Chapter Summaries

On the final day of the Holy Blood Festival, forty warriors prepared for their fifth attempt to defeat Governor Murphy, armed with a lethal strength-boosting draught and life-draining talismans. Murphy summoned Mannes to fight beside him, leaving the outcome of the challenge about to begin.

• Madam Shui's fashion show ended with the Parnassus Knight modeling outfits and gifting the performers Ever-Blooming Midnight Roses, while the festival's other events also wrapped up.
• Transians gathered to watch the final Governor's Challenge after the warriors had brought Murphy close to defeat in their fourth attempt.
• Major Ron and Colonel Fraser discussed Murphy's strength, and Fraser's Silver-rank fencer warned that Murphy's abilities made him dangerous despite his Black Iron rank.
• A-Feng warned the forty warriors that the Decisive Draught would greatly increase their strength but kill them, while Things Went Pretty Well Today distributed One Last Stand talismans.
• The warriors entered the arena as Menghaha played battle music, and Murphy rose from his chair and asked Mannes to go easy on them.

The raid team brought Lord Murphy to the Governor Challenge’s final phase, where he sent them to fight the World Serpent Mannis for bonus rewards. After the players were killed, Lady Shani decided to offer them a chance to serve the Thorn Clan.

• The raid team reduced Murphy’s health below 20%, and Lady Shani used her War Blessing to strengthen the players as they pushed him to 15%.
• Murphy declared the Governor Challenge complete, then used the Astral Guide Staff to send the forty players to the Astral Realm as a bonus stage against Mannis.
• The players learned that every hit on Mannis earned a War Manual and charged the giant serpent, landing 41 hits before Mannis wiped them out.
• After returning to the material world, the players impressed Lady Shani with their fearlessness, while Triss left to check on the injured Murphy.
• Lady Shani decided to give the players a chance to serve the Thorn Clan and join André’s White Mountain faction as disposable assassins.

After the warriors proved themselves in battle, Murphy planned to end the closed beta and prepare them for the Black Calamity. Shani offered Thorn Clan resources in exchange for access to the warriors, and the chapter ended with Alpha announcing a player feedback survey that could lead to internal testing.

• Triss worried that Murphy had nearly been killed during the warriors’ challenge, but Murphy judged their training successful and planned a new version after they reached the Barren Mountain defensive line.
• Shani offered Andre’s White Mountain faction as a possible home for warriors willing to serve the Thorn Clan, and Murphy agreed on the condition that he could reclaim control if they became enemies.
• Murphy asked Shani for a drop of blood, analyzed it, and unlocked the Thorn Clan as a selectable vampire race for players.
• Murphy agreed to open the Thorn Clan option within half a month and give Andre a third of the wealth and resources the warriors spent changing clans.
• After Shani left, Murphy discovered that she was still a virgin, and Triss teased him over his comment about it.
• Alpha sent the players a closed-beta feedback form and said their responses would help determine whether internal testing would begin soon, prompting excited reactions in the group chat.

Murphy saw off Professor Malcolm and the student delegation departing for Chardo Port, entrusting them with Transia’s procurement, diplomacy, and the children’s education as the Black Calamity approached. The farewell ended with Shalen preparing to leave and the Chosen Construction Worker promising to reunite with Delia and Mia.

• Murphy urged Professor Malcolm to buy as much manufacturing equipment as possible, offering the Blood Eagle Clan’s reserves and credit backed by Transia’s sovereignty.
• Mirian appointed Professor Malcolm Transia’s ambassador to Chardo Port, while Murphy asked him to keep Shalen there until the battlefield situation became clear and help establish an outsiders’ base.
• Murphy invited Professor Malcolm to guide and protect the outsiders, gave him access to the forum’s historical archives, and asked him to help develop a radio communications device.
• Professor Malcolm, the five hundred children, Shalen, and their escorts prepared to leave Transia in a convoy organized by Pink Kitty Rabbit as their families and Mother Jules said goodbye.
• Murphy reassured Shalen that her mission in Chardo Port would help Transia and the Blood Eagle Clan, and she accepted the ambassador’s badge.
• The Chosen Construction Worker said farewell to Delia and Mia, promised to visit them in Chardo Port, and vowed to marry them when he became stronger.

