Chapter Summaries

Aribeth joined forces with Alusair to hold Iriaebor, while Soros secured Baldur’s Gate’s submission and expanded his influence along the Sword Coast. After Davian destroyed the Green Dragons of Dragon Forest, Tiamat sent him a scale and asked to meet Soros.

• Aribeth welcomed Alusair to Iriaebor, learned that she had brought more than three hundred Cormyr knights, and agreed to coordinate against Zhentil Keep.
• Soros persuaded Baldur’s Gate’s residents to accept his rule, and the Northland leaders watched him gain authority through a staged popular petition.
• Soros annexed towns south of the Winding River, prompting Piergeiron to seek Kelben’s advice on protecting Waterdeep.
• Davian and Mulharans killed the Ancient Green Dragon and collected the surviving dragon eggs and hatchlings for experiments.
• Tiamat appeared before Davian, gave him a glowing scale, and asked him to deliver her request to meet Soros.

Raymond investigated Tiamat’s history and speculated about her hidden schemes before traveling to Avernus to meet the Dragon God of Evil. He arrived at her treasure-filled kingdom and demanded that she reveal her intentions and show her willingness to cooperate.

• Raymond considered why Tiamat had summoned him and decided to respond eagerly to discover what benefits she might offer.
• Raymond left Vera in command of the allied army, gave her a Simulacrum to impersonate him, and instructed her to spare Fzoul Chembryl if possible.
• Raymond transferred to his body in Baator, learned from Zariel about her strengthened Phyrexian Oil and from Malcanthet about political turmoil in the Fourth and Sixth Layers, then set out to visit Tiamat.
• Raymond teleported to the Pillar of Skulls and entered Tiamat’s kingdom after presenting the divine scale that had carried her invitation.
• Tiamat welcomed Raymond in human form among her enormous treasure hoard and asked whether he knew why she had invited him.
• Raymond said he would not guess her intentions and demanded that Tiamat show her willingness to cooperate.

Raymond negotiated a pact with Tiamat to create and deploy new dragon species across other worlds, gaining most of the brood in exchange for a share of treasure and souls. He then transformed Onyx into a Phyrexian dragon-devil to secretly develop another hybrid race, before returning to the thriving Floating City.

• Raymond tested Tiamat's sincerity, and she infused his dragon form with Divine Power that gave him a third head and other abilities.
• Tiamat proposed combining dragon bloodlines to create a dragon host for conquering worlds, and she and Raymond signed a contract dividing the brood, treasure, and other spoils.
• Tiamat gave Raymond dragon eggs, blood, research, and techniques, then explained that every Chromatic Dragon could serve as her backup.
• Raymond used the Ninth Layer's energy, Phyrexian Oil, and the blood of himself and Tiamat to transform Onyx into a powerful Red Praetor, ordering him to secretly develop a devil-dragon species.
• Raymond returned to the Floating City, where Isadora had been keeping his inactive avatar company, and took her to the Magical Genetics Research Institute.
• Raymond and Isadora saw that Plantia Floating City had become a bustling center of aircraft, experiments, monsters, and recovering wildlife.

Raymond discovered Plantia Floating City’s thriving population and confronted Dr. White over his obsession with creating Dragonborn, then gave him Tiamat’s research materials to develop a new dragon breed. After learning undead Floating Cities had allied in the polar regions and reviewing the city’s research progress, Raymond returned to Mirrodin, where New Phyrexian forces attacked Elspeth’s refuge and he began casting a powerful spell.

• Raymond and Isadora discussed Plantia Floating City’s growing population, and Isadora explained that Dr. White had proposed creating millions of people and was fixated on making Dragonborn.
• Raymond visited Dr. White’s laboratory, reprimanded him for neglecting dragon research, and gave him Tiamat’s dragon eggs, blood, spells, and notes to develop a powerful new dragon breed.
• Raymond admitted that he had deliberately allowed Dr. White to become interested in studying Divine Blood as a way to exploit a loophole in his contract with Tiamat.
• Vanessa reported that undead-controlled Floating Cities had formed an alliance near the polar regions, while the others described progress on Magic Cannons and cheaper Constructs.
• Raymond transferred his consciousness to Mirrodin and found New Phyrexian creatures besieging a refuge defended by Elspeth, Glissa, and Melira.
• Raymond rose above the battlefield and began casting a powerful spell, but a gigantic Phyrexian creature flew toward him to interrupt it.

