Chapter Summaries

Raymond completed the main structure of his Wizard's Tower, recruited six high-level Wizards who wanted to become Liches, and set limits on their plans for an organization. After drawing new cards and moving into the tower, he prepared to raid a Lich beneath the Bent-Neck Crane Inn and considered expanding his magical operations.

• Raymond accepted Bernard's help furnishing the tower, received the deed to the Bent-Neck Crane Inn, and planned to destroy the inn after dealing with its hidden Lich.
• Vanessa brought six high-level Wizards to Raymond, who agreed to help them become Liches but restricted their future organization to gathering knowledge, magical resources, and money while avoiding politics and churches.
• Raymond drew five cards, including Echoing Resonance, Counterspell, Oran-Rief Hydra, War God's Avatar, and Directed Teleportation—Zendikar, and decided to save the Zendikar card for a dangerous future.
• Raymond moved his household into the tower, placed the mutated hound in its underground level, and explained his plans to breed goblins for experiments and other uses.
• Raymond sent Vanessa to prepare for a night raid on the Lich beneath the inn, then considered going to Candlekeep to study prestige classes and meet Imoen and Gorion.

Raymond and his companions raided an ancient tomb beneath Athkatla, killed a lich, and claimed Daystar and a spellbook before returning to his Wizard’s Tower. There, Raymond accepted a meeting with Aran Linvail, while Zeranora advanced her covert plans within the Cowled Wizards.

• Raymond led his companions into the tomb, where they ambushed and destroyed the lich before it could cast a spell.
• Raymond claimed Daystar, destroyed the lich’s phylactery, and used a scroll to command twenty-four mummies; the group also found the lich’s spellbook containing powerful spells.
• Back at the Wizard’s Tower, Fid invited Raymond to meet Aran Linvail, and Raymond agreed to meet him there the following evening.
• Aran Linvail learned that Raymond had chosen the Wizard’s Tower as their meeting place and decided to prepare an expensive magical gift.
• Zeranora celebrated her promotion within the Cowled Wizards and ordered a delivery for Raymond while secretly arranging for summoned creatures to kill young Wizards and impersonate them.

Raymond completed and activated his Wizard's Tower, whose enormous energy drain alarmed Athkatla, then awakened its intelligence and connected it to his Dragon Lair base. After expanding his forces and accepting a poison-supply contract from Aran Linvail, Raymond prepared to build ties with the Shadow Thieves.

• A Cowled Wizard delivered the tower's equipment and magical creatures, and Raymond assigned them to help run the tower and its Arcane Garden.
• Raymond activated the tower's four elemental interfaces and energy-draining arrays, causing disturbances across Athkatla as the tower rapidly filled its storage pools.
• Raymond used his Creator's power to awaken the tower as Little Wisdom, then established a permanent portal to the Dragon Lair and promised food for the growing Half-Dragon Kobold tribe.
• Raymond ordered Hobgoblins to capture Goblins for underground excavation, then received Aran Linvail and accepted a long-term poison contract in exchange for gold and other goods.

Raymond established the Arcane Mysteries Society, approved its plans to build power around Tethyr and the Nelanther Isles, and prepared to travel to Candlekeep for Amn’s peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Irenicus learned of Raymond and arranged for the Emerald Enclave to target him, while Raymond’s latest sale led him to a sinister magical tome.

• Vanessa proposed pooling the liches’ knowledge and expanding through Tethyr and the Nelanther Isles; Raymond named their group the Arcane Mysteries Society, approved its first two stages, and set rules for recruiting members.
• Raymond promised the liches access to an undead-occupied Floating City in another world, then ordered the Oddity to selectively breed obedient goblin werewolves and castrate the rest.
• An envoy from the Council of Six invited Raymond to accompany Amn’s delegation to Candlekeep for peace talks with Baldur’s Gate, and Raymond accepted while preparing to sell magic items for travel funds.
• Irenicus learned that Raymond was a Chosen of Talona and a visitor from another world, then directed Bodhi to enlist the Emerald Enclave in an ambush while keeping their involvement secret.
• Raymond sold magical armor and weapons at the Waukeen Promenade, then examined an adventurer’s old book and recognized its hidden Abyssal sacrificial and summoning rituals.

