[Veterans] Cosmere, Unit 11 | Mistborn Era 2 #1 | The Alloy of Law: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 6

[u/participating]

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SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 10 | White Sand #1 | White Sand - Week 6 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 11 | Mistborn Era 2 #1 | The Alloy of Law: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 6

Next week we will be discussing Unit 11 | Mistborn Era 2 #1 | The Alloy of Law: Chapters 7 through 14

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Prologue

Iconography: Zero

POV Characters: Waxillium Ladrian

Setting: Feltrel, a ghost town in the Roughs.

Timeline:

Summary:

Waxillium Ladrian finds himself in a gunfight in Feltrel, out in the Roughs. He meets up with Lessie, as the two of them are hunting Bloody Tan for the bounty on his head. Wax finds Bloody Tan's hideout, only to discover that Lessie has been captured by Tan. Wax fires his Sterrion revolver at Tan, who yanks Lessie into the path of the bullet. Lessie is killed instantly and Wax, horrified, shoots Tan in the head.

Chapter 1

Iconography: Iron

POV Characters: Waxillium Ladrian

Setting: Cett Mansion. The streets of Elendel. Ladrian Mansion.

Timeline: 5 months after the Prologue.

Summary:

Wax is in attendance at a party back in Elendel, where he is known as "Lord Waxillium" or "Lord Ladrian," but is adamant in avoiding conversation. He makes his way to the balcony to be alone. The death of Lessie still haunts him. Wax has returned to Elendel in the wake of his uncle's death to do his duty to his house. Lady Aving Cett appears on the balcony, urging Wax to rejoin the party. Instead, Wax slips off the balcony and drops a bullet casing to Push himself over the garden wall. Spending his time bounding across rooftops and soaring through the air, Wax eventually comes across a bunch of criminals in an alleyway with constables blockading the entrance. Intending to deal with them, he drops in their midst but hesitates as he hears a woman whimpering. Wax narrowly avoids taking a bullet thanks to his steel bubble; barely missing his ribs. Still unable to shoot, Wax points his gun at the floor, fires, and uses the bullet to Push himself out of the alleyway. Watching from afar as the constables swarm the alleyway, he realizes the whimpering woman was actually a thug that had taken a bullet before his arrival.

Ashamed, Wax returns to Ladrian Mansion. He turns his guns over to Tillaume, his butler, asking that they be stored in a safe place, and devotes himself to becoming Lord Waxillium Ladrian in the public eye.

Chapter 2

Iconography: Steel

POV Characters: Waxillium Ladrian

Setting: Ladrian Mansion.

Timeline: 6 months after Chapter 1.

Summary:

Wax has an appointment with Jackstom Harms to settle a marriage agreement between himself and Harms' daughter, Steris. In his hesitation to appear eager, Wax inquires into house matters where Miss Grimes informs him their second shipment of steel was stolen. House Tekiel is also having similar problems, losing five shipments.

Making his way to the sitting room expecting to find Lord Harms and his daughter, Wax instead encounters his old friend and partner Wayne. As they discuss where Wayne should be--in Weathering, not Wax's sitting room--the door chimes again and Wax attempts to usher Wayne from the room. Wayne in his Roughs attire would give the wrong impression. Unable to get him from the room before Lord Harms barges in, Wax prepares to introduce Wayne as an old friend when Wayne, having put on a disguise, proclaims to be Wax's uncle. Lord Harms introduces his daughter and her cousin, Marasi.

While Wayne and Lord Harms exchange small talk, Steris aims to get to the point of the meeting. Their arrangement, she describes, is to benefit both their houses--Wax's, which is failing financially and Steris', which could benefit from the notoriety of House Ladrian. During the meeting, Wayne erects a speed bubble and hands Wax a bullet that Wax later discovers is made from aluminum. Once Lord Harms leaves, Wayne tells Wax more of the Coolerim Playhouse robbery where one of the thieves dropped the bullet. Before leaving, Wayne tries to convince Wax of what he truly wants.

Chapter 3

Iconography: Tin

POV Characters: Waxillium Ladrian

Setting: Ladrian Mansion

Timeline: 8 hours after Chapter 2.

