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« A devout town shrouded in darkness. A place where a virtuous curse has assembled. Come, let's sing the song of the cursed spell. » |
| (Abigail Williams) |
The Salem Subcategory Singularity (セイレム亜種特異点, Seiremu ashu tokuiten?), identified as Subcategory Singularity IV (亜種特異点 IV, Ashu tokuiten IV?, localized as "Pseudo-Singularity IV"), is one of five singularities manifested by the remaining Demon Gods after the defeat of Beast I Goetia. Located in 1692 AD Central Salem, Massachusetts,[1] its Humanity Foundation Value is ?? and the Demon God Raum is its creator. It was the fourth and final officially recognized of the five subcategory singularities visited by Chaldea Security Organization in the undertaking of the Remnant Order to deal with the collateral damage caused by the Human Order Incineration Incident.
The events of Chaldea's visit to this Singularity are covered in the fourth chapter of Epic of Remnant, The Forbidden Advent Garden: Salem (禁忌降臨庭園 セイレム, Kinki kōrin teien Seiremu?). It has the subtitle Heretical Salem (異端なるセイレム, Itan-naru Seiremu?). It received a manga adaptation illustrated by Aoi Ohmori.
Setting[]
Believing pain to be the key to humanity's salvation, Raum sought a way to summon an Outer God. Particularly he wanted to summon Sut-Typhon so he could connect all of mankind to bring about his salvation through pain.[2][3] He created a Singularity that accurately recreates Salem in 1692 at the coordinates of modern Salem.[1][3] There he created a Pseudo-Servant of Abigail Williams, turning her into living Sliver Key to open doors across time and space.[4] Taking advantage of her trust and darker tendencies, Raum manipulated her into summoning the participants of the Salem Witch Trials.[3] Raum would repeat these events by recreating Salem in an effort to produce results.[2][3] By the second recreation, the Singularity consumed the magical energy of 50,000 people within, and it was grew at 105,000 times normal speed. It was at this point SHEBA detected Raum, and used itself as a catalyst to summon the Queen of Sheba into Salem. She was able to slow the Singularity's progress, but it cost her most of her powers.[3] This resulted in her being manipulated into truly believing she was Tituba.[5] By the fifth recreation, Raum began to run out of time and magical energy. Then, in answer to Abigail's request for a friend, he invited the Whateleys into the Singularity.[3] He then order them to summon Sut-Typhon, knowing it was their greatest wish.[2] At some point, the "Gentleman Who Travels Through Time and Space" took notice of Abigail's powers, and thus he came to Salem to meet her. However, he left himself defense against Raum's possession when he went to deal with the another threat in a dream; Raum had tried to summon it as well, but while its attempt failed the Outer God had already begun trying to emerge into the world on its own. Raum then took possession of the Gentleman's body, took the identity of Randolph Carter, and took the role of Abigail's uncle.[4]
History[]
Prelude[]
Chaldea has detected a dome of darkness measuring 700 km in radius has surrounded Salem, including parts of BeverlyWP, PeabodyWP, DanversWP, MarbleheadWP, SwampscottWP, and LynnWP. The status of the residents is unknown, since the drones sent in by the U.S. Army have yet to detect any sign of the local populace or any radio transmissions. 50, 000 people have inexplicably disappeared.[1]
Geronimo suspects the Singularity is a trap, sensing the Demon God is more cautious and villainous than any they have ever faced. He asks Da Vinci if there were any updates to the investigation.[1]
Da Vinci reports when the darkness first manifested, it expanded to its current radius in a matter of seconds. Since then, from an outside perspective, it has remained static. Mages from the Association have also sent in familiars, but none of them reported back. Stranger still is that the Holy Church has reported they found no evidence of magical involvement, nor can they rule it out completely.[1]
Da Vinci confirms Chaldea has covert agents stationed in cities of interest looking for signs of Demon Gods. Coincidentally, Boston was one of them. The other North American should be gathered there now, running recon. So now Chaldea has to wait until they get an update. But while they’re waiting, Da Vinci wants Mash to check the authenticity of reports from all over the world and whether they’re related to Salem’s current situation. She also wants Ritsuka to get Sherlock Holmes’ cooperation.[1]
Mash then notices Da Vinci has been in the command room since last night. Da Vinci confesses she was in the middle of testing a certain summon when the alert went off.[1]
Meanwhile, a mysterious figure lurks the halls of Chaldea.[1]
Everyone later regathers back in the command room. Da Vinci states the upcoming Rayshift will be the final one. All readings indicate that this Singularity is the last one. The Association and UN have also jointly decided to halt all Rayshift operations following this transfer. Afterward, barring authorization from the new director being appointed in December, Chaldea will not be to Rayshift anymore no matter what. Mash believes they shouldn’t be rayshifting now that humanity has stabilized, especially since it involves time travel. Da Vinci concurs, which is why rayshift technology is being sealed following this final operation.[1]
Moving the subject to that of the Singularity, Da Vinci states the darkness surrounding Salem will be designated as the “Mist”. It is a certainty it was made with magecraft since it absorbs all visible light and other forms of electromagnetic waves, and it doesn’t obey the laws of physics. It also extends upward to an average altitude of 600 meters.[1]
The U.S. Army tried sending in drones into the “Mist” but each one became inoperable upon entering. The army also tried using Apache helicopters to lower in sensors, but those were destroyed as well.[1]
A number of journalists snuck past the army’s blockade and entered the Mist, but none of them ever returned. The same is true for the trained animals that were sent in for reconnaissance. There are also no signs of any fauna coming from or entering the Mist.[1]
All the Chaldean agents’ efforts failed as well, except for one. A medieval clockwork automaton had returned from the Mist with sketches depicting Salem as it was in the late 17th century. It is uncertain if the past was faithfully recreated or if magecraft displaced the area. Either way, the effect it would have humanity is immeasurable, so Da Vinci believes a Demon God still plotting to incinerate humanity is responsible. She has been checking the repaired Foundations for any instabilities, so she fears the Singularity threatens the very rules of the world.[1]
Mash reveals the “Mist” eliminates any post-17th century technology, which is why the drones were destroyed and why the clockwork automaton could return.[1]
According to SHEBA’s observations, there are indeed people inside the “Mist” and they appear to be having normal lives. The staff was perplexed they got such detailed information from SHEBA considering it was observing present day space time.[1]
Da Vinci then explains she and Sherlock devised a way to enter the “Mist”: Rayshift into the same era. However, there are two conditions. First is that the number of rayshift occupants is severely limited, as the Association has already shut down Chaldea’s reactor. Second is that the team needs to dress for the occasion, so they don’t stand out in 17th century Salem. Thomas Edison is eager to go, only for Hans Christian Andersen to tell him can’t.[1]
William Shakespeare explains Da Vinci asked him and Andersen to write a scenario for infiltrating Salem. The scenario they wrote was for the expedition team to be a traveling troupe. Da Vinci has already assigned which Servants will be in the troupe based on Shakespeare’s advice. Geronimo wasn’t chosen, which he surmises to be because his inclusion would only endanger RItsuka.[1]
Da Vinci finds Medea’s current indecision about joining the mission peculiar, especially since she vehemently refused when she first heard about it. Mash and Edison both consider it too dangerous to send an actual into a place famed for its witch hunts. Da Vinci explains they need Medea’s expertise to find the line between superstition and magecraft. Surprisingly, though, despite her being deeply offended by the request last night, Medea now agrees to join the mission.[1]
Ritsuka asks Mash if she’s coming too. Mash informs them she wasn’t include in the scenario. Ritsuka then goes to brief their team while Da Vinci makes preparations.[1]
After briefing their team, Ritsuka finds Mash in her room reading the mission files. Mash laments how she isn’t a combatant anymore and understands it would only endanger herself and everyone if an ordinary staff member joined the mission. She wishes there was some way for her to be useful. Upon saying that, she rremembers something urgent and leaves to go prepare.[1]
Later, Da Vinci almost rayshifts Ritsuka’s party to the Singularity when Mash insists to come along as the troupe’s prompter. Hearing she has memorized the entire script, Andersen and Shakespeare both support Mash’s request. Ritsuka also agrees with Mash’s request. Seeing that no one else is objecting, Da Vinci allows Mash to join the mission. RItsuka’s party is then rayshifted to the Singularity.[1]
However, after the rayshift, Medea suddenly enters the room. She reveals she was knocked out and the Medea who left was an impostor.[1]
Unknot: Before Dawn[]
Ritsuka’s party arrives in a forest outside of Salem. As they make their way towards town, Robin Hood suggests having a name for their troupe, so Ritsuka comes up with one.[6]
“Medea” asks if they have a way to contact Chaldea. Her question surprises Mash since Da Vinci explained about the communication device to everyone beforehand. “Medea” claims she only wants to review the information.[6]
Mash explains she has a device to contact Chaldea, though only Ritsuka can use it. Ordinally, the Singularity wouldn’t permit any form of magical communication, but that can be circumvented by connecting the device’s key mechanism to Ritsuka’s Command Spells since they have a strong connection with all the Servants still in Chaldea. However, this method makes use of a byproduct that occurs when SHEBA acts up, so Mash expects it will only be used for this rayshift.[6]
