Episode 1

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Prayers - Suspicious guards - Local customs - A rude interruption - Investigations begin - Faith re-found - A deal is struck

Chapter 1 - The Dinner Party

  • The Dragon-Lord and her entourage join the priest and his entourage for a brief prayer.
  • Carver is unused to riding on horseback and does not dismount as cleanly as possible.
  • The horse drags him across the market-square, his foot caught in the stirrup.
  • As River enters the temple, he espies a noble spirit of white marble guarding the door.
  • He bows to it and it respectfully stands aside as he enters.


  • The dinner party is held across the square, in the town hall.
  • All manner of local notaries are present.
  • Carver finds two of the guards and a merchant suspicious so he watches them intently.
  • One of the guards is not a guard, he follows the wind.


  • A plate is passed round with bread, oil, and salt.
  • It is part of the local custom to extend hospitality to guests.
  • As the ritual is completed, its spirit grows in power.


  • Dinner is served.
  • The conversation slowly drifts towards the purpose of Dragon-Lord Tepet's visit.
  • Lady Izume mentions a problem with Bandits to the west that could be dealt with.
  • Ms Shojo performs a brief act to entertain the gathering.
  • She and her troupe will be performing a series of shows later in the week.


  • All of a sudden, the guards around the walls of the hall convulse and fall to the ground.
  • They cough up vomit and blood.
  • River senses the presence of malevolent spirits.
  • The attendees panic, rushing toward the doors.
  • The delegation from the Pale Horse forms up around its leader and makes for the kitchens and the back door.


  • Carver grabs River and they spring into action, leaping over the crowd into the centre of the hall.
  • River makes several hand gestures and strikes the ground, a circle of golden light spreading throughout the hall.
  • The spirits materialise in the face of this power.
  • They wear tattered clothing and their withered fingers drip blood and mucous.
  • Carver rushes the interlopers, laying about him with his fists.
  • Wind Follower looses his arrows into the mob.
  • The soldiers of the Pale Horse defend themselves ably.
  • The spirits block the path of the civilians as they attempt to escape.
  • Oboreta Shojo pulls her hairpin and sticks it through the eye of one of the spirits.
  • Priest Aldbur uses his fire-wand to great effect, cleansing the spirits in flame.
  • Eventually, the last of the spirits is driven off.


  • Oboreta and Madame Pherdon make it back to Pherdon's concert hall.
  • The dance troupe is most worried.
    • "Now, I don't want to startle anyone, but it was a perfectly normal ghost incursion. Everything's going to be fine."
    • "That sounds pretty dangerous."
    • "Have I ever let you down before?"
    • "Yes!"
    • "You see, Nicole, that's why you don't get to be in the main act."


  • River investigates the kitchen for the origin of the spiritual attackers.
  • He does not find it in the kitchen. Instead, he traces them back to the bathrooms.
  • It is uncommon to have this many spirits unless something strange has occurred.
  • Their origin and number are troubling to River.
  • His mentor, Arbiter of the Forgotten Glade, is only able to confirm what River already knows.


  • In the morning Aldbur takes River, Carver, and Wind Follower to visit Madame Pherdon's.
  • He has received word that Oboreta might possess the spark of exaltation and wishes to determine if she is a danger.
  • Oboreta is having a leisurely breakfast as the group arrives.
    • "I'm sorry, but the show won't start for a few hours."
    • "We're not here about the show."
  • Oboreta evades the questions but implies that she is a dragon-blood of some description who wishes to go incognito.
  • Aldbur begrudgingly accepts this but presses her to renew her devotion to the Immaculate Faith.
  • He also forces her into the protection of the city when it does not interfere with her other work.


  • Aldbur then goes to meet Dragon-Lord Tepet.
  • They negotiate a contract under which the Pale Horse will protect the city.