Chapter Summaries

Soren intervened when Bulettes nearly overwhelmed a group of followers of the God of Suffering and the mountain folk they were escorting. He introduced himself as Soros, a wealthy-seeking Hunter, and left the survivors alive while considering how their church might help him oppose Malar and the Hunt Church.

• Soren assessed the wounded Holy Fighter, cleric, druid, and other followers as they struggled against a colony of Bulettes.
• When the cleric was about to be surrounded, Soren shot three Bulettes with his War Bow, killing two and gravely wounding the third.
• Soren provided ranged support as the group recovered and drove the remaining Bulettes away.
• Soren gathered valuable parts from the dead Bulettes and introduced himself to the survivors as Soros.
• Soren realized the followers had been escorting mountain folk toward safety and considered using the God of Suffering's church against the Hunt Church.

Soren traveled toward the Ancient Red Dragon’s territory and discovered how thoroughly the Dragon had secured the surrounding wilderness with enslaved creatures and Draconic beasts. He found signs of an Underdark passage but no entrance, and the Dragon Nest remained hidden deep in the mountains.

• Soren avoided traveling with the followers of the God Who Cries and had revealed Malar’s Sacrificial Ritual to encourage them to act against their ancient enemy.
• Soren crossed Ogre territory controlled by the Skullsplitter Clan and found evidence of the Ancient Red Dragon’s growing influence and expanding servants.
• Soren discovered a drained Gnoll corpse, which he recognized as evidence of Vampire activity in the Dragon’s territory.
• Soren followed Minotaur tracks and concluded that more than a dozen Minotaurs had emerged from a passage to the Underdark to hunt.
• Soren found Wyvern nests and other guards surrounding the mountain range, realizing that reaching the Dragon Nest would require Legendary strength.

Soren discovered that a Drow Matriarch and an Ancient Red Dragon were connected to a powerful disturbance beneath the mountain, where an active volcano concealed a passage to the Underdark. After healing the wounded Druid Boro Cheetah, Soren asked him to explain what he knew.

• Soren sensed unnatural fire energy underground and found magma flowing from a newly active volcano inside the mountain.
• Soren spotted pure-blooded Drow searching for a wounded Surface Elf Druid and followed the Druid's tracks instead of entering the dangerous volcano.
• Soren found Boro Cheetah hiding in a cave in the shape of a black bear, and Boro revealed that a Drow Matriarch had allied with a Red Dragon.
• Boro told Soren that a Drow city lay beneath the mountains and that a passage into the Underdark ran through the volcano.
• Soren agreed to inform the Misty Forest Council and the Silver Moon Council, healed Boro with Cure Critical Wounds, and asked him to recount what had happened.

Soren traveled to the Misty Forest to alert its druids to the alliance between a Drow Matriarch and an ancient red dragon. Pixies led him toward the druids, and he considered how the Druid Orders and the Silver Moon Council might intervene.

• Soren learned from Boro-Cheetah that a magically created volcano concealed a passage to the Underdark and a nearby drow city beneath it.
• Soren flew to the Misty Forest and approached on foot to avoid waking its powerful treant guardian.
• A pixie confronted Soren and warned him to leave the territory of the nature spirits.
• Soren explained that he needed to deliver an important message, and the wary pixies agreed to guide him to the druids.
• Soren planned to inform the Druid Orders and the Silver Moon Council, and recalled that the Lady of Silver Moon might have been involved in the ancient red dragon's death.

Soren entered the Gate of the Jungle, a peaceful demiplane guarded by powerful treants, to seek the Water of Life. He stealthily made his way deeper toward the pool near the sleeping Nature Guardian, hoping to gain a permanent Constitution increase and an extended lifespan.

• Soren used his avatar form and Rogue domain to sneak through the Gate of the Jungle into its undisturbed demiplane.
• Soren observed the sleeping Treant Elder and sensed numerous powerful treants throughout the forest.
• Soren avoided the treants and passed three dryads playing beside a river without disturbing them.
• Soren continued toward the ancient pool containing the Water of Life, his target for increasing his Constitution and lifespan.