Raymond defended the City of Iron from New Phyrexia’s assault with Legendary Magic, destroying much of its army and driving the Praetors into retreat. Afterward, he warned the gathered Planeswalkers against risking Melira or venturing to Mirrodin’s core, leaving Venser distressed and the group confronted with the danger of New Phyrexia spreading beyond the plane.

• Azax-Azog charged Raymond but was shattered against his Wall of Force and crashed to the ground.
• Raymond cast Blazing Rain over a three-kilometer area, killing hundreds of thousands of New Phyrexian troops and forcing Geth and Sheoldred to retreat.
• Elspeth reunited with Raymond and introduced him to Koth and Venser, who wanted to learn about Karn and New Phyrexia.
• Raymond explained Karn’s connection to Phyrexian Oil, and Venser insisted on going to the planet’s core and demanded that Melira come with him.
• Raymond refused to let Venser take Melira and choked him unconscious when he became aggressive; Elspeth intervened and healed Venser.
• Raymond warned the Planeswalkers that saving Karn might require a fatal sacrifice and that being captured could let New Phyrexia spread across the planes.

At the Praetor Council, Elesh Norn tried to direct New Phyrexia’s response to Raymond’s City of Iron, but Raymond took control of Karn and exposed the weakness of her rule. After Raymond explained his plans to Glissa, Sorin summoned him to Tarkir at Ugin’s request.

• Elesh Norn questioned Sheoldred and Geth about their failed assault on the City of Iron, and Sheoldred confirmed Raymond could remove Phyrexian Oil contamination.
• Wabash persuaded Elesh Norn to fund a heat-resistant legion and pause attacks, while Sheoldred concealed her anger at losing the assignment.
• Raymond used New Glistening Oil to control Karn, then made Karn expose Elesh Norn’s inability to command Phyrexian Oil and force her to kneel.
• Raymond released Karn and explained to Glissa that he intended to use Phyrexian Oil as a weapon against Nicol Bolas, not to conquer the Multiverse.
• Sorin summoned Raymond to Tarkir, where Ugin wanted to meet him.

Raymond met Ugin and learned that Nicol Bolas was preparing to launch the War of the Spark on Ravnica, prompting Ugin to travel to Ixalan while Raymond copied his research. Back on Innistrad, Raymond and Sorin began a magical duel, while Fzoul Chembryl retreated from Iriaebor after Aribeth and Alusair cut off his advance.

• Sorin brought Raymond to Ugin, who explained that his flawed spirit body leaked energy and continuously generated Tarkir’s dragon-birthing storms.
• Raymond showed Ugin and Sorin the Eldrazi war in the Bottomless Abyss, then warned them of Nicol Bolas’s preparations involving the Planar Bridge, the Immortal Sun, an Immortal Legion, and Ravnica.
• Ugin agreed with Raymond’s plan to prepare for a decisive battle on Ravnica and departed for Ixalan to visit Azor, while Raymond copied Ugin’s research notes and books.
• Raymond defeated Sorin in their training match, and the two escalated their sparring into a spell-assisted battle.
• Ximmon told Fzoul that Aribeth and Alusair had taken Iriaebor and that Raymond’s forces were approaching, so Fzoul ordered his army to retreat toward Easting.
• Aribeth and Alusair watched Fzoul withdraw and debated whether he was trying to lure them into a trap.

Alusair pursued Fzoul Chembryl against Aribeth’s better judgment, but Fzoul’s ambush devastated her knights and left her captured as a bargaining chip against Cormyr. Meanwhile, Raymond finished his battle with Sorin on Innistrad and sent Nahiri to prepare for the coming conflict over the Elder Spell and War of the Spark.

