Cession in Session

**Cession in Session** is the fifth episode in Season 3 of the Freeform series, *Motherland: Fort Salem*. It aired on July 19, 2022.

## Synopsis

The Council of the Great River convenes to hear the Unit’s testimony and decide whether to extradite them back to the U.S. Abigail attempts to convey the dangers of the Camarilla’s influence, and Tally ponders if the future is written in stone.

## Plot

At Fort Salem, a group of War College cadets makes their way Channing Grafton's Mothertongue class. Some of them tease one of their fellow cadets, Cortez, for her eagerness in attending the class, but she just quips that she is the "Mistress of Méníshè." Upon arriving, however, they find Professor Grafton exiting the classroom, surrounded by members of the new Civilian Oversight. Distressed, Cortez asks what is happening and Grafton tells her that Mothertongue has been canceled. She asks why and the Civilian Oversight leader tells her that he'll answer this, that they are to ensure that witches are no longer seen as a separate society in the United States. A secret language spoken only by witches seems counterproductive to those aims. Cortez tries to protest, but he just tells her sternly that classes are "postponed until further notice." She tries to protest again, but Grafton shakes his head, then insults the Civilian Oversight leader in Méníshè before telling him to enjoy his day.

In the Chippewa Cession, the members of the Unit discuss their next move, including whether or not to tell the Council of the Great River about President Kelly Wade's survival. They argue over whether they can even make the Council listen to reason. Nicte Batan, however, leaves the group, telling them that they forget that her situation is much different from theirs. They are then informed that the Council will meet them shortly, learning that the Council is made up of members of seven different language groups, each with their own traditions. As they wait, Tally reveals to the others that she saw something terrible in her visions: Raelle releasing a witchbomb that destroys the entire world. They tell her to just take things one day at a time and worry about what happens next once they get Raelle back.

The Council calls for the group. They introduce themselves and make their case, Abigail asking them to shelter the group on their land until it's safe for them to return home. The Council, however, tells her that she doesn't understand. They've already made up their mind and are sending them back to D.C. Confused, they asked why they even wanted to meet with them if they're just going to send them back. They reply that they need answers. Abigail tells them they can ask anything they want and they say that their first question is why they destroyed private property on their land. Abigail replies that they didn't mean to destroy anything, but they had to stop the Camarilla. The Council tells them they're too old for fairy tales, but Abigail tells them that they're wrong and they don't want them to realize it before it's too late.

Adil then speaks up, saying that what Abigail is saying is true, that they hunted his people, the Tarim, nearly to extinction. The Council tells him that their heart breaks for him and his people, but they have a treaty to uphold and their government seems to think that they assassinated President Wade. They reply that this is a lie and they agree that they know this, for the Cession Marshal was holding them when it happened. They say that they're more interested in why they think that and they tell them that Blanton Silver is Camarilla. They warn the Council that the Camarilla do not care about borders or treaties and are a threat to the entire world.

In response, the Council says that if what they're telling them is true, then they're the ones responsible for bringing them to their front door. Tally tells them that the great war is already here and they know how to fight them. They begin arguing amongst themselves, eventually deciding that they are no longer in agreement about sending the Unit back to D.C. They ask them to wait outside while they deliberate and will have their decision shortly. Scylla, however, says that it seems like they're trying to decide whether to have them extradited or sheltered there and she has another option for them to consider. She explains that her parents were dodgers and when they needed a place to hide, the Cession welcomed them. She hates to endanger them, so she suggests that if they release them, they'll go to California, where she grew up. The Council agrees that they will consider this request.

Meanwhile, Sarah Alder brings Khalida to Basque. She explains that it is where she grew up and she wants to keep her safe there while she finds the remaining shepherds. She tells her of how her parents were murdered by the Camarilla and she became her people's leader. The two of them agree that they have both come a long way and are survivors. They agree that it was only a matter of time before they earned each other's trust.

Back in the Cession, the Council tells the Unit that they will be allowed to leave the Cession and be given whatever resources they need to do so. The condition is that none of them, including Raelle Collar, can ever return again. They are also fitted with collars to temporarily prevent them from using Work. At the Camarilla headquarters, Anacostia Quartermain manages to heal Sterling Woodlot and the two of them effect an escape. They run into a member of the Camarilla and manage to capture him, demanding that he show them the way out. In the Cession, the Unit prepares to leave, but must contend with their guide, who is not in their corner. They discuss the situation, Abigail saying that they have failed, that they only saved their own skins, but couldn't get the Council to trust them or even believe them about the Camarilla. She says that she has failed to protect her sister Charvel, Penelope, or even Raelle, but Scylla tells her that Raelle is not lost.

