explain what happened. They speculate as to the identity of the ghost’s master, and consider the possibility that it was a servant of Thorns.

Shao proposes using salt wards to prevent incursions by unwanted spirits. As the discussion continues, the kinship is bolstered as they are finally rejoined by Tepet Sanzo.

V’neef Kai
Peleps Meara
Mnemon Sarissa
Cathak Shao Dun
Tepet Sanzo

Saffron Veil

Tepet Sanzo meets with Tepet Corino at a small fishing town, the location chosen to avoid drawing attention. He greets her with considerable respect and describes his plan to give House Tepet control over Jiara. She expresses skepticism about any alliance with the anathema, but Sanzo argues that the potential benefits make the risks worth it.

After lengthy discussion of Realm and House politics, Sanzo and Corino come to an understanding. Corino informs him she intends to appoint him to House Tepet’s Council.

Mnemon Sarissa and Cathak Shao Dun arrive in Nathul and make the journey up the mountain to the warstrider. As they draw closer and the reality of the situation strikes home, they discuss the impact that the introduction of the great weapon will have on the unstable political situation.

Peleps Maera and V’neef Kai are shocked at the news that an emissary from Thorns has arrived to speak to Prince Ozria Khidara. Thorns appears to want an alliance with her against the Great Houses. They meet with Saffron Veil, still impersonating the Prince, to discuss strategy. Maera and Kai agree to meet with the emissary, acting as the Prince’s representatives.

Sarissa and Shao are overcome with awe as they reach the magnificent warstrider. Sarissa conducts her assessment of its status, finding it in need of maintenance but essentially undamaged, and the difficult excavation begins. Sarissa realizes that the warstrider will need a hearthstone before it can be activated.

Maera and Kai meet in secret with the emissary from Thorns, Righteous Shrike. Shrike speaks respectfully of Prince Ozria Khidara, and proposes an alliance against the Realm, while Kai and Maera question the terms of the potential arrangement. In spite of Shrike’s eloquence, Maera and Kai cannot ignore their sense that a deeper evil exists inside him.

Tepet Sanzo
Mnemon Sarissa
Cathak Shao Dun
Peleps Meara
V’neef Kai

Tepet Corino
Saffron Veil
Righteous Shrike

Tepet Sanzo meets with Gauntlet to discuss a possible alliance with the Lunars, on the basis that they and the Society have compatible goals. Gauntlet is skeptical, but not completely closed to the idea.

Mnemon Sarissa informs Sanzo of her meeting with Saffron Veil. Sanzo tells her he will be present, eavesdropping from a different room. The meeting takes place in private, with Veil and her guards. They discuss a wide range of subjects, including the nature of the true Prince, Veil’s plans for the future of the Realm, and the fate of Sarkarn after its alliance with Thorns. When Sarissa mentions she would be interested in hearing the Lunar perspective on the history between the anathema and the Dragon-Blooded, Veil reacts with pleasant surprise.

As Sanzo leaves, he sees a man fitting the description of one of the Prince’s foreign advisers.

Cathak Shao Dun selects an elite group of soldiers to accompany himself and Sarissa to Nathul, while Sarissa prepares her own supplies for the expedition. After they depart, they discuss that state of the Realm, and Sarissa’s meeting with Saffron Veil. Shao expresses anger at the Lunar’s manipulations; Sarissa points out that they, too, have been manipulative when it suits them, and that the Realm is far from perfect.

V’neef Kai focuses on attending to Jiara’s defenses. He spends time among the Jiaran elite to rally support for the Prince.

Peleps Maera works to determine if the unnatural storm that destroyed the Peleps fleet could be en route to Jiara. She realizes that if the storm was heading toward them at the speed it was observed, it would have already reached the city.

Kai and Maera are summoned to a somewhat clandestine meeting with Saffron Veil. She gives them some chilling information: an emissary from Thorns has arrived.

Tepet Sanzo
Mnemon Sarissa
Cathak Shao Dun
V’neef Kai
Peleps Meara

Gauntlet
Saffron Veil

V’neef Kai takes a pleasant stroll through the city with Salana Tovin. The cheerful backdrop belies the heavy nature of their discussion topics: Kai’s meeting with the Prince, and Tovin’s desire to destroy the great houses.

