Episode 43 - Relics

## Relics

A multitude of the Instrumentalist's object: a white locket with hands in prayer on it, a red bell, a white skeleton key, a white pipe, and a white conductor's baton.

### Author

William A. Wellman

The Bell has an unusual day, Percy talks with an unexpected guest, and Polly has breakfast. The theme of tonight's episode is Relics.

***Content Warnings:** Abuse, Animal Death, Kidnapping and Abduction, Death + Injury, Transphobia & Homophobia, Birds, Misgendering, Emotional Manipulation, Being Buried Alive, and Religious Violence*

## Intro - The Library Burns

Nikignik speaks to the dreamers, narrates the actions of a member of The Church of the Hallowed Name as if they were them. He describes them looking up at the sky as they stand in the middle of a city ablaze, the smoke so thick that they cannot see the stars. They stand next to a library, their final destination for the night, and they look through its doors one last time before they set it too alight, having already stolen all scripts of any true importance, those without heresies, from it's shelves. They destroy the library safe in the knowledge that they are destroying evil, and they disappear into the night with the whisper ‘Until the Hallowed Name is spoken on all tongues’.

Nikignik sits in a mostly empty icebox, save a jar of oatmeal and some "grimly specimens". He states that the house beyond was equally cold and grimly, instruments and cabinets, dead thing and thing beyond death.

## Story One - To Be A Bell

The Mendies' Bell thinks to themself that being a bell was a dull thing, and it wasn't an experience that became anymore interesting with time. Their sense of time had started with Irene Mend, when she'd made them and tied the threads of The Mendies, so that when they [the bell] rang they [The Mendies] would all hear and answer. The bell quite enjoyed this authority, being able to order them around. They found that Solomon Reed's hands were less nice, as were his orders, but it was a rare occasion that the Bell experience thing out of order, sitting in an endless supply of pockets waiting to be used.

They are aware that they were experiencing one of those moments of things being out of order, as a large moth was crewing though the pocket they were sitting in. The bell curses the Mendies, wishing they could ring for them themself if they could. Solomon quickly discovers this as yells for Huntington Waites, who responds quickly, Solomon yells at Huntington, blaming them for the moth's invasion, and orders them to depose of it. Huntington points out that the moth had eaten several holes in his coat, and Solomon tells them to have it repaired, taking the bell from the coat pocket and putting it with his keys. Huntington grabs the moth and the coat. Solomon calls for Cookery Potts, and asks them where his breakfast was. Cookery tells him that they'd made cold oatmeal, which had been a favourite of Irene Mend's. Solomon scolds them for mentioning Irene, and rhetorically asks if they had all conspired to inconvenience him that day, or if they were all just stupid. He tells them [Cookery] to make him a "real breakfast" of eggs, meat, and toast. Cookery tells him that they were out of those things, and Solomon tells them to get some, But Cookery reminds him that they were not the hunter. Solomon asks why the window was open, and Floris Scrubbs tells him that they'd just mopped the floor and they [the floors] needed the fresh air to dry. Solomon tells then that it could have waited until he'd left for work, but he is reminded that eh did not tell them of when he planned on coming and going from the house, so they could not plan around it. Solomon rings the bell to make the Mendies be quiet, and reminds them that they were all only alive to keep Solomon's property in order. Stitchery PIns tells them that they would mend his coat while he was out and provide him with a new one, which he accept, complaining about how the coat was to warm, and leaves.

Townsend Rhodes drives Solomon to The Church of the Hallowed Name, and Solomon passes his coat, with the bell still in it, off to them. They hold onto this coat for the day while Solomon worked on his Pipe Organ, and they held onto it for the drive back to Solomon's house, with Solomon not asking for it back. When they do get back to the house, Stitchery meets them on the front porch, and tells Solomon that they'd made then a new coat, as his old one was worn out. Solomon accepts the coat, and orders them to move all of his things from his old coat to his new one while he rested. They do, but they also replace the Mendie's Bell with another, one that they [The Mendies] were not bound to. The bell is dropped to the ground besides the porch. Leyland picks them up after Solomon goes back inside, and carries it out into the garden of Sunflowers, where they burry it.

### Interlude - Artifacts in the Hallowoods

Nikignik tells the dreamers of the surprising amount of artifacts stored in the Hallowoods, however the Hallowoods itself was not a good place to keep artifacts. He talks about the collection that once belonged to the late Irene Mend, which was gradually being submerged by the bog that surrounded her mansion. Many had already taken from her abandoned collection. The Dry Market often sold items that might raise eyebrows, but more so the Wet Market when it was open. And of course Downing Hill public Library had its collections, far more then just Books - binding stones and sarcophaguses, cursed paintings and broomsticks, fallen stars and eyes of old gods. However not even they have what one might be able to find within the House of Solomon Reed, his own ancient tomes and reliquaries, and historical artifacts pilfered from their rightful places and peoples. Books that were buried for centuries, whose contents could upset the balance of life itself.

