Summary:The Alloy of Law

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This page contains a chapter by chapter summary of The Alloy of Law. 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.

PrologueEdit

 
Characters
Plot Summary

Waxillium Ladrian finds himself in a gunfight in Feltrel, out in the Roughs. Wax showcases previously unseen Allomantic techniques by creating a "Steel Bubble" around himself that deflects oncoming metal. He meets up with Lessie, as the two of them are hunting Bloody Tan for the bounty on his head. Wax finds Bloody Tan's hideout, only to discover that Lessie has been captured by Tan. Wax fires his Sterrion revolver at Tan, who yanks Lessie into the path of the bullet. Lessie is killed instantly and Wax, horrified, shoots Tan in the head.

Chapter 1Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Five months later, Wax is in attendance at a party back in Elendel, where he is known as "Lord Waxillium" or "Lord Ladrian," but is adamant in avoiding conversation. He makes his way to the balcony to be alone. The death of Lessie still haunts him. Wax has returned to Elendel in the wake of his uncle's death to do his duty to his house. Lady Aving Cett appears on the balcony, urging Wax to rejoin the party. Instead, Wax slips off the balcony and drops a bullet casing to Push himself over the garden wall. Spending his time bounding across rooftops and soaring through the air, Wax eventually comes across a bunch of criminals in an alleyway with constables blockading the entrance. Intending to deal with them, he drops in their midst but hesitates as he hears a woman whimpering. Wax narrowly avoids taking a bullet thanks to his steel bubble, barely missing his ribs. Still unable to shoot, Wax points his gun at the floor, fires, and uses the bullet to Push himself out of the alleyway. Watching from afar as the constables swarm the alleyway, he realizes the whimpering woman was actually a thug that had taken a bullet before his arrival.

Ashamed, Wax returns to Ladrian Mansion. He turns his guns over to Tillaume, his butler, asking that they be stored in a safe place, and devotes himself to becoming Lord Waxillium Ladrian in the public eye.

Chapter 2Edit

 
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Plot Summary
Six months later

Wax has an appointment with Jackstom Harms to settle a marriage agreement between himself and Harms' daughter, Steris. In his hesitation to appear eager Wax inquires into house matters where Miss Grimes informs him their second shipment of steel was stolen. House Tekiel is also having similar problems, losing five shipments. Making his way to the sitting room expecting to find Lord Harms and his daughter, Wax instead encounters his old friend and partner Wayne. As they discuss where Wayne should be--in Weathering, not Wax's sitting room--the door chimes again and Wax attempts to usher Wayne from the room; Wayne in his Roughs attire would give the wrong impression. Unable to get him from the room before Lord Harms barges in, Wax prepares to introduce Wayne as an old friend when Wayne, having put on a disguise, proclaims to be Wax's uncle. Lord Harms introduces his daughter and her cousin, Marasi. While Wayne and Lord Harms exchange small talk, Steris aims to get to the point of the meeting. Their arrangement, she describes, is to benefit both their houses--Wax's, which is failing financially and Steris', which could benefit from the notoriety of House Ladrian. During the meeting, Wayne erects a speed bubble and hands Wax a bullet that Wax later discovers is made from aluminum. Once Lord Harms leaves, Wayne tells Wax more of the Coolerim Playhouse robbery where one of the thieves dropped the bullet. Before leaving, Wayne tries to convince Wax of what he truly wants.

Chapter 3Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Eight hours later, Waxillium attempts to distract himself with reading and ends up investigating the history of the Vanishers in old broadsheets. He begins to wonder about their methods when Tillaume enters the study with tea. Wax begins sketching out the events to help him think while Tillaume cleans the room. Tillaume informs Wax he has duties to his house, disapproving of Wax getting involved with the robberies. Needing answers, he prays to Harmony in the Pathian way and comes to realize that Tillaume was right: many people rely on him to be an effective lord. After a while meditating, thoughts straying back to Lessie, Wax seats himself at his desk to work on house ledgers.

