Previously, Aurion, Luca’s celestial patron, confirmed that the heroes’ binding circle plan was viable and suggested two approaches: direct combat, or turning Epidemius’ entropic nature against himself. He also revealed that confronting Epidemius with a sigil representing his original purpose might give the heroes a crucial advantage.
The heroes decided the subtler approach was preferable given the risk of collateral damage in Kingsport, and visited Esmeralda at the Circle of Magi to discuss how to proceed. She warned that the copper beneath the city’s ramparts, needed to power the binding circle, was in poor repair and would need fixing before it could be used.
Tenth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262
(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is waxing, Darkmoon is waning)The Vigil of the Undimmed Eye
They were set to watch, as all Grigori are set to watch, and they watched with the full and patient attention of one whose eye is the sun itself, seeing all things, casting shadow from all things, warming and revealing and making plain. He did not intervene. This is the covenant of the Watcher; to observe and to record, to bear witness without hand laid upon the witnessed. For an age they kept this covenant and found it an austere sufficiency, the cold satisfaction of the perfectly fulfilled duty. Then they looked down, as they always looked, and saw the suffering that their light illuminated, saw it clearly, as one whose eye is the sun may see clearly, and understood, in the manner of an angel who has watched too long and too well, that they had recorded enough. That witness without mercy is its own cruelty. That the eye which sees all and does nothing has become, in its perfect faithfulness, a kind of instrument of the dark. They did not abandon their watch. They could not; they were made for it as a river is made for its bed. But they turned their light, thereafter, with intent, warming what was cold, revealing what was hidden, not to expose but to protect. The Host called this transgression, and they accepted the word with serenity of one who has looked upon every argument against their choice and found them, in the light of their own eye, wanting.
– Angelarium, on All Angels, Including the Fallen, by Gustav Davidson, Imperial Researcher to the Adelheim Throne, 1018.
Falka’s reading of the passage stunned Esmeralda to silence. Falka also concludes that Zerachiel seemingly went against their own word. Quentin concludes that there was no difference between Epidemius and Réonan; they both watch and record. Chakuq proposes that Zerachiel (or Réonan) might be a source that could power the binding circle and disagreed with Quentin that there was no difference between them and Epidemius; Zerachiel was appalled at the suffering, broke their charge and wanted to limit the suffering. Chakuq believed that there might be an opening to see if Réonan was willing to help more.
Neamhan wondered whether Réonan might be a reminder to Epidemius of what he had become, since he and Zerachiel knew each other. Could this be a reminder of a way forward? Quentin suggested that it may be a reminder of what lay behind, instead. Luca did not think it was a bad idea. Emrys sided with Quentin and Chakuq and recalled to the others what Epidemius and Réonan said to one another on Steward’s Square;
Réonan: “On the day you were born, the very forests on the slopes of Mount Celestia whispered the name… Epidemael.”
Epidemius: “‘Behold Zarachiel, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body was like a topaz, his face like lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.’ You are one to speak brother, what happened to you, you pitiful wretch?”
The heroes decided to speak with Réonan to secure the Circle of Magi as a source power, speak with Prior Benedict to secure him as a source of power, speak with Emma to secure Bláthnaid as a source of power. Father Devon also warranted a visit, to see whether the heroes could learn more about the Monastic Order of Apothecaries, who had the Book of Woe in their charge since Epidemius lost it; hopefully it would help to understand how the book could be made to cause discord within Epidemius.
Chakuq, Neamhan, Luca, and Esmeralda would visit with Réonan, while Quentin and Emrys would visit with the prior. Then afterwards a visit to Father Devon and Emma would be attempted. When Esmeralda asked to join in on the conversation with Réonan she was asked whether she had been aware of the grand archmage’s nature, and Esmeralda said she had a suspicion. She admitted that she had ambitious plans for the Circle and her position within it, and when Chakuq asked whether she could wait until after Epidemius was dealt with in order to shake up the hierarchy at the Circle she responded that she had been patient since she was a little girl, and could maintain that patience for a while longer.
An audience with Réonan was arranged while Quentin and Emrys headed out of the city in search of Prior Benedict. The audience took place in Réonan’s inner sanctum at the top of the tower. Neamhan marvelled at the opulence and grandeur of the space and the incredible view over the city.
The heroes explained their plan to Réonan. The idea was to channel or redirect Epidemius’ power through the book in an attempt to disperse that power throughout Kingsport in an attempt to heal all of the victims of his curse. It would consume Epidemius, but Réonan assured the heroes that it would lead to Epidemius’ destruction, not his redemption. Réonan commended the heroes on a bold plan and confirmed that it certainly could work if the heroes had faith and committed to it.
The conversation was ultimately successful, as the grand archmage granted support from the Circle as a source of power to fuel the binding circle. It was a difficult decision for Réonan because their head said to support it, while their heart said not to. When asked why, Réonan said, emotionally; “He is my brother,” as if that explained everything. Réonan also said that their refusal to help with this would mean that Esmeralda, whom they referred to as a duplicitous viperess, would have cause to bury a dagger in their back.
Once the decision was made Réonan asked the heroes to leave them as they felt hurt by having to make such a hard decision.