The Open Door

"The Open Door" is the first episode in The Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One, released on March 1, 2023. "After a lifetime apart, three childhood friends are drawn back together by circumstance, by command, and by a danger that no one can yet begin to comprehend."

The Tavern by the Well
Many years after the events of the Children's Adventure, in a small village miles away from Toma, Eursulon works at the only tavern in town, which needs no name, but is sometimes called the Tavern by the Well. There, a peddler tells a story to the village children about the world of Umora and the world of spirits. As Eursulon listens, three strangers enter the tavern and ask Rosalyn to help take their horses out back. Rosalyn agrees, but realizes she needs Eursulon's help and takes him with her out back to the stable.

Rosalyn attempts to make small talk with Eursulon, revealing she had gone through his belongings he hid in the stable. She apologizes profusely, insisting she wanted to get to know him, which is when it becomes apparent to Eursulon that she has a massive crush on him.

The two are interrupted by the peddler. Eursulon quickly suspects him, and notices several other people waiting in the barn's rafters. He gathers his possessions (his pauldron, his music box, and Wavebreaker) and asks the peddler to leave him alone. The peddler declines, implying that Wild Ones are worth a high price. Eursulon tries to hide, but the peddler uses a playing card to reveal his location -- revealing him to be a hedge mage. Rosalyn and some friendly horses allow Eursulon to flee, though he is badly hurt by another of the peddler's spells as the bounty hunters chase him into the night.

Five years go by.

The Citadel
At the Citadel, a parade welcomes home a military detachment of wizards. Magical beasts with white fur and magic silver brands pull chariots and war wagons. War has impacted them all; some did not return. The leaders of this place praise and reward them with various laurels. One of these leaders, the ancient archmage Silence, has fallen asleep while overseeing this procession. His apprentice, Suvi, nudges him to wake him up and keep him engaged.

Among the returning soldiers, Suvi notices a handsome former classmate, Silver. For his service to the Imperium, he is granted many laurels, and is said to be dwelling in the villa of the Hall of Heroes. As he is cheered, Silver finds Suvi's eyes and nods to her. Suvi pretends aloofness, but is obviously into him, even as she is jealous that he was able to prove himself, while (in her view) she's been saddled with babysitting an old man.

After the parade, Suvi and Archmage Silence attend an elite luncheon with the most lauded of the returning heroes, including Silver. Before Suvi can approach him, Steel arrives. Suvi immediately complains about how boring her job is, and Steel reminds her that being an archmage's apprentice is a highly influential position. Still, she has to agree that Suvi's talents aren't being used to their full potential. Suvi begs Steel to help her do something -- anything -- interesting.

The two take a walk through the academy's campus, where Steel reluctantly informs Suvi that Grandmother Wren is very ill. Devastated, Suvi's teasing demeanor falls away as she focuses fully on getting to the cottage as quickly as possible. Steel gives her a speaking mirror so she can stay in touch, along with two items for Grandmother Wren: a book called Stars of the Southern Skies, and a sealed scroll case. Finally, she gives Suvi a Staff of the Citadel. Suvi is both excited and touched at this gift, and the two share a moment. Suvi references something Steel once told her : whatever you put your magic in, a little bit of you stays there.

They head to one of the Citadel's Halls of Teleportation to open a traveling door. Before Suvi leaves, Steel gives her a purse of gold and advises her to purchase things when she's traveling. If Suvi were on the shores of Kehmsaraza, she would be able to simply request what she wanted and be given it. But as Toma is at the far reaches of the empire, the Citadel's enemies may be lurking, so some discretion is called for. To that end, Steel puts a minor illusion onto Suvi's staff that makes it appear to be a simple walking stick.

As the traveling door opens, Steel cautions Suvi not to fall prey to hubris. She quotes a bit of wisdom that Soft once gave her, that wizards have often met their downfall by "seeing the humility and and serenity of witches, and underestimating it".

Toma
At the cottage, Ame meets a pair of newlyweds from Toma, Arin and Melia, who are having trouble conceiving a child. Arin comes from Port Talon, and though it's far away, they have still heard of Grandmother Wren. He's disappointed not to be able to meet her, but Melia assures him that Ame is an accomplished witch who is more than up to the task. Ame intuits that Arin is also a bit uncomfortable at having to speak to a hot young medical professional about conceiving a child, rather than a sweet old grandma, though he allows his wife to ease him into the idea.