Chapter 4Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Wax escorts Steris to the Yomen-Ostlin wedding dinner. They talk of the politics behind those in attendance, and Wax's unorthodox reactions cause Steris to question his lack of decorum. Their table is already occupied by Lord Harms and Marasi when they seat themselves. Wax inquires about Marasi's education, and Wayne turns up, disguised as their waiter. Wayne attempts to communicate secretly with Wax as Wax attempts, and succeeds, in shocking Steris with old tales of his time in the Roughs. When Wax and Marasi find themselves alone at the table, Wayne returns and sits down, knowing that Marasi has recognized him. After a round of banter, the talk turns to the investigation Wayne has conducted shortly before the doors at both ends of the ballroom are flung open.

Chapter 5Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Wax estimates the Vanishers to number two or three dozen. Marasi makes notes of their physical descriptions while Wax attempts to mollify Wayne; he wants to fight the bandits, while Wax is worried for the safety of everyone in the room and doesn't want to cause a bloodbath. The bandits move through the crowd demanding that people relinquish their jewelry. When one reaches Wax's table, he hides Marasi's notebook and Wayne's dueling canes against the table with a gentle Push to hold them. The apparent leader searches, comparing the drawings in his hand with the people at each table, confirming Wax and Wayne's suspicion about the kidnappings: the theft is a ruse to allay suspicion. Steris is the first hostage to be picked "at random." When the bandit leader declares they're taking two hostages, Marasi is also chosen. Wax's honor contends with his concern for the lives of the bystanders. Wayne attempts to fight only to have Wax try to talk him out of it again. Lord Peterus, having recovered from being knocked down for his earlier outburst, calls the bandit leader a coward, prompting the man to shoot him. When the bandit leader then tells his men they can have some fun, Wayne erects a speed bubble and Wax finally gives in to his inner instincts.

Chapter 6Edit

 
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Plot Summary

As soon as the speed bubble drops, Wax kills two of the bandits, his gunshots setting off the group behind him while those in front, having seen Wax, take cover. Wax shows off more of his fanciful expertise with his powers and comes to a startling realization on the identity of the Vanishers' leader. Wax goes after Tarson to rescue Marasi. Tarson holds Marasi hostage similar to how Bloody Tan held Lessie, making Wax freeze again. Only thanks to Marasi stunning Tarson is he able to bring his gun up, wounding the thug in the arm. Wax and Wayne, with a little help from Marasi wielding a rifle, dispatch the majority of the bandits, only to allow the leader to escape with Steris right before the constabulary shows up.

Constable Brettin berates Wax for causing havoc, and Reddi gives him the casualty report, which indicates that only Lord Peterus was among the civilian deaths. Brettin is still displeased with Wax's stunt, which draws the two into a quiet argument. Wayne steals one of the aluminum guns the bandits were using from the evidence pile and gives it to Wax.

Chapter 7Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Marasi decides to visit Wax at his mansion, where he is engaged with metallurgy, trying to discover the exact alloy used in the aluminum gun. Marasi informs Wax that Lord Harms is willing to bankroll Wax in his endeavor to rescue Steris. The two of them attempt to reason out the motives of the Vanishers and their operation and come to the conclusion that the women who were taken hostage by the Vanishers were taken for the purpose of breeding Allomancers. Meanwhile, Wax sends Wayne to investigate the Vanishers who were arrested.

Chapter 8Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Wayne strides into the Fourth Octant constabulary offices disguised as a Seventh Octant Captain, seeking Captain Brettin. Wayne--Captain Guffon Trenchant--convinces Brettin to grant him interviews with some of the Vanishers. With Brettin overseeing from the door, Wayne alternates between playing a constable and whispering in street accents, hoping to convince the detainees to give up the information he seeks on the Vanishers. He manages to glean some information from the two he interrogates and leaves with Brettin none the wiser.

Chapter 9Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Waxillium and Marasi are debating philosophy, and Wax's past is brought up again, as well as Marasi's education. Wayne returns with the information he gained from the constabulary. Tillaume makes tea for Wax which Wayne procures for himself in order to take more bendalloy. Wax accidentally insults Marasi and Wayne discovers the tea has been poisoned. Tillaume attempts to assassinate Wax with a gun, but Wax injures the butler instead. Concern for Wayne causes Wax to miss Tillaume triggering the bomb in the basket he'd brought with him. Wayne, having recovered a little thanks to his Feruchemical ability throws up a speed bubble just as the basket explodes. Wax then taps the weight he had Feruchemically stored, breaking the floor and causing them to fall through to the room below, though Wayne is badly burnt on the back from the explosion. Presumed dead, they use the cover as an opportunity to go after the Vanishers.