Cathak Shao Dun, brooding over his misgivings of the kinship’s situation, seeks out Mnemon Sarissa. He finds her busy crafting in her workshop, but she takes a break to speak with him. While Shao is desperate to destroy Saffron Veil as quickly as possible, Sarissa believes it is too early to proceed. The strength of her logic leaves him somewhat convinced.

As the discussion goes on, they remember the warstrider, nearly forgotten by the kinship and sitting in cave. The two begin enthusiastically planning an expedition to retrieve the mighty weapon, hoping it will provide them

Sarissa and Sanzo talk about Saffron Veil. They agree that in spite of her deception, her intentions do not appear malevolent. Sanzo notes that she is not connected to Thorns, and indeed appeared disturbed at the prospect of its encroachment on her territory.

Sarissa lets Sanzo in on her plan to excavate the warstrider. She asks him to help keep the plan quiet, and he agrees.

Shao and Tepet Sanzo have a chance encounter in Kai’s villa. What begins as an exchange of common pleasantries turns into a discussion about Saffron Veil. Sanzo works to convince Shao that his dogmatic attitude toward the Realm and the Lunars needs flexibility, using examples of his own personal suffering to persuade him of the imperfections in Dragon-Blooded society. While his words have an effect, Shao tells him that he will never under any circumstances be willing to share the realm with Lunar or Solar anathema.

Sanzo meets with Tepets Ejava and Indaro, delivering two pieces of important news: The Prince intends to select the Tepet suitor, and the Mask of Winters will move against Jiara. Sanzo frames the situation as an opportunity for House Tepet to grow stronger, if it is willing to assign its legions to defend Jiara. His suggestion to ally with the Lunar is met with considerable skepticism, but some willingness to consider a temporary alliance, given the extreme circumstances.

Shao goes to Peleps Maera, hoping to put their previous argument behind them, and informs her about the warstrider. Neither of them have the stomach for an argument. She quickly blesses his plan to excavate the warstrider, and they part with a few flirtatious gestures.

V’neef Kai
Cathak Shao Dun
Mnemon Sarissa
Tepet Sanzo

Salana Tovin
Tepet Indaro
Tepet Ejava

V’neef Kai summons Tepet Sanzo, ostensibly to discuss Saffron Veil. But upon his arrival, Kai questions him directly about his true nature and identity, asking how he has become such an important force inside House Tepet. Sanzo attempts to placate Kai by pointing out that he was originally hired as a spy, and ultimately insists on keeping his secrets.

Peleps Maera and Cathak Shao Dun meet after returning to the barracks. Shao expresses his frustration that the kinship is preventing him from killing Saffron Veil. After arguing about the rightful place of the Dragon-Blooded in the world and the kinship’s attitude to the Lunar, Maera allows herself to express her vulnerability, the pain she feels that her father may be among the host marching on them from Thorns.

Mnemon Sarissa creates a lightning gun firewand, using blue jade, with a greystone stock, shot through with veins of quartz from the remains of an earth elemental. The weapon combines designs from the blueprints of several previous projects. As always, Sarissa’s astonishing capacities for patience and concentration are applied to her work.

Before she is able to finish, Mnemon Zuri visits her. Sarissa informs her of the apparent destruction of Peleps Fleet, the Realm’s loss of Sarkarn to Thorns, and expresses her fear that Jiara may be the next target of the encroaching undead. She asks Zuri for help securing another audience with the Prince, and agrees to send Mnemon a letter informing her of recent developments.

After his combative conversation with Maera, Shao meets with Laconic Ibis. The two thoroughly break down the tactical challenges presented by Thorns and the political instability in Jiara.

Maera returns to Kai’s villa, annoyed by Shao’s stubbornness. Kai meets with her in one of his gardens, giving her a chance to vent her frustrations. Kai tells her that Shao and Sarissa may never see or understand the Realm and the world as they do, and vice versa, but he believes there is at least a chance.

