Summary:Of Darkness and Dawn
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This page contains a chapter by chapter summary of Of Darkness and Dawn, the first book in the Elder Empire: Shadow series.
Chapter 1
- Characters
- Plot Summary
- Alagaeus
Algaeus allowed a poor woman to make a request, and she described how the former soldiers of the abolished Aurelian army had been causing trouble and were staging a protest against him. As he killed the insurrectionists from a distance, the woman killed him.
- Estyr Six
Estyr Six lived high on the mountain, low ranked. She killed 3 Cloudseeker Hydra and bonded them as her Vessels. Estyr defeated six families and became Estyr Six. Kthanikahr killed the remaining families on the Dylian Mountains. She fought Kthanikahr and turned the mountains into a basin, resolving to protect it. She examined some diseased wheat and instructed a farmer to bring it to Kanatalia. She prevented the wheat from spreading and ensured that the farmer wouldn't go hungry. She stopped at a fire and a man ran in, yelling for his baby. When he walked in, the man shot her. She captured him and he killed himself.
Chapter 2
- Characters
- Plot Summary
To test Shera's new soulbound powers, she was given the task of killing 12 criminals armed with guns in a large forest. Partway through she notices the Consultant who was following her and examining her powers. When she can no longer sense anyone else in the forest, she tells him she's done, and when he points out she only killed 11 people, she says one probably killed another and tells him to go find the corpse.
Shera goes to see Jorin, and after a conversation about Syphren and linguistic drift they exit. Shera detects someone nearby but determines they aren't likely to be a threat, and when Jorin comes up he is shot.
Chapter 3
- Characters
- Plot Summary
10 years ago
Some Shepherds kidnap Shera from her bed and bring her to a room that disperses intent. Yala asks Shera about the Emperor wanting her to kill him and asks her to do so immediately. Shera says the thought of doing so makes her feel nothing.
Chapter 4
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Shera
Shera saved Jorin from an explosion after predicting that there would be a second attack. When she realized the attacker was a consultant and would have an emergency suicidal plan, she caught him and used a paralyzing poison on him. She recognized him when he said her name.
At an Architects meeting, Kerian told the Architects about the assassination attempt and how the assassin was Benji, one of the kids Maxwell raised who was given to the Luminian Order. All of those kids are missing, and presumably being turned into a copy of the Gardeners by the imperialists. The high council was unanimous in the idea that they should send a team to the Luminians to help find them. They raised it to a vote, and Shera left knowing that the Architects would agree.
Lucan
Lucan prepared various invested weapons and tools, having decided he needed to escape to help guide the future. When Shera arrived and knocked out Hansin, Lucan used active reading on his cell door to open it. Shera asked him to wait, and told him about the assassination attempt on Jorin, Benji, and how she felt responsible for Maxwell's former students and wanted to stay for that reason. He decided to stay so he could best support her.
Hansin
An hour later, Hansin woke up to find Lucan locked up, with an oddly patterned door on his cell.
Chapter 5
- Characters
- Shera (point of view)
- The Emperor
- Jarelys Teach
- Lucan
- Meia
- Yala (mentioned only)
- Greyweather
- Bliss (mentioned only)
- Plot Summary
9 years ago
Shera, Meia, and Lucan fought the Emperor for training purposes until Shera requested a break and they were given an hour. Greyweather came in with an urgent message from Bliss, saying that they had lost contact with Silverreach. Greyweather explained to Shera that Silverreach is where Ach'magut was sealed.
Chapter 6
- Characters
- Darius Allbright (point of view)
- Ikandi
- Aeliana
- Mirian
- Urg'naut
- Shera
- Ayana
- Plot Summary
Darius examined 3 young girls who had somehow been linked together. After some investigation, he determined they were possessed by Urg'naut and banished his influence. He left and spoke with a Pilgrim who demanded that Readers investigate the girls, which Darius disagreed with as he knew the Readers would recommend they be killed. Shera spoke to the pair, asking them about Maxwell's former students, but they knew nothing about it. The pair then saw Ayana, and after a brief conversation, both Consultants disappeared.
Chapter 7
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Nine years ago
The Emperor and the gardeners arrive at Silver reach and find a large festival. Lucan and the Emperor determine through reading that the town has been isolated from the outside world. The Emperor instructs the gardeners to survey the town. On the surface, the town is having a perfectly normal celebration, but everything is subtly odd when you look closer. Each of the Gardeners has mysterious knowledge about the town that they could have no way of knowing, and they discuss returning to the Emperor in case he is being taken over. They decide to stay and listen to a member of the Sleepless give a speech against the Empire and for the Elders. They return to the Emperor and Shera insists, against him, that they should leave immediately. He determines that Silverreach is doomed, and they leave.
Chapter 8
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 9
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 10
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 11
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 12
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 13
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 14
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 15
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 16
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 17
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 18
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 19
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 20
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 21
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Chapter 22
- Characters
- Plot Summary
