Chapter Summaries

The Archmages met to discuss political tensions and the newly discovered Spellcasting Cloud, whose creator could disrupt their plans to control magic. Feuerbach revealed that the founder was Rorschach, prompting Kano to abruptly switch from demanding coercion to promising goodwill.

• Kober opened the meeting, and the Archmages discussed keeping the refugees' Sub-plane coordinates secret and the Empire's preparations for war against the Republic.
• The Empire's Mage Tower representative proposed that the Guild resume contact and coordination with imperial authorities.
• Kano argued that the Senate should monitor the Tree of Truth to control Spellcasters and reconnect the Guild across continents.
• Feuerbach revealed that Spellcasting Cloud used the Law Tree and had enabled him to cast a Ninth Circle Spell.
• Kano called for the Senate to assess and control the Law Tree's holder, but Feuerbach identified the founder as Rorschach.
• Kano withdrew his call for coercion and said the Senate should show Rorschach goodwill because he knew the young man well.

The Archmages discussed Rorschach’s rise and worried that his public political ambitions could draw the mage community into continental affairs. After the Senate offered cooperation, Rorschach warned Feuerbach to learn about his next moves as unrest spread across Bayern and the Special Zone mobilized.

• Feuerbach told the Archmages that Rorschach had become an Archmage and described his growing influence in Bayern.
• Kano criticized Feuerbach for failing to properly celebrate Rorschach’s advancement, prompting the Archmages to recount their own advancement experiences.
• The Archmages discussed how Rorschach’s public actions could undermine their traditional neutrality and force them into politics.
• Feuerbach visited Rorschach on behalf of the Senate, congratulated him, presented a mage robe, and offered cooperation in exchange for help monitoring the Tree of Truth.
• Rorschach told Feuerbach to learn about his upcoming actions before deciding, as protests and violence erupted in Bayern and the royal army hesitated amid the Special Zone’s troop movements.

As unrest engulfed Bayern, Prince Otto and King Albert Ludwig suspected that organized agitators were exploiting the riots and considered how to contain both the crowds and the Special Zone. The Special Zone shut down its factories and mobilized workers to defend its harvest, leaving its people on alert.

• Prince Otto concluded that paid agitators and republican volunteers were escalating the street fighting and ordered the First Legion mobilized.
• King Albert Ludwig and Prince Otto weighed sending troops from the Second Corps while worrying about Rorschach, the Special Zone, and Bart's loyalties.
• King Albert Ludwig proposed seeking support from Eugenie and Feuerbach so the Royal Family could mobilize more legions against the unrest.
• King Albert Ludwig decided to write to Master Felbaha and invite him to dinner, while Prince Otto remained at the Munich Royal Palace.
• The Special Zone halted factory work for three days and ordered workers to collect weapons and form patrol teams to protect the harvest.

The First Prince ordered the Sky Knights' Second Squad to attack the Special Zone's forces, but their Mobile Devices malfunctioned and left them stranded. As unrest continued in the cities, Feuerbach and Rorschach arrived at the Royal Palace, where the king and Prince Otto greeted them.

• The First Prince saw the Special Zone's forces at Lanster and ordered the Sky Knights' Second Squad to bomb the constructs.
• Tanya kept the Third Squad inactive, while the Second Squad took off with explosives supplied by Rorschach.
• The Second Squad's Mobile Devices malfunctioned in midair, forcing the knights to crash-land and abandon their equipment.
• Rioters voiced conflicting demands to a City Hall governor, and disorder threatened to break out again.
• Feuerbach arrived at the Royal Palace in a Pneumatic Car, accompanied by Rorschach, surprising the king and Prince Otto.

At a banquet with King Albert and Prince Otto, Rorschach proposed a grain and infrastructure plan before demanding that Bayern accept the Empire’s reforms and trade system. When Albert reacted angrily, Rorschach immobilized the guards and declared he had come to make demands, not negotiate.

• Rorschach discussed his advancement with Elizabeth and Feuerbach while ignoring the banquet’s formalities.
• Rorschach proposed handing over Bayern’s usual grain quota and converting the extra amount into funds earmarked for infrastructure projects in the special district.
• Feuerbach praised the plan, while Rorschach reflected that the spending would ultimately benefit the special district’s economy.
• Prince Otto asked the three Archmages to help with the refugees outside and to prevent similar unrest, and Rorschach called for Bayern to accept the Empire’s reforms and rejoin its trade system.
• King Albert sprang up in anger, but Rorschach restrained the guards, disrupted Eugenie’s Stasis Field, and announced that he had come to make demands.