Raymond joined Amn’s delegation to Candlekeep and captured the monsters that ambushed its mountain camp, including two White Dragons and a Purple Worm. After discovering the attack came from a nearby cave, he sent his Shadow Legion to investigate, but the cave was already empty.

• Raymond bought a Book of Demons and other adventurers’ loot, then traded it for an Acidfire Sword and gems before leaving for Candlekeep with the delegation.
• Raymond repaired an Ioun Stone of Spell Absorption and a shield guardian, then gave the guardian’s amulet to Isadora for protection.
• Masked members of the Emerald Enclave sent White Dragons, Winter Wolves, Ice Trolls, and a Purple Worm to attack the delegation in the Cloudy Mountains.
• Raymond and his allies captured the two White Dragons, while Davian fought the Purple Worm and Isadora took control of it; Raymond turned the captured creatures into Creature Cards.
• Raymond sent the Shadow Legion to track the attackers, and Yelinya found their cave empty except for humanoid footprints.

After the attack on Amn’s delegation, Soros helped Amn turn the assault into political pressure against Baldur’s Gate, weakening its position before negotiations at Candlekeep. There, Soros met Sarevok, an Iron Throne heir whose hidden Bhaalspawn nature made him a figure of future danger.

• Sir Crispian promised Soros a rich reward for protecting the delegation, and the party continued toward Nashkel after the Emerald Enclave’s leaders decided to suspend their plans against him.
• Shanglar arranged for Rain to infiltrate the Emerald Enclave and planned to use her to gain Soros’s trust, while the Twisted Rune watched events unfold.
• At Nashkel, Soros advised Sir Crispian and General Laurel to blame Baldur’s Gate publicly, and Amn spread accusations that damaged the city’s reputation and trade.
• More than a month later, Sir Crispian and Duke Silvershield met at Candlekeep, where Amn used the attack to press Baldur’s Gate for concessions.
• Soros met Sarevok, who revealed that he was the son of the Iron Throne’s leader and was observing the negotiations, while Soros recognized him as a Bhaalspawn.

Raymond copied Candlekeep’s books, helped Sir Crispian plan his rise in Amn, and received a powerful spellbook from Zhentarim leader Ximmon. After demonstrating his card-based magic to Elminster, he offered to trade a card for the mage’s Silver Fire research notes and left the conversation wary of the gods.

• Raymond spent nearly three hundred thousand gold pieces copying magical texts at Candlekeep, and Keeper of the Tomes Ulrunt invited him to a debate.
• Sir Crispian told Raymond that Duke Silvershield had signed a peace agreement, and Raymond advised him to build political support in Amn.
• Ximmon offered Raymond a Book of Boccob’s Blessings as an apology, but Raymond accepted the gift and refused to cooperate with the Zhentarim.
• Elminster arrived, dismissed Ximmon, and asked Raymond about his magic and his ties to Talona and Mystra.
• Raymond used a Planeswalker card to create a Silence effect, then offered to trade a card for Elminster’s Silver Fire research notes.
• Raymond left Elminster, insisting that he distrusted Talona’s power and would not reveal his trump card.

Raymond won Candlekeep’s debate and gained access to its secret library, where Oghma revealed himself and offered a partnership. Raymond accepted, allowing Oghma to read his memories in exchange for protection and powerful upgrades to his magic ring and eyes.

• Raymond advanced to Mystic Theurge LV2, activated his Wizard Tower land card, and gained access to fourth-level arcane and divine spells.
• At Ulrunt’s debate, Raymond argued that good and evil, order and chaos, and knowledge itself were shaped by perspective and prejudice, winning permission to enter Candlekeep’s secret chamber.
• Raymond entered the secret library’s demiplane and spent four hours rapidly reading its books and scrolls.
• Oghma revealed that he wanted to learn about other worlds through Raymond and offered protection, future Chosen status, and access to his temples in return for Raymond’s cooperation.
• Raymond accepted Oghma’s deal, and Oghma read the contents of his Mind Library, upgraded his Spell Storage Ring, and granted him the Eye of Knowledge.

Raymond agreed to help Ximmon target Cyric’s followers, confronted a Harper spy, and discussed the Bhaalspawn with Elminster before returning to Isadora. Meanwhile, plots against Raymond and a pirate mutiny unfolded elsewhere, ending with Harlett’s vengeful soul becoming a Wraith beneath the sea.