• After Fzoul Chembryl withdrew from Iriaebor, Alusair persuaded Aribeth to pursue him, with Alusair’s knights riding by land and Aribeth taking 2,500 soldiers by river.
• Fzoul Chembryl let the pursuers follow, then had Manshoon prepare hidden trenches, caltrops, and an ambush of Half-Orcs and spellcasters near Easting.
• Alusair’s charge triggered the traps, and Fzoul’s forces slaughtered nearly all her knights before capturing her; Aribeth turned back toward Iriaebor, while Fzoul took Alusair as a hostage for Azoun IV.
• Fzoul safely reached Westgate, while Aribeth planned to contact Raymond; Raymond was away from Faerun, fighting Sorin on Innistrad.
• Sorin ended the battle to protect Innistrad, and Nahiri appeared afterward and told Raymond she was no longer afraid of Sorin.
• Raymond told Nahiri to contact an important person on Ravnica and then wait on Ixalan until Nicol Bolas took the Immortal Sun, warning her not to speak a crucial name tied to the War of the Spark.

Nahiri secured Niv-Mizzet’s alliance against Nicol Bolas by demonstrating Soros’s resurrection magic, while Ugin sought Azor’s help and Raymond recruited Jin-Gitaxias into his New Phyrexian project. The chapter left Ravnica preparing for war and Raymond transforming Jin-Gitaxias with New Glistening Oil.

• Nahiri warned Niv-Mizzet that Nicol Bolas planned to invade Ravnica, gather Planeswalker Sparks, and turn the guilds against one another.
• Nahiri killed an Izzet League mage and resurrected him with a device from Soros, convincing Niv-Mizzet to sign Raymond’s magical contract and join the opposition.
• Niv-Mizzet began purging the Izzet League and manufacturing weapons, prompting the other guilds to prepare for war.
• Ugin reunited with Azor on Ixalan, explained that Nicol Bolas had killed him and now threatened the Multiverse, and asked Azor to help control the Immortal Sun.
• Raymond met with Jin-Gitaxias on Mirrodin, accepted his loyalty, and used New Glistening Oil to transform him and expel the Old Glistening Oil.

Raymond and Wabash converted Jin-Gitaxias and hunted down the intruding Planeswalkers Venser and Koth, taking their Sparks and turning them into New Phyrexian servants. Raymond then returned to the City of Iron to study Niv-Mizzet’s Dual-Casting Focus while Nahiri departed for Ixalan.

• Raymond upgraded Jin-Gitaxias with New Glistening Oil, and the Blue Praetor agreed to replace the oil throughout his faction and pursue further research.
• Elesh Norn alerted Wabash that Venser and Koth had infiltrated Genesis Garden, and Raymond joined the Red Faction’s search for them.
• Wabash killed Koth in battle, while Raymond stabbed Venser and absorbed both Planeswalkers’ Sparks before New Glistening Oil Compleated them.
• Raymond returned to the City of Iron, handed authority to Elspeth, and attempted to learn Niv-Mizzet’s Dual-Casting Focus technique.
• Nahiri left for Ixalan to watch over the Immortal Sun after Raymond abruptly transferred his consciousness away from his clone.

Raymond helped Isadora learn Dual Concentration Casting and developed his subconscious with her, then traveled to Tethyr to meet Shaan VII. He gave the emperor a plan for governing Tethyr and prepared to fulfill their pact by giving him a Planeswalker's Spark.

• Isadora mastered Niv-Mizzet's Dual Concentration Casting, and she helped Raymond develop his subconscious after he tested the process on six Half-Dragon Kobold Sorcerers.
• Atona delivered Shaan VII's diplomatic letter, and Raymond traveled to Zazesspur to speak with him in person.
• Raymond met Zaranda Star Rhindaun and threatened her into submitting to her new status under his control.
• Raymond gave Shaan VII a plan to replace Tethyr's divided aristocratic territories with a new administrative system centered on key towns.
• Raymond offered Shaan VII a Planeswalker's Spark to fulfill their pact, and Shaan VII teleported away to retrieve his phylactery.

Raymond used Resonance to give Shaan VII a Planeswalker’s Spark, then learned that Alusair had been captured after attacking Fzoul Chembryl and vowed to punish those undermining his influence through economic and political means. Shaan VII prepared Ayesha to serve Soros, while Azoun IV was pressured to negotiate for Alusair and the captured knights.