Rorschach used a staged riot and magical coercion to make King Albert announce reforms and reconciliation with the Empire. Afterward, Feuerbach recruited Elizabeth O'Yenny to help the Tower of Arcane Arts and Rorschach's Magic Tower monitor the Tree of Truth.

• Rioters staged an orderly protest outside the Royal Palace while the guards and magistrates waited for the King's orders.
• Rorschach silenced the crowd and used magic to make King Albert read an edict accepting reforms, elections, and a visit to the Imperial Capital.
• Feuerbach challenged Rorschach for coercing the King, but Rorschach defended his actions and said he respected the people's choice for Bayern's future.
• Feuerbach asked Elizabeth O'Yenny to join a project monitoring the Transmutation branch of the Tree of Truth, with Rorschach's Magic Tower also tracking Spellcasting Cloud activity.
• Elizabeth accepted the invitation after learning that only Kano had reached the Archetype Layer and observed the Tree of Truth.

After King Albert Ludwig’s compromise ended the unrest in Munich, republican hardliners launched a revolt that the Security Team suppressed with Guaranteed Vomit scrolls, restoring peace by dawn. Würzburg rallied around Princess Amelia, while Otto remained shut away and Rorschach considered visiting him.

• Citizen City Hall accepted King Albert Ludwig’s reform plan but demanded that the existing city hall become the Bavarian Senate, and the First Legion withdrew toward Munich.
• Republican groups armed themselves and rejected appeals to stop fighting, then planned a nighttime raid on the telegraph office to contact Valois.
• The Security Team used Guaranteed Vomit scrolls on the rebels and others in the streets, ending the operation and earning Bayern’s police the nickname “the masked.”
• The First Prince took charge while King Albert Ludwig left Bayern, Nuremberg’s unrest faded, and Princess Amelia helped bring Würzburg’s factions to the negotiating table.
• After hearing that Otto had shut himself in his room, Rorschach considered visiting him, but Feuerbach warned that magic could make mental problems worse.

Rorschach, Feuerbach, and Elizabeth debated plans to observe the Tree of Truth and build a starship to reach the Archetype Layer. Rorschach outlined a future system that would spread magic throughout society while monitoring all spellcasting, and Feuerbach kept the proposal secret as Rorschach turned to expanding Collector operations.

• Feuerbach presented proposals for an Astral Realm starship and a Sub-plane springboard, while Rorschach argued that the starship plan was more practical.
• Rorschach suggested redesigning the starship with an axially symmetrical hull and expanding the Transmutation Dust Collectors to weaken the Layer Flow.
• Rorschach described a future in which Collectors supplied magic widely and the Mage Guild monitored every spellcasting process.
• Elizabeth said that Rorschach's vision frightened her, and Feuerbach burned the record of its final portion and warned Rorschach to speak less about it.
• Rorschach offered Feuerbach a chance to invest in magic-power suppliers planned for the north and south of the continent.

Rorschach discussed Bayern’s industrial growth and autonomy with Feuerbach and Elizabeth, then escaped the Tower of Arcane Arts with Elizabeth’s help. He left to oversee the grain harvest on New Kempston’s reclaimed land.

• Rorschach proposed transforming production across Bayern and argued that the kingdom needed to become strong enough to rival the Imperial Capital.
• Elizabeth questioned why Rorschach emphasized Bayern’s autonomy after supporting its integration into the Empire, and he explained that Bayern could one day become the Empire’s core.
• Rorschach tried to leave Feuerbach’s office, shattered Feuerbach’s magical barriers, and escaped when Elizabeth briefly disrupted Feuerbach’s sense of time.
• Elizabeth left a note saying she had an appointment in Munich, while Feuerbach created three duplicates of himself to handle the office’s work.
• Rorschach and Elizabeth escaped the Tower of Arcane Arts and parted, and Rorschach went to ensure the harvest on New Kempston’s reclaimed land.

Jom and other immigrant farmers received land deeds and their remaining harvest, while Rorschach addressed the many households that could not meet the land-redemption requirements. He ordered extensions for blameless farmers and proposed Collective Farms and Cooperatives to reclaim abandoned plots and support agricultural production.

• Jom received a deed for fifteen mu and collected his family's share of the harvest after the required costs and taxes were deducted.
• The Agri-Business Association reported to Rorschach that about thirty percent of new immigrants had failed to meet the yield requirement, while some farmers and land speculators had abandoned their plots.
• Rorschach allowed farmers who had fallen short through no fault of their own to apply for a one-season extension and directed the district to recover costs from speculators.
• Rorschach proposed consolidating abandoned and repossessed plots into Collective Farms, hiring landless farmers, and dividing shares among workers, businesses, and investors.
• Rorschach called for continued support for small farmers, Cooperatives, and Collective Farms so setbacks would not turn smallholders into tenant farmers.

