In which our stalwart heroes go on a goose chase for protection, Essek realizes a fundamental truth, and a new and implacable evil rises from the shadows.
This episode is, again, written in a really intelligent way (or maybe I’m just jaded from seeing so much AI slop in the world.) The opening shows the Empire’s army digging a trench; even in fantasy worlds, trench-digging is an important and favored activity for this man's army. Far on the horizon rises vultures, and with the vultures come...
The Orphanmaker.
I guess the Widowmaker was taken, or maybe it’s just (as this episode shows) she kills men and women indiscriminately. A giant pile of muscle and sinew, driven by a weird flashing tattoo on the back of her neck, Orphy quickly slices her way through the Empire battalion, stopping only to squeeze the brains out of one begging soldier.
We don’t find out much more, except she’s headed to Zadash. Just like our heroes. (Uh, oh.) I admit that while her strength and fighting prowess are formidable, the Orphanmaker is just so OTT that I can’t but roll my eyes a little. Who’s scarier, Orphy or Ikithon? Honestly, to me, Ikithon – I still remember his pain games from the earliest episode.
The Mighty Nein is hunting for a contact of Molly and Gustav’s named the Gentleman, hoping to find a replacement protection amulet for Caleb. Beau is still extremely suspicious, but then she’s always extremely suspicious. Nott catches her sneaking off to meet up with her friend Dairon, which doesn’t help the mistrust foaming between Beau and Caleb.
The Gentlemen have a price for their help: a quest for a magical compass in a hidden and highly trapped hoard. This was actually a great storytelling device for the team to use to get to know each other, especially Beau and Caleb – and for Fjord to get to know himself. The spirit, or hologram, of Nydas the pirate treasure hunter (was there an old world more into technology here? I love how the exposition is short in this series and leaves us wondering.)
There's a lot of great moments in this side quest. Nott drinking her courage before using her thief skills to dismantle traps. Jester doodling penis graffiti above skeletons. Beau and Caleb's trust exercise reminds me of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Fjord's passing out (second death?), discovering he can breathe, and being led by the Voice to some sort of (eye?) magical artifact is another. Molly being the peacemaker for the team. I complained about the build up and pacing in the beginning of this series, but now it's paying off more than I could have expected.
I feel somewhat bad for the empire, which loses a whole second battalion when they go after the Nein, but the scene involved is incredible, and I had to rewind and watch it twice. Seeing the Nein get out of trouble by yelling at each other is a sight to behold, and seeing Fjord take his place as a hero makes me happy (despite the weird voice in his head, which make me think about the Orphanmaker – is something similar happening there?) I don’t know if the compass is supposed to be a metaphor, but the Nein find their way.
Essek has extreme highs and lows in this episode, too. On the one hand, he’s smart enough to figure out a cure for his mother. On the other hand, he’s gullible enough to believe Ikithon. When Ikithon gets arrested by the Cobalt Soul, Essek barely notices. And when Ikithon finagles his way out, and uses the Beacon to destroy an entire army, Essek can do nothing except to save his friend Vessek – who quickly catches on to Essek’s duplicity. That final scene with Ikithon using the Beacon on the Kryn, and all the bodies of the Dynasty falling from the sky is horrifying. Watching Ikithon bleed from his eyes, burn off his skin and just keep going shows just what Ikithon is capable of – and emphasizes the truth Essek has started to realize, that he's dealing with insane people, who may not have sane goals, and that Ikithon's promises to help Essek's mother are no more than dust in his mouth.
Those two armies being completely obliterated – one human, one Kryn – bookend the episode, I think intentionally. Neither side is going to do well in this war. There’s more powerful forces than Human and Kryn in the world of the Nein, and they don’t shy from making themselves known. Like the Orphanmaker does, when she finally arrives in town. Cliffhanger!
Mighty Funny, Mighty Smart
When the Empire soldiers describe the Orphanmaker as “just a woman” I’m reminded of the last episode of season five in Buffy, and I want to say, “Ever heard of the expression, biting off more than you can chew?”
The Volstrucker have Beau’s name at least, and are using psychic or magical powers to find him. What is their connection to the Orphanmaker? I've come to associate the Volstrucker with green, and the Orphanmaker with purple.
The password moment was hilarious. Bounteous offerings! But those bar folk truly look dangerous.
I have a feeling the blood tracking thing was a mistake. We’ll see.
The bear who calls Molly, Lucien, and the insane backstory that clearly lies behind that entire exchange and all the rituals, have yet to be explained. I’m eagerly awaiting the payoff.
Ikithon's torture seems to be part of Ikithon's plans but is no more easy to watch than Ikithon himself torturing others. Neither the human or the Kryn are easy good guys to root for in this series.
I don’t think Jester mentions the Traveler once this episode – thank goodness. Without the Traveler, though, we’re seeing her become more of an artist; an appropriate profession for an illusion caster.
Fjord solving the dragon constellation puzzle was another great moment for him.
Overall
I felt this episode was well planned and written, not quite as compelling as the previous episode but very good.
9.6 mysterious ghost Nydas.
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