Episode 48 - Revelations

## Revelations

Solomon's locket is drawn in white. It is open to show the two portraits inside, both barely visible. The right portrait has shattered glass, with one piece of glass in the shape of a heart in red.

### Guests

Andrea Hilborn as Valerie
Libby Wellman as Riot
Charlene Bayer as Xyzikxyz
Kdin Jenzen as Danielle

*This episode was the Season One finale*

Diggory writes a song, Riot grapples with endings, and Marco confronts the future. The theme of tonight's episode is Revelations.

***Content Warnings:** Ableism, Animal death, Death + Injury, Birds, Emotional Manipulation, and Character Death.*

## Intro - It's Ended Before

A recording of a reporter speaks out to the dreamer saying: '...panic across America with what reporters have dubbed ‘the black rains....' Another starts talking after the first finishes, saying '...executive action required as the Botulus Corporation...' Oswald Biggs Botulus speaks out, saying '...now, more than ever, we are here for you...' and Lady Ethel Mallory speak '…everything is going to be fine…'. Nikignik addresses the dreamer, narrating the experience of living through the end of the world. He describes to them the sky filled with fire, news anchors proclaiming the end of the world like horsemen, and helicopters swarm the sky like locusts. But the dreamer is not afraid, because their world had already ended before, just not as literally. The fires were instead God's wrath and the broken seals messages from their parents, telling them that their father wasn't going to protect them anymore and that their thing were in the yard. They ask their parents if they are ready, despite knowing deep down that no one ever was to leave the world they know behind, but they take their parents into the fire and through the smoke, hoping that there would be a world wating for them in the ashes after the end.

Nikignik sits in a spruce tree, similar to how he did in Episode 1 - Keys, and looks on to the Scoutpost, watching as Percy Reed and Diggory Graves sit together on the parapet.

## Story One - A Shadow In The Wind

Diggory writes song lyrics, after taking the suggestion from Riot Maidstone (see Episode 35 - Sonnets) the lyrics for which go as follows:

> *Three things, I know three things. My name is Diggory Graves, It was made for me like my jacket. Irene scares me a little when I think of her. But I know she would tuck me into bed, And can a lady like that be too scary? I wish I knew her at all. I am dead. But I can walk, I can hum little tunes, I can play the piano, I can be happy when Percy is around. So maybe it doesn’t matter too much if I am dead, I think I found what I was looking for and that is best of all, He has nice eyes that look like the sky at night when he is sad, When he is happy it is morning instead, I know that he is a ghost but with him I feel most alive Do I love him? I think so. Do I know what love means? I do not know. Maybe someday I’ll feel it and realize that until then, I’d never felt it at all, Or maybe I’ll never know what it means because I never really feel, Or maybe someday I’ll find I always had it with me, Like a piece of bone in my pocket.*
>
>

Percy asks them what they were writing, and Diggory tells him that they were writing a song, though it wasn't very good yet, or much of a song. Percy tells them that he was sure it was great, and Diggory tells him that he should try writing one, as they'd heard it was a good way to express your feelings, but Percy tells them he didn't feel like writing a song. Diggory makes a second offer to go for a walk, which Percy accepts.

Diggory tells Percy that they believed it would be foolish to asks if he was alright (see Episode 47 - Regrets), but that they were there if he ever wanted to talk. Percy tells them that he wasn't used to talking about issues regarding his family (see Solomon Reed, Abigail Reed, and Percy Reed), but he found it tragic; that his entire family was dead -including him- and it was better that way because it was safer. Diggory nods and begins to climb a tree, once at the top overlooking the Scoutpost. They tell him that they were glad they'd met him, that for all the misfortune they'd crossed together they were happy they hadn't slept. Percy tells them that he was glad for this too, that he was still in a bad situation, but it was good that he had Diggory. Diggory tells him that as long as he wanted to remain, they'd walk with him. Percy asks them about their want to go North (see Ruth Esther Barns (boat)), but they tell him that North would still be there, but they wanted to be here with Percy. Percy tells them what they were going to do, and Diggory tells him that they though they should stay at the Scoutpost and help Violet and Bern Keene, and that they would help the other Mendies make a home. Percy tells them that they were scared of 'home' as to him it'd always been a place that he wasn't allowed to leave. Diggory asks him if he felt trapped when he was with them, and Percy tells them 'no', that they were a better kind of home. Diggory looks back at the scout post and sees a pilar of smoke rising from a fire (see Story Two - The Last of the Goodbyes), and they tell Percy that they should probably return to the Scoutpost, and Percy agrees.