Ame consults the local birds and bees about the couple's problems. She learns that, if the couple keeps trying, they will have a child who will be the joy of Melia's life, but Arin will be unfaithful and break Melia's heart. Though Ame is angered at this, she only informs the couple that they will have a child who is a joy. However, she gives Arin a ring to wear while they try to conceive, and Arin is dismayed to find that this ring is not intended to go on his finger. Though he initially quails, Melia firmly insists, and the two leave together to start their family.

Ame returns to the cottage to finish her chores, and to prepare lunch for the ailing Grandmother Wren. Ame carries in a bowl of juk, and finds Grandmother Wren in her bed. Her wooden headboard shows the face of a wild one, a green man, which seems like a family crest. Grandmother Wren is very weak, and can't eat much. Heartbroken, Ame keeps a smile on her face as she coaxes a few more bites into Grandmother Wren. The two chat about Arin and Melia's problem, and Ame cryptically seethes about Arin's prophesied infidelity. Grandmother Wren assures her that muttering cryptic things is a necessary skill for a witch. As they talk further, Grandmother Wren seems to become confused, saying that she is "the last one", and believing that Suvi and Eursulon still live in the house. Ame humors her rather than correcting her.

(At this point, Brennan shifts the focus to Aabria, asking her to decide if Suvi arrives at the cottage in time. Aabria agonizes for a moment before deciding that she does.)

Departures & Arrivals
Suvi's traveling door lets her off in the town of Silbry, in exactly the same spot where she landed as a child with her parents. Though Suvi considers lingering there to deal with some of her old trauma, she fears the Citadel will call her back before she gets enough time in the cottage.

Suvi arrives just as lunchtime is winding to a close -- just as Grandmother Wren is becoming confused about whether or not she still lives there. As she dismounts her horse, her foot touches the road. As Suvi goes inside the house, she does not notice that the road sign to Silbry falls off its tree, taking two iron nails with it. When Ame and Suvi see one another in the kitchen, both are shocked by the changes in one another, but still deeply moved. They embrace and trade a few words before hurrying upstairs to see Grandmother Wren.

Initially, Grandmother Wren mistakes Suvi for her mother, Stone. Their reunion is heartfelt, but short lived; Grandmother Wren instructs Ame to ask Suvi's permission before telling her all the secrets Ame knows -- but Ame doesn't know any secrets. Ame tearfully reminds Grandmother Wren that she had been investigating to make sure what was true, and who could be trusted, but never passed along the results. Grandmother Wren appears confused, certain that she did -- but in that moment, Ame notices a wisp of smoke seem to rise from her mouth, a sure indication of a curse. Ame realizes this curse is the cause of at least some of Grandmother Wren's confusion over the last several months.

As Ame and Grandmother Wren try to work out what's happened, Suvi notices that time seems to be warping outside the cottage -- the sun is lower than it should be. Grandmother Wren tries to tell Ame something, but the curse prevents her, and the attempt is painful. Instead, Grandmother Wren wills her house and everything that is hers to Ame, saying: "I guarded the heart of this world, and there will be a witch of the world's heart after me." Suvi casts Identify on the house, and learns that it holds a source of tremendous power.

Brennan asks Aabria which of her arcane items is with her now, and she clarifies that Suvi's staff remains downstairs.

With her last breaths, Grandmother Wren tells Ame they have been robbed, and that she should find Taro. Outside, the sun has fully set. The two girls spot Taro on the roof of the garden shed; he is turning pearly white and translucent. He flies into the room and addresses both girls as Wren's granddaughters. He says: "you have been cursed too," though it isn't clear if he's addressing Ame alone, or both Ame and Suvi. Suvi notices a wisp of smoke trailing from Ame's mouth.

Taro asks the girls to retrieve a sword, Wavebreaker, from the bathtub in the attic; it has the power to end the curse. As Taro describes the sword, Suvi and Ame realize they gave it to Eursulon during the summer they spent together as children. Taro instructs the girls to find Eursulon and retrieve Wavebreaker, and it will guide them to their next steps.

As Grandmother Wren fades, she asks if Ame will honor the invitations she once extended, after she's gone. Ame agrees. Suvi pleads with her not to leave, but Grandmother Wren says the ones who leave can always come back in our hearts. She closes her eyes and is gone. Taro twinkles away into motes of starlight.

Wondering where Eursulon might be, Suvi gazes out the window at the woods, but sees only an ominous figure walking up the road.

Main Player characters

 * Suvi
 * Ame
 * Eursulon

Returning

 * Steel
 * Ren

New

 * Rosalyn
 * Silence
 * Silver
 * Melia
 * Arin

Mentioned

 * Soft
 * Stone