Ritsuka’s party then sees a girl directing other girls in a so-called magic ritual. “Medea” isn’t sensing any magical energy, but she reveals the group’s magecraft has been severely weakened. To prove it, she asks Robin, Charles-Henri Sanson, and Mata Hari to change into their spirit forms. None of them are unable to. Mash wonders if they’ve been incarnated, but Robin says it feels more like they’ve forced into temporary human bodies. He had noticed the spiritron conversion felt weird, even after the rayshift.[6]
Suddenly, an albino girl confronts the group and immediately identifies them as outsiders. Sanson tries to talk to her, but the thick stereotypical French accent he put on causes the girl to run away. He tries to go after her when Mata Hari directs the group’s attention to the girls who are now being attacked by beasts.[6]
While the others are dealing with the beasts, Mash and Mata Hari take the girls to safety.[6]
After the beasts are slain, Robin goes on ahead with Ritsuka. Sanson and Nezha both noticed that their strength has effectively halved. Sanson attributes it to their false incarnation. He shares “Medea”’s concern that the albino girl may have seen them fighting and leaves to go find her. “Medea” examines the beasts in the meantime.[6]
Meanwhile, Ritsuka and Robin meet up with Mash and Mata Hari, who are with the girl who led the ritual: Abigail Williams. Mash tells her she and the others are a band of traveling performers who ended getting lost in the woods on their way to Salem. Abigail assumes they came from Boston. Ritsuka asks Abigail for the date, to which she answers April 21, 1692. Mash finds the date very troubling.[6]
Abigail’s uncle suddenly comes up to the group and reprimands his niece for bringing the other children out into the woods in the middle of the night. Leaving that for later, he thanks the troupe for saving the girls. To repay them, he offers to let the troupe at his house. Ritsuka accepts his kind offer. Abigail’s uncle then introduces himself as Randolph Carter. He adopted Abigail after her parents (his sister and her husband) were killed.[6]
The next day at Carter’s home, Mash sets up the comms device, but it’s inoperable. Mata Hari, meanwhile, has spread word about the troupe while investigating the area. She found the town and its history are nearly identical to 1692 Salem. However, Salem didn’t get a major wharf until much later. There are also residents who weren’t on historical records. Robin observed the local topography and architecture matches the period, but certain things don’t match with historical records. This confirms this Salem is a well-crafted fake. Sanson wonders though if buildings and people being swapped out indicates a major historical change on par with a Singularity from the Incineration of Humanity taking place.[6]
Ritsuka asks about the people living in modern Salem, but Mata Hari and Robin couldn’t find them. Mash says that isn’t the only issues, though, as 1692 is the year the Salem Witch Trials began.[6]
“Medea“ wonders if the images they received from Sheba were falsified. Mash doesn’t deny the possibility, but before the conversation can go further, Carter’s slave, Tituba, enters the room. “Medea” is immediately suspicious of her.[6]
Tituba reveals natives killed Abigail’s parents. Mash now realizes what Geronimo meant when he said his inclusion would only endanger Ritsuka.[6]
Sanson tries to ask Tituba about the albino girl, but she leaves to continue her chores before he can finish the question.[6]
“Medea” tells the others that it isn’t safe to stay in Carter’s house, for it is being subjected to something more powerful than they realize. Robin and Sanson then get into another argument when everyone hears Abigail trying to stop Carter from punishing Tituba.[6]
Carter had learned from the other girls that Tituba was the one who taught the ritual from last night. When Ritsuka confronts him, he informs them that because Abigail tried to perform said ritual, she may no longer see their troupe’s production. Tituba must also be severely punished for teaching the ritual. Abigail begs her uncle to punish her instead.[6]
Mata Hari tells Carter that she understands he is only concerned for Abigail’s safety to the point he went into the woods last night searching for her, though she thought beasts usually stayed away from people nowadays. Carter replies there are other dangers in the forest besides the beasts, mentioning how some say Salem is cursed and has been forsaken by God. Abigail then suddenly runs off. Carter tells everyone to leave her be. He then tells Tituba that she is forbidden from speaking of her hometown.[6]
After Carter and Tituba are gone, Ritsuka’s party all agree to search for clues. Mash says they will split into teams and investigate the town. Robin says the goal is to find someone trustworthy and teams up with Nezha to investigate the wharf. “Medea” decides to stay at the house, considering it too dangerous for someone like her to be walking about town. She also wants to monitor Tituba and Carter both.[6]
At the town center, Sanson accompanies Mata Hari as she spreads word of their troupe’s upcoming performance. The two soon notice the albino girl from last night being harassed by a villager. Sanson steps up and gets the villager to leave the girl be.
After the villager leaves, Mata Hari asks the girl what happened last night. The girl asks if Abigail said anything, which makes Sanson assume she is a friend of Abigail’s. The girl says nobody is her friend, however. She then gives her name: Lavinia Whateley. She says everyone in Salem knows and hates her family, so Sanson and Mata Hari should stay away from her if they want their show to succeed. However, Sanson and Mata Hari both want her to come to her show. Mata Hari even offers her a seat where she can watch in privacy. Lavinia agrees on the condition they don’t tell Abigail she was in the woods last night. If they do, she will tell everyone that she saw them use magecraft to kill the beasts last night. Mata Hari promises they won’t tell Abigail.[6]
After Lavinia leaves, Sanson decides they should investigate the Whatelyes. Mata Hari recommends reporting their encounter to Ritsuka first, though.[6]
At the wharf, Robin and Nezha find a tavern that the former is eager to get a drink from. Nezha warns Robin not to hinder their investigation by drinking. She then suggests capturing every villager and interrogating them one by one. Robin reminds her, though, that the false incarnation has severely them as Servants, so they may end up dead if they make enemies out of the whole town. Nezha reconsiders and concedes.[6]
Ritsuka and Mash find Abigail at the shore. While they’re talking with her, Abigail tells them she secretly invited Lavinia to the gathering last night. Lavinia never came, however. Mash realizes Lavinia was the albino girl from last night and tells Abigail about it, to the girl’s relief. Ritsuka, Mash, and Abigail then hear a shot coming from the wharf. While Ritsuka leaves to check it out, Mash tries to bring Abigail back to town. But Abigail is having a panic attack, saying outside Salem is nothing but pain and suffering.[6]
Meanwhile, in the tavern, Nezha briefly fights some sailors when Ritsuka enters and demands an explanation. Nezha explains she and Robin were gambling when a sailor started to harass her. This didn't bother her until the sailor complained about her body. Ritsuka apologizes for what happened when Mash arrives.[6]
After Mash learns what transpired, a general store owner becomes skeptical of the group being traveling performers. Mash convinces him they’re God-fearing folk, despite their appearances. The villager says he’ll speak with the Reverend and other respected villagers on the group’s behalf if they insist on performing. He recommends putting on a small show for them to start earning the town’s approval.[6]
That evening, the group perform a play at the town hall depicting Queen of Sheba meeting King Solomon. Afterwards, Carter and the Town Judge go outside to an angry mob. Tituba has been accused of witchcraft because a charm of hers was found under the ailing Ann Putnam’s bed. Matthew Hopkins then arrives, saying he’s been appointed as Salem’s head judge by order of the governor. He even gives the Judge official documentation to confirm this. He then orders Tituba to be taken into custody for interrogation. “Medea” stops Ritsuka from interfering, having realized that the witch trials have begun. Carter accompanies Hopkins and Tituba since he is her owner. Ritsuka and Mash take Abigail home at his request.[6]
First Knot[]
The next day at Carter’s home, Mash tells Sanson and Mata Hari that Ritsuka accompanied Carter to the village, with Robin following to keep them safe. They wanted to determine to if Tituba’s charm is actually cursed or not.[7]
“Medea” arrives and reveals she finished turning the house into a magical workshop moments ago. She did it so they could contact Chaldea, and so the other Servants could go into spirit form within the property, too. Sanson confirms it by going into spirit form. Mata Hari realizes “Medea” already could go into spirit form.[7]
“Medea” says they need proof that Salem is the heretical version of history. In order to observe it properly, she built the workshop to isolate herself from outside interference. Sanson suspects her to explain everything in detail when Ritsuka returns, including why she was the only one that falsely incarnated.[7]
Mash guesses heretical history means Salem is actually a separate dimension made from magecraft, rather than its past being displaced. “Medea“ agrees, but she isn’t able to determine the source yet. If it is magecraft, then there should be someone in Salem whose soul that can never be fulfilled, and a will to bring about this curse. She believes doing so will lead them to the Demon God.[7]
She and Sanson already informed Ritsuka and Mash of this, but Mata Hari reveals Lavinia comes from a family of mages. Sanson confirms they found a magical workshop in the basement of the Whateley estate. However, they weren’t able to go inside to determine if the Whateleys still practice magecaft, not wanting to risk setting off a trap.[7]
Sanson then reveals like himself, Hopkins is a famous executioner, not a judge. He tries to explain who Hopkins is, but Mata Hari stops him as Abigail has entered the room with Nezha.
