Chapter Summaries

Raymond explored an Imaskar Empire ruin, where he uncovered ancient constructs guarding a portal to the Crystal Prison that held Pandorym the Godslayer. After defeating and collecting the constructs, he realized that a specially shaped metal device was needed to open the portal.

• Raymond identified the buried archway as an Imaskar Empire ruin and led the expedition inside to investigate its history and treasures.
• The expedition found a Brown Dragon's lair filled with treasure, and Raymond claimed an Adamantine Golem arm that revealed the Imaskari's advanced construct-making techniques.
• As the group ventured deeper, Negative Energy, traps, Undead, and Golems killed several members, while Raymond sensed the ruin's core and returned to camp with the survivors.
• Raymond secretly entered the ruin alone, reached its central portal, and defeated ten intelligent Imaskari constructs by draining their energy and turning them into cards.
• Raymond studied a relief showing Pandorym's separation and imprisonment, then deduced that one of two metal devices depicted in it could serve as the portal's key.

Raymond entered the Crystal Prison after its portal activated, learned that Pandorym’s power was beginning to leak out, and met Bertrand Laidler, whose offer of help he distrusted. While Raymond explored the prison with Kezef, Bertrand secretly pursued his plan to become the new Godslayer, and Raymond became trapped in a battle with two Astral Dragons.

• Raymond used the Adamantine Golem arm to activate the portal, and energy from beyond it injured him while Pandorym’s influence began disrupting magic across the region.
• Raymond brought Kezef through the portal into the Crystal Prison, where Bertrand Laidler appeared, explained how he had been fused with Pandorym’s body, and offered to guide Raymond to the center.
• Raymond accepted Bertrand’s notes but suspected his motives, while Bertrand revealed that he planned to use Pandorym’s body to gain godlike power and that an Enforcer was trying to break the seal.
• Raymond entered a room in the Astral Plane and encountered a pair of chained Astral Dragons, who offered him a game or a fight to the death as the means of escape.
• Raymond chose to fight, attacked the Astral Dragons with Energy Drain, and sent Kezef after the male Dragon; the Dragons reshaped the palace’s rules while Raymond and Kezef battled them.

Raymond defeated and devoured the Astral Dragon couple, gaining their Blood Lock ability and an Astral Dragon head before reaching Pandorym’s prison. When Bertrand Laidler tried to seize the Godslayer’s connection to the Dark Void, Raymond refused to help, and Bertrand unleashed the black hole’s power, threatening to destroy the Crystal Prison.

• Raymond transformed into an Archdevil, overpowered the Astral Dragons with divine power, and killed the female dragon.
• Raymond devoured the male Astral Dragon after killing him, gained Blood Lock, and grew a fourth head.
• Raymond and Kezef searched the Black Crystal Palace, then returned to the Crystal Prison, where Raymond reached Pandorym’s sealed body.
• Raymond rejected Bertrand Laidler’s claim that they had agreed to help him control the Dark Void passage and warned him that it would erase his identity.
• Bertrand Laidler expanded his connection to Pandorym, shattered the crystal prison, and hurled the black hole through the rooms as the prison began to collapse.

Raymond forged the Chengyang Sword into the Chengyin Sword by sealing the Dark Void passage within it, while the party in Ust Natha pursued a way to obtain the dragon egg. Irenicus launched his invasion of Suldanessellar and began slaughtering its inhabitants as he sought the Tree of Life’s power to become a god.

• Raymond entered the Destruction Black Hole, pulled Bertrand Laidler’s soul free, and used it to channel Dark Void energy into the Chengyang Sword.
• The Chengyang Sword absorbed the passage and became the Chengyin Sword, a weapon that could permanently erase slain gods; the sealing also ended the corruption affecting the surface camp.
• Abdel accepted Phaere’s invitation after Jaheira agreed, while Sancho and Imoen discussed securing the dragon egg and escaping Ust Natha.
• Irenicus gave Bodhi a gift to ease her bloodthirst, then teleported to Vildas Forest and led an army against Suldanessellar.
• Irenicus revealed his plan to absorb the Tree of Life’s energy and become a god, then unleashed his forces and killed Elves throughout the city.

Raymond rejected Queen Ellesime’s request to defend Suldanessellar, intending to let Irenicus destroy the Forest Elf Kingdom and absorb its refugees into the Imperium. In the Chult Jungle, Atona and the Wolf Pups encountered Ur-Utalon, and Atona fought the creature’s animated plants as the chapter ended.