## Story Two - A Change In The Winds

Percy Reed had figured out that the best ways to hide from his farther in order to get out of the basement (see Episode 26 - Needles) was to phase into the walls and bookshelves and floors; which was where he was now. He hears the door bell ring and watches Solomon as he enters the room to answer it, opening the door to Olivier Song. He asks her what she wanted, and she tells him that he'd told her to come back to his house that day. He tells her that she'd come at a bad time, as he was busy, but she tells him that she was just there to talk about what they were doing next. He tells her to wait inside, and that they would speak shortly. She thanks him, and her leaves her to her own devices. Percy decides to take the risk of talking to her, thinking that it could do no harm, and attempts to get her attention, which fails the first time around, but succeeds the second, as she hears him but still can't see him, the sourceless voice only serving to spook her. He introduces himself, and lights up as brightly as possible for her to see him, thought he is unaware of the effectiveness of this. He asks if he could talk to her, and she tells him that she'd call his dad if he tried anything, which he retorts by telling her that things couldn't really get much worse for him. Olivier asks him what his pronouns were, and he tells her he/him, but she'd never hear his Dad use them, and he asks her what hers were, which she tells him she was having a she/her day.

Percy asked her if she'd realised she was working for a bigot, and she says that she had. He asks her if she was okay with that, and she tells him that it wasn't about her being "okay" with it, as she didn't have any other option, briefly explaining to him her situation with Downing Hill. He tells her that Solomon was planning on killing everyone at the Scoutpost for resources for the Pipe Organ he was making, which surprises Olivier, saying that she'd knew he hated the Scoutpost, but not that he'd was planning to commit genocide against them. He asks her if she was going to help him kill all those people, which she reiterates that she didn't have a choice. Percy tells her that he was the one who didn't have a choice, that thanks to her he was tied to a harp in the basement, but she tells him that he was the one who had ruined her life in the first place, that all she needed to do was collect Riot Maidstone, but thanks to him and Diggory Graves, she'd gotten kicked out. That she just had to do whatever Solomon told her to and she'd get to go home. Percy reminds her that "whatever" was wiping out a community of the most loving accepting people out there, telling her that they'd taken him and Diggory in (See Episode 14 - Signs) despite them being literally dead, that he was sure they'd have a place for her too. Solomon comes back downstairs and tells Olivier that it was time for them to talk.

### Marketing - BotCo History Line

Lady Ethel Mallory interrupts the episode with her marketing segment. She talks bout how so much of history had been lost to the outside world. But Dreaming Box users shouldn't worry, as the Botco History line they could visit anywhere they wanted from the comfort of their dreaming pod. She says that every location had been reconstructed from the memories of people who had visited them when tourism was still possible, to make sure it the experiment could be exactly as it was before the Black Rains. And, if a dreamer wanted to see these monument in their 'glory days', they could use the "Ancient times" edition, to see them when they were at their best.

### Story Two, Continued

Percy continues to watch ne, once again hiding, as Solomon and Olivier sit at the dinner table to have their conversation. Olivier once again thanks Solomon for taking the time to talk to her. He tells her that a few weeks back he had been approached by some of the librarians from Downing Hill about exchanging some of the books in his possession for the services of their star pupil in his endeavours. He tells her that his requests had been simple: Get the key, get his son, and get Riot so he could teach her respect. But it'd been him that's taken back the key and Percy. He asks her what she'd done for him, and calls her a dog, saying that the library had ruined her usefulness. She starts to list of everything that she'd done for him, and reminds him that she'd been the one to warn him of the invaders (see Episode 36 - Swords). Solomon tells her that he hadn't even been home, and asks her if she'd been able to find Riot. She tells him that she hadn't. He tells her that she'd been wasting his time, that if Riot was still alive she'd probably made it back to the Scoutpost by now, which was what he was about to deal with permanently. Olivier asks him why the Scoutpost, to Percy's surprise, and Solomon tells her that she was a bad listener as well, that the Scoutpost was a haven for degenerates, defiant of the lord, that it was an insult to God and to the Church of the Hallowed name that they shared the woods with them. But he had the power to redeem them, to taken their souls and break them down, humble them and give them new work in the army of God. Olivier tells him that she doubted they would see it that way, but Solomon tells her that didn't matter.