Ritsuka and Robin soon return, while Carter and Abigail go to speak with the Reverend. Robin reveals Tituba is being kept in a filthy underground prison and that everyone, including Carter, is barred from seeing her. He also describes how persistent Ritsuka was in insisting on seeing Tituba’s charm again to determine if there is black magic at work. But Hopkins refused, claiming the doll’s curse would allow spread if people touched or got near it. Sanson figures Carter didn’t believe that, which is why he decided to speak with the Reverend since he was the one who determined Ann’s illness was born of witchcraft.[7]
Sanson then reveals Hopkins should be dead if the date is correct, as he died in 1647. He explains Hopkins is a witch hunter best known by his most likely self-appointed title of “Witchfinder General”. Hopkins was responsible for the execution of 300 so-called witches in east England over the course of three years. Sanson warns they have three days before Tituba is hanged as a witch.[7]
“Medea” decides she must examine Tituba’s charm herself. She then asks the others to describe Tituba. However, they’re unable to recall anything beyond her skin color. Mash assumes something is interfering with their awareness and memories. “Medea” confirms the workshop will prevent that interference, believing such interference requires a Divine Spirit. She says Tituba has been hiding her true appearance and assumes she has a connection to the Demon God. She wishes to examine Tituba directly, but Ritsuka asks about contacting Chaldea first. “Medea” replies there is only a fifty-fifty chance of it working right now. The group agrees to focus on contacting with Chaldea, given the circumstances. Ritsuka, Mash, “Medea”, and Sanson decide to visit Hopkins, while the others investigate the Whateley estate.[7]
Ritsuka, Mash, “Medea”, and Sanson meet with Hopkins. He refuses their request to see the charm. He does agree to Sanson’s request to examine the sick villagers, though, after he demonstrated his medical knowledge.[7]
“Medea” then demands the key to Tituba’s cell, so she can examine her. Hopkins refuses and accuses the group of being a band of thieves disguised as travelling performers. He tells the group to put on a moving performance for the whole town to prove their innocence. To ensure they do not flee, he has “Medea” locked in a cell next to Tituba’s.[7]
Later that night, the group (excluding Sanson) performs a play for the town. Instead of performing Hopkins’ request of a play about Jeanne d’Arc being burned at the stake, they perform a play that Andersen wrote about her and her other selves: a parodied retelling of her life using a reversed “Three Little Pigs” formula.[7]
Meanwhile, Sanson has finished the last of his examinations and starts to head back to the town hall when he notices Lavinia. She warns him to stay in Abigail’s house tonight.[7]
Ritsuka’s party gets “Medea” out of her cell. At her behest, they check Tituba’s cell, only to find it and the other cells empty. “Medea” hearing noises from Tituba’s cells an hour ago and realizes she and the others were moved. At Carter’s request, the prison guard reveals the prisoners have already been sentenced.[7]
The group rushes to the gallows to find Tituba and the others have been long dead. Mata Hari realizes Hopkins had the accused hanged while they were performing. Hopkins permits the group to be jurors while they’re in.[7]
Returning to Carter’s house, “Medea” reveals what’s cutting off their communications is related to what’s interfering with their senses. She explains the reason they can’t go into spirit forms is because they’re bound by physical law while in spirit form. The spiritrons that form their temporary bodies are in an abnormally excited state, yet they’re always provided with the magical energy to maintain their bodies. It is as if their mirror images gained lives of their own in the mirror, unable to leave.[7]
The reason they can’t contact Chaldea is because their magical energy is flowing in one direction. It is like they’re still in the middle of a rayshift and they’re weaker than normal because it’s like they’re stuck in Salem. It also means their Spirit Origins will disappear if they die in Salem. Sanson wonders if they’re the only ones in irregular spirit form, referring to the villagers. “Medea” guesses a mage from the Whateleys may know something.[7]
Robin accuses “Medea” of being the only one capable of leaving Salem and demands she reveal her true identity. Sanson explains Mata Hari was the first to something amiss with “Medea”, so she had Robin and Sanson keep an eye on her. They didn’t tell Ritsuka or Mash because they wished to avoid sowing discord among their ranks. Robin then requests Ritsuka to use a Command Spell on her to see if she is a Chaldean Servant. Carter and Abigail return from burying Tituba, however.[7]
After Abigail went to bed, Carter explains Tituba was sentenced because she confessed to being possessed by the Devil. Tituba had whip marks on her, however, indicating the confession was tortured out of her. But Carter believes the executioner and guarded lied out of fear, not malice. He doubts it was the Devil, so “Medea” wonders if it’s Hopkins or God’s wrath they fear.[7]
Robin stops the conversation, as he and Nezha are both sensing something outside approaching from a distance. While Mash, “Medea”, and Carter stay, the others go outside to investigate.[7]
The group finds that the executed have been risen from the dead. They destroy them, but the glimmer of consciousness the dead villagers show before disintergating makes Sanson question if they just killed living people. The group then hears gunshots coming from the back of the house, so they rush over there.
They find the risen Tituba. She proves far stronger than other undead, nearly breaking the Bounded Field "Medea" established around Carter's house. However, with assistance from "Medea", the group destroy the risen TItuba. After she disintegrates, everyone notices someone was watching from the shadows. Carter recognizes him as Absalom Whateley, head of the Whateleys, and Lavinia's grandfather. A mysterious woman then suddenly shows up.[7]
Second Knot[]
The next day at the town hall, Ritsuka and Mash listen to the villagers discuss last night’s attack. They originally came to warn everyone, but Mash realizes that was pointless since the villagers already know.[8]
Carter calls the monsters from last night ghouls as they match the descriptions by the French aristocrat d’Elerette. He describes ghouls as having an aversion to all living things, feeding on the corpses of their victims to satiate their appetite. Also, according to d’Elerette, ghouls were humans who turned from God’s teachings and abandoned humanity.[8]
The judge wonders the ghouls are the dead come back to life and asks Carter if he saw someone he recognized among them. Ritsuka and Mash get nervous that Carter might confess he saw Tituba. Fortunately, though, he denies seeing someone he recognized, and reveals ghouls and the undead aren’t the same thing. He admits he drove off the ghouls thanks to the help of Ritsuka’s party.
