A young political staffer uncovers a conspiracy against an unknown politician and must seduce an undercover reactionary to discover the target’s identity. Epiphany is set in a science fiction, far-post-Earth world. It’s an epistolary work written entirely with gender-neutral pronouns, and most chara…
The final entry is a letter from Salus to a younger daughter. It includes conlang content and some concluding remarks from the author.
Every few years, executions happen according to a humanized version of the old Sabaji Tveshi way. Salus watches from among the advisers.
Salus cannot describe the ceremony that made lim an adviser. However, le can describe the sacred text that inspired it — the oath-ritual the Karatha made thousands of years ago.
Salus goes to the Reclaimed Zone to see Sehutañi for the first time after the events of 28 Poråkol 1865.
The trial continues, this time with Liga's testimony — with the same questions asked over and over. Author's note: I was moving last week, and it was more complicated than expected! (A total ordeal, actually.) Apologies for missing a week. ~*^___^*~
Interplanetary politics has forced a real murder trial — which everyone in Tveshė knows is just a formality. Salus recounts some of Sehutañi's testimony.
Salus weaves in and out of a conversation with Karatau about the upcoming murder trial and Salus' safety.
Salus has a crash course in political marketing and learns what happened to Kelta.
Salus is thrust back into politics only a few days after ler awakening — this time, via a summons to the palace.
Salus awakens in the hospital after surgery and days spent drifting in and out of consciousness. The room is empty save for Liga.
Today is the fateful day. The assassin's target travels along ler high road towards an epiphany, Salus in tow — each acting out their place in the dance that is set. The rest is up to chance.
Today is the day that Daybreak might strike. Salus joins the procession, filled with trepidation over the inevitable.
Salus and Kelta have reached someone close to the assassination target.
Salus and Kelta come together the morning after the revelation. Due to the political environment, it's possible that Karatau Meiyenesi and the Kohjenya cannot work fast enough — but no one can afford to fail.
Salus has the opportunity to achieve everything le needs — the name of some 'lim,' the Daybreak Movement's assassination target.
Salus and Kati leave the house to find Karatau Meiyenesi waiting for Salus — who has a proposal.
Salus returns to Deo, the librarian, in search of answers to burning questions about Aneti, the Kuresa family, and all of the other cracks in Salus' understanding.
Salus contemplates the wisdom of changing bedsheets and the embarrassment of ler prior naïveté about Liga and Equilibrium.
Salus and Suka have a conversation about the fight with Liga.
A storm comes, and Salus goes home — but not before following Aneti.
Today is a Shiji festival day. Salus decides to use it to follow Aneti — both to have a feel for the latter's routine and to see if Aneti slips up.
The Chrysalis Interlude represents a turning point in the epic Impermanence. Salus turns to the words of this epic to enrich ler understanding of ler place in the matters at hand.
Salus has stopped using smart paper to record ler thoughts and reflects candidly on ler options moving forward against Sehutañi.
Salus has spent so much time trying to pry facts out of Liga. Now, after so much time in the dark, le finds limself on the verge of answers — and ultimatums.
Salus and Aneti visit the Necropolis on a day sacred to ancestors, where Aneti will make offerings — but Aneti has more on ler agenda than just giving sustenance to the dead.
Salus remembers when le first met Liga, shortly after Kelis' death — and while le now knows some of why Liga has been so reluctant to talk, that understanding doesn't help.
Deisurås comes to Salus' apartment building carrying documents from Liga and excuses for Liga's behavior.
As Salus prepares to leave for work, Liga calls — and this conversation brings out one of the arguments that has been budding between them for weeks.
Salus gives excuses for being at the docks while Aneti reads a historical novel. Then, Salus is told by ler boss to research Code 1830-229-17.
Salus goes to the docks and has a very awkward dinner with a few family members and the woman ler family wants to match lim with.
Aneti sends Salus a text message by accident — a rookie move that could give Liga some of the access le needs.
Salus, back in the archives, discovers documents and materials that are perspective-changing — along with an old photograph of smiling people at a party. In that photograph, a woman sits. The camera glints off of ler elaborate locked hairstyle and braided headdress. Le holds a spoon in ler mouth, caught in the middle of eating …
Aneti rushes up to the rooftop in seclusion just as Salus is coming into work, and Salus decides to follow. Meanwhile, the satellite home is strained. Salus' cousin Gyetsuk keeps inviting the nuamė-not-nuamė Deisurås to eat breakfast, and no one — Salus especially — is amused by these breakfast visitations.
Salus figures out one of the muffled sentences le overheard in Shiji and meets Karatau Meiyenesi, who claims to know Salus' grandmother very well. But Karatau Meiyenesi has red, nuamė-like eyes — just like Deisurås and Okiyot.
Aneti comes over to the apartment for dinner with Salus, and the latter learns that Aneti's sister died and receives no ancestor rites from that family. The more important revelation happens during sex.
Salus ruminates over what le uncovered in the library and its implications for ler family. So many things about Sehutañi don't add up — and Salus has been losing sleep. One thing Salus is sure of: Whatever le does, le wants it to mean something in the long run.
Salus visits the Galasu Knowledge Foundation and meets Deo, a reference librarian, to learn more about the Daybreak Movement.
Liga and Salus finally touch base about Salus' work — but Liga is withholding information. How can Salus trust someone who never says what le means directly?
Salus' family is ready to play matchmaker between lim and an upstart woman from the Canyons two years younger, Kitesrati. The secret of Aneti's seduction means that Salus cannot say that le is overwhelmed by courting two women at once. Meanwhile, at the office, everyone has convened to honor a major party member's retirement.
Salus and Aneti visit Aneti's matriarchal home, this time while both are sober — a rare chance to glimpse Aneti's private life. However, things are never that simple.
Today is the summer solstice, 1 Poråkol. Salus attends the first day of the Water Festival with other Narahji in Galasu before le meets up with Aneti and learns how the Shiji celebrate the holiday.
Kati joins the Kekas Musical Ensemble, and Salus is happy for ler success. However, all is not well between Salus and Liga — and Salus is letting lim know.
I went with gender-neutral pronouns for everyone in Epiphany because traditional gender roles are not identical to those practiced in most Earth cultures I know about. This episode is a cultural orientation for listeners to help you understand the world as Salus and ler fellow citizens of Tveshė see it, including gender's political and social contexts for jomela, kaju, yadzakma, ozkyev, men, and women.
To court Aneti, Salus treats lim as le would treat a Narahji woman — but the differences between Galasuhi Shiji and Narahji culture run deep.
Salus describes a memorable incident during ler fiancée's cremation before recounting a scare in the archives while using the Legislative Professional database to look up information on major ProMo leaders.
Sehutañi returns a forgotten gyena to Salus, giving Salus ler first opportunity to set the plan in motion ...
Inspired by the work and life of a dramatist from the second century, Salus clarifies ler position on the current situation to Liga.
Salus contacts ler best friend, Suka, who has a cousin with connections. The three discuss what to do next when the odds are stacked against them and someone's life is in danger.
A straightforward errand turns into a nightmare of chance encounters. Content warning for bias-motivated violence.
Salus starts a new project for ler boss, which seems like routine busywork until le finds something mysterious.
Salus visits a temple for purification, makes lots of lists, and interacts with ler family.