cw: betrayal, death, violence, arrest

“Boctive Deign, Xenarus Crow, Neah nim Gorse – they’d fill the air with blood and smoke. Their treachery had already claimed Boleth and Serrivomer, they came for us next.

There are those that rightly call the Lodge a sanctuary, but I will never step foot there again. For me that place is nowt but a tomb, in its halls our revolution is buried.”

In an instant, the violent arc of Galena’s pistol brings down Embrace’s dawn-blessed son and with it the revolution’s fault lines are seared into reality. Oken lies dying, Ivar is fractured, Ezra faces an assassins blade, Neah frays at the seams, and Ash must decide where his true loyalties lie.

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c/w violence, police, outer-body experiences

“A tree of crimson and bone that grew down miles, visible despite the layers of architecture between, its every inch of growth fuelled by the centuries of us. Our blessings and our bonds, our lusting and loving and hoping and playing and learning and striving.”

Ivar and Ezra watch the barricades of Tail’s End and Loven Street become overwhelmed, as the Pale Lanterns arrive and turn the tide of the fight against them. Hopping from machine to machine, the pair watch the city struggle in snapshots of panic and violence, leaving more of themselves behind with each passing moment.

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c/w gore, loss of identity, body horror (ghosts)

“As we lay entangled, fingers on each other’s throats, the roots and tendrils of something new grew around us.”

There are few options left, but choices must be made. Regrouping in the streets of Tail’s End, Ezra and Ivar put the weapon stolen from the Pale Lanterns to use. They risk their selves to defend their cause. Meanwhile, back in the labyrinth, Ash arrives at Rodella’s Heart. Carn leads him to the Tender’s sacred, grisly relic. It’s time to become a Jackal.

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c/w intense peril, kettling, implied death

“From Crown’s Ait, three columns of nim Shif soldiers marched on us, followed by Ministers and the Lanterns and the fucking Swifts. And at their head Valour and Vigor themselves, armour gleaming and spears in hand, come to remove the last bit of grit from the shine of their ambition.

The second siege of Tail’s End were upon us and we welcomed it.”

~~ PEOPLE ~~

Ahste Whist: One of the seven, a group of revolutionaries who mutinied on a warship during the time of the People’s Ward.

Altara nim Shif: Scion of the nim Shif family and their trusted enforcer.

Boctive Deign: A charismatic and cunning revolutionary, whose radical treatises on Embrace are widely distributed and eagerly read.

Boleth Erul Cater: A long-prominent revolutionary from Calvary. Sai are one of the leaders of the Ginnels.

Carn nim Daker: The ancient founder of the Tenders, the slayer of Caerdroia and Rodella. Body mythologised, sai rule the Jackals still.

Eviron Eaves: A prominent member of the Winter’s Lodge who the others look to for leadership.

Galena nim Ovid: The imposing head of the Umbral Provenders and Ash’s aunt. She has ambitious plans for the city.

Ido Ozk Erut: A prominent member of the Winter’s Lodge, who manages a lot of the day-to-day functions.

Rhian Fetch-Grimoire: A former member of the Shepherds of the Roil. Ivar’s sister.

Roan nim Ovid: A former Umbal Provender who left to study the strangeness of the Cut. Ash’s cousin, Galena’s child.

Serrivomer Glass: The “Warden” of the people’s ward of Atrium. Along with Boleth and Boctive, one of the three representatives of the Assembly.

~~ FACTIONS ~~

Jackals: More formally known as the Tenders of the Dawn’s Embers, the Jackals are an organisation of remnant hunters guided by strange divination.

nim Shif: Embrace’s newest great family. Plotting to take over the city with silvered tongues and bloody blades.

Pale Lanterns: A group once founded to guide stray spirits, but over time their purpose has slipped from benevolent, to enforcers, to oppressors.

Syndics: Clerks and government officials, embroiled in extortion, corruption and conspiracy.

Trusted: A small cell of revolutionaries loyal to Neah, headed by Ido Ozk Erut.

~~ PLACES ~~

Hinter Ward: Embrace’s southernmost ward. The north is dense tenements, while the south has been abandoned to marsh and spirit.

Winter’s Lodge: A place pulled out from the cut. A shifting collection of mismatched architecture. A shell for the gall.

~~~

Episode title from Pokémon City Limits by Onsind

~~~

Hosted by Adam Dixon. Starring Beck Michalak, Elizabeth Simoens, Ryan Evans, Steve Martin and Thryn Henderson.

Produced by Thryn Henderson

Series art by Ben Swinden

Music taken from Kai Engel’s Satin