Just then, the girls hear a buzzing and discover a regarding of Anacostia. When they go to investigate, however, it is not Anacostia that they find, but rather Alban Hearst, who tells them "Anacostia's not gonna make it." He quips that he loves what Abigail's done with her hair and they reply that they should have killed him when they had the chance. They move to attack, but he surprises them by using work, emitted a shriek that sends them flying back. His throat heavily bandaged, he asks them what they think and if he can join their club. He continues that he wasn't sure that it would work with their kind's impure blood, but it seems to have taken nicely. They tell him that he's sick, but he replies that it all depends on perspective. He tells Scylla that she might want to say her goodbyes to Raelle. Just then, one of the Council members, Thelma Bearkiller, stumbles into the conflict as Hearst calls them sisters, saying there's something outside he thinks they should see.

He leads them outside, where he shows them that he and his people have taken Raelle's father, Edwin, captive. He tells them that they gave it the old War College try and that he'll let Edwin go if they surrender. "Where's Raelle?" asks Edwin and Hearst laughs at his not knowing, telling him that Raelle got a hold of a bad mushroom and is dead. Abigail offers to surrender herself, but he tells her he needs them all to surrender. Just then, however, Sarah Alder appears and attacks the Camarilla, seemingly creating multiple versions of herself.

At the Camarilla headquarters, Anacostia and Sterling approach a door. The man they've captured claims that he doesn't have the code for it. Anacostia threatens to cut off his hand. He then agrees, asking if they'll let him go. Anacostia tells him he needs to be more worried about what happens if he doesn't and he opens the door. He then tries to escape and they are forced to knock him out. Back in the Cession, Scylla promises Edwin that Raelle is okay and still alive. They ask Thelma if the Council still wants to kick them out. She says that she should probably say yes, but they have a war to fight. Alder tells them that her condition is getting worse because of the poison the Camarilla are using against the Mycelium.

Anacostia and Sterling emerge through a doorway, finding themselves staring into a stadium at night. There, drill sergeants are leading a large group through marching drills. A giant secret army, all in rows, it amasses in the thousands, if not tens of thousands. The Camarilla are preparing to invade.

## Cast

### Main

* Taylor Hickson as Raelle Collar (credit only)
* Amalia Holm as Scylla Ramshorn
* Demetria McKinney as Anacostia Quartermain
* Jessica Sutton as Tally Craven
* Ashley Nicole Williams as Abigail Bellweather

with

* Lyne Renee as General Sarah Alder

### Recurring

* Tony Giroux as Adil
* Kandyse McClure as Nicte Batan
* Kylee Brown as Khalida
* Bob Frazer as Alban Hearst

### Guest

* Luc Roderique as Sterling Woodlot
* Hrothgar Mathews as Edwin Collar
* Michelle Thrush as Pauline Marten
* Olivia Lucas as Thelma Bearkiller
* Aaron Douglas as Colonel Jarrett
* Sarah Dawn Pledge as Noodin

**Co-starring**:

* Lina Lecompte as Guadalupe "Lupe" Cortez
* Quelemia Sparrow as Mathilda "Milly" Longhorse
* Nikolai Witschl as Channing Grafton
* Melanie Boss Wilson as Vira
* Philip Prajoux as First Assistant
* Tate Chernen as Basque Shepherd
* Taylor Kinequon as Finch Charlo
* Nyla Carpenter as Karissa Tihominko
* Kelly William as Toby He-Dow
* Kiri Green as Lilakai Zah
* Lex Mayson as Cadet
* James Michalopopoulos as Camarilla Surgeon #1
* Shara Kim as Camarilla Surgeon #2
* Matthew Mylrea as Camarilla Minion #1

## Gallery

### Videos

Motherland- Fort Salem - Season 3, Episode 5 Trailer - A Tragic EndMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 5 - Sneak Peek- Mothertongue is Cancelled - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 5 - Sneak Peek- The Council Arrives - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 5 - Sneak Peek- A Little Tied Up - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 5 - Sneak Peek- Tally's Horrifying Vision - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 5 - Escaping the Camarilla - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 5 - The New Alban Hearst - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 5 - The Poison Affects Alder - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 5 - The Camarilla Army - Freeform