Across the border, a young advertising executive finds herself at odds with her company's new direction.[2]
| ATTENTION: SPOILERS AHEAD! Beyond this point, major plot spoilers are expected. Continue at your own risk. |
Description[]
Sid Wright's Advertisement[]
We open with Sid Wright revealing that he is on day 8 of his ritual, and has been awake for over 168 hours due to the Grindinglord. He has been locked into the booth in order to prevent his escape. He is aware of what he will become, telling listeners not to worry because he has access to a kettle and a selection of instant coffee. He recounts a conversation he had with his brother in law the night before, who had expressed his concerns for Sid. Sid contemplates life without devotion, before talking about watching the sunrise that morning. He rambles relatively incoherently for a while, before arriving at the belief that sleep is wicked. He is extremely serious.
Paige's Introduction[]
Paige begins by talking about her life. She describes her mornings and her apartment. There is acknowledgement of her own fortune. We are introduced to the episode's refrain, “This is how you make things worse”, as she notes two missed calls and a text message asking for money. We are not told who it is from initially, although it is implied to be a parent, but they ask for money for Sam’s graduation present. Paige knows that Sam is not in contact with them. She accepts her happiness as independent from them, and vows to find out how to stop notifications from them appearing on her phone.
The commute to work is described similarly to Paige’s apartment. There are other commuters, but her platform is empty. No one travels the direction she does. The train pulls into the station, and its steward has been elevated to Sainthood. The prayer brand of the Saint Electric is visible on the steward’s cheeks, he has been mutilated and painted blue. Paige thanks the steward, because she must be polite to those worse off than herself. Like the platform, her carriage is empty. Like her apartment, it is comfortable. She arrives at the head offices for Old Black Crow (OBC) Incorporated, which are well maintained and busy. There is a statue to the brand’s sponsor, the Bronze Savant, at the entrance of the office. He is bowed in contemplation, and his face is hidden. Paige takes the elevator up to the Creative Implementation Department on the 18th floor of the building, and begins work for the day.
Vaughan begins a meeting by discussing the core brand values of a client, and the data behind the brand’s perception. They call on Paige to offer insight on how to redirect the brand’s perception with consumers.
Paige continues talking about the circumstances of her life, she has achieved comfort but does not feel fulfilled. She wonders what would offer her fulfilment if it is not this. Now, she has 7 missed calls and no messages, which causes her to wonder if there has been an emergency. She reveals that she is the only child not to have blocked them yet. Paige is aware that when she does call, she will be asked purely for financial assistance. That if she refuses, she will be called ungracious. That is she accepts, she will be praised before she is asked to give more. The latter outcome is far more common than the former. She acknowledges that she needs to feel their love more than they can believe in it. Her comfort cannot be taken for granted, it has to be fed and maintained. It is now revealed that these calls are from her father. Another meeting begins with Vaughan explaining the client’s brand values. It is revealed that Paige has a winning streak in her role. She lives up to this. Paige reveals that she was left behind, once, and steels her resolve against this occurring again.
All of a sudden, this perception of her life and comfort crumbles. Paige calls over to Vaughan and shows them an email from Hooper. Vaughan tells her to be quieter, before saying they have seen the message. The message tells them that the leadership of Old Black Crow Incorporated are implementing changes, through a conversion programme. Vaughan believes this is due to the results of last year’s survey. Vaughan notes that teams will be cut, staff budgets reduced, and lots of sacrifices will be made. Paige is told to stay calm, and that she has been “earmarked”. Paige meets this phrase with confusion. Paige believes that the term “sacrifices” is not meant literally, thinking they will find a way around it. There will be offerings to the new god, but it will be the parts of the company who under-perform. The very next morning, consultants arrive to ease the process. These consultants are 7 or 8 feet tall, they stumble into the building, and wear long white robes and smooth, rounded, eyeless masks. Paige posits that they must have arrived from the Tementry Isle. Others wonder if they are there to entertain or to inspire. The consultants are hallowed flesh, dedicated to a hundred different gods - giving the board the luxury to choose the right god for them. The next morning, an email announces the retirement of the operations director - everyone chips in for their leaving gift.
