Riot at Vermillion Gates

Deacon Sorcha Faris, a powerful Active of the Order, stands guard over the Vermillion Palace as a crowd of desperate citizens gathers. Her marriage to Kolya, her Sensitive partner, is strained and cold. When a geist—an unliving entity—erupts from the ground, breaking all known rules by attacking Kolya directly, Sorcha is forced to use the forbidden tenth rune, Teisyat, to banish it. The act nearly tears her apart and leaves Kolya gravely wounded, shattering their Bond and leaving Sorcha isolated. The event signals that the rules governing the Otherside and its geists are changing, and Sorcha is left with guilt, fear, and a sense that the world she knows is unraveling.

The Pretender's Bargain

Raed Syndar Rossin, the Young Pretender to the throne, seeks safe harbor for his ship and crew. He bargains with Prince Felstaad, who offers only the remote, inhospitable port of Ulrich. Raed's royal blood is both a blessing and a curse, for he carries the Rossin—a geistlord's curse that draws the unliving to him. The political landscape is treacherous, and Raed's presence is both a threat and a temptation to those in power. As he navigates courtly intrigue and the burden of his curse, Raed's path converges with the Order's, setting the stage for a collision of destinies.

Bonds and Broken Partnerships

With Kolya incapacitated, Sorcha is assigned a new partner, the young and talented Sensitive, Merrick Chambers. Their Bond is raw and untested, but necessity forces them together. Sorcha's grief and anger over Kolya's fate are compounded by the Order's secrecy and the Arch Abbot's cryptic instructions. As Sorcha and Merrick prepare to investigate a surge of geist activity in Ulrich, they must navigate their own mistrust, the politics of the Order, and the growing sense that something is deeply wrong in the world. Their journey north is shadowed by uncertainty and the threat of the Otherside.

Unnatural Geists Unleashed

Sorcha and Merrick's journey to Ulrich is interrupted by a horrifying discovery: a massacre of Tinker families, their souls devoured and bodies arranged in a summoning circle. The geists they face are unlike any in the Order's records—hybrid, powerful, and able to cross water, breaking the most fundamental laws. The attack is a trap, and only the combined strength of Sorcha's runes and Merrick's Sight saves them. The event leaves them shaken, their Bond deepened by trauma, and convinced that a new, intelligent force is manipulating the unliving for a greater, darker purpose.

Death in Dark Water

Sorcha and Merrick, joined by the enigmatic Nynnia, board a ship to Ulrich, only to be attacked by a geist-possessed sea monster. Their vessel is destroyed, and they are cast into the freezing ocean. The Pretender Raed and his crew, themselves fleeing Imperial pursuit, rescue the Deacons and Nynnia. The encounter forges a reluctant alliance between Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed, as they realize that the rules of the Otherside are collapsing. The Rossin's curse, the Order's runes, and the ambitions of mortals and geists alike are converging in ways none of them can control.

Shipwreck and Salvation

Arriving in Ulrich, the group finds the town gripped by fear and suspicion. The Priory, once a sanctuary, is under siege from both within and without. The townspeople blame the Order for failing to protect them, while the Deacons inside are wounded, traumatized, and leaderless. Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed must navigate a web of mistrust, uncover the truth behind the geist attacks, and confront the reality that the Order itself may be compromised. The fragile alliance between Deacon, Sensitive, and Pretender is tested as they prepare to face an enemy that knows their every move.

The Rossin's Curse

In a desperate bid to save Raed's crew and break the siege, Sorcha forges a Bond with Raed, allowing the Rossin—the geistlord within him—to be unleashed against their enemies. The experience is both exhilarating and terrifying, as the boundaries between human and geist blur. The Rossin's hunger for blood and chaos is barely contained by Sorcha's will and the Bond she shares with Merrick. The act reveals the true nature of the curse, the dangers of merging human and Otherside power, and the lengths to which the Order's enemies will go to achieve their goals.

