Candela Obscura: The Guardian of Groundswell

"**Candela Obscura: The Guardian of Groundswell**" (CO3x02) thumbnail featuring Gina Darling, Sam Riegel, and Aabria Iyengar.

### Episode

*Candela Obscura*,​ Episode 8
(CO3E02)

### Transcript

Transcript

"**Candela Obscura: The Guardian of Groundswell**" (CO3x02) is the second episode of *Candela Obscura's* third chapter, featuring the Circle of Tide and Bone. The Circle of Tide and Bone confront an aqueous phenomenon, as the Periphery’s fist looms over the district of Groundswell.

## **Synopsis**

### **Introduction**

*A dark bargain is struck from a place of anguish, and a wandering innocence aims to even the score, losing itself in the process. Curfew now falls on the streets of Groundswell, as the Periphery aim to snuff out a local uprising, and though it's true that many assignments have violent beginnings, violent ends rarely bring a satisfying resolution. A wise investigator knows when it's best to sheathe the blade and bare the heart. The Circle of Tide and Bone, Assignment # 37-13: Guardian of Groundswell.*

### **Episode introduction**

There is a 10 PM curfew in the Newfaire district of Groundswell, a poorer neighborhood on the west side of the river, to quell the unrest over a well in the market and a recent upsurge in cases of cullet, a degenerative lung disease. Periphery Officer Eunice Park has been temporarily reassigned here, and while on patrol spots a 13-year-old girl hunched over, panting and retching up gallons of water that seem to pursue Officer Park as she retreats, tripping her and pulling her back. When she rolls to her back, she sees a humanoid figure made of seawater holding her feet, and fires her pistol into it. Unharmed, it lunges into her, filling her nose and mouth, drowning her. The young girl, respecting old customs, covers Park's nose and mouth so as to not let the soul escape.

### **Part I**

When the Circle returned the wounded Serious Man to The Antiquarian bookshop, their chapter house, Lightkeeper Nokari began tending him while keeping the others away. Mechanically, as a result of his scar Rajan moved a point from Control and into Sight, and is developing a compound insect-like eye. While The Serious Man recovers, the rest of the Circle take a few days to gather their thoughts, then meet at Cordelia's Glass Cat Casino to talk and clear the air.

Oscar goes first, apologizing to Madam Glask for not being forthcoming with her when she hired him. With a lot of help from his grandson Cosmo filling in the multiple large gaps in his memory, Oscar explains that eighty-seven years ago, The Serious Man performed a ritual that Oscar was accidentally affected by, granting him immortality at the cost of the rest of his family and a part of his personality and memories each time he is saved from death. Oscar believes his immortality was not intentionally caused, but after a century of trying to fix it, he's given up. Cosmo believes Candela Obscura will lock Oscar away as being a danger, and he is somewhat exhausted after so many years of trying to help his father.

Oscar points out that he isn't the biggest freak in their group, looking at Rajan. Although Rajan and Elsie were linked romantically in the past, she was unaware of his changed, insect-bearing physicality, and is angry he kept it from her -- she could have helped him. Rajan, however, admits he doesn't want to be fixed. Cordelia adds that she believes Oscar's condition was caused by the same ancient sea gods that granted her the Glass Cat casino, and are the reason she is alone now, trading any sense of home in return for riches in a new land. Cosmo explains that he brought them together in the Circle because he and Oscar knew about Elsie Roberts, and he had known Rajan was troubled, but not the specifics of his condition. He believes it is fate.

Just then, they receive a message from Lightkeeper Nokari telling them that The Serious Man, whose actual name is Toren Gevni, is awake. Before he is transported to the Fourth Pharos they can see him for an hour. They return to The Antiquarian where Nokari greets them, and tells them Toren has been made "compliant". Rajan points out Toren hasn't aged in a century and asks if the lightkeeper knows of other such cases. Cosmo mentions he's read accounts of such beings going back centuries at least to Oldfaire, which Candela refer to as "Unabridged". Nokari tells them the Unabridged can be killed, but will not perish of age or disease, unlike some others with a similar condition. The group can tell Nokari is aware of Oscar's condition but doesn't want to give away information some of them may not yet know. Nokari warns them against killing Toren, but anything short of that will be overlooked. With that, Nokari leaves, but Rajan follows briefly to suggest securing Grayslate Sanitarium as a location of interest.

Before they question Toren, Rajan asks Elsie about the connection between The Serious Man and Director Greenvale of the Sanitorium. Elsie has shared the papers she found in Greenvale's office, written in Ancient Fairen, discussing another shipment of Nighthawk being delivered in order to prolong the Director's vigilance, and that they require another two bodies because "the frailty is a problem." The papers also suggest a romantic relationship with the beautiful version of the nun, Sister Iovar.