• Lantis reported that Irenicus had broken Suldanessellar’s Mythal and that Queen Ellesime had asked the Imperium for help.
• Raymond ordered the cabinet to refuse direct assistance and offered to accept Elf refugees, explaining that the Forest Elf Kingdom was a political enemy he wanted eliminated.
• Lantis told Raymond that Abdel and Sancho had nearly completed their preparations in the Underdark and that Adalon planned to destroy Menzoberranzan.
• Raymond explained that he had helped Adalon recognize the injustice of her situation, then returned to studying the Humanoid Golem and the damaged Enforcer.
• In the Chult Jungle, Atona and the Wolf Pups encountered fleeing natives and animals as Ur-Utalon attacked them with swarms, wooden spheres, and animated plants.
• Atona burned many of Ur-Utalon’s wooden spheres and fought off its vines and animated trees, while the creature continued attacking her.

Atona’s battle with Ur-Utalon revealed that the jungle legend was being driven by Shar, who had replaced Eshowe and planned to release Dendar, the Nightmare Serpent. Raymond alerted Selûne and Midnight, then showed Midnight his godslaying Void Sword and learned that Larloch had once been Mystryl’s lover.

• Raymond possessed Atona, destroyed the animated plants with Hellfire Breath, and summoned an Insect Devil before Ur-Utalon withdrew its power.
• Atona questioned the old priest, who explained Ur-Utalon’s origins, its recent change, and the prophecy linking Ubtao to Dendar; she and the priest formed an alliance to find a safe home for the tribe.
• Raymond deduced that Shar had replaced Eshowe and was weakening Ubtao to open Dendar’s gate, then informed Midnight and Selûne of the conspiracy.
• Raymond urged Selûne and Midnight to expose Shar’s plan to the gods and use Ubtao’s agreement to drive Shar from the Chult Peninsula.
• Raymond revealed the unfinished Void Sword to Midnight, who warned him to keep it hidden, and told her he was searching for Pandorym’s imprisoned consciousness.
• Midnight told Raymond that Mystryl and Larloch had apparently been lovers, then departed after he asked her to keep watch on Larloch.

After Shar’s scheme was exposed, she plotted revenge against Soros while Raymond watched Abdel and his companions fight their way out of Ust Natha. Sancho revealed a powerful transformation of his own, and Raymond recognized that his disciple had begun the path to becoming a New God.

• Tyr’s proposal to punish Shar failed for lack of evidence, but Shar was forced to abandon her Chult Jungle scheme and reveal the gods she had killed and replaced.
• Shar ordered the City of Shade’s return to Faerûn and sent a Dark Angel to find Borem’s Heart so she could use his power against Soros.
• Phaere betrayed Matron Ardulace, but the Balor Lord revealed that the Dragon egg was false and that the Bhaalspawn had deceived Phaere; he killed her and Ardulace died.
• The Balor Lord dispelled the party’s Drow disguises, and Minsc triggered a battle by attacking First House guards as the group tried to escape Ust Natha.
• Raymond told Adalon to wait while the Bhaalspawn fought, and Sancho transformed into a powerful form that preserved his reason and magic as he battled the Drow and summoned creatures.
• Raymond recognized Sancho’s transformation as his own power and said his disciple had begun the path to becoming a New God.

Sancho and the Bhaalspawn party escaped Ust Natha as Adalon’s earthquake and dragon attacks destroyed the city. Raymond refused to save Suldanessellar unless its people joined the Imperium, then entered the besieged city himself, rescued Gwilather Liadon, and learned she was the last of her family.

• Sancho’s growing power turned the battle at the First House against the Drow, and the fleeing Houses abandoned Ust Natha.
• Adalon’s earthquake and ice attacks devastated Ust Natha, allowing Sancho, Abdel, and their companions to escape before the city was buried.
• Ellesime asked Raymond to save Suldanessellar, but he offered only to accept its people as Imperium refugees and left the city’s defense to the Bhaalspawn.
• Raymond entered Suldanessellar, defeated the Demons holding Gwilather, healed her, and learned she was the last remaining member of the Liadon Family.

Raymond rescued thousands of Suldanessellar’s civilians, confronted Irenicus as he prepared to drain the Tree of Life, and took Gwilather Liadon as his second apprentice. Meanwhile, Sancho awakened with near-divine power, and Adalon accepted Infernalization before leaving to hatch her dragon egg.

