Chapter Summaries

Shade rescued Armand Bernhardt and Lester Bernhardt, then followed the Pendant to the Church of Nature and Evil Thoughts in the Interstice. Inside, he found a vast divine ritual and met a self-aware soul who had performed a ritual before dying.

• Shade learned that Armand Bernhardt and Lester Bernhardt had been pulled into the Interstice, and Lester said survivors were sheltering in a church with help from a winged gentleman.
• Lester warned Shade not to cross a door that led to true death, and Armand and Lester left to return to the place where Armand's counterpart had fallen asleep.
• Shade followed the Pendant through the hostile city to the Church of Nature and Evil Thoughts, where the environment and battles drained his strength.
• Shade entered the church and found its nave filled with candles, divine art runes, and sacred objects arranged in a massive ritual.
• A transparent soul explained that the church was not the core of the Interstice and said he had retained self-awareness through a ritual performed before his death.

Shade entered the Nature Church in Life and Death Limbo and learned that its sealed door connected the limbo to true death. Following Priest Augustus’s footprints through the deadly Black Wind, he reached the Gate of Death and realized Augustus had crossed it.

• A Nature Church Ring Arcanist’s soul let Shade enter and explained that the Church guarded a door through which death invaded reality.
• The soul said Priest Augustus had entered the church’s deepest area seeking a death-related Spirit Rune and warned Shade not to cross the door.
• Shade followed the church’s only passable route as the growing influence of death distorted the corridors and wounded him.
• Shade descended into a tunnel of Black Wind and followed Priest Augustus’s footprints while resisting death’s pull with Sister Devlin’s flame and his own power.
• Shade reached an enormous pair of stone doors, recognized them as a relic, and found Augustus’s footprints leading through them.
• Shade realized Latt Augustus had already crossed the Gate of Death.

Shade pushed through the gates of death and entered a shore beneath the half-submerged Silver Moon, where departed souls crossed a boundless sea. There he found Priest Augustus fused to the gates, and told the astonished priest that he had come to bring him back.

• Shade asked whether he could return from beyond the gates, then enlisted the silver-armed presence to help him push them open.
• Shade left his belongings outside the gates and walked into the white light, gaining a deeper understanding of Death and Sleep.
• Shade found himself on a shore beside a still, endless sea, with countless souls moving toward the enormous Silver Moon.
• Shade heard a voice explain that the shore was a region near death and that true eternal sleep lay beyond the water.
• Shade turned and found Priest Augustus embedded in the gates, then told him that Doctor Schneider and the others had sent him to find the priest.

Shade learned that the Life and Death Limbo beneath Middlesburg was nearing collapse and that three passages connected it to the world of the living. He agreed to reinforce the mountain-foot Gate of Death with Priest Augustus, while the priest prepared to lead the other trapped people back to reality.

• Priest Augustus explained that the Interstice beneath Middlesburg was close to causing a catastrophic Death Outbreak and that he had sealed the mountain-foot passage to delay it.
• Shade learned that Sikar Mountain had three passages to death: the Church-guarded gate at its foot, a loosening Witch Emperor seal halfway up, and a summit passage guarded by a powerful Ancient One.
• Priest Augustus revealed that Shade's dream had brought a Silver Moon into the Interstice, stabilizing death and delaying the disaster.
• Shade refused to leave Priest Augustus behind and offered to reinforce the mountain-foot seal so The Church would have time to respond.
• Priest Augustus agreed, said he would lead the other living people back to reality, and gave Shade a charred feather called Whisper to help him seal the gate.

Shade used the priest’s black feather and the Mystic Lock Tree’s Kiss at the stone door, entering True Death and gaining a Spirit Rune while temporarily sealing the passage. Outside, an aurora appeared over Sikar Mountain, and Zina Cassandra wondered why Shade had not returned before dawn.

• Shade asked the Old Priest to leave some blood in an empty bottle, then confirmed that the Door Key could open the stone door.
• Shade used Tree’s Kiss and the priest’s feather beneath the Silver Moon, stopped his heart, and touched the power of First Angel—Camael.
• Shade inscribed the Black Iron Whisper Spirit Rune True Death and used its power to adapt to the darkness.
• A tremor and a scarlet-gold aurora appeared over Sikar Mountain before dawn, briefly reflecting another world in the sky.
• At Russell Mansion, Zina Cassandra told Sister Devlin that someone had temporarily sealed the door at the mountain foot, then asked whether Shade had returned.

