Recaps

The Lord of the Hunt awakened in Mossy Valley, devastating the godslayers and corrupting the gnolls as Lord Payn prepared to hold Him off. Murphy rushed to the crashed Sangaian sun ship, took Prince Khufu aboard, and searched for a way to activate the God's Scepter as the battle worsened.

• The Lord of the Hunt healed from the players' attacks and crushed a quarter of Mossy Valley with His skull flail, while Lord Ofger collapsed after protecting survivors with Gaia's Whisper.
• The Lord of the Hunt's awakening corrupted the Bloodscar gnolls, and German Bone-Biter cut down transforming attendants on the Genoa Peninsula.
• Lord Payn told Aurora to evacuate the survivors and revealed that the Secretblood Clan would take over if he fell, then heard a voice say help was on the way.
• Vილance warned Murphy that the Lord of the Hunt had been born and that Murphy held the final thread of His fate, so Murphy redirected his flight toward the crashed sun ship.
• Murphy subdued Prince Khufu's guards and entered the sun ship after Ieden opened its hatch, then ordered a search for the God's Scepter launch platform.

Murphy opened the Sun Ship’s sealed compartment and activated the Scepter of God’s orbital arsenal to attack the Lord of the Hunt, but the launch required a vote from three Eden District Management Committee members. Lord Paine cast the first yes vote, and Murphy turned to the imprisoned Vedia for another.

• Eden granted Murphy high-level access to the Sun Ship, and General Bhopal explained that the Sankhai had discovered but could not open a sealed compartment above the solar engine.
• Murphy used Vedia’s access device to open the compartment and found the Scepter of God’s control system, which connected to orbital weapons platforms and required a committee vote to launch.
• Murphy unlocked orbital Arsenal X9, aimed its weapons at Moss Valley, and began the launch sequence, but the system requested three committee votes.
• Lord Paine received the vote request while fighting the Lord of the Hunt and urged Ovag to evacuate everyone nearby before an orbital strike.
• The Earth Mother moved the players and other nearby allies to safety, and Lord Paine’s yes vote brought the tally to 1/3.
• Murphy asked Vedia, through the Book of Ten Thousand Curses, how he would vote on the launch.

Murphy secured the votes needed to launch the God's Scepter at the Lord of the Hunt while Gaia evacuated most of the fighters from Mossy Valley. As the weapon descended, Hogg blocked a killing blow meant for Lord Paine, and the chapter ended with the Lord of the Hunt facing the Creator’s judgment.

• Murphy persuaded the sealed Widia to vote for the bombardment in exchange for visiting Abyss City, then learned Lord Paine was waiting for the third councilor’s vote.
• After Lord Paine confirmed the vote and gave the signal, Murphy activated the God's Scepter, launching a causality-guided projectile toward Mossy Valley.
• Gaia teleported the exhausted godslayers away from the valley, but the Wise Wolf stayed behind to reach Lord Paine.
• The Lord of the Hunt overwhelmed Mossy Valley with its divine realm and attacked Lord Paine, while the approaching projectile streaked toward the battlefield.
• Hogg’s battle suit took the Lord of the Hunt’s blow as he shielded Lord Paine, and the evil god sensed the descending weapon just before it could strike.

The Lord of the Hunt tried to resist a bolt of divine retribution, but the Scepter of God devastated his divine realm and left him barely alive. Lord Paine gathered the godslayers and led them into the ruined realm to finish him off.

• The Lord of the Hunt ignored the Chaos shadows' warning and was struck by the Scepter of God, which destroyed much of his body and divine realm.
• The surviving players learned from Oufuge that Murphy had unleashed the Creator's punishment, then heard Lord Paine call them to attack the wounded god.
• Aurora carried the godslayers to Mossy Valley, where they found Lord Paine, the battered Wise Wolf, and the collapsing entrance to the divine realm.
• Lord Paine led the players and their allies through the entrance and toward the Lord of the Hunt, who struggled to reach his fallen flail.
• Frode urged the godslayers to kill the Lord of the Hunt and claim the victory in Vam's name.

The godslayers defeated the Lord of the Hunt, and Lord Payin struck the final blow as the evil god’s body collapsed. The Lord of the Hunt escaped into Hugeson, who willingly surrendered control and awaited Murphy to destroy them both and free the gnolls.

