diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 491047c35..c8901eb20 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -46,3 +46,5 @@ static/client/register/register_config.js
 
 env/
 *.config
+
+.vscode/
diff --git a/docs/admin_api/media_admin_api.md b/docs/admin_api/media_admin_api.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..abdbc1ea8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/admin_api/media_admin_api.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# List all media in a room
+
+This API gets a list of known media in a room.
+
+The API is:
+```
+GET /_matrix/client/r0/admin/room/<room_id>/media
+```
+including an `access_token` of a server admin.
+
+It returns a JSON body like the following:
+```
+{
+    "local": [
+        "mxc://localhost/xwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba",
+        "mxc://localhost/abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx"
+    ],
+    "remote": [
+        "mxc://matrix.org/xwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba",
+        "mxc://matrix.org/abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx"
+    ]
+}
+```
diff --git a/docs/admin_api/purge_history_api.rst b/docs/admin_api/purge_history_api.rst
index 08b330636..ea2922da5 100644
--- a/docs/admin_api/purge_history_api.rst
+++ b/docs/admin_api/purge_history_api.rst
@@ -4,14 +4,58 @@ Purge History API
 The purge history API allows server admins to purge historic events from their
 database, reclaiming disk space.
 
-**NB!** This will not delete local events (locally sent messages content etc) from the database, but will remove lots of the metadata about them and does dramatically reduce the on disk space usage
-
 Depending on the amount of history being purged a call to the API may take
 several minutes or longer. During this period users will not be able to
 paginate further back in the room from the point being purged from.
 
-The API is simply:
+The API is:
 
-``POST /_matrix/client/r0/admin/purge_history/<room_id>/<event_id>``
+``POST /_matrix/client/r0/admin/purge_history/<room_id>[/<event_id>]``
 
 including an ``access_token`` of a server admin.
+
+By default, events sent by local users are not deleted, as they may represent
+the only copies of this content in existence. (Events sent by remote users are
+deleted, and room state data before the cutoff is always removed).
+
+To delete local events as well, set ``delete_local_events`` in the body:
+
+.. code:: json
+
+   {
+       "delete_local_events": true
+   }
+
+The caller must specify the point in the room to purge up to. This can be
+specified by including an event_id in the URI, or by setting a
+``purge_up_to_event_id`` or ``purge_up_to_ts`` in the request body. If an event
+id is given, that event (and others at the same graph depth) will be retained.
+If ``purge_up_to_ts`` is given, it should be a timestamp since the unix epoch,
+in milliseconds.
+
+The API starts the purge running, and returns immediately with a JSON body with
+a purge id:
+
+.. code:: json
+
+    {
+        "purge_id": "<opaque id>"
+    }
+
+Purge status query
+------------------
+
+It is possible to poll for updates on recent purges with a second API;
+
+``GET /_matrix/client/r0/admin/purge_history_status/<purge_id>``
+
+(again, with a suitable ``access_token``). This API returns a JSON body like
+the following:
+
+.. code:: json
+
+    {
+        "status": "active"
+    }
+
+The status will be one of ``active``, ``complete``, or ``failed``.
diff --git a/docs/log_contexts.rst b/docs/log_contexts.rst
index b19b7fa1e..82ac4f91e 100644
--- a/docs/log_contexts.rst
+++ b/docs/log_contexts.rst
@@ -279,9 +279,9 @@ Obviously that option means that the operations done in
 that might be fixed by setting a different logcontext via a ``with
 LoggingContext(...)`` in ``background_operation``).
 
-The second option is to use ``logcontext.preserve_fn``, which wraps a function
-so that it doesn't reset the logcontext even when it returns an incomplete
-deferred, and adds a callback to the returned deferred to reset the
+The second option is to use ``logcontext.run_in_background``, which wraps a
+function so that it doesn't reset the logcontext even when it returns an
+incomplete deferred, and adds a callback to the returned deferred to reset the
 logcontext. In other words, it turns a function that follows the Synapse rules
 about logcontexts and Deferreds into one which behaves more like an external
 function — the opposite operation to that described in the previous section.
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ It can be used like this:
     def do_request_handling():
         yield foreground_operation()
 
-        logcontext.preserve_fn(background_operation)()
+        logcontext.run_in_background(background_operation)
 
         # this will now be logged against the request context
         logger.debug("Request handling complete")
diff --git a/docs/workers.rst b/docs/workers.rst
index b39f79058..dee04bbf3 100644
--- a/docs/workers.rst
+++ b/docs/workers.rst
@@ -30,17 +30,29 @@ requests made to the federation port. The caveats regarding running a
 reverse-proxy on the federation port still apply (see
 https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/master/README.rst#reverse-proxying-the-federation-port).
 
-To enable workers, you need to add a replication listener to the master synapse, e.g.::
+To enable workers, you need to add two replication listeners to the master
+synapse, e.g.::
 
     listeners:
+      # The TCP replication port
       - port: 9092
         bind_address: '127.0.0.1'
         type: replication
+      # The HTTP replication port
+      - port: 9093
+        bind_address: '127.0.0.1'
+        type: http
+        resources:
+         - names: [replication]
 
-Under **no circumstances** should this replication API listener be exposed to the
-public internet; it currently implements no authentication whatsoever and is
+Under **no circumstances** should these replication API listeners be exposed to
+the public internet; it currently implements no authentication whatsoever and is
 unencrypted.
 
+(Roughly, the TCP port is used for streaming data from the master to the
+workers, and the HTTP port for the workers to send data to the main
+synapse process.)
+
 You then create a set of configs for the various worker processes.  These
 should be worker configuration files, and should be stored in a dedicated
 subdirectory, to allow synctl to manipulate them.
@@ -52,8 +64,13 @@ You should minimise the number of overrides though to maintain a usable config.
 
 You must specify the type of worker application (``worker_app``). The currently
 available worker applications are listed below. You must also specify the
-replication endpoint that it's talking to on the main synapse process
-(``worker_replication_host`` and ``worker_replication_port``).
+replication endpoints that it's talking to on the main synapse process.
+``worker_replication_host`` should specify the host of the main synapse,
+``worker_replication_port`` should point to the TCP replication listener port and
+``worker_replication_http_port`` should point to the HTTP replication port.
+
+Currently, only the ``event_creator`` worker requires specifying
+``worker_replication_http_port``.
 
 For instance::
 
@@ -62,6 +79,7 @@ For instance::
     # The replication listener on the synapse to talk to.
     worker_replication_host: 127.0.0.1
     worker_replication_port: 9092
+    worker_replication_http_port: 9093
 
     worker_listeners:
      - type: http
@@ -207,3 +225,14 @@ the ``worker_main_http_uri`` setting in the frontend_proxy worker configuration
 file. For example::
 
     worker_main_http_uri: http://127.0.0.1:8008
+
+
+``synapse.app.event_creator``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Handles non-state event creation. It can handle REST endpoints matching:
+
+    ^/_matrix/client/(api/v1|r0|unstable)/rooms/.*/send
+
+It will create events locally and then send them on to the main synapse
+instance to be persisted and handled.
diff --git a/scripts/move_remote_media_to_new_store.py b/scripts/move_remote_media_to_new_store.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7914ead88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/move_remote_media_to_new_store.py
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2017 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+"""
+Moves a list of remote media from one media store to another.
+
+The input should be a list of media files to be moved, one per line. Each line
+should be formatted::
+
+    <origin server>|<file id>
+
+This can be extracted from postgres with::
+
+    psql --tuples-only -A -c "select media_origin, filesystem_id from
+        matrix.remote_media_cache where ..."
+
+To use, pipe the above into::
+
+    PYTHON_PATH=. ./scripts/move_remote_media_to_new_store.py <source repo> <dest repo>
+"""
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+import argparse
+import logging
+
+import sys
+
+import os
+
+import shutil
+
+from synapse.rest.media.v1.filepath import MediaFilePaths
+
+logger = logging.getLogger()
+
+
+def main(src_repo, dest_repo):
+    src_paths = MediaFilePaths(src_repo)
+    dest_paths = MediaFilePaths(dest_repo)
+    for line in sys.stdin:
+        line = line.strip()
+        parts = line.split('|')
+        if len(parts) != 2:
+            print("Unable to parse input line %s" % line, file=sys.stderr)
+            exit(1)
+
+        move_media(parts[0], parts[1], src_paths, dest_paths)
+
+
+def move_media(origin_server, file_id, src_paths, dest_paths):
+    """Move the given file, and any thumbnails, to the dest repo
+
+    Args:
+        origin_server (str):
+        file_id (str):
+        src_paths (MediaFilePaths):
+        dest_paths (MediaFilePaths):
+    """
+    logger.info("%s/%s", origin_server, file_id)
+
+    # check that the original exists
+    original_file = src_paths.remote_media_filepath(origin_server, file_id)
+    if not os.path.exists(original_file):
+        logger.warn(
+            "Original for %s/%s (%s) does not exist",
+            origin_server, file_id, original_file,
+        )
+    else:
+        mkdir_and_move(
+            original_file,
+            dest_paths.remote_media_filepath(origin_server, file_id),
+        )
+
+    # now look for thumbnails
+    original_thumb_dir = src_paths.remote_media_thumbnail_dir(
+        origin_server, file_id,
+    )
+    if not os.path.exists(original_thumb_dir):
+        return
+
+    mkdir_and_move(
+        original_thumb_dir,
+        dest_paths.remote_media_thumbnail_dir(origin_server, file_id)
+    )
+
+
+def mkdir_and_move(original_file, dest_file):
+    dirname = os.path.dirname(dest_file)
+    if not os.path.exists(dirname):
+        logger.debug("mkdir %s", dirname)
+        os.makedirs(dirname)
+    logger.debug("mv %s %s", original_file, dest_file)
+    shutil.move(original_file, dest_file)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description=__doc__,
+        formatter_class = argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-v", action='store_true', help='enable debug logging')
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "src_repo",
+        help="Path to source content repo",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "dest_repo",
+        help="Path to source content repo",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    logging_config = {
+        "level": logging.DEBUG if args.v else logging.INFO,
+        "format": "%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(lineno)d - %(levelname)s - %(message)s"
+    }
+    logging.basicConfig(**logging_config)
+
+    main(args.src_repo, args.dest_repo)
diff --git a/synapse/app/appservice.py b/synapse/app/appservice.py
index 7d0c2879a..c6fe4516d 100644
--- a/synapse/app/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/app/appservice.py
@@ -49,19 +49,6 @@ class AppserviceSlaveStore(
 
 
 class AppserviceServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = AppserviceSlaveStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
diff --git a/synapse/app/client_reader.py b/synapse/app/client_reader.py
index dc3f6efd4..0a8ce9bc6 100644
--- a/synapse/app/client_reader.py
+++ b/synapse/app/client_reader.py
@@ -64,19 +64,6 @@ class ClientReaderSlavedStore(
 
 
 class ClientReaderServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = ClientReaderSlavedStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
@@ -169,7 +156,6 @@ def start(config_options):
     )
 
     ss.setup()
-    ss.get_handlers()
     ss.start_listening(config.worker_listeners)
 
     def start():
diff --git a/synapse/app/event_creator.py b/synapse/app/event_creator.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eb593c527
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/app/event_creator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+import logging
+import sys
+
+import synapse
+from synapse import events
+from synapse.app import _base
+from synapse.config._base import ConfigError
+from synapse.config.homeserver import HomeServerConfig
+from synapse.config.logger import setup_logging
+from synapse.crypto import context_factory
+from synapse.http.server import JsonResource
+from synapse.http.site import SynapseSite
+from synapse.metrics.resource import METRICS_PREFIX, MetricsResource
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage._base import BaseSlavedStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.account_data import SlavedAccountDataStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.appservice import SlavedApplicationServiceStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.client_ips import SlavedClientIpStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.devices import SlavedDeviceStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.events import SlavedEventStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.push_rule import SlavedPushRuleStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.pushers import SlavedPusherStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.receipts import SlavedReceiptsStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.registration import SlavedRegistrationStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage.room import RoomStore
+from synapse.replication.tcp.client import ReplicationClientHandler
+from synapse.rest.client.v1.room import RoomSendEventRestServlet
+from synapse.server import HomeServer
+from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
+from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
+from synapse.util.logcontext import LoggingContext
+from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
+from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
+from twisted.internet import reactor
+from twisted.web.resource import Resource
+
+logger = logging.getLogger("synapse.app.event_creator")
+
+
+class EventCreatorSlavedStore(
+    SlavedAccountDataStore,
+    SlavedPusherStore,
+    SlavedReceiptsStore,
+    SlavedPushRuleStore,
+    SlavedDeviceStore,
+    SlavedClientIpStore,
+    SlavedApplicationServiceStore,
+    SlavedEventStore,
+    SlavedRegistrationStore,
+    RoomStore,
+    BaseSlavedStore,
+):
+    pass
+
+
+class EventCreatorServer(HomeServer):
+    def setup(self):
+        logger.info("Setting up.")
+        self.datastore = EventCreatorSlavedStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
+        logger.info("Finished setting up.")
+
+    def _listen_http(self, listener_config):
+        port = listener_config["port"]
+        bind_addresses = listener_config["bind_addresses"]
+        site_tag = listener_config.get("tag", port)
+        resources = {}
+        for res in listener_config["resources"]:
+            for name in res["names"]:
+                if name == "metrics":
+                    resources[METRICS_PREFIX] = MetricsResource(self)
+                elif name == "client":
+                    resource = JsonResource(self, canonical_json=False)
+                    RoomSendEventRestServlet(self).register(resource)
+                    resources.update({
+                        "/_matrix/client/r0": resource,
+                        "/_matrix/client/unstable": resource,
+                        "/_matrix/client/v2_alpha": resource,
+                        "/_matrix/client/api/v1": resource,
+                    })
+
+        root_resource = create_resource_tree(resources, Resource())
+
+        _base.listen_tcp(
+            bind_addresses,
+            port,
+            SynapseSite(
+                "synapse.access.http.%s" % (site_tag,),
+                site_tag,
+                listener_config,
+                root_resource,
+            )
+        )
+
+        logger.info("Synapse event creator now listening on port %d", port)
+
+    def start_listening(self, listeners):
+        for listener in listeners:
+            if listener["type"] == "http":
+                self._listen_http(listener)
+            elif listener["type"] == "manhole":
+                _base.listen_tcp(
+                    listener["bind_addresses"],
+                    listener["port"],
+                    manhole(
+                        username="matrix",
+                        password="rabbithole",
+                        globals={"hs": self},
+                    )
+                )
+            else:
+                logger.warn("Unrecognized listener type: %s", listener["type"])
+
+        self.get_tcp_replication().start_replication(self)
+
+    def build_tcp_replication(self):
+        return ReplicationClientHandler(self.get_datastore())
+
+
+def start(config_options):
+    try:
+        config = HomeServerConfig.load_config(
+            "Synapse event creator", config_options
+        )
+    except ConfigError as e:
+        sys.stderr.write("\n" + e.message + "\n")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.event_creator"
+
+    assert config.worker_replication_http_port is not None
+
+    setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=True)
+
+    events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
+
+    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
+
+    tls_server_context_factory = context_factory.ServerContextFactory(config)
+
+    ss = EventCreatorServer(
+        config.server_name,
+        db_config=config.database_config,
+        tls_server_context_factory=tls_server_context_factory,
+        config=config,
+        version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
+        database_engine=database_engine,
+    )
+
+    ss.setup()
+    ss.start_listening(config.worker_listeners)
+
+    def start():
+        ss.get_state_handler().start_caching()
+        ss.get_datastore().start_profiling()
+
+    reactor.callWhenRunning(start)
+
+    _base.start_worker_reactor("synapse-event-creator", config)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    with LoggingContext("main"):
+        start(sys.argv[1:])
diff --git a/synapse/app/federation_reader.py b/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
index a072291e1..20d157911 100644
--- a/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
+++ b/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
@@ -58,19 +58,6 @@ class FederationReaderSlavedStore(
 
 
 class FederationReaderServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = FederationReaderSlavedStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
@@ -157,7 +144,6 @@ def start(config_options):
     )
 
     ss.setup()
-    ss.get_handlers()
     ss.start_listening(config.worker_listeners)
 
     def start():
diff --git a/synapse/app/federation_sender.py b/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
index 09e9488f0..f760826d2 100644
--- a/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
+++ b/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
@@ -76,19 +76,6 @@ class FederationSenderSlaveStore(
 
 
 class FederationSenderServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = FederationSenderSlaveStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
diff --git a/synapse/app/frontend_proxy.py b/synapse/app/frontend_proxy.py
index ae531c0aa..816c080d1 100644
--- a/synapse/app/frontend_proxy.py
+++ b/synapse/app/frontend_proxy.py
@@ -118,19 +118,6 @@ class FrontendProxySlavedStore(
 
 
 class FrontendProxyServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = FrontendProxySlavedStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
@@ -224,7 +211,6 @@ def start(config_options):
     )
 
     ss.setup()
-    ss.get_handlers()
     ss.start_listening(config.worker_listeners)
 
     def start():
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index 92ab3b311..e477c7ced 100755
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ from synapse.metrics import register_memory_metrics
 from synapse.metrics.resource import METRICS_PREFIX, MetricsResource
 from synapse.python_dependencies import CONDITIONAL_REQUIREMENTS, \
     check_requirements
+from synapse.replication.http import ReplicationRestResource, REPLICATION_PREFIX
 from synapse.replication.tcp.resource import ReplicationStreamProtocolFactory
 from synapse.rest import ClientRestResource
 from synapse.rest.key.v1.server_key_resource import LocalKey
@@ -219,6 +220,9 @@ class SynapseHomeServer(HomeServer):
         if name == "metrics" and self.get_config().enable_metrics:
             resources[METRICS_PREFIX] = MetricsResource(self)
 
+        if name == "replication":
+            resources[REPLICATION_PREFIX] = ReplicationRestResource(self)
+
         return resources
 
     def start_listening(self):
@@ -266,19 +270,6 @@ class SynapseHomeServer(HomeServer):
         except IncorrectDatabaseSetup as e:
             quit_with_error(e.message)
 
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
 
 def setup(config_options):
     """
@@ -357,7 +348,7 @@ def setup(config_options):
         hs.get_state_handler().start_caching()
         hs.get_datastore().start_profiling()
         hs.get_datastore().start_doing_background_updates()
-        hs.get_replication_layer().start_get_pdu_cache()
+        hs.get_federation_client().start_get_pdu_cache()
 
         register_memory_metrics(hs)
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/media_repository.py b/synapse/app/media_repository.py
index eab1597aa..84c5791b3 100644
--- a/synapse/app/media_repository.py
+++ b/synapse/app/media_repository.py
@@ -60,19 +60,6 @@ class MediaRepositorySlavedStore(
 
 
 class MediaRepositoryServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = MediaRepositorySlavedStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
@@ -171,7 +158,6 @@ def start(config_options):
     )
 
     ss.setup()
-    ss.get_handlers()
     ss.start_listening(config.worker_listeners)
 
     def start():
diff --git a/synapse/app/pusher.py b/synapse/app/pusher.py
index 7fbbb0b0e..98a4a7c62 100644
--- a/synapse/app/pusher.py
+++ b/synapse/app/pusher.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ from synapse.replication.tcp.client import ReplicationClientHandler
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.storage import DataStore
 from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
-from synapse.storage.roommember import RoomMemberStore
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.logcontext import LoggingContext, preserve_fn
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
@@ -75,25 +74,8 @@ class PusherSlaveStore(
         DataStore.get_profile_displayname.__func__
     )
 
-    who_forgot_in_room = (
-        RoomMemberStore.__dict__["who_forgot_in_room"]
-    )
-
 
 class PusherServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = PusherSlaveStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
diff --git a/synapse/app/synchrotron.py b/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
index 0abba3016..abe91dcfb 100644
--- a/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
+++ b/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@ logger = logging.getLogger("synapse.app.synchrotron")
 
 
 class SynchrotronSlavedStore(
-    SlavedPushRuleStore,
-    SlavedEventStore,
     SlavedReceiptsStore,
     SlavedAccountDataStore,
     SlavedApplicationServiceStore,
@@ -73,14 +71,12 @@ class SynchrotronSlavedStore(
     SlavedGroupServerStore,
     SlavedDeviceInboxStore,
     SlavedDeviceStore,
+    SlavedPushRuleStore,
+    SlavedEventStore,
     SlavedClientIpStore,
     RoomStore,
     BaseSlavedStore,
 ):
-    who_forgot_in_room = (
-        RoomMemberStore.__dict__["who_forgot_in_room"]
-    )
-
     did_forget = (
         RoomMemberStore.__dict__["did_forget"]
     )
@@ -246,19 +242,6 @@ class SynchrotronApplicationService(object):
 
 
 class SynchrotronServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = SynchrotronSlavedStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
diff --git a/synapse/app/user_dir.py b/synapse/app/user_dir.py
index a48c4a2ae..494ccb702 100644
--- a/synapse/app/user_dir.py
+++ b/synapse/app/user_dir.py
@@ -92,19 +92,6 @@ class UserDirectorySlaveStore(
 
 
 class UserDirectoryServer(HomeServer):
-    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
-        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
-        # not be passed to the database engine.
-        db_params = {
-            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
-            if not k.startswith("cp_")
-        }
-        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
-
-        if run_new_connection:
-            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
-        return db_conn
-
     def setup(self):
         logger.info("Setting up.")
         self.datastore = UserDirectorySlaveStore(self.get_db_conn(), self)
diff --git a/synapse/config/workers.py b/synapse/config/workers.py
index 4b6884918..80baf0ce0 100644
--- a/synapse/config/workers.py
+++ b/synapse/config/workers.py
@@ -33,8 +33,16 @@ class WorkerConfig(Config):
         self.worker_pid_file = config.get("worker_pid_file")
         self.worker_log_file = config.get("worker_log_file")
         self.worker_log_config = config.get("worker_log_config")
+
+        # The host used to connect to the main synapse
         self.worker_replication_host = config.get("worker_replication_host", None)
+
+        # The port on the main synapse for TCP replication
         self.worker_replication_port = config.get("worker_replication_port", None)
+
+        # The port on the main synapse for HTTP replication endpoint
+        self.worker_replication_http_port = config.get("worker_replication_http_port")
+
         self.worker_name = config.get("worker_name", self.worker_app)
 
         self.worker_main_http_uri = config.get("worker_main_http_uri", None)
diff --git a/synapse/events/snapshot.py b/synapse/events/snapshot.py
index e9a732ff0..8e684d91b 100644
--- a/synapse/events/snapshot.py
+++ b/synapse/events/snapshot.py
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+from twisted.internet import defer
+
+from frozendict import frozendict
+
 
 class EventContext(object):
     """
@@ -25,7 +29,9 @@ class EventContext(object):
             The current state map excluding the current event.
             (type, state_key) -> event_id
 
-        state_group (int): state group id
+        state_group (int|None): state group id, if the state has been stored
+            as a state group. This is usually only None if e.g. the event is
+            an outlier.
         rejected (bool|str): A rejection reason if the event was rejected, else
             False
 
@@ -46,7 +52,6 @@ class EventContext(object):
         "prev_state_ids",
         "state_group",
         "rejected",
-        "push_actions",
         "prev_group",
         "delta_ids",
         "prev_state_events",
@@ -61,7 +66,6 @@ class EventContext(object):
         self.state_group = None
 
         self.rejected = False
-        self.push_actions = []
 
         # A previously persisted state group and a delta between that
         # and this state.
@@ -71,3 +75,98 @@ class EventContext(object):
         self.prev_state_events = None
 
         self.app_service = None
+
+    def serialize(self, event):
+        """Converts self to a type that can be serialized as JSON, and then
+        deserialized by `deserialize`
+
+        Args:
+            event (FrozenEvent): The event that this context relates to
+
+        Returns:
+            dict
+        """
+
+        # We don't serialize the full state dicts, instead they get pulled out
+        # of the DB on the other side. However, the other side can't figure out
+        # the prev_state_ids, so if we're a state event we include the event
+        # id that we replaced in the state.
+        if event.is_state():
+            prev_state_id = self.prev_state_ids.get((event.type, event.state_key))
+        else:
+            prev_state_id = None
+
+        return {
+            "prev_state_id": prev_state_id,
+            "event_type": event.type,
+            "event_state_key": event.state_key if event.is_state() else None,
+            "state_group": self.state_group,
+            "rejected": self.rejected,
+            "prev_group": self.prev_group,
+            "delta_ids": _encode_state_dict(self.delta_ids),
+            "prev_state_events": self.prev_state_events,
+            "app_service_id": self.app_service.id if self.app_service else None
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def deserialize(store, input):
+        """Converts a dict that was produced by `serialize` back into a
+        EventContext.
+
+        Args:
+            store (DataStore): Used to convert AS ID to AS object
+            input (dict): A dict produced by `serialize`
+
+        Returns:
+            EventContext
+        """
+        context = EventContext()
+        context.state_group = input["state_group"]
+        context.rejected = input["rejected"]
+        context.prev_group = input["prev_group"]
+        context.delta_ids = _decode_state_dict(input["delta_ids"])
+        context.prev_state_events = input["prev_state_events"]
+
+        # We use the state_group and prev_state_id stuff to pull the
+        # current_state_ids out of the DB and construct prev_state_ids.
+        prev_state_id = input["prev_state_id"]
+        event_type = input["event_type"]
+        event_state_key = input["event_state_key"]
+
+        context.current_state_ids = yield store.get_state_ids_for_group(
+            context.state_group,
+        )
+        if prev_state_id and event_state_key:
+            context.prev_state_ids = dict(context.current_state_ids)
+            context.prev_state_ids[(event_type, event_state_key)] = prev_state_id
+        else:
+            context.prev_state_ids = context.current_state_ids
+
+        app_service_id = input["app_service_id"]
+        if app_service_id:
+            context.app_service = store.get_app_service_by_id(app_service_id)
+
+        defer.returnValue(context)
+
+
+def _encode_state_dict(state_dict):
+    """Since dicts of (type, state_key) -> event_id cannot be serialized in
+    JSON we need to convert them to a form that can.
+    """
+    if state_dict is None:
+        return None
+
+    return [
+        (etype, state_key, v)
+        for (etype, state_key), v in state_dict.iteritems()
+    ]
+
+
+def _decode_state_dict(input):
+    """Decodes a state dict encoded using `_encode_state_dict` above
+    """
+    if input is None:
+        return None
+
+    return frozendict({(etype, state_key,): v for etype, state_key, v in input})
diff --git a/synapse/federation/__init__.py b/synapse/federation/__init__.py
index 2e32d245b..f5f0bdfca 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/__init__.py
@@ -15,11 +15,3 @@
 
 """ This package includes all the federation specific logic.
 """
-
-from .replication import ReplicationLayer
-
-
-def initialize_http_replication(hs):
-    transport = hs.get_federation_transport_client()
-
-    return ReplicationLayer(hs, transport)
diff --git a/synapse/federation/federation_base.py b/synapse/federation/federation_base.py
index 7918d3e44..79eaa3103 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/federation_base.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/federation_base.py
@@ -27,7 +27,13 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 class FederationBase(object):
     def __init__(self, hs):
+        self.hs = hs
+
+        self.server_name = hs.hostname
+        self.keyring = hs.get_keyring()
         self.spam_checker = hs.get_spam_checker()
+        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
+        self._clock = hs.get_clock()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _check_sigs_and_hash_and_fetch(self, origin, pdus, outlier=False,
diff --git a/synapse/federation/federation_client.py b/synapse/federation/federation_client.py
index 813907f7f..38440da5b 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/federation_client.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/federation_client.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ class FederationClient(FederationBase):
             self._clear_tried_cache, 60 * 1000,
         )
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
+        self.transport_layer = hs.get_federation_transport_client()
 
     def _clear_tried_cache(self):
         """Clear pdu_destination_tried cache"""
diff --git a/synapse/federation/federation_server.py b/synapse/federation/federation_server.py
index 9849953c9..bea7fd0b7 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/federation_server.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/federation_server.py
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@ import logging
 import simplejson as json
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, FederationError, SynapseError
+from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, FederationError, SynapseError, NotFoundError
 from synapse.crypto.event_signing import compute_event_signature
 from synapse.federation.federation_base import (
     FederationBase,
     event_from_pdu_json,
 )
+
+from synapse.federation.persistence import TransactionActions
 from synapse.federation.units import Edu, Transaction
 import synapse.metrics
 from synapse.types import get_domain_from_id
@@ -52,50 +54,19 @@ class FederationServer(FederationBase):
         super(FederationServer, self).__init__(hs)
 
         self.auth = hs.get_auth()
+        self.handler = hs.get_handlers().federation_handler
 
         self._server_linearizer = async.Linearizer("fed_server")
         self._transaction_linearizer = async.Linearizer("fed_txn_handler")
 
+        self.transaction_actions = TransactionActions(self.store)
+
+        self.registry = hs.get_federation_registry()
+
         # We cache responses to state queries, as they take a while and often
         # come in waves.
         self._state_resp_cache = ResponseCache(hs, timeout_ms=30000)
 
-    def set_handler(self, handler):
-        """Sets the handler that the replication layer will use to communicate
-        receipt of new PDUs from other home servers. The required methods are
-        documented on :py:class:`.ReplicationHandler`.
-        """
-        self.handler = handler
-
-    def register_edu_handler(self, edu_type, handler):
-        if edu_type in self.edu_handlers:
-            raise KeyError("Already have an EDU handler for %s" % (edu_type,))
-
-        self.edu_handlers[edu_type] = handler
-
-    def register_query_handler(self, query_type, handler):
-        """Sets the handler callable that will be used to handle an incoming
-        federation Query of the given type.
-
-        Args:
-            query_type (str): Category name of the query, which should match
-                the string used by make_query.
-            handler (callable): Invoked to handle incoming queries of this type
-
-        handler is invoked as:
-            result = handler(args)
-
-        where 'args' is a dict mapping strings to strings of the query
-          arguments. It should return a Deferred that will eventually yield an
-          object to encode as JSON.
-        """
-        if query_type in self.query_handlers:
-            raise KeyError(
-                "Already have a Query handler for %s" % (query_type,)
-            )
-
-        self.query_handlers[query_type] = handler
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     @log_function
     def on_backfill_request(self, origin, room_id, versions, limit):
@@ -229,16 +200,7 @@ class FederationServer(FederationBase):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def received_edu(self, origin, edu_type, content):
         received_edus_counter.inc()
-
-        if edu_type in self.edu_handlers:
-            try:
-                yield self.edu_handlers[edu_type](origin, content)
-            except SynapseError as e:
-                logger.info("Failed to handle edu %r: %r", edu_type, e)
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.exception("Failed to handle edu %r", edu_type)
-        else:
-            logger.warn("Received EDU of type %s with no handler", edu_type)
+        yield self.registry.on_edu(edu_type, origin, content)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     @log_function
@@ -328,14 +290,8 @@ class FederationServer(FederationBase):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_query_request(self, query_type, args):
         received_queries_counter.inc(query_type)
-
-        if query_type in self.query_handlers:
-            response = yield self.query_handlers[query_type](args)
-            defer.returnValue((200, response))
-        else:
-            defer.returnValue(
-                (404, "No handler for Query type '%s'" % (query_type,))
-            )
+        resp = yield self.registry.on_query(query_type, args)
+        defer.returnValue((200, resp))
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_make_join_request(self, room_id, user_id):
@@ -607,3 +563,66 @@ class FederationServer(FederationBase):
             origin, room_id, event_dict
         )
         defer.returnValue(ret)
+
+
+class FederationHandlerRegistry(object):
+    """Allows classes to register themselves as handlers for a given EDU or
+    query type for incoming federation traffic.
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.edu_handlers = {}
+        self.query_handlers = {}
+
+    def register_edu_handler(self, edu_type, handler):
+        """Sets the handler callable that will be used to handle an incoming
+        federation EDU of the given type.
+
+        Args:
+            edu_type (str): The type of the incoming EDU to register handler for
+            handler (Callable[[str, dict]]): A callable invoked on incoming EDU
+                of the given type. The arguments are the origin server name and
+                the EDU contents.
+        """
+        if edu_type in self.edu_handlers:
+            raise KeyError("Already have an EDU handler for %s" % (edu_type,))
+
+        self.edu_handlers[edu_type] = handler
+
+    def register_query_handler(self, query_type, handler):
+        """Sets the handler callable that will be used to handle an incoming
+        federation query of the given type.
+
+        Args:
+            query_type (str): Category name of the query, which should match
+                the string used by make_query.
+            handler (Callable[[dict], Deferred[dict]]): Invoked to handle
+                incoming queries of this type. The return will be yielded
+                on and the result used as the response to the query request.
+        """
+        if query_type in self.query_handlers:
+            raise KeyError(
+                "Already have a Query handler for %s" % (query_type,)
+            )
+
+        self.query_handlers[query_type] = handler
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def on_edu(self, edu_type, origin, content):
+        handler = self.edu_handlers.get(edu_type)
+        if not handler:
+            logger.warn("No handler registered for EDU type %s", edu_type)
+
+        try:
+            yield handler(origin, content)
+        except SynapseError as e:
+            logger.info("Failed to handle edu %r: %r", edu_type, e)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.exception("Failed to handle edu %r", edu_type)
+
+    def on_query(self, query_type, args):
+        handler = self.query_handlers.get(query_type)
+        if not handler:
+            logger.warn("No handler registered for query type %s", query_type)
+            raise NotFoundError("No handler for Query type '%s'" % (query_type,))
+
+        return handler(args)
diff --git a/synapse/federation/replication.py b/synapse/federation/replication.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 62d865ec4..000000000
--- a/synapse/federation/replication.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-# Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-# You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-# limitations under the License.
-
-"""This layer is responsible for replicating with remote home servers using
-a given transport.
-"""
-
-from .federation_client import FederationClient
-from .federation_server import FederationServer
-
-from .persistence import TransactionActions
-
-import logging
-
-
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-
-class ReplicationLayer(FederationClient, FederationServer):
-    """This layer is responsible for replicating with remote home servers over
-    the given transport. I.e., does the sending and receiving of PDUs to
-    remote home servers.
-
-    The layer communicates with the rest of the server via a registered
-    ReplicationHandler.
-
-    In more detail, the layer:
-        * Receives incoming data and processes it into transactions and pdus.
-        * Fetches any PDUs it thinks it might have missed.
-        * Keeps the current state for contexts up to date by applying the
-          suitable conflict resolution.
-        * Sends outgoing pdus wrapped in transactions.
-        * Fills out the references to previous pdus/transactions appropriately
-          for outgoing data.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, hs, transport_layer):
-        self.server_name = hs.hostname
-
-        self.keyring = hs.get_keyring()
-
-        self.transport_layer = transport_layer
-
-        self.federation_client = self
-
-        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
-
-        self.handler = None
-        self.edu_handlers = {}
-        self.query_handlers = {}
-
-        self._clock = hs.get_clock()
-
-        self.transaction_actions = TransactionActions(self.store)
-
-        self.hs = hs
-
-        super(ReplicationLayer, self).__init__(hs)
-
-    def __str__(self):
-        return "<ReplicationLayer(%s)>" % self.server_name
diff --git a/synapse/federation/transport/server.py b/synapse/federation/transport/server.py
index 06c16ba4f..a66a6b069 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/transport/server.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/transport/server.py
@@ -1190,7 +1190,7 @@ GROUP_ATTESTATION_SERVLET_CLASSES = (
 def register_servlets(hs, resource, authenticator, ratelimiter):
     for servletclass in FEDERATION_SERVLET_CLASSES:
         servletclass(
-            handler=hs.get_replication_layer(),
+            handler=hs.get_federation_server(),
             authenticator=authenticator,
             ratelimiter=ratelimiter,
             server_name=hs.hostname,
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/__init__.py b/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
index 53213cdcc..8f8fd82eb 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ from .register import RegistrationHandler
 from .room import (
     RoomCreationHandler, RoomContextHandler,
 )
-from .room_member import RoomMemberHandler
 from .message import MessageHandler
 from .federation import FederationHandler
 from .directory import DirectoryHandler
@@ -49,7 +48,6 @@ class Handlers(object):
         self.registration_handler = RegistrationHandler(hs)
         self.message_handler = MessageHandler(hs)
         self.room_creation_handler = RoomCreationHandler(hs)
-        self.room_member_handler = RoomMemberHandler(hs)
         self.federation_handler = FederationHandler(hs)
         self.directory_handler = DirectoryHandler(hs)
         self.admin_handler = AdminHandler(hs)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/_base.py b/synapse/handlers/_base.py
index faa5609c0..e089e66fd 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/_base.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class BaseHandler(object):
                 # homeserver.
                 requester = synapse.types.create_requester(
                     target_user, is_guest=True)
-                handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+                handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
                 yield handler.update_membership(
                     requester,
                     target_user,
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/auth.py b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
index 258cc345d..a5365c4fe 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
@@ -863,8 +863,10 @@ class AuthHandler(BaseHandler):
         """
 
         def _do_validate_hash():
-            return bcrypt.hashpw(password.encode('utf8') + self.hs.config.password_pepper,
-                                 stored_hash.encode('utf8')) == stored_hash
+            return bcrypt.checkpw(
+                password.encode('utf8') + self.hs.config.password_pepper,
+                stored_hash.encode('utf8')
+            )
 
         if stored_hash:
             return make_deferred_yieldable(threads.deferToThread(_do_validate_hash))
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/device.py b/synapse/handlers/device.py
index 0e8345385..40f3d2467 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/device.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/device.py
@@ -37,14 +37,15 @@ class DeviceHandler(BaseHandler):
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
         self._auth_handler = hs.get_auth_handler()
         self.federation_sender = hs.get_federation_sender()
-        self.federation = hs.get_replication_layer()
 
         self._edu_updater = DeviceListEduUpdater(hs, self)
 
-        self.federation.register_edu_handler(
+        federation_registry = hs.get_federation_registry()
+
+        federation_registry.register_edu_handler(
             "m.device_list_update", self._edu_updater.incoming_device_list_update,
         )
-        self.federation.register_query_handler(
+        federation_registry.register_query_handler(
             "user_devices", self.on_federation_query_user_devices,
         )
 
@@ -430,7 +431,7 @@ class DeviceListEduUpdater(object):
 
     def __init__(self, hs, device_handler):
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
-        self.federation = hs.get_replication_layer()
+        self.federation = hs.get_federation_client()
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.device_handler = device_handler
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/devicemessage.py b/synapse/handlers/devicemessage.py
index d996aa90b..f147a20b7 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/devicemessage.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/devicemessage.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class DeviceMessageHandler(object):
         self.is_mine = hs.is_mine
         self.federation = hs.get_federation_sender()
 
-        hs.get_replication_layer().register_edu_handler(
+        hs.get_federation_registry().register_edu_handler(
             "m.direct_to_device", self.on_direct_to_device_edu
         )
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/directory.py b/synapse/handlers/directory.py
index a0464ae5c..c5b6e75e0 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/directory.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/directory.py
@@ -34,9 +34,10 @@ class DirectoryHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
         self.appservice_handler = hs.get_application_service_handler()
+        self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
 
-        self.federation = hs.get_replication_layer()
-        self.federation.register_query_handler(
+        self.federation = hs.get_federation_client()
+        hs.get_federation_registry().register_query_handler(
             "directory", self.on_directory_query
         )
 
@@ -249,8 +250,7 @@ class DirectoryHandler(BaseHandler):
     def send_room_alias_update_event(self, requester, user_id, room_id):
         aliases = yield self.store.get_aliases_for_room(room_id)
 
-        msg_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-        yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+        yield self.event_creation_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
             requester,
             {
                 "type": EventTypes.Aliases,
@@ -272,8 +272,7 @@ class DirectoryHandler(BaseHandler):
         if not alias_event or alias_event.content.get("alias", "") != alias_str:
             return
 
-        msg_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-        yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+        yield self.event_creation_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
             requester,
             {
                 "type": EventTypes.CanonicalAlias,
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py b/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
index 9aa95f89e..31b1ece13 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class E2eKeysHandler(object):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
-        self.federation = hs.get_replication_layer()
+        self.federation = hs.get_federation_client()
         self.device_handler = hs.get_device_handler()
         self.is_mine = hs.is_mine
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class E2eKeysHandler(object):
         # doesn't really work as part of the generic query API, because the
         # query request requires an object POST, but we abuse the
         # "query handler" interface.
-        self.federation.register_query_handler(
+        hs.get_federation_registry().register_query_handler(
             "client_keys", self.on_federation_query_client_keys
         )
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation.py b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
index 677532c87..080aca3d7 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         self.hs = hs
 
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
-        self.replication_layer = hs.get_replication_layer()
+        self.replication_layer = hs.get_federation_client()
         self.state_handler = hs.get_state_handler()
         self.server_name = hs.hostname
         self.keyring = hs.get_keyring()
@@ -75,8 +76,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         self.is_mine_id = hs.is_mine_id
         self.pusher_pool = hs.get_pusherpool()
         self.spam_checker = hs.get_spam_checker()
-
-        self.replication_layer.set_handler(self)
+        self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
 
         # When joining a room we need to queue any events for that room up
         self.room_queues = {}
@@ -808,13 +808,12 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         event_ids = list(extremities.keys())
 
         logger.debug("calling resolve_state_groups in _maybe_backfill")
+        resolve = logcontext.preserve_fn(
+            self.state_handler.resolve_state_groups_for_events
+        )
         states = yield logcontext.make_deferred_yieldable(defer.gatherResults(
-            [
-                logcontext.preserve_fn(self.state_handler.resolve_state_groups)(
-                    room_id, [e]
-                )
-                for e in event_ids
-            ], consumeErrors=True,
+            [resolve(room_id, [e]) for e in event_ids],
+            consumeErrors=True,
         ))
         states = dict(zip(event_ids, [s.state for s in states]))
 
@@ -1008,8 +1007,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         })
 
         try:
-            message_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-            event, context = yield message_handler._create_new_client_event(
+            event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
                 builder=builder,
             )
         except AuthError as e:
@@ -1249,8 +1247,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
             "state_key": user_id,
         })
 
-        message_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-        event, context = yield message_handler._create_new_client_event(
+        event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
             builder=builder,
         )
 
@@ -1448,16 +1445,24 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
             auth_events=auth_events,
         )
 
-        if not event.internal_metadata.is_outlier() and not backfilled:
-            yield self.action_generator.handle_push_actions_for_event(
-                event, context
-            )
+        try:
+            if not event.internal_metadata.is_outlier() and not backfilled:
+                yield self.action_generator.handle_push_actions_for_event(
+                    event, context
+                )
 
-        event_stream_id, max_stream_id = yield self.store.persist_event(
-            event,
-            context=context,
-            backfilled=backfilled,
-        )
+            event_stream_id, max_stream_id = yield self.store.persist_event(
+                event,
+                context=context,
+                backfilled=backfilled,
+            )
+        except:  # noqa: E722, as we reraise the exception this is fine.
+            # Ensure that we actually remove the entries in the push actions
+            # staging area
+            logcontext.preserve_fn(
+                self.store.remove_push_actions_from_staging
+            )(event.event_id)
+            raise
 
         if not backfilled:
             # this intentionally does not yield: we don't care about the result
@@ -1832,8 +1837,8 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 current_state = set(e.event_id for e in auth_events.values())
                 different_auth = event_auth_events - current_state
 
-                self._update_context_for_auth_events(
-                    context, auth_events, event_key,
+                yield self._update_context_for_auth_events(
+                    event, context, auth_events, event_key,
                 )
 
         if different_auth and not event.internal_metadata.is_outlier():
@@ -1914,8 +1919,8 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 # 4. Look at rejects and their proofs.
                 # TODO.
 
-                self._update_context_for_auth_events(
-                    context, auth_events, event_key,
+                yield self._update_context_for_auth_events(
+                    event, context, auth_events, event_key,
                 )
 
         try:
@@ -1924,11 +1929,15 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
             logger.warn("Failed auth resolution for %r because %s", event, e)
             raise e
 
-    def _update_context_for_auth_events(self, context, auth_events,
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _update_context_for_auth_events(self, event, context, auth_events,
                                         event_key):
-        """Update the state_ids in an event context after auth event resolution
+        """Update the state_ids in an event context after auth event resolution,
+        storing the changes as a new state group.
 
         Args:
+            event (Event): The event we're handling the context for
+
             context (synapse.events.snapshot.EventContext): event context
                 to be updated
 
@@ -1951,7 +1960,13 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         context.prev_state_ids.update({
             k: a.event_id for k, a in auth_events.iteritems()
         })
-        context.state_group = self.store.get_next_state_group()
+        context.state_group = yield self.store.store_state_group(
+            event.event_id,
+            event.room_id,
+            prev_group=context.prev_group,
+            delta_ids=context.delta_ids,
+            current_state_ids=context.current_state_ids,
+        )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def construct_auth_difference(self, local_auth, remote_auth):
@@ -2121,8 +2136,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         if (yield self.auth.check_host_in_room(room_id, self.hs.hostname)):
             builder = self.event_builder_factory.new(event_dict)
             EventValidator().validate_new(builder)
-            message_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-            event, context = yield message_handler._create_new_client_event(
+            event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
                 builder=builder
             )
 
@@ -2137,7 +2151,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 raise e
 
             yield self._check_signature(event, context)
-            member_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+            member_handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
             yield member_handler.send_membership_event(None, event, context)
         else:
             destinations = set(x.split(":", 1)[-1] for x in (sender_user_id, room_id))
@@ -2160,8 +2174,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         """
         builder = self.event_builder_factory.new(event_dict)
 
-        message_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-        event, context = yield message_handler._create_new_client_event(
+        event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
             builder=builder,
         )
 
@@ -2182,7 +2195,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         # TODO: Make sure the signatures actually are correct.
         event.signatures.update(returned_invite.signatures)
 
-        member_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+        member_handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
         yield member_handler.send_membership_event(None, event, context)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
@@ -2211,8 +2224,9 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         builder = self.event_builder_factory.new(event_dict)
         EventValidator().validate_new(builder)
-        message_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-        event, context = yield message_handler._create_new_client_event(builder=builder)
+        event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
+            builder=builder,
+        )
         defer.returnValue((event, context))
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/message.py b/synapse/handlers/message.py
index 21f1717dd..4f97c8db7 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/message.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/message.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014 - 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
-# Copyright 2017 New Vector Ltd
+# Copyright 2017 - 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
-from twisted.internet import defer
+from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
+from twisted.python.failure import Failure
 
 from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes, Membership
 from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, Codes, SynapseError
@@ -24,10 +25,12 @@ from synapse.types import (
     UserID, RoomAlias, RoomStreamToken,
 )
 from synapse.util.async import run_on_reactor, ReadWriteLock, Limiter
-from synapse.util.logcontext import preserve_fn
+from synapse.util.logcontext import preserve_fn, run_in_background
 from synapse.util.metrics import measure_func
 from synapse.util.frozenutils import unfreeze
+from synapse.util.stringutils import random_string
 from synapse.visibility import filter_events_for_client
+from synapse.replication.http.send_event import send_event_to_master
 
 from ._base import BaseHandler
 
@@ -40,6 +43,36 @@ import ujson
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+class PurgeStatus(object):
+    """Object tracking the status of a purge request
+
+    This class contains information on the progress of a purge request, for
+    return by get_purge_status.
+
+    Attributes:
+        status (int): Tracks whether this request has completed. One of
+            STATUS_{ACTIVE,COMPLETE,FAILED}
+    """
+
+    STATUS_ACTIVE = 0
+    STATUS_COMPLETE = 1
+    STATUS_FAILED = 2
+
+    STATUS_TEXT = {
+        STATUS_ACTIVE: "active",
+        STATUS_COMPLETE: "complete",
+        STATUS_FAILED: "failed",
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.status = PurgeStatus.STATUS_ACTIVE
+
+    def asdict(self):
+        return {
+            "status": PurgeStatus.STATUS_TEXT[self.status]
+        }
+
+
 class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
@@ -47,32 +80,89 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
         self.hs = hs
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
-        self.validator = EventValidator()
-        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
 
         self.pagination_lock = ReadWriteLock()
+        self._purges_in_progress_by_room = set()
+        # map from purge id to PurgeStatus
+        self._purges_by_id = {}
 
-        self.pusher_pool = hs.get_pusherpool()
+    def start_purge_history(self, room_id, topological_ordering,
+                            delete_local_events=False):
+        """Start off a history purge on a room.
 
-        # We arbitrarily limit concurrent event creation for a room to 5.
-        # This is to stop us from diverging history *too* much.
-        self.limiter = Limiter(max_count=5)
+        Args:
+            room_id (str): The room to purge from
 
-        self.action_generator = hs.get_action_generator()
+            topological_ordering (int): minimum topo ordering to preserve
+            delete_local_events (bool): True to delete local events as well as
+                remote ones
 
-        self.spam_checker = hs.get_spam_checker()
+        Returns:
+            str: unique ID for this purge transaction.
+        """
+        if room_id in self._purges_in_progress_by_room:
+            raise SynapseError(
+                400,
+                "History purge already in progress for %s" % (room_id, ),
+            )
+
+        purge_id = random_string(16)
+
+        # we log the purge_id here so that it can be tied back to the
+        # request id in the log lines.
+        logger.info("[purge] starting purge_id %s", purge_id)
+
+        self._purges_by_id[purge_id] = PurgeStatus()
+        run_in_background(
+            self._purge_history,
+            purge_id, room_id, topological_ordering, delete_local_events,
+        )
+        return purge_id
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def purge_history(self, room_id, event_id):
-        event = yield self.store.get_event(event_id)
+    def _purge_history(self, purge_id, room_id, topological_ordering,
+                       delete_local_events):
+        """Carry out a history purge on a room.
 
