Chapter 73
Added 2025-01-10 05:00:09 +0000 UTCSong ran out barely took three steps onto the p
Comments
Him actually believing in the Watch is pretty great, having someone who's ready to be an antagonist but a firm believer of a good cause even if they act very shitty from time to time is great. He is a character I love to love and to hate.
sapassde .
2025-01-15 19:37:08 +0000 UTCI've somehow just realized the secondary thread binding the Thirteenth, aside from the whole home=death thing. Each of them have powers that are built to be underestimated and let people think they've figured them out, leaving our heroes with an information advantage. Song - people think she can see contracts, actually sees everything. Tristan - people think he's dextrous or maybe lucky, actually has Fortuna feeding him intel. Maryam - people think she has some weird uncontrollable signifying, she actually (hopefully) has a spirit sister and magic memory. Angherad - people think she has some sword mistress booster, actually can see possible futures.
GraySquirrelEatToast
2025-01-14 14:41:22 +0000 UTCEach time I want to forgive Tupoc, I remember ayanda and zenzele and my hatred is renewed afresh.
Joseph
2025-01-13 19:32:25 +0000 UTCAi was the one motivated to use that info. The Yellow Earth still could spread this, but it seems like their instinct is to bargain with it, after all, it doesn't really gain them much to further condemn the Ren in the abstract. Song may find herself in the same situation next time she runs into a Yellow Earther who wants something from her, but it doesn't seem likely they will use the info when they gain nothing from it and are unaware of her involvement with Ai in Asphodel. If she's a good enough liar she could even tell them she'd fulfilled her deal with Ai and she'd earned the good publicity.
Morgan Whiting-Fawcett
2025-01-13 01:33:13 +0000 UTCIt helps that he's not just all backstabbing, all the time. He's much more strategically minded than he first appeared, so while he's totally willing to throw others under the bus, he's not going to do it if there won't be a long-term benefit. Having him in the role of wild card temporary ally makes him more interesting, as do the hints about his backstory and the realization that he genuinely believes in the Watch. Between his strong leadership capability and devotion to the Watch's mission, he's also become a good foil for Song.
Pteromys Momonga
2025-01-12 23:25:05 +0000 UTC@Pteromys that was my read as well. This is the metaphysical manifestation of the cult's plan inside the prison layer. For the Ecclesiast, the coups are merely a way to create mass death to feed to the Hated One, the true goal being resurrecting the imprisoned God. Though the Ecclesiast does likely want to survive the plots and schemes.
Dominic Corbin
2025-01-12 16:51:27 +0000 UTCConserving bullets and powder is what a prudent watchwoman and captain would do!
Dominic Corbin
2025-01-12 16:43:08 +0000 UTCSeconding finding "pale" an odd choice, but understood in context. I agree "mist" or "fog" would be a more straightforward use. Not a complaint as I am always happy to have a chapter, but this one seems to be an earlier draft than we usually get. I saw things Nathan hasn't mentioned; there may be other threads pointing those out. EE hope everything is going well, especially with the baby!
Dominic Corbin
2025-01-12 16:41:05 +0000 UTCI was worried for the man for a moment there.
Andrew Duan
2025-01-12 16:11:40 +0000 UTCGenius!
Andrew Duan
2025-01-12 16:11:11 +0000 UTCHe’s certainly charming, the murderous bastard. I think it come with knowing how he operates. Compared to most students, he’s pretty straightforward
Andrew Duan
2025-01-12 16:09:14 +0000 UTCTupoc really has grown on me, like a particularly virulent fungus.
Charles
2025-01-11 16:29:08 +0000 UTCRelevant context: Chapter 54 - “We do not keep to the Oar but to the Sickle,” he said. “Eirenos burn their dead, lest the flesh be devoured by an ancient god of the earth.” “The Oar,” Angharad slowly said, “being a reference to the spirit known as the Sculler?” The most powerful carrion spirit of the isle, said to boast few temples but to keep a shrine and priests in every graveyard. Along with Oduromai and the Awn-Dam, it was one of the most broadly worshipped spirits. Unlike the arrogant frauds of Tianxia and the Someshwar the spirit only claimed to ferry souls to the Circle Perpetual, not guide reincarnation. Angharad thus found it more tolerable than most of its kind. Not so her host. “It is the favored death god of the age,” Cleon sourly acknowledged. “He who ferries souls to the Circle. My line, however, can be traced back to the days of the Archeleans. We keep to older ways, though they are no longer spoken of in polite company.” He cleared his throat. “There were gods on this land before the Lierganen came, and though they are buried so deep as to have become nameless they yet remain,” he told her. “The day will come when the One Who Bears The Sickle wakes, and all the bodies given to the earth of Asphodel will be cut up and devoured whole.” “A grim patron,” Angharad noted. “Death is not meant to be pretty,” Cleon shrugged. True enough, she conceded.
Gwennafran
2025-01-11 11:58:59 +0000 UTCI vote we keep Expandable. It's accurate, given his Contract.