They hear a nock on the front door then, and Solomon curses that the day was determined to vex him, and Leyland announces that they had another visitor, and Percy sneaks a look out side to see Clara Martin descending from the sky on her broomstick with Dogsmell hovering beside her. Solomon asks if she was Olivier's replacement, and Clara confirms, introducing herself. Olivier pushes her way past Solomon, and tells Clara that there was no way she'd been able to learn anything since they'd last seen each other (see Episode 11 - Hearts), but Clara retorts that she was a fast reader, and that she hadn't known Olivier was the failed student. Olivier gets defensive, saying that she hadn't failed, and that The Director was waiting for her. Clara says that she wasn't sure she was, but Friday Rescher missed her. This Doesn't do anything t calm Olivier, who tells Clara that she should have let her drown. Solomon speaks up, saying that now they were all assembled, he was willing to give Olivier a second chance to redeem herself. He tells them that this was not the time for them to be petty, that soon the Scoutpost and all who lived in it would be raised to the ground, and there would e peace in the Hallowoods.

### Interlude - Bad At Organization

Nikignik talks about the Indescribables, about how they were ancient and alien to humans, that they were incalculably large and full of malice, but also very bad at organisation. He says that Syrensyr did a good enough job of keeping his books in order, but the rest of them where routinely being lost to their passion projects. That if the dreamers thought that alot of the Indies artifacts wound up on Earth, hey should see the state of the moons of Saturn. Nikignik says that he didn't know what they were there for, but he believed it was within their nature to be agents of change. He tells the dreamers to enjoy their void Knives and Libraries out of space, as it was a small taste of lives that exist above them.

## Story Three - Eggs And Elevators

Polly is eating breakfast at The Resting Place Hotel with Yaretzi and Mort, contemplating what he'd done in Episode 39 - Promises, thinking of it as felling like he was trapped in an elevator with no counter weight, a terrifying freefall. Dimes asks them (Carnival Gang) if everything was okay, and Polly tells them that everything was lovely, with Yaretzi requesting more Bacon. She turns to Polly and remarks that he seemed different, that he was showing his fear instead of hiding it, which was a good thing. Polly tells her that he didn't know what she was talking about, and thinks to himself how there was no need to talk to Yaretzi about the conversation he'd had with Tiff just yet, that maybe it would be better to let them think he'd returned (see Episode 41 - Waters) on official Industry business, at least until he was able to make up his mind on how he felt about his new situation. He knew Tiff could have his horns (see Demons/Devils) for what'd he'd done, but he'd make sure Yaretzi and Mort were safe.

The Countess appears sitting next to Yaretzi, which spooks her, and ask if they were going to be leaving soon, and Polly tells her that it was the plan, as they had some unfinished business to attend to (see Episode 36 - Swords). The Countess asks if this was the business with The Instrumentalist, and Polly tells her he didn't know what that meant, so The Countess makes a little figure of Solomon out of shadow to show him, and he confirms that he was their guy. She tells him that Solomon had killed an acquittance of hers (see Walter 'Walt' Pensive and Episode 36 - Swords), and that the forest was in an uproar over it, that the next morning they were all going to gather and deal with him for good. Polly tells her that he was sure he could handle him this time around (see Cane). Yaretzi asks The Countess if she was going to be there, and The Countess confirms this, saying it was going to be her and many others, that Solomon had over stepped his place. Dimes returns with Yaretzi's bacon, and introduces themself and what they do, and says that they were going to also help with killing Solomon. Polly comments on Dimes being well travelled for a bartender, and Dimes tells him that a little mundanity helped keep them tethered to the real world. Polly says that he didn't really care about the Forest or the Countess's acquaintance, but he knows that there's strength in numbers, so they'd wait until morning.

Mort speaks up, saying that after that they could all watch fishes together (see Mort and Episode 3 - Books), and Yaretzi and Polly turn to look at him. Mort says that was what he thought families did, but he wasn't sure. Polly says that they were going to have some tings to think about after they want to Solomon's, and Yaretzi agrees. The Countess tells them that she'd be seeing them there, and vanishes. The three of them hear Barb shouting from another room at Bert, who enters the room and crash lands on the plate in front of Mort. They watch as Barb runs into the room shortly after with a flaming broom in hand, apologising for the disturbance, but is cut of by Mort excitedly exclaiming about Bert's return. Polly tells Barb not to worry, and Yaretzi tells Polly that she supposed the seagull's return was a good sign, which he agrees, feeling happy that he'd left everything he'd ever known for the two people and half rotten bird sitting in front of him.

## Outro - Relics

Nikignik talks to the dreamers about relics, about how much we treasure the remains of ages past. He says that he believes them to give us hope, that if we we are here today to study skull fragments and ancient books and rusted swords, that someone will one day regard us with as much reverence. He says that this would be the case for the dreamers, that it might comfort them to know, that once humanity was gone and the Frogs had had another half - million years to get their society together, they might look at the remains of them a wonder what they might have thought about the world, what they hoped the future would hold, and with sadness because the future did not hold them.