The Demonic Dance (Part 1)

Arc poster by Milo Ellersick

**The Demonic Dance (Part 1)** is the third Second Citadel episode of The Penumbra Podcast season 4, and the eighth overall. It was released January 11, 2022.

## Overview

A strange and musical rain nears; a titan slumbers beneath the deep; three lovers struggle in secret; and yet, with all those threats on the horizon, it is the old falconer on his pilgrimage through the swamp who could destroy Damien, Rilla, and Lord Arum's peace for good.

### Trigger Warnings

* Sexism
* Xenophobia
* Homophobia
* Violence towards people and animals
* Death
* Pursuit and threats of violence
* Abuse of power
* Implied domestic abuse
* Deception

## Episode Summary

Lord Arum, Amaryllis of Exile, and Damien plan to use machinery and magic to use a magic rain, the Petrichorus, to make an Organic Altar, a life-giving creation stronger than the Moonlit Hermit. Two days before a rare occurrence is to come, the trio rehearse, with the Keep's help creating an ordinary rain. Damien is distressed to find that a badly injured bird has flown into the Keep during the exercise. Arum is grumpy and nervous, concerned they will make some mistake and ruin their chance. He doesn't relate to Damien's need to stop working to give the bird medical attention, but reminds them he loves them both as Rilla follows Damien, concerned he's beating himself up for swearing off killing monsters.

The pigeon has, as suspected, brought him a letter from the Citadel, although he left the Queen's service five years ago. Rilla protests that he's a retired poet, and that it's wrong for Mira to "pester" him. Damien is concerned his years of training experience with weapons gives him more in common with the monster that slashed the bird's side than with Rilla the healer. She reminds him of advice from Arum about dealing with anxiety, and they briefly talk about how happy they are in their "triangular love." Damien thinks marrying Rilla after their long engagement would make him feel more fulfilled and secure, but she is reluctant, sure it would break Arum's heart even though tradition is important to Damien. He's restless, missing the sense of occupation being a knight brought him, even though he loves his life with his partners, and feels more connected to his poetry and religion than before.

Damien takes a walk by himself, talking to himself about the letter. He lied to Rilla: he knows this letter is different from Mira's previous ones. Sir Tristan the Cold, a follower of Saint Damien's and renowned monster-slayer, has been sent to find Damien and ask him in person to rejoin the knights. Damien tries to pray about the matter, but is distracted by the sound of giant molluscs he supposes have wandered from the sea ten miles to the northeast. The molluscs appear hungry, and begin chasing him. Damien remembers his vow not to slay a monster, but doesn't want to lead them home, so he asks the Keep to send him a portal to Arum's side. It does, but the molluscs eat it. Damien prays for protection, and a falcon attacks the molluscs. Damien wedges a tree branch into another's mouth, and Sir Tristan appears.

Despite interrupting Damien repeatedly, Damien eventually manages to explain that he *is* Damien the Pious, whom he seeks. Tristan doesn't believe him, since Damien didn't defend himself. Tristan calls for the falcon, whose name is Chivalry, and she breaks out of the mollusc that swallowed her to return to his side. Damien shudders at the "cruel" way to kill a beast, and Tristan rebukes him that everyone has a purpose in life, and that some have the purpose of killing to protect others. He takes Mira's letter from Damien, and tears it up, saying he can explain better.

The Petrichorus, which Tristan calls The Storm that Sings, is believed to be blessed by Saint Damien.The coming downpour is prompting monsters to come out of hiding; the molluscs, he thinks, are fleeing something even more terrifying, which he wants Damien's help to kill: the tentacled titan known as the Zeppelopod.

## Cast and Crew

### Cast

* Matthew Zahnzinger as Damien
* Melissa Ennulat as Rilla
* Noah Simes as Lord Arum
* Joshua Ilon as Sir Tristan the Cold