Murphy said farewell to the departing caravan, then brought Mirian to meet Rotem Hugh Baldwin, a lich and the first Winter Wolf general. After learning about his ties to the royal family, Murphy persuaded Rotem to serve as Transia’s envoy to General Baldwin and discuss the danger of a Nordic attack; Rotem also asked to speak with the warrior who had defeated him.

• Murphy and Mirian watched the caravan depart, and Murphy said the players had become true Transians through their bonds with the people and land.
• Murphy brought Mirian to meet Rotem Hugh Baldwin, who explained his family ties to the royal line and why the Baldwin family had survived the Rurik dynasty.
• Murphy asked Rotem to serve as Transia’s envoy and seek written assurance from General Baldwin that the Winter Wolf Legion would not attack during the Black Calamity.
• Rotem agreed to be an envoy but refused to pressure the undead under his command into joining the warriors, insisting any alliances must be voluntary.
• Rotem asked to speak with the warrior who had defeated him, and Murphy offered to arrange an escort to the Fortress of Crimea.

After the Blood Festival, the Transian People's Army conscripted all players as reservists and directed newbies toward swamp cleanup while veterans tackled a dungeon and new class content. Honest Egg pursued a fair path to contracting stronger undead, then joined a newly triggered escort quest that sent Old Qin and Baldwin to Krim Fortress.

• The Transian People's Army made every player a reservist, sent newbies to cleanup quests in the Filthy Swamp, and kept veteran players busy with the Land of the Dead dungeon.
• Honest Egg celebrated the Coffin Bearer update that let players contract liches and Netherworld Knights, while Basha considered using force and Egg chose to earn their favor honestly.
• The Passing Troublemaker explained how to win favor with weakened undead, and Basha and Egg agreed to search the swamp for skeleton warhorses the next night.
• Sweet Potato Roast received a hidden quest from Mirian to escort Rotem Hugh Baldwin to Krim Fortress, and he shared it with Egg and A-Feng.
• Old Qin emerged from the House of the Dead with Baldwin, who recognized Sweet Potato Roast from their past battle and promised compensation from his great-grandson at Krim Fortress.

Old Qin escorted Baldwin to Krim Fortress, where the undead necromancer warned its great-grandson, General Baldwin, about a military conspiracy and confirmed that Nordtov had no power capable of freely traveling between worlds. General Baldwin refused to join the plot against Transia, while Old Qin and the players departed, leaving the general to consider the forces behind the conspiracy.

• Old Qin questioned Baldwin about travel between worlds, and Baldwin said no faction in this world had that ability.
• Old Qin reflected on Meng Haha’s theory that the observers had forcibly connected the two worlds for an unknown purpose.
• At Krim Fortress, Baldwin proved its identity to General Baldwin with a family code phrase and discussed the lost sword Wolfblood.
• Baldwin warned General Baldwin not to join the military leaders plotting against Transia, then flew away after asking him to lay gardenias on Julia’s grave.
• General Baldwin told Colonel Duke that he would refuse the plot and suspected Marshal Heraclius and a powerful backer were behind it.
• Goudan, Basha, San Jin Digua Shao, and A-Feng discussed seeking work with the Shadow Intelligence Bureau and traveling to Shadow Valley.

Old Baldwin told Old Qin how he lost the Wolfblood Sword and offered to serve him, triggering an epic quest to recover the relic. Meanwhile, Adele prepared an expedition to Shadow Valley and admitted her growing ambitions were partly motivated by her feelings for Murphy.