Ulrich's Haunted Priory

The Priory's Prior, Aulis, is revealed as a traitor, orchestrating the deaths of Sensitives and summoning geists for a greater ritual. Merrick is captured and drained of blood to fuel a summoning, while Sorcha and Raed fight to save him and the town. The Order's sacred Bonds are twisted into tools of manipulation, and the true enemy is revealed to be not just the unliving, but those within the Order who seek power at any cost. The battle for Ulrich is a microcosm of the greater war for the soul of the Empire.

Siege and Betrayal

As the truth of Aulis's betrayal comes to light, Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed must confront the reality that the Order is not immune to corruption. The siege of the Priory becomes a battle not just against geists, but against fellow Deacons. The lines between friend and foe blur, and the cost of victory is high. The trio's Bonds are tested to the breaking point, and the stage is set for a confrontation with forces that threaten to tear the world apart.

The Possessed and the Possessor

The group discovers a hidden Possibility Matrix beneath the Abbey—a device that shows countless futures, most ending in fire and death. The cult known as the Unending Knot seeks to summon the Murashev, a primordial geistlord, using royal blood and mass sacrifice. Nynnia's true nature is revealed as something not quite human, a being from the Otherside with her own agenda. The convergence of Bonds, curses, and prophecy draws Sorcha, Merrick, Raed, and Nynnia into a final confrontation with destiny.

The Merge of Fates

As the Murashev rises, the only hope is for Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed to Merge—combining their powers, souls, and the Rossin's geistlord essence into a single being. The experience is transcendent and agonizing, as they battle the Murashev for control of reality itself. Nynnia, revealed as the Murashev's sister, sacrifices herself to tip the balance. The Merge holds, barely, and the Murashev is banished, but not without cost. The Bonds forged in desperation become both salvation and curse.

The Murashev Awakens

The aftermath of the battle leaves the Order in chaos. The Arch Abbot Hastler is revealed as a conspirator, and the truth of the Order's corruption cannot be hidden. The city of Vermillion is saved, but at the price of innocence, trust, and the lives of many. The survivors are left to pick up the pieces, haunted by what they have seen and done. The threat of the Otherside remains, and the Bonds that once protected now bind in ways none of them fully understand.

Sacrifice in the White Palace

Merrick mourns Nynnia, whose sacrifice saved the world but left him hollow. Sorcha and Raed, bound by love and the Bond, must part ways—her duty to the Order, his to his people and the curse he carries. The Order's leadership is decimated, and the survivors must choose between truth and survival. The cost of victory is measured in blood, sacrifice, and the knowledge that the war is far from over.

The Price of Truth

The Order chooses to conceal the truth of Hastler's betrayal and the Murashev's near-return, fearing the loss of public trust. Sorcha and Merrick are exonerated but left with scars—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Raed is released, but the Bond between him and Sorcha lingers, a reminder of what was lost and what might still be. The survivors are left to navigate a world forever changed, where the boundaries between living and unliving, truth and lie, are blurred.

The Order's Reckoning

With the Arch Abbot dead and the Order in disarray, new leaders must rise. Sorcha is denied promotion but kept in the Order, her power both a blessing and a threat. Merrick's wild talent is hidden, a secret weapon for battles yet to come. The survivors are left to rebuild, haunted by the knowledge that the Otherside is not done with them. The war for the soul of the Empire has only just begun.

Farewells and New Beginnings

Sorcha and Raed part, their Bond unbroken but their paths diverging. Merrick mourns Nynnia, but finds strength in his partnership with Sorcha. The Order, battered but unbowed, prepares for the next threat. The survivors carry the scars of battle, the weight of secrets, and the hope that, together, they can face whatever darkness the Otherside brings. The story ends with a moment of quiet, a breath before the storm, and the promise that the fight is not yet over.

Characters

Sorcha Faris

Sorcha is a seasoned Deacon, an Active whose mastery of the Order's runes is matched only by her stubbornness and emotional scars. Her marriage to Kolya is a shell, and her sense of duty is both shield and prison. Sorcha's psyche is marked by loss, guilt, and a desperate need for control—traits that make her both formidable and vulnerable. Her Bonds, first with Kolya and then with Merrick and Raed, force her to confront her own limitations and the cost of power. Sorcha's journey is one of reluctant leadership, the search for redemption, and the painful realization that love and duty are often at odds. Her development is a slow opening to trust, vulnerability, and the acceptance that true strength lies in connection, not isolation.