Chapter 10Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Wax, Wayne, and Marasi sneak out of Ladrian Mansion and take a carriage to the Fifth Octant, where they locate the Vanishers' hideout near a canal dock. Wax searches the building for traps before waving Marasi over. They discover more clues to the Vanishers' operation, and Marasi uncovers more of the duo's past when Wayne decides to play a frightening prank on Marasi. The two of them find an expensive cigar box left behind. Wax returns after gleaning information from the local beggars. Wayne hands him the cigar box, to which Wax responds by asking Marasi if she's heard of the name Miles Dagouter.

Chapter 11Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Miles

Miles is talking with Tarson and Clamps about Wax having discovered the hideout. Miles rebuts that he is still a lawkeeper, but society's ideas of law do not coincide with his own moral laws, which is why he would not kill the beggars around the old hideout to prevent them from speaking to Wax. He believes that to help the people in the Roughs he would need to make a difference here, in the city. Mister Suit calls Miles in to talk about his recent "blunder" at the wedding reception. It is evident from this conversation that Suit has power and influence behind him and might actually be the one funding Miles' operation. Miles assures Suit that he intends to deal with Wax.

Wax

Wax and Wayne explain more about Miles to Marasi. Now understanding the full extent of the danger, Wax intends to send Marasi to some place safe. She objects, of course, and Wax reveals that he knows she is an Allomancer. It turns out that Marasi is a Pulser. She's not overly proud of it, but Wax tries to convince her it can be useful.

Chapter 12Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Wayne

Wayne buys the carriage driver's hat as he gets out. Having taken a train the Outer Estates and then a carriage farther in, Wax, Wayne, and Marasi investigate one of the scenes of robbery, which is beside a canal paralleling the train tracks. Having an ear for accents, Wayne notes that Marasi uses more elevated diction around Wax than she did himself, as though she is trying to impress his friend. They discuss potential scenarios for the robbery when Wayne turns to discussing their similar Allomantic abilities with Marasi. Wayne also remarks that he thinks Marasi would be a good match for Wax, who is too busy inspecting the scene to overhear.

Wax

Back on the train, Wax is still pondering what Miles' motives are when a distant scream alerts him moments before a bullet tears into the carriage. Miles is no ordinary criminal that would go to ground; being a former lawman, he is accustomed to hunting. Wax looks up to see Miles standing in the next train car.

Chapter 13Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Not wanting to risk bystanders, Wax Pushes himself to the roof of the railcar. Their battle is intense, with Wax barely managing to hold out against the nearly immortal Miles. Mid-battle, Miles tries to convince Wax of his ideology shortly before knocking Wax off the train. Pushing on the railway tracks, Wax manages to catch up to the train. Tossing Miles a spent cartridge and Pushing sends Miles flying off of the train this time. Unable to Push, Miles is stranded on the tracks. Wax rides on the roof to the next stop.

Wax speaks to the engineers, who are saying they were under orders not to stop the train even if they heard gunfire. Wayne and Marasi had been trapped in their cars by lengths of metal jammed into the locked mechanisms on the outer doors. Marasi tends to Wax's wounds, and they decide on a safehouse to avoid Miles should he attack again. They deduce that the safest place right now is Ranette's. Wax jokes that it might not be "safe" anywhere near Ranette.

Chapter 14Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Wax

Ranette greets the trio with a less than warm welcome. Wayne manages to dissuade her from shooting them by offering Wax's aluminum gun as a bribe. Ranette isn't too pleased to hear Wax lost his guns either, which she had custom made for him.

Marasi

Ranette has been working on new types of ammunition she calls Hazekillers, to be used specifically against Allomancers. Though there seems to be tension between them, Ranette gives Wax her latest prototype gun--Vindication, named after the Ascendant Warrior--as long as he promises to give her a field report. Wasting no time, Wax scratches up a plan, sending Wayne to "borrow" some shipping manifests and Marasi to buy strong fishing nets.