-        if event.room_id != room_id:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Event is for wrong room.")
+        Args:
+            purge_id (str): The id for this purge
+            room_id (str): The room to purge from
+            topological_ordering (int): minimum topo ordering to preserve
+            delete_local_events (bool): True to delete local events as well as
+                remote ones
 
-        depth = event.depth
+        Returns:
+            Deferred
+        """
+        self._purges_in_progress_by_room.add(room_id)
+        try:
+            with (yield self.pagination_lock.write(room_id)):
+                yield self.store.purge_history(
+                    room_id, topological_ordering, delete_local_events,
+                )
+            logger.info("[purge] complete")
+            self._purges_by_id[purge_id].status = PurgeStatus.STATUS_COMPLETE
+        except Exception:
+            logger.error("[purge] failed: %s", Failure().getTraceback().rstrip())
+            self._purges_by_id[purge_id].status = PurgeStatus.STATUS_FAILED
+        finally:
+            self._purges_in_progress_by_room.discard(room_id)
 
-        with (yield self.pagination_lock.write(room_id)):
-            yield self.store.delete_old_state(room_id, depth)
+            # remove the purge from the list 24 hours after it completes
+            def clear_purge():
+                del self._purges_by_id[purge_id]
+            reactor.callLater(24 * 3600, clear_purge)
+
+    def get_purge_status(self, purge_id):
+        """Get the current status of an active purge
+
+        Args:
+            purge_id (str): purge_id returned by start_purge_history
+
+        Returns:
+            PurgeStatus|None
+        """
+        return self._purges_by_id.get(purge_id)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_messages(self, requester, room_id=None, pagin_config=None,
@@ -182,166 +272,6 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         defer.returnValue(chunk)
 
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def create_event(self, requester, event_dict, token_id=None, txn_id=None,
-                     prev_event_ids=None):
-        """
-        Given a dict from a client, create a new event.
-
-        Creates an FrozenEvent object, filling out auth_events, prev_events,
-        etc.
-
-        Adds display names to Join membership events.
-
-        Args:
-            requester
-            event_dict (dict): An entire event
-            token_id (str)
-            txn_id (str)
-            prev_event_ids (list): The prev event ids to use when creating the event
-
-        Returns:
-            Tuple of created event (FrozenEvent), Context
-        """
-        builder = self.event_builder_factory.new(event_dict)
-
-        with (yield self.limiter.queue(builder.room_id)):
-            self.validator.validate_new(builder)
-
-            if builder.type == EventTypes.Member:
-                membership = builder.content.get("membership", None)
-                target = UserID.from_string(builder.state_key)
-
-                if membership in {Membership.JOIN, Membership.INVITE}:
-                    # If event doesn't include a display name, add one.
-                    profile = self.profile_handler
-                    content = builder.content
-
-                    try:
-                        if "displayname" not in content:
-                            content["displayname"] = yield profile.get_displayname(target)
-                        if "avatar_url" not in content:
-                            content["avatar_url"] = yield profile.get_avatar_url(target)
-                    except Exception as e:
-                        logger.info(
-                            "Failed to get profile information for %r: %s",
-                            target, e
-                        )
-
-            if token_id is not None:
-                builder.internal_metadata.token_id = token_id
-
-            if txn_id is not None:
-                builder.internal_metadata.txn_id = txn_id
-
-            event, context = yield self._create_new_client_event(
-                builder=builder,
-                requester=requester,
-                prev_event_ids=prev_event_ids,
-            )
-
-        defer.returnValue((event, context))
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def send_nonmember_event(self, requester, event, context, ratelimit=True):
-        """
-        Persists and notifies local clients and federation of an event.
-
-        Args:
-            event (FrozenEvent) the event to send.
-            context (Context) the context of the event.
-            ratelimit (bool): Whether to rate limit this send.
-            is_guest (bool): Whether the sender is a guest.
-        """
-        if event.type == EventTypes.Member:
-            raise SynapseError(
-                500,
-                "Tried to send member event through non-member codepath"
-            )
-
-        # We check here if we are currently being rate limited, so that we
-        # don't do unnecessary work. We check again just before we actually
-        # send the event.
-        yield self.ratelimit(requester, update=False)
-
-        user = UserID.from_string(event.sender)
-
-        assert self.hs.is_mine(user), "User must be our own: %s" % (user,)
-
-        if event.is_state():
-            prev_state = yield self.deduplicate_state_event(event, context)
-            if prev_state is not None:
-                defer.returnValue(prev_state)
-
-        yield self.handle_new_client_event(
-            requester=requester,
-            event=event,
-            context=context,
-            ratelimit=ratelimit,
-        )
-
-        if event.type == EventTypes.Message:
-            presence = self.hs.get_presence_handler()
-            # We don't want to block sending messages on any presence code. This
-            # matters as sometimes presence code can take a while.
-            preserve_fn(presence.bump_presence_active_time)(user)
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def deduplicate_state_event(self, event, context):
-        """
-        Checks whether event is in the latest resolved state in context.
-
-        If so, returns the version of the event in context.
-        Otherwise, returns None.
-        """
-        prev_event_id = context.prev_state_ids.get((event.type, event.state_key))
-        prev_event = yield self.store.get_event(prev_event_id, allow_none=True)
-        if not prev_event:
-            return
-
-        if prev_event and event.user_id == prev_event.user_id:
-            prev_content = encode_canonical_json(prev_event.content)
-            next_content = encode_canonical_json(event.content)
-            if prev_content == next_content:
-                defer.returnValue(prev_event)
-        return
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def create_and_send_nonmember_event(
-        self,
-        requester,
-        event_dict,
-        ratelimit=True,
-        txn_id=None
-    ):
-        """
-        Creates an event, then sends it.
-
-        See self.create_event and self.send_nonmember_event.
-        """
-        event, context = yield self.create_event(
-            requester,
-            event_dict,
-            token_id=requester.access_token_id,
-            txn_id=txn_id
-        )
-
-        spam_error = self.spam_checker.check_event_for_spam(event)
-        if spam_error:
-            if not isinstance(spam_error, basestring):
-                spam_error = "Spam is not permitted here"
-            raise SynapseError(
-                403, spam_error, Codes.FORBIDDEN
-            )
-
-        yield self.send_nonmember_event(
-            requester,
-            event,
-            context,
-            ratelimit=ratelimit,
-        )
-        defer.returnValue(event)
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_room_data(self, user_id=None, room_id=None,
                       event_type=None, state_key="", is_guest=False):
@@ -470,9 +400,189 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
             for user_id, profile in users_with_profile.iteritems()
         })
 
-    @measure_func("_create_new_client_event")
+
+class EventCreationHandler(object):
+    def __init__(self, hs):
+        self.hs = hs
+        self.auth = hs.get_auth()
+        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
+        self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
+        self.clock = hs.get_clock()
+        self.validator = EventValidator()
+        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
+        self.event_builder_factory = hs.get_event_builder_factory()
+        self.server_name = hs.hostname
+        self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
+        self.notifier = hs.get_notifier()
+        self.config = hs.config
+
+        self.http_client = hs.get_simple_http_client()
+
+        # This is only used to get at ratelimit function, and maybe_kick_guest_users
+        self.base_handler = BaseHandler(hs)
+
+        self.pusher_pool = hs.get_pusherpool()
+
+        # We arbitrarily limit concurrent event creation for a room to 5.
+        # This is to stop us from diverging history *too* much.
+        self.limiter = Limiter(max_count=5)
+
+        self.action_generator = hs.get_action_generator()
+
+        self.spam_checker = hs.get_spam_checker()
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _create_new_client_event(self, builder, requester=None, prev_event_ids=None):
+    def create_event(self, requester, event_dict, token_id=None, txn_id=None,
+                     prev_event_ids=None):
+        """
+        Given a dict from a client, create a new event.
+
+        Creates an FrozenEvent object, filling out auth_events, prev_events,
+        etc.
+
+        Adds display names to Join membership events.
+
+        Args:
+            requester
+            event_dict (dict): An entire event
+            token_id (str)
+            txn_id (str)
+            prev_event_ids (list): The prev event ids to use when creating the event
+
+        Returns:
+            Tuple of created event (FrozenEvent), Context
+        """
+        builder = self.event_builder_factory.new(event_dict)
+
+        with (yield self.limiter.queue(builder.room_id)):
+            self.validator.validate_new(builder)
+
+            if builder.type == EventTypes.Member:
+                membership = builder.content.get("membership", None)
+                target = UserID.from_string(builder.state_key)
+
+                if membership in {Membership.JOIN, Membership.INVITE}:
+                    # If event doesn't include a display name, add one.
+                    profile = self.profile_handler
+                    content = builder.content
+
+                    try:
+                        if "displayname" not in content:
+                            content["displayname"] = yield profile.get_displayname(target)
+                        if "avatar_url" not in content:
+                            content["avatar_url"] = yield profile.get_avatar_url(target)
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        logger.info(
+                            "Failed to get profile information for %r: %s",
+                            target, e
+                        )
+
+            if token_id is not None:
+                builder.internal_metadata.token_id = token_id
+
+            if txn_id is not None:
+                builder.internal_metadata.txn_id = txn_id
+
+            event, context = yield self.create_new_client_event(
+                builder=builder,
+                requester=requester,
+                prev_event_ids=prev_event_ids,
+            )
+
+        defer.returnValue((event, context))
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def send_nonmember_event(self, requester, event, context, ratelimit=True):
+        """
+        Persists and notifies local clients and federation of an event.
+
+        Args:
+            event (FrozenEvent) the event to send.
+            context (Context) the context of the event.
+            ratelimit (bool): Whether to rate limit this send.
+            is_guest (bool): Whether the sender is a guest.
+        """
+        if event.type == EventTypes.Member:
+            raise SynapseError(
+                500,
+                "Tried to send member event through non-member codepath"
+            )
+
+        user = UserID.from_string(event.sender)
+
+        assert self.hs.is_mine(user), "User must be our own: %s" % (user,)
+
+        if event.is_state():
+            prev_state = yield self.deduplicate_state_event(event, context)
+            if prev_state is not None:
+                defer.returnValue(prev_state)
+
+        yield self.handle_new_client_event(
+            requester=requester,
+            event=event,
+            context=context,
+            ratelimit=ratelimit,
+        )
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def deduplicate_state_event(self, event, context):
+        """
+        Checks whether event is in the latest resolved state in context.
+
+        If so, returns the version of the event in context.
+        Otherwise, returns None.
+        """
+        prev_event_id = context.prev_state_ids.get((event.type, event.state_key))
+        prev_event = yield self.store.get_event(prev_event_id, allow_none=True)
+        if not prev_event:
+            return
+
+        if prev_event and event.user_id == prev_event.user_id:
+            prev_content = encode_canonical_json(prev_event.content)
+            next_content = encode_canonical_json(event.content)
+            if prev_content == next_content:
+                defer.returnValue(prev_event)
+        return
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+        self,
+        requester,
+        event_dict,
+        ratelimit=True,
+        txn_id=None
+    ):
+        """
+        Creates an event, then sends it.
+
+        See self.create_event and self.send_nonmember_event.
+        """
+        event, context = yield self.create_event(
+            requester,
+            event_dict,
+            token_id=requester.access_token_id,
+            txn_id=txn_id
+        )
+
+        spam_error = self.spam_checker.check_event_for_spam(event)
+        if spam_error:
+            if not isinstance(spam_error, basestring):
+                spam_error = "Spam is not permitted here"
+            raise SynapseError(
+                403, spam_error, Codes.FORBIDDEN
+            )
+
+        yield self.send_nonmember_event(
+            requester,
+            event,
+            context,
+            ratelimit=ratelimit,
+        )
+        defer.returnValue(event)
+
+    @measure_func("create_new_client_event")
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def create_new_client_event(self, builder, requester=None, prev_event_ids=None):
         if prev_event_ids:
             prev_events = yield self.store.add_event_hashes(prev_event_ids)
             prev_max_depth = yield self.store.get_max_depth_of_events(prev_event_ids)
@@ -509,9 +619,7 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
         builder.prev_events = prev_events
         builder.depth = depth
 
-        state_handler = self.state_handler
-
-        context = yield state_handler.compute_event_context(builder)
+        context = yield self.state.compute_event_context(builder)
         if requester:
             context.app_service = requester.app_service
 
@@ -546,12 +654,21 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
         event,
         context,
         ratelimit=True,
-        extra_users=[]
+        extra_users=[],
     ):
-        # We now need to go and hit out to wherever we need to hit out to.
+        """Processes a new event. This includes checking auth, persisting it,
+        notifying users, sending to remote servers, etc.
 
-        if ratelimit:
-            yield self.ratelimit(requester)
+        If called from a worker will hit out to the master process for final
+        processing.
+
+        Args:
+            requester (Requester)
+            event (FrozenEvent)
+            context (EventContext)
+            ratelimit (bool)
+            extra_users (list(UserID)): Any extra users to notify about event
+        """
 
         try:
             yield self.auth.check_from_context(event, context)
@@ -567,7 +684,58 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
             logger.exception("Failed to encode content: %r", event.content)
             raise
 
-        yield self.maybe_kick_guest_users(event, context)
+        yield self.action_generator.handle_push_actions_for_event(
+            event, context
+        )
+
+        try:
+            # If we're a worker we need to hit out to the master.
+            if self.config.worker_app:
+                yield send_event_to_master(
+                    self.http_client,
+                    host=self.config.worker_replication_host,
+                    port=self.config.worker_replication_http_port,
+                    requester=requester,
+                    event=event,
+                    context=context,
+                    ratelimit=ratelimit,
+                    extra_users=extra_users,
+                )
+                return
+
+            yield self.persist_and_notify_client_event(
+                requester,
+                event,
+                context,
+                ratelimit=ratelimit,
+                extra_users=extra_users,
+            )
+        except:  # noqa: E722, as we reraise the exception this is fine.
+            # Ensure that we actually remove the entries in the push actions
+            # staging area, if we calculated them.
+            preserve_fn(self.store.remove_push_actions_from_staging)(event.event_id)
+            raise
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def persist_and_notify_client_event(
+        self,
+        requester,
+        event,
+        context,
+        ratelimit=True,
+        extra_users=[],
+    ):
+        """Called when we have fully built the event, have already
+        calculated the push actions for the event, and checked auth.
+
+        This should only be run on master.
+        """
+        assert not self.config.worker_app
+
+        if ratelimit:
+            yield self.base_handler.ratelimit(requester)
+
+        yield self.base_handler.maybe_kick_guest_users(event, context)
 
         if event.type == EventTypes.CanonicalAlias:
             # Check the alias is acually valid (at this time at least)
@@ -660,10 +828,6 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
                 "Changing the room create event is forbidden",
             )
 
-        yield self.action_generator.handle_push_actions_for_event(
-            event, context
-        )
-
         (event_stream_id, max_stream_id) = yield self.store.persist_event(
             event, context=context
         )
@@ -683,3 +847,9 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
             )
 
         preserve_fn(_notify)()
+
+        if event.type == EventTypes.Message:
+            presence = self.hs.get_presence_handler()
+            # We don't want to block sending messages on any presence code. This
+            # matters as sometimes presence code can take a while.
+            preserve_fn(presence.bump_presence_active_time)(requester.user)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/presence.py b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
index cb158ba96..a5e501897 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/presence.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
@@ -93,29 +93,30 @@ class PresenceHandler(object):
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.wheel_timer = WheelTimer()
         self.notifier = hs.get_notifier()
-        self.replication = hs.get_replication_layer()
         self.federation = hs.get_federation_sender()
 
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
 
-        self.replication.register_edu_handler(
+        federation_registry = hs.get_federation_registry()
+
+        federation_registry.register_edu_handler(
             "m.presence", self.incoming_presence
         )
-        self.replication.register_edu_handler(
+        federation_registry.register_edu_handler(
             "m.presence_invite",
             lambda origin, content: self.invite_presence(
                 observed_user=UserID.from_string(content["observed_user"]),
                 observer_user=UserID.from_string(content["observer_user"]),
             )
         )
-        self.replication.register_edu_handler(
+        federation_registry.register_edu_handler(
             "m.presence_accept",
             lambda origin, content: self.accept_presence(
                 observed_user=UserID.from_string(content["observed_user"]),
                 observer_user=UserID.from_string(content["observer_user"]),
             )
         )
-        self.replication.register_edu_handler(
+        federation_registry.register_edu_handler(
             "m.presence_deny",
             lambda origin, content: self.deny_presence(
                 observed_user=UserID.from_string(content["observed_user"]),
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/profile.py b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
index 9800e2445..cb710fe79 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(ProfileHandler, self).__init__(hs)
 
-        self.federation = hs.get_replication_layer()
-        self.federation.register_query_handler(
+        self.federation = hs.get_federation_client()
+        hs.get_federation_registry().register_query_handler(
             "profile", self.on_profile_query
         )
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
         )
 
         for room_id in room_ids:
-            handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+            handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
             try:
                 # Assume the target_user isn't a guest,
                 # because we don't let guests set profile or avatar data.
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/read_marker.py b/synapse/handlers/read_marker.py
index b5b0303d5..5142ae153 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/read_marker.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/read_marker.py
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ class ReadMarkerHandler(BaseHandler):
         """
 
         with (yield self.read_marker_linearizer.queue((room_id, user_id))):
-            account_data = yield self.store.get_account_data_for_room(user_id, room_id)
-
-            existing_read_marker = account_data.get("m.fully_read", None)
+            existing_read_marker = yield self.store.get_account_data_for_room_and_type(
+                user_id, room_id, "m.fully_read",
+            )
 
             should_update = True
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/receipts.py b/synapse/handlers/receipts.py
index 052576527..3f215c2b4 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/receipts.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/receipts.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class ReceiptsHandler(BaseHandler):
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.hs = hs
         self.federation = hs.get_federation_sender()
-        hs.get_replication_layer().register_edu_handler(
+        hs.get_federation_registry().register_edu_handler(
             "m.receipt", self._received_remote_receipt
         )
         self.clock = self.hs.get_clock()
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/register.py b/synapse/handlers/register.py
index 96f480f83..b8e38f560 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/register.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/register.py
@@ -448,16 +448,34 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
         return self.hs.get_auth_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def guest_access_token_for(self, medium, address, inviter_user_id):
+    def get_or_register_3pid_guest(self, medium, address, inviter_user_id):
+        """Get a guest access token for a 3PID, creating a guest account if
+        one doesn't already exist.
+
+        Args:
+            medium (str)
+            address (str)
+            inviter_user_id (str): The user ID who is trying to invite the
+                3PID
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[(str, str)]: A 2-tuple of `(user_id, access_token)` of the
+            3PID guest account.
+        """
         access_token = yield self.store.get_3pid_guest_access_token(medium, address)
         if access_token:
-            defer.returnValue(access_token)
+            user_info = yield self.auth.get_user_by_access_token(
+                access_token
+            )
 
-        _, access_token = yield self.register(
+            defer.returnValue((user_info["user"].to_string(), access_token))
+
+        user_id, access_token = yield self.register(
             generate_token=True,
             make_guest=True
         )
         access_token = yield self.store.save_or_get_3pid_guest_access_token(
             medium, address, access_token, inviter_user_id
         )
-        defer.returnValue(access_token)
+
+        defer.returnValue((user_id, access_token))
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room.py b/synapse/handlers/room.py
index d1cc87a01..8df8fcbba 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014 - 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
         super(RoomCreationHandler, self).__init__(hs)
 
         self.spam_checker = hs.get_spam_checker()
+        self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def create_room(self, requester, config, ratelimit=True):
@@ -163,13 +165,11 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         creation_content = config.get("creation_content", {})
 
-        msg_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-        room_member_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+        room_member_handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
         yield self._send_events_for_new_room(
             requester,
             room_id,
-            msg_handler,
             room_member_handler,
             preset_config=preset_config,
             invite_list=invite_list,
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         if "name" in config:
             name = config["name"]
-            yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+            yield self.event_creation_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
                 requester,
                 {
                     "type": EventTypes.Name,
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         if "topic" in config:
             topic = config["topic"]
-            yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+            yield self.event_creation_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
                 requester,
                 {
                     "type": EventTypes.Topic,
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
             id_server = invite_3pid["id_server"]
             address = invite_3pid["address"]
             medium = invite_3pid["medium"]
-            yield self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler.do_3pid_invite(
+            yield self.hs.get_room_member_handler().do_3pid_invite(
                 room_id,
                 requester.user,
                 medium,
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
             self,
             creator,  # A Requester object.
             room_id,
-            msg_handler,
             room_member_handler,
             preset_config,
             invite_list,
@@ -272,7 +271,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
         @defer.inlineCallbacks
         def send(etype, content, **kwargs):
             event = create(etype, content, **kwargs)
-            yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+            yield self.event_creation_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
                 creator,
                 event,
                 ratelimit=False
@@ -476,12 +475,9 @@ class RoomEventSource(object):
             user.to_string()
         )
         if app_service:
-            events, end_key = yield self.store.get_appservice_room_stream(
-                service=app_service,
-                from_key=from_key,
-                to_key=to_key,
-                limit=limit,
-            )
+            # We no longer support AS users using /sync directly.
+            # See https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues/1144
+            raise NotImplementedError()
         else:
             room_events = yield self.store.get_membership_changes_for_user(
                 user.to_string(), from_key, to_key
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room_list.py b/synapse/handlers/room_list.py
index bb4007538..5d81f59b4 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room_list.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room_list.py
@@ -203,7 +203,8 @@ class RoomListHandler(BaseHandler):
         if limit:
             step = limit + 1
         else:
-            step = len(rooms_to_scan)
+            # step cannot be zero
+            step = len(rooms_to_scan) if len(rooms_to_scan) != 0 else 1
 
         chunk = []
         for i in xrange(0, len(rooms_to_scan), step):
@@ -408,7 +409,7 @@ class RoomListHandler(BaseHandler):
     def _get_remote_list_cached(self, server_name, limit=None, since_token=None,
                                 search_filter=None, include_all_networks=False,
                                 third_party_instance_id=None,):
-        repl_layer = self.hs.get_replication_layer()
+        repl_layer = self.hs.get_federation_client()
         if search_filter:
             # We can't cache when asking for search
             return repl_layer.get_public_rooms(
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room_member.py b/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
index 7e6467cd1..0127cf416 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -29,23 +30,31 @@ from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, SynapseError, Codes
 from synapse.types import UserID, RoomID
 from synapse.util.async import Linearizer
 from synapse.util.distributor import user_left_room, user_joined_room
-from ._base import BaseHandler
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 id_server_scheme = "https://"
 
 
-class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
+class RoomMemberHandler(object):
     # TODO(paul): This handler currently contains a messy conflation of
     #   low-level API that works on UserID objects and so on, and REST-level
     #   API that takes ID strings and returns pagination chunks. These concerns
     #   ought to be separated out a lot better.
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
-        super(RoomMemberHandler, self).__init__(hs)
+        self.hs = hs
+        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
+        self.auth = hs.get_auth()
+        self.state_handler = hs.get_state_handler()
+        self.config = hs.config
+        self.simple_http_client = hs.get_simple_http_client()
 
+        self.federation_handler = hs.get_handlers().federation_handler
+        self.directory_handler = hs.get_handlers().directory_handler
+        self.registration_handler = hs.get_handlers().registration_handler
         self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
+        self.event_creation_hander = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
 
         self.member_linearizer = Linearizer(name="member")
 
@@ -66,13 +75,12 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
     ):
         if content is None:
             content = {}
-        msg_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
 
         content["membership"] = membership
         if requester.is_guest:
             content["kind"] = "guest"
 
-        event, context = yield msg_handler.create_event(
+        event, context = yield self.event_creation_hander.create_event(
             requester,
             {
                 "type": EventTypes.Member,
@@ -90,12 +98,14 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         )
 
         # Check if this event matches the previous membership event for the user.
-        duplicate = yield msg_handler.deduplicate_state_event(event, context)
+        duplicate = yield self.event_creation_hander.deduplicate_state_event(
+            event, context,
+        )
         if duplicate is not None:
             # Discard the new event since this membership change is a no-op.
             defer.returnValue(duplicate)
 
-        yield msg_handler.handle_new_client_event(
+        yield self.event_creation_hander.handle_new_client_event(
             requester,
             event,
             context,
@@ -127,7 +137,20 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         defer.returnValue(event)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def remote_join(self, remote_room_hosts, room_id, user, content):
+    def _remote_join(self, remote_room_hosts, room_id, user, content):
+        """Try and join a room that this server is not in
+
+        Args:
+            remote_room_hosts (list[str]): List of servers that can be used
+                to join via.
+            room_id (str): Room that we are trying to join
+            user (UserID): User who is trying to join
+            content (dict): A dict that should be used as the content of the
+                join event.
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred
+        """
         if len(remote_room_hosts) == 0:
             raise SynapseError(404, "No known servers")
 
@@ -135,7 +158,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         # join dance for now, since we're kinda implicitly checking
         # that we are allowed to join when we decide whether or not we
         # need to do the invite/join dance.
-        yield self.hs.get_handlers().federation_handler.do_invite_join(
+        yield self.federation_handler.do_invite_join(
             remote_room_hosts,
             room_id,
             user.to_string(),
@@ -143,6 +166,43 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         )
         yield user_joined_room(self.distributor, user, room_id)
 
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _remote_reject_invite(self, remote_room_hosts, room_id, target):
+        """Attempt to reject an invite for a room this server is not in. If we
+        fail to do so we locally mark the invite as rejected.
+
+        Args:
+            remote_room_hosts (list[str]): List of servers to use to try and
+                reject invite
+            room_id (str)
+            target (UserID): The user rejecting the invite
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[dict]: A dictionary to be returned to the client, may
+            include event_id etc, or nothing if we locally rejected
+        """
+        fed_handler = self.federation_handler
+        try:
+            ret = yield fed_handler.do_remotely_reject_invite(
+                remote_room_hosts,
+                room_id,
+                target.to_string(),
+            )
+            defer.returnValue(ret)
+        except Exception as e:
+            # if we were unable to reject the exception, just mark
+            # it as rejected on our end and plough ahead.
+            #
+            # The 'except' clause is very broad, but we need to
+            # capture everything from DNS failures upwards
+            #
+            logger.warn("Failed to reject invite: %s", e)
+
+            yield self.store.locally_reject_invite(
+                target.to_string(), room_id
+            )
+            defer.returnValue({})
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def update_membership(
             self,
@@ -201,8 +261,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         # if this is a join with a 3pid signature, we may need to turn a 3pid
         # invite into a normal invite before we can handle the join.
         if third_party_signed is not None:
-            replication = self.hs.get_replication_layer()
-            yield replication.exchange_third_party_invite(
+            yield self.federation_handler.exchange_third_party_invite(
                 third_party_signed["sender"],
                 target.to_string(),
                 room_id,
@@ -223,7 +282,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
                 requester.user,
             )
             if not is_requester_admin:
-                if self.hs.config.block_non_admin_invites:
+                if self.config.block_non_admin_invites:
                     logger.info(
                         "Blocking invite: user is not admin and non-admin "
                         "invites disabled"
@@ -282,7 +341,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
                     raise AuthError(403, "Guest access not allowed")
 
             if not is_host_in_room:
-                inviter = yield self.get_inviter(target.to_string(), room_id)
+                inviter = yield self._get_inviter(target.to_string(), room_id)
                 if inviter and not self.hs.is_mine(inviter):
                     remote_room_hosts.append(inviter.domain)
 
@@ -296,7 +355,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
                 if requester.is_guest:
                     content["kind"] = "guest"
 
-                ret = yield self.remote_join(
+                ret = yield self._remote_join(
                     remote_room_hosts, room_id, target, content
                 )
                 defer.returnValue(ret)
@@ -304,7 +363,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         elif effective_membership_state == Membership.LEAVE:
             if not is_host_in_room:
                 # perhaps we've been invited
-                inviter = yield self.get_inviter(target.to_string(), room_id)
+                inviter = yield self._get_inviter(target.to_string(), room_id)
                 if not inviter:
                     raise SynapseError(404, "Not a known room")
 
@@ -318,28 +377,10 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
                 else:
                     # send the rejection to the inviter's HS.
                     remote_room_hosts = remote_room_hosts + [inviter.domain]
-                    fed_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().federation_handler
-                    try:
-                        ret = yield fed_handler.do_remotely_reject_invite(
-                            remote_room_hosts,
-                            room_id,
-                            target.to_string(),
-                        )
-                        defer.returnValue(ret)
-                    except Exception as e:
-                        # if we were unable to reject the exception, just mark
-                        # it as rejected on our end and plough ahead.
-                        #
-                        # The 'except' clause is very broad, but we need to
-                        # capture everything from DNS failures upwards
-                        #
-                        logger.warn("Failed to reject invite: %s", e)
-
-                        yield self.store.locally_reject_invite(
-                            target.to_string(), room_id
-                        )
-
-                        defer.returnValue({})
+                    res = yield self._remote_reject_invite(
+                        remote_room_hosts, room_id, target,
+                    )
+                    defer.returnValue(res)
 
         res = yield self._local_membership_update(
             requester=requester,
@@ -394,8 +435,9 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         else:
             requester = synapse.types.create_requester(target_user)
 
-        message_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-        prev_event = yield message_handler.deduplicate_state_event(event, context)
+        prev_event = yield self.event_creation_hander.deduplicate_state_event(
+            event, context,
+        )
         if prev_event is not None:
             return
 
@@ -412,7 +454,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             if is_blocked:
                 raise SynapseError(403, "This room has been blocked on this server")
 
-        yield message_handler.handle_new_client_event(
+        yield self.event_creation_hander.handle_new_client_event(
             requester,
             event,
             context,
@@ -473,7 +515,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         Raises:
             SynapseError if room alias could not be found.
         """
-        directory_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().directory_handler
+        directory_handler = self.directory_handler
         mapping = yield directory_handler.get_association(room_alias)
 
         if not mapping:
@@ -485,7 +527,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         defer.returnValue((RoomID.from_string(room_id), servers))
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def get_inviter(self, user_id, room_id):
+    def _get_inviter(self, user_id, room_id):
         invite = yield self.store.get_invite_for_user_in_room(
             user_id=user_id,
             room_id=room_id,
@@ -504,7 +546,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             requester,
             txn_id
     ):
-        if self.hs.config.block_non_admin_invites:
+        if self.config.block_non_admin_invites:
             is_requester_admin = yield self.auth.is_server_admin(
                 requester.user,
             )
@@ -551,7 +593,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             str: the matrix ID of the 3pid, or None if it is not recognized.
         """
         try:
-            data = yield self.hs.get_simple_http_client().get_json(
+            data = yield self.simple_http_client.get_json(
                 "%s%s/_matrix/identity/api/v1/lookup" % (id_server_scheme, id_server,),
                 {
                     "medium": medium,
@@ -562,7 +604,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             if "mxid" in data:
                 if "signatures" not in data:
                     raise AuthError(401, "No signatures on 3pid binding")
-                self.verify_any_signature(data, id_server)
+                yield self._verify_any_signature(data, id_server)
                 defer.returnValue(data["mxid"])
 
         except IOError as e:
@@ -570,11 +612,11 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             defer.returnValue(None)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def verify_any_signature(self, data, server_hostname):
+    def _verify_any_signature(self, data, server_hostname):
         if server_hostname not in data["signatures"]:
             raise AuthError(401, "No signature from server %s" % (server_hostname,))
         for key_name, signature in data["signatures"][server_hostname].items():
-            key_data = yield self.hs.get_simple_http_client().get_json(
+            key_data = yield self.simple_http_client.get_json(
                 "%s%s/_matrix/identity/api/v1/pubkey/%s" %
                 (id_server_scheme, server_hostname, key_name,),
             )
@@ -599,7 +641,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             user,
             txn_id
     ):
-        room_state = yield self.hs.get_state_handler().get_current_state(room_id)
+        room_state = yield self.state_handler.get_current_state(room_id)
 
         inviter_display_name = ""
         inviter_avatar_url = ""
@@ -644,8 +686,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             )
         )
 
-        msg_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().message_handler
-        yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+        yield self.event_creation_hander.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
             requester,
             {
                 "type": EventTypes.ThirdPartyInvite,
@@ -724,24 +765,20 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             "sender_avatar_url": inviter_avatar_url,
         }
 
-        if self.hs.config.invite_3pid_guest:
-            registration_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().registration_handler
-            guest_access_token = yield registration_handler.guest_access_token_for(
+        if self.config.invite_3pid_guest:
+            rh = self.registration_handler
+            guest_user_id, guest_access_token = yield rh.get_or_register_3pid_guest(
                 medium=medium,
                 address=address,
                 inviter_user_id=inviter_user_id,
             )
 
-            guest_user_info = yield self.hs.get_auth().get_user_by_access_token(
-                guest_access_token
-            )
-
             invite_config.update({
                 "guest_access_token": guest_access_token,
-                "guest_user_id": guest_user_info["user"].to_string(),
+                "guest_user_id": guest_user_id,
             })
 
-        data = yield self.hs.get_simple_http_client().post_urlencoded_get_json(
+        data = yield self.simple_http_client.post_urlencoded_get_json(
             is_url,
             invite_config
         )
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/sync.py b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
index b12988f3c..0f713ce03 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/sync.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
@@ -235,10 +235,10 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
         defer.returnValue(rules)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def ephemeral_by_room(self, sync_config, now_token, since_token=None):
+    def ephemeral_by_room(self, sync_result_builder, now_token, since_token=None):
         """Get the ephemeral events for each room the user is in
         Args:
-            sync_config (SyncConfig): The flags, filters and user for the sync.
+            sync_result_builder(SyncResultBuilder)
             now_token (StreamToken): Where the server is currently up to.
             since_token (StreamToken): Where the server was when the client
                 last synced.
@@ -248,10 +248,12 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
             typing events for that room.
         """
 
+        sync_config = sync_result_builder.sync_config
+
         with Measure(self.clock, "ephemeral_by_room"):
             typing_key = since_token.typing_key if since_token else "0"
 
-            room_ids = yield self.store.get_rooms_for_user(sync_config.user.to_string())
+            room_ids = sync_result_builder.joined_room_ids
 
             typing_source = self.event_sources.sources["typing"]
             typing, typing_key = yield typing_source.get_new_events(
@@ -565,10 +567,22 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
         # Always use the `now_token` in `SyncResultBuilder`
         now_token = yield self.event_sources.get_current_token()
 
+        user_id = sync_config.user.to_string()
+        app_service = self.store.get_app_service_by_user_id(user_id)
+        if app_service:
+            # We no longer support AS users using /sync directly.
+            # See https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues/1144
+            raise NotImplementedError()
+        else:
+            joined_room_ids = yield self.get_rooms_for_user_at(
+                user_id, now_token.room_stream_id,
+            )
+
         sync_result_builder = SyncResultBuilder(
             sync_config, full_state,
             since_token=since_token,
             now_token=now_token,
+            joined_room_ids=joined_room_ids,
         )
 
         account_data_by_room = yield self._generate_sync_entry_for_account_data(
@@ -603,7 +617,6 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
         device_id = sync_config.device_id
         one_time_key_counts = {}
         if device_id:
-            user_id = sync_config.user.to_string()
             one_time_key_counts = yield self.store.count_e2e_one_time_keys(
                 user_id, device_id
             )
@@ -891,7 +904,7 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
             ephemeral_by_room = {}
         else:
             now_token, ephemeral_by_room = yield self.ephemeral_by_room(
-                sync_result_builder.sync_config,
+                sync_result_builder,
                 now_token=sync_result_builder.now_token,
                 since_token=sync_result_builder.since_token,
             )
@@ -996,15 +1009,8 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
         if rooms_changed:
             defer.returnValue(True)
 
-        app_service = self.store.get_app_service_by_user_id(user_id)
-        if app_service:
-            rooms = yield self.store.get_app_service_rooms(app_service)
-            joined_room_ids = set(r.room_id for r in rooms)
-        else:
-            joined_room_ids = yield self.store.get_rooms_for_user(user_id)
-
         stream_id = RoomStreamToken.parse_stream_token(since_token.room_key).stream
-        for room_id in joined_room_ids:
+        for room_id in sync_result_builder.joined_room_ids:
             if self.store.has_room_changed_since(room_id, stream_id):
                 defer.returnValue(True)
         defer.returnValue(False)
@@ -1028,13 +1034,6 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
 
         assert since_token
 
-        app_service = self.store.get_app_service_by_user_id(user_id)
-        if app_service:
-            rooms = yield self.store.get_app_service_rooms(app_service)
-            joined_room_ids = set(r.room_id for r in rooms)
-        else:
-            joined_room_ids = yield self.store.get_rooms_for_user(user_id)
-
         # Get a list of membership change events that have happened.
         rooms_changed = yield self.store.get_membership_changes_for_user(
             user_id, since_token.room_key, now_token.room_key
@@ -1057,7 +1056,7 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
             # we do send down the room, and with full state, where necessary
 
             old_state_ids = None
-            if room_id in joined_room_ids and non_joins:
+            if room_id in sync_result_builder.joined_room_ids and non_joins:
                 # Always include if the user (re)joined the room, especially
                 # important so that device list changes are calculated correctly.
                 # If there are non join member events, but we are still in the room,
@@ -1067,7 +1066,7 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
                 # User is in the room so we don't need to do the invite/leave checks
                 continue
 
-            if room_id in joined_room_ids or has_join:
+            if room_id in sync_result_builder.joined_room_ids or has_join:
                 old_state_ids = yield self.get_state_at(room_id, since_token)
                 old_mem_ev_id = old_state_ids.get((EventTypes.Member, user_id), None)
                 old_mem_ev = None
@@ -1079,7 +1078,7 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
                     newly_joined_rooms.append(room_id)
 
             # If user is in the room then we don't need to do the invite/leave checks
-            if room_id in joined_room_ids:
+            if room_id in sync_result_builder.joined_room_ids:
                 continue
 
             if not non_joins:
@@ -1146,7 +1145,7 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
 
         # Get all events for rooms we're currently joined to.
         room_to_events = yield self.store.get_room_events_stream_for_rooms(
-            room_ids=joined_room_ids,
+            room_ids=sync_result_builder.joined_room_ids,
             from_key=since_token.room_key,
             to_key=now_token.room_key,
             limit=timeline_limit + 1,
@@ -1154,7 +1153,7 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
 
         # We loop through all room ids, even if there are no new events, in case
         # there are non room events taht we need to notify about.
-        for room_id in joined_room_ids:
+        for room_id in sync_result_builder.joined_room_ids:
             room_entry = room_to_events.get(room_id, None)
 
             if room_entry:
@@ -1362,6 +1361,54 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
         else:
             raise Exception("Unrecognized rtype: %r", room_builder.rtype)
 
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def get_rooms_for_user_at(self, user_id, stream_ordering):
+        """Get set of joined rooms for a user at the given stream ordering.
+
+        The stream ordering *must* be recent, otherwise this may throw an
+        exception if older than a month. (This function is called with the
+        current token, which should be perfectly fine).
+
+        Args:
+            user_id (str)
+            stream_ordering (int)
+
+        ReturnValue:
+            Deferred[frozenset[str]]: Set of room_ids the user is in at given
+            stream_ordering.
+        """
+        joined_rooms = yield self.store.get_rooms_for_user_with_stream_ordering(
+            user_id,
+        )
+
+        joined_room_ids = set()
+
+        # We need to check that the stream ordering of the join for each room
+        # is before the stream_ordering asked for. This might not be the case
+        # if the user joins a room between us getting the current token and
+        # calling `get_rooms_for_user_with_stream_ordering`.
+        # If the membership's stream ordering is after the given stream
+        # ordering, we need to go and work out if the user was in the room
+        # before.
+        for room_id, membership_stream_ordering in joined_rooms:
+            if membership_stream_ordering <= stream_ordering:
+                joined_room_ids.add(room_id)
+                continue
+
+            logger.info("User joined room after current token: %s", room_id)
+
+            extrems = yield self.store.get_forward_extremeties_for_room(
+                room_id, stream_ordering,
+            )
+            users_in_room = yield self.state.get_current_user_in_room(
+                room_id, extrems,
+            )
+            if user_id in users_in_room:
+                joined_room_ids.add(room_id)
+
+        joined_room_ids = frozenset(joined_room_ids)
+        defer.returnValue(joined_room_ids)
+
 
 def _action_has_highlight(actions):
     for action in actions:
@@ -1411,7 +1458,8 @@ def _calculate_state(timeline_contains, timeline_start, previous, current):
 
 class SyncResultBuilder(object):
     "Used to help build up a new SyncResult for a user"
-    def __init__(self, sync_config, full_state, since_token, now_token):
+    def __init__(self, sync_config, full_state, since_token, now_token,
+                 joined_room_ids):
         """
         Args:
             sync_config(SyncConfig)
@@ -1423,6 +1471,7 @@ class SyncResultBuilder(object):
         self.full_state = full_state
         self.since_token = since_token
         self.now_token = now_token
+        self.joined_room_ids = joined_room_ids
 
         self.presence = []
         self.account_data = []
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/typing.py b/synapse/handlers/typing.py
index 82dedbbc9..77c0cf146 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/typing.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/typing.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class TypingHandler(object):
 
         self.federation = hs.get_federation_sender()
 
-        hs.get_replication_layer().register_edu_handler("m.typing", self._recv_edu)
+        hs.get_federation_registry().register_edu_handler("m.typing", self._recv_edu)
 
         hs.get_distributor().observe("user_left_room", self.user_left_room)
 
diff --git a/synapse/http/client.py b/synapse/http/client.py
index 4abb479ae..f3e4973c2 100644
--- a/synapse/http/client.py
+++ b/synapse/http/client.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from OpenSSL.SSL import VERIFY_NONE
 from synapse.api.errors import (
     CodeMessageException, MatrixCodeMessageException, SynapseError, Codes,
 )
+from synapse.util.caches import CACHE_SIZE_FACTOR
 from synapse.util.logcontext import make_deferred_yieldable
 from synapse.util import logcontext
 import synapse.metrics
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ from twisted.internet.endpoints import HostnameEndpoint, wrapClientTLS
 from twisted.web.client import (
     BrowserLikeRedirectAgent, ContentDecoderAgent, GzipDecoder, Agent,
     readBody, PartialDownloadError,
+    HTTPConnectionPool,
 )
 from twisted.web.client import FileBodyProducer as TwistedFileBodyProducer
 from twisted.web.http import PotentialDataLoss
@@ -64,13 +66,23 @@ class SimpleHttpClient(object):
     """
     def __init__(self, hs):
         self.hs = hs
+
+        pool = HTTPConnectionPool(reactor)
+
+        # the pusher makes lots of concurrent SSL connections to sygnal, and
+        # tends to do so in batches, so we need to allow the pool to keep lots
+        # of idle connections around.
+        pool.maxPersistentPerHost = max((100 * CACHE_SIZE_FACTOR, 5))
+        pool.cachedConnectionTimeout = 2 * 60
+
         # The default context factory in Twisted 14.0.0 (which we require) is
         # BrowserLikePolicyForHTTPS which will do regular cert validation
         # 'like a browser'
         self.agent = Agent(
             reactor,
             connectTimeout=15,
-            contextFactory=hs.get_http_client_context_factory()
+            contextFactory=hs.get_http_client_context_factory(),
+            pool=pool,
         )
         self.user_agent = hs.version_string
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
diff --git a/synapse/http/endpoint.py b/synapse/http/endpoint.py
index e2b99ef3b..87639b915 100644
--- a/synapse/http/endpoint.py
+++ b/synapse/http/endpoint.py
@@ -357,8 +357,7 @@ def _get_hosts_for_srv_record(dns_client, host):
     def eb(res, record_type):
         if res.check(DNSNameError):
             return []
-        logger.warn("Error looking up %s for %s: %s",
-                    record_type, host, res, res.value)
+        logger.warn("Error looking up %s for %s: %s", record_type, host, res)
         return res
 
     # no logcontexts here, so we can safely fire these off and gatherResults
diff --git a/synapse/http/server.py b/synapse/http/server.py
index 165c684d0..4b567215c 100644
--- a/synapse/http/server.py
+++ b/synapse/http/server.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -59,6 +60,11 @@ response_count = metrics.register_counter(
     )
 )
 
+requests_counter = metrics.register_counter(
+    "requests_received",
+    labels=["method", "servlet", ],
+)
+
 outgoing_responses_counter = metrics.register_counter(
     "responses",
     labels=["method", "code"],
@@ -145,7 +151,8 @@ def wrap_request_handler(request_handler, include_metrics=False):
                 # at the servlet name. For most requests that name will be
                 # JsonResource (or a subclass), and JsonResource._async_render
                 # will update it once it picks a servlet.
-                request_metrics.start(self.clock, name=self.__class__.__name__)
+                servlet_name = self.__class__.__name__
+                request_metrics.start(self.clock, name=servlet_name)
 
                 request_context.request = request_id
                 with request.processing():
@@ -154,6 +161,7 @@ def wrap_request_handler(request_handler, include_metrics=False):
                             if include_metrics:
                                 yield request_handler(self, request, request_metrics)
                             else:
+                                requests_counter.inc(request.method, servlet_name)
                                 yield request_handler(self, request)
                     except CodeMessageException as e:
                         code = e.code
@@ -229,7 +237,7 @@ class JsonResource(HttpServer, resource.Resource):
     """ This implements the HttpServer interface and provides JSON support for
     Resources.
 
-    Register callbacks via register_path()
+    Register callbacks via register_paths()
 
     Callbacks can return a tuple of status code and a dict in which case the
     the dict will automatically be sent to the client as a JSON object.
@@ -276,49 +284,59 @@ class JsonResource(HttpServer, resource.Resource):
             This checks if anyone has registered a callback for that method and
             path.
         """
+        callback, group_dict = self._get_handler_for_request(request)
+
+        servlet_instance = getattr(callback, "__self__", None)
+        if servlet_instance is not None:
+            servlet_classname = servlet_instance.__class__.__name__
+        else:
+            servlet_classname = "%r" % callback
+
+        request_metrics.name = servlet_classname
+        requests_counter.inc(request.method, servlet_classname)
+
+        # Now trigger the callback. If it returns a response, we send it
+        # here. If it throws an exception, that is handled by the wrapper
+        # installed by @request_handler.
+
+        kwargs = intern_dict({
+            name: urllib.unquote(value).decode("UTF-8") if value else value
+            for name, value in group_dict.items()
+        })
+
+        callback_return = yield callback(request, **kwargs)
+        if callback_return is not None:
+            code, response = callback_return
+            self._send_response(request, code, response)
+
+    def _get_handler_for_request(self, request):
+        """Finds a callback method to handle the given request
+
+        Args:
+            request (twisted.web.http.Request):
+
+        Returns:
+            Tuple[Callable, dict[str, str]]: callback method, and the dict
+                mapping keys to path components as specified in the handler's
+                path match regexp.
+
+                The callback will normally be a method registered via
+                register_paths, so will return (possibly via Deferred) either
+                None, or a tuple of (http code, response body).
+        """
         if request.method == "OPTIONS":
-            self._send_response(request, 200, {})
-            return
+            return _options_handler, {}
 
         # Loop through all the registered callbacks to check if the method
         # and path regex match
         for path_entry in self.path_regexs.get(request.method, []):
             m = path_entry.pattern.match(request.path)
-            if not m:
-                continue
-
-            # We found a match! First update the metrics object to indicate
-            # which servlet is handling the request.
-
-            callback = path_entry.callback
-
-            servlet_instance = getattr(callback, "__self__", None)
-            if servlet_instance is not None:
-                servlet_classname = servlet_instance.__class__.__name__
-            else:
-                servlet_classname = "%r" % callback
-
-            request_metrics.name = servlet_classname
-
-            # Now trigger the callback. If it returns a response, we send it
-            # here. If it throws an exception, that is handled by the wrapper
-            # installed by @request_handler.
-
-            kwargs = intern_dict({
-                name: urllib.unquote(value).decode("UTF-8") if value else value
-                for name, value in m.groupdict().items()
-            })
-
-            callback_return = yield callback(request, **kwargs)
-            if callback_return is not None:
-                code, response = callback_return
-                self._send_response(request, code, response)
-
-            return
+            if m:
+                # We found a match!
+                return path_entry.callback, m.groupdict()
 
         # Huh. No one wanted to handle that? Fiiiiiine. Send 400.
-        request_metrics.name = self.__class__.__name__ + ".UnrecognizedRequest"
-        raise UnrecognizedRequestError()
+        return _unrecognised_request_handler, {}
 
     def _send_response(self, request, code, response_json_object,
                        response_code_message=None):
@@ -335,6 +353,34 @@ class JsonResource(HttpServer, resource.Resource):
         )
 
 
+def _options_handler(request):
+    """Request handler for OPTIONS requests
+
+    This is a request handler suitable for return from
+    _get_handler_for_request. It returns a 200 and an empty body.
+
+    Args:
+        request (twisted.web.http.Request):
+
+    Returns:
+        Tuple[int, dict]: http code, response body.
+    """
+    return 200, {}
+
+
+def _unrecognised_request_handler(request):
+    """Request handler for unrecognised requests
+
+    This is a request handler suitable for return from
+    _get_handler_for_request. It actually just raises an
+    UnrecognizedRequestError.
+
+    Args:
+        request (twisted.web.http.Request):
+    """
+    raise UnrecognizedRequestError()
+
+
 class RequestMetrics(object):
     def start(self, clock, name):
         self.start = clock.time_msec()
diff --git a/synapse/http/servlet.py b/synapse/http/servlet.py
index 71420e54d..ef8e62901 100644
--- a/synapse/http/servlet.py
+++ b/synapse/http/servlet.py
@@ -148,11 +148,13 @@ def parse_string_from_args(args, name, default=None, required=False,
             return default
 
 
-def parse_json_value_from_request(request):
+def parse_json_value_from_request(request, allow_empty_body=False):
     """Parse a JSON value from the body of a twisted HTTP request.
 
     Args:
         request: the twisted HTTP request.
+        allow_empty_body (bool): if True, an empty body will be accepted and
+            turned into None
 
     Returns:
         The JSON value.
@@ -165,6 +167,9 @@ def parse_json_value_from_request(request):
     except Exception:
         raise SynapseError(400, "Error reading JSON content.")
 
