The Alloy of Law

<The Alloy of Law>
Mistborn Adventures Follows The Hero of Ages Precedes Shadows of Self
Released	November 8, 2011
Publisher	Tor books
ISBN	978-0-7653-3042-0

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The Alloy of Law is the fourth book set on Scadrial and takes place 300 years after the events of The Hero of Ages. The events from the Mistborn trilogy are now legend, history, and religion.

The book follows Waxillium Ladrian, a descendant of Breeze and former lawman who returns from the Roughs to assume leadership of his house in the wake of his uncle's passing, and Wayne - Wax's formidable partner and old friend. The two of them are Twinborn, a mix of Allomancy and Feruchemy.

Plot Summary

For a chapter-by-chapter summary, see /Summary.

Waxillium Ladrian is a lawman in the Roughs - the harsh outland far from civilized society. Wax must eventually return to Elendel to assume his duties as the lord of House Ladrian after his uncle's passing. Despite trying to acclimatise to the radically different lifestyle and settle down with an arranged marriage, Wax realises it's not in his nature to simply put down his guns. That's when an old friend shows up with a proposition.

Steris Harms, daughter of Lord Harms, a wealthy but stern woman is to be married to Wax to secure a future for the both of their houses. While putting on appearances for the public eye they attend together the wedding reception hosted by the Yomens. In the meantime, Wayne has been investigating a gang of thieves known as the Vanishers, who have made several impressive robberies of highly secure cargo.

Wayne speaks to Wax while Steris and Lord Harms are not around - Marasi had recognised him through his waiter's disguise. They each confirm their suspicions at the Vanishers growing bolder in their operations by abducting hostages that all have a familiar link, right before the ballroom is invaded by the Vanishers.

Steris is taken hostage which was made to appear at random while Wax and Wayne look on knowingly. Marasi is also chosen but in the ensuing gun battle instigated by Wax and Wayne she is able to break free of her captors and provide assistance in the fight. Steris is kidnapped and the trio manage to overcome the staggering number of Vanishers without causing a single casualty amongst the bystanders. In the aftermath, Wax has an arguement with the local Octant's constable Captain, Brettin. Wayne steals an aluminium gun from the evidence pile, giving it to Wax.

The next day, Marasi visits the Ladrian mansion to find Wax deep in his work with metallurgy - he'd been trying to determine the exact alloy of the gun Wayne had given him. Realising he'd been up all night, Wax shows her what else he'd been working on when he pulls out a genealogical tree he'd plotted himself using information in his uncle's library. Marasi leads him to a startling discovery before Wayne shows up with a report on his own investigation. Wayne infiltrated the Fourth Octant constabulary to gain knowledge of the Vanishers' hideout from the prisoners.

Tillaume brews Wax a tea and Wayne takes it for himself. Going back to make another, Wayne suddenly declares, calmly, that the tea is poisoned and collapses to the floor. Tillaume turns to face Wax, pistol in hand, but Wax gains the upper hand when using a metallic coat button as a projectile to stun the butler. While Wax is checking on Wayne, who has slightly recovered from the poison thanks to his goldmind, Marasi cries out as she notices Tillaume activating the bomb he'd brought with him.

Wayne throws up a speed bubble just as the explosion bursts from the basket. While Wax argues with Wayne on an escape plan Wax realises he could increase his weight using his ironmind and break through to the floor below. Throwing Marasi on top of himself he pulls her down with him, Wayne following to land on both of them. They escape the explosion but Wayne is left badly burnt with so little of his goldmind remaining.

After surviving the assassination attempt, the three of them sneak out of the mansion and head for the location of the Vanishers hideout. There they find clues to the nature of their operations and a strong indicator as to who's leading them; Miles Dagouter, or Miles "Hundredlives" as he's known.

Characters

Main

Waxillium Ladrian

He is the descendant of Breeze and an extremely powerful Twinborn. Returning to his estates in Elendel, after spending most of his life in the Roughs, Wax is set on assuming his duties to his house until a new threat emerges - one that very much pulls him into the fray.

Wayne

Wax's smart-mouthed, talented partner and long time friend. Like his friend, Wayne is a Twinborn but he doesn't fight with guns like Wax. Instead using duelling canes and speed bubbles as his main strategy. He has a knack for impersonation and a penchant for "trading" items in others' possession with something of his own.

Marasi Colms

The "cousin" of Steris Harms who is actually the illegitimate daughter of Lord Harms and, therefore, half-sister to Steris. She studies "legal justice and criminal behaviouristics" and is particularly interested in Wax and Wayne's exploits in the Roughs.

Miles Dagouter

Also known as Miles "Hundredlives" is the primary antagonist in The Alloy of Law. Once an associate of Wax, his ideals have driven him to lead the Vanishers to their criminal behaviour. He is also a Twinborn, able to compound gold and appear as if immortal, hence his nickname.

Minor

Steris Harms

The daughter of Lord Harms and Wax's fiancee. She is stern and business-like, showing a distaste for most of Wax's personality as she holds the image society has determined to be of the utmost importance. She is kidnapped by Miles and Wax, Wayne and Marasi manage to rescue her.

Religions

Pathism

Known adherants - Waxillium Ladrian

Pathians pray to Harmony for 15 minutes each day in no set posture. Their one basic tenet describes:

"Do more good than harm."

Harmony is not worshipped, rather performing altruistic actions is the worship for a Pathian. A Pathian will usually wear an earring while praying, a simple thing stamped on the head with the ten interlocking rings of the Path.

Survivorism

Known adherents - Steris Harms

Survivorism is an evolution of the Church of the Survivor and retains much the same doctrines, albeit altered for modern use. Survivorists regard Ironeyes as an icon of death and worship Kelsier and Vin as deities.

Sliverism

Known adherents - Joshin and Mi'chelle Yomen

Sliverists worship Ironeyes himself. Wax has a distaste for people that do.

Trellism

Known adherents - Miles Dagouter

“Why had Trell made men like him, if not to see wrongs righted?”

—Miles, The Alloy of Law

Little is known of the religion except that Trell is supposed to have made metalborn. The Words of Founding are said to contain a lengthy explanation of Trellism and its teachings, which indicates that metalborns were special. There are theories on the origins of this religion but most of what is known comes from Miles' perspective.

Notable Historical Figures

Harmony

In the original trilogy Sazed took up the Shards of both Preservation and Ruin to become Harmony. He is worshipped on Scadrial in the time of Alloy of Law as a god by Pathians.

Lord Mistborn

He is arguably the most prominent historical person in Elendel; the most powerful Mistborn of his time. He is renowned for writing in word most of Elendel's law, which Marasi remarks on one in which all trees in Elendel are required to produce edible food.

Ascendant Warrior

She is noted by Marasi as a role model to modern women for defying societal conventions. This particularly plays into the "Real Women Never Wear Dresses" trope as Marasi occasionally fights, influenced by Vin's actions.

Ironeyes

He is revered as a boogeyman, a legend to scare people. After surviving the Final Ascension, Marsh assumed his former nickname as "Ironeyes" and served the interests of Harmony despite his reputation. During the events of The Alloy of Law, Marasi encountered Ironeyes. Marsh has stayed alive so long through the same technique the Lord Ruler employed with atium.

Originators

The group that survived the Final Ascension with the Lord Mistborn 300 years ago.

Publication

• Fall 2011 from Tor Books.

• Complex Chinese rights to Fantasy Foundation
• French rights to Orbit France
• German rights to Heyne
• UK rights to Gollancz