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

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

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

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

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

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

The kinship meets with Saffron Veil on her private balcony as the sun slowly sets. They inform her of the ghost that spied on them at Kai’s villa, and warn her that she should take precautions. Tepet Sanzo tells her that House Tepet is willing to stand with her, and has promised its full support – to the surprise of the other Dragon-Blooded.

Mnemon Sarissa reads a letter given to her by Saffron Veil, signed by The Wolf with Red Roses. It explains the motivations and history of the anathema, and their hostility toward the Realm. The letter has a considerable effect on Sarissa.

Saffron Veil announces her betrothal to the Tepet suitor. V’neef Kai proposes to Peleps Maera
that they call off their engagement, to give her the chance to marry Cathak Shao Dun. The shocked Maera needs time to consider this idea.

Maera finds Shao in a pensive mood, considering the tactical situation. He is flabbergasted when she tells him Kai’s marriage plan. The two discuss the possibility, and ultimately conclude they’re happy with their relationship as it is.

Sanzo and Sarissa discuss his relationship with House Tepet over a pot of black tea. When she expresses surprise that he is embracing his house, he tells her that he did not go over to their side, but that they have joined him.

Tepet Sanzo meets Gauntlet and her associate, Laughing Knife. He gives Sanzo a considerable amount of information on Lunars that he’d previously requested. He questions his attitude toward the Lunars, his plans for House Tepet, and the larger political picture. The mysterious Knife’s strange choice of words leaves Sanzo curious as to his true nature.

As Maera tells Kai of her marriage decision, they receive information that Righteous Shrike has unexpectedly left the city.

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

Saffron Veil
Gauntlet
Firat

Saffron Veil, in the guise of the Prince, marries the Tepet suitor in a small and basic ceremony. It is a moment of triumph for Tepet Sanzo.

V’neef Kai and Peleps Maera are then wed, also in a humble ceremony. The kinship deals with mixed emotions and the distractions caused by the increasingly unstable political situation.

At the wedding, Cathak Shao Dun and Desai Pavrani meet again after a considerable time apart. She assures him she is ready to support him in the coming battle, against whatever foe may be facing them. He warns her that Thorns is advancing on Jiara.

Sarissa continues working on her major crafting project, making substantial progress. To her surprise, she receives a visit from Mnemon Zuri. They discuss internal Mnemon politics, and the encroaching threat presented by Thorns.

Gauntlet delivers the harvest gem, a hearthstone, to Sanzo, courtesy of Laughing Knife. Sanzo summons the kinship to the warehouse that shelters the warstrider and announces the acquisition of the treasure. After discussion among the kinship, the honor of first wielding the warstrider is given to Sarissa. Kai attunes to it as well, and determines the warstrider’s name: Longaeva.

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

Saffron Veil
Desai Pavrani
Mnemon Zuri

Tepet Ejava, the Roseblack, leads the Vermilion Legion into Jiara.

The kinship meets with Saffron Veil at her palace. She introduces them to the real Prince Ozria Khidara, revealed to be an anathema. After declarations of devotion to Jiara made by both sides, the Dragon-Blooded and the anathema discuss the developing political situation, and the advances from Thorns.

The focus of the discussion turns to the nearby satrapy of Trellis, which is a probable stepping stone for Thorns on their march to Jiara. The increasingly unstable territory is a collection of slave plantations ruled by corrupt elites. The kinship decide to head there, to make a stand against the dead.

After the meeting ends, Mnemon Sarissa, still very curious about the anathema, remains behind to converse with the Prince and Saffron Veil. She leaves the palace after a pleasant conversation, her belief that the tyrannical aspects of the Realm must be resisted strengthened by what was said.

Peleps Maera works to ease Cathak Shao Dun’s anger at his perception that the kinship is doing the bidding of the anathema.

Maera meets with her smuggler friend Yinguan in preparation for the attack on Trellis. Yinguan asks and receives Maera’s word that she will protect the people as best she is able.

Tepet Sanzo meets with Shao and easily convinces him to join the kinship on the journey to Trellis.

---

Elsewhere, Righteous Shrike informs the Mask of Winters on the progress of Thorns’s incursions into the Realm.

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

Tepet Ejava
Saffron Veil
Ozria Khidara

Righteous Shrike
Mask of Winters

V’neef Kai, Mnemon Sarissa, and Cathak Shao Dun journey to the seat of Trellis. They meet the Satrap at her countryside estate.

Shao is disturbed by the what he sees of Trellis: plantations of slaves laboring under the whips of wealthy overseers.

The three Dragon-Blooded struggle to convince the Satrap that the dead marching from Thorns represent an immediate threat to Trellis. When Kai encourages the Satrap to evacuate the satrapy, she asks for evidence that the dead are coming. While the heroes have none, the logic of their arguments eventually begins to convince the Satrap.

Peleps Maera and Tepet Sanzo work to incite rebellion in Trellis, operating clandestinely in local watering holes and other gathering places. They seek out and make contact with a local resistance movement, organized against the ruling slave masters.

Kai and Sarissa finally convince the Satrap to accede to their wishes, and preparations for a partial evacuation of Trellis once the harvest is completed.

Maera and Sanzo reach the center of the local resistance, and meet the group’s leader, Humble Wren. The Dragon-Blooded work to convince the skeptical Wren that their offer of freedom is genuine, and a better option than what Thorns may provide.

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