+    if not content_bytes and allow_empty_body:
+        return None
+
     try:
         content = simplejson.loads(content_bytes)
     except Exception as e:
@@ -174,17 +179,24 @@ def parse_json_value_from_request(request):
     return content
 
 
-def parse_json_object_from_request(request):
+def parse_json_object_from_request(request, allow_empty_body=False):
     """Parse a JSON object from the body of a twisted HTTP request.
 
     Args:
         request: the twisted HTTP request.
+        allow_empty_body (bool): if True, an empty body will be accepted and
+            turned into an empty dict.
 
     Raises:
         SynapseError if the request body couldn't be decoded as JSON or
             if it wasn't a JSON object.
     """
-    content = parse_json_value_from_request(request)
+    content = parse_json_value_from_request(
+        request, allow_empty_body=allow_empty_body,
+    )
+
+    if allow_empty_body and content is None:
+        return {}
 
     if type(content) != dict:
         message = "Content must be a JSON object."
diff --git a/synapse/metrics/__init__.py b/synapse/metrics/__init__.py
index 2265e6e8d..50d99d7a5 100644
--- a/synapse/metrics/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/metrics/__init__.py
@@ -57,15 +57,31 @@ class Metrics(object):
         return metric
 
     def register_counter(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Returns:
+            CounterMetric
+        """
         return self._register(CounterMetric, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def register_callback(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Returns:
+            CallbackMetric
+        """
         return self._register(CallbackMetric, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def register_distribution(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Returns:
+            DistributionMetric
+        """
         return self._register(DistributionMetric, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def register_cache(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Returns:
+            CacheMetric
+        """
         return self._register(CacheMetric, *args, **kwargs)
 
 
@@ -146,10 +162,15 @@ def runUntilCurrentTimer(func):
             num_pending += 1
 
         num_pending += len(reactor.threadCallQueue)
-
         start = time.time() * 1000
         ret = func(*args, **kwargs)
         end = time.time() * 1000
+
+        # record the amount of wallclock time spent running pending calls.
+        # This is a proxy for the actual amount of time between reactor polls,
+        # since about 25% of time is actually spent running things triggered by
+        # I/O events, but that is harder to capture without rewriting half the
+        # reactor.
         tick_time.inc_by(end - start)
         pending_calls_metric.inc_by(num_pending)
 
diff --git a/synapse/metrics/metric.py b/synapse/metrics/metric.py
index 1e783e5ff..ff5aa8c0e 100644
--- a/synapse/metrics/metric.py
+++ b/synapse/metrics/metric.py
@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ class DistributionMetric(object):
 
 
 class CacheMetric(object):
-    __slots__ = ("name", "cache_name", "hits", "misses", "size_callback")
+    __slots__ = (
+        "name", "cache_name", "hits", "misses", "evicted_size", "size_callback",
+    )
 
     def __init__(self, name, size_callback, cache_name):
         self.name = name
@@ -201,6 +203,7 @@ class CacheMetric(object):
 
         self.hits = 0
         self.misses = 0
+        self.evicted_size = 0
 
         self.size_callback = size_callback
 
@@ -210,6 +213,9 @@ class CacheMetric(object):
     def inc_misses(self):
         self.misses += 1
 
+    def inc_evictions(self, size=1):
+        self.evicted_size += size
+
     def render(self):
         size = self.size_callback()
         hits = self.hits
@@ -219,6 +225,9 @@ class CacheMetric(object):
             """%s:hits{name="%s"} %d""" % (self.name, self.cache_name, hits),
             """%s:total{name="%s"} %d""" % (self.name, self.cache_name, total),
             """%s:size{name="%s"} %d""" % (self.name, self.cache_name, size),
+            """%s:evicted_size{name="%s"} %d""" % (
+                self.name, self.cache_name, self.evicted_size
+            ),
         ]
 
 
diff --git a/synapse/push/action_generator.py b/synapse/push/action_generator.py
index fe09d50d5..8f619a7a1 100644
--- a/synapse/push/action_generator.py
+++ b/synapse/push/action_generator.py
@@ -40,10 +40,6 @@ class ActionGenerator(object):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def handle_push_actions_for_event(self, event, context):
         with Measure(self.clock, "action_for_event_by_user"):
-            actions_by_user = yield self.bulk_evaluator.action_for_event_by_user(
+            yield self.bulk_evaluator.action_for_event_by_user(
                 event, context
             )
-
-        context.push_actions = [
-            (uid, actions) for uid, actions in actions_by_user.iteritems()
-        ]
diff --git a/synapse/push/bulk_push_rule_evaluator.py b/synapse/push/bulk_push_rule_evaluator.py
index 425a017bd..7c680659b 100644
--- a/synapse/push/bulk_push_rule_evaluator.py
+++ b/synapse/push/bulk_push_rule_evaluator.py
@@ -137,11 +137,11 @@ class BulkPushRuleEvaluator(object):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def action_for_event_by_user(self, event, context):
-        """Given an event and context, evaluate the push rules and return
-        the results
+        """Given an event and context, evaluate the push rules and insert the
+        results into the event_push_actions_staging table.
 
         Returns:
-            dict of user_id -> action
+            Deferred
         """
         rules_by_user = yield self._get_rules_for_event(event, context)
         actions_by_user = {}
@@ -190,9 +190,16 @@ class BulkPushRuleEvaluator(object):
                 if matches:
                     actions = [x for x in rule['actions'] if x != 'dont_notify']
                     if actions and 'notify' in actions:
+                        # Push rules say we should notify the user of this event
                         actions_by_user[uid] = actions
                     break
-        defer.returnValue(actions_by_user)
+
+        # Mark in the DB staging area the push actions for users who should be
+        # notified for this event. (This will then get handled when we persist
+        # the event)
+        yield self.store.add_push_actions_to_staging(
+            event.event_id, actions_by_user,
+        )
 
 
 def _condition_checker(evaluator, conditions, uid, display_name, cache):
diff --git a/synapse/push/httppusher.py b/synapse/push/httppusher.py
index c16f61452..2cbac571b 100644
--- a/synapse/push/httppusher.py
+++ b/synapse/push/httppusher.py
@@ -13,21 +13,30 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
-
-from synapse.push import PusherConfigException
+import logging
 
 from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
 from twisted.internet.error import AlreadyCalled, AlreadyCancelled
 
-import logging
 import push_rule_evaluator
 import push_tools
-
+import synapse
+from synapse.push import PusherConfigException
 from synapse.util.logcontext import LoggingContext
 from synapse.util.metrics import Measure
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+metrics = synapse.metrics.get_metrics_for(__name__)
+
+http_push_processed_counter = metrics.register_counter(
+    "http_pushes_processed",
+)
+
+http_push_failed_counter = metrics.register_counter(
+    "http_pushes_failed",
+)
+
 
 class HttpPusher(object):
     INITIAL_BACKOFF_SEC = 1  # in seconds because that's what Twisted takes
@@ -152,9 +161,16 @@ class HttpPusher(object):
             self.user_id, self.last_stream_ordering, self.max_stream_ordering
         )
 
+        logger.info(
+            "Processing %i unprocessed push actions for %s starting at "
+            "stream_ordering %s",
+            len(unprocessed), self.name, self.last_stream_ordering,
+        )
+
         for push_action in unprocessed:
             processed = yield self._process_one(push_action)
             if processed:
+                http_push_processed_counter.inc()
                 self.backoff_delay = HttpPusher.INITIAL_BACKOFF_SEC
                 self.last_stream_ordering = push_action['stream_ordering']
                 yield self.store.update_pusher_last_stream_ordering_and_success(
@@ -169,6 +185,7 @@ class HttpPusher(object):
                         self.failing_since
                     )
             else:
+                http_push_failed_counter.inc()
                 if not self.failing_since:
                     self.failing_since = self.clock.time_msec()
                     yield self.store.update_pusher_failing_since(
@@ -316,7 +333,10 @@ class HttpPusher(object):
         try:
             resp = yield self.http_client.post_json_get_json(self.url, notification_dict)
         except Exception:
-            logger.warn("Failed to push %s ", self.url)
+            logger.warn(
+                "Failed to push event %s to %s",
+                event.event_id, self.name, exc_info=True,
+            )
             defer.returnValue(False)
         rejected = []
         if 'rejected' in resp:
@@ -325,7 +345,7 @@ class HttpPusher(object):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _send_badge(self, badge):
-        logger.info("Sending updated badge count %d to %r", badge, self.user_id)
+        logger.info("Sending updated badge count %d to %s", badge, self.name)
         d = {
             'notification': {
                 'id': '',
@@ -347,7 +367,10 @@ class HttpPusher(object):
         try:
             resp = yield self.http_client.post_json_get_json(self.url, d)
         except Exception:
-            logger.exception("Failed to push %s ", self.url)
+            logger.warn(
+                "Failed to send badge count to %s",
+                self.name, exc_info=True,
+            )
             defer.returnValue(False)
         rejected = []
         if 'rejected' in resp:
diff --git a/synapse/python_dependencies.py b/synapse/python_dependencies.py
index 7052333c1..91179ce53 100644
--- a/synapse/python_dependencies.py
+++ b/synapse/python_dependencies.py
@@ -24,19 +24,19 @@ REQUIREMENTS = {
     "unpaddedbase64>=1.1.0": ["unpaddedbase64>=1.1.0"],
     "canonicaljson>=1.0.0": ["canonicaljson>=1.0.0"],
     "signedjson>=1.0.0": ["signedjson>=1.0.0"],
-    "pynacl==0.3.0": ["nacl==0.3.0", "nacl.bindings"],
+    "pynacl>=1.2.1": ["nacl>=1.2.1", "nacl.bindings"],
     "service_identity>=1.0.0": ["service_identity>=1.0.0"],
     "Twisted>=16.0.0": ["twisted>=16.0.0"],
     "pyopenssl>=0.14": ["OpenSSL>=0.14"],
     "pyyaml": ["yaml"],
     "pyasn1": ["pyasn1"],
     "daemonize": ["daemonize"],
-    "bcrypt": ["bcrypt"],
+    "bcrypt": ["bcrypt>=3.1.0"],
     "pillow": ["PIL"],
     "pydenticon": ["pydenticon"],
     "ujson": ["ujson"],
     "blist": ["blist"],
-    "pysaml2>=3.0.0,<4.0.0": ["saml2>=3.0.0,<4.0.0"],
+    "pysaml2>=3.0.0": ["saml2>=3.0.0"],
     "pymacaroons-pynacl": ["pymacaroons"],
     "msgpack-python>=0.3.0": ["msgpack"],
     "phonenumbers>=8.2.0": ["phonenumbers"],
diff --git a/synapse/replication/http/__init__.py b/synapse/replication/http/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b378b4164
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/replication/http/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+
+import send_event
+
+from synapse.http.server import JsonResource
+
+
+REPLICATION_PREFIX = "/_synapse/replication"
+
+
+class ReplicationRestResource(JsonResource):
+    def __init__(self, hs):
+        JsonResource.__init__(self, hs, canonical_json=False)
+        self.register_servlets(hs)
+
+    def register_servlets(self, hs):
+        send_event.register_servlets(hs, self)
diff --git a/synapse/replication/http/send_event.py b/synapse/replication/http/send_event.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bbe2f967b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/replication/http/send_event.py
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from twisted.internet import defer
+
+from synapse.api.errors import (
+    SynapseError, MatrixCodeMessageException, CodeMessageException,
+)
+from synapse.events import FrozenEvent
+from synapse.events.snapshot import EventContext
+from synapse.http.servlet import RestServlet, parse_json_object_from_request
+from synapse.util.async import sleep
+from synapse.util.caches.response_cache import ResponseCache
+from synapse.util.logcontext import make_deferred_yieldable, preserve_fn
+from synapse.util.metrics import Measure
+from synapse.types import Requester, UserID
+
+import logging
+import re
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+@defer.inlineCallbacks
+def send_event_to_master(client, host, port, requester, event, context,
+                         ratelimit, extra_users):
+    """Send event to be handled on the master
+
+    Args:
+        client (SimpleHttpClient)
+        host (str): host of master
+        port (int): port on master listening for HTTP replication
+        requester (Requester)
+        event (FrozenEvent)
+        context (EventContext)
+        ratelimit (bool)
+        extra_users (list(UserID)): Any extra users to notify about event
+    """
+    uri = "http://%s:%s/_synapse/replication/send_event/%s" % (
+        host, port, event.event_id,
+    )
+
+    payload = {
+        "event": event.get_pdu_json(),
+        "internal_metadata": event.internal_metadata.get_dict(),
+        "rejected_reason": event.rejected_reason,
+        "context": context.serialize(event),
+        "requester": requester.serialize(),
+        "ratelimit": ratelimit,
+        "extra_users": [u.to_string() for u in extra_users],
+    }
+
+    try:
+        # We keep retrying the same request for timeouts. This is so that we
+        # have a good idea that the request has either succeeded or failed on
+        # the master, and so whether we should clean up or not.
+        while True:
+            try:
+                result = yield client.put_json(uri, payload)
+                break
+            except CodeMessageException as e:
+                if e.code != 504:
+                    raise
+
+            logger.warn("send_event request timed out")
+
+            # If we timed out we probably don't need to worry about backing
+            # off too much, but lets just wait a little anyway.
+            yield sleep(1)
+    except MatrixCodeMessageException as e:
+        # We convert to SynapseError as we know that it was a SynapseError
+        # on the master process that we should send to the client. (And
+        # importantly, not stack traces everywhere)
+        raise SynapseError(e.code, e.msg, e.errcode)
+    defer.returnValue(result)
+
+
+class ReplicationSendEventRestServlet(RestServlet):
+    """Handles events newly created on workers, including persisting and
+    notifying.
+
+    The API looks like:
+
+        POST /_synapse/replication/send_event/:event_id
+
+        {
+            "event": { .. serialized event .. },
+            "internal_metadata": { .. serialized internal_metadata .. },
+            "rejected_reason": ..,   // The event.rejected_reason field
+            "context": { .. serialized event context .. },
+            "requester": { .. serialized requester .. },
+            "ratelimit": true,
+            "extra_users": [],
+        }
+    """
+    PATTERNS = [re.compile("^/_synapse/replication/send_event/(?P<event_id>[^/]+)$")]
+
+    def __init__(self, hs):
+        super(ReplicationSendEventRestServlet, self).__init__()
+
+        self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
+        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
+        self.clock = hs.get_clock()
+
+        # The responses are tiny, so we may as well cache them for a while
+        self.response_cache = ResponseCache(hs, timeout_ms=30 * 60 * 1000)
+
+    def on_PUT(self, request, event_id):
+        result = self.response_cache.get(event_id)
+        if not result:
+            result = self.response_cache.set(
+                event_id,
+                self._handle_request(request)
+            )
+        else:
+            logger.warn("Returning cached response")
+        return make_deferred_yieldable(result)
+
+    @preserve_fn
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _handle_request(self, request):
+        with Measure(self.clock, "repl_send_event_parse"):
+            content = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
+
+            event_dict = content["event"]
+            internal_metadata = content["internal_metadata"]
+            rejected_reason = content["rejected_reason"]
+            event = FrozenEvent(event_dict, internal_metadata, rejected_reason)
+
+            requester = Requester.deserialize(self.store, content["requester"])
+            context = yield EventContext.deserialize(self.store, content["context"])
+
+            ratelimit = content["ratelimit"]
+            extra_users = [UserID.from_string(u) for u in content["extra_users"]]
+
+        if requester.user:
+            request.authenticated_entity = requester.user.to_string()
+
+        logger.info(
+            "Got event to send with ID: %s into room: %s",
+            event.event_id, event.room_id,
+        )
+
+        yield self.event_creation_handler.persist_and_notify_client_event(
+            requester, event, context,
+            ratelimit=ratelimit,
+            extra_users=extra_users,
+        )
+
+        defer.returnValue((200, {}))
+
+
+def register_servlets(hs, http_server):
+    ReplicationSendEventRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/account_data.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/account_data.py
index efbd87918..d9ba6d69b 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/account_data.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/account_data.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -13,50 +14,20 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from ._base import BaseSlavedStore
-from ._slaved_id_tracker import SlavedIdTracker
-from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.storage.account_data import AccountDataStore
-from synapse.storage.tags import TagsStore
-from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage._base import BaseSlavedStore
+from synapse.replication.slave.storage._slaved_id_tracker import SlavedIdTracker
+from synapse.storage.account_data import AccountDataWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.tags import TagsWorkerStore
 
 
-class SlavedAccountDataStore(BaseSlavedStore):
+class SlavedAccountDataStore(TagsWorkerStore, AccountDataWorkerStore, BaseSlavedStore):
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(SlavedAccountDataStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
         self._account_data_id_gen = SlavedIdTracker(
             db_conn, "account_data_max_stream_id", "stream_id",
         )
-        self._account_data_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "AccountDataAndTagsChangeCache",
-            self._account_data_id_gen.get_current_token(),
-        )
 
-    get_account_data_for_user = (
-        AccountDataStore.__dict__["get_account_data_for_user"]
-    )
-
-    get_global_account_data_by_type_for_users = (
-        AccountDataStore.__dict__["get_global_account_data_by_type_for_users"]
-    )
-
-    get_global_account_data_by_type_for_user = (
-        AccountDataStore.__dict__["get_global_account_data_by_type_for_user"]
-    )
-
-    get_tags_for_user = TagsStore.__dict__["get_tags_for_user"]
-    get_tags_for_room = (
-        DataStore.get_tags_for_room.__func__
-    )
-    get_account_data_for_room = (
-        DataStore.get_account_data_for_room.__func__
-    )
-
-    get_updated_tags = DataStore.get_updated_tags.__func__
-    get_updated_account_data_for_user = (
-        DataStore.get_updated_account_data_for_user.__func__
-    )
+        super(SlavedAccountDataStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
     def get_max_account_data_stream_id(self):
         return self._account_data_id_gen.get_current_token()
@@ -85,6 +56,10 @@ class SlavedAccountDataStore(BaseSlavedStore):
                         (row.data_type, row.user_id,)
                     )
                 self.get_account_data_for_user.invalidate((row.user_id,))
+                self.get_account_data_for_room.invalidate((row.user_id, row.room_id,))
+                self.get_account_data_for_room_and_type.invalidate(
+                    (row.user_id, row.room_id, row.data_type,),
+                )
                 self._account_data_stream_cache.entity_has_changed(
                     row.user_id, token
                 )
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/appservice.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/appservice.py
index 0d3f31a50..8cae3076f 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/appservice.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -13,33 +14,11 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from ._base import BaseSlavedStore
-from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.config.appservice import load_appservices
-from synapse.storage.appservice import _make_exclusive_regex
+from synapse.storage.appservice import (
+    ApplicationServiceWorkerStore, ApplicationServiceTransactionWorkerStore,
+)
 
 
-class SlavedApplicationServiceStore(BaseSlavedStore):
-    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(SlavedApplicationServiceStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
-        self.services_cache = load_appservices(
-            hs.config.server_name,
-            hs.config.app_service_config_files
-        )
-        self.exclusive_user_regex = _make_exclusive_regex(self.services_cache)
-
-    get_app_service_by_token = DataStore.get_app_service_by_token.__func__
-    get_app_service_by_user_id = DataStore.get_app_service_by_user_id.__func__
-    get_app_services = DataStore.get_app_services.__func__
-    get_new_events_for_appservice = DataStore.get_new_events_for_appservice.__func__
-    create_appservice_txn = DataStore.create_appservice_txn.__func__
-    get_appservices_by_state = DataStore.get_appservices_by_state.__func__
-    get_oldest_unsent_txn = DataStore.get_oldest_unsent_txn.__func__
-    _get_last_txn = DataStore._get_last_txn.__func__
-    complete_appservice_txn = DataStore.complete_appservice_txn.__func__
-    get_appservice_state = DataStore.get_appservice_state.__func__
-    set_appservice_last_pos = DataStore.set_appservice_last_pos.__func__
-    set_appservice_state = DataStore.set_appservice_state.__func__
-    get_if_app_services_interested_in_user = (
-        DataStore.get_if_app_services_interested_in_user.__func__
-    )
+class SlavedApplicationServiceStore(ApplicationServiceTransactionWorkerStore,
+                                    ApplicationServiceWorkerStore):
+    pass
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/directory.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/directory.py
index 7301d885f..6deecd396 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/directory.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/directory.py
@@ -14,10 +14,8 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 from ._base import BaseSlavedStore
-from synapse.storage.directory import DirectoryStore
+from synapse.storage.directory import DirectoryWorkerStore
 
 
-class DirectoryStore(BaseSlavedStore):
-    get_aliases_for_room = DirectoryStore.__dict__[
-        "get_aliases_for_room"
-    ]
+class DirectoryStore(DirectoryWorkerStore, BaseSlavedStore):
+    pass
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/events.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/events.py
index 29d7296b4..b1f64ef0d 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/events.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/events.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -15,13 +16,13 @@
 import logging
 
 from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes
-from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.storage.event_federation import EventFederationStore
-from synapse.storage.event_push_actions import EventPushActionsStore
-from synapse.storage.roommember import RoomMemberStore
-from synapse.storage.state import StateGroupReadStore
-from synapse.storage.stream import StreamStore
-from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
+from synapse.storage.event_federation import EventFederationWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.event_push_actions import EventPushActionsWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.events_worker import EventsWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.roommember import RoomMemberWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.state import StateGroupWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.stream import StreamWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.signatures import SignatureWorkerStore
 from ._base import BaseSlavedStore
 from ._slaved_id_tracker import SlavedIdTracker
 
@@ -37,138 +38,33 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 # the method descriptor on the DataStore and chuck them into our class.
 
 
-class SlavedEventStore(StateGroupReadStore, BaseSlavedStore):
+class SlavedEventStore(EventFederationWorkerStore,
+                       RoomMemberWorkerStore,
+                       EventPushActionsWorkerStore,
+                       StreamWorkerStore,
+                       EventsWorkerStore,
+                       StateGroupWorkerStore,
+                       SignatureWorkerStore,
+                       BaseSlavedStore):
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(SlavedEventStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
         self._stream_id_gen = SlavedIdTracker(
             db_conn, "events", "stream_ordering",
         )
         self._backfill_id_gen = SlavedIdTracker(
             db_conn, "events", "stream_ordering", step=-1
         )
-        events_max = self._stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
-        event_cache_prefill, min_event_val = self._get_cache_dict(
-            db_conn, "events",
-            entity_column="room_id",
-            stream_column="stream_ordering",
-            max_value=events_max,
-        )
-        self._events_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "EventsRoomStreamChangeCache", min_event_val,
-            prefilled_cache=event_cache_prefill,
-        )
-        self._membership_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "MembershipStreamChangeCache", events_max,
-        )
 
-        self.stream_ordering_month_ago = 0
-        self._stream_order_on_start = self.get_room_max_stream_ordering()
+        super(SlavedEventStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
     # Cached functions can't be accessed through a class instance so we need
     # to reach inside the __dict__ to extract them.
-    get_rooms_for_user = RoomMemberStore.__dict__["get_rooms_for_user"]
-    get_users_in_room = RoomMemberStore.__dict__["get_users_in_room"]
-    get_hosts_in_room = RoomMemberStore.__dict__["get_hosts_in_room"]
-    get_users_who_share_room_with_user = (
-        RoomMemberStore.__dict__["get_users_who_share_room_with_user"]
-    )
-    get_latest_event_ids_in_room = EventFederationStore.__dict__[
-        "get_latest_event_ids_in_room"
-    ]
-    get_invited_rooms_for_user = RoomMemberStore.__dict__[
-        "get_invited_rooms_for_user"
-    ]
-    get_unread_event_push_actions_by_room_for_user = (
-        EventPushActionsStore.__dict__["get_unread_event_push_actions_by_room_for_user"]
-    )
-    _get_unread_counts_by_receipt_txn = (
-        DataStore._get_unread_counts_by_receipt_txn.__func__
-    )
-    _get_unread_counts_by_pos_txn = (
-        DataStore._get_unread_counts_by_pos_txn.__func__
-    )
-    get_recent_event_ids_for_room = (
-        StreamStore.__dict__["get_recent_event_ids_for_room"]
-    )
-    _get_joined_hosts_cache = RoomMemberStore.__dict__["_get_joined_hosts_cache"]
-    has_room_changed_since = DataStore.has_room_changed_since.__func__
 
-    get_unread_push_actions_for_user_in_range_for_http = (
-        DataStore.get_unread_push_actions_for_user_in_range_for_http.__func__
-    )
-    get_unread_push_actions_for_user_in_range_for_email = (
-        DataStore.get_unread_push_actions_for_user_in_range_for_email.__func__
-    )
-    get_push_action_users_in_range = (
-        DataStore.get_push_action_users_in_range.__func__
-    )
-    get_event = DataStore.get_event.__func__
-    get_events = DataStore.get_events.__func__
-    get_rooms_for_user_where_membership_is = (
-        DataStore.get_rooms_for_user_where_membership_is.__func__
-    )
-    get_membership_changes_for_user = (
-        DataStore.get_membership_changes_for_user.__func__
-    )
-    get_room_events_max_id = DataStore.get_room_events_max_id.__func__
-    get_room_events_stream_for_room = (
-        DataStore.get_room_events_stream_for_room.__func__
-    )
-    get_events_around = DataStore.get_events_around.__func__
-    get_joined_users_from_state = DataStore.get_joined_users_from_state.__func__
-    get_joined_users_from_context = DataStore.get_joined_users_from_context.__func__
-    _get_joined_users_from_context = (
-        RoomMemberStore.__dict__["_get_joined_users_from_context"]
-    )
+    def get_room_max_stream_ordering(self):
+        return self._stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
 
-    get_joined_hosts = DataStore.get_joined_hosts.__func__
-    _get_joined_hosts = RoomMemberStore.__dict__["_get_joined_hosts"]
-
-    get_recent_events_for_room = DataStore.get_recent_events_for_room.__func__
-    get_room_events_stream_for_rooms = (
-        DataStore.get_room_events_stream_for_rooms.__func__
-    )
-    is_host_joined = RoomMemberStore.__dict__["is_host_joined"]
-    get_stream_token_for_event = DataStore.get_stream_token_for_event.__func__
-
-    _set_before_and_after = staticmethod(DataStore._set_before_and_after)
-
-    _get_events = DataStore._get_events.__func__
-    _get_events_from_cache = DataStore._get_events_from_cache.__func__
-
-    _invalidate_get_event_cache = DataStore._invalidate_get_event_cache.__func__
-    _enqueue_events = DataStore._enqueue_events.__func__
-    _do_fetch = DataStore._do_fetch.__func__
-    _fetch_event_rows = DataStore._fetch_event_rows.__func__
-    _get_event_from_row = DataStore._get_event_from_row.__func__
-    _get_rooms_for_user_where_membership_is_txn = (
-        DataStore._get_rooms_for_user_where_membership_is_txn.__func__
-    )
-    _get_events_around_txn = DataStore._get_events_around_txn.__func__
-
-    get_backfill_events = DataStore.get_backfill_events.__func__
-    _get_backfill_events = DataStore._get_backfill_events.__func__
-    get_missing_events = DataStore.get_missing_events.__func__
-    _get_missing_events = DataStore._get_missing_events.__func__
-
-    get_auth_chain = DataStore.get_auth_chain.__func__
-    get_auth_chain_ids = DataStore.get_auth_chain_ids.__func__
-    _get_auth_chain_ids_txn = DataStore._get_auth_chain_ids_txn.__func__
-
-    get_room_max_stream_ordering = DataStore.get_room_max_stream_ordering.__func__
-
-    get_forward_extremeties_for_room = (
-        DataStore.get_forward_extremeties_for_room.__func__
-    )
-    _get_forward_extremeties_for_room = (
-        EventFederationStore.__dict__["_get_forward_extremeties_for_room"]
-    )
-
-    get_all_new_events_stream = DataStore.get_all_new_events_stream.__func__
-
-    get_federation_out_pos = DataStore.get_federation_out_pos.__func__
-    update_federation_out_pos = DataStore.update_federation_out_pos.__func__
+    def get_room_min_stream_ordering(self):
+        return self._backfill_id_gen.get_current_token()
 
     def stream_positions(self):
         result = super(SlavedEventStore, self).stream_positions()
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/push_rule.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/push_rule.py
index 83e880fdd..bb2c40b6e 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/push_rule.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/push_rule.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -15,29 +16,15 @@
 
 from .events import SlavedEventStore
 from ._slaved_id_tracker import SlavedIdTracker
-from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.storage.push_rule import PushRuleStore
-from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
+from synapse.storage.push_rule import PushRulesWorkerStore
 
 
-class SlavedPushRuleStore(SlavedEventStore):
+class SlavedPushRuleStore(PushRulesWorkerStore, SlavedEventStore):
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(SlavedPushRuleStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
         self._push_rules_stream_id_gen = SlavedIdTracker(
             db_conn, "push_rules_stream", "stream_id",
         )
-        self.push_rules_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "PushRulesStreamChangeCache",
-            self._push_rules_stream_id_gen.get_current_token(),
-        )
-
-    get_push_rules_for_user = PushRuleStore.__dict__["get_push_rules_for_user"]
-    get_push_rules_enabled_for_user = (
-        PushRuleStore.__dict__["get_push_rules_enabled_for_user"]
-    )
-    have_push_rules_changed_for_user = (
-        DataStore.have_push_rules_changed_for_user.__func__
-    )
+        super(SlavedPushRuleStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
     def get_push_rules_stream_token(self):
         return (
@@ -45,6 +32,9 @@ class SlavedPushRuleStore(SlavedEventStore):
             self._stream_id_gen.get_current_token(),
         )
 
+    def get_max_push_rules_stream_id(self):
+        return self._push_rules_stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
+
     def stream_positions(self):
         result = super(SlavedPushRuleStore, self).stream_positions()
         result["push_rules"] = self._push_rules_stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/pushers.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/pushers.py
index 4e8d68ece..a7cd5a729 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/pushers.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/pushers.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -16,10 +17,10 @@
 from ._base import BaseSlavedStore
 from ._slaved_id_tracker import SlavedIdTracker
 
-from synapse.storage import DataStore
+from synapse.storage.pusher import PusherWorkerStore
 
 
-class SlavedPusherStore(BaseSlavedStore):
+class SlavedPusherStore(PusherWorkerStore, BaseSlavedStore):
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
         super(SlavedPusherStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
@@ -28,13 +29,6 @@ class SlavedPusherStore(BaseSlavedStore):
             extra_tables=[("deleted_pushers", "stream_id")],
         )
 
-    get_all_pushers = DataStore.get_all_pushers.__func__
-    get_pushers_by = DataStore.get_pushers_by.__func__
-    get_pushers_by_app_id_and_pushkey = (
-        DataStore.get_pushers_by_app_id_and_pushkey.__func__
-    )
-    _decode_pushers_rows = DataStore._decode_pushers_rows.__func__
-
     def stream_positions(self):
         result = super(SlavedPusherStore, self).stream_positions()
         result["pushers"] = self._pushers_id_gen.get_current_token()
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/receipts.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/receipts.py
index b371574ec..1647072f6 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/receipts.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/receipts.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -16,9 +17,7 @@
 from ._base import BaseSlavedStore
 from ._slaved_id_tracker import SlavedIdTracker
 
-from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.storage.receipts import ReceiptsStore
-from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
+from synapse.storage.receipts import ReceiptsWorkerStore
 
 # So, um, we want to borrow a load of functions intended for reading from
 # a DataStore, but we don't want to take functions that either write to the
@@ -29,36 +28,19 @@ from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
 # the method descriptor on the DataStore and chuck them into our class.
 
 
-class SlavedReceiptsStore(BaseSlavedStore):
+class SlavedReceiptsStore(ReceiptsWorkerStore, BaseSlavedStore):
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(SlavedReceiptsStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
-
+        # We instantiate this first as the ReceiptsWorkerStore constructor
+        # needs to be able to call get_max_receipt_stream_id
         self._receipts_id_gen = SlavedIdTracker(
             db_conn, "receipts_linearized", "stream_id"
         )
 
-        self._receipts_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "ReceiptsRoomChangeCache", self._receipts_id_gen.get_current_token()
-        )
+        super(SlavedReceiptsStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
-    get_receipts_for_user = ReceiptsStore.__dict__["get_receipts_for_user"]
-    get_linearized_receipts_for_room = (
-        ReceiptsStore.__dict__["get_linearized_receipts_for_room"]
-    )
-    _get_linearized_receipts_for_rooms = (
-        ReceiptsStore.__dict__["_get_linearized_receipts_for_rooms"]
-    )
-    get_last_receipt_event_id_for_user = (
-        ReceiptsStore.__dict__["get_last_receipt_event_id_for_user"]
-    )
-
-    get_max_receipt_stream_id = DataStore.get_max_receipt_stream_id.__func__
-    get_all_updated_receipts = DataStore.get_all_updated_receipts.__func__
-
-    get_linearized_receipts_for_rooms = (
-        DataStore.get_linearized_receipts_for_rooms.__func__
-    )
+    def get_max_receipt_stream_id(self):
+        return self._receipts_id_gen.get_current_token()
 
     def stream_positions(self):
         result = super(SlavedReceiptsStore, self).stream_positions()
@@ -71,6 +53,8 @@ class SlavedReceiptsStore(BaseSlavedStore):
         self.get_last_receipt_event_id_for_user.invalidate(
             (user_id, room_id, receipt_type)
         )
+        self._invalidate_get_users_with_receipts_in_room(room_id, receipt_type, user_id)
+        self.get_receipts_for_room.invalidate((room_id, receipt_type))
 
     def process_replication_rows(self, stream_name, token, rows):
         if stream_name == "receipts":
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/registration.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/registration.py
index e27c7332d..7323bf0f1 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/registration.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/registration.py
@@ -14,20 +14,8 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 from ._base import BaseSlavedStore
-from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.storage.registration import RegistrationStore
+from synapse.storage.registration import RegistrationWorkerStore
 
 
-class SlavedRegistrationStore(BaseSlavedStore):
-    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(SlavedRegistrationStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
-
-    # TODO: use the cached version and invalidate deleted tokens
-    get_user_by_access_token = RegistrationStore.__dict__[
-        "get_user_by_access_token"
-    ]
-
-    _query_for_auth = DataStore._query_for_auth.__func__
-    get_user_by_id = RegistrationStore.__dict__[
-        "get_user_by_id"
-    ]
+class SlavedRegistrationStore(RegistrationWorkerStore, BaseSlavedStore):
+    pass
diff --git a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/room.py b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/room.py
index f51038403..5ae167015 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/slave/storage/room.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/slave/storage/room.py
@@ -14,32 +14,19 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 from ._base import BaseSlavedStore
-from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.storage.room import RoomStore
+from synapse.storage.room import RoomWorkerStore
 from ._slaved_id_tracker import SlavedIdTracker
 
 
-class RoomStore(BaseSlavedStore):
+class RoomStore(RoomWorkerStore, BaseSlavedStore):
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
         super(RoomStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
         self._public_room_id_gen = SlavedIdTracker(
             db_conn, "public_room_list_stream", "stream_id"
         )
 
-    get_public_room_ids = DataStore.get_public_room_ids.__func__
-    get_current_public_room_stream_id = (
-        DataStore.get_current_public_room_stream_id.__func__
-    )
-    get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id = (
-        RoomStore.__dict__["get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id"]
-    )
-    get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id_txn = (
-        DataStore.get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id_txn.__func__
-    )
-    get_published_at_stream_id_txn = (
-        DataStore.get_published_at_stream_id_txn.__func__
-    )
-    get_public_room_changes = DataStore.get_public_room_changes.__func__
+    def get_current_public_room_stream_id(self):
+        return self._public_room_id_gen.get_current_token()
 
     def stream_positions(self):
         result = super(RoomStore, self).stream_positions()
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
index 5022808ea..303419d28 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api.constants import Membership
-from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, SynapseError
+from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, SynapseError, Codes, NotFoundError
 from synapse.types import UserID, create_requester
 from synapse.http.servlet import parse_json_object_from_request
 
@@ -113,12 +114,18 @@ class PurgeMediaCacheRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
 class PurgeHistoryRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     PATTERNS = client_path_patterns(
-        "/admin/purge_history/(?P<room_id>[^/]*)/(?P<event_id>[^/]*)"
+        "/admin/purge_history/(?P<room_id>[^/]*)(/(?P<event_id>[^/]+))?"
     )
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
+        """
+
+        Args:
+            hs (synapse.server.HomeServer)
+        """
         super(PurgeHistoryRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
         self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request, room_id, event_id):
@@ -128,9 +135,93 @@ class PurgeHistoryRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         if not is_admin:
             raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
 
-        yield self.handlers.message_handler.purge_history(room_id, event_id)
+        body = parse_json_object_from_request(request, allow_empty_body=True)
 
-        defer.returnValue((200, {}))
+        delete_local_events = bool(body.get("delete_local_events", False))
+
+        # establish the topological ordering we should keep events from. The
+        # user can provide an event_id in the URL or the request body, or can
+        # provide a timestamp in the request body.
+        if event_id is None:
+            event_id = body.get('purge_up_to_event_id')
+
+        if event_id is not None:
+            event = yield self.store.get_event(event_id)
+
+            if event.room_id != room_id:
+                raise SynapseError(400, "Event is for wrong room.")
+
+            depth = event.depth
+            logger.info(
+                "[purge] purging up to depth %i (event_id %s)",
+                depth, event_id,
+            )
+        elif 'purge_up_to_ts' in body:
+            ts = body['purge_up_to_ts']
+            if not isinstance(ts, int):
+                raise SynapseError(
+                    400, "purge_up_to_ts must be an int",
+                    errcode=Codes.BAD_JSON,
+                )
+
+            stream_ordering = (
+                yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(ts)
+            )
+
+            (_, depth, _) = (
+                yield self.store.get_room_event_after_stream_ordering(
+                    room_id, stream_ordering,
+                )
+            )
+            logger.info(
+                "[purge] purging up to depth %i (received_ts %i => "
+                "stream_ordering %i)",
+                depth, ts, stream_ordering,
+            )
+        else:
+            raise SynapseError(
+                400,
+                "must specify purge_up_to_event_id or purge_up_to_ts",
+                errcode=Codes.BAD_JSON,
+            )
+
+        purge_id = yield self.handlers.message_handler.start_purge_history(
+            room_id, depth,
+            delete_local_events=delete_local_events,
+        )
+
+        defer.returnValue((200, {
+            "purge_id": purge_id,
+        }))
+
+
+class PurgeHistoryStatusRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
+    PATTERNS = client_path_patterns(
+        "/admin/purge_history_status/(?P<purge_id>[^/]+)"
+    )
+
+    def __init__(self, hs):
+        """
+
+        Args:
+            hs (synapse.server.HomeServer)
+        """
+        super(PurgeHistoryStatusRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
+        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def on_GET(self, request, purge_id):
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        is_admin = yield self.auth.is_server_admin(requester.user)
+
+        if not is_admin:
+            raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
+
+        purge_status = self.handlers.message_handler.get_purge_status(purge_id)
+        if purge_status is None:
+            raise NotFoundError("purge id '%s' not found" % purge_id)
+
+        defer.returnValue((200, purge_status.asdict()))
 
 
 class DeactivateAccountRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
@@ -171,6 +262,8 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
+        self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request, room_id):
@@ -203,8 +296,7 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         )
         new_room_id = info["room_id"]
 
-        msg_handler = self.handlers.message_handler
-        yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+        yield self.event_creation_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
             room_creator_requester,
             {
                 "type": "m.room.message",
@@ -230,7 +322,7 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             logger.info("Kicking %r from %r...", user_id, room_id)
 
             target_requester = create_requester(user_id)
-            yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+            yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
                 requester=target_requester,
                 target=target_requester.user,
                 room_id=room_id,
@@ -239,9 +331,9 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
                 ratelimit=False
             )
 
-            yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.forget(target_requester.user, room_id)
+            yield self.room_member_handler.forget(target_requester.user, room_id)
 
-            yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+            yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
                 requester=target_requester,
                 target=target_requester.user,
                 room_id=new_room_id,
@@ -289,6 +381,27 @@ class QuarantineMediaInRoom(ClientV1RestServlet):
         defer.returnValue((200, {"num_quarantined": num_quarantined}))
 
 
+class ListMediaInRoom(ClientV1RestServlet):
+    """Lists all of the media in a given room.
+    """
+    PATTERNS = client_path_patterns("/admin/room/(?P<room_id>[^/]+)/media")
+
+    def __init__(self, hs):
+        super(ListMediaInRoom, self).__init__(hs)
+        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def on_GET(self, request, room_id):
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        is_admin = yield self.auth.is_server_admin(requester.user)
+        if not is_admin:
+            raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
+
+        local_mxcs, remote_mxcs = yield self.store.get_media_mxcs_in_room(room_id)
+
+        defer.returnValue((200, {"local": local_mxcs, "remote": remote_mxcs}))
+
+
 class ResetPasswordRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     """Post request to allow an administrator reset password for a user.
     This needs user to have administrator access in Synapse.
@@ -479,6 +592,7 @@ class SearchUsersRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 def register_servlets(hs, http_server):
     WhoisRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
     PurgeMediaCacheRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
+    PurgeHistoryStatusRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
     DeactivateAccountRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
     PurgeHistoryRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
     UsersRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
@@ -487,3 +601,4 @@ def register_servlets(hs, http_server):
     SearchUsersRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
     ShutdownRoomRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
     QuarantineMediaInRoom(hs).register(http_server)
+    ListMediaInRoom(hs).register(http_server)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
index 867ec8602..f8999d64d 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -82,6 +83,8 @@ class RoomStateEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomStateEventRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
         self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.event_creation_hander = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         # /room/$roomid/state/$eventtype
@@ -154,7 +157,7 @@ class RoomStateEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
         if event_type == EventTypes.Member:
             membership = content.get("membership", None)
-            event = yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+            event = yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
                 requester,
                 target=UserID.from_string(state_key),
                 room_id=room_id,
@@ -162,15 +165,16 @@ class RoomStateEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
                 content=content,
             )
         else:
-            msg_handler = self.handlers.message_handler
-            event, context = yield msg_handler.create_event(
+            event, context = yield self.event_creation_hander.create_event(
                 requester,
                 event_dict,
                 token_id=requester.access_token_id,
                 txn_id=txn_id,
             )
 
-            yield msg_handler.send_nonmember_event(requester, event, context)
+            yield self.event_creation_hander.send_nonmember_event(
+                requester, event, context,
+            )
 
         ret = {}
         if event:
@@ -183,7 +187,7 @@ class RoomSendEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomSendEventRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.event_creation_hander = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         # /rooms/$roomid/send/$event_type[/$txn_id]
@@ -205,8 +209,7 @@ class RoomSendEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         if 'ts' in request.args and requester.app_service:
             event_dict['origin_server_ts'] = parse_integer(request, "ts", 0)
 
-        msg_handler = self.handlers.message_handler
-        event = yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+        event = yield self.event_creation_hander.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
             requester,
             event_dict,
             txn_id=txn_id,
@@ -227,7 +230,7 @@ class RoomSendEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 class JoinRoomAliasServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(JoinRoomAliasServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         # /join/$room_identifier[/$txn_id]
@@ -255,7 +258,7 @@ class JoinRoomAliasServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             except Exception:
                 remote_room_hosts = None
         elif RoomAlias.is_valid(room_identifier):
-            handler = self.handlers.room_member_handler
+            handler = self.room_member_handler
             room_alias = RoomAlias.from_string(room_identifier)
             room_id, remote_room_hosts = yield handler.lookup_room_alias(room_alias)
             room_id = room_id.to_string()
@@ -264,7 +267,7 @@ class JoinRoomAliasServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
                 room_identifier,
             ))
 
-        yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+        yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
             requester=requester,
             target=requester.user,
             room_id=room_id,
@@ -560,7 +563,7 @@ class RoomEventContextServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 class RoomForgetRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomForgetRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         PATTERNS = ("/rooms/(?P<room_id>[^/]*)/forget")
@@ -573,7 +576,7 @@ class RoomForgetRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             allow_guest=False,
         )
 
-        yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.forget(
+        yield self.room_member_handler.forget(
             user=requester.user,
             room_id=room_id,
         )
@@ -591,12 +594,12 @@ class RoomMembershipRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomMembershipRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         # /rooms/$roomid/[invite|join|leave]
         PATTERNS = ("/rooms/(?P<room_id>[^/]*)/"
-                    "(?P<membership_action>join|invite|leave|ban|unban|kick|forget)")
+                    "(?P<membership_action>join|invite|leave|ban|unban|kick)")
         register_txn_path(self, PATTERNS, http_server)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
@@ -620,7 +623,7 @@ class RoomMembershipRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             content = {}
 
         if membership_action == "invite" and self._has_3pid_invite_keys(content):
-            yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.do_3pid_invite(
+            yield self.room_member_handler.do_3pid_invite(
                 room_id,
                 requester.user,
                 content["medium"],
@@ -642,7 +645,7 @@ class RoomMembershipRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         if 'reason' in content and membership_action in ['kick', 'ban']:
             event_content = {'reason': content['reason']}
 
-        yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+        yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
             requester=requester,
             target=target,
             room_id=room_id,
@@ -670,6 +673,7 @@ class RoomRedactEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomRedactEventRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
         self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         PATTERNS = ("/rooms/(?P<room_id>[^/]*)/redact/(?P<event_id>[^/]*)")
@@ -680,8 +684,7 @@ class RoomRedactEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
         content = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
 
-        msg_handler = self.handlers.message_handler
-        event = yield msg_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
+        event = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(
             requester,
             {
                 "type": EventTypes.Redaction,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
index 7824456eb..29423c2c3 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(RestServlet):
         self.auth_handler = hs.get_auth_handler()
         self.registration_handler = hs.get_handlers().registration_handler
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_handlers().identity_handler
-        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
         self.device_handler = hs.get_device_handler()
         self.macaroon_gen = hs.get_macaroon_generator()
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
index 485db8577..bb7959937 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
@@ -472,8 +472,10 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def generate_local_exact_thumbnail(self, media_id, t_width, t_height,
-                                       t_method, t_type):
-        input_path = self.filepaths.local_media_filepath(media_id)
+                                       t_method, t_type, url_cache):
+        input_path = yield self.media_storage.ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(FileInfo(
+            None, media_id, url_cache=url_cache,
+        ))
 
         thumbnailer = Thumbnailer(input_path)
         t_byte_source = yield make_deferred_yieldable(threads.deferToThread(
@@ -486,6 +488,7 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
                 file_info = FileInfo(
                     server_name=None,
                     file_id=media_id,
+                    url_cache=url_cache,
                     thumbnail=True,
                     thumbnail_width=t_width,
                     thumbnail_height=t_height,
@@ -512,7 +515,9 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def generate_remote_exact_thumbnail(self, server_name, file_id, media_id,
                                         t_width, t_height, t_method, t_type):
-        input_path = self.filepaths.remote_media_filepath(server_name, file_id)
+        input_path = yield self.media_storage.ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(FileInfo(
+            server_name, file_id, url_cache=False,
+        ))
 
         thumbnailer = Thumbnailer(input_path)
         t_byte_source = yield make_deferred_yieldable(threads.deferToThread(
@@ -570,12 +575,9 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
         if not requirements:
             return
 
-        if server_name:
-            input_path = self.filepaths.remote_media_filepath(server_name, file_id)
-        elif url_cache:
-            input_path = self.filepaths.url_cache_filepath(media_id)
-        else:
-            input_path = self.filepaths.local_media_filepath(media_id)
+        input_path = yield self.media_storage.ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(FileInfo(
+            server_name, file_id, url_cache=url_cache,
+        ))
 
         thumbnailer = Thumbnailer(input_path)
         m_width = thumbnailer.width
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_storage.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_storage.py
index 041ae396c..83471b317 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_storage.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_storage.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from twisted.protocols.basic import FileSender
 
 from ._base import Responder
 
+from synapse.util.file_consumer import BackgroundFileConsumer
 from synapse.util.logcontext import make_deferred_yieldable
 
 import contextlib
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ import logging
 import shutil
 import sys
 
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -56,17 +58,13 @@ class MediaStorage(object):
         Returns:
             Deferred[str]: the file path written to in the primary media store
         """
-        path = self._file_info_to_path(file_info)
-        fname = os.path.join(self.local_media_directory, path)
 
-        dirname = os.path.dirname(fname)
-        if not os.path.exists(dirname):
-            os.makedirs(dirname)
-
-        # Write to the main repository
-        yield make_deferred_yieldable(threads.deferToThread(
-            _write_file_synchronously, source, fname,
-        ))
+        with self.store_into_file(file_info) as (f, fname, finish_cb):
+            # Write to the main repository
+            yield make_deferred_yieldable(threads.deferToThread(
+                _write_file_synchronously, source, f,
+            ))
+            yield finish_cb()
 
         defer.returnValue(fname)
 
@@ -151,6 +149,37 @@ class MediaStorage(object):
 
         defer.returnValue(None)
 
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(self, file_info):
+        """Ensures that the given file is in the local cache. Attempts to
+        download it from storage providers if it isn't.
+
+        Args:
+            file_info (FileInfo)
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[str]: Full path to local file
+        """
+        path = self._file_info_to_path(file_info)
+        local_path = os.path.join(self.local_media_directory, path)
+        if os.path.exists(local_path):
+            defer.returnValue(local_path)
+
+        dirname = os.path.dirname(local_path)
+        if not os.path.exists(dirname):
+            os.makedirs(dirname)
+
+        for provider in self.storage_providers:
+            res = yield provider.fetch(path, file_info)
+            if res:
+                with res:
+                    consumer = BackgroundFileConsumer(open(local_path, "w"))
+                    yield res.write_to_consumer(consumer)
+                    yield consumer.wait()
+                defer.returnValue(local_path)
+
+        raise Exception("file could not be found")
+
     def _file_info_to_path(self, file_info):
         """Converts file_info into a relative path.
 
