This article contains spoilers for season two of Motherland: Fort Salem. Season 2, Episode 3 "A Tiffany" aired July 6, 2021.
With the Vice President's daughter revealed to be a witch, Alder is pushing for the opening of witch testing centers across the nation. Both Vice President Silver and President Wade initially oppose the idea, citing that asking civilians to offer up their children in the midst of the high tensions would cause a public outcry.
However, President Wade quickly comes around after a few whispers from Alder's biddies. Presumably forced to sign the motion by the general. It doesn't go unnoticed by the vice president and general Petra Bellweather. Meanwhile, the Bellweather unit are focused on their specialty studies. Tally's Sight is marred by Alder's flashbacks, and Abigail leans into weather work. Under the tutelage of Necro teacher Izadora, Raelle works to try and and channel her new powers with heavy doubts. She struggles to even speak Mothertongue, the ancient witch language of Motherland which is supposed to be step one of war college. The matrimonial season is upon Fort Salem. The unit meets the Imperatrix after training- the Matriarch responsible for maintaining the sanctity of witch bloodlines. Power can be diluted if witches procreate- outcross- with civilians.
If it was frowned upon when Raelle's mother did it, it must be borderline treason to do so when they need all hands on deck to go against the Camarilla. The Matriarch says as much when she meets with General Alder and Bellweather.
When Alder comments on the Imperatrix's arrogance, Petra not-so-subtly points out that it's a product of not having to answer to anyone. She leaves Alder shaken on the front steps after briefing her on the efforts to track down new witches.
As the army tries to pinpoint their diluted members, the Camarilla already have a system at work. They've infiltrated schools, seeing if students are of the blood through hearing tests. Anacostia and Scylla tail one proctor, and find out the sound can remove Spree's disguises.
Raelle grows more frustrated as she fails to connect with the mycelium- which Izadora says should be referred to as a "her." Implying the fungal network has some degree of sentience. In any case, Raelle is the key to unlocking properties that Izadora hasn't been able to crack after years of studying it.
Raelle is more than a conduit for the mycelium; it chose to form a symbiosis with her. And it's super responsive to threats. So far, Raelle's only been able to procure it in life-or-death situations.
Raelle stays behind as Izadora ends testing for the night, trying out one more sound seed per a strange request from the wall. The deathcap one Scylla taught her a graveyard way back in 1x02. It's... effective. Tendrils shoot out and strangle her until Izadora sends them back with a deterrent seed.
Abigail continues to struggle under the shadow of the Bellweather name. As she tries to carve a space for herself, the Imperatrix recommends she procreate Gregorio, an old flame she has no interest in. The urgent need for stronger forces means her handfasting (marriage) ceremony must take place by the end of the year.
Raelle and Tally pour salt in the wound as they discuss their unique prospects, balmed only by the fact that neither of them can control their abilities.
Anacostia and Scylla sink deeper into their roles with their civilian friends. Their young daughter's friend- Tiffany- was found to be a witch through the Camarilla's testing. The wife seems a little less passionate about the cause, so Anacostia probes deeper. They learn the name of the man they followed to elementary schools last episode.
Hand-to-hand combat is becoming a priority in War College; the Camarilla's voice-dampening weaponry has turned melee classes into a necessity. Abigail uses them to release frustrations over handfasting and inadequacy. Alder's visions begin to creep into Tally's waking hours.
Despite assurances to keep her safe, Penelope Silver is poised to become the poster child for witch testing centers amid flagrant public dissent. Tally works with the frustrated recruit as she tries to master a seed sound in time for the ceremonial opening she, Alder, and the Bellweather unit will attend next episode.
The Imperatrix also sits down to speak with Raelle and Tally about the need for new blood, despite her disinterest in handfasting. And men.
When the matriarch badmouths her mother, Raelle reams into her in fluent Mothertongue. It stuns Craven and the Imperatrix. Raelle has no clue where it came from, either. I'm guessing the wall has a lot more secrets hidden in its network. Is the mycelium sentient? Are people trapped inside? A cloud consciousness filled with enemies and ancestors alike? Only time will tell. Raelle returns to the mycelium wall to replicate the seed that she nearly died using. Turns out there were many voices layered in the song Raelle sung. A feat made possible by the mycelial threads that have colonized her larynx. After a successful experiment, Raelle is brought to demonstrate her abilities in front of world leaders. It stuns the vice president and some members of the Hague. Even Alder hasn't seen anything like it.
With a looming handfasting and a bitterness welling within her, Abigail drives away Adil and leaves Tally alone at the ceremony as she attempts unsanctioned work with disastrous results. Tally learns the name of the mysterious soldier- Nicte Batan- and surveys the aftermath of Alder using her work against the enemy.
Check out the trailer for episode four below:
Watch new episodes of Motherland: Fort Salem on Freeform Tuesdays at 10PM. Stills accessed from dgepress.com. All rights reserved to Motherland: Fort Salem and Freeform.
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