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Chapter Summaries (Empire of Silence)

Spoilers ahead, proceed with caution

    Chapter 1: Hadrian

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Devil's Rest

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    As he begins chronicling his own life, Hadrian Marlowe deliberates about where to begin. He tells of razed cities, Pale monsters, and a murdered sun. He tells also of an Empire, one that has its own version of events—a version which ends in Hadrian's execution. He goes on, writing of the many names he has been given, such as Hadrian Halfmortal, Al Neroblis, and Oimn Belu, and the many things he has been, such as soldier, scholar, and slave, during his life.


    Eventually, Hadrian writes of his childhood, being born to House Marlowe during a time of war with the Cielcin. He was largely brought up by his father's servants, during which time his family maintained their uranium-mining business. As he grew older, Hadrian got a brother, Crispin—four years younger than himself—and was taught in combat, language, religion, math, physics, and other fields by various teachers.


    As he waits for his lesson with Sir Felix Martyn to begin, Hadrian is pulled aside by Tor Gibson, who wishes to tell him something privately. Before they get a chance to converse, however, Sir Felix and Crispin arrive. Hadrian leaves Gibson with a promise that they'll speak afterward, and joins the others for the lesson in combat. Sir Felix has them practice dueling with each other, during which he criticizes Crispin's poor form and Hadrian's cautiousness. With both being protected by Royse shields, they duel each other, Crispin being more aggressive while Hadrian is more precise.

    Chapter 2: Like Distant Thunder

    Locations

     Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Devil's Rest

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    After the lesson, Hadrian seeks out Gibson to inquire about what his teacher wishes to tell him. As he finds him, Gibson explains to Hadrian that the Wong-Hopper Consortium will visit them within the week, which Hadrian is surprised to have not learned. Next, Gibson informs him that the planet Cai Shen has been destroyed by the Cielcin. After the shock of revelation recedes slightly, Hadrian connects the Wong-Hopper Consortium's presence with his family's uranium mines. With Cai Shen destroyed, his own planet of Delos has become the largest licensed supplier of uranium in the sector. Though more concerning to Hadrian is that nobody informed him of these events, especially since Gibson confirms that his brother Crispin was.

    Chapter 3: Consortium

    Locations

     Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Devil's Rest

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    On the day of the Wong-Hopper Consortium's arrival on Delos, Hadrian has been sent away from the premises. He has been given the task of negotiating with Lena Balem, the Mining Guild representative. She brings up her concerns about the poor working conditions in the uranium mines, requesting better machines and protective gear. She tells of an accident, wherein she lost seventeen of her workers and an entire drill rig, and becomes increasingly bitter toward House Marlowe's inaction. Hadrian does not reprimand her insubordination—as his father might have—but offers to her no more than to take her concerns to his father.


    After he has left the meeting with the Mining Guild representative, Hadrian falls into conversation with his lieutenant, Kyra, as they fly toward Devil's Rest. They speak of their own interests and of their own families, with Kyra telling of her love of piloting ships, and Hadrian expressing his dislike of his father.


    As they arrive, Hadrian walks into the castle, searching for his father and the meeting with the Consortium. Eventually, he finds the room in which the meeting is already ongoing, but the room's guard, Sir Roban Milosh, refuses to let him in, stating that Hadrian's father prohibits anyone from entering. Nevertheless, Hadrian forces himself past Roban, and walks into the meeting, introducing himself to their guests. His father orders him to take a seat, though Crispin occupies the seat on which Hadrian usually sits. Instead, Hadrian picks up another chair and carries it two steps up the dais where his father sits.

    Chapter 4: The Devil and the Lady

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Devil's Rest

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    After the meeting, Hadrian is speaking with his mother, Liliana Kephalos-Marlowe, in his rooms. They speak of the reason that Aleister could have for excluding Hadrian from the meeting, and both agree that he intends for Crispin to take Hadrian’s place as heir to the throne. Though House Marlowe has traditionally always bestowed the throne to the eldest child, it is not a tradition that can’t be broken. Hadrian is ambivalent to this, not really wanting the role, but also not wanting Crispin to get it. They speculate further about Aleister’s plans, and Hadrian regrets the degree to which his parents are estranged.