Chapter 15Edit

 
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Plot Summary

Miles

Miles disputes his recent attempt on Wax's life with Mister Suit, noting his honor for not shooting Wax in the back when he had the chance. Mister Suit belongs to a group he calls the Set, an organization that Miles speculates desires to see a revolution in Elendel as much as he does. Mister Suit wants Wax dead, and Miles is counting on Wax making another appearance at night. Mister Suit declares he's leaving the city and leaves behind two of his men to "help" Miles.

Wax

Wax has plotted where Miles will strike next. Miles needs a new shipment of aluminum since most of it was lost at the Yomen party, and Wax deduces that he will strike the next Tekiel shipment at Carlo's Bend. Marasi enters, and they discuss her role in Wax's plan. Wax is aware of Marasi's feelings for him, but neither of them voice it aloud as Wax deters the conversation before it escalates.

Chapter 16Edit

 
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Plot Summary

At the train station, Wayne in an old woman's disguise tricks a guard into revealing information about the Breaknaught. When the guard grows suspicious at the questions, Wayne makes a break for it, firing a shot into the air to instigate panic among the crowd. Out of sight of the pursuing guards, Wayne changes his disguise in a speed bubble and then confronts the guards, sounding like a member of the Tekiel family. Another quick change sees him in a Tekiel guard uniform, and he reports for duty with Wax as the "extra help" Lord Tekiel had sent. A series of gunshots are the perfect distraction for getting Wax inside the Breaknaught. Faking a gunshot wound when Marasi begins shooting, Wax is thrown into the Breaknaught by Wayne as the nearest place of safety for the "wounded" guard. Wayne then quickly shuts the door, the timer mechanism locking it, and the train sets off with Wax still inside. The captain importantly announces that they have repelled an attack by the Vanishers, and Wayne slips away.

Chapter 17Edit

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Plot Summary

Wax

Having taken off his disguise and unpacked the paraphernalia within it, Wax fingers Vindication as he rides in the railcar. The train slows.

Marasi

Watching the train from afar, Wayne and Marasi observe how the Vanishers have pulled off their robberies. The "phantom" train the Vanishers use turns out to be nothing more than a hand-propelled rail wagon behind a wooden engine façade. It consists of a powerful lamp that Marasi speculates must be powered by a chemical battery. The train carrying the Breaknaught stops to allow Tekiel guards to confront the Vanishers, but the bandits open fire with a rotary gun. A boat on the canal containing a strong crane lifts the Breaknaught away from the train, depositing it on the deck and then replacing it with a replica.

Miles

Miles knows Wax is inside the Breaknaught, more through logical deduction as a lawkeeper than actual knowledge. Taking it back to his workshop, Miles orders his men to open fire on the person inside the moment they get it open. The door is yanked off, but nothing moves inside the safe. As Miles and his crew wait, he notices a length of string extending from the train car to the door they'd just pulled off, ending at some dynamite taped to the back of it. Wax pulls the string tight.

Chapter 18Edit

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Plot Summary

Wax

Following the blast, Wax emerges from the Breaknaught and sees Miles. Using a maze of boxes, Wax evades the rest of the Vanishers, coming face-to-face with Tarson. The Pewterarm knocks Vindication from his hand. The roof explodes, gunfire halting Tarson's advance, and Wayne drops through the hole in the roof. Throwing up a speed bubble, Wayne notices the Coinshot minion of Mister Suit's, Push, with a gun aimed at Wax's head. Thanking Wayne for saving him, Wax leaps for Vindication as Wayne surprises Tarson, intending to take on the Pewterarm alone. Push launches Vindication over Wax's head, but Wax Pushes it up through the hole in the roof. He follows it up and retrieves it. Mister Suit's Lurcher, Pull, joins Push in pursuit. The two enemy metalborn give Wax a tough time until Marasi is able to kill Pull with a rifle. Push opens fire on the two, forcing them back into the warehouse. Wax rushes in to assist Wayne, who has been delaying the Vanishers. Miles appears near the train car, and Wax dashes for its interior, where he springs a trap on Miles. Caught in fishing nets, Miles blows himself up to escape. The explosion narrowly misses Wax, who had frantically Pushed himself out of the train car. Miles approaches an injured Wax, but Wax escapes.