@@ -201,21 +230,16 @@ class MediaStorage(object):
         )
 
 
-def _write_file_synchronously(source, fname):
-    """Write `source` to the path `fname` synchronously. Should be called
+def _write_file_synchronously(source, dest):
+    """Write `source` to the file like `dest` synchronously. Should be called
     from a thread.
 
     Args:
-        source: A file like object to be written
-        fname (str): Path to write to
+        source: A file like object that's to be written
+        dest: A file like object to be written to
     """
-    dirname = os.path.dirname(fname)
-    if not os.path.exists(dirname):
-        os.makedirs(dirname)
-
     source.seek(0)  # Ensure we read from the start of the file
-    with open(fname, "wb") as f:
-        shutil.copyfileobj(source, f)
+    shutil.copyfileobj(source, dest)
 
 
 class FileResponder(Responder):
@@ -228,9 +252,8 @@ class FileResponder(Responder):
     def __init__(self, open_file):
         self.open_file = open_file
 
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def write_to_consumer(self, consumer):
-        yield FileSender().beginFileTransfer(self.open_file, consumer)
+        return FileSender().beginFileTransfer(self.open_file, consumer)
 
     def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb):
         self.open_file.close()
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
index 981f01e41..31fe7aa75 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
@@ -12,6 +12,19 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
+import cgi
+import datetime
+import errno
+import fnmatch
+import itertools
+import logging
+import os
+import re
+import shutil
+import sys
+import traceback
+import ujson as json
+import urlparse
 
 from twisted.web.server import NOT_DONE_YET
 from twisted.internet import defer
@@ -33,18 +46,6 @@ from synapse.http.server import (
 from synapse.util.async import ObservableDeferred
 from synapse.util.stringutils import is_ascii
 
-import os
-import re
-import fnmatch
-import cgi
-import ujson as json
-import urlparse
-import itertools
-import datetime
-import errno
-import shutil
-
-import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -286,17 +287,28 @@ class PreviewUrlResource(Resource):
             url_cache=True,
         )
 
-        try:
-            with self.media_storage.store_into_file(file_info) as (f, fname, finish):
+        with self.media_storage.store_into_file(file_info) as (f, fname, finish):
+            try:
                 logger.debug("Trying to get url '%s'" % url)
                 length, headers, uri, code = yield self.client.get_file(
                     url, output_stream=f, max_size=self.max_spider_size,
                 )
+            except Exception as e:
                 # FIXME: pass through 404s and other error messages nicely
+                logger.warn("Error downloading %s: %r", url, e)
+                raise SynapseError(
+                    500, "Failed to download content: %s" % (
+                        traceback.format_exception_only(sys.exc_type, e),
+                    ),
+                    Codes.UNKNOWN,
+                )
+            yield finish()
 
-                yield finish()
-
-            media_type = headers["Content-Type"][0]
+        try:
+            if "Content-Type" in headers:
+                media_type = headers["Content-Type"][0]
+            else:
+                media_type = "application/octet-stream"
             time_now_ms = self.clock.time_msec()
 
             content_disposition = headers.get("Content-Disposition", None)
@@ -336,10 +348,11 @@ class PreviewUrlResource(Resource):
             )
 
         except Exception as e:
-            raise SynapseError(
-                500, ("Failed to download content: %s" % e),
-                Codes.UNKNOWN
-            )
+            logger.error("Error handling downloaded %s: %r", url, e)
+            # TODO: we really ought to delete the downloaded file in this
+            # case, since we won't have recorded it in the db, and will
+            # therefore not expire it.
+            raise
 
         defer.returnValue({
             "media_type": media_type,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
index 12e84a2b7..58ada4971 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ class ThumbnailResource(Resource):
 
         # Okay, so we generate one.
         file_path = yield self.media_repo.generate_local_exact_thumbnail(
-            media_id, desired_width, desired_height, desired_method, desired_type
+            media_id, desired_width, desired_height, desired_method, desired_type,
+            url_cache=media_info["url_cache"],
         )
 
         if file_path:
diff --git a/synapse/server.py b/synapse/server.py
index 99693071b..43c6e0a6d 100644
--- a/synapse/server.py
+++ b/synapse/server.py
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ from synapse.appservice.scheduler import ApplicationServiceScheduler
 from synapse.crypto.keyring import Keyring
 from synapse.events.builder import EventBuilderFactory
 from synapse.events.spamcheck import SpamChecker
-from synapse.federation import initialize_http_replication
+from synapse.federation.federation_client import FederationClient
+from synapse.federation.federation_server import FederationServer
 from synapse.federation.send_queue import FederationRemoteSendQueue
+from synapse.federation.federation_server import FederationHandlerRegistry
 from synapse.federation.transport.client import TransportLayerClient
 from synapse.federation.transaction_queue import TransactionQueue
 from synapse.handlers import Handlers
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ from synapse.handlers.device import DeviceHandler
 from synapse.handlers.e2e_keys import E2eKeysHandler
 from synapse.handlers.presence import PresenceHandler
 from synapse.handlers.room_list import RoomListHandler
+from synapse.handlers.room_member import RoomMemberHandler
 from synapse.handlers.set_password import SetPasswordHandler
 from synapse.handlers.sync import SyncHandler
 from synapse.handlers.typing import TypingHandler
@@ -55,6 +58,7 @@ from synapse.handlers.read_marker import ReadMarkerHandler
 from synapse.handlers.user_directory import UserDirectoryHandler
 from synapse.handlers.groups_local import GroupsLocalHandler
 from synapse.handlers.profile import ProfileHandler
+from synapse.handlers.message import EventCreationHandler
 from synapse.groups.groups_server import GroupsServerHandler
 from synapse.groups.attestations import GroupAttestionRenewer, GroupAttestationSigning
 from synapse.http.client import SimpleHttpClient, InsecureInterceptableContextFactory
@@ -66,7 +70,7 @@ from synapse.rest.media.v1.media_repository import (
     MediaRepository,
     MediaRepositoryResource,
 )
-from synapse.state import StateHandler
+from synapse.state import StateHandler, StateResolutionHandler
 from synapse.storage import DataStore
 from synapse.streams.events import EventSources
 from synapse.util import Clock
@@ -97,11 +101,13 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     DEPENDENCIES = [
         'http_client',
         'db_pool',
-        'replication_layer',
+        'federation_client',
+        'federation_server',
         'handlers',
         'v1auth',
         'auth',
         'state_handler',
+        'state_resolution_handler',
         'presence_handler',
         'sync_handler',
         'typing_handler',
@@ -117,6 +123,7 @@ class HomeServer(object):
         'application_service_handler',
         'device_message_handler',
         'profile_handler',
+        'event_creation_handler',
         'deactivate_account_handler',
         'set_password_handler',
         'notifier',
@@ -142,6 +149,8 @@ class HomeServer(object):
         'groups_attestation_signing',
         'groups_attestation_renewer',
         'spam_checker',
+        'room_member_handler',
+        'federation_registry',
     ]
 
     def __init__(self, hostname, **kwargs):
@@ -190,8 +199,11 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def get_ratelimiter(self):
         return self.ratelimiter
 
-    def build_replication_layer(self):
-        return initialize_http_replication(self)
+    def build_federation_client(self):
+        return FederationClient(self)
+
+    def build_federation_server(self):
+        return FederationServer(self)
 
     def build_handlers(self):
         return Handlers(self)
@@ -224,6 +236,9 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def build_state_handler(self):
         return StateHandler(self)
 
+    def build_state_resolution_handler(self):
+        return StateResolutionHandler(self)
+
     def build_presence_handler(self):
         return PresenceHandler(self)
 
@@ -272,6 +287,9 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def build_profile_handler(self):
         return ProfileHandler(self)
 
+    def build_event_creation_handler(self):
+        return EventCreationHandler(self)
+
     def build_deactivate_account_handler(self):
         return DeactivateAccountHandler(self)
 
@@ -307,6 +325,23 @@ class HomeServer(object):
             **self.db_config.get("args", {})
         )
 
+    def get_db_conn(self, run_new_connection=True):
+        """Makes a new connection to the database, skipping the db pool
+
+        Returns:
+            Connection: a connection object implementing the PEP-249 spec
+        """
+        # Any param beginning with cp_ is a parameter for adbapi, and should
+        # not be passed to the database engine.
+        db_params = {
+            k: v for k, v in self.db_config.get("args", {}).items()
+            if not k.startswith("cp_")
+        }
+        db_conn = self.database_engine.module.connect(**db_params)
+        if run_new_connection:
+            self.database_engine.on_new_connection(db_conn)
+        return db_conn
+
     def build_media_repository_resource(self):
         # build the media repo resource. This indirects through the HomeServer
         # to ensure that we only have a single instance of
@@ -356,6 +391,12 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def build_spam_checker(self):
         return SpamChecker(self)
 
+    def build_room_member_handler(self):
+        return RoomMemberHandler(self)
+
+    def build_federation_registry(self):
+        return FederationHandlerRegistry()
+
     def remove_pusher(self, app_id, push_key, user_id):
         return self.get_pusherpool().remove_pusher(app_id, push_key, user_id)
 
diff --git a/synapse/server.pyi b/synapse/server.pyi
index 41416ef25..c3a9a3847 100644
--- a/synapse/server.pyi
+++ b/synapse/server.pyi
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def get_state_handler(self) -> synapse.state.StateHandler:
         pass
 
+    def get_state_resolution_handler(self) -> synapse.state.StateResolutionHandler:
+        pass
+
     def get_deactivate_account_handler(self) -> synapse.handlers.deactivate_account.DeactivateAccountHandler:
         pass
 
diff --git a/synapse/state.py b/synapse/state.py
index 1f9abf9d3..932f60250 100644
--- a/synapse/state.py
+++ b/synapse/state.py
@@ -58,7 +58,11 @@ class _StateCacheEntry(object):
     __slots__ = ["state", "state_group", "state_id", "prev_group", "delta_ids"]
 
     def __init__(self, state, state_group, prev_group=None, delta_ids=None):
+        # dict[(str, str), str] map  from (type, state_key) to event_id
         self.state = frozendict(state)
+
+        # the ID of a state group if one and only one is involved.
+        # otherwise, None otherwise?
         self.state_group = state_group
 
         self.prev_group = prev_group
@@ -81,31 +85,19 @@ class _StateCacheEntry(object):
 
 
 class StateHandler(object):
-    """ Responsible for doing state conflict resolution.
+    """Fetches bits of state from the stores, and does state resolution
+    where necessary
     """
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.hs = hs
-
-        # dict of set of event_ids -> _StateCacheEntry.
-        self._state_cache = None
-        self.resolve_linearizer = Linearizer(name="state_resolve_lock")
+        self._state_resolution_handler = hs.get_state_resolution_handler()
 
     def start_caching(self):
-        logger.debug("start_caching")
-
-        self._state_cache = ExpiringCache(
-            cache_name="state_cache",
-            clock=self.clock,
-            max_len=SIZE_OF_CACHE,
-            expiry_ms=EVICTION_TIMEOUT_SECONDS * 1000,
-            iterable=True,
-            reset_expiry_on_get=True,
-        )
-
-        self._state_cache.start()
+        # TODO: remove this shim
+        self._state_resolution_handler.start_caching()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_current_state(self, room_id, event_type=None, state_key="",
@@ -127,7 +119,7 @@ class StateHandler(object):
             latest_event_ids = yield self.store.get_latest_event_ids_in_room(room_id)
 
         logger.debug("calling resolve_state_groups from get_current_state")
-        ret = yield self.resolve_state_groups(room_id, latest_event_ids)
+        ret = yield self.resolve_state_groups_for_events(room_id, latest_event_ids)
         state = ret.state
 
         if event_type:
@@ -146,19 +138,27 @@ class StateHandler(object):
         defer.returnValue(state)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def get_current_state_ids(self, room_id, event_type=None, state_key="",
-                              latest_event_ids=None):
+    def get_current_state_ids(self, room_id, latest_event_ids=None):
+        """Get the current state, or the state at a set of events, for a room
+
+        Args:
+            room_id (str):
+
+            latest_event_ids (iterable[str]|None): if given, the forward
+                extremities to resolve. If None, we look them up from the
+                database (via a cache)
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[dict[(str, str), str)]]: the state dict, mapping from
+                (event_type, state_key) -> event_id
+        """
         if not latest_event_ids:
             latest_event_ids = yield self.store.get_latest_event_ids_in_room(room_id)
 
         logger.debug("calling resolve_state_groups from get_current_state_ids")
-        ret = yield self.resolve_state_groups(room_id, latest_event_ids)
+        ret = yield self.resolve_state_groups_for_events(room_id, latest_event_ids)
         state = ret.state
 
-        if event_type:
-            defer.returnValue(state.get((event_type, state_key)))
-            return
-
         defer.returnValue(state)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class StateHandler(object):
         if not latest_event_ids:
             latest_event_ids = yield self.store.get_latest_event_ids_in_room(room_id)
         logger.debug("calling resolve_state_groups from get_current_user_in_room")
-        entry = yield self.resolve_state_groups(room_id, latest_event_ids)
+        entry = yield self.resolve_state_groups_for_events(room_id, latest_event_ids)
         joined_users = yield self.store.get_joined_users_from_state(room_id, entry)
         defer.returnValue(joined_users)
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class StateHandler(object):
         if not latest_event_ids:
             latest_event_ids = yield self.store.get_latest_event_ids_in_room(room_id)
         logger.debug("calling resolve_state_groups from get_current_hosts_in_room")
-        entry = yield self.resolve_state_groups(room_id, latest_event_ids)
+        entry = yield self.resolve_state_groups_for_events(room_id, latest_event_ids)
         joined_hosts = yield self.store.get_joined_hosts(room_id, entry)
         defer.returnValue(joined_hosts)
 
@@ -183,8 +183,15 @@ class StateHandler(object):
     def compute_event_context(self, event, old_state=None):
         """Build an EventContext structure for the event.
 
+        This works out what the current state should be for the event, and
+        generates a new state group if necessary.
+
         Args:
             event (synapse.events.EventBase):
+            old_state (dict|None): The state at the event if it can't be
+                calculated from existing events. This is normally only specified
+                when receiving an event from federation where we don't have the
+                prev events for, e.g. when backfilling.
         Returns:
             synapse.events.snapshot.EventContext:
         """
@@ -208,15 +215,22 @@ class StateHandler(object):
                 context.current_state_ids = {}
                 context.prev_state_ids = {}
             context.prev_state_events = []
-            context.state_group = self.store.get_next_state_group()
+
+            # We don't store state for outliers, so we don't generate a state
+            # froup for it.
+            context.state_group = None
+
             defer.returnValue(context)
 
         if old_state:
+            # We already have the state, so we don't need to calculate it.
+            # Let's just correctly fill out the context and create a
+            # new state group for it.
+
             context = EventContext()
             context.prev_state_ids = {
                 (s.type, s.state_key): s.event_id for s in old_state
             }
-            context.state_group = self.store.get_next_state_group()
 
             if event.is_state():
                 key = (event.type, event.state_key)
@@ -229,11 +243,19 @@ class StateHandler(object):
             else:
                 context.current_state_ids = context.prev_state_ids
 
+            context.state_group = yield self.store.store_state_group(
+                event.event_id,
+                event.room_id,
+                prev_group=None,
+                delta_ids=None,
+                current_state_ids=context.current_state_ids,
+            )
+
             context.prev_state_events = []
             defer.returnValue(context)
 
         logger.debug("calling resolve_state_groups from compute_event_context")
-        entry = yield self.resolve_state_groups(
+        entry = yield self.resolve_state_groups_for_events(
             event.room_id, [e for e, _ in event.prev_events],
         )
 
@@ -242,7 +264,8 @@ class StateHandler(object):
         context = EventContext()
         context.prev_state_ids = curr_state
         if event.is_state():
-            context.state_group = self.store.get_next_state_group()
+            # If this is a state event then we need to create a new state
+            # group for the state after this event.
 
             key = (event.type, event.state_key)
             if key in context.prev_state_ids:
@@ -253,38 +276,57 @@ class StateHandler(object):
             context.current_state_ids[key] = event.event_id
 
             if entry.state_group:
+                # If the state at the event has a state group assigned then
+                # we can use that as the prev group
                 context.prev_group = entry.state_group
                 context.delta_ids = {
                     key: event.event_id
                 }
             elif entry.prev_group:
+                # If the state at the event only has a prev group, then we can
+                # use that as a prev group too.
                 context.prev_group = entry.prev_group
                 context.delta_ids = dict(entry.delta_ids)
                 context.delta_ids[key] = event.event_id
-        else:
-            if entry.state_group is None:
-                entry.state_group = self.store.get_next_state_group()
-                entry.state_id = entry.state_group
 
-            context.state_group = entry.state_group
+            context.state_group = yield self.store.store_state_group(
+                event.event_id,
+                event.room_id,
+                prev_group=context.prev_group,
+                delta_ids=context.delta_ids,
+                current_state_ids=context.current_state_ids,
+            )
+        else:
             context.current_state_ids = context.prev_state_ids
             context.prev_group = entry.prev_group
             context.delta_ids = entry.delta_ids
 
+            if entry.state_group is None:
+                entry.state_group = yield self.store.store_state_group(
+                    event.event_id,
+                    event.room_id,
+                    prev_group=entry.prev_group,
+                    delta_ids=entry.delta_ids,
+                    current_state_ids=context.current_state_ids,
+                )
+                entry.state_id = entry.state_group
+
+            context.state_group = entry.state_group
+
         context.prev_state_events = []
         defer.returnValue(context)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    @log_function
-    def resolve_state_groups(self, room_id, event_ids):
+    def resolve_state_groups_for_events(self, room_id, event_ids):
         """ Given a list of event_ids this method fetches the state at each
         event, resolves conflicts between them and returns them.
 
+        Args:
+            room_id (str):
+            event_ids (list[str]):
+
         Returns:
-            a Deferred tuple of (`state_group`, `state`, `prev_state`).
-            `state_group` is the name of a state group if one and only one is
-            involved. `state` is a map from (type, state_key) to event, and
-            `prev_state` is a list of event ids.
+            Deferred[_StateCacheEntry]: resolved state
         """
         logger.debug("resolve_state_groups event_ids %s", event_ids)
 
@@ -295,13 +337,7 @@ class StateHandler(object):
             room_id, event_ids
         )
 
-        logger.debug(
-            "resolve_state_groups state_groups %s",
-            state_groups_ids.keys()
-        )
-
-        group_names = frozenset(state_groups_ids.keys())
-        if len(group_names) == 1:
+        if len(state_groups_ids) == 1:
             name, state_list = state_groups_ids.items().pop()
 
             prev_group, delta_ids = yield self.store.get_state_group_delta(name)
@@ -313,6 +349,102 @@ class StateHandler(object):
                 delta_ids=delta_ids,
             ))
 
+        result = yield self._state_resolution_handler.resolve_state_groups(
+            room_id, state_groups_ids, None, self._state_map_factory,
+        )
+        defer.returnValue(result)
+
+    def _state_map_factory(self, ev_ids):
+        return self.store.get_events(
+            ev_ids, get_prev_content=False, check_redacted=False,
+        )
+
+    def resolve_events(self, state_sets, event):
+        logger.info(
+            "Resolving state for %s with %d groups", event.room_id, len(state_sets)
+        )
+        state_set_ids = [{
+            (ev.type, ev.state_key): ev.event_id
+            for ev in st
+        } for st in state_sets]
+
+        state_map = {
+            ev.event_id: ev
+            for st in state_sets
+            for ev in st
+        }
+
+        with Measure(self.clock, "state._resolve_events"):
+            new_state = resolve_events_with_state_map(state_set_ids, state_map)
+
+        new_state = {
+            key: state_map[ev_id] for key, ev_id in new_state.items()
+        }
+
+        return new_state
+
+
+class StateResolutionHandler(object):
+    """Responsible for doing state conflict resolution.
+
+    Note that the storage layer depends on this handler, so all functions must
+    be storage-independent.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, hs):
+        self.clock = hs.get_clock()
+
+        # dict of set of event_ids -> _StateCacheEntry.
+        self._state_cache = None
+        self.resolve_linearizer = Linearizer(name="state_resolve_lock")
+
+    def start_caching(self):
+        logger.debug("start_caching")
+
+        self._state_cache = ExpiringCache(
+            cache_name="state_cache",
+            clock=self.clock,
+            max_len=SIZE_OF_CACHE,
+            expiry_ms=EVICTION_TIMEOUT_SECONDS * 1000,
+            iterable=True,
+            reset_expiry_on_get=True,
+        )
+
+        self._state_cache.start()
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    @log_function
+    def resolve_state_groups(
+        self, room_id, state_groups_ids, event_map, state_map_factory,
+    ):
+        """Resolves conflicts between a set of state groups
+
+        Always generates a new state group (unless we hit the cache), so should
+        not be called for a single state group
+
+        Args:
+            room_id (str): room we are resolving for (used for logging)
+            state_groups_ids (dict[int, dict[(str, str), str]]):
+                 map from state group id to the state in that state group
+                (where 'state' is a map from state key to event id)
+
+            event_map(dict[str,FrozenEvent]|None):
+                a dict from event_id to event, for any events that we happen to
+                have in flight (eg, those currently being persisted). This will be
+                used as a starting point fof finding the state we need; any missing
+                events will be requested via state_map_factory.
+
+                If None, all events will be fetched via state_map_factory.
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[_StateCacheEntry]: resolved state
+        """
+        logger.debug(
+            "resolve_state_groups state_groups %s",
+            state_groups_ids.keys()
+        )
+
+        group_names = frozenset(state_groups_ids.keys())
+
         with (yield self.resolve_linearizer.queue(group_names)):
             if self._state_cache is not None:
                 cache = self._state_cache.get(group_names, None)
@@ -343,15 +475,18 @@ class StateHandler(object):
                 with Measure(self.clock, "state._resolve_events"):
                     new_state = yield resolve_events_with_factory(
                         state_groups_ids.values(),
-                        state_map_factory=lambda ev_ids: self.store.get_events(
-                            ev_ids, get_prev_content=False, check_redacted=False,
-                        ),
+                        event_map=event_map,
+                        state_map_factory=state_map_factory,
                     )
             else:
                 new_state = {
                     key: e_ids.pop() for key, e_ids in state.items()
                 }
 
+            # if the new state matches any of the input state groups, we can
+            # use that state group again. Otherwise we will generate a state_id
+            # which will be used as a cache key for future resolutions, but
+            # not get persisted.
             state_group = None
             new_state_event_ids = frozenset(new_state.values())
             for sg, events in state_groups_ids.items():
@@ -388,30 +523,6 @@ class StateHandler(object):
 
             defer.returnValue(cache)
 
-    def resolve_events(self, state_sets, event):
-        logger.info(
-            "Resolving state for %s with %d groups", event.room_id, len(state_sets)
-        )
-        state_set_ids = [{
-            (ev.type, ev.state_key): ev.event_id
-            for ev in st
-        } for st in state_sets]
-
-        state_map = {
-            ev.event_id: ev
-            for st in state_sets
-            for ev in st
-        }
-
-        with Measure(self.clock, "state._resolve_events"):
-            new_state = resolve_events_with_state_map(state_set_ids, state_map)
-
-        new_state = {
-            key: state_map[ev_id] for key, ev_id in new_state.items()
-        }
-
-        return new_state
-
 
 def _ordered_events(events):
     def key_func(e):
@@ -429,8 +540,8 @@ def resolve_events_with_state_map(state_sets, state_map):
             state_sets.
 
     Returns
-        dict[(str, str), synapse.events.FrozenEvent]:
-            a map from (type, state_key) to event.
+        dict[(str, str), str]:
+            a map from (type, state_key) to event_id.
     """
     if len(state_sets) == 1:
         return state_sets[0]
@@ -452,6 +563,21 @@ def _seperate(state_sets):
     """Takes the state_sets and figures out which keys are conflicted and
     which aren't. i.e., which have multiple different event_ids associated
     with them in different state sets.
+
+    Args:
+        state_sets(list[dict[(str, str), str]]):
+            List of dicts of (type, state_key) -> event_id, which are the
+            different state groups to resolve.
+
+    Returns:
+        (dict[(str, str), str], dict[(str, str), set[str]]):
+            A tuple of (unconflicted_state, conflicted_state), where:
+
+            unconflicted_state is a dict mapping (type, state_key)->event_id
+            for unconflicted state keys.
+
+            conflicted_state is a dict mapping (type, state_key) to a set of
+            event ids for conflicted state keys.
     """
     unconflicted_state = dict(state_sets[0])
     conflicted_state = {}
@@ -482,18 +608,27 @@ def _seperate(state_sets):
 
 
 @defer.inlineCallbacks
-def resolve_events_with_factory(state_sets, state_map_factory):
+def resolve_events_with_factory(state_sets, event_map, state_map_factory):
     """
     Args:
         state_sets(list): List of dicts of (type, state_key) -> event_id,
             which are the different state groups to resolve.
+
+        event_map(dict[str,FrozenEvent]|None):
+            a dict from event_id to event, for any events that we happen to
+            have in flight (eg, those currently being persisted). This will be
+            used as a starting point fof finding the state we need; any missing
+            events will be requested via state_map_factory.
+
+            If None, all events will be fetched via state_map_factory.
+
         state_map_factory(func): will be called
             with a list of event_ids that are needed, and should return with
             a Deferred of dict of event_id to event.
 
     Returns
-        Deferred[dict[(str, str), synapse.events.FrozenEvent]]:
-            a map from (type, state_key) to event.
+        Deferred[dict[(str, str), str]]:
+            a map from (type, state_key) to event_id.
     """
     if len(state_sets) == 1:
         defer.returnValue(state_sets[0])
@@ -507,12 +642,16 @@ def resolve_events_with_factory(state_sets, state_map_factory):
         for event_ids in conflicted_state.itervalues()
         for event_id in event_ids
     )
+    if event_map is not None:
+        needed_events -= set(event_map.iterkeys())
 
     logger.info("Asking for %d conflicted events", len(needed_events))
 
     # dict[str, FrozenEvent]: a map from state event id to event. Only includes
-    # the state events which are in conflict.
+    # the state events which are in conflict (and those in event_map)
     state_map = yield state_map_factory(needed_events)
+    if event_map is not None:
+        state_map.update(event_map)
 
     # get the ids of the auth events which allow us to authenticate the
     # conflicted state, picking only from the unconflicting state.
@@ -524,6 +663,8 @@ def resolve_events_with_factory(state_sets, state_map_factory):
 
     new_needed_events = set(auth_events.itervalues())
     new_needed_events -= needed_events
+    if event_map is not None:
+        new_needed_events -= set(event_map.iterkeys())
 
     logger.info("Asking for %d auth events", len(new_needed_events))
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/__init__.py b/synapse/storage/__init__.py
index d01d46338..de00cae44 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -19,7 +20,6 @@ from synapse.storage.devices import DeviceStore
 from .appservice import (
     ApplicationServiceStore, ApplicationServiceTransactionStore
 )
-from ._base import LoggingTransaction
 from .directory import DirectoryStore
 from .events import EventsStore
 from .presence import PresenceStore, UserPresenceState
@@ -104,12 +104,6 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
             db_conn, "events", "stream_ordering", step=-1,
             extra_tables=[("ex_outlier_stream", "event_stream_ordering")]
         )
-        self._receipts_id_gen = StreamIdGenerator(
-            db_conn, "receipts_linearized", "stream_id"
-        )
-        self._account_data_id_gen = StreamIdGenerator(
-            db_conn, "account_data_max_stream_id", "stream_id"
-        )
         self._presence_id_gen = StreamIdGenerator(
             db_conn, "presence_stream", "stream_id"
         )
@@ -124,7 +118,6 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
         )
 
         self._transaction_id_gen = IdGenerator(db_conn, "sent_transactions", "id")
-        self._state_groups_id_gen = IdGenerator(db_conn, "state_groups", "id")
         self._access_tokens_id_gen = IdGenerator(db_conn, "access_tokens", "id")
         self._event_reports_id_gen = IdGenerator(db_conn, "event_reports", "id")
         self._push_rule_id_gen = IdGenerator(db_conn, "push_rules", "id")
@@ -147,27 +140,6 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
         else:
             self._cache_id_gen = None
 
-        events_max = self._stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
-        event_cache_prefill, min_event_val = self._get_cache_dict(
-            db_conn, "events",
-            entity_column="room_id",
-            stream_column="stream_ordering",
-            max_value=events_max,
-        )
-        self._events_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "EventsRoomStreamChangeCache", min_event_val,
-            prefilled_cache=event_cache_prefill,
-        )
-
-        self._membership_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "MembershipStreamChangeCache", events_max,
-        )
-
-        account_max = self._account_data_id_gen.get_current_token()
-        self._account_data_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "AccountDataAndTagsChangeCache", account_max,
-        )
-
         self._presence_on_startup = self._get_active_presence(db_conn)
 
         presence_cache_prefill, min_presence_val = self._get_cache_dict(
@@ -181,18 +153,6 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
             prefilled_cache=presence_cache_prefill
         )
 
-        push_rules_prefill, push_rules_id = self._get_cache_dict(
-            db_conn, "push_rules_stream",
-            entity_column="user_id",
-            stream_column="stream_id",
-            max_value=self._push_rules_stream_id_gen.get_current_token()[0],
-        )
-
-        self.push_rules_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "PushRulesStreamChangeCache", push_rules_id,
-            prefilled_cache=push_rules_prefill,
-        )
-
         max_device_inbox_id = self._device_inbox_id_gen.get_current_token()
         device_inbox_prefill, min_device_inbox_id = self._get_cache_dict(
             db_conn, "device_inbox",
@@ -227,6 +187,7 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
             "DeviceListFederationStreamChangeCache", device_list_max,
         )
 
+        events_max = self._stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
         curr_state_delta_prefill, min_curr_state_delta_id = self._get_cache_dict(
             db_conn, "current_state_delta_stream",
             entity_column="room_id",
@@ -251,20 +212,6 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
             prefilled_cache=_group_updates_prefill,
         )
 
-        cur = LoggingTransaction(
-            db_conn.cursor(),
-            name="_find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn",
-            database_engine=self.database_engine,
-            after_callbacks=[],
-            final_callbacks=[],
-        )
-        self._find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn(cur)
-        cur.close()
-
-        self.find_stream_orderings_looping_call = self._clock.looping_call(
-            self._find_stream_orderings_for_times, 10 * 60 * 1000
-        )
-
         self._stream_order_on_start = self.get_room_max_stream_ordering()
         self._min_stream_order_on_start = self.get_room_min_stream_ordering()
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/_base.py b/synapse/storage/_base.py
index 68125006e..2fbebd490 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/_base.py
@@ -48,16 +48,16 @@ class LoggingTransaction(object):
     passed to the constructor. Adds logging and metrics to the .execute()
     method."""
     __slots__ = [
-        "txn", "name", "database_engine", "after_callbacks", "final_callbacks",
+        "txn", "name", "database_engine", "after_callbacks", "exception_callbacks",
     ]
 
     def __init__(self, txn, name, database_engine, after_callbacks,
-                 final_callbacks):
+                 exception_callbacks):
         object.__setattr__(self, "txn", txn)
         object.__setattr__(self, "name", name)
         object.__setattr__(self, "database_engine", database_engine)
         object.__setattr__(self, "after_callbacks", after_callbacks)
-        object.__setattr__(self, "final_callbacks", final_callbacks)
+        object.__setattr__(self, "exception_callbacks", exception_callbacks)
 
     def call_after(self, callback, *args, **kwargs):
         """Call the given callback on the main twisted thread after the
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ class LoggingTransaction(object):
         """
         self.after_callbacks.append((callback, args, kwargs))
 
-    def call_finally(self, callback, *args, **kwargs):
-        self.final_callbacks.append((callback, args, kwargs))
+    def call_on_exception(self, callback, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.exception_callbacks.append((callback, args, kwargs))
 
     def __getattr__(self, name):
         return getattr(self.txn, name)
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
 
         self._clock.looping_call(loop, 10000)
 
-    def _new_transaction(self, conn, desc, after_callbacks, final_callbacks,
+    def _new_transaction(self, conn, desc, after_callbacks, exception_callbacks,
                          logging_context, func, *args, **kwargs):
         start = time.time() * 1000
         txn_id = self._TXN_ID
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
                     txn = conn.cursor()
                     txn = LoggingTransaction(
                         txn, name, self.database_engine, after_callbacks,
-                        final_callbacks,
+                        exception_callbacks,
                     )
                     r = func(txn, *args, **kwargs)
                     conn.commit()
@@ -308,11 +308,11 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
         current_context = LoggingContext.current_context()
 
         after_callbacks = []
-        final_callbacks = []
+        exception_callbacks = []
 
         def inner_func(conn, *args, **kwargs):
             return self._new_transaction(
-                conn, desc, after_callbacks, final_callbacks, current_context,
+                conn, desc, after_callbacks, exception_callbacks, current_context,
                 func, *args, **kwargs
             )
 
@@ -321,9 +321,10 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
 
             for after_callback, after_args, after_kwargs in after_callbacks:
                 after_callback(*after_args, **after_kwargs)
-        finally:
-            for after_callback, after_args, after_kwargs in final_callbacks:
+        except:  # noqa: E722, as we reraise the exception this is fine.
+            for after_callback, after_args, after_kwargs in exception_callbacks:
                 after_callback(*after_args, **after_kwargs)
+            raise
 
         defer.returnValue(result)
 
@@ -1000,7 +1001,8 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
             # __exit__ called after the transaction finishes.
             ctx = self._cache_id_gen.get_next()
             stream_id = ctx.__enter__()
-            txn.call_finally(ctx.__exit__, None, None, None)
+            txn.call_on_exception(ctx.__exit__, None, None, None)
+            txn.call_after(ctx.__exit__, None, None, None)
             txn.call_after(self.hs.get_notifier().on_new_replication_data)
 
             self._simple_insert_txn(
diff --git a/synapse/storage/account_data.py b/synapse/storage/account_data.py
index 56a0bde54..e70c9423e 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/account_data.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/account_data.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -13,18 +14,46 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from ._base import SQLBaseStore
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
+from synapse.storage._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage.util.id_generators import StreamIdGenerator
+
+from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached, cachedList, cachedInlineCallbacks
 
+import abc
 import ujson as json
 import logging
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class AccountDataStore(SQLBaseStore):
+class AccountDataWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
+    """This is an abstract base class where subclasses must implement
+    `get_max_account_data_stream_id` which can be called in the initializer.
+    """
+
+    # This ABCMeta metaclass ensures that we cannot be instantiated without
+    # the abstract methods being implemented.
+    __metaclass__ = abc.ABCMeta
+
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        account_max = self.get_max_account_data_stream_id()
+        self._account_data_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
+            "AccountDataAndTagsChangeCache", account_max,
+        )
+
+        super(AccountDataWorkerStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_max_account_data_stream_id(self):
+        """Get the current max stream ID for account data stream
+
+        Returns:
+            int
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError()
 
     @cached()
     def get_account_data_for_user(self, user_id):
@@ -104,6 +133,7 @@ class AccountDataStore(SQLBaseStore):
             for row in rows
         })
 
+    @cached(num_args=2)
     def get_account_data_for_room(self, user_id, room_id):
         """Get all the client account_data for a user for a room.
 
@@ -127,6 +157,38 @@ class AccountDataStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "get_account_data_for_room", get_account_data_for_room_txn
         )
 
+    @cached(num_args=3, max_entries=5000)
+    def get_account_data_for_room_and_type(self, user_id, room_id, account_data_type):
+        """Get the client account_data of given type for a user for a room.
+
+        Args:
+            user_id(str): The user to get the account_data for.
+            room_id(str): The room to get the account_data for.
+            account_data_type (str): The account data type to get.
+        Returns:
+            A deferred of the room account_data for that type, or None if
+            there isn't any set.
+        """
+        def get_account_data_for_room_and_type_txn(txn):
+            content_json = self._simple_select_one_onecol_txn(
+                txn,
+                table="room_account_data",
+                keyvalues={
+                    "user_id": user_id,
+                    "room_id": room_id,
+                    "account_data_type": account_data_type,
+                },
+                retcol="content",
+                allow_none=True
+            )
+
+            return json.loads(content_json) if content_json else None
+
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "get_account_data_for_room_and_type",
+            get_account_data_for_room_and_type_txn,
+        )
+
     def get_all_updated_account_data(self, last_global_id, last_room_id,
                                      current_id, limit):
         """Get all the client account_data that has changed on the server
@@ -209,6 +271,36 @@ class AccountDataStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "get_updated_account_data_for_user", get_updated_account_data_for_user_txn
         )
 
+    @cachedInlineCallbacks(num_args=2, cache_context=True, max_entries=5000)
+    def is_ignored_by(self, ignored_user_id, ignorer_user_id, cache_context):
+        ignored_account_data = yield self.get_global_account_data_by_type_for_user(
+            "m.ignored_user_list", ignorer_user_id,
+            on_invalidate=cache_context.invalidate,
+        )
+        if not ignored_account_data:
+            defer.returnValue(False)
+
+        defer.returnValue(
+            ignored_user_id in ignored_account_data.get("ignored_users", {})
+        )
+
+
+class AccountDataStore(AccountDataWorkerStore):
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        self._account_data_id_gen = StreamIdGenerator(
+            db_conn, "account_data_max_stream_id", "stream_id"
+        )
+
+        super(AccountDataStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+
+    def get_max_account_data_stream_id(self):
+        """Get the current max stream id for the private user data stream
+
+        Returns:
+            A deferred int.
+        """
+        return self._account_data_id_gen.get_current_token()
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def add_account_data_to_room(self, user_id, room_id, account_data_type, content):
         """Add some account_data to a room for a user.
@@ -251,6 +343,10 @@ class AccountDataStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
             self._account_data_stream_cache.entity_has_changed(user_id, next_id)
             self.get_account_data_for_user.invalidate((user_id,))
+            self.get_account_data_for_room.invalidate((user_id, room_id,))
+            self.get_account_data_for_room_and_type.prefill(
+                (user_id, room_id, account_data_type,), content,
+            )
 
         result = self._account_data_id_gen.get_current_token()
         defer.returnValue(result)
@@ -321,16 +417,3 @@ class AccountDataStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "update_account_data_max_stream_id",
             _update,
         )
-
-    @cachedInlineCallbacks(num_args=2, cache_context=True, max_entries=5000)
-    def is_ignored_by(self, ignored_user_id, ignorer_user_id, cache_context):
-        ignored_account_data = yield self.get_global_account_data_by_type_for_user(
-            "m.ignored_user_list", ignorer_user_id,
-            on_invalidate=cache_context.invalidate,
-        )
-        if not ignored_account_data:
-            defer.returnValue(False)
-
-        defer.returnValue(
-            ignored_user_id in ignored_account_data.get("ignored_users", {})
-        )
diff --git a/synapse/storage/appservice.py b/synapse/storage/appservice.py
index d8c84b714..12ea8a158 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/appservice.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -17,10 +18,9 @@ import re
 import simplejson as json
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-from synapse.api.constants import Membership
 from synapse.appservice import AppServiceTransaction
 from synapse.config.appservice import load_appservices
-from synapse.storage.roommember import RoomsForUser
+from synapse.storage.events import EventsWorkerStore
 from ._base import SQLBaseStore
 
 
@@ -46,17 +46,16 @@ def _make_exclusive_regex(services_cache):
     return exclusive_user_regex
 
 
-class ApplicationServiceStore(SQLBaseStore):
-
+class ApplicationServiceWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(ApplicationServiceStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
-        self.hostname = hs.hostname
         self.services_cache = load_appservices(
             hs.hostname,
             hs.config.app_service_config_files
         )
         self.exclusive_user_regex = _make_exclusive_regex(self.services_cache)
 
+        super(ApplicationServiceWorkerStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+
     def get_app_services(self):
         return self.services_cache
 
@@ -99,83 +98,30 @@ class ApplicationServiceStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 return service
         return None
 
-    def get_app_service_rooms(self, service):
-        """Get a list of RoomsForUser for this application service.
-
-        Application services may be "interested" in lots of rooms depending on
-        the room ID, the room aliases, or the members in the room. This function
-        takes all of these into account and returns a list of RoomsForUser which
-        represent the entire list of room IDs that this application service
-        wants to know about.
+    def get_app_service_by_id(self, as_id):
+        """Get the application service with the given appservice ID.
 
         Args:
-            service: The application service to get a room list for.
+            as_id (str): The application service ID.
         Returns:
-            A list of RoomsForUser.
+            synapse.appservice.ApplicationService or None.
         """
-        return self.runInteraction(
-            "get_app_service_rooms",
-            self._get_app_service_rooms_txn,
-            service,
-        )
-
-    def _get_app_service_rooms_txn(self, txn, service):
-        # get all rooms matching the room ID regex.
-        room_entries = self._simple_select_list_txn(
-            txn=txn, table="rooms", keyvalues=None, retcols=["room_id"]
-        )
-        matching_room_list = set([
-            r["room_id"] for r in room_entries if
-            service.is_interested_in_room(r["room_id"])
-        ])
-
-        # resolve room IDs for matching room alias regex.
-        room_alias_mappings = self._simple_select_list_txn(
-            txn=txn, table="room_aliases", keyvalues=None,
-            retcols=["room_id", "room_alias"]
-        )
-        matching_room_list |= set([
-            r["room_id"] for r in room_alias_mappings if
-            service.is_interested_in_alias(r["room_alias"])
-        ])
-
-        # get all rooms for every user for this AS. This is scoped to users on
-        # this HS only.
-        user_list = self._simple_select_list_txn(
-            txn=txn, table="users", keyvalues=None, retcols=["name"]
-        )
-        user_list = [
-            u["name"] for u in user_list if
-            service.is_interested_in_user(u["name"])
-        ]
-        rooms_for_user_matching_user_id = set()  # RoomsForUser list
-        for user_id in user_list:
-            # FIXME: This assumes this store is linked with RoomMemberStore :(
-            rooms_for_user = self._get_rooms_for_user_where_membership_is_txn(
-                txn=txn,
-                user_id=user_id,
-                membership_list=[Membership.JOIN]
-            )
-            rooms_for_user_matching_user_id |= set(rooms_for_user)
-
-        # make RoomsForUser tuples for room ids and aliases which are not in the
-        # main rooms_for_user_list - e.g. they are rooms which do not have AS
-        # registered users in it.
-        known_room_ids = [r.room_id for r in rooms_for_user_matching_user_id]
-        missing_rooms_for_user = [
-            RoomsForUser(r, service.sender, "join") for r in
-            matching_room_list if r not in known_room_ids
-        ]
-        rooms_for_user_matching_user_id |= set(missing_rooms_for_user)
-
-        return rooms_for_user_matching_user_id
+        for service in self.services_cache:
+            if service.id == as_id:
+                return service
+        return None
 
 
-class ApplicationServiceTransactionStore(SQLBaseStore):
+class ApplicationServiceStore(ApplicationServiceWorkerStore):
+    # This is currently empty due to there not being any AS storage functions
+    # that can't be run on the workers. Since this may change in future, and
+    # to keep consistency with the other stores, we keep this empty class for
+    # now.
+    pass
 
-    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(ApplicationServiceTransactionStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
+class ApplicationServiceTransactionWorkerStore(ApplicationServiceWorkerStore,
+                                               EventsWorkerStore):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_appservices_by_state(self, state):
         """Get a list of application services based on their state.
@@ -420,3 +366,11 @@ class ApplicationServiceTransactionStore(SQLBaseStore):
         events = yield self._get_events(event_ids)
 
         defer.returnValue((upper_bound, events))
+
+
+class ApplicationServiceTransactionStore(ApplicationServiceTransactionWorkerStore):
+    # This is currently empty due to there not being any AS storage functions
+    # that can't be run on the workers. Since this may change in future, and
+    # to keep consistency with the other stores, we keep this empty class for
+    # now.
+    pass
diff --git a/synapse/storage/background_updates.py b/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
index 11a1b942f..c88759bf2 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
@@ -242,6 +242,25 @@ class BackgroundUpdateStore(SQLBaseStore):
         """
         self._background_update_handlers[update_name] = update_handler
 
+    def register_noop_background_update(self, update_name):
+        """Register a noop handler for a background update.
+
+        This is useful when we previously did a background update, but no
+        longer wish to do the update. In this case the background update should
+        be removed from the schema delta files, but there may still be some
+        users who have the background update queued, so this method should
+        also be called to clear the update.
+
+        Args:
+            update_name (str): Name of update
+        """
+        @defer.inlineCallbacks
+        def noop_update(progress, batch_size):
+            yield self._end_background_update(update_name)
+            defer.returnValue(1)
+
+        self.register_background_update_handler(update_name, noop_update)
+
     def register_background_index_update(self, update_name, index_name,
                                          table, columns, where_clause=None,
                                          unique=False,
diff --git a/synapse/storage/directory.py b/synapse/storage/directory.py
index 79e7c540a..d0c005975 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/directory.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/directory.py
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ RoomAliasMapping = namedtuple(
 )
 
 
-class DirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
-
+class DirectoryWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_association_from_room_alias(self, room_alias):
         """ Get's the room_id and server list for a given room_alias
@@ -69,6 +68,28 @@ class DirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
             RoomAliasMapping(room_id, room_alias.to_string(), servers)
         )
 
+    def get_room_alias_creator(self, room_alias):
+        return self._simple_select_one_onecol(
+            table="room_aliases",
+            keyvalues={
+                "room_alias": room_alias,
+            },
+            retcol="creator",
+            desc="get_room_alias_creator",
+            allow_none=True
+        )
+
+    @cached(max_entries=5000)
+    def get_aliases_for_room(self, room_id):
+        return self._simple_select_onecol(
+            "room_aliases",
+            {"room_id": room_id},
+            "room_alias",
+            desc="get_aliases_for_room",
+        )
+
+
+class DirectoryStore(DirectoryWorkerStore):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def create_room_alias_association(self, room_alias, room_id, servers, creator=None):
         """ Creates an associatin between  a room alias and room_id/servers
@@ -116,17 +137,6 @@ class DirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
             )
         defer.returnValue(ret)
 
-    def get_room_alias_creator(self, room_alias):
-        return self._simple_select_one_onecol(
-            table="room_aliases",
-            keyvalues={
-                "room_alias": room_alias,
-            },
-            retcol="creator",
-            desc="get_room_alias_creator",
-            allow_none=True
-        )
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def delete_room_alias(self, room_alias):
         room_id = yield self.runInteraction(
@@ -135,7 +145,6 @@ class DirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
             room_alias,
         )
 
-        self.get_aliases_for_room.invalidate((room_id,))
         defer.returnValue(room_id)
 
     def _delete_room_alias_txn(self, txn, room_alias):
@@ -160,17 +169,12 @@ class DirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
             (room_alias.to_string(),)
         )
 
-        return room_id
-
-    @cached(max_entries=5000)
-    def get_aliases_for_room(self, room_id):
-        return self._simple_select_onecol(
-            "room_aliases",
-            {"room_id": room_id},
-            "room_alias",
-            desc="get_aliases_for_room",
+        self._invalidate_cache_and_stream(
+            txn, self.get_aliases_for_room, (room_id,)
         )
 
+        return room_id
+
     def update_aliases_for_room(self, old_room_id, new_room_id, creator):
         def _update_aliases_for_room_txn(txn):
             sql = "UPDATE room_aliases SET room_id = ?, creator = ? WHERE room_id = ?"
diff --git a/synapse/storage/engines/postgres.py b/synapse/storage/engines/postgres.py
index a6ae79dfa..8a0386c1a 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/engines/postgres.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/engines/postgres.py
@@ -62,3 +62,9 @@ class PostgresEngine(object):
 
     def lock_table(self, txn, table):
         txn.execute("LOCK TABLE %s in EXCLUSIVE MODE" % (table,))
+
+    def get_next_state_group_id(self, txn):
+        """Returns an int that can be used as a new state_group ID
+        """
+        txn.execute("SELECT nextval('state_group_id_seq')")
+        return txn.fetchone()[0]
diff --git a/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite3.py b/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite3.py
index 755c9a1f0..60f0fa7fb 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite3.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite3.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 from synapse.storage.prepare_database import prepare_database
 
 import struct
+import threading
 
 
 class Sqlite3Engine(object):
@@ -24,6 +25,11 @@ class Sqlite3Engine(object):
     def __init__(self, database_module, database_config):
         self.module = database_module
 
+        # The current max state_group, or None if we haven't looked
+        # in the DB yet.
+        self._current_state_group_id = None
+        self._current_state_group_id_lock = threading.Lock()
+
     def check_database(self, txn):
         pass
 
@@ -43,6 +49,19 @@ class Sqlite3Engine(object):
     def lock_table(self, txn, table):
         return
 
+    def get_next_state_group_id(self, txn):
+        """Returns an int that can be used as a new state_group ID
+        """
+        # We do application locking here since if we're using sqlite then
+        # we are a single process synapse.
+        with self._current_state_group_id_lock:
+            if self._current_state_group_id is None:
+                txn.execute("SELECT COALESCE(max(id), 0) FROM state_groups")
+                self._current_state_group_id = txn.fetchone()[0]
+
+            self._current_state_group_id += 1
+            return self._current_state_group_id
+
 
 # Following functions taken from: https://github.com/coleifer/peewee
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/event_federation.py b/synapse/storage/event_federation.py
index 55a05c59d..00ee82d30 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/event_federation.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/event_federation.py
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-from ._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage.events import EventsWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.signatures import SignatureWorkerStore
+
 from synapse.api.errors import StoreError
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached
 from unpaddedbase64 import encode_base64
@@ -27,30 +30,8 @@ from Queue import PriorityQueue, Empty
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class EventFederationStore(SQLBaseStore):
-    """ Responsible for storing and serving up the various graphs associated
-    with an event. Including the main event graph and the auth chains for an
-    event.
-
-    Also has methods for getting the front (latest) and back (oldest) edges
-    of the event graphs. These are used to generate the parents for new events
-    and backfilling from another server respectively.
-    """
-
-    EVENT_AUTH_STATE_ONLY = "event_auth_state_only"
-
-    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(EventFederationStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
-
-        self.register_background_update_handler(
-            self.EVENT_AUTH_STATE_ONLY,
-            self._background_delete_non_state_event_auth,
-        )
-
-        hs.get_clock().looping_call(
-            self._delete_old_forward_extrem_cache, 60 * 60 * 1000
-        )
-
+class EventFederationWorkerStore(EventsWorkerStore, SignatureWorkerStore,
+                                 SQLBaseStore):
     def get_auth_chain(self, event_ids, include_given=False):
         """Get auth events for given event_ids. The events *must* be state events.
 
