Chapter Summaries

Raymond received Eilistraee’s enhanced Sword Dance blessing and promised to defend the new drow city, then traveled with Shaan VII to oversee players defeating the White Walkers. After giving Diary Zero Phyrexian Oil, Raymond left him to transform Mutahal Floating City, where the oil began consuming the city and changing its inhabitants.

• Eilistraee transformed the Dogslayer Sword into a powerful Moonblade and entrusted Raymond with protecting the underground city from a possible drow crusade.
• Raymond declined Liriel’s advances, then departed with Shaan VII to inspect the players’ campaign against the White Walkers in A Song of Ice and Fire.
• Raymond showed Shaan VII how players were overwhelming the Undead army and agreed to let him lead hundreds of thousands of players into another world while minimizing civilian deaths.
• Diary greeted Raymond and Shaan VII, received the promised Zero Phyrexian Oil, and returned to Mutahal Floating City.
• The Zero Phyrexian Oil transformed Diary into a mass of tentacles and spread throughout Mutahal Floating City, consuming its structures and beginning to transform its Undead and weapons.

Mutahal Floating City’s Phyrexian Oil transformed its undead inhabitants and triggered a defense that terrified the polar Undead, while Diary received a grotesque new body and Raymond sent elite players to explore another world. Shaan VII entered Re-Estize, rescued a pregnant girl and made her his guide; meanwhile, Vermees expanded her dragon-run protection business and prepared to attack the Bhaalspawn at Lord Soros’s command.

• Phyrexian Oil compleated Mutahal Floating City’s Undead and Constructs, turned its base into a vast energy-storage structure, and blasted intruding Undead, who retreated beneath the polar ice.
• Diary woke with dangerous tentacles, and Raymond explained that the oil had amplified Diary’s desires before giving him Jin-Gitaxias’s device to remove them.
• Raymond ordered Diary and Shaan VII to prepare the players for another world, where Shaan VII released a thousand elite players and sent them out to investigate in small groups.
• Shaan VII killed two Eight Fingers thugs who were about to murder a pregnant girl, then forced her to serve as his guide and took her to the Mages’ Guild in Re-Estize.
• Vermees reviewed the growth of her dragon-run Revenge Service, then learned from Ashmi that Lord Soros had ordered an attack on the Bhaalspawn around the Marching Mountains.

Raymond’s forces captured Saradush, driving out Gromnir and the Bhaalspawn, while Melissan’s attempt to use the city’s fall to provoke a massacre failed. Raymond confronted Gromnir in the sewers, defeated his followers, and began fighting him directly.

• Melissan urged Gromnir to prepare for the Sword Coast Empire’s intervention and attack Yaga-Shura, but Gromnir refused to risk fighting the Fire Giants.
• Vermees led dragons and a monster army in an assault on Saradush, routed its defenders, and accepted Melissan’s offer to evacuate the Bhaalspawn.
• Gromnir fled through the sewers with his followers, while Vermees took Saradush and left Ashmi to restore order.
• Raymond revealed himself to Gromnir and demanded the Bhaalspawn’s lives, souls, Divine Power, and Divinity.
• Raymond’s Chaos Hound and magic killed many of Gromnir’s followers, while Zombie rats blocked their escape through the sewers.
• Gromnir created a duplicate with the Helm of Vhailor and charged Raymond, but Raymond blocked his morningstar strike with overwhelming strength.

Soros defeated Gromnir, erased the souls of the Bhaalspawn and their followers with Kezef, and continued managing Irenicus's research and the Sword Coast Empire. Meanwhile, players unleashed a wave of slaughter in the neighboring Kingdom, where Renner and Blue Roses investigated the attacks as Nazarick appeared nearby.

• Soros overpowered Gromnir in close combat, killed him and his Simulacrum, and had Kezef devour the souls of Gromnir's forces and the Bhaalspawn.
• Soros collected the spoils, transformed Ice Star into a greatsword, and teleported away while Irenicus tortured Abdel at Durlag's Tower and explained his plan to seize Suldanessellar's Tree of Life.
• Viconia monitored Irenicus for Soros, observed Abdel's rapid healing, and brought food to Sancho and Imoen, while Soros prepared to eliminate Bhaalspawn without divine backing.
• Raymond instructed Shodar Tanthul to expand public works and roads, standardize education, and send officials and soldiers to take over Saradush.
• Players slaughtered monsters and more than thirty noble families in the Kingdom, prompting Renner to question Blue Roses about the killers as Lakyus reported that a dangerous anomaly was ravaging the Great Forest of Tob.
• The Great Tomb of Nazarick descended in silence while Old Bone remained confused about what was happening.