• Shaan VII explained how the Soulbinding Blade became his phylactery, and Raymond used Resonance to implant Glissa’s Spark into him, awakening his Planeswalker powers.
• Shaan VII discovered that Fzoul Chembryl had captured Alusair after she and Aribeth attacked him near Iriaebor, and Raymond resolved to deal with the political fallout without resorting to murder.
• Shaan VII transformed Ayesha into a catlike form and ordered her to prepare to please Soros and bear heirs for the Shaan Dynasty.
• A Zhentil Keep envoy told Azoun IV that Alusair was being treated as a public trophy and threatened that Fzoul Chembryl might force her to bear children if Cormyr delayed negotiations.
• Vangerdahast urged Azoun IV to negotiate with Soros, and the king reluctantly agreed while blaming Alusair for the crisis.

Vera’s allied forces secured Tethyr City, but disputes over Aribeth and turmoil in Cormyr threatened the Trade Alliance’s unity. Soros returned, cleared Aribeth of blame, exposed Piergeiron’s scheme, and forced him out as Waterdeep’s Open Lord.

• The allied forces took control of Tethyr City, while Vera struggled to manage the dispute over Aribeth and the growing crisis in Cormyr.
• Storm Silverhand warned Vera that Cormyr faced internal collapse, but Vera said the Trade Alliance had no obligation to intervene for nonmembers.
• Soros returned and defended Aribeth, ending the representatives’ debate over punishing her.
• Soros revealed that Piergeiron had secretly organized opposition within the Trade Alliance and demanded that he resign as Open Lord.
• Kelben announced that Waterdeep’s Lord Council had removed Piergeiron, and Soros warned him that further interference could bring harsher consequences.

Raymond intervened in negotiations between Cormyr and Fzoul Chembryl, securing Alusair's release and a reduced ransom in exchange for royal promises of alliance. After Caladnei stripped Alusair of her title and abandoned her in Ximen, thugs attacked her, but an unknown voice warned them to flee.

• Raymond's political purge devastated the blacklisted lords, and he welcomed Cormyr's delegation to negotiate with Fzoul Chembryl in Ximen.
• Fzoul Chembryl demanded safe passage for his ships, gold for Alusair and the captured knights, and commercial rights in Cormyr, but Raymond negotiated the ransom down to three hundred thousand gold coins.
• Caladnei gave Raymond Azoun IV's promise to recognize his rule and join the Trade Alliance, and Raymond agreed to advance Cormyr's ransom.
• Caladnei declared that Alusair had been stripped of her royal title and surname, tore off her gown, and left her alone in an alley.
• Ximen thugs attacked Alusair and began stripping her, until an unseen speaker warned them to run.

Raymond saved Alusair from a gang of thugs, healed her, and secretly planned to use her royal bloodline to gain influence over Cormyr. The story then shifted to Cormyr’s crisis as Perilrock Keep fell to Ximmon and Kurlemos’s scheme, prompting Azoun IV to mobilize against an invasion.

• Alusair fought off and killed the thugs who had attacked her, while Raymond watched until he drove their leader into her path.
• Raymond healed Alusair, gave her his cloak, and won her trust; after she fell asleep, he told Fzoul Chembryl he intended to use her as leverage in Cormyr.
• Azoun IV learned that Raymond had paid Cormyr’s ransom and saved Alusair, while Caladnei and Tanalasta discussed his possible motives.
• A guard reported that Perilrock Keep had fallen, its Baron Bran Sword-Singer had died, and the stationed War Wizards might have rebelled.
• Azoun IV ordered the royal guard assembled and prepared to face the invaders, while Ximmon and Kurlemos revealed their plan to destabilize Cormyr and draw him away from the capital.

Raymond manipulated Alusair’s growing desire while explaining his plan to build a centralized magical state, and she asked to join him before an interruption broke their intimate moment. After Gelsania paid her market taxes and Viconia reported on cult activity, Raymond sent Viconia to visit Irenicus as his envoy.

• Raymond used subtle psychological tactics to intensify Alusair’s attraction while she watched him govern Ximen and heard his plans for a unified state.
• Alusair offered to swear loyalty to Raymond and help build his empire, but he rejected an oath and drew her close until approaching footsteps interrupted them.
• Gelsania returned from the market with her trading profits, learned she owed taxes, and went to pay them after Raymond gave her an emerald.
• Viconia arrived, discussed Raymond’s methods with Alusair, and reported that Glasya’s followers were planning a sacrifice and summoning in Amn while the Mind Flayers had vanished from Baldur’s Gate.
• Raymond told Viconia to visit Irenicus as his envoy and remain with him until further instructions.