• Old Baldwin recounted losing the Wolfblood Sword in the swamp and explained that he wanted to reclaim it from the gnolls.
• Old Baldwin asked Old Qin to take him as an assistant, explaining his interest in otherworlders and his desire to recover his lost dignity; he then triggered the hidden quest "Find the Wolfblood."
• Old Qin accepted the difficult Nordtov main quest and shared it with players, who began organizing a 25-person group.
• Dolores reported that Adele's recruitment notice had attracted many foreigners, and Adele assigned herself and Dana to lead an expedition to Shadow Valley while Dolores organized the bureau's forces.
• Dolores asked why Adele had expanded the Shadow Intelligence Bureau, guessed that Murphy was the reason, and advised Adele to seek romantic advice from Madam Water.

Adele drank the Origin Blood to break the blood pact’s influence, then accepted Murphy’s mission to recruit her Shadow Elf kin from Shadow Valley. Two days later, she joined a player expedition bound for Wolf Fort, while the players noticed her changed demeanor and suspected trouble between her and Murphy.

• Adele struggled with her feelings for Murphy, then drank the Origin Blood to free herself from the blood pact’s influence and gained power and clarity.
• Murphy felt the blood pact break and praised Adele’s choice, while Triss teased him about his relief and kissed him.
• Adele told Murphy she would lead outsiders across the marshes, recruit her kin in Shadow Valley, and arrange territory and official roles for them; Murphy gave her a governor’s order.
• Murphy considered using his stored Origin Blood to gain attributes before the Silver Trial and planned to obtain more after Triss’s pilgrimage.
• Two days later, Adele joined the expedition of players and other groups headed for Wolf Fort, and Little Ashina and Lady Shui noticed her conservative outfit and suspected a breakup with Murphy.

Lady Water led the Silvermoon's Pride group toward Dark Valley after Avalon’s power began blessing the Filthy Swamp, while Huozi and Yuan prepared to change classes at the nature sanctuary. There, Lady Water and Meow Brother agreed to cooperate on capturing future strongholds, leaving their alliance named the Wilderness Covenant.

• Huozi and Yuan discussed choosing classes that would help their wives and the Silvermoon's Pride group, then traveled with Lady Water toward Wolf Castle.
• Lady Water sensed Avalon’s power spreading through the Filthy Swamp, and Lumina explained that the blessing benefited everyone except vampires.
• Huozi carried Lady Water to the nature sanctuary, while Yuan followed and Lan Hua rebuffed his attempt at romance.
• Meow Brother gave Lady Water a petrified Nature Emblem and asked to cooperate with Silvermoon's Pride in capturing strongholds.
• Lady Water agreed to help Meow Brother’s group capture a stronghold in exchange for Silvermoon's Pride controlling Dark Valley alone, and they named their alliance the Wilderness Covenant.

Lady Adele’s expedition crossed a swamp cleared of many monsters but littered with dangerous player-made traps, while Madam Water secured a quest for the Silvermoon Pride to claim Shadow Valley. After accepting, Madam Water confronted Adele about her troubled feelings for Murphy and offered to help her as a friend from another world.

• Old Qin, Baldwin, Digua Shao, Ketchup, and Pickle cleared the players’ traps and collected explosives along the expedition’s route through the swamp.
• Adele told Madam Water that the Silvermoon Pride could establish a base in Shadow Valley, though its defensible terrain and difficult evacuation made it dangerous to hold.
• Madam Water argued that the valley’s strategic position could support a stronghold, and Adele offered the Silvermoon Pride control of it if they held out through the Black Calamity.
• Madam Water accepted the quest to defend Shadow Valley and planned to seek support and recruit more people.
• Madam Water told Adele she had recognized her secret interest in the forum and urged her to confide in a friend who wanted to help.

The expeditionary corps crossed Baphomet Gorge and reached the mountains near Shadow Valley, while Adele reunited with the shadow elves who had once been her people. Murphy investigated a goatman lair and discovered ancient writing linked to Eden, hinting at more mysteries beneath the gorge.

• Old Qin's vanguard emerged from the Filthy Swamp and learned from Old Baldwin that Baphomet Gorge was goatman territory.
• The expeditionary corps crossed the gorge, fought off sickleclaws, and found a hidden route toward Shadow Valley.
• Adele led Little Ashina, Pomegranate, and Lumina into a concealed cavern, where Lisa recognized her and revealed that the Majewa family had fallen.
• Murphy killed a goatman raiding party and found Eden-like writing in its lair, concluding the goatmen had forgotten their own civilization.