Sanson arrives and tells RItsuka that the Reverend has a request for their troupe. Outside, the Reverend requests the troupe to put on a play for the children to revitalize their spirits.[8]
Mash introduces the Reverend to a member of their troupe who’s yet to perform. It is the mysterious woman the group met last night. She introduces herself as Circe and declares she is the greatest witch ever. The Reverend panics upon hearing she is a witch. He calms down, though, after Mash tells him being a which is the role Circe specializes and her ears and wings are part of her costume.[8]
After the Reverend leaves to tell the other villagers of the troupe’s latest addition, Ritsuka’s party recounts meeting Circe last night.[8]
The previous night, following the ghoul attack, Circe confessed she was posing as Medea the entire time. She is a Masterless Servant likely summoned with Da Vinci’s summoning experiments. Confused, running low on magical energy, and unsure if she can trust Chaldea, Circe tried to escape until she learned Chaldea was surrounded by snow and ice. That was approximately when the Mist manifested around Salem. Circe saw it was her chance and joined the rayshift to Salem, sensing she was being guided there.[8]
With Tituba dead, Circe no longer had a reason to hide anymore. She revealed TItuba was a Servant with said name not being her True Name.[8]
Circe confessed to jamming comms with Chaldea, only pretending to fix them, so her true identity wouldn’t be revealed. She stopped though after learning Salem was cut off from everywhere. She then forged a temporary contract with Ritsuka.[8]
Later, Nezha takes Lavinia to see the play with Abigail. Lavinia tells Abigail that Carter and Hopkins evicted her from her home, so he could speak with her grandfather.[8]
Sanson, having overheard Abigail and Lavinia’s conversation, requests Ritsuka to allow him to investigate the Whateley house. Ritsuka permits it, so the group performs “Journey to the West” without Sanson.[8]
At the play’s intermission, Abigail and Lavinia sneak out to find Sanson.[8]
Meanwhile, at the Whateley house, Sanson witnesses Hopkins taking Absalom custody. Carter has accused Absalom of summoning the ghouls to attack the village. Sanson pleads with Hopkins to at least give Absalom a fair trial. But Hopkins replies a trial isn’t needed, proclaiming even now the Devil is tempting people of Salem. Sanson accuses Hopkins of exasperating the people’s fear and hysteria.[8]
Abigail and Lavinia arrive, with Abgail horrified to hear her uncle denounce the Whateleys as heretics who have no place in Salem. Absalom tells Lavinia to ask Captain Marsh, the wharf’s owner, for help since he’s indebted to their family.[8]
He accuses Carter of despising him for what happened to his sister and her husband. Abigail is confused as she thought natives killed her parents. Absalom claims he merely returned Abigail’s parents to their proper forms, saying it was their choice to walk through his door out of this prison. Hopkin’s men then take him away to prison.[3]
Hopkins orders Sanson to rebuild the gallows, which were destroyed by last night’s storm, by himself.[8]
That night, Lavinia swears vengeance on Hopkins for hanging her grandfather and her father, Noah.[8]
Meanwhile, in Carter’s home, Sanson tells the others what transpired at the Whateley house. He couldn’t do anything for the accused because they were hanged nearly the moment he rebuilt the gallows. He believes it was Hopkins’ way of warning them to stay out of his way. Despite the shortcomings, though, he still wants to support Salem’s justice system and its people.[8]
Later, Salem is attacked by ghouls, this time coming from the town graveyard. The group split up to deal with them.[8]
Ritsuka, Nezha and Sanson confront the risen Absalom, even though he was buried on the hill. Ritsuka stops Nezha from destroying him with her Noble Phantasm. Sanson tells Ritsuka and Nezha not to kill Absalom as they need to question him about what is truly going on.[8]
But while they’re fighting, Carter suddenly arrives at the group’s astonishment. He tells Abaslom that his work in this is finished and shoots him dead..[8]
Third Knot[]
The next morning, Mata Hari reports the findings of her investigation about last night’s attack. Some villagers valiantly defended themselves, but by the end of the night, four were dead. Since it happened in the town graveyard, the bodies have to be buried. At Mata Hari’s suggestion, they were moved to the Reverend’s basement, which is locked and secure as it can.[9]
Circe tells Ritsuka she has bad news. She notices Mash is absent and asks where she is. Mata Hari explains Mash went shopping with Abigail since they’re out of food. Ritsuka wonders where Carter is. Mata Hari wonders that too and where Robin is. Circe then reveals to her dismay that they can now communicate with Chaldea, surprising everyone since only RItsuka should be able to activate the device.[9]
Gathering where the device is, the group is immediately greeted by Medea’s rage toward Circe. Unfortunately, they are not receiving any audio. Mata Hari wonders how communications came back online. Circe says it had nothing to do with what she and Mash tried, nor does it seem like Chaldea did anything to override the interference either. She can only suspect something in Salem or Chaldea is responsible.[9]
Ritsuka informs Da Vinci of the situation in Salem. Da Vinci reveals SHEBA had something to do with Circe’s accidental summoning. It went berserk before comms were reestablished. There is a risk of shutting down, or worse, damaging the system or causing problems with the return rayshift.[9]
Da Vinci then reveals the group’s memories were falsified upon entering Salem. They’re unable to connect their memories of past events with the information they’re currently receiving. The condition induces visual and auditory hallucinations. After comms are cut, Ritsuka, Mata Hari, and Sanson go out to find Mash and Abigail.[9]
The three see Abigail at the general store, but not Mash. They also hear the villagers blaming them for the recent incidents. Noticing her distraught look, Ritsuka and Sanson go up to Abigail to see what’s wrong. Abigail confesses she is looking for Lavinia, who no one has seen since last night. Ritsuka asks her where Mash is. Abigail answers Mash and Carter went to the town outskirts.[9]
Mata Hari, meanwhile, is being harassed by a man she had previously rejected. Ritsuka takes notice when Robin appears and request they come with him for something urgent: he has lost sight of Mash. Sanson tells Ritsuka to go with Robin while he stays and helps Mata Hari.[9]
Robin explains he has been tailing Mash and Abigail since this morning. The girls had finished their shopping and were passing by the town hall when Carter appeared. Carter said he was going to fetch a judge from Boston, or reinforcements failing that. Mash decided to go with him part of the way to find a way out of Salem, even though she should know it’s impossible. Carter and Mash then rode to the village outskirts on horseback, which is where Robin lost sight of them.[9]
On the outskirts, Robin explains Carter and Mash both vanished. He tried searching for them, but the Bounded Field returned him to Salem. Ritsuka informs Robin they contacted Chaldea. Robin says that was around the time he lost sight of Carter and Mash, so he wonders why the Chaldean agents watching the Bounded Field’s perimeter didn’t report anything about those two escaping.[9]
He then shows Ritsuka something else he found: the corpses of a man and woman previously buried in a shallow grave. Ritsuka picks up a broken cross-shaped pendant. Robin determines the woman was shot while the man was presumably hanged. He then notices a strange hexagon rock formation. He assumes it was an altar, but questions why it seems to have been deliberately broken. Ritsuka wonders if the man and woman were sacrifices.[9]
Robin decides he will keep looking for Mash after he returns Ritsuka to town so they can inform the others of the situation. But Ritsuka says they will return together.[9]
Ritsuka and Robin return to Carter’s house and tell Nezha and Circe that Mash and Carter are missing. Circe reveals Nezha discovered Hopkins’ men and the villagers are watching the house now. She also assumes Mash being missing is part of a trap. Abigail then comes in with Sanson and reveals Mata Hari was accused of being a witch.[9]