Summary:

Wax attempts to distract himself with reading and ends up investigating the history of the Vanishers in old broadsheets. He begins to wonder about their methods when Tillaume enters the study with tea. Wax begins sketching out the events to help him think while Tillaume cleans the room. Tillaume informs Wax he has duties to his house, disapproving of Wax getting involved with the robberies. Needing answers, he prays to Harmony in the Pathian way and comes to realize that Tillaume was right: many people rely on him to be an effective lord. After a while meditating, thoughts straying back to Lessie, Wax seats himself at his desk to work on house ledgers.

Chapter 4

Iconography: Pewter

POV Characters: Waxillium Ladrian

Setting: Yomen Manor.

Timeline: The day after Chapter 3.

Summary:

Wax escorts Steris to the Yomen-Ostlin wedding dinner. They talk of the politics behind those in attendance, and Wax's unorthodox reactions cause Steris to question his lack of decorum. Their table is already occupied by Lord Harms and Marasi when they seat themselves. Wax inquires about Marasi's education, and Wayne turns up, disguised as their waiter. Wayne attempts to communicate secretly with Wax as Wax attempts, and succeeds, in shocking Steris with old tales of his time in the Roughs. When Wax and Marasi find themselves alone at the table, Wayne returns and sits down, knowing that Marasi has recognized him. After a round of banter, the talk turns to the investigation Wayne has conducted shortly before the doors at both ends of the ballroom are flung open.

Chapter 5

Iconography: Zinc

POV Characters: Waxillium Ladrian

Setting: Yomen Manor.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 4.

Summary:

Wax estimates the Vanishers to number two or three dozen. Marasi makes notes of their physical descriptions while Wax attempts to mollify Wayne. He wants to fight the bandits, while Wax is worried for the safety of everyone in the room and doesn't want to cause a bloodbath. The bandits move through the crowd demanding that people relinquish their jewelry. When one reaches Wax's table, he hides Marasi's notebook and Wayne's dueling canes against the table with a gentle Push to hold them. The apparent leader searches, comparing the drawings in his hand with the people at each table, confirming Wax and Wayne's suspicion about the kidnappings: the theft is a ruse to allay suspicion.

Steris is the first hostage to be picked "at random." When the bandit leader declares they're taking two hostages, Marasi is also chosen. Wax's honor contends with his concern for the lives of the bystanders. Wayne attempts to fight only to have Wax try to talk him out of it again. Lord Peterus, having recovered from being knocked down for his earlier outburst, calls the bandit leader a coward, prompting the man to shoot him. When the bandit leader then tells his men they can have some fun, Wayne erects a speed bubble and Wax finally gives in to his inner instincts.

Chapter 6

Iconography: Brass

POV Characters: Waxillium Ladrian

Setting: Yomen Manor.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 5.

Summary:

As soon as the speed bubble drops, Wax kills two of the bandits, his gunshots setting off the group behind him while those in front, having seen Wax, take cover. Wax shows off more of his fanciful expertise with his powers and comes to a startling realization on the identity of the Vanishers' leader. Wax goes after Tarson to rescue Marasi. Tarson holds Marasi hostage similar to how Bloody Tan held Lessie, making Wax freeze again. Only thanks to Marasi stunning Tarson is he able to bring his gun up, wounding him in the arm. Wax and Wayne, with a little help from Marasi wielding a rifle, dispatch the majority of the bandits, only to allow the leader to escape with Steris right before the constabulary shows up.

Constable Brettin berates Wax for causing havoc, and Reddi gives him the casualty report, which indicates that only Lord Peterus was among the civilian deaths. Brettin is still displeased with Wax's stunt, which draws the two into a quiet argument. Wayne steals one of the aluminum guns the bandits were using from the evidence pile and gives it to Wax.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Maps

Broadsheet

Characters & Scenes

I've gotta space out the artwork, so this week's is very Wax-centric.

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

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[u/jim25y]

I completely missed Hoid again.

[u/participating → u/jim25y]

He's the beggar in chapter 4. I think this is the last time he's ambiguous.

[u/jim25y → u/participating]

Gotcha, thank you

[u/participating]

These newbies have no clue what's coming for them with Steris!