Shade escaped the Mudflat of Death by using Tree's Kiss and the Time Key, then returned to the wine tasting at Night Manor with three bottles of blood. The second round began after the God of Vampires recognized one bottle as blood connected to the First Angel, and the hall transformed into a sinister, blood-soaked room.

• Shade sealed the Gate of Death with Tree's Kiss, opened it with Door Key, and gained the Gate of Death thaumaturgy.
• Shade used the Time Key to enter the Time Corridor and returned to the wine tasting at Night Manor.
• Shade presented blood from an Abyss-Eyed Dragon Squid, a Rhine Fiend, and Priest Augustus to the God of Vampires.
• The God of Vampires confirmed that the third bottle held the blood of the First Angel, but changed the subject before Shade could ask more.
• The God of Vampires began the second wine-tasting round and set different drinking requirements for the guests.
• The hall transformed with blood-red furnishings, eerie figures, and a disturbing painting as the tasting began.

At the saint’s wine tasting, Shade and the others refuse two dangerous Blood Brews before Shade and the witch drink wine made from elemental lifeforms. Shade uses the resulting surge of spirit to open a Mystic Lock and grant the group four temporary protections, after which the saint moves on to the fourth bottle.

• The saint serves Blood of Evil Souls and Wine of Blasphemy, but Shade, the witch, the armored old man, and the twin girls refuse both.
• The witch accepts the Wine of Elements, and Shade joins her after asking In Heart what will happen if he drinks it.
• The witch channels the wine’s excess aether into her hair, while Shade uses the Destiny Ring to absorb his share and open a Mystic Lock.
• Shade spends the wine’s spirit on four wishes that raise the group’s resistance to poison and mental attacks, extend their near-death state, and improve their luck.
• The saint questions whether Shade’s actions show kindness, then announces the fourth kind of blood.

Shade and the others drank the poisonous fourth Blood Brew, Doolin Poisonous Worms, and he used his detoxification thaumaturgy to help himself and the white-haired old man survive. The vampire god then presented a scorching wine made from a Third Epoch Demon, but Shade and the witch refused to drink it.

• Shade drank Doolin Poisonous Worms in small sips, using Elf's Detoxification Technique after each one to counter its poison.
• The witch and the twins drank the poisonous wine and recovered, while Shade used his thaumaturgy to save the white-haired old man.
• The old man offered Shade a Demon Hunting Seal, but Shade refused the ring because he could not take Fifth Epoch supernatural items into his own time.
• The vampire god opened the fifth Blood Brew, made from a Blood Demon, and explained that it could grant blood-related power and let drinkers touch the power of the Sun.
• Shade and the witch refused the fifth Blood Brew, and Shade told the witch to seek out Miss Feliana if she survived and remembered him.

Shade drank the Saint’s Moon Wine alone, gaining insight into the Red Moon and greater control over moonlight. The armored old man drank Warrior’s Wine and began swelling with blood, but took medicine from the twins’ Relic.

• The Saint explained that Sun Wine and Moon Wine had to be stored and drunk together, but Shade chose to drink only Moon Wine.
• Shade saw the Saint’s true, monstrous form through the wine, drank it, and gained insight into the Red Moon and stronger control over moonlight.
• The Saint introduced Warrior’s Wine, and the white-haired old man agreed to drink it.
• Grace and Helen offered the old man their Addict’s Pillbox, a Relic that could produce a desired medicine.
• The old man drank the Warrior’s Wine, began swelling as blood mist escaped his body, and swallowed a tablet from the pillbox.

Shade and the others tasted the final Blood Brew at the God of Vampires’ wine party, and Shade drank the soul-strengthening wine in place of the twin girls. As the White Mist Gate carried him away, he learned that listening to the god’s brewing stories had granted him the Blood Brew thaumaturgy.

• The Witch and the twin girls drank Aether Wine, enduring its powerful spirit with the Witch’s guidance as their Witch awakenings drew closer.
• The God of Vampires introduced Soul Wine, which strengthened the soul, and Shade offered his remaining chance to drink in place of the twins.
• Shade drank Soul Wine without pain and prepared to leave through the White Mist Gate.
• The God of Vampires asked Shade whether he wanted to hear his story, and Shade was pulled into the White Mist before he could refuse.
• Shade learned a blasphemy of Vampire Duke Lawell and obtained the Blood Brew thaumaturgy.

