Episode 1
From Iridium Circle Exalted
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.