Chapter 22: One Final Fall From Grace

Image Description: A small figure stands in a huge and dark cavern, silhouetted in a pool of bright light. The caption reads, “‘I don’t think Carpenter can ever have felt like this. I wish she’d had the chance.’ - Faulkner.”

## Credits

### Featured Voices

* B. Narr as Faulkner
* Cait Gallagher as Thurrocks
* William A. Wellman as Wallace
* Mintaka Angell as Jasp
* Harlan Guthrie as Reverend Toes
* Cole Weavers as Hyades Plimpton

## Meta Data

### Content Warnings

This episode contains multiple scenes of strong violence and some body horror.

## Episode Guide

Faulkner, with a clutch of zealous young acolytes in tow, heads into the high hills in search of allies.

## Description

### Faulkner And His Initiates

The episode begins with Faulkner telling the audience that Katabasian Mason has to die. He believes Mason has sent him out on this trip in order to prevent providing him with the rank of Katabasian. He recognises that this is exactly what Mason did to Carpenter - saddle her with the young and untested to prevent her from becoming a problem. Faulkner looks for allies amongst the rain-gods and water-tank-gods. Sister Thurrocks interrupts Faulkner by calling for him. Faulkner rushes over to her and Thurrocks tells him that the woman she found is dead. Faulkner realizes that she’s not. She’s been turned into a living water butt. Thurrocks comments that it looks like a parody of their sacrifices, and Faulkner says that’s unlikely. The people they are meeting worship The Endless Drear and the Ever-Living Sun. Thurrocks feels compassion for the woman, which Faulkner seems to reflect but tells her not to move her anyway. Faulkner plans to take a diplomatic approach to drawing the worshipers of the Endless Drear to the Trawler-man’s cause. They walk back to the van together.

Wallace sits by the stove making tea when Faulkner and Thurrocks return. Brother Tapper and Sibling Jasp jump out of the van. Faulkner tells them the plan to travel to the Endless Drear’s followers on foot. They’re told to keep their rifles on them, but that it’s a peaceful mission and to not use force. They set off.

### Reverend Toes

Faulkner confides that he likes the members of the faith who follow him. He mentions that Thurrocks is perhaps a bit too eager, reminding Faulkner of himself. Faulkner wonders if Carpenter ever felt this way. Thurrocks calls Faulkner again, to inform him that there is someone there. This is the Reverend Toes. He says that he has been visiting friends, before asking if they’re with the police. He then tells them that the valley has been abandoned, that the Drear went to the Cistern instead, a cave network. Faulkner speaks to Thurrocks alone. Faulkner asks Reverend Toes to repeat the greeting of the Drear, which he does. The leader is revealed to be Hyades Plimpton. Tapper is stationed to wait with Reverend Toes by the van whilst the rest walk into the hills. Faulkner threatens him.

### The Cistern

They continue, the excitement of the trip dwindling. Jasp gives themselves a nosebleed. They reach the place, like Reverend Toes said they would, and Faulkner comments that their prayer marks look a little like the Parish’s. Wallace comments that it seems devoid of life. Faulkner walks over to the cave and begins the greeting Reverend Toes gave him. The voice of Hyades Plimpton responds, it is echoey and distant. Faulkner introduces himself, and Hyades invites him in. They begin the descent. At the bottom they seem very aware of the fact that there is a distinct lack of any sign of the Drear. The voice of Hyades Plimpton says they’re further in. Wallace comments about the darkness. It becomes increasingly clear that this voice is not Hyades Plimpton. Faulkner places Jasp on guard by the rope. He tells them that on their return they call out the first line of the Alluvial Lament. Jasp understands these directions and waits as Faulkner, Wallace and Thurrocks continue.

As they continue, Thurrocks tells Faulkner that this doesn’t feel right. Faulkner tells her that if they don’t succeed Katabasian Mason will send them back out or will find someone else instead. A flare is lit on Faulkner’s orders. Thurrocks mentions that they noticed Brother Tapper and Sibling Jasp to be the youngest in the group, and that Faulkner seems to be trying to protect them. Faulkner hadn’t realised he’d even realised he’d been doing that. Faulkner responds that he wasn’t playing favourites. They continue through the darkness, occasionally stumbling across bags and crates but no further sign of the Drear. They stop at a junction. A mural is carved into the wall of the rock. Faulkner traces a prayer-mark into the wall says the Dowser’s Beseechment. The water stream leads left. Faulkner tells Wallace to walk down it with a rope tied around his waist. Every few steps he’s told to yell back ‘Clear’, and to head straight back if there’s anything untrustworthy. Wallace shouts a few times, before he is cut off by the sounds of rock cracking and falling. Faulkner and Thurrocks call for him. The Angel In The Echoes responds instead. The rope is taut and Faulkner and Thurrocks pull him back in. Wallace is dead, his face has been sliced away. His voice continues to echo around them. Thurrocks is clearly horrified. Faulkner realizes that there is an angel in there with them, he tells Thurrocks they have to stay quiet and head back the way they came. The angel taunts them as they make their way back. We hear snippets of what must have happened to the Drear. Thurrocks trips and her rifle discharges. The sound echoes through the cave. Faulkner and Thurrocks dive into the water, submerging themselves. Sister Thurrocks is panicking, and Faulkner begs her to listen to him. After a while more of walking they hear rainfall. Jasp hears them approach and calls out a warning to them. Faulkner pleads with them to keep their voice down. The angel responds to Jasp in their own voice. Jasp screams as the angel kills them. Faulkner tells Thurrocks not to react. They climb quietly. We hear the echoes of Hyades Plimpton’s death.

Following their escape, Faulkner and Thurrocks are attacked and knocked unconscious by Reverend Toes. Reverend Toes announces that they didn’t do too badly, and that they have enough to make a start on… something. The episode ends.

## Trivia

* Faulkner tells Thurrocks not to call him Katabasian in front of the other initiates in case they think he has goals above his station.
* Sister Thurrocks and Brother Tapper are a couple.

## References

1. ↑ Episode Release Announcement on Tumblr
2. ↑ Official episode synopsis at https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/5fec690f8211cf453a1b89e2