Momonga concealed the Great Tomb of Nazarick after arriving in the new world, but a party of elite players easily destroyed his Death Knights and frightened him into caution. Shaan VII discovered Nazarick and secretly coordinated with the Diary to infiltrate the world and destabilize the Kingdom, choosing Renner as his intended puppet ruler.

• Momonga sent Death Knights to scout, but Jack and the other adventurers swiftly destroyed the squad, making Momonga fear the power of the unfamiliar world.
• Shaan VII located Nazarick, secretly captured and observed its Undead, then returned to the capital without revealing himself.
• Demiurge and the other Guardians urged Momonga to attack the adventurers, but Momonga ordered them to avoid provoking enemies and gather intelligence instead.
• The Diary met Shaan VII and offered to bring players into the world in secret, while Shaan VII shared his plan to seize control of the Kingdom and spread chaos.
• Shaan VII selected Renner as the royal puppet he intended to control, and he and the Diary departed to begin their plans.

Raymond gave the Elder Brain a Planeswalker's Spark and explained that he needed allies and extensive preparations to oppose Nicol Bolas. He then defended universal education as a means of binding the Sword Coast Empire together, before turning to the next stage of Irenicus's experiments and the Empire's expansion.

• Raymond gave the Elder Brain a Spark, enabling her to travel between planes, and described his plans to gather allies and counter Nicol Bolas.
• Isadora learned that the Elder Brain had received a Spark instead of her, and the Elder Brain told her she needed to control her impulses to be considered for one.
• Raymond explained to the cabinet that universal education would shape shared values and strengthen the Imperium, and Vera approved a special fund of 3.6 million gold coins for public schools.
• Atona told Raymond that Irenicus had nearly completed his experiments, and Raymond ordered Viconia to send Abdel and his group to Athkatla.
• Atona reported that Nemetona had suppressed or expelled most Druid sects in the Imperium, and Raymond planned to clear forests for farmland while Athkatla rapidly industrialized.
• Raymond explained to Atona that improving mortal lives would increase the population, generate more souls, and serve his plans before preparing to receive Abdel and his group.

Viconia helped Sancho escape Irenicus's dungeon, and he freed Imoen, Jaheira, and Minsc as they set out to rescue Abdel and Khalid. Elsewhere, players massacred Theocracy soldiers at Carne Village, where Gazef arrived just as the Sunlight Scripture and summoned Angels appeared.

• Viconia released Sancho and gave him his belongings, directing him to rescue his companions and escape Durlag's Tower before Irenicus returned.
• Sancho poisoned the Yuan-ti jailers, freed Imoen, and used Knock to release Jaheira and Minsc from their suspended cage; the four set out to find Abdel and Khalid.
• Raymond told Irenicus that Abdel could still transform into the Slayer and warned that Irenicus would have to defeat him to ascend to godhood.
• Players at Carne Village killed the Theocracy soldiers attacking the villagers, and Jack fought Gazef when the Warrior-Captain arrived before Enri explained the misunderstanding.
• The Sunlight Scripture appeared outside Carne Village with soldiers and summoned Angels, and Gazef recognized the group as an elite force of the Theocracy.

The players defeated the Theocracy’s Sunlight Scripture at Carne Village, and Jack summoned a projection of Phoenix God Benu that destroyed the force’s strongest angel. Afterward, Old Bone planned to investigate the players and Shaan VII discussed a possible duel with the Overlord, leaving the next moves against Nazarick unresolved.

• Gazef asked the players to save Carne Village, and they agreed in exchange for his instruction in Martial Arts.
• The players overwhelmed the Sunlight Scripture’s Flame Archangels and Principality Observation, then Jack summoned Phoenix God Benu’s projection to destroy Dominion Authority and much of the remaining force.
• Jack killed Nigun and the surviving soldiers, while frightened villagers prayed to Phoenix God Benu.
• Old Bone resolved to investigate the players and ordered Sebas Tian to accompany him while forbidding provocation against humans.
• Shaan VII and Raymond discussed challenging the Overlord, and Shaan VII invited Raymond to meet Renner.