Soren traveled deeper into the Gate of the Jungle, evading its treant guardians as he searched for the Water of Life. He reached a vast root beyond which lay the pool of pure Life Essence he sought.

• Soren observed Maple Sage use Waters of Vitality and Animate Trees to nurture a new treant, then waited as the ancient tree rested.
• Soren slipped past Maple Sage and continued along his remembered route through the forest.
• Soren passed a golden oak Nature Guardian and avoided the growing numbers of Treant Guards by using stealth.
• Soren sensed the Water of Life ahead and found a gigantic ancient root leading toward a pool of pure Life Essence.

Soren infiltrated the Gate of the Jungle and stole a large amount of Water of Life before escaping through the Shadow Plane. He returned to the Material Plane near Elf territory and began examining the stolen water.

• Soren used his Anti-Detection Cloak and Shadow Domain to bypass the awakened Treants guarding the Gate of the Jungle.
• Soren used Shadow Jump to reach a pool beneath a golden Treant Elder and took about a third of its Water of Life.
• The Treant Elder and other Legendary tree guardians tried to trap Soren, but he escaped into the Shadow Plane before they could stop him.
• Soren traveled over a hundred kilometers through the Shadow Plane, avoiding the Distorted Shadows and leaving the area near the Gate of the Jungle.
• Soren returned to the Material Plane near Elf territory, confirmed he was safe, and began examining the Water of Life.

Soren drank one liter of the Water of Life, raising his Constitution to 25 and gaining the Legendary Feat Epic Constitution along with Eternal Youth and Extended Lifespan. He stored the remaining water to share with those close to him, but realized his planned portions exceeded his supply.

• Soren examined the Water of Life’s effects and learned that it could permanently increase Constitution and extend lifespan if consumed at full health.
• Soren drank one liter of Water of Life and permanently increased his Constitution by one point.
• Soren reached 25 Constitution, gained the Legendary Feat Epic Constitution, and upgraded his regeneration ability.
• Soren considered saving the remaining Water of Life for Vivian, Goria, the Fallen Witch, Princess Anna, and efforts to build relations with the Princess and the Eye of the North.
• Soren realized he did not have enough Water of Life for everyone and would have to wait until the Time of Troubles to seek more.

Soren traveled to the Wild Gobi to approach the paladins and ask to borrow the Holy Avenger for his planned fight against Malar. He learned that the paladins had taken the weapon’s components to Arendelle, but the princess was unwilling to spend her divine power repairing it.

• Soren decided to seek the paladins’ help and borrow the Holy Avenger, while keeping his backup plan against Malar in reserve.
• Soren traveled toward the Wild Gobi and sought a familiar young paladin to avoid a direct clash with the secluded order.
• Soren’s contacts discovered that the paladins were in Arendelle trying to repair the Holy Avenger.
• The princess of Arendelle refused to spend her divine power on the repair, leaving the paladins’ efforts stalled.

The paladins stayed in Arendelle’s poor quarter, where the Hand of Justice trained children while the Warden tried repeatedly to meet the Princess and ask her to repair the Holy Avenger. The Princess continued to refuse an audience, and the Warden left the palace with no way to persuade her or make demands.

• The Hand of Justice taught a group of children to fight and ended their training before joining the Warden and other paladins at the inn.
• The paladins traveled to the Imperial Palace, where the Warden was again denied a meeting with the Princess.
• The Warden reminded dissatisfied young paladins that the Princess had the right to refuse their request and guided them against turning justice into coercion.
• The Second Prince of the Kingdom of Falcon arrived at the palace and passed the paladins uneasily without speaking to them.
• The Warden recognized that the paladins had little to offer the Princess and left without finding a way to secure her help repairing the Holy Avenger.

Soren entered Arendelle to seek cooperation with the paladins, believing that preserving order would matter during the coming chaos. He met the Warden and the Hand of Justice, revealed that he planned to kill Malar, and identified himself as the deity Soren.