Clément Lanteigne
2025-01-10 21:00:48 +0000 UTCMy guess is she's planning to cut a deal with the Tianxi ambassador. Tianxia have more deniability regarding their coup and they're less involved with the cult. Song will probably say that Ai took over the Yellow Earth sect and murdered its previous leader without authorisation. That will allow the ambassador to use Ai as a scapegoat, meanwhile the Malani ambassador is directly involved with the cult so the Malani will come off far worse than Tianxia in the eyes of the Watch and other powers. In exchange the ambassador and his superiors in the Ministry of Rites protect the Ren from Yellow Earth retaliation. Given the mess this situation has turned into, I imagine a professional diplomat will be glad for a way to cut his losses and blame a dead woman for the whole disaster.
Emmet Mackle
2025-01-10 20:46:44 +0000 UTCShould be frustration/irritation imho
thephilosoft
2025-01-10 19:37:13 +0000 UTCExactly
Ryu
2025-01-10 18:58:26 +0000 UTCWhy is the "pale, rolling mist" referred to thereafter as "pale"? Did you mean "pall"? I don't see why "mist" or "fog" wouldn't do just fine, I found "pale" odd and confusing. Too close s/from/for/* comfort your contract allows you s/seem/some/ manner of sight Gods know they’ll need bodies s/to// by the hundreds, s/Expandable/Expendable/, the corpse, “They won’t take the risk of that melee turning on them s//now/ that they have him back.” She resisted the urge s//to step/ between him and the corpse s/top/to/ obscure the sight.
Nathan Fish
2025-01-10 18:48:20 +0000 UTCBrilliantly done.
Colin Love
2025-01-10 17:50:22 +0000 UTCYessssssssssssssssssssssssss
Nyto
2025-01-10 17:31:32 +0000 UTC"I have made you angry, making me the victor," I proclaim the instant before I am cleaved in two by a horse-killing sword.
Borangehat
2025-01-10 17:12:16 +0000 UTC"This is fine." -Song
Runaway_Cactuar
2025-01-10 17:07:52 +0000 UTCNah I just find it entertaining that Tupoc is beginning to find Song worthwhile while Song just continues to despise him
Joe Rachman
2025-01-10 16:49:12 +0000 UTCSo good. I can't wait to read more of the interplay, especially with Tupoc being Tupac yet playing along for his own amusement.
AllenR
2025-01-10 16:23:50 +0000 UTCI actually think it would be a fun development to see. I used to hate the enemies to lovers trope but I was completely taken with how EE does it after seeing how masterfully done Akua and Catherine was. And they’d be a hot couple besides…
Ryu
2025-01-10 15:29:57 +0000 UTCIf you think bout it so long as its effective blackmail and Song lives there's no reason not to keep using the threat to her family to keep Song in line and amenable to helping whatever plot they come up with. and considering the insanity they can't blame Song for the plan falling apart. Ai just always intended to kill her and was a vindictive bitch besides
Mace
2025-01-10 15:28:06 +0000 UTC1up again for Wen being the biggest badass.
MAS
2025-01-10 14:16:14 +0000 UTCAll the dead from the coups coming to break down the layer. Next week will be a ride.
Jacob Burton-Edwards
2025-01-10 14:01:50 +0000 UTCThere's always going to be some trouble, this one being more or less resolved would be better for the story I feel. Too much of it would get stale.
sapassde .
2025-01-10 12:58:25 +0000 UTCWell, she still has one more hand. I expect that Expendable will be able to use his name though.
sapassde .
2025-01-10 12:56:55 +0000 UTCIts a classic Song move at this point. She thinks about shooting Ai's corpse for satisfaction but goes "Nah, I'm a daughter of the republics not some animal" Then hacks into it with her sword. She's gotta vent her bloody anger, but she's saving on shots.
A Total Sham
2025-01-10 10:54:30 +0000 UTCSo while they might go for Song anyway it would be pretty stupid to do so without concrete proof. And who knows, Evander might still die that night, so from the Yellow Earths Perspektive Song might yet be "succesful".
Patrick
2025-01-10 10:13:09 +0000 UTCI think the point is, that with Ai dead nobody can actually confirm that Song betrayed them. And with all the Chaos it will be hard to know what happend from an outside Perspektive...The Yellow Earth can still use Songs Brother to pressure her in the Future and that will get even more profitable for them as Song and the 13. rise in the Ranks.
Patrick
2025-01-10 10:08:41 +0000 UTCLuren once again reminding me of Tupoc with a Philosophy Degree, pure dickishness. Also "I shot her, she died." is a top tier Song quote, you can hear the exhaustion and spite in there. Its really fun to see Song and Tupoc verbally spar because they are so opposite personality wise. Its always a fun show
A Total Sham
2025-01-10 09:06:11 +0000 UTCi love every chapter so much. did not expect at all to see tristan and hat friend again this chapter! also fat Wen Ws all around as per usual. that guy cannot seem to take an L.
joie01
2025-01-10 08:48:27 +0000 UTCI guess nobody else knows though, right?
