SoSS 2.1

***Revelations and Roids*** is the first episode of the second book of *Stories on the Subjugated Straits*, and the ninth overall.

## Plot

Upon arriving in Elmore, Kaseos debriefs the party on his place within its royal Aratta family, and its recent takeover by the Rasp-appointed marquis Morgan Morosue. Kas plans to find allies by covertly gathering information, and discerning which of its most influential figures seem least loyal to Morosue. The party identifies three main targets: the Order of the Lighthouse, who are sworn to the Crown of Elmore; the city's bishop, who predates Morosue's appointment; and any notable residents of the local shanty town, comprised of refugees from Stormalong, which the Commonwealth Marines razed in the rebellion.

The party splits into three groups to investigate each of them simultaneously: Kaseos, Nati, and Cassandra for the Order of the Lighthouse; Voy and Lynx for the bishop; and Silence and Detonia for the shanty town. Before they leave, Voy warns Kaseos that Cassandra knows the same things they do about the new gods, and asks him to watch how much she tells Nati. However, Kas himself is adamant about informing Nati, mentioning that a new god has contacted him directly about her. Voy is unable to convince him otherwise, and reluctantly gives in.

Kaseos, Nati, and Cassandra enter the Order of the Lighthouse's training grounds, and ask two sparring knights for information about the city. However, one knight immediately seems to recognize Kas, and summons them to a meeting with their superior. Meanwhile, Voy and Lynx meet with bishop Ceridwen Teguchi. During their conversation, she speaks fondly of the old King Aratta, and lets slip her distaste for the Commonwealth's High Priestess, who Voy knows is a supporter of Rasp. They tell her about Kaseos and his plan to claim the throne, and she is overjoyed. Elsewhere, in the shanty town, Detonia and Silence learn from a member of the church that Morosue's budget cuts reduced the city guard's manpower, leaving the town with no help aside from the church's. She expresses doubt that any surviving rebel leaders or Stormalong nobles remain there, so the two help her hand out food to the residents, then depart to share their findings with the party.

The knights bring Kaseos, Nati, and Cassandra to meet the Order's Lord Commander Darwin Mizunoko, who kneels in fealty to Kas, and offers his support in restoring the throne to him. As Ceridwen and the other party members regroup at the meeting, she and Darwin list other influential figures in Elmore, all of whom have less direct allegiance to the Aratta line, and would need to be convinced to ally with Kas. Ceridwen warns that Kaseos needs conclusive proof of his lineage, so they plan to ask the steward of the marquis, and of King Aratta before him, how best to provide it. However, she warns that even with proof, Morosue's family - who reigns in the nearby town of Wilson Way - may retaliate against Kas for taking the throne.

The Order lets the party stay in their compound free of charge, and the party settles in for the night. In the evening, Cassandra goes out to map out the city and get a feel for the guards' shifts. At the same time, Detonia once again sets out in search of wrongdoers, and finds a man assaulting and robbing an elderly woman. She assumes a humanoid disguise, sets the man ablaze with a spell, and then flees. Cassandra sees and rushes to the site of the incident, but in helping the old woman to safety, loses her chance to follow the culprit.

Kaseos takes Nati aside and asks about her conversations with Cassandra and Voy, which still trouble her. She agrees to let him tell her the truth, and he confirms that Cass's claims about the new gods were true. In addition, he tells her that, unbeknownst to her, she is both an agent to the new god Oyja, and an "android," an artificial life-form that he likens to a golem. He tells her he was informed this when she was taken to Drolene, who are known to value their research over the planet's life, and warns of the bad omens that poses. Distraught and unable to process it, Nati leaves for a tea party Lynx had invited her to; Kas lets her go, but advises her to be careful what she says around Lynx, who communes with Drolene. At the tea party, while speaking to Val about different senses and ways to perceive reality, Lynx promises to her - and subtly to Nati - that they will "understand in time."

The party enjoys a restful nights' sleep at the Order compound, save for Nati, who suffers from disassociative nightmares. In the morning, Cassandra tells the party about the murder she saw, but they fail to recognize its significance, nor Detonia's part in it. Noticing Nati's distress, both Voy and Cass try, and largely fail, to comfort her.

Darwin and Ceridwen take Voy, Cass, and Lynx to meet with steward Claude Mochiyoshi, who is in town for a meeting with the mayor. They intercept him on his way there and privately inform him of Kaseos's claim to the throne; Kas's locket convinces him of its legitimacy. He tells them that the door to the king's study in Castle Elmore can only be opened by those of royal blood, but warns of the difficulty of getting past Morosue and his inquisitor to prove Kas's heritage this way. Despite Claude's wariness, Voy attests to Kas's devotion to the people of Elmore, convincing him to support them. He advises them to secure more influential allies to act as witnesses when Kas opens the door, and asks to speak with Kas at once.

Claude returns to the Order compound with the others and meets with Kaseos in a pantry. When Claude asks about Kas's motivations, Kas tells him the full extent of the events in Reo, including the prophecy tasking him and the party with dethroning Rasp. Despite his eagerness to reinstate the Aratta line in Elmore, Claude expresses hesitation to support him if the end result will draw the city into a war. Kas argues that war is unfortunately inevitable, and though he intends to avoid violence whenever possible, he wants Elmore on his side when it comes. Respecting Kas's integrity, Claude agrees to support him; he directs him and the party to disguise their identities, and leaves to meet with the mayor.

## Characters

### Main

* Cassandra Dunewatcher
* Detonia Lethe
* Kaseos Nodre
* Lynx Cache
* Nati Serrano
* Silence
* Voy Graves

### Supporting

* Val
* Unnamed Order of the Lighthouse knights (x2)
* Darwin Mizunoko
* Ceridwen Teguchi
* Unnamed church worker
* Claude Mochiyoshi