Rorschach hosted the Tower of the Forest survey team, promoted Bayern’s drinks and fermentation technology, and heard their assessment of Kempston’s farmland. The survey confirmed serious soil and water concerns but also revealed a harvest nearly three times larger than last year’s.

• Rorschach met Ella and the Tower of the Forest team as they surveyed Kempston’s water, soil, and wheat fields.
• Rorschach gave the team Fonda Soda and Sparkling Wine, then offered gifts and explained that his goal was to promote Bayern’s products.
• Rorschach showed the burly mage the Fast-Acting Fermentation Vat, and the mage preordered its newest luxury model.
• Ella reported that Kempston’s water showed eutrophication, its soil was overly acidic, and winter wheat needed stricter seed screening and detoxification.
• Ella announced that Kempston’s harvest was nearly three times last year’s output, with yield per mu up 73%, inspiring the survey team.

Rorschach joined the Tower of the Forest in restoring Kempston’s damaged farmland, using a single spell to bring controlled rain across the fields. After the team’s Nature’s Harmony ritual took effect, Rorschach imbued every raindrop with its restorative power and discovered he could analyze the magic.

• Rorschach agreed to help Ella and the Tower of the Forest restore Kempston’s soil, and Ella proposed using artificial rain and Nature’s Harmony.
• Kempston residents cleared drainage ditches and checked buildings after receiving a flood warning, then hurried for shelter when Rorschach’s rain began.
• Rorschach spread rain clouds across Kempston’s fields and stopped the wind, pushing his magic to its limits.
• Ella and the Tower of the Forest mages cast Nature’s Harmony, sending Illusory Seeds down to stabilize the soil and restore its ecological balance.
• Rorschach examined an Illusory Seed, activated new nodes in the Boundary Land’s Law Tree, and caused the rain itself to carry Nature’s Harmony.

Rorschach and the Tower of the Forest team tested Nature’s Harmony on farmland and discussed its environmental effects. As the team finished collecting samples, a woman contacted Rorschach through a spatial rift to remind him to give a speech at the opening ceremony.

• Rorschach rested after casting spells that stopped the winds and brought rain across the fields, then shared Energy Potions with the team.
• Rorschach and Ella collected water samples and explained how Nature’s Harmony could help break down excess nutrients while still affecting larger ecosystems.
• Ella urged an apprentice to study the spell’s mechanism for a graduation thesis, then discussed the need to make new agricultural techniques sustainable with Rorschach.
• Ella thanked Rorschach for hosting the Tower of the Forest’s fieldwork in Kempston and said it was one of their preferred research destinations.
• A woman opened a spatial rift behind Rorschach and reminded him that the opening ceremony was waiting for his speech.

Rorschach opened the Institute of Engineering’s term alongside the Mage Tower’s joint-training program, urging the students to value life and knowledge before leaving Caroline in charge. Meanwhile, Druo prepared the National Guard’s eastern offensive against the Imperial Army as Paul led a western advance toward the Imperial capital.

• Rorschach left Ella and the apprentice after the rift snapped shut, asking them to send their measurements and analysis to Andre if he was unavailable.
• Rorschach and Caroline addressed the opening ceremony for the Institute of Engineering and the Mage Tower’s incoming joint-training apprentices.
• Rorschach told the students to cherish life, respect knowledge, and seize their opportunities, then introduced Caroline as the executive principal and praised her teaching.
• Druo inspected the Imperial trenches in northern Valois and prepared his reorganized division to attack the Imperial Army.
• Druo planned to draw the Imperial forces’ attention eastward while Paul advanced westward through the Low Countries toward the Imperial capital.

Druo led his Heavy Artillerymen as the National Guard charged Imperial trenches, where rapid-fire guns and delayed fragmentation shells disrupted the assault. He ordered the new Giant Mech Breakers into battle, and five armored constructs emerged through steam as the Imperial Army rushed to target them.

• Druo judged the planned charge wasteful but ordered his artillery to fire as the National Guard began its assault.
• The Guard's attackers used levitated steel plates to cross barbed wire while Imperial rapid fire and delayed fragmentation shells inflicted heavy casualties.
• Druo asked whether it was time to deploy the Heavy Artillerymen, and the Spellcaster told him he could give the order whenever he wished.
• Druo deployed the constructs, and five new-model Iron Giants charged toward the Imperial trenches alongside the Guard's second wave.
• Imperial commanders ordered their heavy artillery to aim at the approaching constructs.