#### Interlude - No More Music

Nikignik tells the dreamers that if they heard instruments in the forest at night, it was not the Instrumentalist, as he was dead (see Episode 47 - Regrets) and the new day was brighter for it. The Hallowoods were haunted by many things, but no longer was Solomon Reed's orchestra one of them, already the world moving on in its absence. Junk collectors and scavengers picked clean the burnt-out corpse of his house (see Episode 47 - Regrets), the wall of trees surrounding the property (see Episode 42 - Walls) had collapsed inward and reclaimed its ground, and his former servants had found new work at the Scoutpost. The Froglins no longer feared going inland, and the celebrations have gone so far as to reach Fort Freedom. In other news the Church of the Hallowed Name was now taking applications for a new instrumentalist.

## Story Two - The Last of the Goodbyes

Riot Maidstone sits eating breakfast and preparing for the day ahead, collecting what remined of Solomon's instruments - sorted by type - into piles in preparation for them all to be burned. She is Joined by Bern and Violet Keene, Clara Martin as well as Zelda Duckworth and Al, who's toy drum sits next to Zelda. Riot goes to and kisses Clara, noting how Clara had been distant since their reunion (see Episode 47 - Regrets), avoiding her eyes, but she writes that off as normal, as they'd been separated for quite some time and had both been though a lot.

She asks her what it was she'd actually done while at Downing Hill Public Library, joking about potions classes and once again asking about Clara's Broomstick. Clara tells her that she'd mostly studied, read alot of old books, learned how to control her powers better. She tells Riot that she also had something to tell her, that she'd met Lady Ethel Mallory (see Episode 44 - Rains), that she'd met her while she'd been working for Solomon and had seen the trade that occurred between them. Naturally this concerns Riot, repeating what Clara had just said to her, rhetorically asks that Ethel hadn't kidnaped her and stuck her in a Dreaming Box. Clara tells her that Ethel had no reason to know who she was, and tells Riot about Ethel's bazar physical appearance, telling her that Ethel was as tall as the trees in the forest with no exaggeration; she tells her that she'd been terrified. Riot asks her if she'd said anything about her [Riot] to Ethel, and Clara reassures her that of course she didn't, but reiterates that Ethel had been picking up Solomon's 'method', though she didn't know what that meant. Riot also repeats this, interpreting it to mean that Ethel and Solomon were friends, and says that she didn't want to think about what the implications of Ethel having the instructions of how to bind Ghosts were.

Clara asks if they should be getting started with the fire, and Bern tells her that she [Bern] didn't actually know what they were doing. Clara tells her that some of the instruments hadn't gotten completely destroyed in the fire (see Episode 47 - Regrets), and as such still had spirits tied to them. She says that most of them wanted to leave, and that she was sending them off. Riot turns around and sees that Diggory had silently arrived and asks if they were late. Percy tells them that he wanted to say goodbye to his mum, and Zelda holds up Abigail's fife from the pile of flutes, and hands it off to Clara. Abigail emerges from the instrument, and her and Percy embrace. After a short while they separate and Clara places her hand against Abigail's shoulder, and she simply disappears. They repeat this several more times with the others, the instruments placed in the fire to burn away once they are made void of soul. At the end only Al is left, who emerges from his drum and tells them that he wanted to stay, that they all seemed really nice, and that he didn't want to be dead. Zelda tells them that he was a good kid (see Episode 16 - Crowns) and that she'd keep him out of trouble. Violet and Bern accept this and him with no resentment or arguing.