That night at the town hall, the trial of Mata Hari is underway. Bill Osborne, the villager she was arguing with earlier, has accused her of being a witch and succubus sent by the Devil. He then gives his testimony.[9]
Ritsuka drops the pendant. Abigail recognizes it as her father’s pendant and learns Ritsuka found it at the forest’s edge. Ritsuka realizes the remains they saw were Abigail’s parents. They try to give it to Abigail, but she refuses it, fearful that it came from outside Salem.[9]
Sanson defends Mata Hari’s integrity. Mrs. Pickman expresses her gratitude towards Sanson for saving her daughter. But Hopkins brings up that Sanson is practicing medicine without a license, showing a prescription Sanson left at the Pickmans’ house that was brought to his attention by a neighbor of theirs. Said neighbor accuses the Pickmans of making a pact with the Devil to save their daughter by sacrificing innocent people. She clearly blames them for her own sickly daughter.[9]
Elder Pickman vouches for Sanson, but Hopkins dismisses it, saying an actor can never be a true doctor. As for Mata Hari, he questions if she will repent her for her alleged harlotry. He also tells Mrs. Pickman that she will be questioned as well when the trial is over.[9]
Abigail tries to defend Mata Hari, but in the end, Hopkins sentences Mata Hari to hang as a witch. Mata Hari accepts her sentence, finding her life a small price to pay to save the people of modern Salem. Hopkins also orders Ritsuka, as Mata Hari’s employer, to pay a total of 70 pounds for damages, trial fees, and the execution cost. Mata Hari silently tells Ritsuka something, but they can’t tell what she is saying.[9]
Mata Hari, Old Giles, and Mrs. Pickman are brought to the gallows. Nezha finds it fortunate Abigail is at home and will not see the execution. Circe says there is a will behind the events. She tells the others that they’re going to let Mata Hari be executed, though she doesn’t have time to explain why.[9]
As the Reverend reads Mata Hari her last rites, RItsuka sees her silently saying something. At their request, Robin reads Mata Hari’s lips and copies her sounds. Ritsuka translates it into “It’s Okay. Trust Circe.” The condemned are then hanged.[9]
Circe senses something happened at the Carter’s house. Villagers have set fire to the house; the defenses of Circe’s workshop were only for monsters. Besides rioters, ghouls are attacking the town once again. While fighting the ghouls, Circe has Robin retrieve Mata Hari’s body. Nezha goes off to save Abigail and anyone else she can. She ends up fighting ghouls.[9]
Meanwhile, Sanson helps the constables struggling against the ghouls. Hopkins sees Ritsuka’s troupe stealing Mata Hari’s corpse and demands the judge arrest them. Unfortunately for him, dealing with the ghouls takes precedence.[9]
Ritsuka orders a retreat, but Sanson decides to stay to protect the villagers. The constables try to stop Ritsuka’s party from taking Mata Hari’s corpse when Robin notices her coming back to life. He, Ritsuka, and Circe then make their escape.[9]
Sanson, meanwhile, slays the ghoul Mrs. Pickman to protect Hopkins.[9]
In the forest, Ritsuka, Robin, and Circe rendezvous with Nezha and Abigail. The group prepares to fight the ghouls that followed Nezha when “Tituba“ arrives to help. Ritsuka forms a temporary contract with her.[9]
After the ghouls are slain, “Tituba” introduces herself as the Queen of Sheba. She takes everyone to her camp protected by a Bounded Field, where they are reunited with Mash.[9]
Mata Hari is revealed to be alive, having drank the fake death medicine Circe gave her before her hanging. Mata Hari cushioned her neck, while Circe kept the blood in her head flowing. Circe also explains there is a will controlling the Witch Trials. If Mata Hari left without atoning for her sin or facing justice, it is assumed the others wouldn’t have reunited with Mash. However, if Sheba didn’t help Ritsuka’s party when she did, it is likely this “will” would have had Mash killed.[9]
Fourth Knot[]
Mash reveals time in Salem is speeding up. It’s impossible to tell in Salem, but it’s obvious when observed from within the Bounded Field. This distortion in the time stream near Salem’s perimeter is why Robin lost track of Mash and Carter. After she got separated from Carter, she got lost and became beset by a pack of ghouls. Fortunately, Sheba was nearby to save her.[5]
Circe theorizes Salem is displaced by connecting one area to another in a different time flow, so less energy is used.[5]
Sheba reveals someone summoned her, but she became trapped in Salem and forced into the role of Tituba. After dying as Tituba, she became a ghoul that the others destroyed. She wouldn’t have stayed materialized if Ritsuka didn’t temporarily contract with her.[5]
Robin asks Sheba how she was able to come back after being destroyed as a ghoul. Sheba refuses to answer. Circe assumes Sheba was meant to be summoned as herself, and that she herself was summoned as backup when Sheba was forced into the role of TItuba. Sheba refuses to confirm it, confessing that she doesn’t want to make everyone her enemies by answering it.[5]
Circe realizes communications with Chaldea were restored once Tituba died.[5]
Later, Mash, Nezha, and Abigail split off from Ritsuka, Robin, and Circe. Mata Hari and Sheba stay in camp since they’re supposed to be dead.[5]
Looking for Sanson, Ritsuka’s group finds him with Hopkins’ men, who are barring anyone from seeing Hopkins. Sanson refuses to join the others or share what he learned. Robin, however, was able to pass along a note explaining the situation.[5]
The general store owner arrives and pleads with the group to come with him, saying the sailors are causing trouble. Robin wants to ignore it, but Circe is intrigued and forces the others to go.
Meanwhile, at the camp, Sheba confesses she has innate Demon God resistance. She also knows Mata Hari stayed behind because, unlike the others, she still doesn’t trust her. Mata Hari confirms it to be true. Sheba then explains her resistance comes from the fact she has human and Demon God blood. However, others are affected by her. Mata Hari deduces Sheba can see the future from the fact she came to Mash and the others’ aid right when they needed it, as if it was planned. It is why Sheba is the namesake of Chaldea’s observational lens.[5]
Sheba replies that revealing the future can sometimes change it, so part of the reason she failed was because of what she knew. Mata Hari realizes that’s what she meant when she said she didn’t want to make enemies of them. Sheba describes the trap in Salem as terrifyingly cunning and warns sharing information about it would endanger her. She agrees to share the information, though, in exchange for Mata Hari sharing her memories of Romani Archaman.[5]
Mash’s group finds Lavinia at the gallows. Lavinia tries to convince Abigail to leave Salem with her by Captain Marsh’s ship, but Abigail refuses. After Abigail leaves with Mash and Nezha, Lavinia quietly declares she will fulfill her family’s wish, and begins speaking R’lyehian.[5]
At the tavern, Circe performs a play about when she first met Medea to calm the sailors.[5]
At his manor, Hopkins shows Sanson that the certificate he retrieved from the governor is genuine. Sanson finds that strange since the governor should be currently dealing with the natives up north. Hopkins also doesn’t know about the Massacre of Glencoe, even though he should if he came from England recently. He then tries to voice his suspicion of what he thinks Hopkins is when Hopkins interrupts him.[5]
Hopkins furiously accuses Sanson of trying to trick him. He asserts it doesn’t matter what he is because he will fulfill his duty regardless. Sanson realizes even Hopkins has doubts about the situation, yet is still trying to fulfill his duty. He believes Hopkins is trying to redeem himself in his own way and compares him to a Servant.[5]
Sanson further realizes Chaldea didn’t come to Salem of their own accord, rather they were invited. He doubts it was the Demon God who invited them, though.[5]
Hopkins shows Sanson the Book of EibonWP, a grimoire of heretical gods and spells. Lavinia brought it to him this morning and confessed to conducting one of the book’s ritual with Abigail.[5]
At the camp, while Abigail is sleeping, Mash confesses she couldn’t recall the list of Salem residents whenever she tried to in Carter’s house. She confirms Abigail was on the list, being one of the most important people during the trials. But most of the other residents’ names weren’t on the list, including Carter’s.