At a deadly rally in Cyberpunk City, Asmodeus warned Glasya that Soros was a dangerous political force and urged her to learn from him. Glasya descended into the Material Plane in a Tiefling’s body, while Raymond continued building his empire and planning its magic academies; Owo then asked to spar with him.

• Leiter introduced the Around-the-City Gadget Rally, and more than a thousand contestants raced as spectators cheered the carnage.
• Asmodeus told Glasya that Soros was his appointed heir and urged her to investigate Gramill and learn how Soros handled politics within the rules.
• Glasya ordered her Scorpion Devil intelligence chief to uncover Soros’s plans, then chose to descend to the Material Plane in a Tiefling’s body.
• A Glasya worshiper summoned her through a bloody ritual, and Glasya possessed the Tiefling girl before rewarding her surviving follower with renewed youth.
• Raymond discussed trade, population growth, and the locations and staffing of ten magic academies with Owo, who shared Netheril-era spellbooks.
• After Raymond described his sparring match with Larloch, Owo eagerly asked to spar with him.

Sorin expanded magical education across the southern Sword Coast and showed Shaan VII the Floating City before taking him to the world of Overlord, where they planned to provoke its True Dragon Lords and investigate Wild Magic. Back in Athkatla, Ayesha unexpectedly seduced Alusair while Sorin was away, and Raymond discovered what they had done.

• Sorin secretly sparred with Owo, then funded magic academies that rapidly spread across the southern Sword Coast and helped him build a force of thirty-five thousand registered Arcane Magic casters.
• Sorin welcomed Shaan VII and Ayesha to the Floating City, offered Shaan VII access to its library, and gave him a plane's coordinates before they traveled there together.
• Raymond explained that players had appeared in the Overlord world at century-spaced intervals and proposed stirring up conflict to draw out the True Dragon Lords and study their Wild Magic; Shaan VII eagerly agreed.
• Ayesha welcomed Alusair's claim to be Sorin's lover and kissed her, then overwhelmed her with intimate advances while Atona and the Tower Consciousness watched and recorded them.
• Raymond and Shaan VII returned to Athkatla, where Shaan VII teleported to Calimport and Raymond learned from Atona that Ayesha and Alusair had been making out, then replayed the recording.

Bernard returned to Athkatla as Raymond prepared to become Emperor, and Raymond reassured Azoun IV about the Empire’s plans while securing Cormyr’s alliance and dependence. After Bernard presented a powerful gift and reported Amnian gains in Sembia, Glasya appeared before Raymond.

• Bernard returned from Sembia and learned from Babet and Sir Kelvin about Raymond’s rise, then accepted their advice to present Raymond with a valuable gift.
• Azoun IV met Raymond privately, discussed Raymond’s ambitions and plans to unify the Northland, and received assurances that the Empire would not expand eastward into Cormyr.
• Raymond offered Cormyr Trade Alliance support and a one-million-gold loan, while Azoun IV asked him to protect Alusair and keep her happy.
• Bernard presented Raymond with a powerful piece of Obsidian from Maztica and offered to report on Amnian acquisitions in Sembia.
• Glasya entered past the charmed guards, approached Raymond, and identified herself through her presence as a planar lord.

Raymond explained Asmodeus’s safeguard to Glasya and proposed an alliance, but Talona expelled Glasya’s possessing consciousness from the Half-Elf Tiefling. Raymond later became emperor of the united Sword Coast Empire, then attended the underground city’s inauguration, where Eilistraee invited him to fence.

• Bernard escaped Raymond’s room after Glasya’s presence overwhelmed him, and Glasya questioned Raymond about her authorization, Gramill, and Firna.
• Raymond explained Asmodeus’s plan to protect Glasya and proposed a pact joining their interests with Firna’s against Belial, but Talona drove Glasya’s consciousness back to the Sixth Layer when she tried to seduce him.
• Raymond comforted the freed Half-Elf Tiefling, explained her Infernal Heritage, and ordered Fid to investigate her family after she left.
• Raymond became emperor of the Amnian Empire as Shaan VII abdicated in favor of Ayesha, and the two empires merged into the Sword Coast Empire.
• Raymond later attended the underground city’s inauguration, watched Eilistraee’s ceremony, and accepted her invitation to fence with the Moonblade.