Chapter Summaries

Punk confronted the Black Claw Tribe’s Priestess and discovered that her strange staff was linked to a corrupting aura. The Priestess fled while her brainwashed warriors attacked, and Punk pursued her with a prepared spell.

• Punk hurled a young Harpy into the soldiers rushing the treehouse, killing them and blasting open the structure.
• Punk examined the Priestess and sensed that her staff’s eyeball absorbed and strengthened the strange aura surrounding her.
• The Priestess ordered her warriors to attack Punk, then fled while her mind-bewitched followers charged him.
• Punk swept away the attacking Harpies with Mage Hand and prepared to strike the escaping Priestess.

Punk pursued the fleeing Harpy Priestess, but she sacrificed her life to awaken a bizarre eyeball that unleashed a Legendary-tier attack. After dodging it and seeing the eye run out of energy, Punk claimed it and returned toward the Harpy tribe.

• Punk used Swiftness of Haste to catch up with the fleeing Harpy Priestess.
• The Priestess refused to surrender and poured her life force and soul power into the eyeball in her staff.
• The awakened eyeball fired a beam that annihilated a vast section of land, but Punk evaded it with Any Door.
• Punk recognized the beam’s power as Legendary-tier and concluded the exhausted eyeball could no longer attack.
• Punk collected the eyeball with Mage Hand and sped back toward the Harpy tribe, intending to silence anyone who learned of it.

Punk annihilated the Black Claw Tribe with Kinetic Tide after defeating its Priestess, then escaped before anyone could trace him. While examining the strange eyeball at his forest campsite, he suspected it needed energy formed from negative emotions to activate.

• Punk found the Harpies celebrating and unprepared for their Priestess's defeat, then cast an expanded Kinetic Tide that destroyed the settlement.
• Punk killed the surviving Harpies with Kinetic Cone, used Divination to confirm there were no survivors, and left without looting the tribe.
• Punk examined the strange eyeball with Zelenjin Gloves and found that it had no soul or life, though it consumed energy and grew slightly.
• Punk recalled the evil aura released by the Priestess and concluded that the eyeball might require energy formed from negative emotions.

Punk fed the strange eyeball energized negative emotions and discovered that it contained a Law Fragment that could improve his chances of reaching Legendary. Further inspection revealed a suspicious gray aura contaminating the fragment.

• Punk tortured a gray rabbit with fire and life force, then used Emotion Energization to extract its negative emotions, shattering its soul.
• Punk fed the extracted emotions to the strange eyeball, which briefly awakened and probed its surroundings before falling silent again.
• Punk sensed a tiny Law Fragment inside the eyeball and realized it could raise his chances of advancing to Legendary.
• After examining the fragment for more than one Magic Hour, Punk suspected its gray aura was a contaminant resembling the filthy aura of a Filth Bird.

Punk examined a corrupted Law Fragment trapped in a giant eyeball and began considering how to make others help neutralize its lingering negative energy. He then reached a prosperous border city in central Faerun, where he planned to seek information about Thought of Truth.

• Punk deduced that a remnant of a Legendary powerhouse’s soul had been corrupted by an enemy’s lingering soul energy, leaving the Law Fragment surrounded by negative emotions.
• Punk decided against using his own positive emotions to counter the corruption and considered involving low-level professionals instead.
• Punk stored the giant eyeball and traveled from the destroyed Harpy tribe toward the nearest city.
• Punk reached a wealthy city with towering blue-gray walls and judged that it likely belonged to an empire in central Faerun.
• Punk adjusted his hood and headed for the city gate, intending to find an opportunity to join Thought of Truth.

Punk arrived at Ross City and questioned its lord, Jaeger-Kagon, about the surrounding region and its powers. He learned that the Grayrain Kingdom across the Red Sands had several spellcaster organizations, giving him a lead as he sought Thought of Truth.

• Punk approached Ross City's gate openly, and the crowd fell silent under the pressure of his Master Level strength.
• Jaeger-Kagon hurried to greet Punk with flattery, and Punk interrupted him to demand information.
• Punk ordered Jaeger-Kagon to describe the region, nearby countries, local forces, political systems, and renowned powerhouses.
• Jaeger-Kagon explained that Ross City stood in the Aero Imperial Nation on the Impact Plains of the Faerun plane, and named powerful figures in neighboring states.
• Jaeger-Kagon told Punk that the Grayrain Kingdom had major branches of several spellcaster organizations, making it a promising place to seek information about Thought of Truth.

The chapter introduced Grayrain Kingdom and Thought of Truth’s dangerous apprentice-recruitment mission, known as the New Blood War. As Formal Level Mages hesitated over the mission, one mage criticized the organization’s penalties and encountered Master Korkwelen behind her.