Mata Hari suspects Abigail. Sheba agrees they should keep an eye on Abigail, for both her safety and theirs. But Robin believes they should worry about Hopkins and Sanson, who supposedly joined the witch hunter’s side. Mash believes they shouldn’t accuse Abigail of being anything without good reason, otherwise they’ll give into their fears, just like what happened to Salem in the actual witch trials.[5]
Nezha senses evil in the village, so she, Ritsuka, Robin, and Mata Hari rush over there. Mash finds Abigail is running a high fever.[5]
The group, despite aid from the sailors, become outnumbered by the ghosts and demons attacking the town. Fortunately, Carter arrives with the Massachusetts cavalry, providing them with sliver bullets so they can harm the monsters.[5]
After the monsters are slain, Carter sees his house has burnt down and desperately searches for Abigail. But to his relief, Ritsuka tells him that Abigail is staying with the troupe. To show his gratitude for again saving his niece, Carter invites the troupe to stay at a vacant house belonging to an acquitance of his. He then leaves to get Abigail.[5]
Fifth Knot[]
At the vacant house, Abigail speaks R’lyehian in her sleep. A figure with glowing red eyes watching over her declares there is only one left until the ultimate gate opens. His heads changes into that of a raven and he proclaims “he” has already begun his descent within the depths of Abigail’s mind. He gives congratulations to Whateley.[10]
RItsuka’s party tells Carter the truth about Salem, but he refuses to believe it.
Ritsuka asks Carter where Abigail’s parents are buried, as they’re not in the town graveyard. He answers they have no grave because their bodies were never found, so Abigail assumed they were cannibalized by Native Americans.[10]
Robin takes Ritsuka outside and passes along a message from Mata Hari. More hangings have occurred, one last night and another before dawn. Those hanged were the instigators of last night’s riot and the sailors.[10]
Robin then tells Ritsuka about Mata Hari’s suggestion of assassinating Carter as a possible way to get out of Salem. He also theorizes that the Demon God becomes stronger with every crime committed.[10]
Meanwhile, at the forest altar, Abigail sacrifices a rabbit for the spell Lavinia taught her. Hopkins and his men and Sanson soon find her. Hopkins moves to arrest Abigail, but Sanson protects her, insisting that the ritual is a child’s poor way of playing house. Dismissing Sanson’s pleas, Hopkins moves to arrest Abigail with the implication he will torture her until she confesses to being a witch. But Lavinia arrives and kills Hopkins with Abigail’s sliver knife.
With her grandfather avenged, Lavinia then offers Hopkin’s life for the ritual Abigail was trying to conduct. However, his life isn’t enough, so she decides to let Hopkins’ men kill her. To entice them to do so, Lavinia confesses she taught Abigail the ritual, the Ritual of Descent. However, Sanson knocks one of the constables out, and tells Lavinia to run away.
Ritsuka, Mash, Nezha, and Robin soon arrive and see Hopkins is dead. Lavinia runs away as Abigail comes down with a fever. Sanson then takes the blame for Hopkin’s murder.
After Sanson is arrested, Ritsuka and the others return to the house with Abigail. By nightfall, Abigail’s fever has calmed down a bit, thanks in part to Circe’s porridge. Circe suspects, though, that Abigail’s fever will not be alleviated by common medicine.
At Abigail’s insistence, Ritsuka and Mash stay with her for a while, performing an improv play for her.[10]
Afterwards, Ritsuka goes out for a walk when they encounter Mephistopheles. He doesn’t exactly explain how he got into Salem without rayshifting, only stating that visiting hellscapes is a hobby of his and that the doors are always open for them.[10]
He theorizes the Demon God wasn’t the one who created Salem, rather it was a god far beyond humanity.[10]
He reveals time is speeding up, and the date is the evening of April 29. Tomorrow is Walpurgisnatch, the time when witches become maddened.[10]
Mephistopheles vanishes and Mash arrives to come get Ritsuka. Though confused about where Mephistopheles went, Ritsuka reaffirms with Mash their resolve to stop the Demon God and returns to the house with her.[10]
Sixth Knot[]
Despite being the next morning, the sky is pitch black. Circe finds the well is full of tar, and the milk severely rotten. Mata Hari arrives disguised as Medea thanks to Sheba lending some of her power. She warns the village is in utter chaos because of the swarms of birds and insects and the pitch black sky.[2]
Meanwhile, in the house, Abigail asks Mash to find Lavinia in the woods.[2]
Later, Ritsuka’s party comes to the town hall to watch Sanson’s trial. Circe tells Ritsuka that Sanson refused her fake death medicine.[2]
Before Sanson’s trial starts, the judge announces that the local militia is currently searching for Lavinia.[2]
After the constables give their testimony, the judge calls for Abigail, the other person of interest. Seeing Abigail is absent, the judge asks Carter has anything to say on her behalf. Carter answers his niece is currently recuperating from physical and mental exhaustion, and that he will defend her.[2]
Sanson admits to the charges of him assisting Lavinia in her escape after she killed Hopkins. Ritsuka tries to defend Sanson by saying Lavinia’s testimony is required for the full picture. Unfortunately, the villagers all show their animosity towards the Whateleys, calling Lavinia a witch.[2]
The judge understands Ritsuka is coming to Sanson’s defense as the troupe leader. But he reminds them another member of their troupe, Mata Hari, was only recently executed for being a witch. He says one could conclude that Ritsuka is the one who gave orders to Mata Hari and Sanson. The only reason Ritsuka is free at all is because of a lack of both evidence and accusations made against them.[2]
Carter, however, provides evidence by revealing that Ritsuka’s troupe is hiding the once thought dead Tituba out in the woods. The judge quickly gives a guilty verdict for Sanson when Abigail arrives to try and stop it. Carter, however, convinces the judge to ignore her.[2]
The judge warns Ritsuka that they will be made to account for their complicity in Sanson’s crimes. Normally, they would be taken into custody, but since they and their troupe are the family of the condemned, he will permit them to attend Sanson’s execution. He warns any attempts to interfere will be dealt with harshly and orders the constables to keep an eye on the troupe.[2]
At the gallows, Mata Hari and Circe remind Ritsuka that if Sanson dies now, his contract with them will end and he will forget everything about his experiences as a Servant of Chaldea. Ritsuka tries to use a Command Spell to save Sanson. However, Robin stops them, having realized Sanson is sacrificing himself so the others aren’t implicated.[2]
After Sanson is hanged, the judge orders the constables to take Ritsuka into custody. To save Ritsuka, Abigail decides she must become the one true sin in Salem; Nezha senses an evil aura.[2]
Abigail confesses she is a witch, admitting to conducting dark rituals in the woods and leading her friends astray. The villagers all respond by stoning Abigail. Nezha protects Abigail when Abigail suddenly transforms.[2]
Mash compares the transformation to a Spirit Origin release and wonders if Abigail was a Servant all along. She further wonders if Abigail is an Anti-Hero witch and if the trials ended up creating an actual witch.
