The Mad Mirages (Part 2)

Arc poster by Milo Mars

**The Mad Mirages (Part 2)** is the sixth Tales of the Second Citadel episode of The Penumbra Podcast season 4, and the thirteenth overall. It was released April 19, 2022.

## Overview

In pursuit of their missing poet, Rilla and Lord Arum take a lesser-known route leading directly through the undersea palace of a very regal -- and very hungry -- monster.

### Trigger Warnings:

* Sudden loud noises
* Enclosed, claustrophobic spaces
* Violence and threats of violence
* Threats of warfare and genocide
* Religious persecution
* Starvation and torture
* Sexism and xenophobia
* Discussion of illness and death
* Deception by authority figures

## Episode Summary

Sir Talfryn, having filled in Amaryllis of Exile and Lord Arum about Damien's coercion at the hands of Sir Tristan, leads them on their trail to attempt to rescue Damien. Damien's partners haven't exactly forgiven him, because they feel he could and should have shared the problem with them, but they're not unsympathetic, either. Talfryn jokes that it's a good thing neither of them is keeping any secrets, which makes them both make nervous noises. Their confrontation is interrupted by the realization they're near the Mirrored Plains. Arum explains he can take Rilla to the other side, directly into the Wayward East, through an ancient portal. Talfryn will stay to investigate Tristan's potential allies.

Arum and Rilla enter Mermaid Tunnels, filled with water that is also air, and air that is also water. They approach a pair of mermaids, hoping to negotiate with their matriarch for access to the portal. The mermaids, Finlet and Bekko, instead declare that their trespassing is to be punished by death in the court of their mother and matriarch, Amma.

While held in the court's antechamber, Arum guiltily admits that his knowledge of the mermaid community is very outdated, though he avoids admitting the exact length. Rilla reassures him that he cannot hold himself responsible for the danger Damien is in, and they both easily apologize for having been short-tempered with each other while worried and frustrated. The conversation turns to complimenting each other's research, and then they are called before Amma.

She is a koi-like mermaid, meaning that she, like a koi, has never stopped growing. Being now very old, she is around 90 feet long. Amma declares that she could have forgiven Arum for entering her domain, but not for bringing a human with him. Amma therefore intends to eat them. Rilla presses to ask a question: does Amma know how bad the cough that has punctuated her speech *really* is? Amma dismisses Finlet and Bekko to hear what Rilla the healer has to say. Amma proceeds to explain that she knows she is ill, but has not told any of her daughter-subjects. She is furious that Rilla has raised the question in their minds. Rilla insists she knows that the illness is gill-rot, and can save her. The water in the royal chamber is still, and therefore any bacteria in the water lingers and enters her gills. Rilla agrees that adding currents will help in the future, but her expertise will be needed if Amma wishes to live, or wishes to know that none of her daughters have yet contracted gill-rot themselves.

Bekko and Finlet are told to take Rilla to a prison shell *[sic]*. Amma does not believe that a human can have skills other than mimicry; she is sure that Rilla got the idea from watching Arum, and insists he will solve their problem. Arum, not a healer, protests. As he examines her, she at last realizes he doesn't know what he's doing, but still refuses to let a human lay a hand on her. She lets slip that a human killed a daughter of hers. Arum gently encourages her to discuss it with him.

As they talk, Arum explains that he is "immortal-ish," only able to die through violence, and a few centuries old. He has been lonely, and is afraid of how lonely he will be again when he outlives his partners. It has been six years and he still hasn't admitted it to them. Amma agrees, saying that this specific daughter's death a few decades ago has been the worst grief, because it is the only one she could have prevented. Having heard Arum talk about Rilla in loving detail, she agrees to release Rilla and give her whatever she needs, so she can do her work.

Rilla reveals that Amma's children, already aware their mother must be sick, asked her to help, and gathered her supplies already. Rilla can teach them how to make the disinfectant as well, and banish gill-rot from their lives long term. When their work is done, Amma finds she can breathe comfortably again. Amma agrees that Rilla is now a friend to mermaids, and is granted transit through the tunnels--but no guests.

Rilla invites Finlet and Bekko to visit her home so they can learn more medicine, which sends Amma into a rage. Arum, Finlet, and Bekko all insist that she has inadvertently reminded her of her daughter Posidonia's unnamed killer, and the girls urge them to hurry away. They do, as Amma breaks walls down to pursue them. Arum and Rilla emerge through a puddle into a desert, relieved to find that Amma does not pursue them through it. Rilla jokes that she almost wishes they had just cut through the Mirrored Plains, sending herself and Arum into uproarious laughter.

Meanwhile, Olala, Caroline, Angelo, Ale, and Quanyii prepare to walk through the Mirrored Plains themselves.

## Cast

* Noah Simes as Lord Arum
* Melissa Ennulat as Rilla
* Kiki Samko as Amma
* Josephine Moshiri Elwood as Finlet and Bekko;
* Jason Mellin as Sir Talfryn
* Marge Dunn as Olala *[uncredited]*
* Leslie Drescher as Caroline *[uncredited]*
* M. Sutherland as Angelo *[uncredited]*
* Anjimile as Ale *[uncredited]*
* Melissa DeJesus as Quanyii *[uncredited]*