• Grayrain Kingdom was ruled by the Council of Six, representing six Legendary organizations that also controlled Grayze Grass.
• Thought of Truth prepared to recruit apprentices, with its mages testing eligible youths and competing against rival organizations.
• The chapter explained that recruiters faced ambushes and fines if they returned without enough apprentices.
• A short Formal Level Mage and an injured female mage discussed the reward and the danger posed by Red Robes, recalling that Medi had died on a previous mission.
• The female mage complained about Thought of Truth’s penalties until Master Korkwelen appeared behind her.

Punk arrived at Thought of Truth’s Grayrain Kingdom branch and asked its director, Master Korkwelen, to let him join. Korkwelen was astonished by Punk’s strength and unusual directness, then began explaining the simple enrollment requirements.

• Master Korkwelen welcomed the black-robed visitor into the branch’s mission hall.
• Punk entered after sensing Korkwelen’s power and confirming the hall held no magical traps.
• Punk and Korkwelen assessed each other’s strength, and Korkwelen discovered his Divination Spells could not probe Punk.
• Korkwelen told Punk that Thought of Truth did not sell supplies to outsiders and suggested the Mage Guild.
• Punk said he had come to join Thought of Truth, leaving Korkwelen momentarily speechless before he mentioned a form and an arcane marker.

Punk joined Thought of Truth as a Senior Mentor after arriving at its Mossdale swamp branch, though the organization’s quick and enthusiastic acceptance made him wary. He reviewed the benefits and obligations in his membership agreement before deciding whether to sign.

• Master Korkwelen welcomed Punk, recognizing that his arrival strengthened the branch against the Shattered Talisman Society.
• A frightened Journeyman Mage handed Punk the membership agreement after the other mages left the mission hall.
• Punk suspected Thought of Truth’s immediate acceptance was unusual but set aside his doubts and examined the agreement.
• Punk read about Senior Mentors’ potions, income, research privileges, authority, and access to the organization’s resource network.
• Punk began reviewing the Senior Mentor obligations section.

Punk joined Thought of Truth and sought a magic tower to conduct his experiments. He agreed to rent one from Master Korkwelen and prepared to sell several Master Level magic items for contribution points.

• Punk reviewed Thought of Truth's membership obligations, judged them reasonable, and signed the parchment.
• Master Korkwelen welcomed Punk and gave him a ring with basic tracking and communication enchantments.
• Punk asked to rent a magic tower, and Korkwelen offered him one of the vacant towers in exchange for contribution points.
• Punk recognized that the tower's core belonged to Thought of Truth and that he would have to repair its damage himself, but agreed to rent it.
• Punk took several Master Level magic items from his storage ring to exchange for contribution points.

Punk sold his magic equipment to Master Korkwelen for five thousand exchange points, then moved into a rented magic tower in the Thought of Truth branch. After inspecting and renovating the tower to protect his secrets, he prepared to begin his experiments.

• Master Korkwelen bought Punk’s magic equipment for five thousand exchange points, with the Black Hawk Ring selling for three thousand.
• A Formal Level Regular Mentor escorted Punk to the magic tower he had rented in the mentor residential district.
• Punk found the tower ordinary but usable, though its elemental pool contained fire residue and its arrays needed maintenance.
• Punk spent half a month inspecting and renovating the tower, adding concealment enchantments, warning spells, and magic traps.
• Punk set out alchemy tools in the tower laboratory and prepared to resume his experiments.

Punk considered how to extract the Law Fragment from a strange eyeball filled with Legendary negative emotional energy and decided to transplant it into a carefully controlled host. He accepted the risks of the plan but still needed to find a suitable professional to serve as the host.

• Punk examined the shrunken eyeball and reflected on the danger of its Legendary energy.
• Punk decided to use another creature as a host so its positive emotions could gradually erode the eyeball’s negative energy.
• Punk concluded that the host would need to be a professional below Formal Level and would have to be replaced before going insane.
• Punk recognized the difficulty of finding an obedient, optimistic host and worried about losing control of the Law Fragment.
• Punk set aside his complaints and began considering how to refine his plan.

Punk planned to find a gifted, optimistic apprentice of humble birth to host the strange eyeball, using his new position as a Senior Mentor to keep the apprentice close while concealing his motives. Before recruitment began, he went to buy materials for an ordinary Elemental Golem.

• Punk decided to search among Thought of Truth's incoming apprentices and use Divination Spells to find a suitable host for the eyeball.
• Punk planned to pose as a caring mentor while monitoring the apprentice and conducting experiments with the apprentice's consent.
• Punk checked his plan and resolved to wait for the apprentices to arrive in half a month.
• Punk headed to the mentors' Trading Market with 4,950 exchange points to buy materials for an Elemental Golem.

Punk visited Thought of Truth’s mentor trading area to obtain materials for a Semi-Elemental Golem. He arrived at the nearly empty exchange and was greeted by an alchemical golem that began introducing its services.