Wayne

Seeing Wax hurtling towards the boxes, Wayne makes his way towards his friend, throwing up speed bubbles to put off the bandits. Almost as he reaches Wax, a bullet takes his arm and another gets deflected when he throws up a speed bubble. Seeing the Coinshot with Marasi's rifle, he makes a decision to find Marasi.

Wax

The mists flood in through the hole in the roof. Wax has a conversation with Harmony, who tells him that he did do something about the Vanishers situation: he had sent Wax. He also suggests that he has helped Wax. Wax then notices his own trunk--the one Tillaume had stored his guns in--right in front of him.

Marasi

Marasi had hidden behind the train car, stashing the rifle when Push came after her. She notices Miles outside a tunnel and listens to his conversation with Push. Miles, aware of Marasi's presence, points a gun at her and orders her to call for Wax. Before she can bring herself to move, however, Wax appears from the mists wearing a mistcoat, a pair of revolvers, a shotgun resting on each shoulder, and a smile. Without a word, he blasts Miles in the side with both shotguns.

Chapter 19Edit

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Plot Summary

Miles runs away, shouting back about his men going to kill Steris. Wax uses the Hazekiller round on Push. When the Coinshot tries to Push the bullet back at Wax, the ceramic portion of the bullet takes him right in the eye. Pursuing the Vanishers, Wax rescues Steris and Nouxil, sending the latter out the window into the canal. He crushes the building and lets Steris escape. Tarson takes Marasi hostage, and Wax shouts for one of Wayne's speed bubbles. Wax shoots a bullet, which is deflected when it exits the bubble. Studying its trajectory, Wax fires a second bullet just as Wayne drops the bubble and deflects the first one once again, nailing Tarson in the head. Wayne injures Miles long enough to escape. Miles beats Wax up, but Wax endures it in order to keep Miles occupied while Marasi is burning cadmium. The world outside Marasi's bubble is greatly accelerated, giving Wayne enough time to mobilize the constabulary. They arrive just as Miles notices the slowness bubble and arrest him.

Chapter 20Edit

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Plot Summary

Wax compliments Marasi on her courage and turns her down when she seems to suggest her feelings for him, though he does feel slightly regretful. Brettin gives Wax a citywide deputized forbearance, surprising Wax at this uncharacteristic reaction. Steris shows her vulnerability, expressing her flaws and her acceptance of Wax's personality. Wax tells her he intends to take up Brettin's offer, to which she replies that every man must have his hobbies. They decide to go ahead with the engagement.

EpilogueEdit

 
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Plot Summary

Marasi

Marasi watches Miles being bound before his execution.

Wax

Wax meets with his uncle Edwarn, having figured out that he was Mister Suit and tracked him to a particular train via the numbers on Miles' cigar case Wayne had found earlier. Edwarn doesn't reveal his plans or the locations of the other kidnapped women, but he thanks Wax for helping his plan by defeating Miles. Wax realizes that Edwarn has committed insurance fraud by buying out House Tekiel's debts, knowing that the stolen goods would be returned.

Marasi

Miles finally dies after the fifth volley of bullets. Marasi observes a man in a cloak enter an alley below.

Wax

Wax declares that he will stop his uncle, who remains unruffled when Wax goes for a weapon. After Wax threatens him again, Edwarn orders him thrown from the back of the train.

Marasi

Filled with a desire to see the mysterious man, Marasi follows him into the alley. She meets Ironeyes, who apologizes for Pulling on her emotions and gives her a book for Wax.

Wax

Wax returns to the train station and meets Wayne. They settle a bet regarding Mister Suit's identity, and Wax promises to be around from then on when Wayne needs him. Wayne agrees to helping Wax resolve the mess with Edwarn, and Wax shows him his uncle's appointment book, which he stole with a table sweep before getting thrown off the train.

Ars ArcanumEdit

The arcanum displays a detailed chart of the metals (Metals Quick Reference Chart), a List of Metals with properties explained and a short essay, On The Three Metallic Arts. The last compares Allomancy with Investitures from Sel, as well as a mention that the Cosmere is greatly interested in Hemalurgy.

NotesEdit

This meta article is complete, but has yet to be reviewed.