Elsie asks The Serious Man how he has elongated his life, learning it is through a series of the rituals known to ancient Oldfairen alchemists, and perfected by the Empress Iomene the Everlasting herself. Toren learned of them through a book, the Auric Tome. Madam Glask confirms it was not Toren who appeared to her "that night" and took everything from her, while Cosmo senses Toren is from 500 Common Era. Rajan asks Toren directly what he is trying to achieve, and though he struggles against Nokari's compulsion, he admits he seeks the five rituals of Iomene by freeing her from her imprisonment beneath the caves of Newfaire. This is why he digs: electricity can do what alchemy cannot. Toren does not remember Cosmo or Oscar, and considers Oscar has wasted his gift, infuriating Oscar, who pulls out a length of chain and wraps it around Toren's neck, demanding to know how to fix himself. When Toren denies having that knowledge, Oscar begins strangling him. Elsie and Rajan try to intervene when suddenly The Serious Man throws himself forward into the chain, breaking his own neck. Unlike Oscar, the Unabridged can be killed, part of why Candela was so interested in Oscar. Elsie is furious at Oscar and the potential information lost, while Cosmo is distraught.

On a side table, they notice the objects that Toren was carrying: an ornate rune-carved solid gold doorknob which can potentially access a pocket plane used for storage, a syringe resembling a bleed containment vial designed to suck bleed damage from a person and store it, and an ornate knife resembling Cosmo's decorative dagger but that seems to be designed to act as a stylus in warm wax tablets. Nokari enters and is horrified to see Toren's lifeless body, but recognizes it was a foreseeable result and also offers to let them take the three items.

However, they have an assignment: the rumor has spread that the groundwater is tainted with cullet, the epidemic disease currently spreading in poorer neighborhoods. The only clean water is at the bottom of a famous ancient well at the edge of Calinus Market, which is now attempting to be accessed by the less desirable elements of the city, causing tensions. Through her studies, Elsie knows that cullet is indeed likely caused by the poisons and biological weapons utilized by Otherwhere during the War that have sunk into the ground. As the city expands, the turned earth has released these poisons into the groundwater. The unrest has led to violence including the murder of Periphery officers by drowning, with the initials "A.M.C." - "Any Mother's Child" - sometimes carved next to them.

Elsie privately asks Nokari how long they have until Candela locks up both Oscar and herself. Nokari says that depends on their behavior, not totally on Cosmo's retirement from field work.

They wait until curfew to begin investigating the murders, acquiring a Periphery uniform in the meantime. Oscar volunteers to be bait and wears it, strolling along through the people in the Calinus Market despite the curfew while the others spread out keeping a watchful eye. Eventually, a little girl peeks around a corner and spots him. Oscar tells her to go home, since it's after curfew, then offers her a candy. Meanwhile, Cosmo and Elsie start slowly approaching, followed by Madam Glask. The child begins coughing and panting, but suddenly notices Oscar's shoes, which are his own, and not those of a Periphery officer.

### **Break**

* This episode is sponsored by **Nord VPN**.
* The ***Candela Obscura Core Rulebook*** is now available in all five critrole.com shops.
* **Original Soundtrack** now on digital music platforms; t-shirt available in the US and Canada; dice set, lapel pin, and keychain in all five shops.

### **Part II**

The girl, still in the throes of a coughing fit, attempts to call it back but water begins spilling from her mouth uphill toward Oscar. Madam Glask attempts but fails to prevent this, taking bleed damage and crumpling into Oscar's arms. Elsie realizes this is a human girl acting in cooperation with some other entity and she and Cosmo both take bleed damage as they get closer, and all of them hear its voice: "My name is Arterax, and I have been charged to serve the child." It asks Oscar what he represents and he explains he is not what he appears to be. The water draws back slightly, coalescing into a tall humanoid figure like that of ancient Oldfairen sentry.

The girl recovers somewhat, and he asks her again if she is okay. She isn't; her brother is dead and she is trying to protect her home. She was standing on the shore a few days ago shortly after her brother was killed at the well for disrupting the peace, begging for a miracle. Something answered, and when she asked it for revenge, it requested a price. The child offered herself, and Madam Glask suggests that instead, she offered a loved one. The child replies that wasn't what she offered, but that's what it took. It repeated "Any Mother's Child" and when she got home, her mother was dead after a long battle with cullet, and the child had the water creature inside her.

Meanwhile, Rajan has been observing all this from a nearby rooftop. He wraps a piece of cloth around an oil flask, realizing that if the creature killed, it did so at the child's express orders. He waits and watches.

Elsie offers the child a warm bed and a place to stay, but the girl has learned not to trust people dressed like her. Madam Glask steps forward, saying, as a worshipper, she understands the beckoning of the sea. Similarly to the child, they took away everything but gave something in return. The girl knows nothing of sea gods, being raised in the Ascendancy, but Glask feels the kinship between them and reaches out to her. The sentry responds to protect the child, wounding Cordelia's arm, but the child goes into her arms, telling her that her name is Mina, and the poisoned water seems to come from Westwreck, west of the city. She still wants to keep killing, even knowing it won't bring her family back. Seeing the understanding in Oscar's face steels her, but he suggests she let them get revenge while she takes a break and rests. Tearfully, she agrees.