@@ -228,88 +209,6 @@ class EventFederationStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         return int(min_depth) if min_depth is not None else None
 
-    def _update_min_depth_for_room_txn(self, txn, room_id, depth):
-        min_depth = self._get_min_depth_interaction(txn, room_id)
-
-        if min_depth and depth >= min_depth:
-            return
-
-        self._simple_upsert_txn(
-            txn,
-            table="room_depth",
-            keyvalues={
-                "room_id": room_id,
-            },
-            values={
-                "min_depth": depth,
-            },
-        )
-
-    def _handle_mult_prev_events(self, txn, events):
-        """
-        For the given event, update the event edges table and forward and
-        backward extremities tables.
-        """
-        self._simple_insert_many_txn(
-            txn,
-            table="event_edges",
-            values=[
-                {
-                    "event_id": ev.event_id,
-                    "prev_event_id": e_id,
-                    "room_id": ev.room_id,
-                    "is_state": False,
-                }
-                for ev in events
-                for e_id, _ in ev.prev_events
-            ],
-        )
-
-        self._update_backward_extremeties(txn, events)
-
-    def _update_backward_extremeties(self, txn, events):
-        """Updates the event_backward_extremities tables based on the new/updated
-        events being persisted.
-
-        This is called for new events *and* for events that were outliers, but
-        are now being persisted as non-outliers.
-
-        Forward extremities are handled when we first start persisting the events.
-        """
-        events_by_room = {}
-        for ev in events:
-            events_by_room.setdefault(ev.room_id, []).append(ev)
-
-        query = (
-            "INSERT INTO event_backward_extremities (event_id, room_id)"
-            " SELECT ?, ? WHERE NOT EXISTS ("
-            " SELECT 1 FROM event_backward_extremities"
-            " WHERE event_id = ? AND room_id = ?"
-            " )"
-            " AND NOT EXISTS ("
-            " SELECT 1 FROM events WHERE event_id = ? AND room_id = ? "
-            " AND outlier = ?"
-            " )"
-        )
-
-        txn.executemany(query, [
-            (e_id, ev.room_id, e_id, ev.room_id, e_id, ev.room_id, False)
-            for ev in events for e_id, _ in ev.prev_events
-            if not ev.internal_metadata.is_outlier()
-        ])
-
-        query = (
-            "DELETE FROM event_backward_extremities"
-            " WHERE event_id = ? AND room_id = ?"
-        )
-        txn.executemany(
-            query,
-            [
-                (ev.event_id, ev.room_id) for ev in events
-                if not ev.internal_metadata.is_outlier()
-            ]
-        )
-
     def get_forward_extremeties_for_room(self, room_id, stream_ordering):
         """For a given room_id and stream_ordering, return the forward
         extremeties of the room at that point in "time".
@@ -371,28 +270,6 @@ class EventFederationStore(SQLBaseStore):
             get_forward_extremeties_for_room_txn
         )
 
-    def _delete_old_forward_extrem_cache(self):
-        def _delete_old_forward_extrem_cache_txn(txn):
-            # Delete entries older than a month, while making sure we don't delete
-            # the only entries for a room.
-            sql = ("""
-                DELETE FROM stream_ordering_to_exterm
-                WHERE
-                room_id IN (
-                    SELECT room_id
-                    FROM stream_ordering_to_exterm
-                    WHERE stream_ordering > ?
-                ) AND stream_ordering < ?
-            """)
-            txn.execute(
-                sql,
-                (self.stream_ordering_month_ago, self.stream_ordering_month_ago,)
-            )
-        return self.runInteraction(
-            "_delete_old_forward_extrem_cache",
-            _delete_old_forward_extrem_cache_txn
-        )
-
     def get_backfill_events(self, room_id, event_list, limit):
         """Get a list of Events for a given topic that occurred before (and
         including) the events in event_list. Return a list of max size `limit`
@@ -522,6 +399,135 @@ class EventFederationStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         return event_results
 
+
+class EventFederationStore(EventFederationWorkerStore):
+    """ Responsible for storing and serving up the various graphs associated
+    with an event. Including the main event graph and the auth chains for an
+    event.
+
+    Also has methods for getting the front (latest) and back (oldest) edges
+    of the event graphs. These are used to generate the parents for new events
+    and backfilling from another server respectively.
+    """
+
+    EVENT_AUTH_STATE_ONLY = "event_auth_state_only"
+
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        super(EventFederationStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+
+        self.register_background_update_handler(
+            self.EVENT_AUTH_STATE_ONLY,
+            self._background_delete_non_state_event_auth,
+        )
+
+        hs.get_clock().looping_call(
+            self._delete_old_forward_extrem_cache, 60 * 60 * 1000
+        )
+
+    def _update_min_depth_for_room_txn(self, txn, room_id, depth):
+        min_depth = self._get_min_depth_interaction(txn, room_id)
+
+        if min_depth and depth >= min_depth:
+            return
+
+        self._simple_upsert_txn(
+            txn,
+            table="room_depth",
+            keyvalues={
+                "room_id": room_id,
+            },
+            values={
+                "min_depth": depth,
+            },
+        )
+
+    def _handle_mult_prev_events(self, txn, events):
+        """
+        For the given event, update the event edges table and forward and
+        backward extremities tables.
+        """
+        self._simple_insert_many_txn(
+            txn,
+            table="event_edges",
+            values=[
+                {
+                    "event_id": ev.event_id,
+                    "prev_event_id": e_id,
+                    "room_id": ev.room_id,
+                    "is_state": False,
+                }
+                for ev in events
+                for e_id, _ in ev.prev_events
+            ],
+        )
+
+        self._update_backward_extremeties(txn, events)
+
+    def _update_backward_extremeties(self, txn, events):
+        """Updates the event_backward_extremities tables based on the new/updated
+        events being persisted.
+
+        This is called for new events *and* for events that were outliers, but
+        are now being persisted as non-outliers.
+
+        Forward extremities are handled when we first start persisting the events.
+        """
+        events_by_room = {}
+        for ev in events:
+            events_by_room.setdefault(ev.room_id, []).append(ev)
+
+        query = (
+            "INSERT INTO event_backward_extremities (event_id, room_id)"
+            " SELECT ?, ? WHERE NOT EXISTS ("
+            " SELECT 1 FROM event_backward_extremities"
+            " WHERE event_id = ? AND room_id = ?"
+            " )"
+            " AND NOT EXISTS ("
+            " SELECT 1 FROM events WHERE event_id = ? AND room_id = ? "
+            " AND outlier = ?"
+            " )"
+        )
+
+        txn.executemany(query, [
+            (e_id, ev.room_id, e_id, ev.room_id, e_id, ev.room_id, False)
+            for ev in events for e_id, _ in ev.prev_events
+            if not ev.internal_metadata.is_outlier()
+        ])
+
+        query = (
+            "DELETE FROM event_backward_extremities"
+            " WHERE event_id = ? AND room_id = ?"
+        )
+        txn.executemany(
+            query,
+            [
+                (ev.event_id, ev.room_id) for ev in events
+                if not ev.internal_metadata.is_outlier()
+            ]
+        )
+
+    def _delete_old_forward_extrem_cache(self):
+        def _delete_old_forward_extrem_cache_txn(txn):
+            # Delete entries older than a month, while making sure we don't delete
+            # the only entries for a room.
+            sql = ("""
+                DELETE FROM stream_ordering_to_exterm
+                WHERE
+                room_id IN (
+                    SELECT room_id
+                    FROM stream_ordering_to_exterm
+                    WHERE stream_ordering > ?
+                ) AND stream_ordering < ?
+            """)
+            txn.execute(
+                sql,
+                (self.stream_ordering_month_ago, self.stream_ordering_month_ago,)
+            )
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "_delete_old_forward_extrem_cache",
+            _delete_old_forward_extrem_cache_txn
+        )
+
     def clean_room_for_join(self, room_id):
         return self.runInteraction(
             "clean_room_for_join",
diff --git a/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py b/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
index 8efe2fd4b..01f833982 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2015 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from ._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage._base import SQLBaseStore, LoggingTransaction
 from twisted.internet import defer
 from synapse.util.async import sleep
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cachedInlineCallbacks
@@ -62,60 +63,28 @@ def _deserialize_action(actions, is_highlight):
         return DEFAULT_NOTIF_ACTION
 
 
-class EventPushActionsStore(SQLBaseStore):
-    EPA_HIGHLIGHT_INDEX = "epa_highlight_index"
-
+class EventPushActionsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(EventPushActionsStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+        super(EventPushActionsWorkerStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
-        self.register_background_index_update(
-            self.EPA_HIGHLIGHT_INDEX,
-            index_name="event_push_actions_u_highlight",
-            table="event_push_actions",
-            columns=["user_id", "stream_ordering"],
+        # These get correctly set by _find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn
+        self.stream_ordering_month_ago = None
+        self.stream_ordering_day_ago = None
+
+        cur = LoggingTransaction(
+            db_conn.cursor(),
+            name="_find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn",
+            database_engine=self.database_engine,
+            after_callbacks=[],
+            exception_callbacks=[],
         )
+        self._find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn(cur)
+        cur.close()
 
-        self.register_background_index_update(
-            "event_push_actions_highlights_index",
-            index_name="event_push_actions_highlights_index",
-            table="event_push_actions",
-            columns=["user_id", "room_id", "topological_ordering", "stream_ordering"],
-            where_clause="highlight=1"
+        self.find_stream_orderings_looping_call = self._clock.looping_call(
+            self._find_stream_orderings_for_times, 10 * 60 * 1000
         )
 
-        self._doing_notif_rotation = False
-        self._rotate_notif_loop = self._clock.looping_call(
-            self._rotate_notifs, 30 * 60 * 1000
-        )
-
-    def _set_push_actions_for_event_and_users_txn(self, txn, event, tuples):
-        """
-        Args:
-            event: the event set actions for
-            tuples: list of tuples of (user_id, actions)
-        """
-        values = []
-        for uid, actions in tuples:
-            is_highlight = 1 if _action_has_highlight(actions) else 0
-
-            values.append({
-                'room_id': event.room_id,
-                'event_id': event.event_id,
-                'user_id': uid,
-                'actions': _serialize_action(actions, is_highlight),
-                'stream_ordering': event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering,
-                'topological_ordering': event.depth,
-                'notif': 1,
-                'highlight': is_highlight,
-            })
-
-        for uid, __ in tuples:
-            txn.call_after(
-                self.get_unread_event_push_actions_by_room_for_user.invalidate_many,
-                (event.room_id, uid)
-            )
-        self._simple_insert_many_txn(txn, "event_push_actions", values)
-
     @cachedInlineCallbacks(num_args=3, tree=True, max_entries=5000)
     def get_unread_event_push_actions_by_room_for_user(
             self, room_id, user_id, last_read_event_id
@@ -432,6 +401,280 @@ class EventPushActionsStore(SQLBaseStore):
         # Now return the first `limit`
         defer.returnValue(notifs[:limit])
 
+    def add_push_actions_to_staging(self, event_id, user_id_actions):
+        """Add the push actions for the event to the push action staging area.
+
+        Args:
+            event_id (str)
+            user_id_actions (dict[str, list[dict|str])]): A dictionary mapping
+                user_id to list of push actions, where an action can either be
+                a string or dict.
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred
+        """
+
+        if not user_id_actions:
+            return
+
+        # This is a helper function for generating the necessary tuple that
+        # can be used to inert into the `event_push_actions_staging` table.
+        def _gen_entry(user_id, actions):
+            is_highlight = 1 if _action_has_highlight(actions) else 0
+            return (
+                event_id,  # event_id column
+                user_id,  # user_id column
+                _serialize_action(actions, is_highlight),  # actions column
+                1,  # notif column
+                is_highlight,  # highlight column
+            )
+
+        def _add_push_actions_to_staging_txn(txn):
+            # We don't use _simple_insert_many here to avoid the overhead
+            # of generating lists of dicts.
+
+            sql = """
+                INSERT INTO event_push_actions_staging
+                    (event_id, user_id, actions, notif, highlight)
+                VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+            """
+
+            txn.executemany(sql, (
+                _gen_entry(user_id, actions)
+                for user_id, actions in user_id_actions.iteritems()
+            ))
+
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "add_push_actions_to_staging", _add_push_actions_to_staging_txn
+        )
+
+    def remove_push_actions_from_staging(self, event_id):
+        """Called if we failed to persist the event to ensure that stale push
+        actions don't build up in the DB
+
+        Args:
+            event_id (str)
+        """
+
+        return self._simple_delete(
+            table="event_push_actions_staging",
+            keyvalues={
+                "event_id": event_id,
+            },
+            desc="remove_push_actions_from_staging",
+        )
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _find_stream_orderings_for_times(self):
+        yield self.runInteraction(
+            "_find_stream_orderings_for_times",
+            self._find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn
+        )
+
+    def _find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn(self, txn):
+        logger.info("Searching for stream ordering 1 month ago")
+        self.stream_ordering_month_ago = self._find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts_txn(
+            txn, self._clock.time_msec() - 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
+        )
+        logger.info(
+            "Found stream ordering 1 month ago: it's %d",
+            self.stream_ordering_month_ago
+        )
+        logger.info("Searching for stream ordering 1 day ago")
+        self.stream_ordering_day_ago = self._find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts_txn(
+            txn, self._clock.time_msec() - 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
+        )
+        logger.info(
+            "Found stream ordering 1 day ago: it's %d",
+            self.stream_ordering_day_ago
+        )
+
+    def find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(self, ts):
+        """Gets the stream ordering corresponding to a given timestamp.
+
+        Specifically, finds the stream_ordering of the first event that was
+        received on or after the timestamp. This is done by a binary search on
+        the events table, since there is no index on received_ts, so is
+        relatively slow.
+
+        Args:
+            ts (int): timestamp in millis
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[int]: stream ordering of the first event received on/after
+                the timestamp
+        """
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "_find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts_txn",
+            self._find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts_txn,
+            ts,
+        )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts_txn(txn, ts):
+        """
+        Find the stream_ordering of the first event that was received on or
+        after a given timestamp. This is relatively slow as there is no index
+        on received_ts but we can then use this to delete push actions before
+        this.
+
+        received_ts must necessarily be in the same order as stream_ordering
+        and stream_ordering is indexed, so we manually binary search using
+        stream_ordering
+
+        Args:
+            txn (twisted.enterprise.adbapi.Transaction):
+            ts (int): timestamp to search for
+
+        Returns:
+            int: stream ordering
+        """
+        txn.execute("SELECT MAX(stream_ordering) FROM events")
+        max_stream_ordering = txn.fetchone()[0]
+
+        if max_stream_ordering is None:
+            return 0
+
+        # We want the first stream_ordering in which received_ts is greater
+        # than or equal to ts. Call this point X.
+        #
+        # We maintain the invariants:
+        #
+        #   range_start <= X <= range_end
+        #
+        range_start = 0
+        range_end = max_stream_ordering + 1
+
+        # Given a stream_ordering, look up the timestamp at that
+        # stream_ordering.
+        #
+        # The array may be sparse (we may be missing some stream_orderings).
+        # We treat the gaps as the same as having the same value as the
+        # preceding entry, because we will pick the lowest stream_ordering
+        # which satisfies our requirement of received_ts >= ts.
+        #
+        # For example, if our array of events indexed by stream_ordering is
+        # [10, <none>, 20], we should treat this as being equivalent to
+        # [10, 10, 20].
+        #
+        sql = (
+            "SELECT received_ts FROM events"
+            " WHERE stream_ordering <= ?"
+            " ORDER BY stream_ordering DESC"
+            " LIMIT 1"
+        )
+
+        while range_end - range_start > 0:
+            middle = (range_end + range_start) // 2
+            txn.execute(sql, (middle,))
+            row = txn.fetchone()
+            if row is None:
+                # no rows with stream_ordering<=middle
+                range_start = middle + 1
+                continue
+
+            middle_ts = row[0]
+            if ts > middle_ts:
+                # we got a timestamp lower than the one we were looking for.
+                # definitely need to look higher: X > middle.
+                range_start = middle + 1
+            else:
+                # we got a timestamp higher than (or the same as) the one we
+                # were looking for. We aren't yet sure about the point we
+                # looked up, but we can be sure that X <= middle.
+                range_end = middle
+
+        return range_end
+
+
+class EventPushActionsStore(EventPushActionsWorkerStore):
+    EPA_HIGHLIGHT_INDEX = "epa_highlight_index"
+
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        super(EventPushActionsStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+
+        self.register_background_index_update(
+            self.EPA_HIGHLIGHT_INDEX,
+            index_name="event_push_actions_u_highlight",
+            table="event_push_actions",
+            columns=["user_id", "stream_ordering"],
+        )
+
+        self.register_background_index_update(
+            "event_push_actions_highlights_index",
+            index_name="event_push_actions_highlights_index",
+            table="event_push_actions",
+            columns=["user_id", "room_id", "topological_ordering", "stream_ordering"],
+            where_clause="highlight=1"
+        )
+
+        self._doing_notif_rotation = False
+        self._rotate_notif_loop = self._clock.looping_call(
+            self._rotate_notifs, 30 * 60 * 1000
+        )
+
+    def _set_push_actions_for_event_and_users_txn(self, txn, events_and_contexts,
+                                                  all_events_and_contexts):
+        """Handles moving push actions from staging table to main
+        event_push_actions table for all events in `events_and_contexts`.
+
+        Also ensures that all events in `all_events_and_contexts` are removed
+        from the push action staging area.
+
+        Args:
+            events_and_contexts (list[(EventBase, EventContext)]): events
+                we are persisting
+            all_events_and_contexts (list[(EventBase, EventContext)]): all
+                events that we were going to persist. This includes events
+                we've already persisted, etc, that wouldn't appear in
+                events_and_context.
+        """
+
+        sql = """
+            INSERT INTO event_push_actions (
+                room_id, event_id, user_id, actions, stream_ordering,
+                topological_ordering, notif, highlight
+            )
+            SELECT ?, event_id, user_id, actions, ?, ?, notif, highlight
+            FROM event_push_actions_staging
+            WHERE event_id = ?
+        """
+
+        if events_and_contexts:
+            txn.executemany(sql, (
+                (
+                    event.room_id, event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering,
+                    event.depth, event.event_id,
+                )
+                for event, _ in events_and_contexts
+            ))
+
+        for event, _ in events_and_contexts:
+            user_ids = self._simple_select_onecol_txn(
+                txn,
+                table="event_push_actions_staging",
+                keyvalues={
+                    "event_id": event.event_id,
+                },
+                retcol="user_id",
+            )
+
+            for uid in user_ids:
+                txn.call_after(
+                    self.get_unread_event_push_actions_by_room_for_user.invalidate_many,
+                    (event.room_id, uid,)
+                )
+
+        # Now we delete the staging area for *all* events that were being
+        # persisted.
+        txn.executemany(
+            "DELETE FROM event_push_actions_staging WHERE event_id = ?",
+            (
+                (event.event_id,)
+                for event, _ in all_events_and_contexts
+            )
+        )
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_push_actions_for_user(self, user_id, before=None, limit=50,
                                   only_highlight=False):
@@ -550,69 +793,6 @@ class EventPushActionsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             WHERE room_id = ? AND user_id = ? AND stream_ordering <= ?
         """, (room_id, user_id, stream_ordering))
 
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _find_stream_orderings_for_times(self):
-        yield self.runInteraction(
-            "_find_stream_orderings_for_times",
-            self._find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn
-        )
-
-    def _find_stream_orderings_for_times_txn(self, txn):
-        logger.info("Searching for stream ordering 1 month ago")
-        self.stream_ordering_month_ago = self._find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts_txn(
-            txn, self._clock.time_msec() - 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
-        )
-        logger.info(
-            "Found stream ordering 1 month ago: it's %d",
-            self.stream_ordering_month_ago
-        )
-        logger.info("Searching for stream ordering 1 day ago")
-        self.stream_ordering_day_ago = self._find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts_txn(
-            txn, self._clock.time_msec() - 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
-        )
-        logger.info(
-            "Found stream ordering 1 day ago: it's %d",
-            self.stream_ordering_day_ago
-        )
-
-    def _find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts_txn(self, txn, ts):
-        """
-        Find the stream_ordering of the first event that was received after
-        a given timestamp. This is relatively slow as there is no index on
-        received_ts but we can then use this to delete push actions before
-        this.
-
-        received_ts must necessarily be in the same order as stream_ordering
-        and stream_ordering is indexed, so we manually binary search using
-        stream_ordering
-        """
-        txn.execute("SELECT MAX(stream_ordering) FROM events")
-        max_stream_ordering = txn.fetchone()[0]
-
-        if max_stream_ordering is None:
-            return 0
-
-        range_start = 0
-        range_end = max_stream_ordering
-
-        sql = (
-            "SELECT received_ts FROM events"
-            " WHERE stream_ordering > ?"
-            " ORDER BY stream_ordering"
-            " LIMIT 1"
-        )
-
-        while range_end - range_start > 1:
-            middle = int((range_end + range_start) / 2)
-            txn.execute(sql, (middle,))
-            middle_ts = txn.fetchone()[0]
-            if ts > middle_ts:
-                range_start = middle
-            else:
-                range_end = middle
-
-        return range_end
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _rotate_notifs(self):
         if self._doing_notif_rotation or self.stream_ordering_day_ago is None:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/events.py b/synapse/storage/events.py
index 7a9cd3ec9..389087817 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/events.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/events.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -12,23 +13,22 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
-from ._base import SQLBaseStore
 
-from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
+from synapse.storage.events_worker import EventsWorkerStore
 
-from synapse.events import FrozenEvent, USE_FROZEN_DICTS
-from synapse.events.utils import prune_event
+from twisted.internet import defer
+
+from synapse.events import USE_FROZEN_DICTS
 
 from synapse.util.async import ObservableDeferred
 from synapse.util.logcontext import (
-    preserve_fn, PreserveLoggingContext, make_deferred_yieldable
+    PreserveLoggingContext, make_deferred_yieldable
 )
 from synapse.util.logutils import log_function
 from synapse.util.metrics import Measure
 from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes
 from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
-from synapse.state import resolve_events_with_factory
-from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached
+from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached, cachedInlineCallbacks
 from synapse.types import get_domain_from_id
 
 from canonicaljson import encode_canonical_json
@@ -62,16 +62,6 @@ def encode_json(json_object):
         return json.dumps(json_object, ensure_ascii=False)
 
 
-# These values are used in the `enqueus_event` and `_do_fetch` methods to
-# control how we batch/bulk fetch events from the database.
-# The values are plucked out of thing air to make initial sync run faster
-# on jki.re
-# TODO: Make these configurable.
-EVENT_QUEUE_THREADS = 3  # Max number of threads that will fetch events
-EVENT_QUEUE_ITERATIONS = 3  # No. times we block waiting for requests for events
-EVENT_QUEUE_TIMEOUT_S = 0.1  # Timeout when waiting for requests for events
-
-
 class _EventPeristenceQueue(object):
     """Queues up events so that they can be persisted in bulk with only one
     concurrent transaction per room.
@@ -110,7 +100,7 @@ class _EventPeristenceQueue(object):
                 end_item.events_and_contexts.extend(events_and_contexts)
                 return end_item.deferred.observe()
 
-        deferred = ObservableDeferred(defer.Deferred())
+        deferred = ObservableDeferred(defer.Deferred(), consumeErrors=True)
 
         queue.append(self._EventPersistQueueItem(
             events_and_contexts=events_and_contexts,
@@ -152,8 +142,8 @@ class _EventPeristenceQueue(object):
                     try:
                         ret = yield per_item_callback(item)
                         item.deferred.callback(ret)
-                    except Exception as e:
-                        item.deferred.errback(e)
+                    except Exception:
+                        item.deferred.errback()
             finally:
                 queue = self._event_persist_queues.pop(room_id, None)
                 if queue:
@@ -200,13 +190,12 @@ def _retry_on_integrity_error(func):
     return f
 
 
-class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
+class EventsStore(EventsWorkerStore):
     EVENT_ORIGIN_SERVER_TS_NAME = "event_origin_server_ts"
     EVENT_FIELDS_SENDER_URL_UPDATE_NAME = "event_fields_sender_url"
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
         super(EventsStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
-        self._clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.register_background_update_handler(
             self.EVENT_ORIGIN_SERVER_TS_NAME, self._background_reindex_origin_server_ts
         )
@@ -237,6 +226,8 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         self._event_persist_queue = _EventPeristenceQueue()
 
+        self._state_resolution_handler = hs.get_state_resolution_handler()
+
     def persist_events(self, events_and_contexts, backfilled=False):
         """
         Write events to the database
@@ -292,10 +283,11 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
     def _maybe_start_persisting(self, room_id):
         @defer.inlineCallbacks
         def persisting_queue(item):
-            yield self._persist_events(
-                item.events_and_contexts,
-                backfilled=item.backfilled,
-            )
+            with Measure(self._clock, "persist_events"):
+                yield self._persist_events(
+                    item.events_and_contexts,
+                    backfilled=item.backfilled,
+                )
 
         self._event_persist_queue.handle_queue(room_id, persisting_queue)
 
@@ -342,8 +334,20 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
                 # NB: Assumes that we are only persisting events for one room
                 # at a time.
+
+                # map room_id->list[event_ids] giving the new forward
+                # extremities in each room
                 new_forward_extremeties = {}
+
+                # map room_id->(type,state_key)->event_id tracking the full
+                # state in each room after adding these events
                 current_state_for_room = {}
+
+                # map room_id->(to_delete, to_insert) where each entry is
+                # a map (type,key)->event_id giving the state delta in each
+                # room
+                state_delta_for_room = {}
+
                 if not backfilled:
                     with Measure(self._clock, "_calculate_state_and_extrem"):
                         # Work out the new "current state" for each room.
@@ -386,11 +390,20 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                                 if all_single_prev_not_state:
                                     continue
 
-                            state = yield self._calculate_state_delta(
-                                room_id, ev_ctx_rm, new_latest_event_ids
+                            logger.info(
+                                "Calculating state delta for room %s", room_id,
                             )
-                            if state:
-                                current_state_for_room[room_id] = state
+                            current_state = yield self._get_new_state_after_events(
+                                room_id,
+                                ev_ctx_rm, new_latest_event_ids,
+                            )
+                            if current_state is not None:
+                                current_state_for_room[room_id] = current_state
+                                delta = yield self._calculate_state_delta(
+                                    room_id, current_state,
+                                )
+                                if delta is not None:
+                                    state_delta_for_room[room_id] = delta
 
                 yield self.runInteraction(
                     "persist_events",
@@ -398,7 +411,7 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                     events_and_contexts=chunk,
                     backfilled=backfilled,
                     delete_existing=delete_existing,
-                    current_state_for_room=current_state_for_room,
+                    state_delta_for_room=state_delta_for_room,
                     new_forward_extremeties=new_forward_extremeties,
                 )
                 persist_event_counter.inc_by(len(chunk))
@@ -415,7 +428,7 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
                     event_counter.inc(event.type, origin_type, origin_entity)
 
-                for room_id, (_, _, new_state) in current_state_for_room.iteritems():
+                for room_id, new_state in current_state_for_room.iteritems():
                     self.get_current_state_ids.prefill(
                         (room_id, ), new_state
                     )
@@ -467,22 +480,31 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
         defer.returnValue(new_latest_event_ids)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _calculate_state_delta(self, room_id, events_context, new_latest_event_ids):
-        """Calculate the new state deltas for a room.
+    def _get_new_state_after_events(self, room_id, events_context, new_latest_event_ids):
+        """Calculate the current state dict after adding some new events to
+        a room
 
-        Assumes that we are only persisting events for one room at a time.
+        Args:
+            room_id (str):
+                room to which the events are being added. Used for logging etc
+
+            events_context (list[(EventBase, EventContext)]):
+                events and contexts which are being added to the room
+
+            new_latest_event_ids (iterable[str]):
+                the new forward extremities for the room.
 
         Returns:
-            3-tuple (to_delete, to_insert, new_state) where both are state dicts,
-            i.e. (type, state_key) -> event_id. `to_delete` are the entries to
-            first be deleted from current_state_events, `to_insert` are entries
-            to insert. `new_state` is the full set of state.
-            May return None if there are no changes to be applied.
+            Deferred[dict[(str,str), str]|None]:
+                None if there are no changes to the room state, or
+                a dict of (type, state_key) -> event_id].
         """
-        # Now we need to work out the different state sets for
-        # each state extremities
-        state_sets = []
-        state_groups = set()
+
+        if not new_latest_event_ids:
+            defer.returnValue({})
+
+        # map from state_group to ((type, key) -> event_id) state map
+        state_groups = {}
         missing_event_ids = []
         was_updated = False
         for event_id in new_latest_event_ids:
@@ -493,16 +515,19 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                     if ctx.current_state_ids is None:
                         raise Exception("Unknown current state")
 
+                    if ctx.state_group is None:
+                        # I don't think this can happen, but let's double-check
+                        raise Exception(
+                            "Context for new extremity event %s has no state "
+                            "group" % (event_id, ),
+                        )
+
                     # If we've already seen the state group don't bother adding
                     # it to the state sets again
                     if ctx.state_group not in state_groups:
-                        state_sets.append(ctx.current_state_ids)
+                        state_groups[ctx.state_group] = ctx.current_state_ids
                         if ctx.delta_ids or hasattr(ev, "state_key"):
                             was_updated = True
-                        if ctx.state_group:
-                            # Add this as a seen state group (if it has a state
-                            # group)
-                            state_groups.add(ctx.state_group)
                     break
             else:
                 # If we couldn't find it, then we'll need to pull
@@ -510,66 +535,50 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 was_updated = True
                 missing_event_ids.append(event_id)
 
+        if not was_updated:
+            return
+
         if missing_event_ids:
             # Now pull out the state for any missing events from DB
             event_to_groups = yield self._get_state_group_for_events(
                 missing_event_ids,
             )
 
-            groups = set(event_to_groups.itervalues()) - state_groups
+            groups = set(event_to_groups.itervalues()) - set(state_groups.iterkeys())
 
             if groups:
                 group_to_state = yield self._get_state_for_groups(groups)
-                state_sets.extend(group_to_state.itervalues())
+                state_groups.update(group_to_state)
 
-        if not new_latest_event_ids:
-            current_state = {}
-        elif was_updated:
-            if len(state_sets) == 1:
-                # If there is only one state set, then we know what the current
-                # state is.
-                current_state = state_sets[0]
-            else:
-                # We work out the current state by passing the state sets to the
-                # state resolution algorithm. It may ask for some events, including
-                # the events we have yet to persist, so we need a slightly more
-                # complicated event lookup function than simply looking the events
-                # up in the db.
+        if len(state_groups) == 1:
+            # If there is only one state group, then we know what the current
+            # state is.
+            defer.returnValue(state_groups.values()[0])
 
-                logger.info(
-                    "Resolving state for %s with %i state sets",
-                    room_id, len(state_sets),
-                )
+        def get_events(ev_ids):
+            return self.get_events(
+                ev_ids, get_prev_content=False, check_redacted=False,
+            )
+        events_map = {ev.event_id: ev for ev, _ in events_context}
+        logger.debug("calling resolve_state_groups from preserve_events")
+        res = yield self._state_resolution_handler.resolve_state_groups(
+            room_id, state_groups, events_map, get_events
+        )
 
-                events_map = {ev.event_id: ev for ev, _ in events_context}
+        defer.returnValue(res.state)
 
-                @defer.inlineCallbacks
-                def get_events(ev_ids):
-                    # We get the events by first looking at the list of events we
-                    # are trying to persist, and then fetching the rest from the DB.
-                    db = []
-                    to_return = {}
-                    for ev_id in ev_ids:
-                        ev = events_map.get(ev_id, None)
-                        if ev:
-                            to_return[ev_id] = ev
-                        else:
-                            db.append(ev_id)
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _calculate_state_delta(self, room_id, current_state):
+        """Calculate the new state deltas for a room.
 
-                    if db:
-                        evs = yield self.get_events(
-                            ev_ids, get_prev_content=False, check_redacted=False,
-                        )
-                        to_return.update(evs)
-                    defer.returnValue(to_return)
-
-                current_state = yield resolve_events_with_factory(
-                    state_sets,
-                    state_map_factory=get_events,
-                )
-        else:
-            return
+        Assumes that we are only persisting events for one room at a time.
 
+        Returns:
+            2-tuple (to_delete, to_insert) where both are state dicts,
+            i.e. (type, state_key) -> event_id. `to_delete` are the entries to
+            first be deleted from current_state_events, `to_insert` are entries
+            to insert.
+        """
         existing_state = yield self.get_current_state_ids(room_id)
 
         existing_events = set(existing_state.itervalues())
@@ -589,67 +598,11 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             if ev_id in events_to_insert
         }
 
-        defer.returnValue((to_delete, to_insert, current_state))
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def get_event(self, event_id, check_redacted=True,
-                  get_prev_content=False, allow_rejected=False,
-                  allow_none=False):
-        """Get an event from the database by event_id.
-
-        Args:
-            event_id (str): The event_id of the event to fetch
-            check_redacted (bool): If True, check if event has been redacted
-                and redact it.
-            get_prev_content (bool): If True and event is a state event,
-                include the previous states content in the unsigned field.
-            allow_rejected (bool): If True return rejected events.
-            allow_none (bool): If True, return None if no event found, if
-                False throw an exception.
-
-        Returns:
-            Deferred : A FrozenEvent.
-        """
-        events = yield self._get_events(
-            [event_id],
-            check_redacted=check_redacted,
-            get_prev_content=get_prev_content,
-            allow_rejected=allow_rejected,
-        )
-
-        if not events and not allow_none:
-            raise SynapseError(404, "Could not find event %s" % (event_id,))
-
-        defer.returnValue(events[0] if events else None)
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def get_events(self, event_ids, check_redacted=True,
-                   get_prev_content=False, allow_rejected=False):
-        """Get events from the database
-
-        Args:
-            event_ids (list): The event_ids of the events to fetch
-            check_redacted (bool): If True, check if event has been redacted
-                and redact it.
-            get_prev_content (bool): If True and event is a state event,
-                include the previous states content in the unsigned field.
-            allow_rejected (bool): If True return rejected events.
-
-        Returns:
-            Deferred : Dict from event_id to event.
-        """
-        events = yield self._get_events(
-            event_ids,
-            check_redacted=check_redacted,
-            get_prev_content=get_prev_content,
-            allow_rejected=allow_rejected,
-        )
-
-        defer.returnValue({e.event_id: e for e in events})
+        defer.returnValue((to_delete, to_insert))
 
     @log_function
     def _persist_events_txn(self, txn, events_and_contexts, backfilled,
-                            delete_existing=False, current_state_for_room={},
+                            delete_existing=False, state_delta_for_room={},
                             new_forward_extremeties={}):
         """Insert some number of room events into the necessary database tables.
 
@@ -665,7 +618,7 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             delete_existing (bool): True to purge existing table rows for the
                 events from the database. This is useful when retrying due to
                 IntegrityError.
-            current_state_for_room (dict[str, (list[str], list[str])]):
+            state_delta_for_room (dict[str, (list[str], list[str])]):
                 The current-state delta for each room. For each room, a tuple
                 (to_delete, to_insert), being a list of event ids to be removed
                 from the current state, and a list of event ids to be added to
@@ -675,9 +628,11 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 list of the event ids which are the forward extremities.
 
         """
+        all_events_and_contexts = events_and_contexts
+
         max_stream_order = events_and_contexts[-1][0].internal_metadata.stream_ordering
 
-        self._update_current_state_txn(txn, current_state_for_room, max_stream_order)
+        self._update_current_state_txn(txn, state_delta_for_room, max_stream_order)
 
         self._update_forward_extremities_txn(
             txn,
@@ -721,9 +676,8 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             events_and_contexts=events_and_contexts,
         )
 
-        # Insert into the state_groups, state_groups_state, and
-        # event_to_state_groups tables.
-        self._store_mult_state_groups_txn(txn, events_and_contexts)
+        # Insert into event_to_state_groups.
+        self._store_event_state_mappings_txn(txn, events_and_contexts)
 
         # _store_rejected_events_txn filters out any events which were
         # rejected, and returns the filtered list.
@@ -738,12 +692,13 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
         self._update_metadata_tables_txn(
             txn,
             events_and_contexts=events_and_contexts,
+            all_events_and_contexts=all_events_and_contexts,
             backfilled=backfilled,
         )
 
     def _update_current_state_txn(self, txn, state_delta_by_room, max_stream_order):
         for room_id, current_state_tuple in state_delta_by_room.iteritems():
-                to_delete, to_insert, _ = current_state_tuple
+                to_delete, to_insert = current_state_tuple
                 txn.executemany(
                     "DELETE FROM current_state_events WHERE event_id = ?",
                     [(ev_id,) for ev_id in to_delete.itervalues()],
@@ -800,7 +755,7 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
                 for member in members_changed:
                     self._invalidate_cache_and_stream(
-                        txn, self.get_rooms_for_user, (member,)
+                        txn, self.get_rooms_for_user_with_stream_ordering, (member,)
                     )
 
                 for host in set(get_domain_from_id(u) for u in members_changed):
@@ -958,10 +913,9 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 # an outlier in the database. We now have some state at that
                 # so we need to update the state_groups table with that state.
 
-                # insert into the state_group, state_groups_state and
-                # event_to_state_groups tables.
+                # insert into event_to_state_groups.
                 try:
-                    self._store_mult_state_groups_txn(txn, ((event, context),))
+                    self._store_event_state_mappings_txn(txn, ((event, context),))
                 except Exception:
                     logger.exception("")
                     raise
@@ -1136,27 +1090,33 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             ec for ec in events_and_contexts if ec[0] not in to_remove
         ]
 
-    def _update_metadata_tables_txn(self, txn, events_and_contexts, backfilled):
+    def _update_metadata_tables_txn(self, txn, events_and_contexts,
+                                    all_events_and_contexts, backfilled):
         """Update all the miscellaneous tables for new events
 
         Args:
             txn (twisted.enterprise.adbapi.Connection): db connection
             events_and_contexts (list[(EventBase, EventContext)]): events
                 we are persisting
+            all_events_and_contexts (list[(EventBase, EventContext)]): all
+                events that we were going to persist. This includes events
+                we've already persisted, etc, that wouldn't appear in
+                events_and_context.
             backfilled (bool): True if the events were backfilled
         """
 
+        # Insert all the push actions into the event_push_actions table.
+        self._set_push_actions_for_event_and_users_txn(
+            txn,
+            events_and_contexts=events_and_contexts,
+            all_events_and_contexts=all_events_and_contexts,
+        )
+
         if not events_and_contexts:
             # nothing to do here
             return
 
         for event, context in events_and_contexts:
-            # Insert all the push actions into the event_push_actions table.
-            if context.push_actions:
-                self._set_push_actions_for_event_and_users_txn(
-                    txn, event, context.push_actions
-                )
-
             if event.type == EventTypes.Redaction and event.redacts is not None:
                 # Remove the entries in the event_push_actions table for the
                 # redacted event.
@@ -1360,292 +1320,6 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "have_events", f,
         )
 
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _get_events(self, event_ids, check_redacted=True,
-                    get_prev_content=False, allow_rejected=False):
-        if not event_ids:
-            defer.returnValue([])
-
-        event_id_list = event_ids
-        event_ids = set(event_ids)
-
-        event_entry_map = self._get_events_from_cache(
-            event_ids,
-            allow_rejected=allow_rejected,
-        )
-
-        missing_events_ids = [e for e in event_ids if e not in event_entry_map]
-
-        if missing_events_ids:
-            missing_events = yield self._enqueue_events(
-                missing_events_ids,
-                check_redacted=check_redacted,
-                allow_rejected=allow_rejected,
-            )
-
-            event_entry_map.update(missing_events)
-
-        events = []
-        for event_id in event_id_list:
-            entry = event_entry_map.get(event_id, None)
-            if not entry:
-                continue
-
-            if allow_rejected or not entry.event.rejected_reason:
-                if check_redacted and entry.redacted_event:
-                    event = entry.redacted_event
-                else:
-                    event = entry.event
-
-                events.append(event)
-
-                if get_prev_content:
-                    if "replaces_state" in event.unsigned:
-                        prev = yield self.get_event(
-                            event.unsigned["replaces_state"],
-                            get_prev_content=False,
-                            allow_none=True,
-                        )
-                        if prev:
-                            event.unsigned = dict(event.unsigned)
-                            event.unsigned["prev_content"] = prev.content
-                            event.unsigned["prev_sender"] = prev.sender
-
-        defer.returnValue(events)
-
-    def _invalidate_get_event_cache(self, event_id):
-            self._get_event_cache.invalidate((event_id,))
-
-    def _get_events_from_cache(self, events, allow_rejected, update_metrics=True):
-        """Fetch events from the caches
-
-        Args:
-            events (list(str)): list of event_ids to fetch
-            allow_rejected (bool): Whether to teturn events that were rejected
-            update_metrics (bool): Whether to update the cache hit ratio metrics
-
-        Returns:
-            dict of event_id -> _EventCacheEntry for each event_id in cache. If
-            allow_rejected is `False` then there will still be an entry but it
-            will be `None`
-        """
-        event_map = {}
-
-        for event_id in events:
-            ret = self._get_event_cache.get(
-                (event_id,), None,
-                update_metrics=update_metrics,
-            )
-            if not ret:
-                continue
-
-            if allow_rejected or not ret.event.rejected_reason:
-                event_map[event_id] = ret
-            else:
-                event_map[event_id] = None
-
-        return event_map
-
-    def _do_fetch(self, conn):
-        """Takes a database connection and waits for requests for events from
-        the _event_fetch_list queue.
-        """
-        event_list = []
-        i = 0
-        while True:
-            try:
-                with self._event_fetch_lock:
-                    event_list = self._event_fetch_list
-                    self._event_fetch_list = []
-
-                    if not event_list:
-                        single_threaded = self.database_engine.single_threaded
-                        if single_threaded or i > EVENT_QUEUE_ITERATIONS:
-                            self._event_fetch_ongoing -= 1
-                            return
-                        else:
-                            self._event_fetch_lock.wait(EVENT_QUEUE_TIMEOUT_S)
-                            i += 1
-                            continue
-                    i = 0
-
-                event_id_lists = zip(*event_list)[0]
-                event_ids = [
-                    item for sublist in event_id_lists for item in sublist
-                ]
-
-                rows = self._new_transaction(
-                    conn, "do_fetch", [], [], None, self._fetch_event_rows, event_ids
-                )
-
-                row_dict = {
-                    r["event_id"]: r
-                    for r in rows
-                }
-
-                # We only want to resolve deferreds from the main thread
-                def fire(lst, res):
-                    for ids, d in lst:
-                        if not d.called:
-                            try:
-                                with PreserveLoggingContext():
-                                    d.callback([
-                                        res[i]
-                                        for i in ids
-                                        if i in res
-                                    ])
-                            except Exception:
-                                logger.exception("Failed to callback")
-                with PreserveLoggingContext():
-                    reactor.callFromThread(fire, event_list, row_dict)
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.exception("do_fetch")
-
-                # We only want to resolve deferreds from the main thread
-                def fire(evs):
-                    for _, d in evs:
-                        if not d.called:
-                            with PreserveLoggingContext():
-                                d.errback(e)
-
-                if event_list:
-                    with PreserveLoggingContext():
-                        reactor.callFromThread(fire, event_list)
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _enqueue_events(self, events, check_redacted=True, allow_rejected=False):
-        """Fetches events from the database using the _event_fetch_list. This
-        allows batch and bulk fetching of events - it allows us to fetch events
-        without having to create a new transaction for each request for events.
-        """
-        if not events:
-            defer.returnValue({})
-
-        events_d = defer.Deferred()
-        with self._event_fetch_lock:
-            self._event_fetch_list.append(
-                (events, events_d)
-            )
-
-            self._event_fetch_lock.notify()
-
-            if self._event_fetch_ongoing < EVENT_QUEUE_THREADS:
-                self._event_fetch_ongoing += 1
-                should_start = True
-            else:
-                should_start = False
-
-        if should_start:
-            with PreserveLoggingContext():
-                self.runWithConnection(
-                    self._do_fetch
-                )
-
-        logger.debug("Loading %d events", len(events))
-        with PreserveLoggingContext():
-            rows = yield events_d
-        logger.debug("Loaded %d events (%d rows)", len(events), len(rows))
-
-        if not allow_rejected:
-            rows[:] = [r for r in rows if not r["rejects"]]
-
-        res = yield make_deferred_yieldable(defer.gatherResults(
-            [
-                preserve_fn(self._get_event_from_row)(
-                    row["internal_metadata"], row["json"], row["redacts"],
-                    rejected_reason=row["rejects"],
-                )
-                for row in rows
-            ],
-            consumeErrors=True
-        ))
-
-        defer.returnValue({
-            e.event.event_id: e
-            for e in res if e
-        })
-
-    def _fetch_event_rows(self, txn, events):
-        rows = []
-        N = 200
-        for i in range(1 + len(events) / N):
-            evs = events[i * N:(i + 1) * N]
-            if not evs:
-                break
-
-            sql = (
-                "SELECT "
-                " e.event_id as event_id, "
-                " e.internal_metadata,"
-                " e.json,"
-                " r.redacts as redacts,"
-                " rej.event_id as rejects "
-                " FROM event_json as e"
-                " LEFT JOIN rejections as rej USING (event_id)"
-                " LEFT JOIN redactions as r ON e.event_id = r.redacts"
-                " WHERE e.event_id IN (%s)"
-            ) % (",".join(["?"] * len(evs)),)
-
-            txn.execute(sql, evs)
-            rows.extend(self.cursor_to_dict(txn))
-
-        return rows
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _get_event_from_row(self, internal_metadata, js, redacted,
-                            rejected_reason=None):
-        with Measure(self._clock, "_get_event_from_row"):
-            d = json.loads(js)
-            internal_metadata = json.loads(internal_metadata)
-
-            if rejected_reason:
-                rejected_reason = yield self._simple_select_one_onecol(
-                    table="rejections",
-                    keyvalues={"event_id": rejected_reason},
-                    retcol="reason",
-                    desc="_get_event_from_row_rejected_reason",
-                )
-
-            original_ev = FrozenEvent(
-                d,
-                internal_metadata_dict=internal_metadata,
-                rejected_reason=rejected_reason,
-            )
-
-            redacted_event = None
-            if redacted:
-                redacted_event = prune_event(original_ev)
-
-                redaction_id = yield self._simple_select_one_onecol(
-                    table="redactions",
-                    keyvalues={"redacts": redacted_event.event_id},
-                    retcol="event_id",
-                    desc="_get_event_from_row_redactions",
-                )
-
-                redacted_event.unsigned["redacted_by"] = redaction_id
-                # Get the redaction event.
-
-                because = yield self.get_event(
-                    redaction_id,
-                    check_redacted=False,
-                    allow_none=True,
-                )
-
-                if because:
-                    # It's fine to do add the event directly, since get_pdu_json
-                    # will serialise this field correctly
-                    redacted_event.unsigned["redacted_because"] = because
-
-            cache_entry = _EventCacheEntry(
-                event=original_ev,
-                redacted_event=redacted_event,
-            )
-
-            self._get_event_cache.prefill((original_ev.event_id,), cache_entry)
-
-        defer.returnValue(cache_entry)
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def count_daily_messages(self):
         """
@@ -2031,16 +1705,32 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             )
         return self.runInteraction("get_all_new_events", get_all_new_events_txn)
 
-    def delete_old_state(self, room_id, topological_ordering):
-        return self.runInteraction(
-            "delete_old_state",
-            self._delete_old_state_txn, room_id, topological_ordering
-        )
+    def purge_history(
+        self, room_id, topological_ordering, delete_local_events,
+    ):
+        """Deletes room history before a certain point
 
-    def _delete_old_state_txn(self, txn, room_id, topological_ordering):
-        """Deletes old room state
+        Args:
+            room_id (str):
+
+            topological_ordering (int):
+                minimum topo ordering to preserve
+
+            delete_local_events (bool):
+                if True, we will delete local events as well as remote ones
+                (instead of just marking them as outliers and deleting their
+                state groups).
         """
 
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "purge_history",
+            self._purge_history_txn, room_id, topological_ordering,
+            delete_local_events,
+        )
+
+    def _purge_history_txn(
+        self, txn, room_id, topological_ordering, delete_local_events,
+    ):
         # Tables that should be pruned:
         #     event_auth
         #     event_backward_extremities
@@ -2061,6 +1751,30 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
         #     state_groups
         #     state_groups_state
 
+        # we will build a temporary table listing the events so that we don't
+        # have to keep shovelling the list back and forth across the
+        # connection. Annoyingly the python sqlite driver commits the
+        # transaction on CREATE, so let's do this first.
+        #
+        # furthermore, we might already have the table from a previous (failed)
+        # purge attempt, so let's drop the table first.
+
+        txn.execute("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS events_to_purge")
+
+        txn.execute(
+            "CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE events_to_purge ("
+            "    event_id TEXT NOT NULL,"
+            "    should_delete BOOLEAN NOT NULL"
+            ")"
+        )
+
+        # create an index on should_delete because later we'll be looking for
+        # the should_delete / shouldn't_delete subsets
+        txn.execute(
+            "CREATE INDEX events_to_purge_should_delete"
+            " ON events_to_purge(should_delete)",
+        )
+
         # First ensure that we're not about to delete all the forward extremeties
         txn.execute(
             "SELECT e.event_id, e.depth FROM events as e "
@@ -2081,42 +1795,48 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 400, "topological_ordering is greater than forward extremeties"
             )
 