• Raymond agreed to work with Ximmon to hunt Cyric worshipers in exchange for intelligence, spell scrolls, and magic items, while keeping control over each operation.
• Raymond rejected the Harper spy’s presence, warned Elminster to keep the Harpers away from him, and returned to Isadora after discussing her studies in magic and Psionics.
• Gorion and Jaheira discussed Raymond’s possible connection to the Bhaalspawn prophecy, and Gorion considered taking Abdel to Waterdeep for safety.
• Rain persuaded Irenicus to feign cooperation with the Emerald Enclave and betray its leaders, while Irenicus and Bodhi planned to send vampires and other forces against Raymond.
• Eric killed Harlett during a pirate mutiny and accepted Vanessa’s order to unite the Nelanther Isles, while secretly plotting to take Harlett’s family and claim his legacy.
• Harlett’s soul absorbed negative energy after hearing Eric’s plans and became a Wraith, spreading hatred through a sunken warship and the souls aboard it.

After Baldur's Gate barred Raymond from entering, he ordered Vanessa to use the Nelanther pirates to undermine the city's trade and weaken its dukes. Raymond then reached the Deadlands with his companions, where they exposed and captured two doppelgangers who had murdered a farm couple.

• Ulrunt gave Raymond Oghma's Treatise on the Origin of All Magic and granted him continued access to Candlekeep.
• At Baldur's Gate, guards turned Raymond away because the dukes had forbidden Talona's worshippers from entering the city.
• Raymond summoned Vanessa and instructed him to organize the Nelanther pirates to charge ships protection fees, especially those trading with Baldur's Gate.
• Raymond outlined plans to develop the Nelanther Isles through farming, salt production, fishing, and other industries.
• Near the Deadlands, Raymond's party found a farm with human blood and captured two disguised doppelgangers after discovering the couple's bodies in the cellar.

Raymond learned that the Emerald Enclave and Jon Irenicus had arranged to capture him, then accepted Rain’s intelligence and prepared to counter their coming ambush. Meanwhile, Mystra’s Chosen failed to identify or damage a Planeswalker Card, and Elminster took it to Mystra as Raymond continued toward Waterdeep.

• Raymond identified two farmers killed by doppelgangers, buried them with proper rites, and settled in for the night with Davian, Isadora, and Handington.
• Yelinya warned Raymond that a wizard named Rain was approaching, and Rain revealed that the Emerald Enclave and Irenicus planned to capture him for his divine power.
• Rain offered to help Raymond destroy the Emerald Enclave’s leadership and gave him details of a coming ambush involving wizards, monsters, and over forty vampires.
• Raymond summoned Balithrisyat and sent the Dracolich to scout the border between Trollhowl Forest and the High Moor before the ambush.
• Raymond began studying spells while the Chosen of Mystra tested a Planeswalker Card without success, and Elminster took it to Mystra for examination.
• Elminster told the others that Soros was traveling toward Waterdeep and predicted that Baldur’s Gate would soon face a plague after expelling Talona’s clerics.

Midnight visited Oghma to learn about Planeswalkers and the Magic Card Raymond had created, then received advice to approach Soros as an equal. Meanwhile, Balithrisyat infiltrated the Emerald Enclave’s planned ambush against Raymond, while Eric’s fleet crushed the pirate alliance and Vanessa prepared to expand the organization’s control of the Sword Coast.

• Midnight asked Oghma about the Planeswalker Card, and he explained the Spark, the Dark Void, and the powers and limits of Planeswalkers.
• Oghma advised Midnight to treat Soros as an equal and exchange magical knowledge with him, while warning that only a Planeswalker could fully understand the cards.
• Balithrisyat disguised himself as a Green Dragon, persuaded the Emerald Enclave to hire him, and reported its ambush forces and traps to Raymond.
• Raymond gave Balithrisyat a poison-plague mixture and command of the Shadow Legion, then continued north with his companions as Handington prepared a Spellbreaker Arrow.
• Eric’s fleet and Vanessa’s Undead forces overwhelmed the pirate alliance, securing the Nelanther Isles and the surrounding Sea of Swords.
• Vanessa planned to occupy the Korinn Archipelago and use Wish and Divination magic to track ships, while Jeffrey agreed to watch Eric.