Merrick Chambers

Merrick is a young Sensitive, newly partnered with Sorcha after Kolya's fall. Gifted with extraordinary Sight and a wild, untamed talent, Merrick is both asset and liability to the Order. His aristocratic background and hidden trauma shape a psyche that is eager to please but afraid to fail. Merrick's Bond with Sorcha is raw and intense, deepening through shared danger and mutual respect. His love for Nynnia, a being not quite human, exposes his capacity for devotion and loss. Merrick's journey is one of self-discovery, the struggle to reconcile power and compassion, and the acceptance that some truths must be hidden for the greater good. His development is marked by the transition from novice to survivor, from follower to partner.

Raed Syndar Rossin

Raed is the exiled heir to a lost throne, burdened by the Rossin—a geistlord's curse that draws the unliving and threatens to consume him. Charismatic, witty, and haunted by guilt over his mother's death, Raed is both leader and outcast. His relationship with Sorcha is electric, forged in crisis and deepened by the Bond they share. Raed's psyche is a battleground between human desire and the Rossin's hunger, between the longing for belonging and the fear of what he might become. His development is a journey from self-preservation to self-sacrifice, from running to standing and fighting for something greater than himself.

Kolya Petav

Kolya is Sorcha's original Sensitive partner and husband, left broken by the geist attack that shatters their Bond. His emotional withdrawal and stoic acceptance of fate are both shield and wound. Kolya represents the cost of the Order's battles, the fragility of human connection, and the dangers of relying too heavily on duty at the expense of love. His absence haunts Sorcha, shaping her choices and her willingness to risk new Bonds.

Nynnia

Nynnia appears as a gentle, beautiful woman, but is revealed to be a being from the Otherside—sister to the Murashev, yet opposed to its destructive aims. Her relationship with Merrick is tender and transformative, exposing both her longing for humanity and the limits of her power. Nynnia's sacrifice is the linchpin of the final battle, her death a reminder that not all who come from the Otherside are enemies. Her presence challenges the Order's assumptions and forces the protagonists to question the nature of good, evil, and the possibility of redemption.

Arch Abbot Hastler

Hastler is the head of the Order, revered for his wisdom and power. Beneath the surface, he is a conspirator, manipulating events to summon the Murashev and reshape the world. His betrayal is both personal and institutional, shattering the Order's credibility and forcing the survivors to confront the darkness within their own ranks. Hastler's psyche is a study in ambition, rationalization, and the dangers of unchecked authority. His fall is the catalyst for the Order's reckoning.

Aachon

Aachon is Raed's first mate, a man once trained as a Sensitive but cast out of the Order. His loyalty to Raed is unwavering, shaped by duty, friendship, and a shared sense of exile. Aachon's presence grounds Raed, providing both counsel and muscle. His own wounds—physical and emotional—mirror the scars carried by the protagonists. Aachon's development is a quiet testament to resilience, loyalty, and the possibility of redemption outside the structures of power.

Prior Aulis

Aulis is the Prior of Ulrich, a Deacon who betrays her Order and her charges in pursuit of forbidden power. Her manipulation of geists, sacrifice of Sensitives, and alliance with the Unending Knot make her a formidable antagonist. Aulis's psyche is marked by arrogance, desperation, and a willingness to justify any means for her ends. Her downfall is both a warning and a mirror to the Order's own vulnerabilities.

Grand Duchess Zofiya

Zofiya is the Emperor's sister, a figure of strength, beauty, and political significance. Her blood is the key to the Murashev's summoning, making her both prize and pawn. Zofiya's survival is a testament to the protagonists' courage and the fragility of power. Her presence anchors the story in the broader political landscape, reminding the characters that their battles have consequences beyond the personal.