• Soren traveled to Arendelle and found the paladins in the port district.
• The Hand of Justice recognized Soren and led him to the Warden.
• Soren told the Warden and the Hand of Justice that Malar was his enemy and that he intended to kill him.
• Soren removed his hood and revealed that he was Soren, leaving both paladins stunned by the deity's presence.

After leaving the inn, Soren reflected on the ancient rivalry between the Lady of Silver Moon and the Lady of Night and the forces behind the Time of Troubles. He sensed that the Lady of Silver Moon had fallen to the mortal realm, and the chapter ended with him recalling the Lady of Night’s formidable abilities.

• Soren left the inn after reaching an agreement with the Warden to restore the Holy Avenger’s power.
• Soren considered the histories and alliances of the Lady of Silver Moon and the Lady of Night, whose rivalry had helped create the first Goddess of Magic.
• Soren concluded that many converging causes had made the Time of Troubles inevitable and beyond his power to prevent.
• The moonlight abruptly faded, and Soren sensed that the Lady of Silver Moon had fallen to the mortal realm.
• Soren recalled the Lady of Night’s class levels, abilities, and control of the Shadow Weave.

Soren learned that the Winter Maiden had returned and realized the Snow and Ice Riot was beginning to unfold. He considered stopping the alliance behind it before meeting the Princess, while a forest north of Icewind Dale suddenly withered and died.

• Soren rushed to the Imperial Palace after sensing a surge of Divine Power and found the Princess confronting a Chosen of the Maiden of Pain.
• The Drow priestess told the Princess that the Winter Maiden had returned from the Astral Plane, then vanished.
• Soren connected the Winter Maiden's return and the priestess's visit to the coming Snow and Ice Riot and considered stopping the God of Hunt and unraveling the alliance.
• Soren told the Princess he had prepared gifts for her and Anna and wanted to discuss something.
• A forest north of Icewind Dale rapidly withered and died near dawn.

The Lady of Poisons arrived near Icewind Dale and spread a fast-moving illness through settlements across the region. In Arendelle, Soren gave the Princess and Princess Anna Water of Life, then remained behind to discuss something important with the Princess as Anna planned to return afterward.

• The Lady of Poisons emerged from a Portal with her followers, sensed something unpleasant approaching, and ordered them to leave.
• A druid discovered the blighted forest and flew to report it to the Earth Walker, while an Elf hurried toward the Elven Forest.
• People in nearby human, Elven, and Gnoll settlements fell ill as the disease spread rapidly.
• Soren presented Water of Life to the Princess and Princess Anna, and the Princess recognized it as the Fountain of Eternal Youth.
• Princess Anna rushed to greet Soren, received her gift from the Princess, and reluctantly returned to her room.
• Princess Anna decided to have her maid watch for the end of the Princess and Soren's discussion so she could sneak back out.

The Princess struggled to control the immense Divine Power she had gained and considered fighting the Winter Maiden for an ice-and-snow Portfolio, while also weighing whether to join forces with Soren against the God of Hunt. The chapter ended when she learned that a supernatural plague had devastated the southern Land of Ice and Snow.

• The Princess sensed her growing Divine Power slipping out of control and realized she needed to ascend to godhood.
• The Princess decided that claiming a Portfolio of ice and snow would suit her power, even if that meant fighting the Winter Maiden.
• The Princess considered helping Soren against the God of Hunt but continued to delay restoring the Holy Avenger because doing so would leave Arendelle vulnerable and attract enemies.
• A lady-in-waiting brought the Princess a report that a plague had struck the south.
• The Princess learned that the plague infected people and plants and had destroyed the southern crops, revealing that it was no natural disaster.

The plague spread across the northern lands, and Soren, Arendelle, and the churches moved to contain it and oppose the Goddess of Plague. The chapter ended with Gnoll and Ogre hunters offering captives and beasts as sacrifices while chaos spread.

