Episode 18 Glossary

Characters

• Whisper: Young thief whose memories show his first meeting with Ernan and the rescue that cemented their loyalty. In the present, he reunites with Gram and steals a Felrick inkwell.

• Ernan Baldemar: Wandering swordsman and musician who rescues Whisper in Andros Port, then later endures torture rather than reveal that Whisper stole House Wilhelmina's necklace.

• Madame Iris: Proprietor of the Blooming Petal who attempts to expand against Havel's interests and persuade Whisper to become one of her bouncers.

• Stilt: Knife-wielding associate of Iris and Whisper who is knocked unconscious when Havel's people attack.

• Bumble: Devoted Blooming Petal bouncer who accompanies Iris and Whisper to Havel's Haunches.

• Havel: Andros Port brothel owner whose people resist Madame Iris's attempted expansion.

• Mal'El Syphus: Creator of the Syphus and Crystalline Orders and progenitor of the Syphus Blades. He defeats Titus's body but is cast through the collapsing portal with his fortress shattered behind him.

• Alderian Titus: Leader of the Stygian Seven. He turns himself into darkness within the Dark Scepter and later speaks to Torin from the phase realm.

• Selendra Cassiandros: Marquis of Gavra and self-confessed Black Queen. She admits manipulating the civil houses and begins consolidating the city under Cassiandros rule.

• Gram: Whisper's grandmother, freed from the Reef after the danger to her passes. She remains in Gavra and warns that the Hidden Father still pulls strings.

• Silas Palligref: Released from imprisonment after Selendra accepts that his body was used without his consent. He joins the party's Piln caravan as a guard.

• Maxis: Flamboyant driver and leader of the chartered caravan to Piln.

• Nicias: Small, energetic Gavran guard assigned to the caravan alongside Silas.

• Head of the Felrick Family: Recognizes Francis's pen, accepts Normandy's threat, and signs an oath of fealty to Selendra while disowning Francis and his family.

• Odo: Bjorn's wolf, recovered injured and malnourished after several days of travel, then healed by Vyr.

Gods and Religion

• Sethis: Goddess of Twilight who calls Torin back to Ephthalas. She says she will take the scepter, but warns of a price she cannot prevent.

• Ithelion Light: Helena's vial reaches a stronger state of radiance. While near it, the company gains a benevolent aura and can cast light at will.

• Ephthalas Temple: Ancient sanctuary of Sethis where she previously asked the company to become her guardians.

• House Wilhelmina Sigil: Necklace stolen by Whisper in an earlier Gavra memory, provoking the torture of Ernan by the house's enforcer.

Organizations and Societies

• Syphus Order: Ancient magical order founded by Mal'El Syphus and associated with the blades bearing his name.

• Crystalline Order: Spell-sword order created by Mal'El. Its three fallen members are briefly animated for the final duel, and its distant fortress is shattered.

• Stygian Seven: Seven black-armored beings led by Titus. Their seven life forces are now gathered inside the Dark Scepter.

• House Cassiandros: Ruling Gavran house restored through Selendra's planned control of the civil houses.

• Felrick Family: Glister-linked commercial house forced to swear fealty after Normandy uses documentary evidence and Francis's pen.

• Velpan Trading Company: House blamed by Selendra for spreading the plague to strengthen its control. She intends to dismantle its holdings and seize the Maelstrodomus.

• House of the Ledger and House of the Liege: Gavran government houses whose cooperation Selendra expects to secure while the party is away.

• House Wilhelmina: Powerful Gavran civil house whose sigil necklace Whisper stole in the past. Its governor is Arthur Wilhelmos.

• Stalkers: Thieves' organization once led by the Hidden Father and connected to Gram and Whisper.

• Blooming Petal: Madame Iris's establishment, whose attempted expansion into Havel's Andros Port territory leads to Whisper's first meeting with Ernan.

Creatures and Nature

• Odo: Bjorn's wolf survives alone outside Gavra but returns haggard, injured, and hungry before magical healing restores him.

• Panthex: Creature Torin hopes to find near Ephthalas, though none is located before the group reaches the temple.

• Collected Mushrooms and Spiders: Ordinary specimens Helena gathers near the caravan's first camp for possible study or alchemy.

• Darkness from Ephthalas: Tangible blackness that spills from the sealed temple door when it opens.

Items and Technology

• Dark Scepter / Staff of Astarius: Twenty-five-pound artifact now carrying seven living presences. Torin holds it without attuning, knowing attunement could release something within.

• Syphus Blades: Green, red, and blue greatswords recalled by Mal'El. All three pass through the portal with him and are no longer party assets.

• Glycyrin Bomb: Nitro's powerful explosive thrown by Bjorn and ignited by Normandy. Titus contains the blast and redirects it into a castle wall, consuming the bomb.

• Felrick Fealty Document: Signed oath binding the Felricks' resources and political support to Selendra. It is delivered to the Marquis.

• Francis's Pen: Personal object presented by Normandy to prove that the Felrick whistleblower is the house leader's son.