Riot gets Clara's attention and point over to where Walt's funeral pyre (see Episode 36 - Swords and Episode 40 - Graves) and asks her if Walt's ghost was standing by it. Clara tells her that he wasn't, and asks if he was supposed to be, but Riot tells her that no, there wasn't, she just wanted to check. Riot puts her arm over Clara's shoulder and tells her that it was probably time that they head back home, that shed clean up the RV and thought Clara would like it at the Scoutpost. Clara pulls away from her at this, and tells Riot that she had missed her, but she wasn't going to be able to stay at the Scoutpost, that she was going back to Downing Hill.

### Marketing - The Reunion

Lady Ethel Mallory interrupts Nikignik's broadcast with her marketing segment. She continues (see Episode 47 - Regrets) talking about the upcoming reunion between Valerie and 'Riot' Maidstone (see Also Riot). She announces that Valerie was in her hospital bed, and 'Riot', finally well enough to meet her mother after being separated for so long, was going to be walking through the door to her room very soon. Right as she says this, Riot walks into her room.

Valerie asks 'Riot' if she was okay, and 'Riot' tells her that she was alright. Valerie says that she'd been so worried about Riot, and 'Riot' tells her that she hadn't needed to, she was safe. Valerie asks why she'd left the Bunker (see Episode 22 - Mountains), 'Riot' tells her that she didn't know, that she thought that maybe she'd just needed some space, and that she couldn't believe that the Botco reunion organisers had managed to find them. 'Riot' tells her that Botco had told her everything, about her [Valerie], about the Stonemaids, and asks if it was true that Valerie was trying to destroy the Prime Dream. Valerie asks when Riot had stared caring about the Prime Dream. 'Riot' ignores this question, telling Valerie that she understood that she had a grudge match with Ethel (see Episode 37 - The Morning Hour), but there were innocent people in the Boxes, and those people didn't deserve to have their homes destroyed. Valier tells her that it'd never been about destroying homes, it'd been about freedom, being able to leave the Boxes of they wanted to, about being treated like a human. 'Riot' tells her that alot of terrible things had been done in the name of freedom. Valerie asks why they were discussing this, and 'Riot' tells her that she'd though they'd had it wrong, that they'd been out there for so long, but they were in a Box now, and was it really that bad as long as they were together. Valerie tells her that she guessed not, and 'Riot' shows her the dreaming visors she'd been sent in with, telling Valerie that she hadn't been in the Prime Dream yet, and asks if Valerie wanted to go with her. Valerie accepts.

### Story Two, Continued

Riot responds in confusion to this news, telling Clara that she thought she'd said that she hated it at Downing Hill, and that they'd rented her out to help Solomon, asking if she was planning on becoming the next Olivier Song. Clara tells her that she did hate it there, but it was important to her that she learn more about herself and her abilities, and the more she knew about herself, the more she could help people and fix things, that she'd done with the ghosts. Riot accepts this and asks if they were still going to be dating. Clara tells her that she'd try to visit when she could, but she was probably going to be busy. Riot asks if that was a 'yes' or a 'no'. Clara swings her leg over her broom and tells Riot to come with her, wanting to be alone for the impending conversation. Riot asks of the Broom would hold two, but Clara tells her that it'd be fine. They lift off, going higher until they were flying above the trees.

Clara tells Riot that she really liked her, and that she'd loved every day that they'd been in the RV together, but she had to do what was right for her, that she had to take this chance, and that she might even be able to find a cure for her parents (see Episode 2 - Dogs, Booker Martin, and Zora Martin). Riot tells her that she understood and asks if they were breaking up. Clara tells her not to put it like that, but she guessed she'd see her when she saw her. Riot begins to cry, telling her that she'd miss her, and Clara tells her that she wouldn't be far, and that Riot could always visit the library, and that she'd drop by the Scoutpost when she could; but she also tells Riot that she shouldn't wait around for her, that her thing was going to take a while, and that Riot deserved to live her life too. She asks Riot what she wanted to do, and Riot tells her that she'd figure something out. Clara thanks Riot for saving her life, and Riot tells her that she was glad she was happy. Thye sit in awkward silence while Clara returns them to the Scoutpost. Riot asks if she was leaving now, and Clara tells her that she should check back in with the library, and they hug and wishing each other goodbye.