Murphy followed George through Baphomet Canyon, learned about the goatmen’s underground palace and the Dark Roots, and found its entrance. At the Gloomy Valley, Adele reunited with her childhood friend Lisa, who refused to abandon the valley, while Adele noticed shadow elves among its half-elf residents.

• Murphy sent George to track the goatmen and learned from Triss about Widia, the Abyssal City, the Dark Roots, and the dangers of Baphomet’s Great Underground Palace.
• George led Murphy to the underground palace, where goatman attackers with blood-painted runes charged them.
• Lady Adele and her companions were surrounded by armored half-elves at the Gloomy Valley entrance, while Adele sensed shadow elves hiding nearby.
• Lisa welcomed Adele for one night but rejected her offer to move the half-elves to Transia and turn the valley into a front line against the Black Calamity.
• Adele followed Lisa into the valley and resolved to investigate why shadow elves had joined the half-elves.

Adele and her companions entered the Shadow Valley, where Little Ashina and Lumina began negotiating for weapons and Meckel revealed the valley’s need for ammunition. Adele reunited with Lisa at her mother’s grave and learned that the Weaver of Fate had been captured by goatmen, leaving the valley divided over whether to rescue her.

• Pomegranate, Little Ashina, and Lumina explored the Shadow Valley’s defenses and met its commander, Meckel Ghostblade, who agreed to consider their offer of weapons and visit their camp after arranging the valley’s defenses.
• Little Ashina and Lumina demonstrated Transian rifles to Meckel, who requested five hundred rifles in exchange for friendship and information about the valley.
• Adele visited her mother’s grave with Lisa Bella, recalled their shared past, and told Lisa that her parents had returned as undead after gnoll shamans disturbed their rest.
• Lisa explained that the Mejewa family had been destroyed by monsters from the Underdark and that shadow elf refugees had come to the valley seeking shelter under their Weaver of Fate’s prophecy.
• Lisa revealed that goatmen had kidnapped the Weaver of Fate at Baphomet Gorge, and she asked Adele to help rescue her.

Adele confronted Lisa over her dealings with the shadow elves and persuaded her to cooperate with Transia, while promising to help her lead the half-elves. The chapter ended with Bernice leading the players to rescue the missing Fateweaver as Adele returned to the valley to negotiate with its elders.

• Lisa asked Adele to use her vampires to eliminate shadow elves who threatened her rule, but Adele accused Lisa of manipulating her and hiding her own dealings with them.
• Adele warned Lisa that Transia could take the valley by force, offered the half-elves new homes, and urged Lisa to support relocation and an alliance against the Black Calamity.
• Lisa admitted Adele was better suited to lead and agreed to work with her, while Adele promised to help Lisa become a stronger leader rather than take her position.
• Mekel told Bernice that Lisa was working with the shadow elves, and Bernice set out to scold her before Adele returned with Lisa.
• Adele asked Bernice to lead the warriors and players on a mission to rescue the missing shadow elf Fateweaver, while Adele went to speak with the elders.
• Bernice accepted the mission, ordered Mekel to come along, and the players eagerly prepared to fight the goatmen.

Adele secured Shadow Valley’s agreement to join Transia, while Murphy received notice that the valley would become an enclave once Transia occupied the Filthy Swamp and Baphomet Canyon. As Murphy explored the goatmen’s dungeon, he heard a woman praying nearby.

• The players rode toward Baphomet Canyon, where A-Cha and the others discussed the rescue quest and possible dungeons.
• Dressing Up Without Hands and Leading Pigeon agreed that player groups would claim any dungeons they found, while Little Hand reminded them to share relevant clues with the Silvermoon group.
• Adele persuaded Shadow Valley’s four elders to accept integration into Transia in exchange for relocation help, protection for their people, and freedom from Shadow Elf interference.
• The elders praised Adele and offered her leadership, but she refused to take Lisa’s position and privately wondered whether Murphy would be proud of her.
• Murphy received a notice that Shadow Valley’s integration had begun and that Transia needed to occupy the Filthy Swamp and Baphomet Canyon to control the enclave.
• Murphy fought through the goatmen’s dungeon with George, then heard what sounded like a woman praying in the maze.