• Niu Niu, Sister Pomegranate, Cat Bro, and the other godslayers attacked the weakened Lord of the Hunt as he fought back with tainted creatures.
• Madam Shui and Fire Bro protected their allies, while Lady Ivette rebuked Laynian and then struck the Lord of the Hunt’s exposed heart.
• Granny Little Bach ordered warriors below Gold rank to withdraw as the Lord of the Hunt’s body began to collapse.
• Lord Payin hurled Eternal Silence into the god’s shattered divine core, and the Lord of the Hunt fell as the godslayers celebrated victory.
• The Lord of the Hunt’s broken soul fled into Hugeson, who let the god take control and called on Murphy to bring down the blade that would end them both.

Murphy explained that the Scepter of God had killed the Lord of the Hunt and warned that he would use another shot to declare war on hidden enemies. As the eastern and Sanghese empires stood down from mobilization, the Pharaoh invited Murphy to his birthday celebration to judge whether he deserved Sangha’s allegiance.

• Murphy told His Highness Khufu that the Scepter of God had destroyed the Lord of the Hunt and that the Chaos forces behind the attack had been deterred.
• Murphy declared himself the Creator’s Swordbearer and promised to fire another Scepter of God at the Dark Mountains as a warning to his enemies.
• The Bureau of Celestial Observation confirmed the Lord of the Hunt’s death, canceled the Celestial Empire’s war preparations, and learned that Prince Bai of the Western Realm might attend the Pharaoh’s birthday.
• The Pharaoh ordered Sanghese forces to stand down after receiving news that Murphy and Venerable Paing had stopped the disaster.
• The Pharaoh invited Murphy to his birthday celebration to assess whether he merited Sangha’s allegiance and ordered his flagship to bring Murphy to Sangha.

The Hunting Lord's body was destroyed, though its divine soul escaped, and the survivors left its collapsing realm with the scattered divine bones. Murphy then used the Scepter of God to destroy a Dusk outpost, while Dusk's leaders prepared a new plan to reach the Heart of the World.

• Meow Brother, Niu Niu, and Sanwudou celebrated the Hunting Lord's death and gathered divine bones as the realm collapsed.
• Granny Bach revealed that the Hunting Lord had escaped by transferring its divine soul, while Lord Paine secured its shattered divinity and the NPCs gave the players the bones as a reward.
• Baburo left to rescue Claire in Ice Bay with Flod's help, and Lord Paine discussed the coming Sacred Blood Seal and unrest in Nordtov with the Secretblood Clan's contact.
• Murphy learned from Mannis that a Dusk outpost had uncovered an Eden armory, then obtained Lord Paine's approval to fire the Scepter of God and destroy it.
• Dusk's Scholar and Reverend discussed the destruction of their Slaveholder faction, the loss of Chaos allies, and a new plan to reach the Heart of the World and free the bound gods.

Murphy celebrated the Hunting Lord’s defeat, rewarded the godslayers, and received purified divine spark fragments from Lord Payn. He learned the Hunting Lord’s soul had escaped and faced pressure to lead the vampires, while preparing to represent them at the Pharaoh’s birthday banquet.

• Prince Khufu returned from the Astral Plane and vomited after the journey to Moss Valley.
• Murphy examined the fertile soil left by the Scepter of God’s strike and praised the players for helping defeat the Hunting Lord.
• Murphy announced that Transia’s forces had also defeated Silver Wolf and rescued the North Wind God at Fortress Crimea, then awarded the godslayers quest rewards and titles.
• Lord Payn gave Murphy the largest of sixteen purified divine spark fragments and said the remaining pieces would be sent to allied leaders as harmless victory gifts.
• Lord Payn told Murphy that the Hunting Lord’s soul had escaped, and Murphy promised to deal with it.
• Lord Payn urged Murphy to take up vampire leadership after the Black Calamity and asked him to represent the vampires at the Pharaoh’s birthday banquet.

Murphy explored the Hunting Lord’s ruined divine kingdom, spoke with Ao about the gods’ weakening border contract, and helped Mannis plan to recover what Liji had stolen. After returning to the material world, Murphy was attacked by a ratman assassin, but the strike failed to harm him.

