Second Citadel - Judgment of the Empire (Part 2)

Poster by Milo Mars

**Judgment of the Empire (Part 2)** is an episode of Tales of the Second Citadel. It is the 12th Second Citadel episode of season 3, and the 24rd overall. It premiered February 22, 2021.

## Overview

The hour of judgment is upon the Second Citadel, and its self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner sharpens his blade in wait. It may not be true that might makes right -- but if the mightiest are wrong, who can stop them from saying otherwise? Some people will do anything to protect their home. The trouble arises when others who live there disagree on what they must be protected from.

### Trigger Warnings

* Misogyny
* Sudden loud noises
* Violence and threats of violence
* Racism and xenophobia
* Ableism
* References to alcoholism, sexual assault, and abuse of power
* Death and grievous bodily harm
* Violence against children
* Violence against animals

## Episode Summary

Sir Caroline and Olala reach Queen Mira, in confrontation with The Kite. Caroline concludes that The Kite is really the knight of old, Sir Galahad the Great. Caroline and Galahad square off with each other, Caroline taunting him with his name, and saying that his wounds are worse than her own. Olala shapeshifts to reveal to the queen that she is not merely Caroline's steed. To Caroline's shock, Galahad draws a magic sword from his wound, revealing that he has stolen the power of four tengu. He brags that he will eventually slay them all, as he is the "greatest knight there's ever been." Caroline dismissively says a fine sword can't overcome his poor skill, and they cross blades.

Olala cries out to warn Caroline that a magical wind arising around them seems dangerous, but Mira prevents her from running to Caroline's aid. They watch Galahad strike Caroline down, without killing her, and Mira murmurs that she is "sorry." Galahad and Mira argue, the queen defending her dismissal of legendary knights for failings and transgressions that he insists she should have indulged, *begged* to indulge, in order to keep their service. She refutes his claim that these men were better knights than those currently in her service. He tells her to admit that she shouldn't have made changes to the Citadel, or he will kill Caroline.

Olala begs Mira to save Caroline, who says she'll take her own life if Mira concedes a inch to Galahad. Olala cries, saying that words can't make a real difference, but Mira agrees that Caroline has made her choice. As Olala screams, his blow is stayed by a clang of metal and the voice of her dead sisters from the abbey. Galahad dispels this magic, and advances on Olala instead, who repeats Tiilei's name. Mira angrily tells Galahad to stop, but he brags that he will kill every monster and all their sympathizers. Believing he has killed Olala, he is smug, calling his amulet complete, but Olala declares that she has many more souls than the one he captured. She carries a little bit of all her sisters' souls, and all their forebearers'. Accompanied by the voices of her sisters, she calls magic which shatters his amulet, embedding the pieces in his hand. Galahad desperately exclaims that he would be glad to pry the amulet out of his hand, or cut the hand off entirely, to silence the voices of his victims that now overwhelm him, and disappears. Olala faints in Mira's arms.

After a timeskip, Mira writes a letter to Caroline. She praises the knight's strategic mind, and suggests new reforms for the knights of the crown. Mira also describes a desire to both ensure no monsters are ever present in a one-mile radius from the Citadel, and to improve the knights' skills against human opponents. She and Sir Absolon are working on a redefinition of the word "monster," to include "human users of magic, as well as traitors and defectors." Mira preemptively urges Caroline to accept Absolon's involvement with good grace, due to his knowledge and experience. She furthermore describes her efforts to seek out "golden age knights" from Galahad's generation, and her concern that she has not been able to find any. She worries about their possible resentments, but hopes to enlist their aid as mentors to current knights. Lastly, she is choosing to conceal The Kite's identity as Sir Galahad, worrying that the truth would cause disillusionment. Finally, she asks Caroline to retain her post as captain of the guard.

Caroline writes back, pointing out that none of Mira's proposed changes actually constitute a *change*, and telling the queen that she is making the error of satisfying The Kite's demands instead of addressing the dangers that have already arisen among the Citadel's people. Caroline will not remain in her service, instead taking to the north--and bringing Olala with her. She expresses her intent to find and deal with the golden age knights herself as a "thank you," but admits she cannot be stopped. In closing, she requests that Mira inform Absolon that she has stolen both Absolon's horse ("again") and the support of Sir Angelo. She sends the letter by pigeon.

Caroline and Angelo have a comedic conversation in which they discuss their new status as freelancers, without the title "sir." Angelo observes it can be difficult to leave behind a simple worldview, but finds the world more beautiful and joyful now. Quanyii, Ale, and Gawain are eager to be on the road, Ale partly to have another crack at Galahad, but he observes they will move more slowly than ideal--the party of five only has two horses. Olala negotiates for a "moment" to say goodbye to the Citadel, which Quanyii translates, saying he estimates Caroline will tolerate her taking "a minute and a half."

Olala expresses sorrow that the Second Citadel couldn't be her home, but she hopes someday it can be one for someone like her. She then addresses The Garden of Graves, more wistfully, saying it's the only home she has left, and asking it not to "leave" her. The wind effect associated with the magic she carries from the garden rises around her in answer. She runs to join the rest of the group, ending season 3 for Tales of the Second Citadel.

## Cast and Crew

### Cast

* Marge Dunn as Olala
* Leslie Drescher as Caroline
* Simon Moody as Sir Galahad the Great
* Kat Buckingham as Queen Mira
* M. Sutherland as Angelo
* Anjimile as Ale
* Melissa DeJesus as Quanyii