Nezha senses Abigail’s threat is growing. Circe calls Abigail an actual witch and realizes she was summoned to stop her. Nezha and Robin join Circe with orders from Ritsuka not to hurt Abigail.[2]
Ritsuka’s party pacify Abigail. She returns to normal and falls unconscious. However, she, Circe, and Ritsuka are all taken into custody.[2]
Carter visits Ritsuka and Circe in their prison cells. Ritsuka, however, has already deduced he is the Demon God. “Carter“ wishes for them to understand his objective. Circe thinks he is trying to manipulate them and asks why he didn’t explain his objective from the start. “Carter” answers it’s because he failed with that batch, but now it’s time to tell the truth.[2]
“Carter” reveals he chose Salem and Abigail for his plan to save mankind. Salem borders on sanity and madness, where the wisdom of the modern age and the darkness of the Middle Ages intertwine. Abigail will serve as mankind’s savior through pain. “Carter“ believes pain is the basis for human happiness and for humans in general.[2]
He warns Abigail will be tried as a witch at dawn tomorrow. He recounts how many, including himself, failed to save her, which is why invited Chaldea.[2]
Circe asks “Carter’ what he meant by “that batch” and suspects him of repeating the past several days to produce results. “Carter” denies he has, asserting he only wants to move forward. He compressed that process, however, by speeding up the cycle of life and death. Such a feat is possible in Salem, especially with a source of magical energy. “Carter” tested for optimal conditions, made adjustments, and invited guests, an indispensable factor.[2]
Ritsuka accuses “Carter” of toying with Abigail and the people of Salem. But “Carter” says no one in Salem is here against their will and that includes Chaldea.[2]
He sees visiting hours are over and starts to leave when Ritsuka asks him who his body belongs to. “Carter” answers it’s his by this point.[2]
Meanwhile, Mash and Robin find Lavinia in the woods. Mash explains to Lavinia that they haven’t come to capture, rather for her help. Lavinia tries to run, but she stops when Robin says Sanson never ran for all his faults.[2]
Lavinia reveals the Demon God brought her and her family to Salem. Knowing both Salem and time period were wrong, the Whateleys tried several times, but to no avail. The Demon God appeared before them and ordered them to summon to the Outer God, knowing it is their greatest wish. The Demon God knew about her family’s most closely guarded wish, so Lavinia investigated Salem to understand his interest.[2]
She discovered there were other guests before her and her family, suspecting they were the sixth. She suspects, like her and her family, they were forced to serve the Demon. Robin realizes she deduced all of this from the forest altar, which is actually six broken gravestones. Lavinia confirms it and suspects the Native Americans who killed Abigail’s parents, the wharf and the ships that shouldn’t exist in the period, and Tituba were guests as well. She suspects Hopkins and Chaldea were the seventh guest.[2]
Mash reveals she received a message from Circe via Nezha explaining that Carter is the Demon God disguised and that he seeks a way to save mankind different from Goetia. Seeing Lavinia is confused, Mash decides to tell her about Chaldea in exchange for information about the Outer God, hoping said knowledge will help save Ritsuka, Circe, and Abigail.[2]
After hearing Abigail is confined in Hopkins’ manor thanks to Mash’s persistence, Lavinia explains her grandfather changed after her family came to Salem. Absalom started to believe he was feuding with Abigail’s parent, even though he wasn’t. It made him even more eager to complete the Ritual of Descent, in fact.[2]
Lavinia confesses she at first only pretended to be Abigail’s friend because her grandfather thought she was hiding something. She even taught her the Ritual of Descent with a fake grimoire. Over time, however, Lavinia’s memories became falsified to make it seem she grew up in Salem, born under the comet Abigail was.[2]
Lavinia then explains the Outer God exists outside of the universe, yet he borders all possible dimensions and is tied to all possible things. He is known as Sut-Typhon.[2]
Final Knot[]
The next morning, everyone gathers at the town hall for the trial of Ritsuka, Circe, and Abigail.[3]
Bizarrely, Nezha and Mata Hari (disguised as Medea) find there are ghouls mixed in with the living, including those that were destroyed. Mata Hari wonders if the ghouls are like Tituba in that they’ll keep reviving so long as they have a role.[3]
Ritsuka, Circe, and Abigail are brought out. Circe is the first one on the stand. The judge asks her if she admits to performing witchcraft in public. Circe replies she only used witchcraft back then to keep innocent people safe. The judge commends Circe for her honesty in admitting to her crimes of her own accord. He will, therefore, show mercy and orders her feet to be weighted heavily so her death is quick and painless.[3]
Ritsuka is next on the stand. The judge addresses Carter’s claims that Ritsuka’s troupe was harboring Tituba in the woods first and asks the constable if he can corroborate. The constable confirms a campsite was found in the woods, but it was deserted so it is undetermined if Tituba was there. Hearing this, the judge puts Carter’s allegations aside for now.[3]
The judge tries to state the next accusation leveled against Ritsuka when Abigail interrupts and tries to defend Ritsuka. She reminds everyone she is an actual witch, so she questions why innocent people are being framed.[3]
“Carter” dismisses Abigail’s confession, for he needs true atonement to reach his objective. He claims to the court that Ritsuka has tricked his niece into taking the fall for their own misdeeds. He then asks permission to lead the proceedings, which the judge allows.[3]
With a snap of his fingers, “Carter” changes the atmosphere instantly. He claims Ritsuka’s troupe is directly responsible for Abigail’s sins and, to prove it, he will remind everyone of her sin. Abigail is put on the stand, though she does not speak.[3]
“Carter” reveals he created the first Salem with the goal of recreating history faithfully. However, it diverged from the moment of its creation; the outcome of identical situations differed in many ways. The only remaining constant was that Abigail was always at the center. He, therefore, watched her very closely.[3]
He reveals Abigail caused her parents’ deaths, somehow responsible for a gun misfiring and the wagon overturning. It was in that moment that he and Abigail first met. Abigail recalls her parent’s deaths, revealing her father’s neck got tangled in the reins.[3]
“Carter” confesses he inadvertedly allowed Chaldea to enter the second Salem when SHEBA detected him and alerted Chaldea. He reveals Flauros designed SHEBA with a feature to observe and restrain Demon Gods when they act contrary to Goetia’s expectations.[3]
Acting on its own, SHEBA, after detecting the Demon God, overloaded the FATE system and used itself as a catalyst to summon Sheba into Salem. By that point, the Singularity consumed the magical energy of 50,000 people within, and it was proceeding at 105,000 times normal speed. Sheba slowed down it, but it exhausted her and reduced her powers.
“Carter’ is reminded of the real Tituba and asks Abigail what happened to her. Abigail answers she became a ghoul and is still in the woods even now. “Carter” remembers it was Abigail’s suggestion and recalls ghouls consume the mind of the dead, thereby becoming one with them.[3]
By the fifth Salem, “Carter“ began to run out of time and magical energy. Growing reckless, he asked Abigail for advice. Abigail requested a friend, one she could love even if God didn’t.[3]
Lavinia then enters and splashes “Carter” with the Powder of Ibn-Ghazi, designed to make spirits materialize, turning his head into that of a raven. This allows Sheba to enter the town hall’s Bounded Field in her true form. She reveals the Demon God is Raum. She also assures Ritsuka that they and their team will not suffer an intelligence debuff so long as she is in the courtroom.[3]
Suddenly, all the villagers turn into ghouls, having been so the entire time. Removing her disguise, Mata Hari surmises the ghouls are rational people by day, and voracious monsters by night. She isn’t sure if Abigail affected them or if they affected Abigail. Sheba reveals they were all once human, with the misfortune of being trapped in this Salem.[3]
Abigail mistakes Sheba for her Tituba upon seeing her. Her magical energy surges with her emotions as she implies she has seen Tituba die many times. Lavinia calls out to Abigail.[3]
Raum reveals Abigail summoned the participants of the Witch Trials into Salem. They were so greedy that even he could not satiate them. Even in death, they sought redemption to the point they entrusted their wish for forgiveness to a false Grail.[3]
Lavinia calls out to Abigail again, and Abigail transforms. As Ritsuka’s party holds Abigail off, Lavinia reveals Sut-Typhon is about to descend.[3]
Raum orders the judge to continue the trial and to continue passing down judgement until a god worth worshiping appears. He essentially reveals he has repeatedly resurrected the people of Salem for the sake of his goal and refuses to die until it is achieved.[3]
He then addresses Abigail’s fifth and most grievous sin: her naïve trust in others. Her indomitable faith shrouded Salem in a veil of light that completely obviated guilt, removing all distinction between good and evil. As a result, the people of Salem were neither punished nor forgiven for their sins. It was enough to give Hopkins a chance for salvation.[3]
Raum then turns into his true self to protect Abigail, as he tells her it is because she is a sinner that she trusted him.[3]
Communications with Chaldea are suddenly restored. Da Vinci informs RItsuka’s party that the Mist is rapidly dissipating and that the U.S. Army is currently heading for Salem. Ritsuka warns against allowing the army in now.[3]
Geronimo agrees and reveals magical energy is being rapidly consumed across the continent, primarily in heavily populated areas. He believes the very underpinnings of magecraft are becoming fractured. Da Vinci indirectly calls Raum a heretic for what he has done. Edison realizes there will be casualties among ordinary citizens.[3]
Da Vinci decides to alert everyone from the Association and the Church that there is a heretic that threatens them all. She vows to take all responsibility for whatever happens on behalf of Chaldea, not caring if it results in the organization’s dismantlement, so long as it fulfills its role to protect humanity.[3]
She informs Ritsuka that Chaldea will seal Salem from the outside with multiple bounded fields. If Ritsuka’s party cannot resolve the situation with the limited time they have, Chaldea will destroy everything there. With that warning, Ritsuka’s party fight Raum.
