Book 1: The Deadman's Call
Overview
Section titled “Overview”The war returns. The coverup begins.
Book 1 establishes the world, introduces all four POVs, reveals the Necrosynth return, and shows the beginning of the coverup that will ultimately help the enemy.
The Epigraph Format
Section titled “The Epigraph Format”Each chapter opens with dialogue between The Architect and The Instrument.
Inspired by C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters: we hear the enemy’s voice without POV chapters. The speakers are not identified initially.
The Pairing: Like Morgoth/Sauron, Palpatine/Vader — a master and second that feel inevitable together.
- The Architect — the mind, the plan, the thousand-year patience
- The Instrument — the hand, the voice, the devoted
Both have true names — who they were before. Learning those names should land like tragedy.
Example Epigraph (Chapter 1)
Section titled “Example Epigraph (Chapter 1)”“My lord, it is done. The planet has been ravaged. Estimations of an additional twelve million capable fighters and thirty million laborers are currently incubating on [planet name]. The campaign has begun.”
“Has the Order responded?”
“We have no indication of their awareness as of yet, but a distress beacon was activated before we could fully interrupt communications.”
“Good. It is time to draw them out of the Core.”
Then: Chapter 1 opens with Luden on the field.
Epigraph Arc
Section titled “Epigraph Arc”| Chapter | Reveals |
|---|---|
| 1 | The campaign has begun; they WANT to be discovered |
| 2 | Discussion of Order response; they know how Orders think |
| 3 | ”Assets already in place” — infiltration hinted |
| 4 | Theological fragment — why they do this |
| 5 | The Architect’s patience; “a thousand years, and now…” |
| … | Escalating revelations |
| Final | Something that recontextualizes everything |
Chapter 1: The Field
Section titled “Chapter 1: The Field”Epigraph: The Architect learns of the distress beacon. “Good. It is time to draw them out.”
Scene: Wrathcor Luden on the battlefield.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Setting | Rocky terrain, crimson light from dying star |
| Visual | Tens of thousands of corpses |
| Luden | In armor, scanning, cataloging |
| Discovery | HUD reveals Necrotech — “tiny flashes of light betraying nanotechnic work” |
| Action | Hologram call to Ordermaster; requests Purging Protocol |
| Decision | Permission granted |
| Close | ”May the fallen find Source.” |
Ends with: The Purging begins. Or: Luden watching the planet burn.
Chapter 2: The Temple
Section titled “Chapter 2: The Temple”Epigraph: TBD — perhaps the Architect discussing response timing
Scene: Luden returns to the Core.
Key Beats:
- Arrival — the scale of the temple/headquarters
- The Shrine passage — Luden passes a shrine to the Watchers
- The Ritual Song — others gathered, attuning; Luden joins
- This is normal. This is what they do.
- The song is beautiful, mournful, ancient
- Luden knows every word
- (Reader now knows this song. When the beacon hums it in Book 2, they’ll recognize it.)
- The Ordermaster — Luden reports; hierarchy in action
- The weight — Luden carries what he saw
Establishes:
- Watcher cultural presence (through action, not exposition)
- The songs matter
- Luden’s place in the Order
- The temple as location
- The Ordermaster as character
Chapter Structure Pattern
Section titled “Chapter Structure Pattern”Each chapter:
- Epigraph — Architect/Instrument dialogue (half page to one page)
- Scene — POV character’s experience
- End on tension — hook to next chapter
POV Introduction Sequence
Section titled “POV Introduction Sequence”| POV | First Appearance | Introduces |
|---|---|---|
| Luden | Chapter 1 | The witness; the soldier |
| TV Commentator | Chapter 3 or 4 | The pattern-seer; civilian ground |
| Thirteen Member | Chapter 5 or 6 | The coverup decision |
| True Believer | Chapter 7 or 8 | The enemy’s humanity |
The Architect is present in EVERY chapter via epigraph — but never gets a true POV chapter.
Foreshadowing the Watchers
Section titled “Foreshadowing the Watchers”The Watchers should feel present without being explained:
| Moment | What We See | Sets Up |
|---|---|---|
| The Shrine | Physical memorial in temple | They were HERE |
| The Ritual Song | Characters singing together | Beacon scene; Armada |
| An artifact | Beautiful, melancholy, not understood | Tech that activates later |
| A phrase | ”As the [Original Name] taught…” | They shaped civilization |
| Character grief | Someone still mourning personally | The wound is fresh for some |
| Architect’s dismissal | Epigraph: “The old allies cannot help now” | Dramatic irony — they’re wrong |
By end of Book 1, reader should feel:
- The Watchers were beloved
- Their loss was devastating
- Their songs/culture persist
- Something about them is unresolved
WITHOUT knowing they’re alive. That’s Book 2’s revelation.
The TV Commentator Introduction
Section titled “The TV Commentator Introduction”On Air — Making a Fool of Himself
Section titled “On Air — Making a Fool of Himself”“Look at this! Linkstone reserves down TWELVE PERCENT but the currency is stable? That’s not how this works! Someone’s cooking the books!”
His co-host rolls her eyes.
“And look — look at these mortality rates! Factory accidents at Helion-7 are down SIXTY PERCENT in three years? The same factory that was killing workers monthly? What changed? NOTHING changed in their equipment! I pulled the filings!”
Cut to commercial.
The Reaction
Section titled “The Reaction”- Most people laugh
- Conspiracy theorists nod along
- A few actuaries think “…huh”
- Someone at Order intelligence makes a note
- Someone in the Necrosynth network makes a note
He’s seeing TWO patterns — the coverup AND the infiltration — without knowing either exists.
The Thirteen Vote
Section titled “The Thirteen Vote”The pivotal political scene:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| The question | Inform the public or conceal? |
| The vote | 8-4 to conceal; Sovereign abstains |
| The dissenters | Four voted against but are bound anyway |
| The Thirteen Member POV | One of the dissenters; carries complicity guilt |
Act Structure
Section titled “Act Structure”Act 1: Discovery
Section titled “Act 1: Discovery”- Luden witnesses; requests Purging
- Returns to Core; reports
- The Thirteen convene
- The coverup is authorized
Act 2: Implementation
Section titled “Act 2: Implementation”- The coverup in action
- TV Commentator notices anomalies
- Infiltration hints (things going “too well”)
- True Believer introduction
- The weight on those who know
Act 3: First Cracks
Section titled “Act 3: First Cracks”- The analyst goes more public
- An incident that’s hard to hide
- Someone starts asking questions
- The coverup strains
- Ends on tension: it can’t hold
Questions to Resolve
Section titled “Questions to Resolve”- Architect’s and Instrument’s true names?
- How do epigraphs evolve across trilogy?
- What is the ritual song called?
- What does the Watcher shrine look like?
- What is the [Original Name]?
- Is the Instrument reanimated or living?