Sanzo meets with Saffron Veil and tells her that he agrees with her belief that the Realm is deeply corrupt and needs to be destroyed. When he tells her that he intends to turn House Tepet into a champion of outcasts, allied with anathema, she cannot conceal her surprise. A modicum of something close to trust begins to develop between the two, based on their shared values.

Maera writes a letter to the Peleps Admiralty, thoroughly detailing the destruction of Peleps Polin’s fleet and the loss of Sarkarn. She then writes to her mother, detailing considerably more personal matters.

V’neef Kai
Tepet Sanzo
Peleps Meara
Cathak Shao Dun
Mnemon Sarissa

Lynn
Laconic Ibis
Ozria Khidara

The kinship gathers to determine what to do about the Lunar anathema posing as Prince Ozria Khidara. After careful consideration, and over Cathak Shao Dun’s objections, they decide to visit her, together, in hopes of learning more about her motivations.

V’neef Kai prepares an introductory letter for the Prince, to assure her that the Dragon-Blooded come to visit her in peace.

The Prince holds an audience for the Dragon-Blooded, and bows with respect as the kinship arrives. She allows them a private meeting, although her guards remain. The encounter is tense, as the Prince accuses the five, along with all Dragon-blooded, of being tyrants, and tells them she cannot tolerate the continuation of the status quo. Her attempts to convince them of the legitimacy of her perspective meet with limited success.

Critically, the Dragon-Blooded learn that the Prince is not connected to the horrors sent from Thorns, and is disturbed to learn of their approach. After some discussion, the two sides agree to a temporary alliance against Thorns, although everyone understands it will be a fragile and unstable thing.

As the audience comes to an end, the Lunar masquerading as the Prince reveals a new name for herself: Saffron Veil.

Tepet Sanzo
V’neef Kai
Mnemon Sarissa
Peleps Meara
Cathak Shao Dun

Saffron Veil
Ozria Khidara
Firat

Episode Link: Kinship Reunited

In the aftermath of the Prince’s ball, Mnemon Sarissa engages herself in a crafting project, creating an intricate flame piece, concealable, the size of a derringer. The construction process is exceptionally difficult and complicated, but after several days of tenacious work, Sarissa is successful.

Three days after the ball, the Leviathan’s Paradise returns to Jiara, the mood still grim. Peleps Maera and Cathak Shao Dun take time to reflect upon the horrors on the ocean.

V’neef Kai comforts Maera with a luxurious bath, as she remains deeply disturbed from her memory of the smell of the bloody storm. Afterwards, they share their recollections of recent events, while Tepet Sanzo eavesdrops on the conversation.

Shao meditates and performs a purification ritual to cleanse himself of the spiritual stench left by the storm.

Tepet Sanzo meets with Lynn, and in a rare moment of open and emotional honesty, he confides in her his fears of the encroaching danger from Thorns.

The kinship gathers at Kai’s villa in what proves to be a sobering reunion; the happiness the five feel at being reunited is somewhat tainted by the revelations that Prince Ozria is a Lunar anathema, and the sinking of the Peleps fleet by the dreadful forces of Thorns. But as the discussion goes on, the unified kinship feel their collective strength, and a sense of hope rises, as the Dragon-Blooded prepare to confront the revealed threats.

Mnemon Sarissa
Peleps Meara
Cathak Shao Dun
V’neef Kai
Tepet Sanzo

Desai Pavrani
Lynn

Episode Link: Pearl and Silver

V’neef Kai, Mnemon Sarissa, and Tepet Sanzo arrive at the Prince’s ball in their most resplendent finery. The Dragon-Blooded are led into a grand courtyard with the other guests. Sanzo slips away from the others, finds Tepet suitor, Delak, and offers a few words of encouragement.

Onboard the Leviathan’s Paradise, Peleps Maera and Cathak Shao Dun deal with the aftermath of their horrific encounter with the undead monstrosity that attacked the Peleps Wood Fleet fleet. As they return to the port of Sarkarn, the mood is universally grim.

The Prince arrives at her ball wearing shimmering silver and graciously acknowledges her guests. To Sanzo’s surprise, she greets him personally and honors him with conversation, while simultaneously probing his attentions.