Raymond and Shaan VII recruited Princess Renner by revealing her desires, making her a Warlock, and securing her agreement to help take over the Kingdom. Meanwhile, players gathered at Carne Village and Old Bone and Sebas Tian arrived in E-Rantel, where a burst of Negative Energy drew them toward a fight in the Graveyard.

• Raymond and Shaan VII discussed the Kingdom’s political weakness as they made their way through the palace to Renner’s chambers.
• Raymond read Renner’s thoughts, exposed her desires, and offered to transform her into a Devil; Renner eagerly signed his contract and received Warlock powers.
• Raymond told Renner to follow Shaan VII’s plan to bring the Kingdom under their control, while he and Shaan VII discussed using the Kingdom to support their expansion.
• Gazef left Carne Village for E-Rantel as players discussed their level gains, loot, Martial Arts, and a possible powerful boss near the forest.
• Old Bone and Sebas Tian entered E-Rantel, found an inn, and noticed a flash of Negative Energy near the Graveyard.
• Old Bone and Sebas Tian flew toward the Graveyard and spotted a hazy scene shrouded in white mist.

Old Bone witnessed players destroy Khajiit’s undead forces, while Shaan VII recruited Khajiit and Clementine and made Clementine a Vampire. In the royal capital, Renner advanced her plans with Raymond’s support, ending with him giving her five million gold coins to build a loyal army.

• Old Bone and Sebas Tian watched players slaughter Khajiit’s Undead, and Old Bone decided to seek information from them while keeping Nazarick hidden.
• Shaan VII captured Khajiit and Clementine’s souls, gained Khajiit’s loyalty, and transformed Clementine into a Vampire.
• Khajiit revealed Zurrernorn’s secrets to Shaan VII, while Clementine began building a Vampire community from criminals and Rogues.
• Renner encouraged conflict among the Kingdom’s nobles, then advised Ramposa III to approach the powerful adventurers Gazef had encountered.
• Raymond questioned Renner about the foundations of rule, and she concluded that she needed an army loyal to her.
• Raymond gave Renner five million gold coins to recruit a mercenary army.

Renner and Raymond discussed using the Kingdom’s wealth and political rivalries to seize power, while Raymond demonstrated his strength to Zanac and warned him to keep quiet. Elsewhere, players hired by Old Bone fought Shalltear and Solution with elaborate traps, magic, and suicidal explosives, leaving both sides in a tense stalemate as someone approached.

• Renner considered how five million gold coins could fund a mercenary force to exploit the Kingdom’s succession crisis, and Raymond urged her to cultivate promising souls rather than kill Zanac.
• Zanac interrupted Renner and Raymond, then watched Raymond catch a guard’s sword between two fingers and shatter it; Renner used Deception to frighten Zanac into silence.
• Raymond summoned Pit Fiends and lesser Devils to gather intelligence across the world, while Old Bone hired a player party and ordered Sebas Tian to send Shalltear and Solution to test them.
• Shalltear and Solution attacked the players’ camp, but the players’ traps, spells, and coordinated attacks badly damaged Shalltear and forced her to use her resurrection item.
• A player detonated himself while Shalltear killed him, injuring her with the blast and frightening both Shalltear and Solution into holding back.
• The standoff continued until the sound of someone running toward the camp heightened the tension.

The Black Scripture captured Shalltear and joined forces with the players to attack Old Bone, imprison Sebas Tian, and destroy Old Bone and Shalltear in a final clash. Raymond and Shaan VII discussed their plans as the chapter shifted to Abdel’s group arriving near Athkatla and boarding a livestock-filled public carriage.

• The Black Scripture used Downfall of Castle and Country to control Shalltear after the players distracted her with suicidal attacks.
• The players persuaded Will True Roland and the Black Scripture that Old Bone and Sebas Tian were threats, and the two groups launched a surprise attack.
• The players imprisoned Sebas Tian with Imprisonment, and Old Bone retaliated with Super-Tier Magic, Falling Sky, before a player destroyed him and Shalltear with positive energy.
• Raymond and Shaan VII discussed the players’ abilities, the Theocracy, and plans to provoke conflict among the True Dragon Lords, while Shaan VII collected dropped equipment.
• Abdel’s group, including Imoen, arrived outside Athkatla after a faulty teleport and paid to ride a public carriage crowded with livestock.