• Raymond led rescued elves through a portal, then warned Irenicus that the Bhaalspawn were approaching and saw the magical insects prepared to drain the Tree of Life.
• Gwilather Liadon refused to leave Raymond’s side, and he later accepted her as his second apprentice at the Wizard’s Tower in Athkatla.
• In the Underdark, Sancho awakened as a legendary mage with Divine Power, while Imoen and Abdel awoke from visions of their Bhaalspawn potential.
• Adalon teleported the party near the surface, where Sancho and the others joined the Forest Elves in battle against the Drow.
• Adalon reported that the party was headed toward Suldanessellar, then accepted Raymond’s Infernalization and left with her dragon egg to hatch it.

Talona’s new doctrine gained worshipers in Sharpfangs Forest as Nemetona searched for the Ring of Mysrien, while Sancho’s party obtained the Lion’s Lantern and entered Suldanessellar to confront Irenicus. Inside the Tree of Life, Irenicus began draining its energy to reclaim his elven nature and pursue godhood, as Raymond watched and awaited the Bhaalspawn’s arrival.

• Talona questioned Nemetona about mortal faith, and Nemetona explained how practical benefits had drawn farmers to Talona’s new faith; Nemetona then left to search Sharpfangs Forest for the Ring of Mysrien.
• General Sofalidas learned that Sancho, Abdel, and Imoen were Bhaalspawn, then told their party that the Lion’s Lantern could reveal the sealed entrance to Suldanessellar.
• Bodhi delivered the Lion’s Lantern on Raymond’s orders, and Sancho used it to reveal the hidden staircase to Suldanessellar before leading the party inside.
• Irenicus drained the Tree of Life through magical insects, regained his elven appearance, and began his apotheosis ritual as Queen Ellesime weakened.
• Raymond found Ellesime near the Tree of Life and told her that Sancho and the other Bhaalspawn were fighting their way through the city toward Irenicus.

Sancho’s party defeated the Black Dragon Nizidramanii'yt and reached Irenicus’s apotheosis ritual, where they discovered how to break his Divine Power Shield. As the group destroyed the energy-storing insects, Bhaal absorbed the released power and prepared to make the Bhaalspawn’s struggle bloodier.

• Sancho, Abdel, Imoen, Minsc, and Viconia killed Nizidramanii'yt after Sancho crippled the Black Dragon’s wings and the party coordinated their attacks.
• Sancho led the party toward the Tree of Life’s heart and warned that Irenicus and the enemies ahead could be far stronger than the Dragon.
• Irenicus became a Quasi-God while draining the Tree of Life, and Raymond told Ellesime that her decision to exile him had helped cause his madness.
• Lolth revealed that she had secretly helped guide Irenicus toward his current path, while Raymond’s apprentices arrived at the ritual site.
• Abdel’s Slayer attacks could not penetrate Irenicus’s regenerating shield, so Sancho discovered that giant insects were supplying it with energy.
• Abdel destroyed the first energy-filled insect, allowing the party to hunt the others as Bhaal absorbed the released energy and began releasing the Blood Throne.

Sancho and the other Bhaalspawn defeated Irenicus after Sancho stripped away his magical defenses, but Bhaal’s power then drew their souls into his realm for a final trial. Soros watched the crisis unfold, learned that Bhaalspawn across the region were growing stronger, and left to investigate the widening conflict.

• Irenicus claimed that gods and greater powers controlled mortal fate, then invited Sancho to join him; Sancho refused, and Irenicus attacked the party.
• Abdel and Imoen fought Irenicus while Sancho used Mordenkainen’s Disjunction and an Antimagic Field to expose him to a close-range assault.
• Sancho, Abdel, and Imoen overwhelmed Irenicus in Slayer forms, and Abdel killed him and absorbed his Divine Power.
• Bhaal’s power opened a rift to his throne and pulled the party’s souls into his realm for a final trial; Soros told Lolth he intended to stop Bhaal’s resurrection.
• Lolth promised Soros a gift in another world, and Davian reported that Bhaalspawn including Sendai and Yaga-Shura were gaining power as passages to an evil Outer Plane appeared.
• Soros ordered Davian to watch over Sancho and the others’ bodies, then opened a portal to speak with Balthazar’s associate Melissan.

Raymond visited Balthazar in Amkethran, exposed Melissan’s plan to seize the Blood Throne, and formed an alliance with him. Meanwhile, Sancho became a Quasi-God in Bhaal’s Realm, rejected Sarevok’s demand for a piece of his soul, and left with Raymond, who captured Sarevok’s soul.