• Punk planned to craft a Semi-Elemental Golem and sought Minisen Alloy and Oak Fire Crystal through the mentor trading area.
• Punk walked through Gray Marsh at night and used life force to send glowing fungal clusters into the air.
• Punk reached the exchange and discovered that the vast trading area was mostly barren marsh surrounding a small pyramid-shaped building.
• Punk entered the nearly deserted exchange after two Formal Level Mages hurried out.
• An alchemical golem greeted Punk and displayed an introduction to the exchange.

Punk used the Thought of Truth exchange catalog to purchase Oak Fire Rock Crystal and Minisen Alloy for his golem project. After he left the exchange, Master Benraji-Nokani invited him to visit his magic tower.

• Punk learned the exchange rules and found that the Grayrain Kingdom branch lacked Oak Fire Rock Crystal, so he ordered some from another branch despite the high transmission fee.
• Punk discovered that the Grayrain Kingdom branch had Minisen Alloy and bought thirty kilograms.
• As Punk left the exchange, the golem told him that the alloy's seller, Master Benraji-Nokani, had sent a message.
• Punk read Benraji-Nokani's invitation to visit his magic tower.

Punk visited Benraji-Nokani to complete a Minisen Alloy transaction, but Benraji invited him into his lavish tower and hinted that he wanted to discuss exchange points and special connections. The chapter left Punk suspicious as Benraji served tea and made another pointed remark.

• Punk approached Benraji-Nokani's vivid red magic tower and was greeted enthusiastically by the evocation mage.
• Benraji invited Punk inside for tea, but Punk initially insisted they handle the Minisen Alloy transaction first.
• After Benraji mentioned Thought of Truth's exchange point system, Punk realized the invitation had another purpose and followed him into the tower.
• Benraji ordered his female apprentices to prepare tea and bring over four fox girls he had bought.
• Benraji praised his tea as genuine and mentioned needing special connections, prompting Punk to suspect his intentions.

Punk met with Master Benraji Nokani to discuss selling Minisen Alloy, but Benraji first tested him with tea, praise, and offers of fox girls. Benraji finally asked whether Punk was interested in the illicit market for magical equipment and potions, revealing that a dose of Howling Kindness sold for thirty grams of refined gold.

• Punk checked the Wonderful Firelight tea for toxins, then drank it while Benraji reminisced and offered him two fox girls.
• Punk refused the fox girls and urged Benraji to discuss their Minisen Alloy transaction.
• Benraji sent the apprentices and fox girls away after Punk cut short his flattery and demanded the real subject.
• Benraji explained that controversial magical equipment and alchemy potions had a market in the Grayrain Kingdom, despite the Mage Guild's interference.
• Benraji told Punk that the Shattered Talisman Society paid thirty grams of refined gold for a dose of Howling Kindness, and Punk showed interest.

Punk agreed to cooperate with Benraji to produce and sell high-end, controversial magical goods despite the risks to his standing with the Mage Guild and Thought of Truth. They exchanged a communication gem and began negotiating how to split the proceeds.

• Punk questioned Benraji about the dangers of violating the Mage Guild's rules and selling privately instead of supplying Thought of Truth.
• Benraji claimed the Guild's Legendary mage was unlikely to interfere and that Master Level members could bend Thought of Truth's rules in secret.
• Punk accepted Benraji's offer, deciding the potential earnings outweighed the risks and that Benraji would handle sales.
• Benraji gave Punk an enchanted gemstone for one-way communication and proposed that he receive sixty percent of the proceeds for managing the sales network.
• Punk countered that he should receive sixty percent because crafting and concealing the goods was difficult, and Benraji argued that organizing the hidden trade network justified his share.

Punk negotiated with Benraji over joining his high-end black market and agreed to a fifty-fifty split of the profits. He required payment in exchange points to avoid the complications of barter, leaving the pair ready to begin their partnership.

• Punk ignored Benraji's arguments and held firm, confident that Benraji needed his Alchemy expertise to establish the black market.
• Benraji conceded and proposed splitting the profits fifty-fifty, explaining the work and expenses involved in running the operation.
• Punk calculated that the black market could earn far more than selling potions through Thought of Truth and accepted Benraji's proposed split.
• Punk asked Benraji to pay him in exchange points rather than traded materials, and proposed that they begin their partnership.

Punk prepared a commission for Tear Crow's Evil while using his work on a potion to set up a small accident that would let him scout the incoming apprentices. He planned to choose an apprentice as host for the strange eyeball and its Law Fragment, and waited for the apprentices to reach Gray Marsh.

• Punk received five Iron-toothed Black Ravens from Benraji to make Tear Crow's Evil for an anonymous buyer.
• Punk planned to use the apprentice recruitment period to find a suitable host for the eyeball without attracting suspicion or losing that apprentice to another Mage.
• Punk prepared a potion for a controlled accident that would give him a plausible reason to inspect the apprentices' route into the Thought of Truth branch.
• Punk checked his Divination Spell, saw that the apprentices were nearing Gray Marsh, and waited to see whether they would surprise him.