After a ritual Jiaran sword dance, the suitors introduce themselves to the Prince, all making strong impressions.

Maera and Shao confront the Queen of Sarkarn with information about the Lintha, and the apparent destruction of the Peleps fleet by the necrotic whale. After a testy exchange, they discover that she has terminated her relationship with House Peleps, and has allied herself with Thorns.

The Prince’s ball passes peacefully and pleasantly, although Kai and Sanzo are somewhat vexed that they cannot read the Prince’s intentions, and remain unsure of her true attitude toward the suitors.

V’neef Kai
Mnemon Sarissa
Tepet Sanzo
Peleps Meara
Cathak Shao Dun

Ozria Khidara
Tepet Delak
Cathak Jul-To
Ledaal Yasmet Silver Grace
Desai Kadajin
Soraya Taraneh

Episode Link: Between Breeze and Bough

Mnemon Sarissa meets V’neef Kai to discuss his recent encounter with the Prince. As they stroll through the villa’s splendid gardens, Kai informs her that the Prince is aware the Dragon-Blooded know her true identity. The perplexed Sarissa listens as he expresses sympathy with the Prince’s stated ideals, and dissatisfaction with the leadership of the Realm. While Sarissa still trusts Kai, she is not convinced his point of view is sound.

Elsewhere, Sanzo goes to Gauntlet and asks him to determine if the Lunar anathema’s professed belief that she genuinely cares for the people of the Realm is true, or a deception. He also wishes to understand whether his plans with Gauntlet conflict with or complement the Lunar’s schemes. Ultimately, Sanzo believes either possibility will serve him well.

Sarissa visits monk Mnemon Hoji to learn more about the nature of the anathema. He tells her that Lunars do not necessarily need to kill those they impersonate, but may steal the forms of of their victims through other dark arts.

Sanzo visits Tepet Indaro, who introduces him to Tepet Ejava, the Roseblack, an exceptionally promising member of the House. Indaro leaves, while Sanzo and Roseblack discuss potential strategy in case a clash with the anathema becomes inevitable.

Kai and Tovin discuss the great houses. Tovin, whose political views are even more radical than Kai’s, insists they must be destroyed. Before the discussion goes too far, the passion the two feel for each other rises, and they abandon talk to deal with the more important and pressing matter of love.

Mnemon Sarissa
V’neef Kai
Tepet Sanzo

Gauntlet
Tepet Indaro
Mnemon Hoji
Salana Tovin

Episode Link: Crowned in Silver

V’neef Kai writes a letter to Prince Ozria Khidara, ostensibly to remind her of their good relationship, and of his willingness to help her if she needs it. In reality, he hopes to meet with her to determine whether she is the Lunar Anathema that the Dragon-Blooded have been hunting. The Prince replies by offering Kai a warm invitation for a visit.

Kai brings the invitation to Tepet Sanzo, who in turn takes the letter to Curry. The kinship’s worst fears are confirmed: the Prince is indeed a Lunar.

Mnemon Sarissa bides her time. She expends her anxiety-driven energy by throwing herself into a crafting project: a collapsible, concealable short spear.

Kai, filled with apprehension, pays his visit to the Prince. The conversation is at first filled with friendly banter, until he subtly but unambiguously informs her that he knows her true nature. As she becomes wary, he stresses that he remains her friend. She discusses her belief that the forces governing the Realm are irredeemably corrupt and must be destroyed, a position Kai sympathizes with. They part without hostility, and Kai promises to warn her if his kin prepare to move against her.

In the aftermath of the confirmation of the Prince’s identity, Sanzo and Kai meet, a pall hanging over them. Kai maintains his trusting, optimistic feelings toward the Prince. Sanzo is disturbed by Kai’s attitude, and deeply skeptical of the Lunar’s good intentions.

The conversation comes to a close with Kai and Sanzo trying to decide how to break the news to the rest of the kinship.

V’neef Kai
Tepet Sanzo
Mnemon Sarissa
Ozria Khidara
Curry
Lynn