Bernard secured political backing and the Roldan Trading Company’s trade shares while Zeranora secretly revealed herself to be Shaan VII and sent a Winter Wight to watch over Soros. Far to the north, Raymond’s group faced the Emerald Enclave’s ambush, and Raymond left the attackers incapacitated with a series of engineered illnesses.

• Sir Crispian gave the Roldan Trading Company the largest share of the new trade routes and invited Bernard to a dinner with influential officials.
• Zeranora learned that the Emerald Enclave planned another ambush against Soros and sent a Winter Wight to observe the battle and help if needed.
• Raymond summoned his followers near the ambush site, promised Vermees a share of the Black Dragon’s treasure, and discussed the mutated hound and its Dragonborn pups.
• Balithrisyat poisoned the ambushers’ food, and the Emerald Enclave’s wizards launched a spell barrage at Raymond’s carriage after nightfall.
• Raymond revealed himself above the destroyed carriage and scattered pollen that triggered severe allergic reactions among the attackers.
• Raymond followed the pollen with a virus and mutated diphtheria bacteria, incapacitating the five high-level wizards and many of their allies.

Raymond crushed the Emerald Enclave’s ambush with disease, magic, and overwhelming close-combat power, then captured its surviving high-level wizards and a Black Dragon. He exposed Rain as an agent of the Twisted Rune and incapacitated her with a Spellbreaker Arrow coated in poison so he could use her to infiltrate the organization.

• Raymond’s chosen ability weakened the attacking creatures while Alena, Riet, Davian, the Mutated Hound, and the Iron Golem tore through the Emerald Enclave’s forces, and Balithrisyat took control of their Constructs and Skeleton Warriors.
• Vermees and the Shadow Legion defeated the Black Dragon as Raymond transformed into a Half-Dragon, empowered himself and his Imp with the War God’s Avatar Card, and slaughtered the Vampires with Daystar.
• Raymond destroyed the remaining Vampires with Daystar’s Sunburst, killed one of the five comatose wizards, turned the other four and the Black Dragon into Creature Cards, and gained two Mystic Theurge levels.
• Raymond summoned the captured wizards and Black Dragon to stage a fake battle, prompting Rain to rush in and summon an Elder Air Elemental, which Raymond banished.
• Raymond revealed that he knew Rain served Rune Lord Shanglar of the Twisted Rune and planned to make her his subordinate and send her back as an infiltrator.
• Handington shot Rain with a poisoned Spellbreaker Arrow, breaking her magical defenses and leaving her unconscious despite her attempt to turn invisible.

Raymond turned Rain into a card and resummoned her as a loyal spy tasked with infiltrating the Twisted Rune, while the Harpers and Zhentarim investigated the battle and Shaan VII considered cooperating with him. Raymond and his companions reached Dragonspear Castle, where he spotted a valuable Flail Snail shell.

• Raymond captured Rain as a card, then resummoned her and ordered her to infiltrate the Twisted Rune while taking control of the Emerald Enclave’s resources.
• Rain led the Emerald Enclave’s surviving leaders and forces back to Kzula, while Raymond dismissed most of his helpers and continued toward Waterdeep with a smaller group.
• A winter wight reported Raymond’s powers and Rain’s betrayal to Shaan VII, who considered an alliance against the Twisted Rune without revealing his identity.
• Harpers investigated the battlefield, and the Zhentarim learned of the destruction; Manshoon ordered Ximmon to gather accurate intelligence on Raymond.
• Raymond and his companions rode to Dragonspear Castle, where they entered the busy settlement and saw adventurers hauling in a dead Flail Snail with an intact, valuable shell.

Raymond bought a giant Flail Snail shell, built a magical carriage, and prepared to leave Dragonspear Castle. That night, Pit Fiend Egrys led a devil assault on the castle, and Raymond went to confront the devils as they broke into his inn.

• Raymond bought the Flail Snail shell from Brolto for a Wand of Cure Light Wounds, a Ring of Invisibility, and gold, then learned the creature had been hunted in a mine west of the castle.
• Raymond shrank the shell into a Bag of Holding and built a spacious magical carriage before settling in for the night with Isadora, Davian, and Handington.
• The Imp warned Raymond that its former superior, Pit Fiend Egrys, had entered the Material Plane beneath Dragonspear Castle, and devils soon burst from the castle and attacked its inhabitants.
• Egrys led the devils in destroying the temple of Tempus with Meteor Swarm, then killed the surviving Barbarian after he refused to join Baator.
• Raymond learned that Egrys served Dispater and gathered intelligence from devils sent to the Material Plane; when devils broke into the inn, Raymond told Isadora to stay close and led the group downstairs to fight.