• Soren learned that the plague had infected crops, people, and animals across the north and suspected the Goddess of Plague was using fear to restore her power.
• The Princess ordered Arendelle to seal Icewind Dale, station troops at Cold Wind Fortress, send physicians and priests, and burn infected crops.
• Soren warned his South Coast intelligence network to watch for followers of the Goddess of Plague.
• The Agricultural Church identified Plague Church activity, prepared grain relief, and received a Divine Oracle to stop the outbreak and strike its enemies.
• South of Falling Leaf City, a one-eyed Gnoll and an Ogre hunted Elves and a Shadow Panther as sacrifices, while the Ogre attacked a Werewolf over its dinner.

A Werewolf named Hogg-Nock led a Malar worship ritual, but the God of Hunt was angered by the lack of Legendary Blood. The deity sensed a nearby Moonwalker Elf and ordered the hunters to capture her, leaving her fleeing as the crowd gave chase.

• Hogg-Nock presided over a gathering of hunters and began a sacrifice to Malar, the God of Hunt.
• The ritual killed a Gnoll and summoned the God of Hunt’s blood-mist apparition, which was displeased by the offerings.
• The God of Hunt sensed prey on a distant hillside and ordered the hunters to catch her and bring him her blood.
• Hogg-Nock promised to retrieve the prey, then led several Werewolves toward the hillside as the other hunters followed.
• A Moonwalker Elf Ranger fled from the hunters after they discovered her watching the ritual.

Clairentina Silverblade was hunted down and killed by followers of Malar, and her sister vowed revenge before heading toward Autumn Leaf Forest. In Arendelle, Soren secured permission to use the Holy Avenger once and learned that the Church of Silver Moon was gathering near Falling Leaf City, raising his suspicion that Lady of Silver Moon might target Malar.

• Clairentina Silverblade threw her Silver Moon Stalker crest into a river and fought her pursuers to the death in a valley.
• A werewolf carried Clairentina Silverblade's body to an altar while the valley was left strewn with dead hunters and broken weapons.
• Clairentina Silverblade's sister recovered the crest, found the battlefield, swore vengeance, and sped toward Autumn Leaf Forest.
• After nearly three days of negotiations in Arendelle, Soren received the Warden's permission to borrow the Holy Avenger once, provided he swore not to claim it and returned it after use.
• Soren received reports that Silver Moon Stalkers had clashed with Malar's followers and that the Church of Silver Moon was moving people toward Falling Leaf City.
• Soren wondered whether Lady of Silver Moon intended to pursue Malar and interfere with his hunt.

Soren investigated the Lady of Silver Moon and planned to find the God of Hunt, while his allies advanced golem construction in Port Nyanzaru. Disguised as an elf, Soren lured an elven patrol toward a group of hunters, then vanished as the patrol prepared to attack.

• Soren learned that Selune's moon and lycanthrope portfolios could put her in conflict with the God of Hunt, but he remained determined to claim the Hunt portfolio for himself.
• Soren planned to infiltrate the Hunt Church and use its bloody sacrificial rituals to locate Malar.
• Saruman joined Port Nyanzaru's inner circle and began assisting Goria and the Fallen Witch with constructing an Adamantite Golem.
• Soren disguised himself as an elven ranger and reported five hunters to an elven patrol captain, who gathered twenty-seven guards to surround them.
• As the elven patrol prepared to attack the hunters, Soren vanished.

Soren intervened in the Elf Patrol Guard’s battle with a band of hunters, killing some elves and helping the surviving orc and ogre escape while deliberately sparing the elf captain. He left the conflict poised to worsen, hoping the survivors’ hatred would weaken the Hunt Church.

• The Elf Patrol Guard ambushed the hunters, badly wounding the werewolf and killing the gnoll and one orc.
• Soren appeared alone and killed the Elf Vice-Captain with an arrow as the elves fought the remaining hunters.
• Soren let the werewolf die, then attacked the elves to free the surviving orc and ogre.
• Soren wounded the elf captain instead of killing him, intending for the surviving elves’ hatred to intensify the conflict with the hunters and weaken the Hunt Church.