• Murphy toured the Hunting Lord’s ruined divine kingdom with Hu Fu and discussed a meeting about the Kafuhoka region with Andre.
• Ao appeared to Murphy, warned that the border contract was unraveling, and told him not to give Su’s divine core to Mannis.
• Ao revealed that Liji had been driven from Mistcloud Heaven and left Murphy a scroll for shaping a divine kingdom into a secret realm.
• Murphy told Mannis to ambush Liji away from Leviathan’s protection and asked to be sent back to Crimea Fortress.
• A ratman stabbed Murphy with a wolf-fang dagger, but the Omega Program dispelled its Devouring Light; Murphy stopped Maxim from killing the attacker and asked his name.

Murphy freed Blackservant Sen from the Dark Lord’s influence and learned that Twilight had sent ratmen to retrieve the Frost Dwarves’ relic, Winter’s Strike, from the Chaos Lands. He sent Maxim to alert Lord Balder and tasked Blackservant Sen with guiding the dwarves, gathering scattered ratmen, and becoming their leader.

• Blackservant Sen confessed that the Dark Lord had ordered him to assassinate Murphy and that he had joined the Dark Lord’s forces alongside the gnolls.
• The Dark Lord triggered the devoured divine power inside Blackservant Sen, but Murphy used the Omega Program to purge it and free the ratman from the Dark Lord’s influence.
• Blackservant Sen offered Murphy his loyalty, but Murphy told him to seek dignity and freedom before returning to serve anyone.
• Blackservant Sen revealed that Twilight had sent ratmen north to dig in the Chaos Lands and that giants had taken Winter’s Strike toward the gray desert to open a great treasure.
• Maxim flew to Fort Crimea to inform Lord Balder, while Murphy asked Blackservant Sen to guide the Frost Dwarves toward the relic and provided him with protective gear and a dagger.
• Murphy sent Blackservant Sen to find Hogg, gather scattered ratmen, and attack the Dark Lord’s cultists when possible.

After Baldur left to pursue the Cessan bandits and recover Winter's Bite, Murphy examined the deified crystal and learned that Su could use it to become the God of the North Wind again. Murphy planned to speak with Su after arranging the Silver Wolf’s remains and entrusted Triss with the shattered divinity of the Lord of the Hunt.

• Baldur thanked Murphy, explained that Gaia Tribunal was Frosthold’s execution weapon, and left with his people to hunt the bandit chief and recover Winter’s Bite.
• Murphy gave Baldur his insignia and offered help from the Wise Wolf or the Wolf Army if the Frost Dwarves encountered trouble.
• Murphy returned to Fort Crimea, where survivors gathered around fires and researchers collected samples from the Silver Wolf’s corpse.
• Triss returned the deified crystal to Murphy after it proved impossible for her to study, and Murphy’s appraisal revealed its powers, activation requirements, and Su’s stored identity.
• Murphy and Triss agreed to harvest and destroy the Silver Wolf’s corpse, and Murphy gave Triss the shattered divinity of the Lord of the Hunt to keep until Lord Oufuge recovered.

Murphy spoke with Su about the Astral Realm’s mark on Cadman City and Su’s decision to rebuild its power without reclaiming its divine spark. As old Baldwin died after reconciling with Yegor, Su welcomed him as the first guard for its future divine kingdom.

• Su told Murphy that Cadman City would gradually lose its Astral Realm traits but would never again be fit for ordinary people to live in.
• Su refused to reclaim its divine spark and said it would ignite its divine fire in seven days before returning to the subspace battlefield.
• Murphy asked Su to witness his coming territorial discussion with the Wolf Maiden, and Su agreed.
• Old Baldwin asked Yegor whether he had forgiven him, and Yegor said he had never blamed him for the accident.
• Old Baldwin gave the damaged Wolfblood Holy Sword to the players, then died and entered the underworld.
• Su appeared in the underworld and invited old Baldwin to serve as a guard in its future divine kingdom.

Old Qin received the damaged Wolfblood Sacred Sword and a quest to seek Su’s help reforging it, while Murphy and Triss investigated the strange vampires in Cadman City. Old Norman reunited with Porter and Amber, explained how he had found peace with his past, and decided to stay in the city to protect its faithful.