• Melissan tried to persuade Balthazar to deal with the other powerful Bhaalspawn, but Balthazar dismissed her and vowed to eliminate Bhaal’s bloodline.
• Raymond met Balthazar, revealed Melissan’s betrayal of Bhaal and her plan to claim the Blood Throne, and asked him to cooperate against her and the resurrection threats.
• Balthazar accepted Raymond’s alliance after Raymond explained that he wanted Bhaal’s Death Portfolio and Divine Power, not the Blood Throne itself.
• Sancho found himself alone in Bhaal’s Realm after becoming a Quasi-God, where Sarevok offered secrets and loyalty in exchange for a fragment of Sancho’s soul.
• Sancho refused Sarevok and reshaped his independent space with Divine Power; Raymond arrived, explained that Bhaal had drawn Bhaalspawn into the realm, and prepared to take him back to Faerûn.
• Sarevok begged Raymond to take him from Bhaal’s Realm, and Raymond captured his soul in a gemstone before leaving with Sancho.

Sancho returned from Bhaal’s Realm to find Suldanessellar and the Tree of Life corrupted, but Raymond restored the region and explained Sancho’s possible future as a Planeswalker. As Sancho and Davian set out to confront Yaga-Shura’s Fire Giants, Raymond returned to the empire, where reports of dangerous Sigil cults in Athkatla drew his attention.

• Sancho woke beside the dead Tree of Life and learned from Raymond that Bhaal had corrupted it while trying to resurrect himself, and that Abdel and Irenicus were locked in a battle of souls.
• Raymond used spell cards to restore the Tree of Life and its surroundings, then explained that Sancho could choose between becoming a New God and receiving a Planeswalker Spark.
• Davian told Sancho that Yaga-Shura and his Fire Giant army were advancing on Saradush, and Raymond assigned Sancho to stop them and find a way to kill Yaga-Shura.
• Raymond returned to Calimport, learned that the Doomguard and the Gods and Godless Society were attracting followers in Athkatla, and said he would address the threat personally.
• Raymond reviewed the empire’s affairs, assigned Vera to teach Alusair statecraft, and directed the cabinet to resettle the elven refugees while continuing the empire’s development.

Raymond stopped a violent pursuit through Athkatla, captured the spy Faro, and outlawed the Gods and Godless Society throughout the Imperium. Keldorn led the crackdown on the group’s remaining members, who were killed when the city’s forces attacked their headquarters.

• A Gods and Godless Society speaker preached in Athkatla while Keldorn and the Knights of the Radiant Heart watched the tense crowd.
• Dox fled the group’s headquarters, and his pursuers injured pedestrians as Keldorn led the city’s forces after them.
• Dox revealed that he had joined fifteen Sigil factions by splitting himself into distinct personalities, and Raymond arrived to arrest the group.
• When the group attacked Raymond, he killed its leaders and captured Dox, discovering that he was Faro, a highly skilled spy with numerous personas.
• Raymond outlawed the Gods and Godless Society in the Imperium and ordered Keldorn to arrest its followers and destroy its headquarters.
• Keldorn’s forces and allied temples wiped out the group’s remaining members, confiscated their magic ship, and left the evil-aligned churches to seize the dead members’ souls.

After Athkatla's temples destroyed the Gods and Godless Society, Soth sent Faro back to Sigil to build an intelligence network and arranged for Sarevok to take over Illasera's body. Raymond turned the resurrected Sarevok into a powerful female Bhaalspawn follower, leaving her eager to fight at his command.

• Athkatla's divine churches annihilated the Gods and Godless Society, and Faro told Soth that the faction had planned to blow up the Temple District with a hidden magical device.
• Soth ordered Faro to return to Sigil and secretly establish an intelligence network, and Faro departed disguised as Dox.
• Soth used Divination magic to locate Illasera and explained to Sarevok that he would use her body to restore Sarevok's Bhaalspawn power.
• Raymond confronted Illasera's party, overcame her Divine Power and Slayer form with Power Words, and captured the group.
• Raymond's ritual transferred Illasera's body, soul, and memories to Sarevok, who emerged as a powerful bald woman and was bound in armor.
• Raymond created a follower card for Sarevok and summoned her, and she asked whom she could kill for him.