-        logger.debug("[purge] looking for events to delete")
+        logger.info("[purge] looking for events to delete")
+
+        should_delete_expr = "state_key IS NULL"
+        should_delete_params = ()
+        if not delete_local_events:
+            should_delete_expr += " AND event_id NOT LIKE ?"
+            should_delete_params += ("%:" + self.hs.hostname, )
+
+        should_delete_params += (room_id, topological_ordering)
 
         txn.execute(
-            "SELECT event_id, state_key FROM events"
-            " LEFT JOIN state_events USING (room_id, event_id)"
-            " WHERE room_id = ? AND topological_ordering < ?",
-            (room_id, topological_ordering,)
+            "INSERT INTO events_to_purge"
+            " SELECT event_id, %s"
+            " FROM events AS e LEFT JOIN state_events USING (event_id)"
+            " WHERE e.room_id = ? AND topological_ordering < ?" % (
+                should_delete_expr,
+            ),
+            should_delete_params,
+        )
+        txn.execute(
+            "SELECT event_id, should_delete FROM events_to_purge"
         )
         event_rows = txn.fetchall()
-
-        to_delete = [
-            (event_id,) for event_id, state_key in event_rows
-            if state_key is None and not self.hs.is_mine_id(event_id)
-        ]
         logger.info(
-            "[purge] found %i events before cutoff, of which %i are remote"
-            " non-state events to delete", len(event_rows), len(to_delete))
+            "[purge] found %i events before cutoff, of which %i can be deleted",
+            len(event_rows), sum(1 for e in event_rows if e[1]),
+        )
 
-        for event_id, state_key in event_rows:
-            txn.call_after(self._get_state_group_for_event.invalidate, (event_id,))
-
-        logger.debug("[purge] Finding new backward extremities")
+        logger.info("[purge] Finding new backward extremities")
 
         # We calculate the new entries for the backward extremeties by finding
         # all events that point to events that are to be purged
         txn.execute(
-            "SELECT DISTINCT e.event_id FROM events as e"
-            " INNER JOIN event_edges as ed ON e.event_id = ed.prev_event_id"
-            " INNER JOIN events as e2 ON e2.event_id = ed.event_id"
-            " WHERE e.room_id = ? AND e.topological_ordering < ?"
-            " AND e2.topological_ordering >= ?",
-            (room_id, topological_ordering, topological_ordering)
+            "SELECT DISTINCT e.event_id FROM events_to_purge AS e"
+            " INNER JOIN event_edges AS ed ON e.event_id = ed.prev_event_id"
+            " INNER JOIN events AS e2 ON e2.event_id = ed.event_id"
+            " WHERE e2.topological_ordering >= ?",
+            (topological_ordering, )
         )
         new_backwards_extrems = txn.fetchall()
 
-        logger.debug("[purge] replacing backward extremities: %r", new_backwards_extrems)
+        logger.info("[purge] replacing backward extremities: %r", new_backwards_extrems)
 
         txn.execute(
             "DELETE FROM event_backward_extremities WHERE room_id = ?",
@@ -2132,7 +1852,7 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             ]
         )
 
-        logger.debug("[purge] finding redundant state groups")
+        logger.info("[purge] finding redundant state groups")
 
         # Get all state groups that are only referenced by events that are
         # to be deleted.
@@ -2140,24 +1860,23 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "SELECT state_group FROM event_to_state_groups"
             " INNER JOIN events USING (event_id)"
             " WHERE state_group IN ("
-            "   SELECT DISTINCT state_group FROM events"
+            "   SELECT DISTINCT state_group FROM events_to_purge"
             "   INNER JOIN event_to_state_groups USING (event_id)"
-            "   WHERE room_id = ? AND topological_ordering < ?"
             " )"
             " GROUP BY state_group HAVING MAX(topological_ordering) < ?",
-            (room_id, topological_ordering, topological_ordering)
+            (topological_ordering, )
         )
 
         state_rows = txn.fetchall()
-        logger.debug("[purge] found %i redundant state groups", len(state_rows))
+        logger.info("[purge] found %i redundant state groups", len(state_rows))
 
         # make a set of the redundant state groups, so that we can look them up
         # efficiently
         state_groups_to_delete = set([sg for sg, in state_rows])
 
         # Now we get all the state groups that rely on these state groups
-        logger.debug("[purge] finding state groups which depend on redundant"
-                     " state groups")
+        logger.info("[purge] finding state groups which depend on redundant"
+                    " state groups")
         remaining_state_groups = []
         for i in xrange(0, len(state_rows), 100):
             chunk = [sg for sg, in state_rows[i:i + 100]]
@@ -2182,7 +1901,7 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
         # Now we turn the state groups that reference to-be-deleted state
         # groups to non delta versions.
         for sg in remaining_state_groups:
-            logger.debug("[purge] de-delta-ing remaining state group %s", sg)
+            logger.info("[purge] de-delta-ing remaining state group %s", sg)
             curr_state = self._get_state_groups_from_groups_txn(
                 txn, [sg], types=None
             )
@@ -2219,7 +1938,7 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 ],
             )
 
-        logger.debug("[purge] removing redundant state groups")
+        logger.info("[purge] removing redundant state groups")
         txn.executemany(
             "DELETE FROM state_groups_state WHERE state_group = ?",
             state_rows
@@ -2229,18 +1948,15 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             state_rows
         )
 
-        # Delete all non-state
-        logger.debug("[purge] removing events from event_to_state_groups")
-        txn.executemany(
-            "DELETE FROM event_to_state_groups WHERE event_id = ?",
-            [(event_id,) for event_id, _ in event_rows]
-        )
-
-        logger.debug("[purge] updating room_depth")
+        logger.info("[purge] removing events from event_to_state_groups")
         txn.execute(
-            "UPDATE room_depth SET min_depth = ? WHERE room_id = ?",
-            (topological_ordering, room_id,)
+            "DELETE FROM event_to_state_groups "
+            "WHERE event_id IN (SELECT event_id from events_to_purge)"
         )
+        for event_id, _ in event_rows:
+            txn.call_after(self._get_state_group_for_event.invalidate, (
+                event_id,
+            ))
 
         # Delete all remote non-state events
         for table in (
@@ -2252,28 +1968,60 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "event_edge_hashes",
             "event_edges",
             "event_forward_extremities",
-            "event_push_actions",
             "event_reference_hashes",
             "event_search",
             "event_signatures",
             "rejections",
         ):
-            logger.debug("[purge] removing remote non-state events from %s", table)
+            logger.info("[purge] removing events from %s", table)
 
-            txn.executemany(
-                "DELETE FROM %s WHERE event_id = ?" % (table,),
-                to_delete
+            txn.execute(
+                "DELETE FROM %s WHERE event_id IN ("
+                "    SELECT event_id FROM events_to_purge WHERE should_delete"
+                ")" % (table,),
+            )
+
+        # event_push_actions lacks an index on event_id, and has one on
+        # (room_id, event_id) instead.
+        for table in (
+            "event_push_actions",
+        ):
+            logger.info("[purge] removing events from %s", table)
+
+            txn.execute(
+                "DELETE FROM %s WHERE room_id = ? AND event_id IN ("
+                "    SELECT event_id FROM events_to_purge WHERE should_delete"
+                ")" % (table,),
+                (room_id, )
             )
 
         # Mark all state and own events as outliers
-        logger.debug("[purge] marking remaining events as outliers")
-        txn.executemany(
+        logger.info("[purge] marking remaining events as outliers")
+        txn.execute(
             "UPDATE events SET outlier = ?"
-            " WHERE event_id = ?",
-            [
-                (True, event_id,) for event_id, state_key in event_rows
-                if state_key is not None or self.hs.is_mine_id(event_id)
-            ]
+            " WHERE event_id IN ("
+            "    SELECT event_id FROM events_to_purge "
+            "    WHERE NOT should_delete"
+            ")",
+            (True,),
+        )
+
+        # synapse tries to take out an exclusive lock on room_depth whenever it
+        # persists events (because upsert), and once we run this update, we
+        # will block that for the rest of our transaction.
+        #
+        # So, let's stick it at the end so that we don't block event
+        # persistence.
+        logger.info("[purge] updating room_depth")
+        txn.execute(
+            "UPDATE room_depth SET min_depth = ? WHERE room_id = ?",
+            (topological_ordering, room_id,)
+        )
+
+        # finally, drop the temp table. this will commit the txn in sqlite,
+        # so make sure to keep this actually last.
+        txn.execute(
+            "DROP TABLE events_to_purge"
         )
 
         logger.info("[purge] done")
@@ -2286,7 +2034,7 @@ class EventsStore(SQLBaseStore):
         to_2, so_2 = yield self._get_event_ordering(event_id2)
         defer.returnValue((to_1, so_1) > (to_2, so_2))
 
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    @cachedInlineCallbacks(max_entries=5000)
     def _get_event_ordering(self, event_id):
         res = yield self._simple_select_one(
             table="events",
diff --git a/synapse/storage/events_worker.py b/synapse/storage/events_worker.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..86c3b48ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/storage/events_worker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,395 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+from ._base import SQLBaseStore
+
+from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
+
+from synapse.events import FrozenEvent
+from synapse.events.utils import prune_event
+
+from synapse.util.logcontext import (
+    preserve_fn, PreserveLoggingContext, make_deferred_yieldable
+)
+from synapse.util.metrics import Measure
+from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
+
+from collections import namedtuple
+
+import logging
+import ujson as json
+
+# these are only included to make the type annotations work
+from synapse.events import EventBase    # noqa: F401
+from synapse.events.snapshot import EventContext   # noqa: F401
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+# These values are used in the `enqueus_event` and `_do_fetch` methods to
+# control how we batch/bulk fetch events from the database.
+# The values are plucked out of thing air to make initial sync run faster
+# on jki.re
+# TODO: Make these configurable.
+EVENT_QUEUE_THREADS = 3  # Max number of threads that will fetch events
+EVENT_QUEUE_ITERATIONS = 3  # No. times we block waiting for requests for events
+EVENT_QUEUE_TIMEOUT_S = 0.1  # Timeout when waiting for requests for events
+
+
+_EventCacheEntry = namedtuple("_EventCacheEntry", ("event", "redacted_event"))
+
+
+class EventsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def get_event(self, event_id, check_redacted=True,
+                  get_prev_content=False, allow_rejected=False,
+                  allow_none=False):
+        """Get an event from the database by event_id.
+
+        Args:
+            event_id (str): The event_id of the event to fetch
+            check_redacted (bool): If True, check if event has been redacted
+                and redact it.
+            get_prev_content (bool): If True and event is a state event,
+                include the previous states content in the unsigned field.
+            allow_rejected (bool): If True return rejected events.
+            allow_none (bool): If True, return None if no event found, if
+                False throw an exception.
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred : A FrozenEvent.
+        """
+        events = yield self._get_events(
+            [event_id],
+            check_redacted=check_redacted,
+            get_prev_content=get_prev_content,
+            allow_rejected=allow_rejected,
+        )
+
+        if not events and not allow_none:
+            raise SynapseError(404, "Could not find event %s" % (event_id,))
+
+        defer.returnValue(events[0] if events else None)
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def get_events(self, event_ids, check_redacted=True,
+                   get_prev_content=False, allow_rejected=False):
+        """Get events from the database
+
+        Args:
+            event_ids (list): The event_ids of the events to fetch
+            check_redacted (bool): If True, check if event has been redacted
+                and redact it.
+            get_prev_content (bool): If True and event is a state event,
+                include the previous states content in the unsigned field.
+            allow_rejected (bool): If True return rejected events.
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred : Dict from event_id to event.
+        """
+        events = yield self._get_events(
+            event_ids,
+            check_redacted=check_redacted,
+            get_prev_content=get_prev_content,
+            allow_rejected=allow_rejected,
+        )
+
+        defer.returnValue({e.event_id: e for e in events})
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _get_events(self, event_ids, check_redacted=True,
+                    get_prev_content=False, allow_rejected=False):
+        if not event_ids:
+            defer.returnValue([])
+
+        event_id_list = event_ids
+        event_ids = set(event_ids)
+
+        event_entry_map = self._get_events_from_cache(
+            event_ids,
+            allow_rejected=allow_rejected,
+        )
+
+        missing_events_ids = [e for e in event_ids if e not in event_entry_map]
+
+        if missing_events_ids:
+            missing_events = yield self._enqueue_events(
+                missing_events_ids,
+                check_redacted=check_redacted,
+                allow_rejected=allow_rejected,
+            )
+
+            event_entry_map.update(missing_events)
+
+        events = []
+        for event_id in event_id_list:
+            entry = event_entry_map.get(event_id, None)
+            if not entry:
+                continue
+
+            if allow_rejected or not entry.event.rejected_reason:
+                if check_redacted and entry.redacted_event:
+                    event = entry.redacted_event
+                else:
+                    event = entry.event
+
+                events.append(event)
+
+                if get_prev_content:
+                    if "replaces_state" in event.unsigned:
+                        prev = yield self.get_event(
+                            event.unsigned["replaces_state"],
+                            get_prev_content=False,
+                            allow_none=True,
+                        )
+                        if prev:
+                            event.unsigned = dict(event.unsigned)
+                            event.unsigned["prev_content"] = prev.content
+                            event.unsigned["prev_sender"] = prev.sender
+
+        defer.returnValue(events)
+
+    def _invalidate_get_event_cache(self, event_id):
+            self._get_event_cache.invalidate((event_id,))
+
+    def _get_events_from_cache(self, events, allow_rejected, update_metrics=True):
+        """Fetch events from the caches
+
+        Args:
+            events (list(str)): list of event_ids to fetch
+            allow_rejected (bool): Whether to teturn events that were rejected
+            update_metrics (bool): Whether to update the cache hit ratio metrics
+
+        Returns:
+            dict of event_id -> _EventCacheEntry for each event_id in cache. If
+            allow_rejected is `False` then there will still be an entry but it
+            will be `None`
+        """
+        event_map = {}
+
+        for event_id in events:
+            ret = self._get_event_cache.get(
+                (event_id,), None,
+                update_metrics=update_metrics,
+            )
+            if not ret:
+                continue
+
+            if allow_rejected or not ret.event.rejected_reason:
+                event_map[event_id] = ret
+            else:
+                event_map[event_id] = None
+
+        return event_map
+
+    def _do_fetch(self, conn):
+        """Takes a database connection and waits for requests for events from
+        the _event_fetch_list queue.
+        """
+        event_list = []
+        i = 0
+        while True:
+            try:
+                with self._event_fetch_lock:
+                    event_list = self._event_fetch_list
+                    self._event_fetch_list = []
+
+                    if not event_list:
+                        single_threaded = self.database_engine.single_threaded
+                        if single_threaded or i > EVENT_QUEUE_ITERATIONS:
+                            self._event_fetch_ongoing -= 1
+                            return
+                        else:
+                            self._event_fetch_lock.wait(EVENT_QUEUE_TIMEOUT_S)
+                            i += 1
+                            continue
+                    i = 0
+
+                event_id_lists = zip(*event_list)[0]
+                event_ids = [
+                    item for sublist in event_id_lists for item in sublist
+                ]
+
+                rows = self._new_transaction(
+                    conn, "do_fetch", [], [], None, self._fetch_event_rows, event_ids
+                )
+
+                row_dict = {
+                    r["event_id"]: r
+                    for r in rows
+                }
+
+                # We only want to resolve deferreds from the main thread
+                def fire(lst, res):
+                    for ids, d in lst:
+                        if not d.called:
+                            try:
+                                with PreserveLoggingContext():
+                                    d.callback([
+                                        res[i]
+                                        for i in ids
+                                        if i in res
+                                    ])
+                            except Exception:
+                                logger.exception("Failed to callback")
+                with PreserveLoggingContext():
+                    reactor.callFromThread(fire, event_list, row_dict)
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.exception("do_fetch")
+
+                # We only want to resolve deferreds from the main thread
+                def fire(evs):
+                    for _, d in evs:
+                        if not d.called:
+                            with PreserveLoggingContext():
+                                d.errback(e)
+
+                if event_list:
+                    with PreserveLoggingContext():
+                        reactor.callFromThread(fire, event_list)
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _enqueue_events(self, events, check_redacted=True, allow_rejected=False):
+        """Fetches events from the database using the _event_fetch_list. This
+        allows batch and bulk fetching of events - it allows us to fetch events
+        without having to create a new transaction for each request for events.
+        """
+        if not events:
+            defer.returnValue({})
+
+        events_d = defer.Deferred()
+        with self._event_fetch_lock:
+            self._event_fetch_list.append(
+                (events, events_d)
+            )
+
+            self._event_fetch_lock.notify()
+
+            if self._event_fetch_ongoing < EVENT_QUEUE_THREADS:
+                self._event_fetch_ongoing += 1
+                should_start = True
+            else:
+                should_start = False
+
+        if should_start:
+            with PreserveLoggingContext():
+                self.runWithConnection(
+                    self._do_fetch
+                )
+
+        logger.debug("Loading %d events", len(events))
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            rows = yield events_d
+        logger.debug("Loaded %d events (%d rows)", len(events), len(rows))
+
+        if not allow_rejected:
+            rows[:] = [r for r in rows if not r["rejects"]]
+
+        res = yield make_deferred_yieldable(defer.gatherResults(
+            [
+                preserve_fn(self._get_event_from_row)(
+                    row["internal_metadata"], row["json"], row["redacts"],
+                    rejected_reason=row["rejects"],
+                )
+                for row in rows
+            ],
+            consumeErrors=True
+        ))
+
+        defer.returnValue({
+            e.event.event_id: e
+            for e in res if e
+        })
+
+    def _fetch_event_rows(self, txn, events):
+        rows = []
+        N = 200
+        for i in range(1 + len(events) / N):
+            evs = events[i * N:(i + 1) * N]
+            if not evs:
+                break
+
+            sql = (
+                "SELECT "
+                " e.event_id as event_id, "
+                " e.internal_metadata,"
+                " e.json,"
+                " r.redacts as redacts,"
+                " rej.event_id as rejects "
+                " FROM event_json as e"
+                " LEFT JOIN rejections as rej USING (event_id)"
+                " LEFT JOIN redactions as r ON e.event_id = r.redacts"
+                " WHERE e.event_id IN (%s)"
+            ) % (",".join(["?"] * len(evs)),)
+
+            txn.execute(sql, evs)
+            rows.extend(self.cursor_to_dict(txn))
+
+        return rows
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _get_event_from_row(self, internal_metadata, js, redacted,
+                            rejected_reason=None):
+        with Measure(self._clock, "_get_event_from_row"):
+            d = json.loads(js)
+            internal_metadata = json.loads(internal_metadata)
+
+            if rejected_reason:
+                rejected_reason = yield self._simple_select_one_onecol(
+                    table="rejections",
+                    keyvalues={"event_id": rejected_reason},
+                    retcol="reason",
+                    desc="_get_event_from_row_rejected_reason",
+                )
+
+            original_ev = FrozenEvent(
+                d,
+                internal_metadata_dict=internal_metadata,
+                rejected_reason=rejected_reason,
+            )
+
+            redacted_event = None
+            if redacted:
+                redacted_event = prune_event(original_ev)
+
+                redaction_id = yield self._simple_select_one_onecol(
+                    table="redactions",
+                    keyvalues={"redacts": redacted_event.event_id},
+                    retcol="event_id",
+                    desc="_get_event_from_row_redactions",
+                )
+
+                redacted_event.unsigned["redacted_by"] = redaction_id
+                # Get the redaction event.
+
+                because = yield self.get_event(
+                    redaction_id,
+                    check_redacted=False,
+                    allow_none=True,
+                )
+
+                if because:
+                    # It's fine to do add the event directly, since get_pdu_json
+                    # will serialise this field correctly
+                    redacted_event.unsigned["redacted_because"] = because
+
+            cache_entry = _EventCacheEntry(
+                event=original_ev,
+                redacted_event=redacted_event,
+            )
+
+            self._get_event_cache.prefill((original_ev.event_id,), cache_entry)
+
+        defer.returnValue(cache_entry)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/push_rule.py b/synapse/storage/push_rule.py
index 8758b1c0c..04a0b59a3 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/push_rule.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/push_rule.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,11 +15,17 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 from ._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage.appservice import ApplicationServiceWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.pusher import PusherWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.receipts import ReceiptsWorkerStore
+from synapse.storage.roommember import RoomMemberWorkerStore
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cachedInlineCallbacks, cachedList
+from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
 from synapse.push.baserules import list_with_base_rules
 from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
+import abc
 import logging
 import simplejson as json
 
@@ -48,7 +55,43 @@ def _load_rules(rawrules, enabled_map):
     return rules
 
 
-class PushRuleStore(SQLBaseStore):
+class PushRulesWorkerStore(ApplicationServiceWorkerStore,
+                           ReceiptsWorkerStore,
+                           PusherWorkerStore,
+                           RoomMemberWorkerStore,
+                           SQLBaseStore):
+    """This is an abstract base class where subclasses must implement
+    `get_max_push_rules_stream_id` which can be called in the initializer.
+    """
+
+    # This ABCMeta metaclass ensures that we cannot be instantiated without
+    # the abstract methods being implemented.
+    __metaclass__ = abc.ABCMeta
+
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        super(PushRulesWorkerStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+
+        push_rules_prefill, push_rules_id = self._get_cache_dict(
+            db_conn, "push_rules_stream",
+            entity_column="user_id",
+            stream_column="stream_id",
+            max_value=self.get_max_push_rules_stream_id(),
+        )
+
+        self.push_rules_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
+            "PushRulesStreamChangeCache", push_rules_id,
+            prefilled_cache=push_rules_prefill,
+        )
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_max_push_rules_stream_id(self):
+        """Get the position of the push rules stream.
+
+        Returns:
+            int
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
     @cachedInlineCallbacks(max_entries=5000)
     def get_push_rules_for_user(self, user_id):
         rows = yield self._simple_select_list(
@@ -89,6 +132,22 @@ class PushRuleStore(SQLBaseStore):
             r['rule_id']: False if r['enabled'] == 0 else True for r in results
         })
 
+    def have_push_rules_changed_for_user(self, user_id, last_id):
+        if not self.push_rules_stream_cache.has_entity_changed(user_id, last_id):
+            return defer.succeed(False)
+        else:
+            def have_push_rules_changed_txn(txn):
+                sql = (
+                    "SELECT COUNT(stream_id) FROM push_rules_stream"
+                    " WHERE user_id = ? AND ? < stream_id"
+                )
+                txn.execute(sql, (user_id, last_id))
+                count, = txn.fetchone()
+                return bool(count)
+            return self.runInteraction(
+                "have_push_rules_changed", have_push_rules_changed_txn
+            )
+
     @cachedList(cached_method_name="get_push_rules_for_user",
                 list_name="user_ids", num_args=1, inlineCallbacks=True)
     def bulk_get_push_rules(self, user_ids):
@@ -228,6 +287,8 @@ class PushRuleStore(SQLBaseStore):
             results.setdefault(row['user_name'], {})[row['rule_id']] = enabled
         defer.returnValue(results)
 
+
+class PushRuleStore(PushRulesWorkerStore):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def add_push_rule(
         self, user_id, rule_id, priority_class, conditions, actions,
@@ -526,21 +587,8 @@ class PushRuleStore(SQLBaseStore):
         room stream ordering it corresponds to."""
         return self._push_rules_stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
 
-    def have_push_rules_changed_for_user(self, user_id, last_id):
-        if not self.push_rules_stream_cache.has_entity_changed(user_id, last_id):
-            return defer.succeed(False)
-        else:
-            def have_push_rules_changed_txn(txn):
-                sql = (
-                    "SELECT COUNT(stream_id) FROM push_rules_stream"
-                    " WHERE user_id = ? AND ? < stream_id"
-                )
-                txn.execute(sql, (user_id, last_id))
-                count, = txn.fetchone()
-                return bool(count)
-            return self.runInteraction(
-                "have_push_rules_changed", have_push_rules_changed_txn
-            )
+    def get_max_push_rules_stream_id(self):
+        return self.get_push_rules_stream_token()[0]
 
 
 class RuleNotFoundException(Exception):
diff --git a/synapse/storage/pusher.py b/synapse/storage/pusher.py
index 3d8b4d5d5..307660b99 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/pusher.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/pusher.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ import types
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class PusherStore(SQLBaseStore):
+class PusherWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
     def _decode_pushers_rows(self, rows):
         for r in rows:
             dataJson = r['data']
@@ -102,9 +103,6 @@ class PusherStore(SQLBaseStore):
         rows = yield self.runInteraction("get_all_pushers", get_pushers)
         defer.returnValue(rows)
 
-    def get_pushers_stream_token(self):
-        return self._pushers_id_gen.get_current_token()
-
     def get_all_updated_pushers(self, last_id, current_id, limit):
         if last_id == current_id:
             return defer.succeed(([], []))
@@ -198,6 +196,11 @@ class PusherStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(result)
 
+
+class PusherStore(PusherWorkerStore):
+    def get_pushers_stream_token(self):
+        return self._pushers_id_gen.get_current_token()
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def add_pusher(self, user_id, access_token, kind, app_id,
                    app_display_name, device_display_name,
@@ -230,14 +233,18 @@ class PusherStore(SQLBaseStore):
             )
 
             if newly_inserted:
-                # get_if_user_has_pusher only cares if the user has
-                # at least *one* pusher.
-                self.get_if_user_has_pusher.invalidate(user_id,)
+                self.runInteraction(
+                    "add_pusher",
+                    self._invalidate_cache_and_stream,
+                    self.get_if_user_has_pusher, (user_id,)
+                )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def delete_pusher_by_app_id_pushkey_user_id(self, app_id, pushkey, user_id):
         def delete_pusher_txn(txn, stream_id):
-            txn.call_after(self.get_if_user_has_pusher.invalidate, (user_id,))
+            self._invalidate_cache_and_stream(
+                txn, self.get_if_user_has_pusher, (user_id,)
+            )
 
             self._simple_delete_one_txn(
                 txn,
diff --git a/synapse/storage/receipts.py b/synapse/storage/receipts.py
index 12b3cc7f5..eac8694e0 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/receipts.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/receipts.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,11 +15,13 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 from ._base import SQLBaseStore
+from .util.id_generators import StreamIdGenerator
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cachedInlineCallbacks, cachedList, cached
 from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
+import abc
 import logging
 import ujson as json
 
@@ -26,39 +29,36 @@ import ujson as json
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class ReceiptsStore(SQLBaseStore):
+class ReceiptsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
+    """This is an abstract base class where subclasses must implement
+    `get_max_receipt_stream_id` which can be called in the initializer.
+    """
+
+    # This ABCMeta metaclass ensures that we cannot be instantiated without
+    # the abstract methods being implemented.
+    __metaclass__ = abc.ABCMeta
+
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(ReceiptsStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+        super(ReceiptsWorkerStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
         self._receipts_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
-            "ReceiptsRoomChangeCache", self._receipts_id_gen.get_current_token()
+            "ReceiptsRoomChangeCache", self.get_max_receipt_stream_id()
         )
 
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_max_receipt_stream_id(self):
+        """Get the current max stream ID for receipts stream
+
+        Returns:
+            int
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
     @cachedInlineCallbacks()
     def get_users_with_read_receipts_in_room(self, room_id):
         receipts = yield self.get_receipts_for_room(room_id, "m.read")
         defer.returnValue(set(r['user_id'] for r in receipts))
 
-    def _invalidate_get_users_with_receipts_in_room(self, room_id, receipt_type,
-                                                    user_id):
-        if receipt_type != "m.read":
-            return
-
-        # Returns an ObservableDeferred
-        res = self.get_users_with_read_receipts_in_room.cache.get(
-            room_id, None, update_metrics=False,
-        )
-
-        if res:
-            if isinstance(res, defer.Deferred) and res.called:
-                res = res.result
-            if user_id in res:
-                # We'd only be adding to the set, so no point invalidating if the
-                # user is already there
-                return
-
-        self.get_users_with_read_receipts_in_room.invalidate((room_id,))
-
     @cached(num_args=2)
     def get_receipts_for_room(self, room_id, receipt_type):
         return self._simple_select_list(
@@ -270,6 +270,59 @@ class ReceiptsStore(SQLBaseStore):
         }
         defer.returnValue(results)
 
+    def get_all_updated_receipts(self, last_id, current_id, limit=None):
+        if last_id == current_id:
+            return defer.succeed([])
+
+        def get_all_updated_receipts_txn(txn):
+            sql = (
+                "SELECT stream_id, room_id, receipt_type, user_id, event_id, data"
+                " FROM receipts_linearized"
+                " WHERE ? < stream_id AND stream_id <= ?"
+                " ORDER BY stream_id ASC"
+            )
+            args = [last_id, current_id]
+            if limit is not None:
+                sql += " LIMIT ?"
+                args.append(limit)
+            txn.execute(sql, args)
+
+            return txn.fetchall()
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "get_all_updated_receipts", get_all_updated_receipts_txn
+        )
+
+    def _invalidate_get_users_with_receipts_in_room(self, room_id, receipt_type,
+                                                    user_id):
+        if receipt_type != "m.read":
+            return
+
+        # Returns an ObservableDeferred
+        res = self.get_users_with_read_receipts_in_room.cache.get(
+            room_id, None, update_metrics=False,
+        )
+
+        if res:
+            if isinstance(res, defer.Deferred) and res.called:
+                res = res.result
+            if user_id in res:
+                # We'd only be adding to the set, so no point invalidating if the
+                # user is already there
+                return
+
+        self.get_users_with_read_receipts_in_room.invalidate((room_id,))
+
+
+class ReceiptsStore(ReceiptsWorkerStore):
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        # We instantiate this first as the ReceiptsWorkerStore constructor
+        # needs to be able to call get_max_receipt_stream_id
+        self._receipts_id_gen = StreamIdGenerator(
+            db_conn, "receipts_linearized", "stream_id"
+        )
+
+        super(ReceiptsStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+
     def get_max_receipt_stream_id(self):
         return self._receipts_id_gen.get_current_token()
 
@@ -457,25 +510,3 @@ class ReceiptsStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 "data": json.dumps(data),
             }
         )
-
-    def get_all_updated_receipts(self, last_id, current_id, limit=None):
-        if last_id == current_id:
-            return defer.succeed([])
-
-        def get_all_updated_receipts_txn(txn):
-            sql = (
-                "SELECT stream_id, room_id, receipt_type, user_id, event_id, data"
-                " FROM receipts_linearized"
-                " WHERE ? < stream_id AND stream_id <= ?"
-                " ORDER BY stream_id ASC"
-            )
-            args = [last_id, current_id]
-            if limit is not None:
-                sql += " LIMIT ?"
-                args.append(limit)
-            txn.execute(sql, args)
-
-            return txn.fetchall()
-        return self.runInteraction(
-            "get_all_updated_receipts", get_all_updated_receipts_txn
-        )
diff --git a/synapse/storage/registration.py b/synapse/storage/registration.py
index 3aa810981..d809b2ba4 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/registration.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/registration.py
@@ -19,10 +19,70 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api.errors import StoreError, Codes
 from synapse.storage import background_updates
+from synapse.storage._base import SQLBaseStore
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached, cachedInlineCallbacks
 
 
-class RegistrationStore(background_updates.BackgroundUpdateStore):
+class RegistrationWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
+    @cached()
+    def get_user_by_id(self, user_id):
+        return self._simple_select_one(
+            table="users",
+            keyvalues={
+                "name": user_id,
+            },
+            retcols=["name", "password_hash", "is_guest"],
+            allow_none=True,
+            desc="get_user_by_id",
+        )
+
+    @cached()
+    def get_user_by_access_token(self, token):
+        """Get a user from the given access token.
+
+        Args:
+            token (str): The access token of a user.
+        Returns:
+            defer.Deferred: None, if the token did not match, otherwise dict
+                including the keys `name`, `is_guest`, `device_id`, `token_id`.
+        """
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "get_user_by_access_token",
+            self._query_for_auth,
+            token
+        )
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def is_server_admin(self, user):
+        res = yield self._simple_select_one_onecol(
+            table="users",
+            keyvalues={"name": user.to_string()},
+            retcol="admin",
+            allow_none=True,
+            desc="is_server_admin",
+        )
+
+        defer.returnValue(res if res else False)
+
+    def _query_for_auth(self, txn, token):
+        sql = (
+            "SELECT users.name, users.is_guest, access_tokens.id as token_id,"
+            " access_tokens.device_id"
+            " FROM users"
+            " INNER JOIN access_tokens on users.name = access_tokens.user_id"
+            " WHERE token = ?"
+        )
+
+        txn.execute(sql, (token,))
+        rows = self.cursor_to_dict(txn)
+        if rows:
+            return rows[0]
+
+        return None
+
+
+class RegistrationStore(RegistrationWorkerStore,
+                        background_updates.BackgroundUpdateStore):
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
         super(RegistrationStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
@@ -39,12 +99,7 @@ class RegistrationStore(background_updates.BackgroundUpdateStore):
         # we no longer use refresh tokens, but it's possible that some people
         # might have a background update queued to build this index. Just
         # clear the background update.
-        @defer.inlineCallbacks
-        def noop_update(progress, batch_size):
-            yield self._end_background_update("refresh_tokens_device_index")
-            defer.returnValue(1)
-        self.register_background_update_handler(
-            "refresh_tokens_device_index", noop_update)
+        self.register_noop_background_update("refresh_tokens_device_index")
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def add_access_token_to_user(self, user_id, token, device_id=None):
@@ -192,18 +247,6 @@ class RegistrationStore(background_updates.BackgroundUpdateStore):
         )
         txn.call_after(self.is_guest.invalidate, (user_id,))
 
-    @cached()
-    def get_user_by_id(self, user_id):
-        return self._simple_select_one(
-            table="users",
-            keyvalues={
-                "name": user_id,
-            },
-            retcols=["name", "password_hash", "is_guest"],
-            allow_none=True,
-            desc="get_user_by_id",
-        )
-
     def get_users_by_id_case_insensitive(self, user_id):
         """Gets users that match user_id case insensitively.
         Returns a mapping of user_id -> password_hash.
@@ -309,34 +352,6 @@ class RegistrationStore(background_updates.BackgroundUpdateStore):
 
         return self.runInteraction("delete_access_token", f)
 
-    @cached()
-    def get_user_by_access_token(self, token):
-        """Get a user from the given access token.
-
-        Args:
-            token (str): The access token of a user.
-        Returns:
-            defer.Deferred: None, if the token did not match, otherwise dict
-                including the keys `name`, `is_guest`, `device_id`, `token_id`.
-        """
-        return self.runInteraction(
-            "get_user_by_access_token",
-            self._query_for_auth,
-            token
-        )
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def is_server_admin(self, user):
-        res = yield self._simple_select_one_onecol(
-            table="users",
-            keyvalues={"name": user.to_string()},
-            retcol="admin",
-            allow_none=True,
-            desc="is_server_admin",
-        )
-
-        defer.returnValue(res if res else False)
-
     @cachedInlineCallbacks()
     def is_guest(self, user_id):
         res = yield self._simple_select_one_onecol(
@@ -349,22 +364,6 @@ class RegistrationStore(background_updates.BackgroundUpdateStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(res if res else False)
 
-    def _query_for_auth(self, txn, token):
-        sql = (
-            "SELECT users.name, users.is_guest, access_tokens.id as token_id,"
-            " access_tokens.device_id"
-            " FROM users"
-            " INNER JOIN access_tokens on users.name = access_tokens.user_id"
-            " WHERE token = ?"
-        )
-
-        txn.execute(sql, (token,))
-        rows = self.cursor_to_dict(txn)
-        if rows:
-            return rows[0]
-
-        return None
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def user_add_threepid(self, user_id, medium, address, validated_at, added_at):
         yield self._simple_upsert("user_threepids", {
diff --git a/synapse/storage/room.py b/synapse/storage/room.py
index 23688430b..7f2c08d7a 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/room.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/room.py
@@ -16,11 +16,10 @@
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api.errors import StoreError
+from synapse.storage._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage.search import SearchStore
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached, cachedInlineCallbacks
 
-from ._base import SQLBaseStore
-from .engines import PostgresEngine, Sqlite3Engine
-
 import collections
 import logging
 import ujson as json
@@ -40,7 +39,126 @@ RatelimitOverride = collections.namedtuple(
 )
 
 
-class RoomStore(SQLBaseStore):
+class RoomWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
+    def get_public_room_ids(self):
+        return self._simple_select_onecol(
+            table="rooms",
+            keyvalues={
+                "is_public": True,
+            },
+            retcol="room_id",
+            desc="get_public_room_ids",
+        )
+
+    @cached(num_args=2, max_entries=100)
+    def get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id(self, stream_id, network_tuple):
+        """Get pulbic rooms for a particular list, or across all lists.
+
+        Args:
+            stream_id (int)
+            network_tuple (ThirdPartyInstanceID): The list to use (None, None)
+                means the main list, None means all lsits.
+        """
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id",
+            self.get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id_txn,
+            stream_id, network_tuple=network_tuple
+        )
+
+    def get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id_txn(self, txn, stream_id,
+                                             network_tuple):
+        return {
+            rm
+            for rm, vis in self.get_published_at_stream_id_txn(
+                txn, stream_id, network_tuple=network_tuple
+            ).items()
+            if vis
+        }
+
+    def get_published_at_stream_id_txn(self, txn, stream_id, network_tuple):
+        if network_tuple:
+            # We want to get from a particular list. No aggregation required.
+
+            sql = ("""
+                SELECT room_id, visibility FROM public_room_list_stream
+                INNER JOIN (
+                    SELECT room_id, max(stream_id) AS stream_id
+                    FROM public_room_list_stream
+                    WHERE stream_id <= ? %s
+                    GROUP BY room_id
+                ) grouped USING (room_id, stream_id)
+            """)
+
+            if network_tuple.appservice_id is not None:
+                txn.execute(
+                    sql % ("AND appservice_id = ? AND network_id = ?",),
+                    (stream_id, network_tuple.appservice_id, network_tuple.network_id,)
+                )
+            else:
+                txn.execute(
+                    sql % ("AND appservice_id IS NULL",),
+                    (stream_id,)
+                )
+            return dict(txn)
+        else:
+            # We want to get from all lists, so we need to aggregate the results
+
+            logger.info("Executing full list")
+
+            sql = ("""
+                SELECT room_id, visibility
+                FROM public_room_list_stream
+                INNER JOIN (
+                    SELECT
+                        room_id, max(stream_id) AS stream_id, appservice_id,
+                        network_id
+                    FROM public_room_list_stream
+                    WHERE stream_id <= ?
+                    GROUP BY room_id, appservice_id, network_id
+                ) grouped USING (room_id, stream_id)
+            """)
+
+            txn.execute(
+                sql,
+                (stream_id,)
+            )
+
+            results = {}
+            # A room is visible if its visible on any list.
+            for room_id, visibility in txn:
+                results[room_id] = bool(visibility) or results.get(room_id, False)
+
+            return results
+
+    def get_public_room_changes(self, prev_stream_id, new_stream_id,
+                                network_tuple):
+        def get_public_room_changes_txn(txn):
+            then_rooms = self.get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id_txn(
+                txn, prev_stream_id, network_tuple
+            )
+
+            now_rooms_dict = self.get_published_at_stream_id_txn(
+                txn, new_stream_id, network_tuple
+            )
+
+            now_rooms_visible = set(
+                rm for rm, vis in now_rooms_dict.items() if vis
+            )
+            now_rooms_not_visible = set(
+                rm for rm, vis in now_rooms_dict.items() if not vis
+            )
+
+            newly_visible = now_rooms_visible - then_rooms
+            newly_unpublished = now_rooms_not_visible & then_rooms
+
+            return newly_visible, newly_unpublished
+
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "get_public_room_changes", get_public_room_changes_txn
+        )
+
+
+class RoomStore(RoomWorkerStore, SearchStore):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def store_room(self, room_id, room_creator_user_id, is_public):
@@ -227,16 +345,6 @@ class RoomStore(SQLBaseStore):
             )
         self.hs.get_notifier().on_new_replication_data()
 
-    def get_public_room_ids(self):
-        return self._simple_select_onecol(
-            table="rooms",
-            keyvalues={
-                "is_public": True,
-            },
-            retcol="room_id",
-            desc="get_public_room_ids",
-        )
-
     def get_room_count(self):
         """Retrieve a list of all rooms
         """
@@ -263,8 +371,8 @@ class RoomStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 },
             )
 
-            self._store_event_search_txn(
-                txn, event, "content.topic", event.content["topic"]
+            self.store_event_search_txn(
+                txn, event, "content.topic", event.content["topic"],
             )
 
     def _store_room_name_txn(self, txn, event):
@@ -279,14 +387,14 @@ class RoomStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 }
             )
 
-            self._store_event_search_txn(
-                txn, event, "content.name", event.content["name"]
+            self.store_event_search_txn(
+                txn, event, "content.name", event.content["name"],
             )
 
     def _store_room_message_txn(self, txn, event):
         if hasattr(event, "content") and "body" in event.content:
-            self._store_event_search_txn(
-                txn, event, "content.body", event.content["body"]
+            self.store_event_search_txn(
+                txn, event, "content.body", event.content["body"],
             )
 
     def _store_history_visibility_txn(self, txn, event):
@@ -308,31 +416,6 @@ class RoomStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 event.content[key]
             ))
 
-    def _store_event_search_txn(self, txn, event, key, value):
-        if isinstance(self.database_engine, PostgresEngine):
-            sql = (
-                "INSERT INTO event_search"
-                " (event_id, room_id, key, vector, stream_ordering, origin_server_ts)"
-                " VALUES (?,?,?,to_tsvector('english', ?),?,?)"
-            )
-            txn.execute(
-                sql,
-                (
-                    event.event_id, event.room_id, key, value,
-                    event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering,
-                    event.origin_server_ts,
-                )
-            )
-        elif isinstance(self.database_engine, Sqlite3Engine):
-            sql = (
-                "INSERT INTO event_search (event_id, room_id, key, value)"
-                " VALUES (?,?,?,?)"
-            )
-            txn.execute(sql, (event.event_id, event.room_id, key, value,))
-        else:
-            # This should be unreachable.
-            raise Exception("Unrecognized database engine")
-
     def add_event_report(self, room_id, event_id, user_id, reason, content,
                          received_ts):
         next_id = self._event_reports_id_gen.get_next()
@@ -353,113 +436,6 @@ class RoomStore(SQLBaseStore):
     def get_current_public_room_stream_id(self):
         return self._public_room_id_gen.get_current_token()
 
-    @cached(num_args=2, max_entries=100)
-    def get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id(self, stream_id, network_tuple):
-        """Get pulbic rooms for a particular list, or across all lists.
-
-        Args:
-            stream_id (int)
-            network_tuple (ThirdPartyInstanceID): The list to use (None, None)
-                means the main list, None means all lsits.
-        """
-        return self.runInteraction(
-            "get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id",
-            self.get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id_txn,
-            stream_id, network_tuple=network_tuple
-        )
-
-    def get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id_txn(self, txn, stream_id,
-                                             network_tuple):
-        return {
-            rm
-            for rm, vis in self.get_published_at_stream_id_txn(
-                txn, stream_id, network_tuple=network_tuple
-            ).items()
-            if vis
-        }
-
-    def get_published_at_stream_id_txn(self, txn, stream_id, network_tuple):
-        if network_tuple:
-            # We want to get from a particular list. No aggregation required.
-
-            sql = ("""
-                SELECT room_id, visibility FROM public_room_list_stream
-                INNER JOIN (
-                    SELECT room_id, max(stream_id) AS stream_id
-                    FROM public_room_list_stream
-                    WHERE stream_id <= ? %s
-                    GROUP BY room_id
-                ) grouped USING (room_id, stream_id)
-            """)
-
-            if network_tuple.appservice_id is not None:
-                txn.execute(
-                    sql % ("AND appservice_id = ? AND network_id = ?",),
-                    (stream_id, network_tuple.appservice_id, network_tuple.network_id,)
-                )
-            else:
-                txn.execute(
-                    sql % ("AND appservice_id IS NULL",),
-                    (stream_id,)
-                )
-            return dict(txn)
-        else:
-            # We want to get from all lists, so we need to aggregate the results
-
-            logger.info("Executing full list")
-
-            sql = ("""
-                SELECT room_id, visibility
-                FROM public_room_list_stream
-                INNER JOIN (
-                    SELECT
-                        room_id, max(stream_id) AS stream_id, appservice_id,
-                        network_id
-                    FROM public_room_list_stream
-                    WHERE stream_id <= ?
-                    GROUP BY room_id, appservice_id, network_id
-                ) grouped USING (room_id, stream_id)
-            """)
-
-            txn.execute(
-                sql,
-                (stream_id,)
-            )
-
-            results = {}
-            # A room is visible if its visible on any list.
-            for room_id, visibility in txn:
-                results[room_id] = bool(visibility) or results.get(room_id, False)
-
-            return results
-
-    def get_public_room_changes(self, prev_stream_id, new_stream_id,
-                                network_tuple):
-        def get_public_room_changes_txn(txn):
-            then_rooms = self.get_public_room_ids_at_stream_id_txn(
-                txn, prev_stream_id, network_tuple
-            )
-
-            now_rooms_dict = self.get_published_at_stream_id_txn(
-                txn, new_stream_id, network_tuple
-            )
-
-            now_rooms_visible = set(
-                rm for rm, vis in now_rooms_dict.items() if vis
-            )
-            now_rooms_not_visible = set(
-                rm for rm, vis in now_rooms_dict.items() if not vis
-            )
-
-            newly_visible = now_rooms_visible - then_rooms
-            newly_unpublished = now_rooms_not_visible & then_rooms
-
-            return newly_visible, newly_unpublished
-
-        return self.runInteraction(
-            "get_public_room_changes", get_public_room_changes_txn
-        )
-
     def get_all_new_public_rooms(self, prev_id, current_id, limit):
         def get_all_new_public_rooms(txn):
             sql = ("""
@@ -533,73 +509,114 @@ class RoomStore(SQLBaseStore):
         )
         self.is_room_blocked.invalidate((room_id,))
 
+    def get_media_mxcs_in_room(self, room_id):
+        """Retrieves all the local and remote media MXC URIs in a given room
+
+        Args:
+            room_id (str)
+
+        Returns:
+            The local and remote media as a lists of tuples where the key is
+            the hostname and the value is the media ID.
+        """
+        def _get_media_mxcs_in_room_txn(txn):
+            local_mxcs, remote_mxcs = self._get_media_mxcs_in_room_txn(txn, room_id)
+            local_media_mxcs = []
+            remote_media_mxcs = []
+
+            # Convert the IDs to MXC URIs
+            for media_id in local_mxcs:
+                local_media_mxcs.append("mxc://%s/%s" % (self.hostname, media_id))
+            for hostname, media_id in remote_mxcs:
+                remote_media_mxcs.append("mxc://%s/%s" % (hostname, media_id))
+
+            return local_media_mxcs, remote_media_mxcs
+        return self.runInteraction("get_media_ids_in_room", _get_media_mxcs_in_room_txn)
+
     def quarantine_media_ids_in_room(self, room_id, quarantined_by):
         """For a room loops through all events with media and quarantines
         the associated media
         """
-        def _get_media_ids_in_room(txn):
-            mxc_re = re.compile("^mxc://([^/]+)/([^/#?]+)")
-
-            next_token = self.get_current_events_token() + 1
-
+        def _quarantine_media_in_room_txn(txn):
+            local_mxcs, remote_mxcs = self._get_media_mxcs_in_room_txn(txn, room_id)
             total_media_quarantined = 0
 
-            while next_token:
-                sql = """
-                    SELECT stream_ordering, content FROM events
-                    WHERE room_id = ?
-                        AND stream_ordering < ?
-                        AND contains_url = ? AND outlier = ?
-                    ORDER BY stream_ordering DESC
-                    LIMIT ?
+            # Now update all the tables to set the quarantined_by flag
+
+            txn.executemany("""
+                UPDATE local_media_repository
+                SET quarantined_by = ?
+                WHERE media_id = ?
+            """, ((quarantined_by, media_id) for media_id in local_mxcs))
+
+            txn.executemany(
                 """
-                txn.execute(sql, (room_id, next_token, True, False, 100))
-
-                next_token = None
-                local_media_mxcs = []
-                remote_media_mxcs = []
-                for stream_ordering, content_json in txn:
-                    next_token = stream_ordering
-                    content = json.loads(content_json)
-
-                    content_url = content.get("url")
-                    thumbnail_url = content.get("info", {}).get("thumbnail_url")
-
-                    for url in (content_url, thumbnail_url):
-                        if not url:
-                            continue
-                        matches = mxc_re.match(url)
-                        if matches:
-                            hostname = matches.group(1)
-                            media_id = matches.group(2)
-                            if hostname == self.hostname:
-                                local_media_mxcs.append(media_id)
-                            else:
-                                remote_media_mxcs.append((hostname, media_id))
-
-                # Now update all the tables to set the quarantined_by flag
-
-                txn.executemany("""
-                    UPDATE local_media_repository
+                    UPDATE remote_media_cache
                     SET quarantined_by = ?
-                    WHERE media_id = ?
-                """, ((quarantined_by, media_id) for media_id in local_media_mxcs))
-
-                txn.executemany(
-                    """
-                        UPDATE remote_media_cache
-                        SET quarantined_by = ?
-                        WHERE media_origin AND media_id = ?
-                    """,
-                    (
-                        (quarantined_by, origin, media_id)
-                        for origin, media_id in remote_media_mxcs
-                    )
+                    WHERE media_origin = ? AND media_id = ?
+                """,
+                (
+                    (quarantined_by, origin, media_id)
+                    for origin, media_id in remote_mxcs
                 )
+            )
 