• General Baldwin gave Old Qin the broken Wolfblood Sacred Sword as Old Baldwin’s final wish, and Old Qin accepted it.
• Old Qin’s adventurer’s assistant activated the final stage of the “Recover the Wolfblood” quest, which required him to ask Su how to reforge the sword within seven days.
• Murphy and Triss noticed something strange about the vampire elder in Cadman City, and Triss said the voices she heard there might explain the vampires’ changes.
• Old Norman returned to his lodgings and reunited with Porter and Amber, who told him that Natalie and Doctor Crow had grieved over his apparent death.
• Old Norman explained that facing death had helped him reconcile with his family and understand his purpose, then decided to remain in Cadman City and guide its faithful.

Murphy and Triss learned from Elder Hillier how the Mother of Midnight had saved Cadman City from chaos during its nine months in the star realm. Triss proposed shaping the godspawn’s faith into a gentler aspect, and Murphy planned to consult Mr. Crow.

• Murphy and Triss discussed the Mother of Midnight’s gentler voice, and Triss suggested it might possess multiple aspects despite its corruption.
• Triss and Murphy met Elder Hillier, who confessed that he had allowed the Mother of Midnight’s faith to spread through Cadman City.
• Elder Hillier recounted how the Mother of Midnight had calmed the city’s violent disorder and inspired the vampires to restore order.
• Murphy reassured Elder Hillier, kept Cadman City under lockdown, and appointed him acting mayor.
• Triss proposed using the city’s faith to shape a more rational aspect of the Mother of Midnight, and Murphy suggested asking Mr. Crow for help.

Lieutenant Mia led the People's Army into Cadman City to restore order and returned to Fink Street, where she unexpectedly reunited with her younger siblings and learned her parents were alive. Murphy and Triss surveyed the city's spatial distortions and discussed Transia's growing power, the threats ahead, and Murphy's resolve to face Hugson.

• Kudel ordered Mia to lead a People's Army unit into Cadman City, restore order with Acting Mayor Hillier, and bring the city's armed factions under control.
• Mia returned to ruined Fink Street, mourned her lost home and childhood friends, and found her little sister and brother alive.
• Mia learned that her parents had survived by hiding at Aunt Madeleine's house and that the family owed their survival to Murphy.
• Triss teased Murphy about his soldiers wanting him to become king as they examined the spatial folds in Cadman City.
• Murphy and Triss discussed the Blood Eagle Clan's growing strength, the need to prepare for future conflicts, and Murphy's plan to deal with Hugson.
• Murphy and Triss spotted Norman reporting to Old Porter, Amber, and Lady Natalie.

After the Lord of the Hunt’s defeat, he seized control of Hugesen and rallied the surviving gnolls toward a renewed campaign. Twilight offered the weakened god power armor and a bargain for a demigod vessel, leaving the Lord of the Hunt poised to accept a dangerous assignment in exchange for vast supplies.

• The Lord of the Hunt’s death shattered the gnolls’ morale, and survivors fled into the swamp while the camp descended into suicide, madness, and riots.
• The Lord of the Hunt took control of Hugesen, killed three warlords, and compelled the remaining commanders to rally their armies for a march west.
• Hugesen warned the Lord of the Hunt that the western front was blocked, but the god planned to reach the Genoa Peninsula and rebuild his army there.
• Twilight met the Lord of the Hunt in the swamp and offered him military power armor, organizational support, and the possibility of a demigod-level vessel in exchange for investigating a forbidden area.
• The Lord of the Hunt demanded weapons, supplies for nearly a hundred thousand gnolls, and the shuttle as additional payment, and Twilight accepted the terms while reserving the ship for Scholar’s approval.

The Lord of the Hunt seized control of Huxgerson and drove the gnolls into a frenzied march toward the Forbidden Swamp to attack Murphy. After Bonnie found a letter asking Murphy to help kill the god, Natalie ordered the faithful to bring Deathclaw to the Maginot Line and stop the Lord of the Hunt from escaping.