Shemishka weighed a partnership with Raymond after Faro reported on his growing power, while Raymond ordered Gramill to maneuver Shemishka into his control. Meanwhile, the Diary completed the Phyrexian transformation of several undead Floating Cities and headed to Athkatla with information for Raymond.

• Shemishka rebuked Kulkuk for proposing a scheme to manipulate Soul Prism prices, then heard Faro report that the Gods and Godless Society’s mission in Faerun had failed and describe Raymond’s Imperium.
• Faro advised Shemishka to deal honestly with Raymond and suggested contacting Aigesaluo, while secretly keeping his primary personality loyal to Raymond.
• Gramill told Aigesaluo that Raymond wanted to absorb Shemishka and her intelligence network, and ordered him to create an opportunity for an introduction.
• Raymond pursued a foothold in Sigil to monitor its dangerous factions and protect the Sword Coast Empire from their conflicts.
• The Diary’s Phyrexian Oil transformed several undead Floating Cities and their inhabitants, and he traveled to Athkatla carrying information about the Creator class.

Raymond trained Gwilather Liadon, received the creator class’s forbidden secrets, and learned that his companions had returned alive after defeating Irenicus. He claimed Irenicus’s soul and sent it to Baator to become a Devil, while Asmodeus anticipated the result.

• Sarevok trained Gwilather Liadon until the elven girl developed a ruthless fighting style, and Raymond explained her potential and the danger posed by the Doomguard to Fid.
• Diary delivered records about the creator class and reported that Phyrexian Oil had captured the Floating Cities, while Raymond delegated their upgrades and approved the Elder Brain’s plan to convert Lizardfolk into Mind Flayers.
• Raymond reviewed the creator class’s sealed history and considered combining it with the Artificer class before Imoen, Abdel, Jaheira, Minsc, and Viconia awakened after defeating Irenicus.
• Raymond explained that Sarevok had been resurrected as a woman and confirmed that Sancho was safe, then hosted a feast for the newly awakened companions.
• Viconia gave Raymond Irenicus’s soul, and Raymond stripped away most of its remaining qualities before sending it to the Hatching Pit on the Ninth Layer of the Nine Hells.
• Asmodeus appeared at the Hatching Pit and predicted that Irenicus would emerge as a unique Archdevil with the powers of Spellbreaker Devils.

Irenicus completed his transformation into a unique Archdevil, and Raymond restored his memories and personality by giving him his mask. Meanwhile, Owo and the City of Shade learned of each other’s plans, and Telamont ordered the City of Shade to return to Faerûn in one month.

• Irenicus emerged from the Hatching Pit without a face or memories, and Asmodeus told Raymond that only he could redefine the new Archdevil.
• Raymond gave Irenicus his mask, restoring his memories and personality and binding him to Raymond as his master.
• Owo warned Raymond that intelligent Shadow Weave users were scouting the Thirsty Sands, likely preparing for the City of Shade’s return.
• Hadrhune advised Telamont Tanthul to avoid war with the Sword Coast Empire, but Rivalen presented a mysterious box as Shar’s gift and urged the City of Shade to return.
• Telamont ordered the City of Shade to prepare for its return to Faerûn in one month, while an unseen observer watched from the Shadowfell.

Raymond investigated the City of Shade’s return before a faint Trans-Temporal Beacon summoned him to Kaladesh, where Tezzeret’s Planar Bridge threatened the city of Ghirapur. With Ral Zarek’s help, Raymond seized the Bridge for himself, leaving it poised to become a tool for deploying forces across worlds.

• Raymond assessed the possible threat from the City of Shade and Shar, then sensed a weak Trans-Temporal Beacon and traveled to Ghirapur on Kaladesh.
• Raymond arrived as an explosion devastated the city, where Tezzeret and the Consulate-backed forces were using the Planar Bridge while Chandra, Jace, Nissa, Gideon, and Liliana opposed them.
• Ral Zarek revealed that he had sent the beacon on Niv-Mizzet’s behalf and asked Raymond to seize the Planar Bridge, but Raymond challenged Ral to prove his own strength by joining the battle.
• Ral Zarek attacked Tezzeret with lightning, destabilized the Bridge’s energy supply, and wounded Tezzeret as the resulting explosions wrecked Ghirapur’s central district.
• Ral Zarek took the Planar Bridge and met Raymond in a forest outside the city, where Raymond praised his performance and gave him a magic ring.
• Raymond converted the Planar Bridge into a card, gaining the ability to deploy resources across different worlds and universes.