Riot returns to her room and spends the rest of the day crying, only remerging once night had fallen. She heads to the infirmary where Olivier was, having been found after the fight at Solomon's (see Episode 46 - Teeth and Episode 47 - Regrets) after having lost their fight with a ghost. The find Olivier sitting up by the light of an oil lamp with a book in their hand, and they say that it was fine even poetic in places, to keep working on it they'd get better. Riot ask them what they were reading, and Diggory speaks up, sitting in the shadows beyond the lamp, telling her that they [Diggory] were writing, Riot having not realised their presence. She asks Olivier what pronouns they were using, and Olivier tells her that they had no idea. Riot graves a folding chair and sits by the bed, telling Olivier that she'd heard they'd gotten beat up by a ghost. Olivier tells her that they didn't know how to fight ghosts, that it was Clara's specialty. Riot asks how they knew Clara, and Olivier tells them that they'd saved her from drowning (see Episode 11 - Hears) and given her their Library card, which had been a mistake. Riot comments that it was weird that there was a library out there and asks what they story with it was, but Olivier tells her that they'd [Downing Hill] peck out their [Olivier] eyes if they told her. Riot changes the topic and tells them that seeing at they were all there, she had something crazy she wanted to do, but she didn't think it was going to work unless he had their help. She tells them that she was going to bust her mum (see Valerie Maidstone) out of the Dreaming Box.

### Interlude - The Void Visits

Nikignik talks to the Dreamers about how often they wrote about the end of days, of a final judgement, of all the world being taken into account, divided properly and destroyed. And while this very well might have been what Syrensyr reclaimer of fire would have done, it was not the way of the universe. There was no final moment or cataclysmic end, they were just gone, blinking out like distant stars and leaving the universe just that little bit emptier. If they were lucky, they might leave some small impression, a stream of light, travelling for a few billion years, or blood that turns a lifeless winter into the spring.

Xyzikxyz speaks up then, telling Nikignik that he should have seen Syrensyr's face, that he'd steamed about it for centuries, and asks where Nikignik had been for that. Nikignik exclaims that he hadn't been expecting her and introduces her to the Dreamers. He asks her if she'd come to spills some secrets she'd found, and Xyzikxyz tells him that she was done with secrets, and she tells him that she'd been working full time on the study she'd told him about (see Episode 13 - Stars), that he'd given her great material to use for it, he tells her that he was glad (sarcastically). She asks him if he was still doing his Marolmar project, and she tells him that it wasn't a 'Marolmar' project it was a 'Humankind' project. She tells him that one of the things she'd found in her study was that that they [Indies] didn't seem to be able to process things very well. Nikignik tells her that if she didn't mind, he was up to an important moment, but is cut off by Xyzikxyz telling him that no one was teaching them how to process things, not really. Thier parents were more spiritual than anything, that they were just left to figure it out. They live basically forever, but they were really bad at taking the time to deal with things. Nikignik tells her that he was sure her study would be fascinating. She tells him that it was natural for someone to be quiet when they'd lost someone, and Nikignik asks what she'd suggest someone in that position to do. She tells them to take some time off, visit friends who he'd been ignoring, that he needed space for these things. He tells her that he should visit her more often, and she tells him that she knew he missed Marolmar, but she missed her best friend, that he should drop by sometime in the next few aeons, saying that she had plasma tea brewing and it'd still be hot. He tells her that it'd be lovely.

## Story Three - Leaving The Trees

Marco Torres sat on the hull of their airship and watched the trees turn form black to green as they left the Hallowoods. Brooklyn Williams sits next to him with her dreaming visor on, resting her hands in his, however his was turned off, needing some time to think and reflect. They [Merco, Brooklyn, and Ethel] knew that Solomon was dead, having been observing as the battle at his house transpired (see Episode 46 - Teeth and Episode 47 - Regrets), and he knew that Ethel now had his [Solomon's] method, but as to what purpose he did not know, having yet been unable to convince Brooklyn to tell him. He opens the drone camera near the Scoutpost, and sees Riot by herself in the courtyard. The others they'd had to tail more closely, having followed Clara back to Downing Hill, which she had not since exited after entering, which he notes as curious, as there was no town named Downing Hill on any maps, or any town surrounding the library. He takes off his helmet and looks out the window, hoping that maybe things would go back to normal, but he knew it was futile.