Oscar quietly asks the others if they know of any way to split Arterex and Mina apart as Rajan rejoins the group. Cosmo asks the spirit if it will go, and it will, if Mina decrees it. When Cordelia tries to convince Mina to do this, Mina asks her what she got in return for her deal with the sea gods, and points out she hasn't given it back. Mina has already paid; why should she have to return the gift? If they try to take Arterex, Mina will kill them. With that said, Mina unsummons him and he fades away. They return with Mina to The Antiquarian, which Cosmo recalls was named Any Mother's Child before he bought and renamed it.

Once there, in a moment of introspection Elsie regrets trying to hold onto her appearance of gentility, and truly regrets keeping secret her knowledge of what was the cause of cullet in the town to serve her wealthy masters. Before returning to the Glass Cat, Oscar knocks on Cosmo's door and asks to tuck him in. Cosmo accepts; he can do it on his own but it's easier with help. Before sleeping, Cosmo tells Oscar he's very tired. Oscar is, too, and he contemplates all he's given up and lost through his long years. Cordelia sits by Mina's bed, watching her sleep, and thinking how similar they are to each other. She would do anything to help her because in a way, it's helping herself.

Rajan asks Elsie what she thinks will happen with Mina, if she thinks they'll try to fix her to keep her safe. All of their Circle seem to be monsters who refuse to be contained or neutralized, and maybe that leaves Candela with only one choice in dealing with them. He just hopes Mina has a happy ending, but they themselves aren't concerned with the ending, more the journey.

### **Post-Game**

The group has four resources left to spend, so Ashly and Liam take a Refresh each while Gina takes a Stitch and a Refresh.

Later, the Circle plays with their new magic items. Cosmo tries carving the doorknob with the knife and realizes the knife allows the carving of new alchemical symbols on top of existing ones, changing and expanding what they are capable of doing by adding complexity. When placed on a wall, it creates a tall, ornate Oldfairen door into a 12'x 12' office full of bookcases, papers, and objects, with the walls covered in complex layered runes and an immense amount of magickal energy. This was the Serious Man's office. Cosmo finds a slip of paper on the desk and tries using the dagger on it, but succeeds only in cutting the paper. He then tries cutting himself, and learns his blood on the paper activates the desk to start researching on its own. It interprets this as inquiring about the blood, and a file comes up on the Grimms, apparently originally the Grimmoks, and the names Oscar ("Cary") and Cosmo, with everything the Serious Man could find about their family since he first saw Oscar aboard the sinking ship and then later, unchanged, in Newfaire. He had tracked everything about them.

## **Featured characters**

### **Circle of Tide and Bone**

* Cordelia Glask, Magician
* Cosmo Grimm, Occultist
* Elsie Roberts, Doctor
* Oscar Grimm, Soldier
* Rajan Savarimuthu, Professor

### **Returning**

* Eloise, a worker in the Antiquarian Bookshop and former Candela operative
* Lightkeeper Nokari, lightkeeper of the Circle of Tide and Bone
* Toren Gevni, The Serious Man

### **New**

* Arterax, a guardian sentry sent by the sea gods
* Officer Eunice Park, a Periphery cop on patrol
* Mina, a young girl of Groundswell
* Quinni, a worker at the Glass Cat

### **Mentioned**

* Calinus, the last Oldfairen emperor who dethroned Iomene and locked her below the city; was in charge when out-of-control alchemy created the Vastchasm
* Director Greenvale, head of Grayslate Sanitorium
* Empress Iomene the Everlasting, an Oldfairen
* Sister Iovar, a beautiful nun

## **Quotations**

* **Cordelia**: Oscar, if life is your curse, perhaps living is the cure.
* **Cordelia**: Oscar, if you don't get answers or a solution, what will happen to you, to Cosmo?
Oscar: I can only hope that whatever happens to me is fast and painless, and that he gets to live *some* of his life without me.
* **Oscar**: Every scar hurts, but they hurt a little less when you get revenge.
* **Arterax**: Who are you?
Cosmo: Tide and Bone, keepers of the light.
Arterax: You were known to me in your time. What do you want? I must protect the girl.
* **Mina**: You can't get back the things you lose, but you can make them pay for taking it.
* **Aabria**: I think, Dr Roberts, you have worked and worried that your experimentation turned you into a monster. And I think the realization that maybe a part of you was monstrous far before the beast ever became a part of you is there.
* **Rajan**: We're all monsters here, it appears.
* **Aabria**: You're all monsters, but all the best stories are about monsters.

## **References**

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of Rajan Savarimuthu, by Sabira Langevin (source). Used with permission.