Shade rescued Priest Augustus and other missing people from Life and Death Limbo, escaping to Russell Manor just before dawn with Lady Cassandra’s help. He reported the rescue to Sister Devlin and learned that Miss Galina had alerted Cassandra to his danger.

• Shade used Moonlight Slash to cut down the evil spirits blocking his path through the Interstice.
• Shade raced through Russell Manor as dawn approached, and an aged hand pulled him through the door into reality at the last moment.
• Shade emerged exhausted as the portal to Life and Death Limbo vanished behind him.
• Shade told Sister Devlin that Priest Augustus and many other missing people had been rescued and scattered across Sikar Mountain.
• Shade thanked Lady Cassandra for saving him, and she revealed that Miss Galina had told her about his plan to enter Life and Death Limbo.

Shade returned safely after rescuing the Priest and slept for a day. Miss Galina told him that the Academy had discovered the third Chosen One’s ritual would take place in Middhir Fort City, and warned him not to return to Life and Death Limbo.

• Shade returned to 6 Saint Derain Square, where Luvia and Dorothy welcomed him and learned that the Priest was safe.
• Shade ate breakfast with Luvia and Dorothy, then slept until Monday morning while they checked on him and left food for Mia.
• Shade woke to find Miss Galina and Tifa waiting at his home, and Galina asked him to tell her about his experiences.
• Miss Galina explained that the Academy had traced the Murmuring Chapters to a ritual in Middhir Fort City, likely connected to Death’s Chosen One.
• Miss Galina said Grandma Zina Cassandra was handling the Middlesburg matter and warned Shade not to return to Life and Death Limbo.

Shade learned that Lady Cassandra had a powerful teacher in Middlesburg, then reviewed the curse Blood Brew he had gained and vowed never to drink wine made from an intelligent being. He ended the chapter dining with Miss Galina, asking “her” to remind him if he ever considered using the curse to consume people for power.

• Miss Galina explained that Lady Cassandra’s teacher was still alive and powerful enough to help her handle most troubles in Middlesburg.
• Shade discussed his remaining tasks in Middlesburg, including playing Rhodes Cards, returning a pistol, and getting Priest Augustus to treat him to a meal.
• Shade reviewed his new Spirit Rune and the curse Blood Brew, which could turn unconscious creatures into wine that granted the drinker strength and memories.
• Shade vowed never to drink Blood Brew made from an intelligent being and asked “her” to remind him of that promise.
• Shade had dinner with Miss Galina and told “her” he wanted reminders, not interference.

Shade demonstrated his new fruit-wine spell to Miss Galina, who offered to help him find special blood in return. On Tuesday, Shade discovered a dagger in God's Gift Box and gave Luvia the Standing Coin before leaving for Middlesburg.

• Shade asked Miss Galina about the First Angel, but she knew little about its current worship in Middlesburg.
• Shade used his new spell to turn a platter of fruit into excellent blood-red wine, and Miss Galina offered to grant him a reasonable request.
• Shade asked Miss Galina to help find a kind of special blood, then joked about tasting the wine from her lips; Tifa shared a mouthful with him instead.
• Shade found a sharp dagger in God's Gift Box, along with a task to practice one hundred swings for three consecutive days.
• Luvia visited Shade, agreed to look after Mia, and received the Standing Coin Shade had bought in Middlesburg.

Shade met Grandma Cassandra and Sister Devlin in Middlesburg, updated them on Life and Death Limbo, and learned that the missing people had returned without memories. He then went to Sikar Inn to seek information about an officer at Wind Arising Path, where he listened to a bard sing a tale of the Phoenix.

• Shade wondered whether Sikar Mountain might erupt during a Death Outbreak, then traveled down the mountain into Middlesburg.
• Shade met Grandma Cassandra and Sister Devlin at Cassandra Auction House and told them he had encountered a powerful Bloodkin in Life and Death Limbo.
• Grandma Cassandra and Sister Devlin offered Shade their help, and he learned that Priest Augustus and the other sixteen missing people had returned with no memories of the Limbo.
• The auction house manager gave Shade a VIP card and advised him to ask at southern taverns if he wanted to find an officer stationed at Wind Arising Path.
• Shade went to Sikar Inn near the railway station to eat and gather information, then listened to a bard sing about the Phoenix's sacrifice.