    Soon thereafter, Hadrian and Liliana, together with Aleister, Crispin, and the Consortium dignitaries among others, dine together. Hadrian eats in silence, listening to the conversation until Junior Minister Xun Gong Sun brings up the Cielcin. Here, Crispin bluntly asks whether or not it is true that the Cielcin eat people. Though reprimanded by Liliana, Crispin persists until Hadrian and Tor Terence confirm his question. Hadrian then continues the conversation about the Cielcin, and the Consortium dignitaries are surprised about his knowledge. Director Feng suggests that Hadrian consider a career with the Chantry, to which Hadrian is quietly disappointed, wanting instead to become a scholiast. As the discussion goes on, Hadrian speaks of the difficulty of completely eradicating the Cielcin—seeing as they are not planetbound. Aleister interrupts him, finding his words borderline treasonous, and the conversation returns to business.

    Chapter 5: Tigers and Lambs

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Devil's Rest

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    Having been awoken late by a servant, Hadrian hurries through the keep to attend another meeting between House Marlowe and the Wong-Hopper Consortium. This time, the guards let him through, though Crispin has again taken the seat closest to Aleister. At the time of Hadrian’s entry, the meeting is revolving around the issue of the uranium miners' discontent. Eusebia, the Chantry prior in Meidua, soon changes the topic of the conversation to the Cielcin. The Chantry representatives present argue for greater expenditure on planetary defence, in case of a Cielcin attack, though Aleister thinks this unnecessary. He brings the conversation back to local affairs, and Director Feng makes vaguely threatening remarks to Aleister about the uranium quotas he has pledged. Aleister dismisses the threats, and Hadrian is reminded of the time his father destroyed Lord Orin’s rebellion on Linon.


    The meeting breaks up, with the Consortium representatives leaving to meet with the Mining Guild factionarius, though Aleister orders Hadrian to stay. As they are given privacy, Aleister confronts Hadrian with what he promised Lena Balem during their previous negotiation. Here, their opinions contrast, with Hadrian believing they should upgrade their faulty equipment to parity, and Aleister disagreeing. They argue back and forth, during which Aleister considers sending Tor Gibson away to a cloister—to Hadrian’s dismay, until they eventually come upon the matter of inheritance. Aleister assures Hadrian that if he keeps acting the way he has, he will not be heir to the throne.

    Chapter 6: Truth without Beauty

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Colosso

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    Hadrian and Crispin are at the coliseum, watching a group of douleters detaining an azhdarch and cleaning away the remains of the slaves who had fought it. While Hadrian hates the arena for its disregard for human life, Crispin is excited by it, having obtained permission from their father to fight on this day. While Crispin speaks enthusiastically with Sir Roban Milosh, Hadrian is absently drawing a portrait of Kyra in a book of his. As the Meidua Devils enter into the arena, the announcer tells a story of the 617th Centaurine Legion repelling a Cielcin horde that had ravaged the Bellos colony. The Meidua Devils are meant to reenact this battle, killing slaves that represent the Cielcin. Hadrian is disgusted by the scene, while Crispin eagerly cheers with the crowd. Eventually, Crispin is informed that it is his turn to fight, and he makes his way down to the arena floor along with Sir Roban. Hadrian leaves the coliseum as the crowd cheers for Crispin.

    Chapter 7: Meidua

    Locations

     Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Lowtown

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    As Hadrian leaves the Colosso, he questions whether his father might not be right about his inability to rule, doubting that he has the cruelty to rule like his Aleister. He determines to walk the short way back home by himself, moving parallel to the Redtine. Consumed by his own thoughts as he is, Hadrian does not notice the thieves before they assault him. Hadrian attempts to yield, but, realizing the thieves don't care, activates his Royse field, taps his panic button to alert Sir Roban and Kyra, and tries to fight back. Though he loses his knife and has his wrist shattered, he manages to hold off the thieves for a time. Eventually, however, he is knocked down, and the thieves reach to steal his rings. Here, they panic as they realize that Hadrian is of House Marlowe, and Hadrian loses consciousness.