• The Lord of the Hunt forced the gnoll warriors and priests into a savage fighting frenzy and set them marching toward the Forbidden Swamp.
• The gnolls abandoned and burned their camp, alerting Avalon’s faithful, who found it empty.
• Bonnie discovered a letter for Murphy hidden in Deathclaw’s mouth and learned that Huxgerson had asked for help killing the Lord of the Hunt.
• Bonnie contacted Natalie, who ordered her to bring the letter and Deathclaw to the Maginot Line and gather the warriors in the swamp.
• Bonnie healed Deathclaw enough to keep it alive, telling the confused wolf that it would answer for its crimes.

Murphy learned that Hughson had left a final letter asking him to kill the Lord of the Hunt and protect the Rending Claw gnolls, then gathered generals and players to meet the enemy in the Swamp Exclusion Zone. As the shield sealed the battlefield and both sides prepared to clash, Hughson reached the gnolls’ ancestral birthplace and entrusted his fate to Murphy.

• Madam Bonnie delivered Deathclaw and Hughson’s letter, which revealed Hughson’s plan to die fighting the Lord of the Hunt and place the Rending Claw survivors under the Wise Wolf’s care.
• Deathclaw told Murphy that the Lord of the Hunt had received power armor from Dusk and changed its plan to march into the Swamp Exclusion Zone.
• Murphy ordered Kudel to summon the Machino Line’s senior generals and invited players to join the battle, explaining that he wanted the nations to learn about the Creator’s legacy.
• Deathclaw pleaded to accompany Murphy, and Murphy agreed to take the injured wolf for treatment in a biopod.
• The Lord of the Hunt led the gnoll marauders into the exclusion zone while Hughson reflected on the gnolls’ birthplace and accepted that he would die there.
• Murphy arrived in War Marshal armor, the exclusion zone’s shield sealed the battlefield, and soldiers, players, and giant serpents advanced as the Lord of the Hunt charged him.

Murphy fought the Hunting Lord in power armor, following Wamu’s guidance to break through its defenses and expose Hugson. Hugson held the Hunting Lord’s soul in place as Murphy burned them both with Omega’s flames, leaving the god’s fate sealed.

• Murphy’s reactive armor countered the Hunting Lord’s attacks, while the two exchanged blows in the swamp.
• Wamu warned Murphy that the Hunting Lord’s mark could still kill him and urged him to strike before Hugson was fully possessed.
• Murphy followed Wamu’s fighting technique and drove his wolf-fang lance through the Hunting Lord’s battered armor.
• Murphy tore open the armor and found Hugson near death, while Hugson warned that the Hunting Lord was trying to escape.
• Murphy unleashed Omega’s flames as Hugson clung to the Hunting Lord’s soul, and both burned while Hugson declared that his people would destroy the god and begin again.

Murphy destroyed the Hunting Lord and stayed with the dying Hugeson as he explained why he had embraced evil: to bear the gnolls’ sins, test Murphy, and give Hogg a chance to build a better future. Hugeson died in the ancestral homeland, refusing the Creator’s promised resting place so he could remain the final victim of the old age.

• Murphy burned away the Hunting Lord’s divine soul and confirmed that its last trace had vanished.
• Murphy used Avalon’s power to ease Hugeson’s pain, and Hugeson asked whether Hogg could lead the gnolls toward a better future.
• Murphy told Hugeson that the past must be remembered, and Hugeson revealed that he had made himself the vessel for the Hunting Lord to give the gnolls’ future a chance.
• Hugeson told Murphy about aid he had arranged on Sifinik Island and asked him to pass it to Hogg.
• Hugeson bade Deathclaw return to Nanak and their cubs, then saw Hogg and Fieri before refusing the Creator’s refuge and dying.

Murphy buried Hugheson and examined the Hunting Lord’s ashes, discovering a Transcendent Imprint that could help reveal a person’s path of power. He vowed to protect the gnolls’ future and left Hugheson’s empty tomb near the swamp exclusion zone.

• Hugheson faded away after the Hunting Lord’s soul was destroyed, and Murphy promised to build an empty tomb for him.
• Murphy decided to keep Hugheson’s damaged armor and turn its repair into a player quest tied to the Land of Creation.
• Murphy appraised the Hunting Lord’s ashes and found a Transcendent Imprint that could attune compatible people to a path of power.
• Triss explained how paths shaped a person’s growth beyond the Golden rank and warned Murphy that his accumulated powers could hinder him.
• Murphy buried Hugheson’s belongings, carved an epitaph on a stone slab, and swore that Hogg and he would protect the gnolls’ future.

