Summary:Mistborn: The Final Empire

This page contains a chapter by chapter summary of Mistborn: The Final Empire. We hope this summary will make it easier to find specific areas of the book, as well as providing a quick plot refresher for anyone who doesn't want to take the time to reread the entire book.

Prologue

Sometimes, I worry that I’m not the hero everyone thinks I am.

The philosophers assure me that this is the time, that the signs have been met. But I still wonder if they have the wrong man. So many people depend on me. They say I will hold the future of the entire world on my arms.

What would they think if they knew that their champion - the Hero of Ages, their savior - doubted himself? Perhaps they wouldn’t be shocked at all. In a way, this is what worries me most. Maybe, in their hearts, they wonder - just as I do.

When they see me, do they see a liar?

Symbol Header: A single spike, point down.

Characters: Lord Tresting, Lord Venture’s full prelan obligator (unnamed), Kurdon (a taskmaster for Tresting),Kelsier, Tepper (a skaa elder), Mennis (an elderly skaa), Shum (a skaa lad), Jess (a skaa woman), Jess’ daughter (a pretty skaa, unnamed)

Summary: Lord Tresting entertains an obligator sent by Lord Venture, hoping to gain Venture’s business partnership. Kelsier speaks with some skaa in the evening, and when a skaa girl is being taken to Tresting, Kelsier intervenes, killing Tresting and all his servants and soldiers, finally burning the manor to the ground.

Other Notes: First mention of Lord Venture. First mention of a Steel Inquisitor. First mention of Lord Renoux. First mention of mistwraiths. First mention of the Pits of Hathsin. First mention of koloss. First mention of the caves held by the skaa rebellion. Context suggests this chapter takes place in the summer.

Part 1: "The Survivor of Hathsin"

Symbol Headers: Bronze, Zinc, Brass

Chapter 1

I consider myself to be a man of principle. But, what man does not? Even the cutthroat, I have noticed, considers his actions "moral" after a fashion.

Perhaps another person, reading of my life, would name me a religious tyrant. He could call me arrogant. What is to make that man’s opinion any less valid than my own?

I guess it all comes down to one fact: In the end, I’m the one with the armies.

Symbol Header: Iron

Characters: Vin, Ulef, Camon, Theron, Prelan Laird

Summary: Vin introduced, summoned to Camon by Ulef. Camon pretends to be Lord Jedue, head of a house desperately looking for new contracts; this is a cover, an attempt to scam the Steel Ministry out of money. Vin Soothes the obligator Prelan Laird so he won’t dismiss Camon's pleas.

Other Notes: Lord Tresting's first name mentioned: Themos.

Chapter 2

If men read these words, let them know that power is a heavy burden. Seek not to be bound by its chains. The Terris prophecies say that I will have the power to save the world.

They hint, however, that I will have the power to destroy it as well.

Symbol Header: Steel

Characters: Kelsier, Dockson, Vin, Camon, High Prelan Arriev

Summary: Kelsier meets up with Dockson, they talk about their upcoming meeting. Camon, as Lord Jedue, takes Vin to scam the Ministry; Kelsier and Dockson sit in the waiting room with Camon and Vin; Vin Soothes the High Prelan, and he gives Camon three thousand boxings. Kelsier and Dockson see the High Prelan and a Steel Inquisitor tail Camon, Vin, and the rest of Camon’s retinue. Dockson plans to distract the obligator, while Kelsier plans to distract the Inquisitor.

Other Notes: None.

Chapter 3

We arrived in Terris earlier this week, and, I have to say, I find the countryside beautiful. The great mountains to the north - with their bald snowcaps and forested mantles - stand like watchful gods over this land of green fertility. My own lands to the south are mostly flat; I think that they might look less dreary if there were a few mountains to vary the terrain.

The people here are mostly herdsmen - though timber harvesters and farmers are not uncommon. It is a pastoral land, certainly. It seems odd that a place so remarkably agrarian could have produced the prophecies and theologies upon which the entire world now relies.

Symbol Header: Tin

Characters: Camon, Vin, Ulef, Kelsier, Dockson, Millev

Summary: Vin's nervousness about the meeting with the obligator causes her to want to leave Camon's lair. She tells Ulef, whom she wants to bring along, but he tells Camon while she retrieves her personal effects (including the hemalurgic earring her mother gave her). Kelsier saves Vin, promotes Millev to Crewleader, takes the three thousand boxings as payment for dealing with the obligator and Inquisitor, and rents the den for the evening meeting. Millev's crew leaves for a while so Kelsier can test Vin for being a Mistborn.