The National Guard used Goliath Machine Assault Troopers to break through the Imperial Army’s trench defenses, but concentrated cannon fire disabled two machines and forced the attackers to halt. After the Imperial Army retreated, Druo learned that a captured soldier named Franz claimed to be the younger brother of the powerful Spellcaster Rorschach.

• The Heavy Artilleryman hurled shells at Imperial positions while the other Goliath Machine Assault Troopers smashed through the trenches, allowing the National Guard to pass three lines of defense.
• Imperial Army mages used Guided Shot to coordinate concentrated cannon fire, destroying Dragon Horn Helmet and then disabling a second machine.
• The assault troopers ran low on fuel and Transmutation Dust as the National Guard continued advancing, and the Imperial Army ordered a retreat to the Alpha Line.
• Druo learned from the mage beside him that the Imperial cannons’ precise fire had used Guided Shot, a First Ring spell unfamiliar to their mages.
• A soldier told Druo that a captured Imperial soldier wanted to see him, and identified the prisoner as Franz, the younger brother of the Tower of Stars Spellcaster Rorschach.

Druo handed Franz Merkler over to a Tower of Stars mage after learning that Rorschach was an Archmage who would soon visit Valuana for secret negotiations. Meanwhile, Rorschach remembered he had failed to bring his family to Bayern, learned more about Caroline’s past, and prepared to return to Valuana.

• Druo questioned Franz Merkler, then learned from the veteran mage that Rorschach would secretly visit Valuana and was now an Archmage.
• Druo arranged for Franz’s belongings and clothes to be returned before the Alchemy Department mage took him away.
• Rorschach and Caroline inspected the school, where a student’s stolen novel and disciplinary note showed Caroline how the corridor windows were being used.
• Rorschach remembered that he had promised to bring the Merklers to Bayern and planned to bring Angel before the school term began.
• Caroline told Rorschach that her family had suffered during the succession turmoil and that Master Kano had taken her to the Tower of Stars for protection.
• Rorschach explained that he was trying to locate Franz through the Imperial Army logistics office, then prepared to return to Valuana for talks about the Transmutation Dust supplier.

Rorschach and Valan traveled to Valuana to negotiate terms for a Valois magical energy company, while Rorschach pushed for unified standards for Transmutation Dust. After revealing that Bayern’s Basf Energy would supply the Empire, Kano called Rorschach away to meet someone.

• Rorschach warned Valan that Mr. Necker had died in prison and urged him to stay under guild or Magic Tower protection in Valuana.
• Rorschach and Valan arrived at the Tower of Stars’ headquarters in Valuana and rode through streets marked by austerity and the effects of war.
• Valan represented Rorschach in negotiations over limiting the Valois company’s operating area, allowing postwar foreign investment, and involving Rorschach’s Mage Tower in setting technical standards.
• Rorschach explained that unified standards for Transmutation Dust and its supporting systems could prevent incompatible magical industries in the north and south.
• Rorschach revealed that Basf Energy had been established to supply the Empire, prompting Kano to end the meeting and take Rorschach to meet someone.

Rorschach reunited with his captured younger brother Franz and learned why he wanted to remain in the army. After leaving Franz in the lounge, Rorschach followed Kano to discuss his supported starship proposal.

• Kano brought Rorschach to meet Franz, who had been captured in his first battle.
• Rorschach offered to take Franz back to Bayern and help him study or learn a trade, but Franz said he wanted to keep serving in the army.
• Franz admitted he wanted military merit so he could improve his status and marry a city woman, and he worried people would call him a deserter if he returned home.
• Rorschach warned Franz that his old cuirass could only stop one bullet and left him to think while he had pastries.
• Kano led Rorschach into his office to discuss the starship proposal.

Kano asked Rorschach to safeguard future starship test flights in the Transmutation Dust Layer Flow, and Rorschach agreed. Rorschach then decided to help Franz return to the Imperial Army and took him to meet a general.

• Kano explained the Mage Guild’s plans to build a manned starship and asked Rorschach to rescue its pioneers if anything went wrong in the Astral Realm.
• Rorschach agreed to serve as a safeguard, while Kano accepted that Rorschach would not provide the Boundary Land as part of the project.
• Rorschach found Franz bored and barely able to read, warned him about the dangers of military life and losing his future earnings, then agreed to help him rejoin the army.
• After the Tower of Stars reception, Rorschach took Franz through a magic formation to meet a general, reminding him that he was a prisoner and did not need to wear a uniform.