Difference between revisions of "Summary:The Bands of Mourning"

Wax returns home and sees signs of uninvited guests, so he Pushes himself upstairs, [[Vindication]] at the ready. It's the Kandra again, who has been invited there by Wayne. He introduces himself as [[VenDell]] of the Sixth generation. Marasi and [[MeLaan]] are also present. VenDell has asked Marasi for assistance since Wax refused. He sets up some sort of device that turns out to be a slide projector they call an evanoscope. He says that Harmony wants to allow mankind to struggle in order to "survive what is coming." Marasi suspects this [[Trell_(Trellism)|Trell]] is involved, but VenDell has no further information on that or Lessie's strange spikes. A chart of the [[Feruchemy|Feruchemical]] powers is displayed on the wall, and they discuss the lesser-known spiritual properties. Research is underway, but difficult, since there are few Ferrings with those abilities. VenDell explains that everyone has a spiritual aspect or Identity, and that Investiture is the power of [[Allomancy]] and Feruchemy. So one possibility would be to store (divest) Identity, making them a "blank slate," and therefore be able to use someone else's [[metalmind]]. Another possibility is to store Identity and fill another metalmind with some other attribute, creating a metalmind that anyone could use since it isn't keyed to any one Identity. Other possibilities exist, used in combination with [[Hemalurgy]], to give someone extraordinary powers, maybe even the [[Rashek|Lord Ruler's]]. They discuss the [[Bands of Mourning]], the Lord Ruler's metalminds -- objects of mythology that could supposedly grant someone his powers. Another Kandra, [[ReLuur]], took some photographs of murals depicting the bracers on a pedestal, a statue that resembles the Lord Ruler, and other items bearing script of an unknown language. ReLuur returned from his expedition with a spike missing, so it's unclear what he saw and what happened because missing a spike makes a Kandra somewhat insane. The quest is to find the missing spike to save ReLuur and maybe find the Bands of Mourning while they're at it. Wax initially refuses to go with Marasi until he sees another picture of [[Telsin|his sister]] being held prisoner.▼

Two hours later, Wax decides that he must go for his sister. He can go to New Seran under the pretext of attending a political event. Marasi can find the spike. Steris invites herself along because it would look odd to not bring the fiancee along, but Wax is hesitant because of the danger. VenDell comes back with tickets and information and asks Wayne for his bones after he's dead since [[Gold|Bloodmaker's]] bones are interesting. Wax invites VenDell along, but the prospect of going into the field alarms VenDell, and he refuses. He offers Wax a new earring, but Wax is still angry at Harmony. Wayne heads off on a quest of his own. Using various disguises and trickery, he acquires a notebook for Ranette and gets to her house. He lets her know that he's done chasing her, and they shake hands. He makes a last-ditch effort by suggesting a -- romantic interlude -- with Ranette and her girlfriend, which Ranette sternly turns down. He hitches a ride to the train station and joins Wax and company. They head to New Seran.▼

As Wax travels through the southern cities, he's surprised by the level of civilization. He opens a package from Ranette that contains three sphere-and-cord contraptions and a shotgun with huge ammunition meant to take down Thugs or [[Koloss]]. He witnesses a protest against [[Elendel]] oppression at one station. He and Steris discuss the political situation in the Outer cities. Elendel routes the main infrastructure through the city in order to impose tariffs on all trade. Wax discovers that Steris is reading a book about sex. She's extremely embarrassed, but she's also frustrated that no one will answer her questions, so she researched it herself. Steris invites Wax to help her balance some books that are off by three clips, and he resignedly starts to look through a stack of ledgers.▼