Other Notes: Vin subconsciously burns pewter after Camon hits her with a thrown stool.

Chapter 4

Apparently, the next stage of my quest will take us up into the highlands of Terris. This is said to be a cold, unforgiving place - a land where the mountains themselves are made of ice.

Our normal attendants will not do for such a trip. We should probably hire some Terris packmen to carry our gear.

Symbol Header: Pewter

Characters: Ulef, Disten (a head pointman in Camon’sMillev’s crew), Vin, Harmon (a scraggly-bearded burglar), Hrud (a flat-faced, quiet thug), Hammond, Breeze, Clubs, Yeden, Kelsier, Dockson

Summary: Kelsier and Dockson had left for a while, letting the crew return for a bit. The crew talks about what happened, speculating on the job. At a certain time, the crew leaves and the others arrive. Kelsier pitches his plan regarding the skaa rebellion. Kelsier’s crew agrees, (except for Clubs, who walks out). Kelsier reveals to the others that Vin is a Mistborn, then tells them about and shows them the Eleventh Metal.

Other Notes: Mare mentioned by thieving crew, but not by name.

Chapter 5

I don’t even understand what I’m supposed to do. The Terris philosophers claim that I’ll know my duty when the time comes, but that’s a small comfort.

The Deepness must be destroyed, and apparently I’m the only one who can do so. It ravages the world even now. If I don’t stop it soon, there will be nothing left of this land but bones and dust.

Symbol Header: Zinc

Characters: Kelsier, Dockson, Vin, Clubs, Spook

Summary: Small talk after the meeting; Hammond, Breeze, Yeden have left. Clubs returns, agrees to be on the team, leaves again. Kelsier, Dockson, and Vin head to rooftop. Kelsier gears up, heads off to Keep Venture to steal atium. Kelsier breaks in, gets the safe with the atium, and then has to fight some hazekillers. Kelsier escapes with the desired atium.

Other Notes: First mention of OreSeur by name. Spook isn’t identified at all. Mare mentioned as a Tineye. First mention of Gemmel. First mention of feruchemists (but not by name) as Kelsier remembers some of Gemmel’s advice.

Chapter 6

I never wanted this, true. But somebody has to stop the Deepness. And, apparently, Terris is the only place this can be done.

On this fact, however, I don’t have to take the word of the philosophers. I can feel our goal now, sense it, though the others cannot. It... pulses, in my mind, far off in the mountains.

Symbol Header: Brass

Characters: Vin, Dockson, Clubs, Hammond, Spook, Kelsier, Breeze, Yeden, Marsh

Summary: Vin wakes up in a room in Clubs’ shop the following morning. Vin starts to notice the differences between thieving crews and families. Kelsier et al. plot out the job: the destruction of the Final Empire. Marsh eventually arrives, and everyone leaves so he and Kelsier can talk alone. Vin returns to eavesdrop outside the door.

Other Notes: Spook’s first dialogue. Skaa rebellion caves named: Arguois caverns; Kelsier estimates they could hold ten thousand people. Fellise, location of Lord Renoux’s estate, mentioned to be an hour outside of Luthadel. Renoux mentioned as a western lord, from the Farmost Dominance. Spook named by Clubs’ as his nephew; Spook identifies himself as Lestibournes, speaking in Eastern street slang.

Chapter 7

Rashek is a tall man - of course, most of these Terrismen are tall. He is young to receive so much respect from the other packmen. He has charisma, and the women of court would probably describe him as handsome, in a rugged sort of way.

Yet, it amazes me that anyone would give heed to a man that speaks such hatred. He has never seen Khlennium, yet he curses the city. He does not know me, yet I can already see the anger and hostility in his eyes.

Symbol Header: Copper

Characters: Kelsier, Marsh, Vin, Dockson, Breeze, Hammond, Clubs

Summary: Marsh and Kelsier talk and argue about old times, not talking about the details of the job. Kelsier convinces Marsh to come back again to listen to the job. As Marsh moves to leave, Kelsier notices Vin eavesdropping. Kelsier takes Vin out for her first night of training, giving Vin her Mistcloak. Kelsier teaches her about the eight basic metals, ending the chapter with them at the Luthadel city wall.