After the gnolls were wiped out at the Swamp Restricted Zone, Murphy guided Prince Khufu through the preserved Land of Creation and arranged help for repairing Huxgsen’s powered armor. Khufu invited Murphy to the Sakhai Empire, while Murphy prepared to honor his promise to reward the players with the armor and open a path to a new region.

• The godslayers, players, Avalon faithful, and Sakhai warriors helped defeat the gnoll marauders after Huxgsen and the Hunting Lord fell, ending the last organized threat before the Maginot Line.
• Murphy showed Prince Khufu the Swamp Restricted Zone, and Khufu arranged for Sun Priests to copy its records while Murphy asked for commercial investment instead of a reward.
• Khufu’s chief bodyguard Sannik confirmed that Sakhai technicians could repair Huxgsen’s Vanguard-class Godservant Armor and offered to examine Murphy’s Warlord Armor.
• Murphy offered to arrange a meeting between Khufu and the Wise Wolf, and Khufu described the old dispute between his father and the Bonechewer King over the Sakhai’s standing as followers of the Creator.
• Khufu invited Murphy to Ptolemy City for the Pharaoh’s birthday celebration, with the Millennia of Quicksand set to collect him and his followers in a month and a half.
• Murphy invited Khufu to the victory celebration and prepared to deliver the damaged powered armor to the Maginot Line, intending to fulfill his promise to the players and lead them toward the Land of Origin.

At a victory celebration, Hufu befriended Princess Chuchute of the Aztec Kingdom and learned that her country possessed hundreds of damaged power armor suits. Murphy awarded the Godslayers a damaged suit, and they left the chapter arguing over who would claim it.

• Kudel’s encampment held a bonfire celebration for the soldiers and returning Godslayer heroes, where Ilyich secretly shared Flying Heaven liquor with the dwarves.
• Hufu met Princess Chuchute, who asked to visit the Sanghai Empire and discussed the Creator’s relics and the Aztec Kingdom’s power armor with him.
• Hufu and General Bhopal learned that Chuchute’s country had found around a hundred working Sky Warrior suits and had hundreds more damaged ones.
• Murphy awarded the Godslayers a damaged Divine Servitor suit, which Little Ashina identified as the key to an epic repair quest.
• The Godslayers argued over how to decide who would get the suit, and Great Shark proposed a melee in which the last fighter standing would claim it.

The Godslayers held a chaotic free-for-all to decide who would get the power armor, while soldiers and spectators cheered and placed bets. As the fight narrowed to its final contenders, they began discussing a shared-use arrangement, but Giant Shark’s suspiciously locked health kept him in the running.

• Mrs. Triss set up a ritual that removed fighters when their health reached zero, and the Blood Rats opened a betting stand as the melee began.
• Cat Bro, Teacher Li, and other leading fighters were ambushed by rivals, while alliances and betrayals sent contestants out of the fight.
• Lumina and Little Wuming attacked Mrs. Shui and Lanhuahua, then Little Wuming betrayed Lumina before Sister Pomegranate confronted her.
• Prince Khufu and Qiuqiute discussed Lord Murphy’s influence over the foreign heroes as the battle dwindled to fewer than twelve fighters.
• Giant Shark used Vam’s Berserker’s Heart to keep fighting at one health point, while Bro Bro proposed that the Godslayers share the power armor and Cat Bro and Niu Niu agreed.

The Black Calamity storyline ended with the players rewarded and new maps, factions, and quests unlocked. As the celebration wound down, the Big Bird Squad discovered that Old Qu had visited Mia to give her a weapon, while the next phase of the story awaited.

• Murphy ended the players’ brawl and issued rewards, including the Defender of Transia title, after announcing that the Black Calamity main quest was complete.
• The quest update opened the Nations of the Old Continent, the Land of Origins, and new faction and side quests for the players.
• Meow Brother lamented that the main quest was over, while veteran players accepted the rising standards of the Player Hall of Fame.
• Meow Brother’s group learned that Old Qu had gone to Cadman City and given Mia a modified Troll Eater’s hammer.
• Smoke Mulberry explained that Mia had lost her ranger squad and become a vampire, while the others speculated about Old Qu’s feelings for her.