• Goat-Headed Inkwell: Ornate Felrick inkwell stolen by Whisper while leaving the manor.

• Five Hundred Gold Payment: Money supplied by Selendra in a Cassiandros bag and paid to Charlie, clearing the glister debt.

• Friendship Stones: Six marked stones carved by Torin for his companions, each bearing a personal symbol chosen during camp. They are intended to help him track the group if separated.

• Books from Eli's Study: Matthew Medodie's Large Book of Remedies, Bountiful Beauties, and The Art of Floral Cultivation, carried by Bjorn for study during travel.

Magic and Cosmology

• Scepter Imprisonment: Titus converts himself into shadow within the Dark Scepter. Six more life forces enter when the possessed fleet commanders awaken, producing seven detectable lives.

• Torin's Daily Trial: Each day Torin carries the scepter, the chance that its influence overcomes him increases.

• Phase-Realm Conversation: The scepter follows Torin into his sleeping phase realm, where Titus promises that he will escape and return to the light of the world.

• Way-Gate Network: Gavra's portal contains twelve destinations, but only the route to Shatal is active. Both ends of a route must be opened, and the gates traverse shadowed nether realms associated with Sethis.

• Shatal: Veyan name for the place now called the Shattered Isles and the only destination currently available through Gavra's way gate.

• Door Vision: Lightning, an eclipse, and Ephthalas appear in Torin's dream while a voice commands him to seek the door.

• Light Ascendance: The company's accumulated light reaches a new threshold, giving those near Helena's vial an aura of benevolence and the ability to create light.

Locations and Realms

• Havel's Haunches: Andros Port bar and brothel where Whisper and Ernan first meet during a violent dispute over Madame Iris's expansion.

• Andros Port: Rough, prosperous port supplied by goods from the Shattered Isles and New Norn.

• Gavra Castle: Damaged seat of House Cassiandros where Mal'El and Titus finish their duel and Selendra confesses her role as the Black Queen.

• Felrick Manor: Heavily watched family estate where Normandy secures the signed oath of fealty.

• Gavra Way Gate: Ancient Veyan portal with twelve marked destinations, only one of which is currently active.

• Piln: Destination of the company's chartered caravan and home to mages after the Arcanium leaves Gavra. Its lighthouse and light are far older than the surrounding settlements.

• Wintere Woods: Woodland crossed as the caravan follows the Lithera away from Gavra.

• Lithera: River and trade route followed by the company toward Piln and Ephthalas.

• Ephthalas: Sacred waterfall formation and ancient temple of Sethis. Its sealed door opens at the episode's end.

• Unknown Crystalline Fortress: Stronghold visible beyond Mal'El's portal and shattered by Titus's final attack.

History and Lore

• Whisper and Ernan's First Meeting: Ernan intervenes when Havel's men overwhelm Whisper, and their handshake produces an immediate sense of destiny.

• House Wilhelmina Theft: Ernan accepts torture rather than betray Whisper, who returns to rescue him and recover the stolen necklace later.

• Mal'El's Orders: Mal'El founded both the Syphus and Crystalline Orders and created the three blades designed to oppose threats such as Titus.

• Titus's Apparent Defeat: Mal'El destroys Titus's current body, but Titus survives by entering the scepter and claims the victory may only be temporary.

• Selendra's Manipulation: As the Black Queen, Selendra placed contracts on the company and turned Gavran houses against one another to rebuild Cassiandros dominance.

• Velpan Plague Scheme: Selendra accuses Wylas Velpa of spreading plague through southeastern Scarsden to rule through fear.

• Felrick Submission: Normandy exposes Francis as the whistleblower and obtains the house leader's signed support without a battle.

• Ancient Piln Light: Bjorn's reading establishes that Piln and its lighthouse predate common Gavran history and that Scarsden's settlement grew around the enduring light.

• Ephthalas Return: The company reaches the sacred site much earlier than Torin expected, driven there by the scepter, Titus, or Sethis.

Active Assets

Armies and Forces

• Ephthalas Expedition: Torin, Whisper, Vyr, Normandy, Bjorn, Helena, and Ernan stand inside the temple as its sealed door opens.

• Chartered Caravan Team: Maxis drives, while Silas and Nicias serve as Gavran escorts. They remain associated with the expedition, though their exact position during the climb is not stated.

• Odo: Recovered and healed, traveling again with Bjorn and the company.

• Selendra's Search Force: Three Gavran ships have been dispatched toward the Shattered Isles to find Lily's Song. Results are expected in roughly one to two weeks.

• Lily's Song Company: Brill, Zandra, Len, Ned Flan'Deres, Snake Eye Joe, Mate, Nana, and the surviving selected Dread Stalkers remain with the disabled vessel. Their new condition is not shown.

• Gavran Government Forces: Selendra has approximately fifteen guards present after the duel and begins using the government houses against the Velpins and other rivals.

• Northern Fleet: Six fleet leaders awaken after their possessing shadows enter the Dark Scepter. The ships remain headed toward the Maelstrom, but their next actions are unknown.