After that, rumours begin spreading and a few team members approach Paige with their concerns. Paige plays her role dutifully, Vaughan remains expressionless. The next morning, Mr Hooper lets everyone know that a decision has been made - the Crawling-In-Ecstasy will be the new brand sponsor. The god stands for industriousness, and that this fits with the company heritage. Paige voices her concerns to Vaughan. Vaughan reveals that they didn’t make it to the chosen few, much to Paige’s outrage. She pretends that she is not a participant in all this. Paige advocates for Vaughan, but fails. She receives a new company car.
Old Black Crow Incorporated are building a glass crucible bell, 15 or 20 feet high and just as wide. Prayer marks are painted on its side in red, purple and white. It bears striking similarity to a cage, large enough for a dozen people. Work continues.
Hooper reads an email aloud, it invites them to an all company meeting and tells the team that some will receive a binder with a red sticker. These will contain instructions to arrive half an hour early, to assist with set up. After this, Paige notes that Vaughan stops appearing at work, claiming to be sick. A few of Paige’s other colleagues have had the same idea. Hooper reads out yet another email, reminding employees that their attendance at the meeting next week is mandatory. A final email sent the night before reveals that a shuttle bus will be provided for those who haven’t been coming to the office recently, and teams will be dispatched to provide ‘help’. Hooper sends Paige and other people managers an email thanking them and asking them to help assemble thank you cards for the employees leaving the company tomorrow.
Paige repeats the description of her morning from the beginning of the episode. She is still in denial about the events to follow. The crucible bell is finished. A van is parked on the far side of the curb, muffled voices escape from within. Hooper orders that those in the van be released, and Paige notices that Vaughan is among them. There are a few hisses and boos from the crowd, but most are silent. Vaughan is dressed in painted hospital robes. They are dressed for sacrifice. The crowd laughs in relief. Hooper speaks to the employees about to be sacrificed, offering empty words of gratitude. They are presented with a leaver’s card before being ushered to the doorway of the crucible bell. Vaughan struggles against this. Leadership encourages this struggle and applause spreads through the crowd. The door is shut behind the sacrifices. Vaughan does not struggle or call out anymore. They simply stand there and stare back at Paige. Eventually, the sacrifice ends and silence falls. Hooper gives a final speech to the future. A Saint is born, and killed in quick succession.
Paige seeks comfort in the other survivors, looking for signs they feel the same way she does. Leadership seeks out members of the crowd and offers sympathetic words to them. Paige realises that she is expected to do the same. Tomorrow, there will be free pastries waiting for her.
When she gets home, Paige realises her father has not called her. She attempts to call, but receives no response. Spontaneously, Paige gets into her company car and begins driving. She drives from the Linger Straits to the Ignathian Peninsula, noticing that the border post is unmanned as she passes. She sees remnants of the last Great Religious War. There is no one else on the road.
Sid Wright's Resolve Fails[]
Sid Wright voices his pain. Gone is his previous confidence. He introduces the next track, and his intention to sleep. The Grinding Lord prevents him from doing so. He audibly struggles on the radio.
Paige Meets Carpenter and Faulkner[]
Paige stops at a gas station to refuel, and continues to drive. She has no objective other than to simply drive until she can’t continue. She stops at a river, and parks by the roadside and lets the water lap at her shoes. The comments that the river is awful, stagnant, it is not beautiful. She wonders what she is doing here, and returns to her car. When she gets there she sees Faulkner and Carpenter by her car, and she demands to know what they’re doing. Carpenter brandishes a gun at her, before offering her a choice between the boot and the back seat. Paige ends up in the boot regardless. Carpenter and Faulkner begin driving.
Trivia[]
- This episode, "Chapter 7: It Carries Few, It Drowns Many" is recommended listening in preparation for playing the Silt Verses RPG because it "highlights the capitalist horror and satirical elements of the show, and offers a glimpse of a modern world fueled by human sacrifice."[3]