Other Notes: First mention of odd things happening when an Allomancer flares metals for too long.

Chapter 8

"He shall defend their ways, yet shall violate them. He will be their savior; yet they shall call him heretic. His name shall be Discord, yet they shall love him for it.”

Symbol Header: Bronze

Characters: Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Renoux

Summary: Vin and Kelsier go over the Luthadel walls, walking out into the night wilderness. Vin notices something following them, and Kelsier shows her that it was a mistwraith. Kelsier takes her to the main road where they meed up with Sazed, waiting for them with a carriage. He takes them to Fellise. On the way, Kelsier offers Vin the three thousand boxings and to let her leave the crew if she doesn’t believe that he's being honest with her. She takes the boxings but remains on the crew because she wants to see how things turn out. They arrive at Lord Renoux’s estate, and Kelsier and Renoux talk in private briefly. Vin and Sazed talk briefly, with Sazed offering to tell Vin about some of the religions of the past, without using those words. Renoux suggests that Vin can play the part of a daughter of favored cousins to Renoux, and that he is introducing her to the other noble houses as a ploy to strengthen House Renoux.

Other Notes: Kelsier recollects that Gemmel had to push him off the wall when he was being trained.

Part 2: "Rebels Beneath a Sky of Ash"

Symbol Headers: Gold, Cadmium, Electrum

Chapter 9

In the end, I worry that my arrogance shall destroy us all.

Symbol Header: Atium

Characters: Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Cosahn (a skaa servant/hair stylist at Renoux’s estate)

Summary: Vin and Kelsier spar in a training match, playing cat & mouse. Vin returns to the estate and gets a haircut; during the haircut, Sazed tells Vin about “another” of his religions: Trelagism. (This is the fifth he has pitched; when questioned, he admits to knowing about 562 more.) Vin is also quizzed over her noble cover. Kelsier and Sazed then talk in private about Vin’s progress, with Kelsier eventually declaring that Vin will be attending a ball held by Lord Venture at the end of the week.

Other Notes: This chapter begins in late autumn; a comment by Kelsier confirms that the Prologue was only a few months earlier. Sazed referred to as “Master Vaht” by Cosahn; it is the proper title for a Terrisman steward. First mention of Keepers. The ten Great Houses of Luthadel are named in order of power: Venture, Hasting, Elariel, Tekiel, Lekal, Erikeller, Erikell, Haught, Urbain, Buvidas.

Chapter 10

It amazes me how many nations have united behind our purpose. There are still dissenters, of course - and some kingdoms, regrettably, have fallen to wars that I could not stop.

Still, this general unity is glorious, even humbling, to contemplate. I wish that the nations of mankind hadn’t required such a dire threat to make them see the value of peace and cooperation.

Symbol Header: Malatium

Characters: Vin, Breeze, Rudd (a sympathetic skaa guard), Cobble (one of Clubs’ apprentices, a Smoker), Hammond, Yeden, Kelsier, Sazed, Marsh, Spook, Dockson, Clubs

Summary: Vin has returned to Luthadel to learn about other metals from the mistings in the crew, starting with Breeze. Hammond comes in and debates the morality of overthrowing the Final Empire as they wait for Kelsier to give a speech. During the speech, Breeze and his Soothers and Rioters manipulate the crowd to be more receptive to the speech. Afterward, Kelsier holds a progress meeting at Clubs’ shop. Before the meeting, Kelsier requests from Sazed to hear about a religion with power; Sazed tells Kelsier about Jaism, and Kelsier asks Sazed if there is a religion that “include[s] the slaughter of noblemen as a holy duty”. Also before the meeting, Vin and Spook talk about Marsh. The meeting ends when one of Hammond’s soldiers informs him that the Steel Ministry has discovered the lair previously belonging to Camon.

Other Notes: Possible additional unnamed character - Demoux. Breeze clarifies the meaning of “Sliver of Infinity”. Kelsier, on Clubs’ rooftop, looks towards the northern horizon, towards the Pits of Hathsin. Sazed (erroneously) believes the Lord Ruler fears Keepers, believing they are something unknown to him. Marsh’s nickname mentioned (Ironeyes); also mentioned that people stopped using it because it was too reminiscent of Steel Inquisitors.

Chapter 11

It seems Rashek represents a growing faction in Terris culture. A large number of the youths think that their unusual powers should be used for more than just fieldwork, husbandry, and stonecarving. They are rowdy, even violent - far different from the quiet, discerning Terris philosophers and holy men that I have known.