-                total_media_quarantined += len(local_media_mxcs)
-                total_media_quarantined += len(remote_media_mxcs)
+            total_media_quarantined += len(local_mxcs)
+            total_media_quarantined += len(remote_mxcs)
 
             return total_media_quarantined
 
-        return self.runInteraction("get_media_ids_in_room", _get_media_ids_in_room)
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "quarantine_media_in_room",
+            _quarantine_media_in_room_txn,
+        )
+
+    def _get_media_mxcs_in_room_txn(self, txn, room_id):
+        """Retrieves all the local and remote media MXC URIs in a given room
+
+        Args:
+            txn (cursor)
+            room_id (str)
+
+        Returns:
+            The local and remote media as a lists of tuples where the key is
+            the hostname and the value is the media ID.
+        """
+        mxc_re = re.compile("^mxc://([^/]+)/([^/#?]+)")
+
+        next_token = self.get_current_events_token() + 1
+        local_media_mxcs = []
+        remote_media_mxcs = []
+
+        while next_token:
+            sql = """
+                SELECT stream_ordering, content FROM events
+                WHERE room_id = ?
+                    AND stream_ordering < ?
+                    AND contains_url = ? AND outlier = ?
+                ORDER BY stream_ordering DESC
+                LIMIT ?
+            """
+            txn.execute(sql, (room_id, next_token, True, False, 100))
+
+            next_token = None
+            for stream_ordering, content_json in txn:
+                next_token = stream_ordering
+                content = json.loads(content_json)
+
+                content_url = content.get("url")
+                thumbnail_url = content.get("info", {}).get("thumbnail_url")
+
+                for url in (content_url, thumbnail_url):
+                    if not url:
+                        continue
+                    matches = mxc_re.match(url)
+                    if matches:
+                        hostname = matches.group(1)
+                        media_id = matches.group(2)
+                        if hostname == self.hostname:
+                            local_media_mxcs.append(media_id)
+                        else:
+                            remote_media_mxcs.append((hostname, media_id))
+
+        return local_media_mxcs, remote_media_mxcs
diff --git a/synapse/storage/roommember.py b/synapse/storage/roommember.py
index 3e77fd390..52e19e16b 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/roommember.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/roommember.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from collections import namedtuple
 
-from ._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage.events import EventsWorkerStore
 from synapse.util.async import Linearizer
 from synapse.util.caches import intern_string
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached, cachedInlineCallbacks
@@ -37,6 +38,11 @@ RoomsForUser = namedtuple(
     ("room_id", "sender", "membership", "event_id", "stream_ordering")
 )
 
+GetRoomsForUserWithStreamOrdering = namedtuple(
+    "_GetRoomsForUserWithStreamOrdering",
+    ("room_id", "stream_ordering",)
+)
+
 
 # We store this using a namedtuple so that we save about 3x space over using a
 # dict.
@@ -48,97 +54,7 @@ ProfileInfo = namedtuple(
 _MEMBERSHIP_PROFILE_UPDATE_NAME = "room_membership_profile_update"
 
 
-class RoomMemberStore(SQLBaseStore):
-    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(RoomMemberStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
-        self.register_background_update_handler(
-            _MEMBERSHIP_PROFILE_UPDATE_NAME, self._background_add_membership_profile
-        )
-
-    def _store_room_members_txn(self, txn, events, backfilled):
-        """Store a room member in the database.
-        """
-        self._simple_insert_many_txn(
-            txn,
-            table="room_memberships",
-            values=[
-                {
-                    "event_id": event.event_id,
-                    "user_id": event.state_key,
-                    "sender": event.user_id,
-                    "room_id": event.room_id,
-                    "membership": event.membership,
-                    "display_name": event.content.get("displayname", None),
-                    "avatar_url": event.content.get("avatar_url", None),
-                }
-                for event in events
-            ]
-        )
-
-        for event in events:
-            txn.call_after(
-                self._membership_stream_cache.entity_has_changed,
-                event.state_key, event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering
-            )
-            txn.call_after(
-                self.get_invited_rooms_for_user.invalidate, (event.state_key,)
-            )
-
-            # We update the local_invites table only if the event is "current",
-            # i.e., its something that has just happened.
-            # The only current event that can also be an outlier is if its an
-            # invite that has come in across federation.
-            is_new_state = not backfilled and (
-                not event.internal_metadata.is_outlier()
-                or event.internal_metadata.is_invite_from_remote()
-            )
-            is_mine = self.hs.is_mine_id(event.state_key)
-            if is_new_state and is_mine:
-                if event.membership == Membership.INVITE:
-                    self._simple_insert_txn(
-                        txn,
-                        table="local_invites",
-                        values={
-                            "event_id": event.event_id,
-                            "invitee": event.state_key,
-                            "inviter": event.sender,
-                            "room_id": event.room_id,
-                            "stream_id": event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering,
-                        }
-                    )
-                else:
-                    sql = (
-                        "UPDATE local_invites SET stream_id = ?, replaced_by = ? WHERE"
-                        " room_id = ? AND invitee = ? AND locally_rejected is NULL"
-                        " AND replaced_by is NULL"
-                    )
-
-                    txn.execute(sql, (
-                        event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering,
-                        event.event_id,
-                        event.room_id,
-                        event.state_key,
-                    ))
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def locally_reject_invite(self, user_id, room_id):
-        sql = (
-            "UPDATE local_invites SET stream_id = ?, locally_rejected = ? WHERE"
-            " room_id = ? AND invitee = ? AND locally_rejected is NULL"
-            " AND replaced_by is NULL"
-        )
-
-        def f(txn, stream_ordering):
-            txn.execute(sql, (
-                stream_ordering,
-                True,
-                room_id,
-                user_id,
-            ))
-
-        with self._stream_id_gen.get_next() as stream_ordering:
-            yield self.runInteraction("locally_reject_invite", f, stream_ordering)
-
+class RoomMemberWorkerStore(EventsWorkerStore):
     @cachedInlineCallbacks(max_entries=100000, iterable=True, cache_context=True)
     def get_hosts_in_room(self, room_id, cache_context):
         """Returns the set of all hosts currently in the room
@@ -270,12 +186,32 @@ class RoomMemberStore(SQLBaseStore):
         return results
 
     @cachedInlineCallbacks(max_entries=500000, iterable=True)
-    def get_rooms_for_user(self, user_id):
+    def get_rooms_for_user_with_stream_ordering(self, user_id):
         """Returns a set of room_ids the user is currently joined to
+
+        Args:
+            user_id (str)
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[frozenset[GetRoomsForUserWithStreamOrdering]]: Returns
+            the rooms the user is in currently, along with the stream ordering
+            of the most recent join for that user and room.
         """
         rooms = yield self.get_rooms_for_user_where_membership_is(
             user_id, membership_list=[Membership.JOIN],
         )
+        defer.returnValue(frozenset(
+            GetRoomsForUserWithStreamOrdering(r.room_id, r.stream_ordering)
+            for r in rooms
+        ))
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def get_rooms_for_user(self, user_id, on_invalidate=None):
+        """Returns a set of room_ids the user is currently joined to
+        """
+        rooms = yield self.get_rooms_for_user_with_stream_ordering(
+            user_id, on_invalidate=on_invalidate,
+        )
         defer.returnValue(frozenset(r.room_id for r in rooms))
 
     @cachedInlineCallbacks(max_entries=500000, cache_context=True, iterable=True)
@@ -295,89 +231,6 @@ class RoomMemberStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(user_who_share_room)
 
-    def forget(self, user_id, room_id):
-        """Indicate that user_id wishes to discard history for room_id."""
-        def f(txn):
-            sql = (
-                "UPDATE"
-                "  room_memberships"
-                " SET"
-                "  forgotten = 1"
-                " WHERE"
-                "  user_id = ?"
-                " AND"
-                "  room_id = ?"
-            )
-            txn.execute(sql, (user_id, room_id))
-
-            txn.call_after(self.was_forgotten_at.invalidate_all)
-            txn.call_after(self.did_forget.invalidate, (user_id, room_id))
-            self._invalidate_cache_and_stream(
-                txn, self.who_forgot_in_room, (room_id,)
-            )
-        return self.runInteraction("forget_membership", f)
-
-    @cachedInlineCallbacks(num_args=2)
-    def did_forget(self, user_id, room_id):
-        """Returns whether user_id has elected to discard history for room_id.
-
-        Returns False if they have since re-joined."""
-        def f(txn):
-            sql = (
-                "SELECT"
-                "  COUNT(*)"
-                " FROM"
-                "  room_memberships"
-                " WHERE"
-                "  user_id = ?"
-                " AND"
-                "  room_id = ?"
-                " AND"
-                "  forgotten = 0"
-            )
-            txn.execute(sql, (user_id, room_id))
-            rows = txn.fetchall()
-            return rows[0][0]
-        count = yield self.runInteraction("did_forget_membership", f)
-        defer.returnValue(count == 0)
-
-    @cachedInlineCallbacks(num_args=3)
-    def was_forgotten_at(self, user_id, room_id, event_id):
-        """Returns whether user_id has elected to discard history for room_id at
-        event_id.
-
-        event_id must be a membership event."""
-        def f(txn):
-            sql = (
-                "SELECT"
-                "  forgotten"
-                " FROM"
-                "  room_memberships"
-                " WHERE"
-                "  user_id = ?"
-                " AND"
-                "  room_id = ?"
-                " AND"
-                "  event_id = ?"
-            )
-            txn.execute(sql, (user_id, room_id, event_id))
-            rows = txn.fetchall()
-            return rows[0][0]
-        forgot = yield self.runInteraction("did_forget_membership_at", f)
-        defer.returnValue(forgot == 1)
-
-    @cached()
-    def who_forgot_in_room(self, room_id):
-        return self._simple_select_list(
-            table="room_memberships",
-            retcols=("user_id", "event_id"),
-            keyvalues={
-                "room_id": room_id,
-                "forgotten": 1,
-            },
-            desc="who_forgot"
-        )
-
     def get_joined_users_from_context(self, event, context):
         state_group = context.state_group
         if not state_group:
@@ -600,6 +453,185 @@ class RoomMemberStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(joined_hosts)
 
+    @cached(max_entries=10000, iterable=True)
+    def _get_joined_hosts_cache(self, room_id):
+        return _JoinedHostsCache(self, room_id)
+
+    @cached()
+    def who_forgot_in_room(self, room_id):
+        return self._simple_select_list(
+            table="room_memberships",
+            retcols=("user_id", "event_id"),
+            keyvalues={
+                "room_id": room_id,
+                "forgotten": 1,
+            },
+            desc="who_forgot"
+        )
+
+
+class RoomMemberStore(RoomMemberWorkerStore):
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        super(RoomMemberStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+        self.register_background_update_handler(
+            _MEMBERSHIP_PROFILE_UPDATE_NAME, self._background_add_membership_profile
+        )
+
+    def _store_room_members_txn(self, txn, events, backfilled):
+        """Store a room member in the database.
+        """
+        self._simple_insert_many_txn(
+            txn,
+            table="room_memberships",
+            values=[
+                {
+                    "event_id": event.event_id,
+                    "user_id": event.state_key,
+                    "sender": event.user_id,
+                    "room_id": event.room_id,
+                    "membership": event.membership,
+                    "display_name": event.content.get("displayname", None),
+                    "avatar_url": event.content.get("avatar_url", None),
+                }
+                for event in events
+            ]
+        )
+
+        for event in events:
+            txn.call_after(
+                self._membership_stream_cache.entity_has_changed,
+                event.state_key, event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering
+            )
+            txn.call_after(
+                self.get_invited_rooms_for_user.invalidate, (event.state_key,)
+            )
+
+            # We update the local_invites table only if the event is "current",
+            # i.e., its something that has just happened.
+            # The only current event that can also be an outlier is if its an
+            # invite that has come in across federation.
+            is_new_state = not backfilled and (
+                not event.internal_metadata.is_outlier()
+                or event.internal_metadata.is_invite_from_remote()
+            )
+            is_mine = self.hs.is_mine_id(event.state_key)
+            if is_new_state and is_mine:
+                if event.membership == Membership.INVITE:
+                    self._simple_insert_txn(
+                        txn,
+                        table="local_invites",
+                        values={
+                            "event_id": event.event_id,
+                            "invitee": event.state_key,
+                            "inviter": event.sender,
+                            "room_id": event.room_id,
+                            "stream_id": event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering,
+                        }
+                    )
+                else:
+                    sql = (
+                        "UPDATE local_invites SET stream_id = ?, replaced_by = ? WHERE"
+                        " room_id = ? AND invitee = ? AND locally_rejected is NULL"
+                        " AND replaced_by is NULL"
+                    )
+
+                    txn.execute(sql, (
+                        event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering,
+                        event.event_id,
+                        event.room_id,
+                        event.state_key,
+                    ))
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def locally_reject_invite(self, user_id, room_id):
+        sql = (
+            "UPDATE local_invites SET stream_id = ?, locally_rejected = ? WHERE"
+            " room_id = ? AND invitee = ? AND locally_rejected is NULL"
+            " AND replaced_by is NULL"
+        )
+
+        def f(txn, stream_ordering):
+            txn.execute(sql, (
+                stream_ordering,
+                True,
+                room_id,
+                user_id,
+            ))
+
+        with self._stream_id_gen.get_next() as stream_ordering:
+            yield self.runInteraction("locally_reject_invite", f, stream_ordering)
+
+    def forget(self, user_id, room_id):
+        """Indicate that user_id wishes to discard history for room_id."""
+        def f(txn):
+            sql = (
+                "UPDATE"
+                "  room_memberships"
+                " SET"
+                "  forgotten = 1"
+                " WHERE"
+                "  user_id = ?"
+                " AND"
+                "  room_id = ?"
+            )
+            txn.execute(sql, (user_id, room_id))
+
+            txn.call_after(self.was_forgotten_at.invalidate_all)
+            txn.call_after(self.did_forget.invalidate, (user_id, room_id))
+            self._invalidate_cache_and_stream(
+                txn, self.who_forgot_in_room, (room_id,)
+            )
+        return self.runInteraction("forget_membership", f)
+
+    @cachedInlineCallbacks(num_args=2)
+    def did_forget(self, user_id, room_id):
+        """Returns whether user_id has elected to discard history for room_id.
+
+        Returns False if they have since re-joined."""
+        def f(txn):
+            sql = (
+                "SELECT"
+                "  COUNT(*)"
+                " FROM"
+                "  room_memberships"
+                " WHERE"
+                "  user_id = ?"
+                " AND"
+                "  room_id = ?"
+                " AND"
+                "  forgotten = 0"
+            )
+            txn.execute(sql, (user_id, room_id))
+            rows = txn.fetchall()
+            return rows[0][0]
+        count = yield self.runInteraction("did_forget_membership", f)
+        defer.returnValue(count == 0)
+
+    @cachedInlineCallbacks(num_args=3)
+    def was_forgotten_at(self, user_id, room_id, event_id):
+        """Returns whether user_id has elected to discard history for room_id at
+        event_id.
+
+        event_id must be a membership event."""
+        def f(txn):
+            sql = (
+                "SELECT"
+                "  forgotten"
+                " FROM"
+                "  room_memberships"
+                " WHERE"
+                "  user_id = ?"
+                " AND"
+                "  room_id = ?"
+                " AND"
+                "  event_id = ?"
+            )
+            txn.execute(sql, (user_id, room_id, event_id))
+            rows = txn.fetchall()
+            return rows[0][0]
+        forgot = yield self.runInteraction("did_forget_membership_at", f)
+        defer.returnValue(forgot == 1)
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _background_add_membership_profile(self, progress, batch_size):
         target_min_stream_id = progress.get(
@@ -675,10 +707,6 @@ class RoomMemberStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(result)
 
-    @cached(max_entries=10000, iterable=True)
-    def _get_joined_hosts_cache(self, room_id):
-        return _JoinedHostsCache(self, room_id)
-
 
 class _JoinedHostsCache(object):
     """Cache for joined hosts in a room that is optimised to handle updates
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/38/postgres_fts_gist.sql b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/38/postgres_fts_gist.sql
index f090a7b75..515e6b8e8 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/38/postgres_fts_gist.sql
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/38/postgres_fts_gist.sql
@@ -13,5 +13,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
- INSERT into background_updates (update_name, progress_json)
-     VALUES ('event_search_postgres_gist', '{}');
+-- We no longer do this given we back it out again in schema 47
+
+-- INSERT into background_updates (update_name, progress_json)
+--     VALUES ('event_search_postgres_gist', '{}');
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/postgres_fts_gin.sql b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/postgres_fts_gin.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31d7a817e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/postgres_fts_gin.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/* Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+INSERT into background_updates (update_name, progress_json)
+    VALUES ('event_search_postgres_gin', '{}');
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/push_actions_staging.sql b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/push_actions_staging.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..edccf4a96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/push_actions_staging.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/* Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+-- Temporary staging area for push actions that have been calculated for an
+-- event, but the event hasn't yet been persisted.
+-- When the event is persisted the rows are moved over to the
+-- event_push_actions table.
+CREATE TABLE event_push_actions_staging (
+    event_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+    user_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+    actions TEXT NOT NULL,
+    notif SMALLINT NOT NULL,
+    highlight SMALLINT NOT NULL
+);
+
+CREATE INDEX event_push_actions_staging_id ON event_push_actions_staging(event_id);
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/state_group_seq.py b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/state_group_seq.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6766501d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/state_group_seq.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from synapse.storage.engines import PostgresEngine
+
+
+def run_create(cur, database_engine, *args, **kwargs):
+    if isinstance(database_engine, PostgresEngine):
+        # if we already have some state groups, we want to start making new
+        # ones with a higher id.
+        cur.execute("SELECT max(id) FROM state_groups")
+        row = cur.fetchone()
+
+        if row[0] is None:
+            start_val = 1
+        else:
+            start_val = row[0] + 1
+
+        cur.execute(
+            "CREATE SEQUENCE state_group_id_seq START WITH %s",
+            (start_val, ),
+        )
+
+
+def run_upgrade(*args, **kwargs):
+    pass
diff --git a/synapse/storage/search.py b/synapse/storage/search.py
index 479b04c63..2755acff4 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/search.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/search.py
@@ -13,25 +13,32 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+from collections import namedtuple
+import logging
+import re
+import ujson as json
+
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from .background_updates import BackgroundUpdateStore
 from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
 from synapse.storage.engines import PostgresEngine, Sqlite3Engine
 
-import logging
-import re
-import ujson as json
-
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+SearchEntry = namedtuple('SearchEntry', [
+    'key', 'value', 'event_id', 'room_id', 'stream_ordering',
+    'origin_server_ts',
+])
+
 
 class SearchStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
 
     EVENT_SEARCH_UPDATE_NAME = "event_search"
     EVENT_SEARCH_ORDER_UPDATE_NAME = "event_search_order"
     EVENT_SEARCH_USE_GIST_POSTGRES_NAME = "event_search_postgres_gist"
+    EVENT_SEARCH_USE_GIN_POSTGRES_NAME = "event_search_postgres_gin"
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
         super(SearchStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
@@ -42,23 +49,34 @@ class SearchStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
             self.EVENT_SEARCH_ORDER_UPDATE_NAME,
             self._background_reindex_search_order
         )
-        self.register_background_update_handler(
+
+        # we used to have a background update to turn the GIN index into a
+        # GIST one; we no longer do that (obviously) because we actually want
+        # a GIN index. However, it's possible that some people might still have
+        # the background update queued, so we register a handler to clear the
+        # background update.
+        self.register_noop_background_update(
             self.EVENT_SEARCH_USE_GIST_POSTGRES_NAME,
-            self._background_reindex_gist_search
+        )
+
+        self.register_background_update_handler(
+            self.EVENT_SEARCH_USE_GIN_POSTGRES_NAME,
+            self._background_reindex_gin_search
         )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _background_reindex_search(self, progress, batch_size):
+        # we work through the events table from highest stream id to lowest
         target_min_stream_id = progress["target_min_stream_id_inclusive"]
         max_stream_id = progress["max_stream_id_exclusive"]
         rows_inserted = progress.get("rows_inserted", 0)
 
-        INSERT_CLUMP_SIZE = 1000
         TYPES = ["m.room.name", "m.room.message", "m.room.topic"]
 
         def reindex_search_txn(txn):
             sql = (
-                "SELECT stream_ordering, event_id, room_id, type, content FROM events"
+                "SELECT stream_ordering, event_id, room_id, type, content, "
+                " origin_server_ts FROM events"
                 " WHERE ? <= stream_ordering AND stream_ordering < ?"
                 " AND (%s)"
                 " ORDER BY stream_ordering DESC"
@@ -67,6 +85,10 @@ class SearchStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
 
             txn.execute(sql, (target_min_stream_id, max_stream_id, batch_size))
 
+            # we could stream straight from the results into
+            # store_search_entries_txn with a generator function, but that
+            # would mean having two cursors open on the database at once.
+            # Instead we just build a list of results.
             rows = self.cursor_to_dict(txn)
             if not rows:
                 return 0
@@ -79,6 +101,8 @@ class SearchStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
                     event_id = row["event_id"]
                     room_id = row["room_id"]
                     etype = row["type"]
+                    stream_ordering = row["stream_ordering"]
+                    origin_server_ts = row["origin_server_ts"]
                     try:
                         content = json.loads(row["content"])
                     except Exception:
@@ -93,6 +117,8 @@ class SearchStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
                     elif etype == "m.room.name":
                         key = "content.name"
                         value = content["name"]
+                    else:
+                        raise Exception("unexpected event type %s" % etype)
                 except (KeyError, AttributeError):
                     # If the event is missing a necessary field then
                     # skip over it.
@@ -103,25 +129,16 @@ class SearchStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
                     # then skip over it
                     continue
 
-                event_search_rows.append((event_id, room_id, key, value))
+                event_search_rows.append(SearchEntry(
+                    key=key,
+                    value=value,
+                    event_id=event_id,
+                    room_id=room_id,
+                    stream_ordering=stream_ordering,
+                    origin_server_ts=origin_server_ts,
+                ))
 
-            if isinstance(self.database_engine, PostgresEngine):
-                sql = (
-                    "INSERT INTO event_search (event_id, room_id, key, vector)"
-                    " VALUES (?,?,?,to_tsvector('english', ?))"
-                )
-            elif isinstance(self.database_engine, Sqlite3Engine):
-                sql = (
-                    "INSERT INTO event_search (event_id, room_id, key, value)"
-                    " VALUES (?,?,?,?)"
-                )
-            else:
-                # This should be unreachable.
-                raise Exception("Unrecognized database engine")
-
-            for index in range(0, len(event_search_rows), INSERT_CLUMP_SIZE):
-                clump = event_search_rows[index:index + INSERT_CLUMP_SIZE]
-                txn.executemany(sql, clump)
+            self.store_search_entries_txn(txn, event_search_rows)
 
             progress = {
                 "target_min_stream_id_inclusive": target_min_stream_id,
@@ -145,25 +162,48 @@ class SearchStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
         defer.returnValue(result)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _background_reindex_gist_search(self, progress, batch_size):
+    def _background_reindex_gin_search(self, progress, batch_size):
+        """This handles old synapses which used GIST indexes, if any;
+        converting them back to be GIN as per the actual schema.
+        """
+
         def create_index(conn):
             conn.rollback()
+
+            # we have to set autocommit, because postgres refuses to
+            # CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY without it.
             conn.set_session(autocommit=True)
-            c = conn.cursor()
 
-            c.execute(
-                "CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY event_search_fts_idx_gist"
-                " ON event_search USING GIST (vector)"
-            )
+            try:
+                c = conn.cursor()
 
-            c.execute("DROP INDEX event_search_fts_idx")
+                # if we skipped the conversion to GIST, we may already/still
+                # have an event_search_fts_idx; unfortunately postgres 9.4
+                # doesn't support CREATE INDEX IF EXISTS so we just catch the
+                # exception and ignore it.
+                import psycopg2
+                try:
+                    c.execute(
+                        "CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY event_search_fts_idx"
+                        " ON event_search USING GIN (vector)"
+                    )
+                except psycopg2.ProgrammingError as e:
+                    logger.warn(
+                        "Ignoring error %r when trying to switch from GIST to GIN",
+                        e
+                    )
 
-            conn.set_session(autocommit=False)
+                # we should now be able to delete the GIST index.
+                c.execute(
+                    "DROP INDEX IF EXISTS event_search_fts_idx_gist"
+                )
+            finally:
+                conn.set_session(autocommit=False)
 
         if isinstance(self.database_engine, PostgresEngine):
             yield self.runWithConnection(create_index)
 
-        yield self._end_background_update(self.EVENT_SEARCH_USE_GIST_POSTGRES_NAME)
+        yield self._end_background_update(self.EVENT_SEARCH_USE_GIN_POSTGRES_NAME)
         defer.returnValue(1)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
@@ -242,6 +282,85 @@ class SearchStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(num_rows)
 
+    def store_event_search_txn(self, txn, event, key, value):
+        """Add event to the search table
+
+        Args:
+            txn (cursor):
+            event (EventBase):
+            key (str):
+            value (str):
+        """
+        self.store_search_entries_txn(
+            txn,
+            (SearchEntry(
+                key=key,
+                value=value,
+                event_id=event.event_id,
+                room_id=event.room_id,
+                stream_ordering=event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering,
+                origin_server_ts=event.origin_server_ts,
+            ),),
+        )
+
+    def store_search_entries_txn(self, txn, entries):
+        """Add entries to the search table
+
+        Args:
+            txn (cursor):
+            entries (iterable[SearchEntry]):
+                entries to be added to the table
+        """
+        if isinstance(self.database_engine, PostgresEngine):
+            sql = (
+                "INSERT INTO event_search"
+                " (event_id, room_id, key, vector, stream_ordering, origin_server_ts)"
+                " VALUES (?,?,?,to_tsvector('english', ?),?,?)"
+            )
+
+            args = ((
+                entry.event_id, entry.room_id, entry.key, entry.value,
+                entry.stream_ordering, entry.origin_server_ts,
+            ) for entry in entries)
+
+            # inserts to a GIN index are normally batched up into a pending
+            # list, and then all committed together once the list gets to a
+            # certain size. The trouble with that is that postgres (pre-9.5)
+            # uses work_mem to determine the length of the list, and work_mem
+            # is typically very large.
+            #
+            # We therefore reduce work_mem while we do the insert.
+            #
+            # (postgres 9.5 uses the separate gin_pending_list_limit setting,
+            # so doesn't suffer the same problem, but changing work_mem will
+            # be harmless)
+            #
+            # Note that we don't need to worry about restoring it on
+            # exception, because exceptions will cause the transaction to be
+            # rolled back, including the effects of the SET command.
+            #
+            # Also: we use SET rather than SET LOCAL because there's lots of
+            # other stuff going on in this transaction, which want to have the
+            # normal work_mem setting.
+
+            txn.execute("SET work_mem='256kB'")
+            txn.executemany(sql, args)
+            txn.execute("RESET work_mem")
+
+        elif isinstance(self.database_engine, Sqlite3Engine):
+            sql = (
+                "INSERT INTO event_search (event_id, room_id, key, value)"
+                " VALUES (?,?,?,?)"
+            )
+            args = ((
+                entry.event_id, entry.room_id, entry.key, entry.value,
+            ) for entry in entries)
+
+            txn.executemany(sql, args)
+        else:
+            # This should be unreachable.
+            raise Exception("Unrecognized database engine")
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def search_msgs(self, room_ids, search_term, keys):
         """Performs a full text search over events with given keys.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/signatures.py b/synapse/storage/signatures.py
index 67d5d9969..9e6eaaa53 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/signatures.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/signatures.py
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ from synapse.crypto.event_signing import compute_event_reference_hash
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached, cachedList
 
 
-class SignatureStore(SQLBaseStore):
-    """Persistence for event signatures and hashes"""
-
+class SignatureWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
     @cached()
     def get_event_reference_hash(self, event_id):
-        return self._get_event_reference_hashes_txn(event_id)
+        # This is a dummy function to allow get_event_reference_hashes
+        # to use its cache
+        raise NotImplementedError()
 
     @cachedList(cached_method_name="get_event_reference_hash",
                 list_name="event_ids", num_args=1)
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ class SignatureStore(SQLBaseStore):
         txn.execute(query, (event_id, ))
         return {k: v for k, v in txn}
 
+
+class SignatureStore(SignatureWorkerStore):
+    """Persistence for event signatures and hashes"""
+
     def _store_event_reference_hashes_txn(self, txn, events):
         """Store a hash for a PDU
         Args:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/state.py b/synapse/storage/state.py
index 360e3e435..2b325e1c1 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/state.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/state.py
@@ -42,11 +42,8 @@ class _GetStateGroupDelta(namedtuple("_GetStateGroupDelta", ("prev_group", "delt
         return len(self.delta_ids) if self.delta_ids else 0
 
 
-class StateGroupReadStore(SQLBaseStore):
-    """The read-only parts of StateGroupStore
-
-    None of these functions write to the state tables, so are suitable for
-    including in the SlavedStores.
+class StateGroupWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
+    """The parts of StateGroupStore that can be called from workers.
     """
 
     STATE_GROUP_DEDUPLICATION_UPDATE_NAME = "state_group_state_deduplication"
@@ -54,7 +51,7 @@ class StateGroupReadStore(SQLBaseStore):
     CURRENT_STATE_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME = "current_state_members_idx"
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(StateGroupReadStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+        super(StateGroupWorkerStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
         self._state_group_cache = DictionaryCache(
             "*stateGroupCache*", 100000 * CACHE_SIZE_FACTOR
@@ -142,6 +139,20 @@ class StateGroupReadStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(group_to_state)
 
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def get_state_ids_for_group(self, state_group):
+        """Get the state IDs for the given state group
+
+        Args:
+            state_group (int)
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[dict]: Resolves to a map of (type, state_key) -> event_id
+        """
+        group_to_state = yield self._get_state_for_groups((state_group,))
+
+        defer.returnValue(group_to_state[state_group])
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_state_groups(self, room_id, event_ids):
         """ Get the state groups for the given list of event_ids
@@ -549,116 +560,66 @@ class StateGroupReadStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(results)
 
+    def store_state_group(self, event_id, room_id, prev_group, delta_ids,
+                          current_state_ids):
+        """Store a new set of state, returning a newly assigned state group.
 
-class StateStore(StateGroupReadStore, BackgroundUpdateStore):
-    """ Keeps track of the state at a given event.
+        Args:
+            event_id (str): The event ID for which the state was calculated
+            room_id (str)
+            prev_group (int|None): A previous state group for the room, optional.
+            delta_ids (dict|None): The delta between state at `prev_group` and
+                `current_state_ids`, if `prev_group` was given. Same format as
+                `current_state_ids`.
+            current_state_ids (dict): The state to store. Map of (type, state_key)
+                to event_id.
 
-    This is done by the concept of `state groups`. Every event is a assigned
-    a state group (identified by an arbitrary string), which references a
-    collection of state events. The current state of an event is then the
-    collection of state events referenced by the event's state group.
-
-    Hence, every change in the current state causes a new state group to be
-    generated. However, if no change happens (e.g., if we get a message event
-    with only one parent it inherits the state group from its parent.)
-
-    There are three tables:
-      * `state_groups`: Stores group name, first event with in the group and
-        room id.
-      * `event_to_state_groups`: Maps events to state groups.
-      * `state_groups_state`: Maps state group to state events.
-    """
-
-    STATE_GROUP_DEDUPLICATION_UPDATE_NAME = "state_group_state_deduplication"
-    STATE_GROUP_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME = "state_group_state_type_index"
-    CURRENT_STATE_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME = "current_state_members_idx"
-
-    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
-        super(StateStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
-        self.register_background_update_handler(
-            self.STATE_GROUP_DEDUPLICATION_UPDATE_NAME,
-            self._background_deduplicate_state,
-        )
-        self.register_background_update_handler(
-            self.STATE_GROUP_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME,
-            self._background_index_state,
-        )
-        self.register_background_index_update(
-            self.CURRENT_STATE_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME,
-            index_name="current_state_events_member_index",
-            table="current_state_events",
-            columns=["state_key"],
-            where_clause="type='m.room.member'",
-        )
-
-    def _have_persisted_state_group_txn(self, txn, state_group):
-        txn.execute(
-            "SELECT count(*) FROM state_groups WHERE id = ?",
-            (state_group,)
-        )
-        row = txn.fetchone()
-        return row and row[0]
-
-    def _store_mult_state_groups_txn(self, txn, events_and_contexts):
-        state_groups = {}
-        for event, context in events_and_contexts:
-            if event.internal_metadata.is_outlier():
-                continue
-
-            if context.current_state_ids is None:
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[int]: The state group ID
+        """
+        def _store_state_group_txn(txn):
+            if current_state_ids is None:
                 # AFAIK, this can never happen
-                logger.error(
-                    "Non-outlier event %s had current_state_ids==None",
-                    event.event_id)
-                continue
+                raise Exception("current_state_ids cannot be None")
 
-            # if the event was rejected, just give it the same state as its
-            # predecessor.
-            if context.rejected:
-                state_groups[event.event_id] = context.prev_group
-                continue
-
-            state_groups[event.event_id] = context.state_group
-
-            if self._have_persisted_state_group_txn(txn, context.state_group):
-                continue
+            state_group = self.database_engine.get_next_state_group_id(txn)
 
             self._simple_insert_txn(
                 txn,
                 table="state_groups",
                 values={
-                    "id": context.state_group,
-                    "room_id": event.room_id,
-                    "event_id": event.event_id,
+                    "id": state_group,
+                    "room_id": room_id,
+                    "event_id": event_id,
                 },
             )
 
             # We persist as a delta if we can, while also ensuring the chain
             # of deltas isn't tooo long, as otherwise read performance degrades.
-            if context.prev_group:
+            if prev_group:
                 is_in_db = self._simple_select_one_onecol_txn(
                     txn,
                     table="state_groups",
-                    keyvalues={"id": context.prev_group},
+                    keyvalues={"id": prev_group},
                     retcol="id",
                     allow_none=True,
                 )
                 if not is_in_db:
                     raise Exception(
                         "Trying to persist state with unpersisted prev_group: %r"
-                        % (context.prev_group,)
+                        % (prev_group,)
                     )
 
                 potential_hops = self._count_state_group_hops_txn(
-                    txn, context.prev_group
+                    txn, prev_group
                 )
-            if context.prev_group and potential_hops < MAX_STATE_DELTA_HOPS:
+            if prev_group and potential_hops < MAX_STATE_DELTA_HOPS:
                 self._simple_insert_txn(
                     txn,
                     table="state_group_edges",
                     values={
-                        "state_group": context.state_group,
-                        "prev_state_group": context.prev_group,
+                        "state_group": state_group,
+                        "prev_state_group": prev_group,
                     },
                 )
 
@@ -667,13 +628,13 @@ class StateStore(StateGroupReadStore, BackgroundUpdateStore):
                     table="state_groups_state",
                     values=[
                         {
-                            "state_group": context.state_group,
-                            "room_id": event.room_id,
+                            "state_group": state_group,
+                            "room_id": room_id,
                             "type": key[0],
                             "state_key": key[1],
                             "event_id": state_id,
                         }
-                        for key, state_id in context.delta_ids.iteritems()
+                        for key, state_id in delta_ids.iteritems()
                     ],
                 )
             else:
@@ -682,13 +643,13 @@ class StateStore(StateGroupReadStore, BackgroundUpdateStore):
                     table="state_groups_state",
                     values=[
                         {
-                            "state_group": context.state_group,
-                            "room_id": event.room_id,
+                            "state_group": state_group,
+                            "room_id": room_id,
                             "type": key[0],
                             "state_key": key[1],
                             "event_id": state_id,
                         }
-                        for key, state_id in context.current_state_ids.iteritems()
+                        for key, state_id in current_state_ids.iteritems()
                     ],
                 )
 
@@ -699,28 +660,14 @@ class StateStore(StateGroupReadStore, BackgroundUpdateStore):
             txn.call_after(
                 self._state_group_cache.update,
                 self._state_group_cache.sequence,
-                key=context.state_group,
-                value=dict(context.current_state_ids),
+                key=state_group,
+                value=dict(current_state_ids),
                 full=True,
             )
 
-        self._simple_insert_many_txn(
-            txn,
-            table="event_to_state_groups",
-            values=[
-                {
-                    "state_group": state_group_id,
-                    "event_id": event_id,
-                }
-                for event_id, state_group_id in state_groups.iteritems()
-            ],
-        )
+            return state_group
 
-        for event_id, state_group_id in state_groups.iteritems():
-            txn.call_after(
-                self._get_state_group_for_event.prefill,
-                (event_id,), state_group_id
-            )
+        return self.runInteraction("store_state_group", _store_state_group_txn)
 
     def _count_state_group_hops_txn(self, txn, state_group):
         """Given a state group, count how many hops there are in the tree.
@@ -763,8 +710,79 @@ class StateStore(StateGroupReadStore, BackgroundUpdateStore):
 
             return count
 
-    def get_next_state_group(self):
-        return self._state_groups_id_gen.get_next()
+
+class StateStore(StateGroupWorkerStore, BackgroundUpdateStore):
+    """ Keeps track of the state at a given event.
+
+    This is done by the concept of `state groups`. Every event is a assigned
+    a state group (identified by an arbitrary string), which references a
+    collection of state events. The current state of an event is then the
+    collection of state events referenced by the event's state group.
+
+    Hence, every change in the current state causes a new state group to be
+    generated. However, if no change happens (e.g., if we get a message event
+    with only one parent it inherits the state group from its parent.)
+
+    There are three tables:
+      * `state_groups`: Stores group name, first event with in the group and
+        room id.
+      * `event_to_state_groups`: Maps events to state groups.
+      * `state_groups_state`: Maps state group to state events.
+    """
+
+    STATE_GROUP_DEDUPLICATION_UPDATE_NAME = "state_group_state_deduplication"
+    STATE_GROUP_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME = "state_group_state_type_index"
+    CURRENT_STATE_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME = "current_state_members_idx"
+
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        super(StateStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+        self.register_background_update_handler(
+            self.STATE_GROUP_DEDUPLICATION_UPDATE_NAME,
+            self._background_deduplicate_state,
+        )
+        self.register_background_update_handler(
+            self.STATE_GROUP_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME,
+            self._background_index_state,
+        )
+        self.register_background_index_update(
+            self.CURRENT_STATE_INDEX_UPDATE_NAME,
+            index_name="current_state_events_member_index",
+            table="current_state_events",
+            columns=["state_key"],
+            where_clause="type='m.room.member'",
+        )
+
+    def _store_event_state_mappings_txn(self, txn, events_and_contexts):
+        state_groups = {}
+        for event, context in events_and_contexts:
+            if event.internal_metadata.is_outlier():
+                continue
+
+            # if the event was rejected, just give it the same state as its
+            # predecessor.
+            if context.rejected:
+                state_groups[event.event_id] = context.prev_group
+                continue
+
+            state_groups[event.event_id] = context.state_group
+
+        self._simple_insert_many_txn(
+            txn,
+            table="event_to_state_groups",
+            values=[
+                {
+                    "state_group": state_group_id,
+                    "event_id": event_id,
+                }
+                for event_id, state_group_id in state_groups.iteritems()
+            ],
+        )
+
+        for event_id, state_group_id in state_groups.iteritems():
+            txn.call_after(
+                self._get_state_group_for_event.prefill,
+                (event_id,), state_group_id
+            )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _background_deduplicate_state(self, progress, batch_size):
diff --git a/synapse/storage/stream.py b/synapse/storage/stream.py
index 52bdce5be..2956c3b3e 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/stream.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/stream.py
@@ -35,13 +35,16 @@ what sort order was used:
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-from ._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage.events import EventsWorkerStore
+
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached
-from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes
 from synapse.types import RoomStreamToken
+from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
 from synapse.util.logcontext import make_deferred_yieldable, preserve_fn
 from synapse.storage.engines import PostgresEngine, Sqlite3Engine
 
+import abc
 import logging
 
 
@@ -143,81 +146,41 @@ def filter_to_clause(event_filter):
     return " AND ".join(clauses), args
 
 
-class StreamStore(SQLBaseStore):
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def get_appservice_room_stream(self, service, from_key, to_key, limit=0):
-        # NB this lives here instead of appservice.py so we can reuse the
-        # 'private' StreamToken class in this file.
-        if limit:
-            limit = max(limit, MAX_STREAM_SIZE)
-        else:
-            limit = MAX_STREAM_SIZE
+class StreamWorkerStore(EventsWorkerStore, SQLBaseStore):
+    """This is an abstract base class where subclasses must implement
+    `get_room_max_stream_ordering` and `get_room_min_stream_ordering`
+    which can be called in the initializer.
+    """
 
-        # From and to keys should be integers from ordering.
-        from_id = RoomStreamToken.parse_stream_token(from_key)
-        to_id = RoomStreamToken.parse_stream_token(to_key)
+    __metaclass__ = abc.ABCMeta
 
-        if from_key == to_key:
-            defer.returnValue(([], to_key))
-            return
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        super(StreamWorkerStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
 
-        # select all the events between from/to with a sensible limit
-        sql = (
-            "SELECT e.event_id, e.room_id, e.type, s.state_key, "
-            "e.stream_ordering FROM events AS e "
-            "LEFT JOIN state_events as s ON "
-            "e.event_id = s.event_id "
-            "WHERE e.stream_ordering > ? AND e.stream_ordering <= ? "
-            "ORDER BY stream_ordering ASC LIMIT %(limit)d "
-        ) % {
-            "limit": limit
-        }
-
-        def f(txn):
-            # pull out all the events between the tokens
-            txn.execute(sql, (from_id.stream, to_id.stream,))
-            rows = self.cursor_to_dict(txn)
-
-            # Logic:
-            #  - We want ALL events which match the AS room_id regex
-            #  - We want ALL events which match the rooms represented by the AS
-            #    room_alias regex
-            #  - We want ALL events for rooms that AS users have joined.
-            # This is currently supported via get_app_service_rooms (which is
-            # used for the Notifier listener rooms). We can't reasonably make a
-            # SQL query for these room IDs, so we'll pull all the events between
-            # from/to and filter in python.
-            rooms_for_as = self._get_app_service_rooms_txn(txn, service)
-            room_ids_for_as = [r.room_id for r in rooms_for_as]
-
-            def app_service_interested(row):
-                if row["room_id"] in room_ids_for_as:
-                    return True
-
-                if row["type"] == EventTypes.Member:
-                    if service.is_interested_in_user(row.get("state_key")):
-                        return True
-                return False
-
-            return [r for r in rows if app_service_interested(r)]
-
-        rows = yield self.runInteraction("get_appservice_room_stream", f)
-
-        ret = yield self._get_events(
-            [r["event_id"] for r in rows],
-            get_prev_content=True
+        events_max = self.get_room_max_stream_ordering()
+        event_cache_prefill, min_event_val = self._get_cache_dict(
+            db_conn, "events",
+            entity_column="room_id",
+            stream_column="stream_ordering",
+            max_value=events_max,
+        )
+        self._events_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
+            "EventsRoomStreamChangeCache", min_event_val,
+            prefilled_cache=event_cache_prefill,
+        )
+        self._membership_stream_cache = StreamChangeCache(
+            "MembershipStreamChangeCache", events_max,
         )
 
-        self._set_before_and_after(ret, rows, topo_order=from_id is None)
+        self._stream_order_on_start = self.get_room_max_stream_ordering()
 
-        if rows:
-            key = "s%d" % max(r["stream_ordering"] for r in rows)
-        else:
-            # Assume we didn't get anything because there was nothing to
-            # get.
-            key = to_key
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_room_max_stream_ordering(self):
+        raise NotImplementedError()
 
-        defer.returnValue((ret, key))
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_room_min_stream_ordering(self):
+        raise NotImplementedError()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_room_events_stream_for_rooms(self, room_ids, from_key, to_key, limit=0,
@@ -380,88 +343,6 @@ class StreamStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         defer.returnValue(ret)
 
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def paginate_room_events(self, room_id, from_key, to_key=None,
-                             direction='b', limit=-1, event_filter=None):
-        # Tokens really represent positions between elements, but we use
-        # the convention of pointing to the event before the gap. Hence
-        # we have a bit of asymmetry when it comes to equalities.
-        args = [False, room_id]
-        if direction == 'b':
-            order = "DESC"
-            bounds = upper_bound(
-                RoomStreamToken.parse(from_key), self.database_engine
-            )
-            if to_key:
-                bounds = "%s AND %s" % (bounds, lower_bound(
-                    RoomStreamToken.parse(to_key), self.database_engine
-                ))
-        else:
-            order = "ASC"
-            bounds = lower_bound(
-                RoomStreamToken.parse(from_key), self.database_engine
-            )
-            if to_key:
-                bounds = "%s AND %s" % (bounds, upper_bound(
-                    RoomStreamToken.parse(to_key), self.database_engine
-                ))
-
-        filter_clause, filter_args = filter_to_clause(event_filter)
-
-        if filter_clause:
-            bounds += " AND " + filter_clause
-            args.extend(filter_args)
-
-        if int(limit) > 0:
-            args.append(int(limit))
-            limit_str = " LIMIT ?"
-        else:
-            limit_str = ""
-
-        sql = (
-            "SELECT * FROM events"
-            " WHERE outlier = ? AND room_id = ? AND %(bounds)s"
-            " ORDER BY topological_ordering %(order)s,"
-            " stream_ordering %(order)s %(limit)s"
-        ) % {
-            "bounds": bounds,
-            "order": order,
-            "limit": limit_str
-        }
-
-        def f(txn):
-            txn.execute(sql, args)
-
-            rows = self.cursor_to_dict(txn)
-
-            if rows:
-                topo = rows[-1]["topological_ordering"]
-                toke = rows[-1]["stream_ordering"]
-                if direction == 'b':
-                    # Tokens are positions between events.
-                    # This token points *after* the last event in the chunk.
-                    # We need it to point to the event before it in the chunk
-                    # when we are going backwards so we subtract one from the
-                    # stream part.
-                    toke -= 1
-                next_token = str(RoomStreamToken(topo, toke))
-            else:
-                # TODO (erikj): We should work out what to do here instead.
-                next_token = to_key if to_key else from_key
-
-            return rows, next_token,
-
-        rows, token = yield self.runInteraction("paginate_room_events", f)
-
-        events = yield self._get_events(
-            [r["event_id"] for r in rows],
-            get_prev_content=True
-        )
-
-        self._set_before_and_after(events, rows)
-
-        defer.returnValue((events, token))
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_recent_events_for_room(self, room_id, limit, end_token, from_token=None):
         rows, token = yield self.get_recent_event_ids_for_room(
@@ -534,6 +415,33 @@ class StreamStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "get_recent_events_for_room", get_recent_events_for_room_txn
         )
 
+    def get_room_event_after_stream_ordering(self, room_id, stream_ordering):
+        """Gets details of the first event in a room at or after a stream ordering
+
+        Args:
+            room_id (str):
+            stream_ordering (int):
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[(int, int, str)]:
+                (stream ordering, topological ordering, event_id)
+        """
+        def _f(txn):
+            sql = (
+                "SELECT stream_ordering, topological_ordering, event_id"
+                " FROM events"
+                " WHERE room_id = ? AND stream_ordering >= ?"
+                " AND NOT outlier"
+                " ORDER BY stream_ordering"
+                " LIMIT 1"
+            )
+            txn.execute(sql, (room_id, stream_ordering, ))
+            return txn.fetchone()
+
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "get_room_event_after_stream_ordering", _f,
+        )
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_room_events_max_id(self, room_id=None):
         """Returns the current token for rooms stream.
@@ -542,7 +450,7 @@ class StreamStore(SQLBaseStore):
         `room_id` causes it to return the current room specific topological
         token.
         """
-        token = yield self._stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
+        token = yield self.get_room_max_stream_ordering()
         if room_id is None:
             defer.returnValue("s%d" % (token,))
         else:
@@ -552,12 +460,6 @@ class StreamStore(SQLBaseStore):
             )
             defer.returnValue("t%d-%d" % (topo, token))
 