Abdel's party reached a vastly transformed Athkatla, ran out of money, and searched for Raymond while struggling with Abdel's unstable Slayer condition. They found the Grand Arena, where Abdel entered a match, as Raymond secured Tempus's cooperation and watched Abdel face a powerful War Troll.

• The party rode into Athkatla on a new asphalt highway and saw how the Sword Coast Empire's rapid development had transformed the city.
• Sancho failed to find Raymond's Wizard's Tower in the expanded city, so the party spent the night at a cheap inn with almost no money left.
• The party learned about the Grand Arena, and Sancho realized Atona might be there; Abdel entered a match for the chance to win eight thousand gold pieces.
• Raymond persuaded Tempus and Waukeen to divide responsibility for running the arena, and Tempus agreed to ally with Raymond against gods whose ideals opposed his civilization.
• Abdel entered the arena bare-chested to face the previous champion, a level-fifteen War Troll, while Raymond, Tempus, and Waukeen watched from the VIP section.

Abdel transformed into the Slayer during a gladiatorial match, but Raymond stopped Bhaal from using the fight to advance his resurrection and explained that Abdel had to reclaim what Irenicus stole. After warning the party about the Bhaalspawn crisis, Raymond assigned Viconia to train Sancho and set him a deadly test against three liches.

• Abdel fought the war troll in Athkatla's Grand Arena, lost control to Bhaal's power, and transformed into the Slayer as the crowd cheered.
• Raymond intervened, restrained Abdel, drained Bhaal's influence, and injected Abdel with some divine power before declaring the war troll the winner.
• Raymond told Jaheira that Irenicus had stolen Abdel's soul, divinity, and divine power, and that Abdel needed to defeat the wizard to reclaim them.
• Raymond briefed Abdel's party about the Bhaalspawn gathering and the Five Scions, then explained to Sancho that his capture had been part of a wager with Irenicus.
• Raymond introduced Viconia as Sancho's new teacher and transformed her into a Moon Elf so Jaheira would not recognize her.
• Raymond ordered Sancho to locate Kangaxx's golden body parts, break the Demilich's seal, and defeat Kangaxx and two Elemental Liches.

Raymond trained Abdel, Minsc, and Atona in martial arts while warning Abdel against relying on the Slayer, then revealed to Jaheira that he wanted Bhaal’s divine power and death portfolio. Back in Calimport, he crushed opposition to his rule during a council dispute and discussed plans to bring Cormyr under the empire’s influence through Alusair and her potential children.

• Raymond sparred with Abdel, Minsc, and Atona, and Atona unexpectedly mastered Windstride and Fourfold Slash of Light during the fight.
• Raymond warned Abdel that every Bhaalspawn could become the Slayer and that transforming deepened Bhaal’s influence, then advised him to train while Raymond watched for Irenicus.
• Raymond told Jaheira that he wanted Bhaal’s divine power and death portfolio, and urged her to watch Abdel’s emotional attachment to her.
• At a council meeting in Calimport, Raymond ordered severe punishments for those involved in riots against the Trade Alliance and used his supernatural power to silence Wesslan’s objection.
• Raymond told Ayesha that he planned to use Alusair and her children to gain control over Cormyr, and Ayesha agreed to build a close friendship with the princess.

Arthmael exposed the foreign powers behind the riots and Raymond ordered a naval blockade of Thay and Mulhorand. Meanwhile, Sancho recruited the Knights of the Radiant Heart by reporting a supposed Lich in the sewers, setting his party up to target Kangaxx.

• Arthmael used a Wizard to identify the Bard rioters’ employers, then told the prisoners they and their families would face severe punishment while the Bards would be tortured.
• Raymond learned that the Red Wizards of Thay, Mulhorand, the Harpers, and the Emerald Enclave were among those backing the unrest, and ordered gunboats and Dragon Knights to blockade Thay and Mulhorand.
• Wesslan and Keldorn discussed Raymond’s rule before Sancho reported an ancient Lich in the sewers, prompting the Knights of the Radiant Heart to mobilize.
• Sancho reunited with Imoen, Viconia, and a young Succubus, explaining that he planned to use the Paladins’ help to attack a Lich and obtain part of Kangaxx’s golden body.