Raum is defeated and returns to his raven-headed Carter form. His head tears itself off, transforming into a full raven. Ritsuka thinks Raum is trying to take Abigail with him and orders Robin to shoot. Robin shoots Raum, but the Demon God has already mortally wounded his true target: Lavinia.[3]
Near death, Raum reveals space-time gates are increasing in number. He declares Abigail will surely abandon everything. Abigail then crushes him under her heel.[3]
With the last of her humanity gone, Abigail is now possessed by Sut-Typhon. She declares her intent to punish everyone with pain for their sins, calling it the only path to redemption. However, her inexperience with the space-time gates and the Bounded Field keep her from reaching the outside world. She decides then to send pain directly into the hearts of the mages maintaining the Bounded Field.[3]
Abigail states she can never leave Salem, as her own sins are too deeply ingrained into the land. So she will make everywhere a part of Salem by connecting everyone to each other and to her. She will then bestow eternal pain upon everyone. Ritsuka’s party fights Abigail to stop her.[3]
It is revealed Raum met up with Zepar after escaping the Time Temple. Zepar told Raum about what happened to other remnants and what he himself plans to do. He asked Raum what his solution will be. Rauma declared he will use superstition with legends to end reality. To start, he will create a town steeped in superstition and conduct trial after trial there until he gets his desired results.[3]
He refuted Zepar that the truth will save mankind, declaring he will use existences outside the universe instead. Zepar reminded Raum that they lack the means to reach outside the universe. But Raum revealed there is a fictional mythology describing the fever dreams of a single man that coincidentally also described a higher being from outside the universe. A tiny part of that being imprinted itself into the common universe. The man’s story was sheer delusion, but he still opened a path to outside the universe.[3]
Raum declared his intent to turn this fiction into reality, believing only a fictional Foreigner can end humanity. Zepar told Raum that his delusion will be his undoing and that his approach already failed 14000 years ago.[3]
Meanwhile, Abigail continues to grow stronger. She tells Ritsuka that they were invited to Salem because they sought solace from their guilt of failing to save everyone. Ritsuka wonders if they were the seventh guest and starts to feel like they’re going mad. But Robin smacks Ritsuka out of it and asserts to Abigail that Ritsuka only cares about ensuring a bright future for everyone.[3]
Sheba confirms Abigail is a Servant, albeit one who controls Salem’s magical energy.[3]
Ritsuka and Mash offer to take Abigail to the outside world, a world people built together working toward the future. Abigail laughs at them for thinking it would be easy to save a single child and breaks through Chaldea’s barriers. With nowhere in the world out of her reach, she now effectively has access to unlimited magical energy. But Mash and Ritsuka both believe she has a limit.[3]
Sheba realizes Abigail isn’t using the gates to their fullest potential, as she isn’t yet fully fused with Sut-Typhon. Furthermore, Abigail hasn’t broken through her barrier yet, even though she can. So Sheba and Circe create another barrier inside the town hall to seal off the gates from within, knowing they will take the full force of the pain Abigail is inflicting on the outside world. It also dispels the false incarnation, restoring Ritsuka’s Servants to their original strength.[3]
While Sheba and Circe keep the gates sealed, Robin, Mata Hari, and Nezha fight Abigail once more.[3]
After she is defeated, Abigail is disconnected from Sut-Typhon. Lavinia weakly calls out to Abigail. Circe resuscitated her with her medicine, but unfortunately, Lavinia is still dying.[3]
Lavinia confesses she and her family never existed in the real Salem. In fact, they were fictional characters. Lavinia then collapses, getting closer to death. Holding her in her arms, Abigail and Lavinia reaffirm their friendship before Lavinia finally passes.[3]
Epilogue: Salem[]
The next day, everyone helps Abigail bury Lavinia on the shore. Sheba reveals the Mist around Salem is slowly dissipating. Mata Hari deduces Raum used Abigail for the core of his fake Salem. Sheba reveals the people of modern Salem are weakened, but they’ll return to normal once they cross the Mist. Circe reveals Abigail is a Pseudo-Servant created within the fake Salem. Once it disappears, so will she.[4]
Then, to everyone’s surprise, Carter appears. They think he’s Raum until he assures them he isn’t and introduces himself as the “Gentleman Who Travels Through Time and Space“. He explains that while he was dealing with another threat through his sleep, Raum possessed his body. He assumes Raum chose him to ensure no one could infiltrate Salem because of his deep connection to the land. Even in his spirit form, the Gentleman remained connected to his body, so he learned some of what Raum knew. It is why he already knows about Abigail, for whom he came to Salem. The fake Salem then begins to crumble, so the group head to the town center where they’ll have more time.[4]
The Gentleman tells Abigail she is a living Sliver Key, meaning she can freely travel across all dimensions. He considers it a parting gift from a dead Demon God. He then offers Abigail two choices: allow him to seal her powers away, erase some of her memories, and take her to any time period she desires, or travel him across space and time.[4]
Abigail is unsure about leaving Salem because she still loves her home despite its severe faults. She confesses to Ritsuka that she committed a terrible sin long ago, one she repeated in the fake Salem trapped by her own conscience and dark impulses. It was her choice to accept Raum’s offer.[4]
She feels conflicted leaving Salem, believing God can never forgive her. But after Ritsuka and Mash tell her it is ultimately her choice and life is full of opportunities, she chooses to travel with the Gentleman. She hopes that she’ll meet Lavinia again in her travels and that one day she’ll become a new Servant in Chaldea, a hope Mash also shares.[9]
Abigail recalls the Gentleman said his mind and body existed independently, and asks if it’s possible to transfer Sanson’s memories from being he was executed to the Sanson in Chaldea. The Gentleman answers it cannot be done at the moment, further encouraging Abigail to travel with him and learn.[4]
After Abigail and the Gentleman leave, Circe and Sheba disappear. Ritsuka’s party is then sent back to Chaldea.[4]
Meanwhile, Abigail finds Sanson and offers him two choices: return to the Throne or start over with a clean slate. Sanson decides to stay, believing he did what he set out to do. Abigail tells him he has already the key to open the gate he needs to open. Sanson is confused when he bumps into Marie Antoinette, who proceeds to teach him how to dance.[4]
Epilogue: Chaldea[]
Sanson is resummoned at the same time Ritsuka's party returned from Salem, albeit without his memories of the Singularity.[11]
Participants[]
Servants
| Designation | Identity | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin | Charles-Henri SansonWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
| Lancer | NezhaWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
| Archer | Robin HoodWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
| Assassin | Mata HariWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
| Caster of Okeanos | CirceWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
| Caster of Midrash | Queen of ShebaWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
| Caster | MephistophelesWP | N/A |
| Foreigner | Abigail WilliamsWP | N/A |
Non-Servants
| Designation | Identity | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Human | Lavinia WhateleyWP | N/A |
| Human | Randolph CarterWP | Abigail Williams |
| Human | Absalom WhateleyWP | N/A |
| Human | Matthew HopkinsWP | N/A |
| Demon God | RaumWP | Abigail Williams |
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Prologue
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Section 7: Sixth Knot
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 3.41 3.42 3.43 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Section 8: Final Knot
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Epilogue: Salem
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Section 5: Fourth Knot
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Section 1: Unknot: Before Dawn
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Section 2: First Knot
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Section 3: Second Knot
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Section 4: Third Knot
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Section 6: Fifth Knot
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - Salem: The Forbidden Advent Garden, Epilogue: Chaldea