The Murashev

The Murashev is the ancient, nameless force from the Otherside, sought by cultists and feared by all. Its awakening threatens to consume the world, and its power dwarfs that of any mortal or geist. The Murashev's psyche is alien, hungry, and implacable—a force of nature that cannot be reasoned with or appeased. Its defeat is a pyrrhic victory, leaving the survivors forever changed and the world forever scarred.

Plot Devices

The Bond

The Bond between Active and Sensitive Deacons is the heart of the Order's magic—a psychic link that allows the sharing of power, Sight, and emotion. In Geist, the Bond is both blessing and curse, a source of strength in battle and a conduit for trauma, guilt, and manipulation. The forging, breaking, and merging of Bonds drive the narrative, shaping character arcs and the outcome of conflicts. The Bond's flexibility—its ability to include non-Deacons like Raed—challenges the Order's dogma and foreshadows the blurring of boundaries between human and geist.

The Runes and Gauntlets

The Order's power is channeled through runes, each with specific effects, and embodied in the Gauntlets (for Actives) and Strop (for Sensitives). The runes provide a sense of order and predictability, but their misuse or overuse—especially the forbidden Teisyat—signals the collapse of old certainties. The runes are both weapon and shield, a means of enforcing the Order's will and a temptation to hubris. Their role in the story is both literal and metaphorical, representing the struggle to control forces that are ultimately uncontrollable.

The Rossin and the Merge

The Rossin is both a family curse and a living geistlord, bound to Raed and his bloodline. Its hunger, power, and unpredictability are a constant threat, but also the key to survival against greater evils. The Merge—when Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed combine their powers and souls—represents the ultimate blurring of boundaries, the fusion of human and Otherside, love and duty, self and other. The Merge is both salvation and damnation, a desperate gamble that leaves the survivors forever changed.

The Possibility Matrix

The hidden Matrix beneath the Abbey shows countless possible futures, most ending in disaster. It is both a warning and a weapon, used by the Unending Knot to guide their plans and by the protagonists to find a sliver of hope. The Matrix embodies the story's themes of fate, choice, and the fragility of reality. Its presence foreshadows the dangers of seeking too much knowledge and the impossibility of controlling every outcome.

Betrayal and Corruption

From the opening attack on Kolya to the revelation of Hastler's treachery, the story is laced with foreshadowing and reversals. Allies become enemies, rules are broken, and the institutions meant to protect become sources of danger. The collapse of trust—between partners, within the Order, and in the world at large—drives the characters to desperate measures and forces them to redefine what it means to be human, to love, and to fight for what matters.

Analysis

Geist is a dark, emotionally charged fantasy that interrogates the boundaries between life and death, order and chaos, self and other. At its core, the novel is about the cost of power—personal, institutional, and supernatural. The Order, with its rigid structures and sacred Bonds, is both bulwark and prison, offering protection from the unliving but also breeding arrogance, secrecy, and corruption. The collapse of the old rules—geists crossing water, Sensitives being attacked, Bonds being forged and broken in new ways—mirrors the characters' internal journeys, as they are forced to confront the limits of their control and the necessity of trust, vulnerability, and sacrifice.

The story's emotional arc is one of loss and redemption. Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed are all haunted by guilt, trauma, and the fear of losing themselves—to the Otherside, to duty, to love. Their Bonds, both literal and metaphorical, are tested to the breaking point, and only by embracing connection—however painful—can they hope to survive. The novel's use of plot devices like the Merge and the Possibility Matrix underscores the fragility of reality and the dangers of seeking certainty in an uncertain world.

Geist's lessons are both personal and political: that power without compassion leads to ruin; that institutions must be questioned and reformed; that love, in all its messy, complicated forms, is both the greatest risk and the greatest hope. The survivors are left scarred but unbroken, facing a future where the Otherside is always near, and the fight for the soul of the world is never truly over. The novel's ending, with its quiet moments of reflection and unresolved Bonds, invites readers to consider the price of survival—and the possibility of redemption, even in the darkest of times.

Last updated: January 16, 2026