Shade met Royal Army Captain Joel Joseph and Lieutenant Hoyle at a Sikar Inn card table, asking Joseph to deliver a pistol to Captain Ronald. As the three prepared to play cards, a gunshot rang out from above the inn.

• Shade tipped a bard and listened to his exaggerated song about the Great City Player 1853 tournament.
• Shade played ten Rhodes Cards rounds against Captain Joel Joseph and won eight of them.
• Shade asked Joseph about Captain Rades, then gave him a pistol and money to deliver to Captain Ronald at Red Water Camp.
• Joseph and Lieutenant Hoyle invited Shade to play a three-player game while they waited for the afternoon.
• A gunshot from directly above the inn silenced the room, and Joseph and Hoyle reached for their guns.

Shade questioned a bard about Middlesburg’s local beliefs while police investigated a shooting and death at the inn. He learned about twin, mountain, and fire worship, and the bard suggested he speak with inn owner Tyles as the police began questioning the staff.

• After gunshots rang out upstairs, Shade stayed in the inn and bought apple wine for a bard in exchange for stories about local beliefs.
• The bard described beliefs about twins, reverence for Sikar Mountain, and an ancient fire-worship tradition tied to Middlesburg’s autumn festival.
• Police and doctors arrived at the inn, and Tyles came downstairs with an armed officer to retrieve the account books after someone died.
• Shade pretended to be researching a detective novel and learned that Tyles, a Nature Church believer who revered flames, might know more about local worship.
• A senior officer took two male waiters upstairs for questioning, and Shade asked the bard about other localized beliefs.

Shade learned about Middlesburg’s local beliefs and heard rumors of women in silver masks walking toward Sikar Mountain’s summit lake during a March full moon. After learning that a man had been shot at the inn, Shade used his Military Intelligence Section Six identification to join the search for the gunman hiding on the Fourth Floor.

• Shade asked the bard about local beliefs and learned that Middlesburg had traditions of fire worship, southern beliefs, Twin Worship, and reverence for death.
• The bard reported that a Kasonlik man had been shot dead upstairs and that the murderer was believed to be hiding among the Fourth Floor’s guests and servants.
• The bard described a summit lake on Sikar Mountain and rumors of masked women heading toward it on a March full moon.
• Shade connected the summit lake to a passage to True Death and decided to help the police find the gunman so he could speak with the innkeeper.
• Shade showed his Military Intelligence Section Six identification to an officer, who escorted him upstairs to meet the sheriff.

Shade investigated the murder of a Kasonlik merchant and discovered that the victim was a Gray Gloves recipient carrying a familiar fountain pen. He identified the neighbor as the killer but chose not to pursue the espionage hidden behind the case.

• The sheriff led Shade to the victim’s room, where Shade examined the body and learned that the merchant had been staying at the inn since the beginning of Harvest Moon.
• Shade recognized the victim’s fountain pen as the one he had previously passed to the Gray Gloves intelligence network and realized the dead man had collected intelligence from the Sete Duchy.
• Shade followed the blood trail to the neighboring room and identified Bain Bennett as the likely killer.
• Shade found a bloodstained dagger and two pistols beneath a loose floorboard in Bennett’s room, suggesting the murder involved more than a gambling debt.
• Bennett confessed to killing the victim over three pounds, but Shade recognized the explanation as a lie and let the police take him away.
• Shade declined to investigate the intelligence or cargo further, while “She” softly remarked that he had said the same thing before.

Shade investigated local fire-worship traditions and discovered a red stone containing the image of a Phoenix, then met Priest Augustus to discuss Life and Death Limbo and the seal beneath Middhir Fort City. The chapter ended with Shade learning that the city’s living population helped sustain the seal and that he could monitor the bonfire protecting the Gate of Death.

• Shade questioned innkeeper Mr. Tyles about local fire-worship customs and heard a legend of a fire-breathing creature beneath Sikar Mountain.
• Mr. Tyles gave Shade a red stone left by his father, and Shade saw the image of a giant bird inside it and suspected it was a Phoenix.
• Shade met Priest Augustus and heard about what had happened after the priest rescued the missing people from Life and Death Limbo.
• Priest Augustus explained that Middhir Fort City’s prosperous population was part of the seal keeping Life and Death Limbo stable.
• Shade learned that the scarlet gold bonfire sustained Tree's Kiss’s seal and that he could sense its condition and check it through his Gate of Death.