Nikignik gladly informs the dreamers that with the aircraft went Lady Ethel Mallory. He tells them that the forest was beautiful, but maybe Xyzikxyz was right, maybe he should take some time away; and he already knew just where he might go. He asks the dreamer if they had enjoyed their journey thus far and tells them not to worry about the people they would be leaving behind, he was sure they'd be fine in their absence.

At the Scoutpost, the end of Solomon Reed brings solemn celebration—joy for a forest free from his reign of terror, sorrow for all the lives he claimed. The hunter (see Hector Mendoza) and the fisherman (see Jonah Duckworth) recover from the fight; six new stitched creations (see Mendies) and a ghostly boy (see Al) find their places in a new home. The junk collector and his daughter (see Elena Alder) clamber through the thicket of trees to reach the remains of Solomon’s house. A witch (see Clara Martin) returns to Downing Hill Public Library with a handful of ancient religious tomes in her bag. Beneath the library there is a woman with a smile like the moon (see C. S. Blackletter), and her ravens (see The Omen) take to the skies. In the deep forest, a seer tames her new steed (see Winona Carline) as the Friends of Zelda seek out those in need of rescue. A demon (see Polly), a wolf (see Yaretzi), and a revenant (see Mort) walk together in the moors beyond the woods, wondering if there is still a carnival left anywhere in the world. In a wretched hotel (see The Resting Place Hotel), a jukebox (see Ghost in the Jukebox) plays a joyful tune, and the proprietor (see Barb) cheats as always in his games while a desolate countess (see The Countess) and a failed project (see The Quilt) watch with their usual amusement. Far to the south, a moth (see Moth Scarberry) and an automobile (see Ray) make their way North, and a girl who has never stepped into the sunlight (see Danielle O'Hara) dreams desperately, and a former rockstar (see Valerie Maidstone) takes a plunge into the dazzling abyss of the Prime Dream. In the Northmost woods, an amphibious man (see Ricou Chapman) and an invisible one (see Nolan Thair) reach home again, and the trees shiver as the Faceless King walks. The Froglins rally behind a new Drown Priest (see Grug), and the favor of Lolgmololg is with them, for all it’s worth. Not much. A man with one hand (see Rick Rounds) sits in a small cabin (see the Overdue Cabin) over pike-infested waters, reading an old book, and in the ramshackle walls of Fort Freedom, his former accomplice (see Buck Silver) tries not to think about him. At the Find A Friend Animal Center, Big Mikey’s dogs lick his wounds. It’s among the things I wish I had not seen. In the sun-lit courtyard of the Scoutpost, the Hallowoods’ new groundskeeper (see Riot Maidstone), the former star of the Downing Hill Arcane Program (see Olivier Song), a revenant (see Diggory Graves) and a spirit (see Percy Reed) sit together, and find that they have more in common than they thought.

## Outro - Revelations

Nikignik waxes poetics about revelations. Talking about how they were the truth coming out, secrets being reviled and an end that is neigh. But their end had been there for a while, and it had no intent on going away soon. The days of their world were numbered, but the first few days of the new had only just begun. Nikignik tells the dreamer that he was leaving them now, to let them have more pleasant nightmares then the one he delivered: but they should worry not, as he'd be back soon, his work was not yet done.

Danielle O'Hara speaks into the broadcast once Nikignik's voice fades. She calls out the name of Riot Maidstone, telling her that if she could hear this, that Valerie Maidstone was in Box Andromeda, that she needed to hurry as she didn't think she was okay, pleading for her to come get her [Valerie] out.

##### Until next time Dreamers:

"Until next time dreamers, thank you for tuning in to this season of *Hello from the Hallowoods*. We'll be back before you know it. We'll be watching you before you know it. We will be right behind you before you know it."