    Chapter 8: Gibson

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Devil's Rest

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    As he writes of his mugging in the alley, Hadrian imagines how different the world would be if he had died on that day. The planet Gododdin would still exist and still have a sun, and the Cielcin would not live as thralls to humanity.


    He wakes five days later in his rooms, lying in his bed with Gibson sitting beside it. Having almost died, Hadrian was cared for by Tor Alma after being found by Sir Roban and Kyra. As he becomes more conscious, Gibson tells him that the thieves that assaulted him have been killed, and that his signet ring has been returned to him. Feeling both numb and lightheaded, Hadrian is hurt by the absence of his parents and brother, especially since his father’s only comment was a request that Hadrian consider how the attack might reflect on the dignity of their house. As Gibson leaves to go to sleep, Hadrian tells him of his fears that Aleister will announce Crispin as his heir, though Gibson informs him that his father has made no such announcement during his unconsciousness. He tells Hadrian that his way of leading is vastly different from his father’s, who forces obedience through fear of pain.


    Dreaming, Hadrian walks the mausoleum, reliving his grandmother Fuchsia’s funeral. In the dream, as he walks behind the Chantry prior, a statue of his father comes alive and seizes him. Gripped by terror, he imagines himself waking, though he is still dreaming, and finds Gibson, marked as a criminal. As he writes of this dream, Hadrian believes he saw Gibson’s injury before it was inflicted upon him.

    Yet if I were again threatened with beheading, still I think I would swear that it was so: that I saw Gibson's injury before it was inflicted upon him.
    I was old and young again before I understood.

    — Hadrian Marlowe

    Chapter 9: Bread and Circuses

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Capitol Building

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    A week later, Hadrian feels well enough to meet with his father. The door to his father’s office is guarded by Sir Roban Milosh, and Hadrian thanks him for saving his life. Sir Roban lets him through, and Aleister orders Hadrian to take a seat. Hadrian is hurt that his father never came to visit him while injured, though Aleister dismisses this, demanding instead to know why Hadrian was in the city on the day he was attacked. After informing his father that he was simply walking home from the Colosso, Hadrian is aghast to realize that his father has placed a curfew on the district and shot anyone in violation of it. Then, Aleister expresses his displeasure of Hadrian leaving the Colosso as he did, stating Hadrian spurning the Colosso made it onto the Meidua Broadcast before it could be suppressed. They debate about the proper way of ruling, with Hadrian supporting the system of the Eudorans and Norman Freeholds, while Aleister favors the way of the Empire. Aleister then compares Hadrian with his brother Crispin, who is loved by the people, and has thus decided to send Hadrian away to study with the Chantry, at Lorica College on Vesperad. Hadrian is horrified by this notion, despising the Chantry, and wanting instead to become a scholiast, which he is physically reprimanded by Aleister for. No matter how much Hadrian is opposed to the idea, his father is determined to send him to Vesperad at the beginning of autumn.

    Chapter 10: The Law of Birds and Fishes

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Shoreline outside of Devil's Rest

    Characters

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 11: At What Cost

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Delian Miners Guild Hall Office
    Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > House Marlowe Family Penthouse

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 12: The Ugliness of the World

    Locations

     Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Devil's Rest

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 13: The Scourging at the Pillar

    Locations

     Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Devil's Rest

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 14: Fear is a Poison

    Locations

     Spur of Orion > Delos > Meidua Prefecture > Meidua > Airfield outside of Devil's Rest

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 15: The Summer Palace

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Artemia Prefecture > Haspida > House Kephalos Summer Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 16: Mother

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Artemia Prefecture > Haspida > House Kephalos Summer Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 17: Valedictory

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Artemia Prefecture > Haspida > Landing Field at the House Kephalos Summer Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 18: Rage is Blindness

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Artemia Prefecture > Haspida > House Kephalos Summer Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 19: The Edge of the World

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Artemia Prefecture > Karch (Island City) > Wine Sink near the Docks

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 20: Off the Map

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Artemia Prefecture > Karch (Island City) > On Board the Starship Eurynasir