They will have to be watched carefully, these Terrismen. They could be very dangerous, if given the opportunity and the motivation.

Symbol Header: Gold

Characters: Kelsier, Vin, Dockson, Sazed, Hammond

Summary: Some of the crew go to investigate the destroyed lair. Among the corpses, Vin notices Ulef’s corpse; it appears as if someone had ripped his rib cage apart with bare hands. Off to the side, Sazed recites a prayer of the Cazzi religion. Millev’s body is found tied to a chair, with strong evidence of having been tortured. After leaving the lair, Kelsier tries to find Camon among the beggars, to see if he was killed, too. Kelsier finds Camon’s corpse, wrists and ankles tied together, body tortured, and hung from a hook rammed through his mouth and out his neck. Vin had successfully tailed Kelsier, and they spoke briefly after Camon’s corpse was found. (His method of execution is reserved for those who abuse allomancy; likely, he knew that Vin was at least a misting.)

Other Notes: Another reference to feruchemy without using the term (in the epigraph).

Chapter 12

What would it be like if every nation - from the isles in the South to the Terris hills in the North - were united under a single government? What wonders could be achieved, what progress could be made, if mankind were to permanently set aside its squabblings and join together?

It is too much, I suppose, to even hope for. A single, unified empire of man? It could never happen.

Symbol Header: Electrum

Characters: Vin, Sazed, Kelsier, Rian Strobe (a young noble), Tevidian (Vin's father), Elend

Summary: Vin heads off to a ball at Keep Venture, Sazed driving the carriage. Kelsier drops in while the carriage is en route, gives Vin some advice, then jumps back out into the mists. Vin arrives at the ball, is introduced, gets scared at the initial attention, then realizes “Valette Renoux” is who the nobles are seeing, not Vin, herself. During the dinner, Vin sees her father across the room, witnessing an exchange between two young nobles - Reen had identified him to her when she was younger. Vin declines dancing invitations extended by various nobles, then takes a break and heads upstairs to the balcony over the hall. Vin has her first conversation with Elend, which shocks Sazed when he hears about it.

Other Notes: Deepness Thoughts

Chapter 13

I know that I shouldn’t let a simple packman perturb me. However, he is from Terris, where the prophecies originated. If anyone could spot a fraud, would it not be he?

Nevertheless, I continue my trek, going where the scribbled auguries proclaim that I will meet my destiny - walking, feeling Rashek’s eyes on my back. Jealous. Mocking. Hating.

Symbol Header: Chromium

Characters: Vin, Sazed, Kelsier, Renoux

Summary:' Sazed had questioned Vin on her interaction with Elend, and Vin’s thoughts reflect the emergence of her true personality - not Lady Valette, not the timid crewmember. Kelsier learns that Vin’s father was at the ball, then heads out again. Vin feigns fatigue, retiring to her room to don her mistcloak and follow Kelsier. He returns to Luthadel, and Vin discovers the metal pins in the roadway that help allomancers travel along the road - they allow her to make the trip twice as fast as a person on a horse. Kelsier lost Vin in the trip, so she went to Keep Venture - where she found Kelsier sitting and studying the keep. Kelsier tricks her, and they talk for a while after he catches her following him. Eventually, Kelsier teaches Vin about atium, then takes her to Kredik Shaw.

Other Notes: House Erikeller mentioned as a major supplier of armaments. Vin’s description of atium: “[a] tiny, silvery ball of metal. It was so reflective and bright that it almost seemed to be a drop of liquid, yet it was solid to the touch.”

Chapter 14

Sometimes I wonder if I’m going mad.

Perhaps it is due to the pressure of knowing that I must somehow bear the burden of an entire world. Perhaps it is caused by the death I have seen, the friends I have lost. The friends I have been forced to kill.

Either way, I sometimes see shadows following me. Dark creatures that I don’t understand, nor wish to understand. Are they, perhaps, some figment of my overtaxed mind?