-    def get_room_max_stream_ordering(self):
-        return self._stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
-
-    def get_room_min_stream_ordering(self):
-        return self._backfill_id_gen.get_current_token()
-
     def get_stream_token_for_event(self, event_id):
         """The stream token for an event
         Args:
@@ -832,3 +734,93 @@ class StreamStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
     def has_room_changed_since(self, room_id, stream_id):
         return self._events_stream_cache.has_entity_changed(room_id, stream_id)
+
+
+class StreamStore(StreamWorkerStore):
+    def get_room_max_stream_ordering(self):
+        return self._stream_id_gen.get_current_token()
+
+    def get_room_min_stream_ordering(self):
+        return self._backfill_id_gen.get_current_token()
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def paginate_room_events(self, room_id, from_key, to_key=None,
+                             direction='b', limit=-1, event_filter=None):
+        # Tokens really represent positions between elements, but we use
+        # the convention of pointing to the event before the gap. Hence
+        # we have a bit of asymmetry when it comes to equalities.
+        args = [False, room_id]
+        if direction == 'b':
+            order = "DESC"
+            bounds = upper_bound(
+                RoomStreamToken.parse(from_key), self.database_engine
+            )
+            if to_key:
+                bounds = "%s AND %s" % (bounds, lower_bound(
+                    RoomStreamToken.parse(to_key), self.database_engine
+                ))
+        else:
+            order = "ASC"
+            bounds = lower_bound(
+                RoomStreamToken.parse(from_key), self.database_engine
+            )
+            if to_key:
+                bounds = "%s AND %s" % (bounds, upper_bound(
+                    RoomStreamToken.parse(to_key), self.database_engine
+                ))
+
+        filter_clause, filter_args = filter_to_clause(event_filter)
+
+        if filter_clause:
+            bounds += " AND " + filter_clause
+            args.extend(filter_args)
+
+        if int(limit) > 0:
+            args.append(int(limit))
+            limit_str = " LIMIT ?"
+        else:
+            limit_str = ""
+
+        sql = (
+            "SELECT * FROM events"
+            " WHERE outlier = ? AND room_id = ? AND %(bounds)s"
+            " ORDER BY topological_ordering %(order)s,"
+            " stream_ordering %(order)s %(limit)s"
+        ) % {
+            "bounds": bounds,
+            "order": order,
+            "limit": limit_str
+        }
+
+        def f(txn):
+            txn.execute(sql, args)
+
+            rows = self.cursor_to_dict(txn)
+
+            if rows:
+                topo = rows[-1]["topological_ordering"]
+                toke = rows[-1]["stream_ordering"]
+                if direction == 'b':
+                    # Tokens are positions between events.
+                    # This token points *after* the last event in the chunk.
+                    # We need it to point to the event before it in the chunk
+                    # when we are going backwards so we subtract one from the
+                    # stream part.
+                    toke -= 1
+                next_token = str(RoomStreamToken(topo, toke))
+            else:
+                # TODO (erikj): We should work out what to do here instead.
+                next_token = to_key if to_key else from_key
+
+            return rows, next_token,
+
+        rows, token = yield self.runInteraction("paginate_room_events", f)
+
+        events = yield self._get_events(
+            [r["event_id"] for r in rows],
+            get_prev_content=True
+        )
+
+        self._set_before_and_after(events, rows)
+
+        defer.returnValue((events, token))
diff --git a/synapse/storage/tags.py b/synapse/storage/tags.py
index bff73f3f0..fc46bf7bb 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/tags.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/tags.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -13,7 +14,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from ._base import SQLBaseStore
+from synapse.storage.account_data import AccountDataWorkerStore
+
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
@@ -23,15 +25,7 @@ import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class TagsStore(SQLBaseStore):
-    def get_max_account_data_stream_id(self):
-        """Get the current max stream id for the private user data stream
-
-        Returns:
-            A deferred int.
-        """
-        return self._account_data_id_gen.get_current_token()
-
+class TagsWorkerStore(AccountDataWorkerStore):
     @cached()
     def get_tags_for_user(self, user_id):
         """Get all the tags for a user.
@@ -170,6 +164,8 @@ class TagsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             row["tag"]: json.loads(row["content"]) for row in rows
         })
 
+
+class TagsStore(TagsWorkerStore):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def add_tag_to_room(self, user_id, room_id, tag, content):
         """Add a tag to a room for a user.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/user_directory.py b/synapse/storage/user_directory.py
index f150ef010..dfdcbb318 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/user_directory.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/user_directory.py
@@ -641,13 +641,12 @@ class UserDirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
         """
 
         if self.hs.config.user_directory_search_all_users:
-            # dummy to keep the number of binds & aliases the same
+            # make s.user_id null to keep the ordering algorithm happy
             join_clause = """
-                LEFT JOIN (
-                    SELECT NULL as user_id WHERE NULL = ?
-                ) AS s USING (user_id)"
+                CROSS JOIN (SELECT NULL as user_id) AS s
             """
-            where_clause = ""
+            join_args = ()
+            where_clause = "1=1"
         else:
             join_clause = """
                 LEFT JOIN users_in_public_rooms AS p USING (user_id)
@@ -656,6 +655,7 @@ class UserDirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
                     WHERE user_id = ? AND share_private
                 ) AS s USING (user_id)
             """
+            join_args = (user_id,)
             where_clause = "(s.user_id IS NOT NULL OR p.user_id IS NOT NULL)"
 
         if isinstance(self.database_engine, PostgresEngine):
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ class UserDirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
                     avatar_url IS NULL
                 LIMIT ?
             """ % (join_clause, where_clause)
-            args = (user_id, full_query, exact_query, prefix_query, limit + 1,)
+            args = join_args + (full_query, exact_query, prefix_query, limit + 1,)
         elif isinstance(self.database_engine, Sqlite3Engine):
             search_query = _parse_query_sqlite(search_term)
 
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ class UserDirectoryStore(SQLBaseStore):
                     avatar_url IS NULL
                 LIMIT ?
             """ % (join_clause, where_clause)
-            args = (user_id, search_query, limit + 1)
+            args = join_args + (search_query, limit + 1)
         else:
             # This should be unreachable.
             raise Exception("Unrecognized database engine")
diff --git a/synapse/types.py b/synapse/types.py
index 6e76c016d..7cb24cecb 100644
--- a/synapse/types.py
+++ b/synapse/types.py
@@ -19,20 +19,59 @@ from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 
-Requester = namedtuple("Requester", [
+class Requester(namedtuple("Requester", [
     "user", "access_token_id", "is_guest", "device_id", "app_service",
-])
-"""
-Represents the user making a request
+])):
+    """
+    Represents the user making a request
 
-Attributes:
-    user (UserID):  id of the user making the request
-    access_token_id (int|None):  *ID* of the access token used for this
-        request, or None if it came via the appservice API or similar
-    is_guest (bool):  True if the user making this request is a guest user
-    device_id (str|None):  device_id which was set at authentication time
-    app_service (ApplicationService|None):  the AS requesting on behalf of the user
-"""
+    Attributes:
+        user (UserID):  id of the user making the request
+        access_token_id (int|None):  *ID* of the access token used for this
+            request, or None if it came via the appservice API or similar
+        is_guest (bool):  True if the user making this request is a guest user
+        device_id (str|None):  device_id which was set at authentication time
+        app_service (ApplicationService|None):  the AS requesting on behalf of the user
+    """
+
+    def serialize(self):
+        """Converts self to a type that can be serialized as JSON, and then
+        deserialized by `deserialize`
+
+        Returns:
+            dict
+        """
+        return {
+            "user_id": self.user.to_string(),
+            "access_token_id": self.access_token_id,
+            "is_guest": self.is_guest,
+            "device_id": self.device_id,
+            "app_server_id": self.app_service.id if self.app_service else None,
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def deserialize(store, input):
+        """Converts a dict that was produced by `serialize` back into a
+        Requester.
+
+        Args:
+            store (DataStore): Used to convert AS ID to AS object
+            input (dict): A dict produced by `serialize`
+
+        Returns:
+            Requester
+        """
+        appservice = None
+        if input["app_server_id"]:
+            appservice = store.get_app_service_by_id(input["app_server_id"])
+
+        return Requester(
+            user=UserID.from_string(input["user_id"]),
+            access_token_id=input["access_token_id"],
+            is_guest=input["is_guest"],
+            device_id=input["device_id"],
+            app_service=appservice,
+        )
 
 
 def create_requester(user_id, access_token_id=None, is_guest=False,
diff --git a/synapse/util/caches/descriptors.py b/synapse/util/caches/descriptors.py
index af65bfe7b..bf3a66eae 100644
--- a/synapse/util/caches/descriptors.py
+++ b/synapse/util/caches/descriptors.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ class Cache(object):
         self.cache = LruCache(
             max_size=max_entries, keylen=keylen, cache_type=cache_type,
             size_callback=(lambda d: len(d)) if iterable else None,
+            evicted_callback=self._on_evicted,
         )
 
         self.name = name
@@ -83,6 +84,9 @@ class Cache(object):
         self.thread = None
         self.metrics = register_cache(name, self.cache)
 
+    def _on_evicted(self, evicted_count):
+        self.metrics.inc_evictions(evicted_count)
+
     def check_thread(self):
         expected_thread = self.thread
         if expected_thread is None:
diff --git a/synapse/util/caches/expiringcache.py b/synapse/util/caches/expiringcache.py
index 6ad53a639..0aa103eec 100644
--- a/synapse/util/caches/expiringcache.py
+++ b/synapse/util/caches/expiringcache.py
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ class ExpiringCache(object):
         while self._max_len and len(self) > self._max_len:
             _key, value = self._cache.popitem(last=False)
             if self.iterable:
-                self._size_estimate -= len(value.value)
+                removed_len = len(value.value)
+                self.metrics.inc_evictions(removed_len)
+                self._size_estimate -= removed_len
+            else:
+                self.metrics.inc_evictions()
 
     def __getitem__(self, key):
         try:
diff --git a/synapse/util/caches/lrucache.py b/synapse/util/caches/lrucache.py
index cf5fbb679..f088dd430 100644
--- a/synapse/util/caches/lrucache.py
+++ b/synapse/util/caches/lrucache.py
@@ -49,7 +49,24 @@ class LruCache(object):
     Can also set callbacks on objects when getting/setting which are fired
     when that key gets invalidated/evicted.
     """
-    def __init__(self, max_size, keylen=1, cache_type=dict, size_callback=None):
+    def __init__(self, max_size, keylen=1, cache_type=dict, size_callback=None,
+                 evicted_callback=None):
+        """
+        Args:
+            max_size (int):
+
+            keylen (int):
+
+            cache_type (type):
+                type of underlying cache to be used. Typically one of dict
+                or TreeCache.
+
+            size_callback (func(V) -> int | None):
+
+            evicted_callback (func(int)|None):
+                if not None, called on eviction with the size of the evicted
+                entry
+        """
         cache = cache_type()
         self.cache = cache  # Used for introspection.
         list_root = _Node(None, None, None, None)
@@ -61,8 +78,10 @@ class LruCache(object):
         def evict():
             while cache_len() > max_size:
                 todelete = list_root.prev_node
-                delete_node(todelete)
+                evicted_len = delete_node(todelete)
                 cache.pop(todelete.key, None)
+                if evicted_callback:
+                    evicted_callback(evicted_len)
 
         def synchronized(f):
             @wraps(f)
@@ -111,12 +130,15 @@ class LruCache(object):
             prev_node.next_node = next_node
             next_node.prev_node = prev_node
 
+            deleted_len = 1
             if size_callback:
-                cached_cache_len[0] -= size_callback(node.value)
+                deleted_len = size_callback(node.value)
+                cached_cache_len[0] -= deleted_len
 
             for cb in node.callbacks:
                 cb()
             node.callbacks.clear()
+            return deleted_len
 
         @synchronized
         def cache_get(key, default=None, callbacks=[]):
diff --git a/synapse/util/logcontext.py b/synapse/util/logcontext.py
index 94fa7cac9..d660ec785 100644
--- a/synapse/util/logcontext.py
+++ b/synapse/util/logcontext.py
@@ -292,43 +292,43 @@ class PreserveLoggingContext(object):
 
 
 def preserve_fn(f):
-    """Wraps a function, to ensure that the current context is restored after
+    """Function decorator which wraps the function with run_in_background"""
+    def g(*args, **kwargs):
+        return run_in_background(f, *args, **kwargs)
+    return g
+
+
+def run_in_background(f, *args, **kwargs):
+    """Calls a function, ensuring that the current context is restored after
     return from the function, and that the sentinel context is set once the
     deferred returned by the funtion completes.
 
     Useful for wrapping functions that return a deferred which you don't yield
     on.
     """
-    def reset_context(result):
-        LoggingContext.set_current_context(LoggingContext.sentinel)
-        return result
+    current = LoggingContext.current_context()
+    res = f(*args, **kwargs)
+    if isinstance(res, defer.Deferred) and not res.called:
+        # The function will have reset the context before returning, so
+        # we need to restore it now.
+        LoggingContext.set_current_context(current)
 
-    def g(*args, **kwargs):
-        current = LoggingContext.current_context()
-        res = f(*args, **kwargs)
-        if isinstance(res, defer.Deferred) and not res.called:
-            # The function will have reset the context before returning, so
-            # we need to restore it now.
-            LoggingContext.set_current_context(current)
-
-            # The original context will be restored when the deferred
-            # completes, but there is nothing waiting for it, so it will
-            # get leaked into the reactor or some other function which
-            # wasn't expecting it. We therefore need to reset the context
-            # here.
-            #
-            # (If this feels asymmetric, consider it this way: we are
-            # effectively forking a new thread of execution. We are
-            # probably currently within a ``with LoggingContext()`` block,
-            # which is supposed to have a single entry and exit point. But
-            # by spawning off another deferred, we are effectively
-            # adding a new exit point.)
-            res.addBoth(reset_context)
-        return res
-    return g
+        # The original context will be restored when the deferred
+        # completes, but there is nothing waiting for it, so it will
+        # get leaked into the reactor or some other function which
+        # wasn't expecting it. We therefore need to reset the context
+        # here.
+        #
+        # (If this feels asymmetric, consider it this way: we are
+        # effectively forking a new thread of execution. We are
+        # probably currently within a ``with LoggingContext()`` block,
+        # which is supposed to have a single entry and exit point. But
+        # by spawning off another deferred, we are effectively
+        # adding a new exit point.)
+        res.addBoth(_set_context_cb, LoggingContext.sentinel)
+    return res
 
 
-@defer.inlineCallbacks
 def make_deferred_yieldable(deferred):
     """Given a deferred, make it follow the Synapse logcontext rules:
 
@@ -342,9 +342,16 @@ def make_deferred_yieldable(deferred):
 
     (This is more-or-less the opposite operation to preserve_fn.)
     """
-    with PreserveLoggingContext():
-        r = yield deferred
-    defer.returnValue(r)
+    if isinstance(deferred, defer.Deferred) and not deferred.called:
+        prev_context = LoggingContext.set_current_context(LoggingContext.sentinel)
+        deferred.addBoth(_set_context_cb, prev_context)
+    return deferred
+
+
+def _set_context_cb(result, context):
+    """A callback function which just sets the logging context"""
+    LoggingContext.set_current_context(context)
+    return result
 
 
 # modules to ignore in `logcontext_tracer`
diff --git a/tests/crypto/test_keyring.py b/tests/crypto/test_keyring.py
index c899fecf5..d4ec02ffc 100644
--- a/tests/crypto/test_keyring.py
+++ b/tests/crypto/test_keyring.py
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ class KeyringTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
             # wait a tick for it to send the request to the perspectives server
             # (it first tries the datastore)
-            yield async.sleep(0.005)
+            yield async.sleep(1)   # XXX find out why this takes so long!
             self.http_client.post_json.assert_called_once()
 
             self.assertIs(LoggingContext.current_context(), context_11)
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class KeyringTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
                 res_deferreds_2 = kr.verify_json_objects_for_server(
                     [("server10", json1)],
                 )
-                yield async.sleep(0.005)
+                yield async.sleep(01)
                 self.http_client.post_json.assert_not_called()
                 res_deferreds_2[0].addBoth(self.check_context, None)
 
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_directory.py b/tests/handlers/test_directory.py
index 571277390..7e5332e27 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_directory.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_directory.py
@@ -35,21 +35,20 @@ class DirectoryTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def setUp(self):
-        self.mock_federation = Mock(spec=[
-            "make_query",
-            "register_edu_handler",
-        ])
+        self.mock_federation = Mock()
+        self.mock_registry = Mock()
 
         self.query_handlers = {}
 
         def register_query_handler(query_type, handler):
             self.query_handlers[query_type] = handler
-        self.mock_federation.register_query_handler = register_query_handler
+        self.mock_registry.register_query_handler = register_query_handler
 
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             http_client=None,
             resource_for_federation=Mock(),
-            replication_layer=self.mock_federation,
+            federation_client=self.mock_federation,
+            federation_registry=self.mock_registry,
         )
         hs.handlers = DirectoryHandlers(hs)
 
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_e2e_keys.py b/tests/handlers/test_e2e_keys.py
index 19f5ed6bc..d1bd87b89 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_e2e_keys.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_e2e_keys.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class E2eKeysHandlerTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.hs = yield utils.setup_test_homeserver(
             handlers=None,
-            replication_layer=mock.Mock(),
+            federation_client=mock.Mock(),
         )
         self.handler = synapse.handlers.e2e_keys.E2eKeysHandler(self.hs)
 
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ class E2eKeysHandlerTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         except errors.SynapseError:
             pass
 
-    @unittest.DEBUG
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_claim_one_time_key(self):
         local_user = "@boris:" + self.hs.hostname
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_profile.py b/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
index a5f47181d..458296ee4 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
@@ -37,23 +37,23 @@ class ProfileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def setUp(self):
-        self.mock_federation = Mock(spec=[
-            "make_query",
-            "register_edu_handler",
-        ])
+        self.mock_federation = Mock()
+        self.mock_registry = Mock()
 
         self.query_handlers = {}
 
         def register_query_handler(query_type, handler):
             self.query_handlers[query_type] = handler
 
-        self.mock_federation.register_query_handler = register_query_handler
+        self.mock_registry.register_query_handler = register_query_handler
 
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             http_client=None,
             handlers=None,
             resource_for_federation=Mock(),
-            replication_layer=self.mock_federation,
+            federation_client=self.mock_federation,
+            federation_server=Mock(),
+            federation_registry=self.mock_registry,
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=[
                 "send_message",
             ])
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_typing.py b/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
index fcd380b03..a433bbfa8 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class TypingNotificationsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
                 "get_current_state_deltas",
             ]),
             state_handler=self.state_handler,
-            handlers=None,
+            handlers=Mock(),
             notifier=mock_notifier,
             resource_for_client=Mock(),
             resource_for_federation=self.mock_federation_resource,
diff --git a/tests/metrics/test_metric.py b/tests/metrics/test_metric.py
index f85455a5a..39bde6e3f 100644
--- a/tests/metrics/test_metric.py
+++ b/tests/metrics/test_metric.py
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ class CacheMetricTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             'cache:hits{name="cache_name"} 0',
             'cache:total{name="cache_name"} 0',
             'cache:size{name="cache_name"} 0',
+            'cache:evicted_size{name="cache_name"} 0',
         ])
 
         metric.inc_misses()
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ class CacheMetricTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             'cache:hits{name="cache_name"} 0',
             'cache:total{name="cache_name"} 1',
             'cache:size{name="cache_name"} 1',
+            'cache:evicted_size{name="cache_name"} 0',
         ])
 
         metric.inc_hits()
@@ -158,4 +160,14 @@ class CacheMetricTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             'cache:hits{name="cache_name"} 1',
             'cache:total{name="cache_name"} 2',
             'cache:size{name="cache_name"} 1',
+            'cache:evicted_size{name="cache_name"} 0',
+        ])
+
+        metric.inc_evictions(2)
+
+        self.assertEquals(metric.render(), [
+            'cache:hits{name="cache_name"} 1',
+            'cache:total{name="cache_name"} 2',
+            'cache:size{name="cache_name"} 1',
+            'cache:evicted_size{name="cache_name"} 2',
         ])
diff --git a/tests/replication/slave/storage/_base.py b/tests/replication/slave/storage/_base.py
index 74f104e3b..64e07a8c9 100644
--- a/tests/replication/slave/storage/_base.py
+++ b/tests/replication/slave/storage/_base.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class BaseSlavedStoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "blue",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=[
                 "send_message",
             ]),
diff --git a/tests/replication/slave/storage/test_events.py b/tests/replication/slave/storage/test_events.py
index 105e1228b..cb058d314 100644
--- a/tests/replication/slave/storage/test_events.py
+++ b/tests/replication/slave/storage/test_events.py
@@ -226,13 +226,16 @@ class SlavedEventStoreTestCase(BaseSlavedStoreTestCase):
             context = EventContext()
             context.current_state_ids = state_ids
             context.prev_state_ids = state_ids
-        elif not backfill:
+        else:
             state_handler = self.hs.get_state_handler()
             context = yield state_handler.compute_event_context(event)
-        else:
-            context = EventContext()
 
-        context.push_actions = push_actions
+        yield self.master_store.add_push_actions_to_staging(
+            event.event_id, {
+                user_id: actions
+                for user_id, actions in push_actions
+            },
+        )
 
         ordering = None
         if backfill:
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_events.py b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_events.py
index e9698bfdc..2b89c0a3c 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_events.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_events.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class EventStreamPermissionsTestCase(RestTestCase):
 
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=[
                 "send_message",
             ]),
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_profile.py b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_profile.py
index dddcf51b6..deac7f100 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_profile.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_profile.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class ProfileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             http_client=None,
             resource_for_client=self.mock_resource,
             federation=Mock(),
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             profile_handler=self.mock_handler
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_rooms.py b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_rooms.py
index 9f3725538..7e8966a1a 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_rooms.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_rooms.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class RoomPermissionsTestCase(RestTestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "red",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=["send_message"]),
         )
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ class RoomsMemberListTestCase(RestTestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "red",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=["send_message"]),
         )
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ class RoomsCreateTestCase(RestTestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "red",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=["send_message"]),
         )
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ class RoomTopicTestCase(RestTestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "red",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=["send_message"]),
         )
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ class RoomMemberStateTestCase(RestTestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "red",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=["send_message"]),
         )
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
@@ -829,7 +829,7 @@ class RoomMessagesTestCase(RestTestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "red",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=["send_message"]),
         )
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ class RoomInitialSyncTestCase(RestTestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "red",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=[
                 "send_message",
             ]),
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ class RoomMessageListTestCase(RestTestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             "red",
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=["send_message"]),
         )
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_typing.py b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_typing.py
index a269e6f56..2ec4ecab5 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_typing.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_typing.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class RoomTypingTestCase(RestTestCase):
             "red",
             clock=self.clock,
             http_client=None,
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
             ratelimiter=NonCallableMock(spec_set=[
                 "send_message",
             ]),
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class RoomTypingTestCase(RestTestCase):
                 else:
                     if remotedomains is not None:
                         remotedomains.add(member.domain)
-        hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler.fetch_room_distributions_into = (
+        hs.get_room_member_handler().fetch_room_distributions_into = (
             fetch_room_distributions_into
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/rest/media/__init__.py b/tests/rest/media/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a354d38ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/rest/media/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
diff --git a/tests/rest/media/v1/__init__.py b/tests/rest/media/v1/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a354d38ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/rest/media/v1/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
diff --git a/tests/rest/media/v1/test_media_storage.py b/tests/rest/media/v1/test_media_storage.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eef38b678
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/rest/media/v1/test_media_storage.py
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+
+from twisted.internet import defer
+
+from synapse.rest.media.v1._base import FileInfo
+from synapse.rest.media.v1.media_storage import MediaStorage
+from synapse.rest.media.v1.filepath import MediaFilePaths
+from synapse.rest.media.v1.storage_provider import FileStorageProviderBackend
+
+from mock import Mock
+
+from tests import unittest
+
+import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+
+
+class MediaStorageTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.test_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="synapse-tests-")
+
+        self.primary_base_path = os.path.join(self.test_dir, "primary")
+        self.secondary_base_path = os.path.join(self.test_dir, "secondary")
+
+        hs = Mock()
+        hs.config.media_store_path = self.primary_base_path
+
+        storage_providers = [FileStorageProviderBackend(
+            hs, self.secondary_base_path
+        )]
+
+        self.filepaths = MediaFilePaths(self.primary_base_path)
+        self.media_storage = MediaStorage(
+            self.primary_base_path, self.filepaths, storage_providers,
+        )
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        shutil.rmtree(self.test_dir)
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def test_ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(self):
+        media_id = "some_media_id"
+        test_body = "Test\n"
+
+        # First we create a file that is in a storage provider but not in the
+        # local primary media store
+        rel_path = self.filepaths.local_media_filepath_rel(media_id)
+        secondary_path = os.path.join(self.secondary_base_path, rel_path)
+
+        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(secondary_path))
+
+        with open(secondary_path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(test_body)
+
+        # Now we run ensure_media_is_in_local_cache, which should copy the file
+        # to the local cache.
+        file_info = FileInfo(None, media_id)
+        local_path = yield self.media_storage.ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(file_info)
+
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(local_path))
+
+        # Asserts the file is under the expected local cache directory
+        self.assertEquals(
+            os.path.commonprefix([self.primary_base_path, local_path]),
+            self.primary_base_path,
+        )
+
+        with open(local_path) as f:
+            body = f.read()
+
+        self.assertEqual(test_body, body)
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_appservice.py b/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
index 13d81f972..c2e39a728 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class ApplicationServiceStoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             config=config,
             federation_sender=Mock(),
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
         )
 
         self.as_token = "token1"
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class ApplicationServiceTransactionStoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             config=config,
             federation_sender=Mock(),
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
         )
         self.db_pool = hs.get_db_pool()
 
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ class ApplicationServiceStoreConfigTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             config=config,
             datastore=Mock(),
             federation_sender=Mock(),
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
         )
 
         ApplicationServiceStore(None, hs)
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ class ApplicationServiceStoreConfigTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             config=config,
             datastore=Mock(),
             federation_sender=Mock(),
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
         )
 
         with self.assertRaises(ConfigError) as cm:
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ class ApplicationServiceStoreConfigTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             config=config,
             datastore=Mock(),
             federation_sender=Mock(),
-            replication_layer=Mock(),
+            federation_client=Mock(),
         )
 
         with self.assertRaises(ConfigError) as cm:
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_event_push_actions.py b/tests/storage/test_event_push_actions.py
index 313548835..575374c6a 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_event_push_actions.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_event_push_actions.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class EventPushActionsStoreTestCase(tests.unittest.TestCase):
                 {"notify_count": noitf_count, "highlight_count": highlight_count}
             )
 
+        @defer.inlineCallbacks
         def _inject_actions(stream, action):
             event = Mock()
             event.room_id = room_id
@@ -69,11 +70,12 @@ class EventPushActionsStoreTestCase(tests.unittest.TestCase):
             event.internal_metadata.stream_ordering = stream
             event.depth = stream
 
-            tuples = [(user_id, action)]
-
-            return self.store.runInteraction(
+            yield self.store.add_push_actions_to_staging(
+                event.event_id, {user_id: action},
+            )
+            yield self.store.runInteraction(
                 "", self.store._set_push_actions_for_event_and_users_txn,
-                event, tuples
+                [(event, None)], [(event, None)],
             )
 
         def _rotate(stream):
@@ -125,3 +127,70 @@ class EventPushActionsStoreTestCase(tests.unittest.TestCase):
         yield _assert_counts(1, 1)
         yield _rotate(10)
         yield _assert_counts(1, 1)
+
+    @tests.unittest.DEBUG
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def test_find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(self):
+        def add_event(so, ts):
+            return self.store._simple_insert("events", {
+                "stream_ordering": so,
+                "received_ts": ts,
+                "event_id": "event%i" % so,
+                "type": "",
+                "room_id": "",
+                "content": "",
+                "processed": True,
+                "outlier": False,
+                "topological_ordering": 0,
+                "depth": 0,
+            })
+
+        # start with the base case where there are no events in the table
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(11)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 0)
+
+        # now with one event
+        yield add_event(2, 10)
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(9)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 2)
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(10)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 2)
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(11)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 3)
+
+        # add a bunch of dummy events to the events table
+        for (stream_ordering, ts) in (
+                (3, 110),
+                (4, 120),
+                (5, 120),
+                (10, 130),
+                (20, 140),
+        ):
+            yield add_event(stream_ordering, ts)
+
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(110)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 3,
+                         "First event after 110ms should be 3, was %i" % r)
+
+        # 4 and 5 are both after 120: we want 4 rather than 5
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(120)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 4,
+                         "First event after 120ms should be 4, was %i" % r)
+
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(129)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 10,
+                         "First event after 129ms should be 10, was %i" % r)
+
+        # check we can get the last event
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(140)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 20,
+                         "First event after 14ms should be 20, was %i" % r)
+
+        # off the end
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(160)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 21)
+
+        # check we can find an event at ordering zero
+        yield add_event(0, 5)
+        r = yield self.store.find_first_stream_ordering_after_ts(1)
+        self.assertEqual(r, 0)
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_redaction.py b/tests/storage/test_redaction.py
index 6afaca3a6..888ddfadd 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_redaction.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_redaction.py
@@ -36,8 +36,7 @@ class RedactionTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.event_builder_factory = hs.get_event_builder_factory()
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
-        self.message_handler = self.handlers.message_handler
+        self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
 
         self.u_alice = UserID.from_string("@alice:test")
         self.u_bob = UserID.from_string("@bob:test")
@@ -59,7 +58,7 @@ class RedactionTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             "content": content,
         })
 
-        event, context = yield self.message_handler._create_new_client_event(
+        event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
             builder
         )
 
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ class RedactionTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             "content": {"body": body, "msgtype": u"message"},
         })
 
-        event, context = yield self.message_handler._create_new_client_event(
+        event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
             builder
         )
 
@@ -98,7 +97,7 @@ class RedactionTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             "redacts": event_id,
         })
 
-        event, context = yield self.message_handler._create_new_client_event(
+        event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
             builder
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_roommember.py b/tests/storage/test_roommember.py
index 1be7d932f..657b279e5 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_roommember.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_roommember.py
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ class RoomMemberStoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         # storage logic
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.event_builder_factory = hs.get_event_builder_factory()
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
-        self.message_handler = self.handlers.message_handler
+        self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
 
         self.u_alice = UserID.from_string("@alice:test")
         self.u_bob = UserID.from_string("@bob:test")
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ class RoomMemberStoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             "content": {"membership": membership},
         })
 
-        event, context = yield self.message_handler._create_new_client_event(
+        event, context = yield self.event_creation_handler.create_new_client_event(
             builder
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_user_directory.py b/tests/storage/test_user_directory.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0891308f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/storage/test_user_directory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from twisted.internet import defer
+
+from synapse.storage import UserDirectoryStore
+from synapse.storage.roommember import ProfileInfo
+from tests import unittest
+from tests.utils import setup_test_homeserver
+
+ALICE = "@alice:a"
+BOB = "@bob:b"
+BOBBY = "@bobby:a"
+
+
+class UserDirectoryStoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.hs = yield setup_test_homeserver()
+        self.store = UserDirectoryStore(None, self.hs)
+
+        # alice and bob are both in !room_id. bobby is not but shares
+        # a homeserver with alice.
+        yield self.store.add_profiles_to_user_dir(
+            "!room:id",
+            {
+                ALICE: ProfileInfo(None, "alice"),
+                BOB: ProfileInfo(None, "bob"),
+                BOBBY: ProfileInfo(None, "bobby")
+            },
+        )
+        yield self.store.add_users_to_public_room(
+            "!room:id",
+            [ALICE, BOB],
+        )
+        yield self.store.add_users_who_share_room(
+            "!room:id",
+            False,
+            (
+                (ALICE, BOB),
+                (BOB, ALICE),
+            ),
+        )
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def test_search_user_dir(self):
+        # normally when alice searches the directory she should just find
+        # bob because bobby doesn't share a room with her.
+        r = yield self.store.search_user_dir(ALICE, "bob", 10)
+        self.assertFalse(r["limited"])
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(r["results"]))
+        self.assertDictEqual(r["results"][0], {
+            "user_id": BOB,
+            "display_name": "bob",
+            "avatar_url": None,
+        })
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def test_search_user_dir_all_users(self):
+        self.hs.config.user_directory_search_all_users = True
+        try:
+            r = yield self.store.search_user_dir(ALICE, "bob", 10)
+            self.assertFalse(r["limited"])
+            self.assertEqual(2, len(r["results"]))
+            self.assertDictEqual(r["results"][0], {
+                "user_id": BOB,
+                "display_name": "bob",
+                "avatar_url": None,
+            })
+            self.assertDictEqual(r["results"][1], {
+                "user_id": BOBBY,
+                "display_name": "bobby",
+                "avatar_url": None,
+            })
+        finally:
+            self.hs.config.user_directory_search_all_users = False
diff --git a/tests/test_state.py b/tests/test_state.py
index feb84f3d4..a5c5e5595 100644
--- a/tests/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/test_state.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 from synapse.events import FrozenEvent
 from synapse.api.auth import Auth
 from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes, Membership
-from synapse.state import StateHandler
+from synapse.state import StateHandler, StateResolutionHandler
 
 from .utils import MockClock
 
@@ -80,14 +80,14 @@ class StateGroupStore(object):
 
         return defer.succeed(groups)
 
-    def store_state_groups(self, event, context):
-        if context.current_state_ids is None:
-            return
+    def store_state_group(self, event_id, room_id, prev_group, delta_ids,
+                          current_state_ids):
+        state_group = self._next_group
+        self._next_group += 1
 
-        state_events = dict(context.current_state_ids)
+        self._group_to_state[state_group] = dict(current_state_ids)
 
-        self._group_to_state[context.state_group] = state_events
-        self._event_to_state_group[event.event_id] = context.state_group
+        return state_group
 
     def get_events(self, event_ids, **kwargs):
         return {
@@ -95,10 +95,19 @@ class StateGroupStore(object):
             if e_id in self._event_id_to_event
         }
 
+    def get_state_group_delta(self, name):
+        return (None, None)
+
     def register_events(self, events):
         for e in events:
             self._event_id_to_event[e.event_id] = e
 
+    def register_event_context(self, event, context):
+        self._event_to_state_group[event.event_id] = context.state_group
+
+    def register_event_id_state_group(self, event_id, state_group):
+        self._event_to_state_group[event_id] = state_group
+
 
 class DictObj(dict):
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
@@ -137,25 +146,16 @@ class Graph(object):
 
 class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.store = Mock(
-            spec_set=[
-                "get_state_groups_ids",
-                "add_event_hashes",
-                "get_events",
-                "get_next_state_group",
-                "get_state_group_delta",
-            ]
-        )
+        self.store = StateGroupStore()
         hs = Mock(spec_set=[
             "get_datastore", "get_auth", "get_state_handler", "get_clock",
+            "get_state_resolution_handler",
         ])
         hs.get_datastore.return_value = self.store
         hs.get_state_handler.return_value = None
         hs.get_clock.return_value = MockClock()
         hs.get_auth.return_value = Auth(hs)
-
-        self.store.get_next_state_group.side_effect = Mock
-        self.store.get_state_group_delta.return_value = (None, None)
+        hs.get_state_resolution_handler = lambda: StateResolutionHandler(hs)
 
         self.state = StateHandler(hs)
         self.event_id = 0
@@ -195,14 +195,13 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             }
         )
 
-        store = StateGroupStore()
-        self.store.get_state_groups_ids.side_effect = store.get_state_groups_ids
+        self.store.register_events(graph.walk())
 
         context_store = {}
 
         for event in graph.walk():
             context = yield self.state.compute_event_context(event)
-            store.store_state_groups(event, context)
+            self.store.register_event_context(event, context)
             context_store[event.event_id] = context
 
         self.assertEqual(2, len(context_store["D"].prev_state_ids))
@@ -247,16 +246,13 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             }
         )
 
-        store = StateGroupStore()
-        self.store.get_state_groups_ids.side_effect = store.get_state_groups_ids
-        self.store.get_events = store.get_events
-        store.register_events(graph.walk())
+        self.store.register_events(graph.walk())
 
         context_store = {}
 
         for event in graph.walk():
             context = yield self.state.compute_event_context(event)
-            store.store_state_groups(event, context)
+            self.store.register_event_context(event, context)
             context_store[event.event_id] = context
 
         self.assertSetEqual(
@@ -313,16 +309,13 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             }
         )
 
-        store = StateGroupStore()
-        self.store.get_state_groups_ids.side_effect = store.get_state_groups_ids
-        self.store.get_events = store.get_events
-        store.register_events(graph.walk())
+        self.store.register_events(graph.walk())
 
         context_store = {}
 
         for event in graph.walk():
             context = yield self.state.compute_event_context(event)
-            store.store_state_groups(event, context)
+            self.store.register_event_context(event, context)
             context_store[event.event_id] = context
 
         self.assertSetEqual(
@@ -396,16 +389,13 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self._add_depths(nodes, edges)
         graph = Graph(nodes, edges)
 
-        store = StateGroupStore()
-        self.store.get_state_groups_ids.side_effect = store.get_state_groups_ids
-        self.store.get_events = store.get_events
-        store.register_events(graph.walk())
+        self.store.register_events(graph.walk())
 
         context_store = {}
 
         for event in graph.walk():
             context = yield self.state.compute_event_context(event)
-            store.store_state_groups(event, context)
+            self.store.register_event_context(event, context)
             context_store[event.event_id] = context
 
         self.assertSetEqual(
@@ -465,7 +455,11 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_trivial_annotate_message(self):
-        event = create_event(type="test_message", name="event")
+        prev_event_id = "prev_event_id"
+        event = create_event(
+            type="test_message", name="event2",
+            prev_events=[(prev_event_id, {})],
+        )
 
         old_state = [
             create_event(type="test1", state_key="1"),
@@ -473,11 +467,11 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             create_event(type="test2", state_key=""),
         ]
 
-        group_name = "group_name_1"
-
-        self.store.get_state_groups_ids.return_value = {
-            group_name: {(e.type, e.state_key): e.event_id for e in old_state},
-        }
+        group_name = self.store.store_state_group(
+            prev_event_id, event.room_id, None, None,
+            {(e.type, e.state_key): e.event_id for e in old_state},
+        )
+        self.store.register_event_id_state_group(prev_event_id, group_name)
 
         context = yield self.state.compute_event_context(event)
 
@@ -490,7 +484,11 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_trivial_annotate_state(self):
-        event = create_event(type="state", state_key="", name="event")
+        prev_event_id = "prev_event_id"
+        event = create_event(
+            type="state", state_key="", name="event2",
+            prev_events=[(prev_event_id, {})],
+        )
 
         old_state = [
             create_event(type="test1", state_key="1"),
@@ -498,11 +496,11 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             create_event(type="test2", state_key=""),
         ]
 
-        group_name = "group_name_1"
-
-        self.store.get_state_groups_ids.return_value = {
-            group_name: {(e.type, e.state_key): e.event_id for e in old_state},
-        }
+        group_name = self.store.store_state_group(
+            prev_event_id, event.room_id, None, None,
+            {(e.type, e.state_key): e.event_id for e in old_state},
+        )
+        self.store.register_event_id_state_group(prev_event_id, group_name)
 
         context = yield self.state.compute_event_context(event)
 
@@ -515,7 +513,12 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_resolve_message_conflict(self):
-        event = create_event(type="test_message", name="event")
+        prev_event_id1 = "event_id1"
+        prev_event_id2 = "event_id2"
+        event = create_event(
+            type="test_message", name="event3",
+            prev_events=[(prev_event_id1, {}), (prev_event_id2, {})],
+        )
 
         creation = create_event(
             type=EventTypes.Create, state_key=""
@@ -535,12 +538,12 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             create_event(type="test4", state_key=""),
         ]
 
-        store = StateGroupStore()
-        store.register_events(old_state_1)
-        store.register_events(old_state_2)
-        self.store.get_events = store.get_events
+        self.store.register_events(old_state_1)
+        self.store.register_events(old_state_2)
 
-        context = yield self._get_context(event, old_state_1, old_state_2)
+        context = yield self._get_context(
+            event, prev_event_id1, old_state_1, prev_event_id2, old_state_2,
+        )
 
         self.assertEqual(len(context.current_state_ids), 6)
 
@@ -548,7 +551,12 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_resolve_state_conflict(self):
-        event = create_event(type="test4", state_key="", name="event")
+        prev_event_id1 = "event_id1"
+        prev_event_id2 = "event_id2"
+        event = create_event(
+            type="test4", state_key="", name="event",
+            prev_events=[(prev_event_id1, {}), (prev_event_id2, {})],
+        )
 
         creation = create_event(
             type=EventTypes.Create, state_key=""
@@ -573,7 +581,9 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         store.register_events(old_state_2)
         self.store.get_events = store.get_events
 
-        context = yield self._get_context(event, old_state_1, old_state_2)
+        context = yield self._get_context(
+            event, prev_event_id1, old_state_1, prev_event_id2, old_state_2,
+        )
 
         self.assertEqual(len(context.current_state_ids), 6)
 
@@ -581,7 +591,12 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_standard_depth_conflict(self):
-        event = create_event(type="test4", name="event")
+        prev_event_id1 = "event_id1"
+        prev_event_id2 = "event_id2"
+        event = create_event(
+            type="test4", name="event",
+            prev_events=[(prev_event_id1, {}), (prev_event_id2, {})],
+        )
 
         member_event = create_event(
             type=EventTypes.Member,
@@ -613,7 +628,9 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         store.register_events(old_state_2)
         self.store.get_events = store.get_events
 
-        context = yield self._get_context(event, old_state_1, old_state_2)
+        context = yield self._get_context(
+            event, prev_event_id1, old_state_1, prev_event_id2, old_state_2,
+        )
 
         self.assertEqual(
             old_state_2[2].event_id, context.current_state_ids[("test1", "1")]
@@ -637,19 +654,26 @@ class StateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         store.register_events(old_state_1)
         store.register_events(old_state_2)
 
-        context = yield self._get_context(event, old_state_1, old_state_2)
+        context = yield self._get_context(
+            event, prev_event_id1, old_state_1, prev_event_id2, old_state_2,
+        )
 
         self.assertEqual(
             old_state_1[2].event_id, context.current_state_ids[("test1", "1")]
         )
 
-    def _get_context(self, event, old_state_1, old_state_2):
-        group_name_1 = "group_name_1"
-        group_name_2 = "group_name_2"
+    def _get_context(self, event, prev_event_id_1, old_state_1, prev_event_id_2,
+                     old_state_2):
+        sg1 = self.store.store_state_group(
+            prev_event_id_1, event.room_id, None, None,
+            {(e.type, e.state_key): e.event_id for e in old_state_1},
+        )
+        self.store.register_event_id_state_group(prev_event_id_1, sg1)
 
-        self.store.get_state_groups_ids.return_value = {
-            group_name_1: {(e.type, e.state_key): e.event_id for e in old_state_1},
-            group_name_2: {(e.type, e.state_key): e.event_id for e in old_state_2},
-        }
+        sg2 = self.store.store_state_group(
+            prev_event_id_2, event.room_id, None, None,
+            {(e.type, e.state_key): e.event_id for e in old_state_2},
+        )
+        self.store.register_event_id_state_group(prev_event_id_2, sg2)
 
         return self.state.compute_event_context(event)
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 311604789..8efd3a347 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -13,27 +13,28 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from synapse.http.server import HttpServer
-from synapse.api.errors import cs_error, CodeMessageException, StoreError
-from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes
-from synapse.storage.prepare_database import prepare_database
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
-from synapse.server import HomeServer
-from synapse.federation.transport import server
-from synapse.util.ratelimitutils import FederationRateLimiter
-
-from synapse.util.logcontext import LoggingContext
-
-from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
-from twisted.enterprise.adbapi import ConnectionPool
-
-from collections import namedtuple
-from mock import patch, Mock
 import hashlib
+from inspect import getcallargs
 import urllib
 import urlparse
 
-from inspect import getcallargs
+from mock import Mock, patch
+from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
+
+from synapse.api.errors import CodeMessageException, cs_error
+from synapse.federation.transport import server
+from synapse.http.server import HttpServer
+from synapse.server import HomeServer
+from synapse.storage import PostgresEngine
+from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
+from synapse.storage.prepare_database import prepare_database
+from synapse.util.logcontext import LoggingContext
+from synapse.util.ratelimitutils import FederationRateLimiter
+
+# set this to True to run the tests against postgres instead of sqlite.
+# It requires you to have a local postgres database called synapse_test, within
+# which ALL TABLES WILL BE DROPPED
+USE_POSTGRES_FOR_TESTS = False
 
 
 @defer.inlineCallbacks
@@ -58,36 +59,69 @@ def setup_test_homeserver(name="test", datastore=None, config=None, **kargs):
         config.email_enable_notifs = False
         config.block_non_admin_invites = False
         config.federation_domain_whitelist = None
+        config.user_directory_search_all_users = False
 
         # disable user directory updates, because they get done in the
         # background, which upsets the test runner.
         config.update_user_directory = False
 
     config.use_frozen_dicts = True
-    config.database_config = {"name": "sqlite3"}
     config.ldap_enabled = False
 
     if "clock" not in kargs:
         kargs["clock"] = MockClock()
 
+    if USE_POSTGRES_FOR_TESTS:
+        config.database_config = {
+            "name": "psycopg2",
+            "args": {
+                "database": "synapse_test",
+                "cp_min": 1,
+                "cp_max": 5,
+            },
+        }
+    else:
+        config.database_config = {
+            "name": "sqlite3",
+            "args": {
+                "database": ":memory:",
+                "cp_min": 1,
+                "cp_max": 1,
+            },
+        }
+
+    db_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
+
+    # we need to configure the connection pool to run the on_new_connection
+    # function, so that we can test code that uses custom sqlite functions
+    # (like rank).
+    config.database_config["args"]["cp_openfun"] = db_engine.on_new_connection
+
     if datastore is None:
-        db_pool = SQLiteMemoryDbPool()
-        yield db_pool.prepare()
         hs = HomeServer(
-            name, db_pool=db_pool, config=config,
+            name, config=config,
+            db_config=config.database_config,
             version_string="Synapse/tests",
-            database_engine=create_engine(config.database_config),
-            get_db_conn=db_pool.get_db_conn,
+            database_engine=db_engine,
             room_list_handler=object(),
             tls_server_context_factory=Mock(),
             **kargs
         )
+        db_conn = hs.get_db_conn()
+        # make sure that the database is empty
+        if isinstance(db_engine, PostgresEngine):
+            cur = db_conn.cursor()
+            cur.execute("SELECT tablename FROM pg_tables where schemaname='public'")
+            rows = cur.fetchall()
+            for r in rows:
+                cur.execute("DROP TABLE %s CASCADE" % r[0])
+        yield prepare_database(db_conn, db_engine, config)
         hs.setup()
     else:
         hs = HomeServer(
             name, db_pool=None, datastore=datastore, config=config,
             version_string="Synapse/tests",
-            database_engine=create_engine(config.database_config),
+            database_engine=db_engine,
             room_list_handler=object(),
             tls_server_context_factory=Mock(),
             **kargs
@@ -306,168 +340,6 @@ class MockClock(object):
         return d
 
 
-class SQLiteMemoryDbPool(ConnectionPool, object):
-    def __init__(self):
-        super(SQLiteMemoryDbPool, self).__init__(
-            "sqlite3", ":memory:",
-            cp_min=1,
-            cp_max=1,
-        )
-
-        self.config = Mock()
-        self.config.password_providers = []
-        self.config.database_config = {"name": "sqlite3"}
-
-    def prepare(self):
-        engine = self.create_engine()
-        return self.runWithConnection(
-            lambda conn: prepare_database(conn, engine, self.config)
-        )
-
-    def get_db_conn(self):
-        conn = self.connect()
-        engine = self.create_engine()
-        prepare_database(conn, engine, self.config)
-        return conn
-
-    def create_engine(self):
-        return create_engine(self.config.database_config)
-
-
-class MemoryDataStore(object):
-
-    Room = namedtuple(
-        "Room",
-        ["room_id", "is_public", "creator"]
-    )
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.tokens_to_users = {}
-        self.paths_to_content = {}
-
-        self.members = {}
-        self.rooms = {}
-
-        self.current_state = {}
-        self.events = []
-
-    class Snapshot(namedtuple("Snapshot", "room_id user_id membership_state")):
-        def fill_out_prev_events(self, event):
-            pass
-
-    def snapshot_room(self, room_id, user_id, state_type=None, state_key=None):
-        return self.Snapshot(
-            room_id, user_id, self.get_room_member(user_id, room_id)
-        )
-
-    def register(self, user_id, token, password_hash):
-        if user_id in self.tokens_to_users.values():
-            raise StoreError(400, "User in use.")
-        self.tokens_to_users[token] = user_id
-
-    def get_user_by_access_token(self, token):
-        try:
-            return {
-                "name": self.tokens_to_users[token],
-            }
-        except Exception:
-            raise StoreError(400, "User does not exist.")
-
-    def get_room(self, room_id):
-        try:
-            return self.rooms[room_id]
-        except Exception:
-            return None
-
-    def store_room(self, room_id, room_creator_user_id, is_public):
-        if room_id in self.rooms:
-            raise StoreError(409, "Conflicting room!")
-
-        room = MemoryDataStore.Room(
-            room_id=room_id,
-            is_public=is_public,
-            creator=room_creator_user_id
-        )
-        self.rooms[room_id] = room
-
-    def get_room_member(self, user_id, room_id):
-        return self.members.get(room_id, {}).get(user_id)
-
-    def get_room_members(self, room_id, membership=None):
-        if membership:
-            return [
-                v for k, v in self.members.get(room_id, {}).items()
-                if v.membership == membership
-            ]
-        else:
-            return self.members.get(room_id, {}).values()
-
-    def get_rooms_for_user_where_membership_is(self, user_id, membership_list):
-        return [
-            m[user_id] for m in self.members.values()
-            if user_id in m and m[user_id].membership in membership_list
-        ]
-
-    def get_room_events_stream(self, user_id=None, from_key=None, to_key=None,
-                               limit=0, with_feedback=False):
-        return ([], from_key)  # TODO
-
-    def get_joined_hosts_for_room(self, room_id):
-        return defer.succeed([])
-
-    def persist_event(self, event):
-        if event.type == EventTypes.Member:
-            room_id = event.room_id
-            user = event.state_key
-            self.members.setdefault(room_id, {})[user] = event
-
-        if hasattr(event, "state_key"):
-            key = (event.room_id, event.type, event.state_key)
-            self.current_state[key] = event
-
-        self.events.append(event)
-
-    def get_current_state(self, room_id, event_type=None, state_key=""):
-        if event_type:
-            key = (room_id, event_type, state_key)
-            if self.current_state.get(key):
-                return [self.current_state.get(key)]
-            return None
-        else:
-            return [
-                e for e in self.current_state
-                if e[0] == room_id
-            ]
-
-    def set_presence_state(self, user_localpart, state):
-        return defer.succeed({"state": 0})
-
-    def get_presence_list(self, user_localpart, accepted):
-        return []
-
-    def get_room_events_max_id(self):
-        return "s0"  # TODO (erikj)
-
-    def get_send_event_level(self, room_id):
-        return defer.succeed(0)
-
-    def get_power_level(self, room_id, user_id):
-        return defer.succeed(0)
-
-    def get_add_state_level(self, room_id):
-        return defer.succeed(0)
-
-    def get_room_join_rule(self, room_id):
-        # TODO (erikj): This should be configurable
-        return defer.succeed("invite")
-
-    def get_ops_levels(self, room_id):
-        return defer.succeed((5, 5, 5))
-
-    def insert_client_ip(self, user, access_token, ip, user_agent):
-        return defer.succeed(None)
-
-
 def _format_call(args, kwargs):
     return ", ".join(
         ["%r" % (a) for a in args] +