General Corteau
2025-01-10 08:32:49 +0000 UTCAlso Song: I will now use my hands, on this chisel, to carve Ai's fucking face off
Muirenn Andréa Mc Mahon
2025-01-10 08:27:21 +0000 UTCSong: Hand on the chisel.
Muirenn Andréa Mc Mahon
2025-01-10 08:26:28 +0000 UTCI like seeing them flex as well and I love to imagine how powerful their united cabal would be. But at the same time I hope something happens to keep them apart. I like seeing different pov and interactions between pairs, having them all reconcile would remove something from the story, unless something replaces it. Maybe Hooks can't stand Fortuna? Maybe Angharad stays closed off about her troubles? Maybe Njeri interves to protect her project?
Clément Lanteigne
2025-01-10 07:50:44 +0000 UTCWith her arm crippled and the rumours of Cressida joining the Fourth, I expect Alejandra will lose her place as second and thus her name. My guess for her new name is "Insignificant".
Clément Lanteigne
2025-01-10 07:29:35 +0000 UTC“She turned to lop Wen’s head off, screaming in pain,” - I thought Ai’s contract deprived her of the ability to feel pain or pleasure?
Darryl Greensill
2025-01-10 07:07:56 +0000 UTCAgreed with him challenging category based thinking but that seems like the very basics of his lessons, with him enjoying Song be a staggeringly bad pupil. His main lesson seems to be around nothingness that he keeps talking about.
Joe Rachman
2025-01-10 07:00:00 +0000 UTCI like that we're seeing everyone flex their skills individually, to see what they bring to the team, before we get to see what it looks like when the whole cabal works together. I'm guessing the whole would be more than the sum of its parts and we will finally see the cabal truly come together.
EndlessTurtle
2025-01-10 06:42:38 +0000 UTCOh shit the 13 is gonna stop the plot
Thien Dinh
2025-01-10 06:25:11 +0000 UTCMy guess is that it has something to do with the Hated One/the Sickle being a thanatophage, and the "sacrifices" of people killed in the battle are working as fuel toward breaking the prison layer. That's just speculation, though.
Pteromys Momonga
2025-01-10 06:24:30 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapter. That is what happens if you pick the number 13 I guess xD
DerWipe
2025-01-10 06:22:21 +0000 UTCHe definitely tries to challenge Song's very strict, category-based thinking. It's the type of thinking that Maryam noted Song had developed as a coping mechanism: if she can just divide everything into right and wrong, and then make sure she never, ever does anything wrong, then the world will have to acknowledge that she's right even though she's a Ren. It's a beautiful example of a trauma-influenced mindset, and how that mindset gives Song absurd levels of discipline up to a point - and beyond that point it all collapses, because doing everything right isn't a sustainable way to live. Each of the four protagonists resonates with me in some way; I've definitely been through the "as long as I follow all the rules, people will stop hurting me" phase, so I know how convincing it feels from the inside and how ridiculous it looks from the outside.
Pteromys Momonga
2025-01-10 06:18:14 +0000 UTCI asked that last week. And surely it was another cell that passed on the info? Why would the Asphodel cell know it? And surely the instinct is to then publish that info?
Joe Rachman
2025-01-10 06:14:18 +0000 UTCIs killing Ai really enough to protect Song's family? If even one member of the yellow earth cell makes it off the island...
Karl
2025-01-10 06:12:38 +0000 UTCWait where are these corpses from? Am I missing something or are we in hell 🤣
Thien Dinh
2025-01-10 06:06:05 +0000 UTCMaybe he takes the truth of things in a non-literal way. Song gets to see, but the contract's not complete until he educates her to truly see "the truth" in a more esoteric sense too
Joe Rachman
2025-01-10 06:02:41 +0000 UTCYEEEES. YEEES. YEEES. Also I'm going to ship Song and Tupoc out sheer contrariness.
Joe Rachman
2025-01-10 06:00:55 +0000 UTCAwesome chapter, can’t wait for next week!
Patrick van Ballegooyen
2025-01-10 05:57:51 +0000 UTCIn their defence, the 13th makes its terrible luck by its own honest efforts, they work very hard on getting themselves into situations that can only get worse.
Mark W
2025-01-10 05:39:53 +0000 UTC"What's your power, Ren? What do you have?" "The power of friendship, and this gun."
Trekkie Monster
2025-01-10 05:32:28 +0000 UTCWe were due for a Luren appearance. It's interesting that Song offered "anything" for the ability to see the truth, and Luren apparently decided this means she has to listen to his lessons at times of his choosing. Now we have a fun team of Thirteenth/Nineteenth/Fourth members, and Cressida and Tupoc are getting along already.
Pteromys Momonga
2025-01-10 05:30:35 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapter!
Jakob
2025-01-10 05:06:45 +0000 UTC