Symbol Header: Nicrosil

Characters: Vin, Kelsier, unnamed soldiers, three Steel Inquisitors, Sazed

Summary: Kelsier leads Vin into Kredik Shaw, and they fight their way towards the hut that the Lord Ruler visits for three hours every three days. Vin kills for the first time. She also notices that the Lord Ruler’s Soothing influences her despite her coppercloud. They make it to the building-within-a-building, but the Steel Inquisitor from Chapter 2 was inside. Two more Inquisitors enter the large room from side doors. To defend herself from an Inquisitor Pushing sharpened triangular pieces of metal at her, Vin grabs a random leather-bound book. Burning atium, Vin manages a temporary escape before the Chapter 2 Inquisitor impales her in the side with an axe made of obsidian blades. Vin escapes Kredik Shaw, still holding the book, but the Inquisitor follows. She uses the book to trick the Inquisitor temporarily, but he manages to find her again. As Vin loses consciousness, something kills the Inquisitor, taking Vin into a protective embrace. It wasn’t Kelsier.

Other Notes: A room that Vin stumbled into during her escape from Kredik Shaw contained a golden altar and “other religious paraphernalia” - likely remnants of the original Terris religion. Also, Inquisitor Sight.

Chapter 15

I don’t know why Kwaan betrayed me. Even still, this event haunts my thoughts. He was the one who discovered me; he was the Terris philosopher who first called me the Hero of Ages. It seems ironically surreal that now - after his long struggle to convince his colleagues - he is the only major Terris holy man to preach against my reign.

Symbol Header: Aluminum

Characters: Dockson, Kelsier, Clubs, Hammond, Spook, Sazed, Vin

Summary: The crew argues about Kelsier’s decision to take Vin to Kredik Shaw, and before they can go out to look for her, Sazed arrives with her. She is fed pewter to help her heal from her wounds. Sazed sets aside the leather book that Vin had taken, then operates on her, stitching her back together, and Ham takes her up to her room to recover. Kelsier and Dockson notice the book, and Sazed tells them it is written Khlenni, the language of Khlennium. Sazed thinks he may be able to translate it, in time.

Other Notes: First mention of a metalmind, as Sazed admits to using an entire one up to make the trip from Renoux’s mansion.

Part 3: "Children of a Bleeding Sun"

Symbol Headers: Iron, Bendalloy, Aluminum

Chapter 16

Many think that my journey started in Khlennium, that great city of wonder. They forget that I was no king when my quest began. Far from it.

I think it would do men well to remember that this task was not begun by emperors, priests, prophets, or generals. It didn’t start in Khlennium or Kordel, nor did it come from the great nations to the east or the fiery empire of the West.

It began in a small, unimportant town whose name would mean nothing to you. It began with a youth, the son of a blacksmith, who was unremarkable in every way - except, perhaps, in his ability to get into trouble.

It began with me.

Symbol Header: Duralumin

Characters: Vin, Spook, Dockson, Kelsier, Renoux, Sazed

Summary: Vin awakes after two weeks of resting, and Spook tells her how Kelsier had given him his new nickname in the interim. While talking with Dox, Vin realizes that there’s something very unusual about Sazed. After a few more days of rest, Vin returns to Fellise. She speaks with Sazed, who is wearing glasses as he works on the translation - he is filling a tinmind with physical sight, impairing his vision. They briefly talk about what Keepers are, and Sazed tells Vin that all Terrisman stewards are eunuchs.

Other Notes: Sazed admits to knowing 172 languages, most of which are no longer spoken after “[t]he Lord Ruler’s unity movement of the fifth century....”

Chapter 17

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I’d remained there, in that lazy village of my birth. I’d have become a smith, like my father. Perhaps I’d have a family, sons of my own.

Perhaps someone else would have come to carry this terrible burden. Someone who could bear it far better than I. Someone who deserved to be a hero.

Symbol Header: Cadmuim

Characters: Renoux, Vin, Tawnson (a skaa house-servant of Renoux’s), Kelsier, Breeze, Yeden, Dockson, Sazed

Summary: Vin internally laments a four-week recovery full of boredom. Members of the crew arrive to discuss updates. Vin convinces Kelsier to let her attend an upcoming ball. Later, Vin and Kelsier talk a bit about Mare and Kelsier’s motivations.

Other Notes: Breeze

Chapter 18

You could say that circumstances forced me to leave my home behind - certainly, if I had stayed, I would now be dead. During those days - running without knowing why, carrying a burden I didn’t understand - I assumed that I would lose myself in Khlennium and seek a life of indistinction.

I am slowly coming to understand that anonymity, like so many other things, has already been lost to me forever.