Special Characters

• Selendra Cassiandros: Survives possession and resumes power as the acknowledged Black Queen. She remains in Gavra consolidating the civil houses.

• Gram: Freed and staying in Gavra under Selendra's protection while monitoring the Hidden Father.

• Silas Palligref: Released and serving as a caravan guard despite Whisper's continuing distrust.

• Maxis: Driver and guide for the road to Piln, diverted by two days so the company can visit Ephthalas.

• Nicias: Energetic secondary guard traveling with the caravan.

• Rue: Active darkling companion carried with Whisper.

• Aggie / Angelette: Carried forward aboard Lily's Song as the only occupant previously shown awake.

• The Lion: His direct role remains unresolved, but Selendra now personally promises access to the Maelstrodomus.

Items and Artifacts

• Dark Scepter / Staff of Astarius: Held and carried by Torin, wrapped when possible. Seven lives are inside, and Torin has not attuned to it.

• Combined Crystallic Fragment: Held by Torin.

• Eye of the Panthex: Held by Th'Marck.

• Ix Crystal with Phineas's Soul: Held by Vyr.

• Torin's Box, Pure Glint, Mechanical Compass, Stuffed Wolf, and Light Bender's Hat: Retained by Torin.

• Torin's Friendship Stones: Six marked stones distributed among Whisper, Ernan, Bjorn, Vyr, Helena, and Normandy for possible future tracking.

• Helena's Compass, Ithelion Light Vial, Statue Sketch, Cache Map, and Uncut Emerald: Retained by Helena. Those near the vial can now cast light at will.

• Darkness-Storing Glint and Black Water Vial: Held by Vyr.

• Silver-Inlaid Studded Leather: Worn or carried by Vyr after full payment and collection.

• Ancient-Warning Watch: Worn by Bjorn.

• Bjorn's Study Books: Matthew Medodie's Large Book of Remedies, Bountiful Beauties, and The Art of Floral Cultivation.

• Ornate Quill, Link Breaker, and Whisper's Mother's Key: Held by Ernan.

• Ceremonial Dagger, Hidden Father's Dagger, Ernan's Collected Keys, Kaglin's Three Keys, Northern Tax Ledger, and Goat-Headed Inkwell: Held by Whisper.

• Normandy's Book, Jonas's Ring, Warning, Felrick Dagger, Mine Records, and Francis's Pen: Retained by Normandy unless the pen remains with the Felrick house after presentation.

• Marquis's Brooch and Eight Writs of Passage: Carried forward. Seven writs serve the active group and one remains intended for Brill.

• Remaining Felrick Glister: Retained after Charlie accepts five hundred gold and closes the debt. Exact quantity remains uncertain.

• Glister Sale Proceeds: Whisper's prior one hundred eighty gold remains subject to untracked later spending.

• Purchased Alchemy: Basic healing potions remain distributed, with Ernan explicitly holding two and Helena none. The stronger healing potion, size-reducing potion, alchemist's fire, and other supplies carry forward unless used off-screen.

• Spectacticular: Retained. The boom powder and glycyrin bomb have both been consumed.

• Potion of Possibility: Consumed during the prior battle. Whether either of Helena's two motes remains after the long rest is not established, so neither is counted as a durable asset.

• Collected Mushrooms and Spiders: Gathered by Helena near the first caravan camp; quantities and properties are unstated.

• Black Fabric, Sewing Kit, Disguise Kit, Original Telling, Retelling, Kaglin's Ouroboros Necklace and Diary, Warehouse Records, Mining Equipment, Shadowed Dawn Cloaks, Library Materials, Raven's Gold, and Confiscated Weapons: Carried forward with exact distribution or balances unstated.

• Syphus Blades: No longer party assets after Mal'El recalls them and carries them through the portal.

• Felrick Fealty Document: Delivered to Selendra and now held by House Cassiandros rather than the party.

• Five Hundred Gold from Selendra: Paid in full to Charlie and no longer available.

Provisions

• Travel Rations: Caravan provisions and party supplies carry forward; exact quantities are not established.

• Shipboard Stores and Pirate Gold: Remain aboard Lily's Song, with their condition unknown.

• Vinterweed and Fire Root: Remaining supplies carry forward in unstated quantities.

• Caravan Camp Food: Odo is fed after his return, but no reliable ration count is given.

Ships and Transport

• Chartered Piln Caravan: One wagon or carriage drawn by two horses, with seven additional riding horses, for nine horses total. Selendra charters it for the company, and Maxis drives.

• Lily's Song: Disabled in the Sequestered Sea with a collapsed mast and still separated from the party.

• Three Gavran Search Ships: Sent toward the Shattered Isles to locate Lily's Song.

• Maelstrodomus: Selendra expects to make the prototype available in ten days after breaking the Velpan holdings.

• Gavra Way Gate: Twelve-destination Veyan gate under Gavran control. Only Shatal is active, and Selendra will seek permission from the government houses for later use.

• Six Riding Horses in Micah's Custody: Carried forward as separate animals being held for sale in Gavra, not the chartered caravan's horses.