Murphy followed a mysterious prayer through Baphomet’s dungeon and met Weaver Anu Vilance Mejewa, a wounded Fateweaver Maiden who had arranged their meeting. She offered to serve him and revealed Twilight’s role in destroying her home; Murphy refused her offer but agreed to hear what she knew.

• Murphy and George tracked an ethereal prayer through the labyrinth, where a woman explained that the goatmen were trying to awaken an ancient evil god.
• Murphy met Weaver Anu Vilance Mejewa, recognized her as the missing Fateweaver Maiden, and learned she had come to meet him deliberately.
• Villance offered to become Murphy’s loyal servant and help House Mejewa survive the coming upheaval, but Murphy immediately refused.
• Villance revealed that Twilight had destroyed Mejewa City to test a power, and identified its faction leader as the Scholar.
• Villance said her unclear prophecy placed Murphy at the center of destiny and invited him to ask her questions as his personal seer.

Murphy questioned Vilanth about Mejewa City’s destruction and her decision to follow him, while she tried to win his trust and offered to become his blood servant. Vilanth revealed that the Spider Lady and Avalon were opposing but inseparable aspects who both believed Murphy could help them, leaving him warned that the gods had their own aims.

• Murphy asked Vilanth how Mejewa City had fallen, and she recounted an invasion by underground beasts, corrupted creatures, and astral meteorites before the Spider Lady directed her to Transia.
• Vilanth said she had gathered more than two hundred followers, including thirty Swordchanters, and offered Murphy the hidden Nature's Edge and Gale Warbow.
• Murphy questioned whether Vilanth might betray him in the future, and she proposed a blood pact that would bind her soul to him while preserving her body and faith.
• Murphy asked how the Spider Lady related to Avalon's other aspects, and Vilanth explained that the Spider Lady embodied the darkness Avalon could not bear and that the two gods might one day separate.
• Vilanth warned Murphy that other gods had turned their attention toward him for their own purposes, then urged him to begin the blood pact.

Murphy recruited the injured Weaver Maiden Vilansé and assigned her to pose as a helpless captive so his warriors could escort her through Baphomet’s dungeon. The chapter ended with the Eight Demon Lords discovering Vilansé and mistaking her staged distress for a real rescue mission.

• Murphy rejected Vilansé’s advances, accepted her service, and questioned her about the Baphomet cult and its dungeon.
• After learning that Abyssal City opposed the cult, Murphy decided his warriors could help eliminate the Baphomet cultists for a reward.
• Murphy gave Vilansé a computing orb and ordered her to offer the first warriors who found her an elite escort mission, drawing cultists into their path.
• Murphy told Vilansé to dress as the blindfolded “Blind Seer” and promised to meet her at the dungeon entrance to launch the Black Calamity DLC quest.
• The Eight Demon Lords struggled through the dungeon maze and followed a call for help to Vilansé, who appeared to be a distressed captive.

The Eight Demons rescued Vilans from Baphomet's dungeon, while her attempts to seduce the players failed against their restraint and irreverent attitude. When the group was overwhelmed by goatmen, Vilans transformed into a powerful spider and left Saint Lord amazed.

• Saint Lord covered Vilans with a cloak, and the Eight Demons carried her through the maze while she wondered why they would not touch her.
• Vilans guided the group through the dungeon as they defeated goatman bandits and lost several undead minions.
• Zhulan and the Eight Demons fought through a hall full of goatmen, and Zhulan sacrificed himself to drive the attackers away.
• Ximu spotted another group of goatmen, and the players complained that Vilans was useless as they prepared for another battle.
• Vilans asked Bogan to put her down, transformed into a spider, and killed an elite enemy with one attack, astonishing Saint Lord.