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 21: The Outer Dark

    Locations

    Spur of Orion > Delos > Orbit Shipping Lanes > On Board the Starship Eurynasir

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 22: Marlowe Alone

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > City Clinic

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 23: Resurrection in Death

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Starport Terminal

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 24: Those Mindless Days

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Belows

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 25: Poverty and Punishment

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Storm Drain between the Belows and the White District

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 26: Cat

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Belows

    Plot Summary


    Chapter 27: Forsaken

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > White District

    Plot Summary


    Chapter 28: Wrong

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > White District

    Plot Summary


    Chapter 29: Less Wings to Fly

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Belows

    Plot Summary


    Chapter 30: The Umandh

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Southern Docks / Fishery Warehouses

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 31: Less Wings to Fly

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Storm Drain beneath the stock exchanges on High Street

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 32: Stand Clear

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Rooftop above a Corner Store

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 33: To Make a Myrmidon

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Colosso Examination Room

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 34: Men of Grosser Blood

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Colosso Training Field

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 35: Proper Men

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Colosso Showers (Hypogeum)

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 36: Teach Them How to War

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Colosso Arena

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 37: Might Never Die

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Bar Hopping in the White District

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 38: Blood Like Wax

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Outside the Colosso Dormitories

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 39: A Kingdom for a Horse

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Starship Salvage Yard in the Belows

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 40: A Monopoly on Suffering

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Belows

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 41: Friends

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Colosso Training Field

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 42: Speak Like a Child

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Colosso Hypogeum

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 43: The Count and His Lord

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > House Mataro Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 44: Anaïs and Dorian

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Chambers

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 45: Lose the Stars

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Lord Mataro's Seat Box at Colosso

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 46: The Doctor

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > House Mataro Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 47: The Cage

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Chambers

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 48: The Triumph

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Lord Mataro's Seat Box at Colosso

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 49: Brothers in Arms

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > House Mataro Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 50: Without Pretense

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > ???? Prefecture > Ulakiel (island) > Umandh Alienage

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 51: Familiar

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Courtyard

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 52: Little Talks

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Diplomatic Apartments at the House Mataro Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 53: A Game of Snake and Mongoose

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Great Hall

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 54: Gaslight

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Chambers

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 55: The Quiet

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Diplomatic Apartments at the House Mataro Palace

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 56: Witches and Demons

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Emeshi Fishers Guild Main Hall

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 57: Second

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Colosso Hypogeum

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 58: Barbarians

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Garden

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 59: On the Eve of Execution

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Chambers

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 60: The Sword, Our Orator

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Garden

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 61: A Kind of Exile

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Lord Mataro's Office

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 62: A Guilded Cage

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Chambers

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 63: Calagah

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Calagah Archaeological Site

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 64: The Larger World

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Research Camp at Calagah

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 65: I Dare Not Meet in Dreams

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Calagah Tunnels

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 66: The Satrap and the Swordmaster

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Calagah Archaeological Site

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 67: Lost Time

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Calagah Archaeological Site

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 68: Help

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Calagah Archaeological Site

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 69: Of Monsters

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Cielcin Shipwreck
    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Calagah Tunnels

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 70: Demon-Tongued

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Tolbaran Prefecture > Tolbaran > Calagah Tunnels

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 71: Inquisition

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Council Chamber

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 72: Pale Blood

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Interrogation Chambers beneath the Chantry Bastille

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 73: Ten Thousand Eyes

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > City Suite owned by House Mataro

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 74: The Labyrinth

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Interrogation Chambers beneath the Chantry Bastille

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 75: Mercy Is

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Chambers
    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Interrogation Chambers beneath the Chantry Bastille

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 76: Deathbed Conversions

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Interrogation Chambers beneath the Chantry Bastille

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 77: A Rare Thing

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Borosevo Castle Council Chamber

    Plot Summary

    Chapter 78: Quality

    Locations

    Veil of Marinus > Emesh > Borosevo Prefecture > Borosevo > Private Airfield on the Edge of the City

    Plot Summary

    Dramatis Personae:

      House Marlowe of Delos

      On the Planet Delos

      House Mataro of Emesh

      On the Planet Emesh

      The Wider World

    Index of Worlds: A Note on Astrography

    Lexicon: A Note on Translation

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