Raymond fought off the devil invasion at Dragonspear Castle and defeated the Pit Fiend Egrys, who had been sent by Archduke Dispater to claim his soul. After revealing his power as Talona’s Chosen, Raymond killed Egrys with Slay Living and left Baator’s plans in ruins.

• Raymond and his allies killed the devils attacking the inn, and Raymond used divine power to destroy a Horned Devil before refusing Brolto’s request to lead the survivors.
• Raymond summoned a Huge Stone Elemental and fought through the streets, where Pit Fiend Egrys revealed that Dispater wanted Raymond’s soul and offered him a contract.
• Raymond rejected Egrys’s offer, trapped the devils with spells and summoned creatures, and fought off their attacks as Egrys’s forces dwindled.
• Egrys tried to retreat, but Raymond disrupted his Greater Teleport and summoned an Oran-Rief Hydra to help destroy the remaining devils.
• Raymond used his imp familiar to deliver Slay Living, killing Egrys as the Pit Fiend charged him.

Raymond arrived at Dagger Beach and helped defend the village from a lizardfolk raid, then accepted a three-hundred-gold reward from its council. The chapter left him being questioned about his background and possible investment in the village.

• Raymond let Marshall govern Dragonspear Castle in his name and lent him the Oran-Rief Hydra for three months before leaving north with his companions.
• Duke Dispater learned that Egrys had failed against Soros, spared him further demotion, and ordered spies sent to gather information about Raymond.
• Raymond reached Dagger Beach with Davian, Isadora, Handington, and the Huge Stone Elemental, which had to remain outside the village gate.
• A force of about a hundred and fifty lizardfolk attacked Dagger Beach, and Raymond ordered the Huge Stone Elemental, Davian, and Handington to kill them.
• Pyle Mad Howl thanked Raymond for protecting the village and brought him before the council, which approved a reward of three hundred gold coins.
• An elderly council member questioned Raymond about his background and whether he might invest in Dagger Beach.

Raymond gathered information about Waterdeep, helped Isadora advance in magic, gained new cards, and traveled to the city to establish a base. After arriving, he accepted Khelben 'Blackstaff's invitation and met him alone in Blackstaff Tower, where they silently assessed each other's magic.

• Raymond learned from Imogen about Waterdeep's dangerous Docks District and Undermountain before setting out for the city.
• Isadora successfully cast Light, and Raymond gave her a book of cantrips while Davian and Handington praised her abilities.
• Raymond trained with new spells, then crossed Ardeep Forest with his companions, where Isadora controlled an Owlbear and Raymond made it into a card.
• Raymond completed card-related tasks, drew six new cards, and arrived at Waterdeep, where he saw the long entry queues and the city's busy trade district.
• A young wizard invited Raymond to Blackstaff Tower on behalf of Khelben 'Blackstaff', who then met with Raymond alone and silently studied his magical aura and items.

Kelben gave Raymond the Nether Scrolls and Mystra’s Holy Symbol, then spent days discussing magic with him before helping arrange his registration in Waterdeep. As Raymond bought a house, Talona’s clerics gained thousands of followers through new teachings on hygiene, and her church began deciding whether to adopt them.

• Kelben presented Raymond with ten Nether Scrolls and a Holy Symbol from Mystra, explaining the dangers of reading the scrolls and the goddess’s reasons for supporting him.
• Raymond and Kelben exchanged magical knowledge for more than a hundred hours, discussed Raymond’s abilities and secrets, and agreed to stay in contact.
• Kelben offered to arrange Raymond’s registration with Waterdeep’s Watchful Wizards Guild, and Raymond left Blackstaff Tower with Isadora and Davian.
• Leira told Kelben that Talona’s young clerics were teaching hygiene and disease prevention in Waterdeep, prompting them to watch the church’s changes closely.
• In Athkatla, Yvette learned that the church had gained sixty thousand followers through the young clerics’ work, and Talona’s approval of their revised teachings led the senior clerics to consult Soros.
• Raymond negotiated the price of a Waterdeep house down to six thousand gold coins and completed the purchase through the city’s legal procedures.