Wesslan’s expedition confronted the ancient Lich in Athkatla’s sewers, but Sancho and his companions ambushed and defeated him before Raymond recovered the overlooked Phylactery and revived the fallen Paladins and Clerics. Meanwhile, news of the Sword Coast Empire’s military campaign spread across Faerûn, and Cormyr prepared for war against Monsters as other powers braced for Raymond’s blockade of Thay and Mulhorand.

• Wesslan assembled Paladins and Clerics to investigate the sarcophagus, where the Lich awakened and attacked the expedition.
• The Lich devastated the expedition with powerful spells and a sarcophagus explosion, but Sancho, Imoen, Viconia, and Atona ambushed him and shattered his skull.
• Sancho’s group took Kangaxx’s Gold Skeleton and treated the surviving expedition members, while Raymond recovered the Lich’s Phylactery and resurrected the dead.
• Military Airships and Dragon Knights crossing the skies alerted neighboring powers, and Fzoul Chembryl launched a conquest around the Moonsea.
• Azoun IV and Tanalasta discussed Raymond’s blockade of Thay and Mulhorand, Alusair’s feelings for Raymond, and Cormyr’s preparations to fight Monsters.

The Sword Coast Empire used airships and dragon riders to subdue pirate crews and destroy Thay’s main fleet, then imposed a blockade that disrupted trade across the Fallenstar Sea. As Thay’s Zulkirs agreed to cede Alaor Province to end the crisis, Dmitra Flass departed to negotiate with Soros.

• Arthmael forced a pirate captain to surrender and ordered his crew to raid only Thayan and Mulhorandi ships in exchange for legal sales and Imperial air support.
• Alusair lured Thay’s fleet from Alaor Province and led an airship and dragon-rider assault that destroyed most of its ships, while Storm Silverhand joined the attack.
• Pirates occupied Alaor Province and expanded their raids, disrupting Thayan and Mulhorandi trade and worsening both nations’ economies.
• Szass Tam warned the Council of Zulkirs against escalating the conflict, and the council agreed to cede Alaor Province to end the blockade.
• Dmitra Flass volunteered to lead Thay’s negotiations with Soros and teleported away.

Dmitra Flass sent her apprentice Kalaya to the Sword Coast Empire as an envoy, carrying a fragment of Thay’s national treasure and a secret proposal to ally with Soros. Kalaya arrived at the imperial palace and prostrated herself before Soros, who sensed the Lower Planes power in her eyes.

• Dmitra Flass tasked Kalaya with negotiating Thay’s surrender terms and secretly seeking cooperation with Soros, offering a crystal containing a fragment of Thay’s national treasure.
• Kalaya traveled to the Sword Coast Empire, where Alusair arranged for her to be escorted to Calimport.
• Soros declined Kelben, Alustriel, and Storm Silverhand’s request to establish maritime order across the Fallenstar Sea, but agreed to help Aglarond join the Trade Alliance and gave Alustriel advice on roads and magical carriages.
• A messenger informed Soros that Kalaya had arrived to negotiate, and Soros left the garden pavilion to meet her despite Storm Silverhand’s objection.
• Kalaya entered the Small Council chamber, sensed Soros’s overwhelming power, and prostrated herself before him.

Raymond accepted Thay’s treaty ceding Alaor Province and agreed to a secret alliance with Dmitra Flass, while recruiting Kalaya as a spy with the help of the Twisted Rune. After turning Thay’s Artifact fragment into a powerful weapon, he learned that Sancho’s party was heading to confront Kangaxx.

• Kalaya explained her magical eyes to Raymond, and the Small Council reviewed Thay’s treaty, which ceded Alaor Province.
• Raymond signed the treaty and agreed to let Dmitra Flass seek refuge, while refusing to intervene directly in Thay’s internal struggles.
• Kalaya gave Raymond an Artifact fragment that strengthened the Weave, and he accepted Dmitra Flass’s alliance proposal.
• Raymond offered Kalaya Nether Scroll knowledge in exchange for intelligence, and she agreed to spy for him with seven members of the Twisted Rune as her helpers.
• Raymond used the Artifact fragment to enhance the Demon Moonblade with Silver Fire, giving it power over the Weave.
• Atona warned Raymond that Sancho planned to take Abdel and Minsc with him to fight Kangaxx, and Raymond let the party proceed while promising to watch.