The opening scene of Episode 6 of The Mighty Nein finds soldiers huddled in fear, watching vultures circle above. They whisper that the presence of the Orphan Maker is imminent, a fear that is only reinforced when a stranger materializes on the horizon. The leader, unswayed by their apprehension, dismisses it as mere superstition.
But fate had other plans. In a matter of minutes, the Orphan Maker renders him and many of his soldiers lifeless, their bodies falling like leaves in autumn's wind. As one woman pleads for her life, the Orphan Maker pauses, her gaze lost in a vision of a vast flower field with another woman. A shadow interrupts, calling her Yasha and reminding her of feelings she thought long forgotten.
Yasha's neck glows with a painful mark, a reminder of her past. She asks about the mages' whereabouts, ready to depart. But the mark flares again, causing her to lose control and smash the soldier's head with her hands.
Meanwhile, The Mighty Nein arrives in Zadash, seeking someone who can craft Caleb a new protective necklace. Molly knows a contact, but they need something fancy to trade. So they venture into the bustling marketplaces, their footsteps echoing off the walls.
Beau slips away to meet Dairon, where she passes on the orb. Their conversation reveals Ikithon's hand in everything, including the theft of the beacon. Dairon's words stoke Beau's distrust of Caleb, reminding her that a Volstrucker never truly changes.
Caleb prowls the town unseen, but Astrid watches him with magic. She received Owelia's message and quickly realizes he's in Zadash, right where the Academy is located. Her eyes narrow as she contemplates her next move.
Her mentor, Ikithon, continues to delve into the beacons' enigmatic powers, enthralled by their allure. Despite this fascination, he remains steadfast in his commitment to Essek, vowing to rescue his mother at any cost.
As they are immersed in their studies, one of Ikithon's allies interjects, announcing that the king desires his presence. However, upon arriving at the royal presence, Ikithon finds only Vess waiting for him. She unveils the secrets they have uncovered about him, and the assembled members swiftly apprehend Trent.
Meanwhile, the Mighty Nein arrive at the tavern where Molly has arranged to meet her contact. But something unsettling happens there. She is confronted by a figure who seems to know her well, addressing her as Lucien. Cree, an apparent old friend, broaches mysterious topics such as a ritual and a tome, but Molly goes along with the conversation without trying to fully comprehend his words.
Later, she leads him to the man who can provide them with the necklace. Although he is amenable to their request, he makes it clear that he does not want a gift. Instead, he offers them a job: to find the treasure of an infamous pirate. As an assurance that they will not abandon their mission, he takes blood samples from them.
Their journey to the pirate's treasure commences through a secret entrance near a waterfall, amidst the Empire's own investigation of the site. Despite the initial ease of their mission, Molly feels a sense of unease. As they delve deeper, they stumble upon a trap left by the pirate. Caleb instructs Nott, who is terrified, to disarm it, which ignites a clash with Beau. Nonetheless, the goblin accepts her mission with bravery.
As she bravely navigates through the treacherous path, she gets caught in a predicament and is on the brink of peril. Fortunately, Beau comes to her aid and together they disarm the trap. As they enter a new chamber, they encounter a puzzle where the light creates several dots on the wall that must be aligned to form constellations. Fjord swiftly solves it, proving his worth to Caleb who had been doubting him. This allows them to continue their journey to another room filled with mysteries and challenges yet to be uncovered.
With the news that Ikithon had ventured to the king's court and never returned, Essek was compelled to return home. His mother's words of Verrat's fleeting presence, sent off by the Bright Queen's call to war against the Empire, filled him with a desperate hopelessness, knowing his friend's fate was intertwined with the beacon's existence.
Meanwhile, in a cell deep within the castle, the king met with Ikithon, summoned by the mage's request. Trent confessed his deception, but in a noble gesture, he imparted that it was all for the greater good of the Empire. He enthused about the beacon's true potential, urging the king to witness its power with his own eyes.
Far away, the Mighty Nein made their way to the pirate's lair, where Caleb wielded his magic to reveal invisible stepping stones for Beau to traverse. Suddenly, Uk'otoa spoke through Fjord, commanding him to partake in something mysterious. Without hesitation, Fjord dived into a river, causing confusion among his companions.
As he swam, Fjord stumbled upon a small underwater hole illuminated by a faint light. Exhausted and on the verge of drowning, he passed out—it seemed like a failure. But Uk'otoa's command echoed in his ears, and he breathed life back into his lungs, even underwater. There, he found a treasure trove and a strange eye, which he grasped before returning to the surface.
Caleb and Beau were preoccupied with their own issues, unaware of Fjord's perilous journey. Their disagreement over Beau's whereabouts that afternoon only intensified their discord. As she neared the ship, Caleb refused to guide her unless she divulged her secret. In a moment of vulnerability, she confessed to meeting another cobalt soul and Ikithon's predicament. Caleb relented and joined her, determined to retrieve the magic compass their employer sought—but with a vow that only death could deter Trent from his mission.
Inside the ship, they discovered the compass, but its activation triggered the pirate's final trap. Outside, giant knight-like statues stirred to life, following the sound and launching an attack. The chaos was further compounded by the unexpected arrival of Empire soldiers. Molly's persuasive words eventually silenced them, but they began a silent capture of the Mighty Nein.
Fjord emerged from the water to find Uk'otoa urging him to depart. On the verge of compliance, he stumbled upon Jester's drawing book on the ground—a sign to save his crew. He began shouting and complaining about his companions, drawing the statues' attention and distracting the soldiers. His companions understood his ploy and followed him, weaving a web of banter that caught the army in its crossfire. But amidst the chaos, some Empire soldiers found solace in their task.
Verrat's army prepared for an assault on the Empire as Essek made a surprise appearance behind him, teleporting away and unleashing his archers' arrows on them. Ikithon then levitated them all and brought them crashing down to earth, ending the battle in an instant. The king watched in awe, mesmerized by such overwhelming power.
After witnessing the Empire wielding the Beacon's might, Verrat questioned Essek and discovered that he had stolen the object and given it to them. Meanwhile, the Mighty Nein returned to Zadash with their reward—Caleb apologized to Beau, and things seemed to be looking up once again. But trouble loomed on the horizon as Yasha and her vultures drew closer to the town.