Symbol Header: Bendalloy

Characters: Vin, Sazed, Elend, Stase Blanches (Elend’s date for that evening), Melend Liese (a young noble, asked Vin to dance), Shan Elariel, Jastes Lekal, a Hasting noble

Summary: Vin attends the party at Keep Elariel. Vin sits at her table, and Elend sits down next to her, uninvited, before her meal arrives, dropping a large stack of books on the table. Vin accepts dancing invitations from some young nobles. After much dancing, Vin is “required” to meet with Shan Elariel. During the conversation, Vin realizes that Shan could Soothe. Vin notices Shan’s Terrisman poking through Elend’s books - left unattended at Vin’s table - so Vin excuses herself and returns to her table. She scans through a small book that is practically treasonous in its content. Elend returns, gathers up the books, and leaves, being met on the way by two friends. Sazed, still wearing his glasses, identifies them as Jastes Lekal and a Hasting (but doesn’t know the Hasting’s given name). This surprises Sazed, as Lekal and Hasting are political rivals of Venture. As she leaves the party, Vin sees a soldier casually slit the throat of a skaa kitchen-boy who begged for coin from a noble.

Other Notes: “Valette’s” trip to Luthadel took almost two months by canal, with some stops; Elend remarks that it can take half a year to go from one end of the Final Empire to the other. Feruchemy explicitly mentioned in one of Elend’s books. Also mentioned in the book are metalminds, “the Massacre at Devanex, the revision of the Deepness Doctrine, and the relocation of the Renates peoples.”

Chapter 19

Kwaan and I met by happenstance - though, I suppose, he would use the word “providence.”

I have met may other Terris philosophers since that day. They are, every one, men of great wisdom and ponderous sagaciousness. Men with an almost palpable importance.

Not so Kwaan. In a way, he is as unlikely a prophet as I am a hero. He never had an air of ceremonious wisdom - nor was he even a religious scholar. When we first met, he was studying one of his ridiculous interests in the great Khlenni library - I believe he was trying to determine whether or not trees could think.

That he should be the one who finally discovered the great Hero of Terris prophecy is a matter that would cause me to laugh, had events turned out just a little differently.

Symbol Header: Unknown

Characters: Kelsier, Charrs Entrone (his corpse, at least), Hoid, Straff Venture, Vin, Sazed, Renoux

Summary: Kelsier sows more chaos to build the House War by leaving the obviously-murdered body of one Charrs Entrone in the garden of House Tekiel. Afterward, he meets up with Hoid, masquerading as a street informant, in order to find out what rumors exist regarding House Renoux. He leaves Hoid to meet up with Lord Venture, pretending to be a sickly, lame skaa beggar and street informant. Kelsier returns to Mansion Renoux, trading information with Vin, Sazed, and Renoux.

Other Notes: The allomantic symbol preceding this chapter does not match any of the 19 known symbols.

Chapter 20

It isn’t a shadow.

This dark thing that follows me, this thing that only I can see - It isn’t really a shadow. It’s blackish and translucent, but it doesn’t have a shadowlike solid outline. It’s insubstantial - wispy and formless. Like it’s made out of a dark fog.

Or mist, perhaps.

Symbol Header: Unknown

Characters: Vin, Sazed, Kelsier, Renoux, Marsh

Summary: Vin returns from Luthadel to see weapons being crated up in front of Renoux’s mansion, to be shipped out. Marsh arrives soon after, and he teaches her about Seeking, as well as some additional details about allomancy in general.

Other Notes: This chapter's allomantic symbol also does not match any of the 19 known symbols, and it is different from Chapter 19's symbol.

Chapter 21

"The Hero of Ages shall not be a man, but a force. No nation may claim him, no woman shall keep him, and no king may slay him. He shall belong to none, not even himself."

Symbol Header: Unknown

Characters: Kelsier, Yeden, Demoux, Hammond, Bilg (a skaa rebellion soldier)

Summary: Kelsier reads a translation of the journal as he travels by canal boat. The caravan stops at a lock, and Kelsier, the recruits, and the supplies leave the caravan, heading to the caves where the skaa rebellion is training. Kelsier overcomes memories of the Pits of Hathsin and enters the cave complex, inspecting the army Ham was forming. During a dinner, Kelsier Riots Bilg’s emotions, intending to use him as an example. Bilg and Demoux duel, with Kelsier using allomancy to help Demoux - the smaller of the two men - win the duel.

Other Notes: A third unique allomantic symbol starts this chapter. Also, a paragraph of Alendi's Journal that isn't in the epigraphs appears in this chapter.