Chapter Summaries

Cyril fought a contaminated Marionette, escaped its curse, and fled as a strange living glove attached itself to him. He brought Klein a moon-shaped diadem that could let a Rose School of Thought Demigod track its user, then noticed a newspaper report about a Phantom Thief.

• Cyril used the Storm of Light and Paper Figurine Substitutes to survive the Marionette's curse and damage it severely.
• The Marionette briefly regained control, vanished, and left behind a living black glove that followed Cyril.
• Cyril planted Tarot Cards at the scene and escaped before a Storm-aligned Spellsinger of God and Horamick Haydn arrived.
• Cyril returned to Klein at 15 Minsk Street and handed him a diadem, warning that using it could reveal the wearer's location to a Rose School of Thought Demigod.
• Klein asked how Cyril learned of the danger, and Cyril said he had just encountered a Rose School of Thought Demigod.
• Cyril noticed Klein's newspaper headline about a Phantom Thief and a 'Black Emperor.'

Cyril reflected on his battle with a Rose School of Thought Marionette, translated Roselle's Diary for Bernadette, and recorded a new Demigod-level Mystical Reenactment. The Marionette invoked the Son of God and the Mother Tree of Desire, while Cyril discovered that the Black Gloves had lost their living trait.

• Klein told Cyril about the Royal Family's possible involvement in Capim's protection and admitted he had not taken the money from Capim's safe.
• Cyril returned home and considered the Marionette's pursuit of the Scarlet Lunar Corona and the limits of the Ugly Duckling's Mystical Reenactment.
• Bernadette gave Cyril Roselle's Diary entries to translate and promised a lead on a Mystical Item containing the Traveler characteristic.
• Cyril failed twice to record the Ugly Duckling and instead recorded the Demigod-level Mystical Reenactment called the Spear of Longinus.
• The Marionette prayed at an altar to the Son of God and the Mother Tree of Desire, vowing to bring Cyril before the divine statue for Judgment.
• Cyril returned to his bedroom and noticed that the Black Gloves had lost their living trait.

Cyril learned that the glove’s stolen contamination had expired and dissipated, then agreed to help Lawrence and Verdu establish a discreet gathering for wild Beyonders in Backlund. Klein later asked him to help with Doctor Aaron’s strange dreams, and Cyril proposed opening a Door into the dream.

• The Painting Scroll told Cyril that the glove had lost its power and died, and Cyril concluded that its stolen contamination had simply reached its time limit.
• Lawrence and Verdu told Cyril that a gathering for wild Beyonders would be the safest way to begin building a force in Backlund, and Cyril asked Lawrence to prepare a detailed plan.
• Klein told Cyril that Doctor Aaron’s strange luck and dream were connected to the corpse Above the Gray Fog, and Cyril suggested meeting Aaron in his dream.
• Cyril and Klein entered Doctor Aaron’s bedroom through a mirror, and Klein used a Dream Charm to put Aaron and his wife into Slumber.
• When Klein asked how they could enter the dream while remaining lucid, Cyril said he could try to open a Door into it.

Klein and Cyril entered Doctor Aaron’s dream to investigate the Snake of Mercury’s influence, where they encountered an unborn Will Auceptin and a giant serpent. Cyril explained that the Snake of Mercury had restarted as an embryo and that Doctor Aaron’s bad luck was a small price for the good fortune the child would bring.

• Klein brought Cyril into Doctor Aaron’s dream, and Cyril opened a door into the dream world.
• Cyril led Klein through the spire and found a frightened child resembling Will Auceptin, who accused Cyril of trying to eat him.
• A giant serpent lunged at Cyril, shattering Doctor Aaron’s dream, and Cyril opened a door to escape with Klein.
• Cyril and Klein found an inner dream containing an empty baby carriage, whose messages revealed the unborn child’s connection to the Dice of Probability.
• Back in Doctor Aaron’s bedroom, Cyril explained that the Snake of Mercury had restarted as an embryo and that Aaron’s bad luck was a necessary cost for future good fortune.

Cyril received the Scarlet Lunar Corona deal’s Gatekeeper item details and the location of dangerous ruins near Backlund, then dealt with an intruder caught by his Screaming Painting. At the Tarot gathering, Alger transferred the value of Roselle’s Diary pages to Cyril toward the Wind-blessed Potion formula, while Klein discovered a forged diary page among them.

• The Fool told Cyril that the Scarlet Lunar Corona deal was complete and showed him the location of dangerous ruins outside Backlund.
• Cyril learned that the Screaming Painting had wounded an intruder who broke into his home, and ordered it to watch the unconscious man in the attic.
• At the gathering, Justice Audrey greeted the Tarot Club members and said she would share her recent gains and progress.
• Alger asked to transfer his contribution for three pages of Roselle’s Diary to Cyril to cover part of the Wind-blessed Potion formula’s value, and Cyril agreed.
• Klein read the diary pages and noticed another page crudely forged from Roselle’s symbols.

Alger probed Cyril about Qilingus and the primeval island while negotiating for the Wind-blessed Potion formula, but Cyril held firm on the price. Derrick then told the Tarot Club that an Amon who had parasitized the former exploration captain had died after confronting him, and that the Chief had intervened.

• Alger asked Cyril whether he wanted information about sea treasures and the pirate forces, then offered a Mystical Item and Roselle's diary pages for the Wind-blessed Potion formula.
• Alger described a gold mask that granted powerful abilities but gradually made its wearer less human, and Cyril insisted the proposed trade was still fair.
• Audrey noticed Derrick seemed troubled, and Derrick told the gathering that the former exploration captain had died.
• Derrick explained that the captain, an Amon avatar, had confronted him after the gathering and sensed Mr. Fool's presence.
• The Chief arrived and used the holy relic in the Round Tower to destroy the Amon who had entered Derrick's room.

Derrick told the Tarot Club that Mr. Fool's Angel had purified the Amon parasitizing him and left him with a Worm of Time. The club advised him to consider revealing some secrets to the City of Silver's Chief, and Derrick asked how he could earn the Chief's trust.

• Derrick described how Mr. Fool's Angel purified the Amon inside him and left him with a Worm of Time.
• Cyril identified the worm and explained that it could be made into a powerful high-grade charm, but Derrick declined to sell it.
• Alger warned Derrick that the City of Silver's Chief would still suspect him and urged him to hand over the worm when he found a suitable opportunity.
• Cyril advised Derrick to reveal some of his unusual circumstances to the Chief, while Justice suggested the Chief might tolerate harmless abnormalities as a way to test contact with the outside world.
• The Fool told Derrick that the City of Silver could save itself through its own efforts, even with outside help.
• Derrick asked Cyril how to earn the Chief's trust, and Cyril referred the question to Justice and the Hanged Man.

Derrick asked the Tarot Club for advice after members of the City of Silver exploration team returned corrupted by the True Creator. Klein advised him to consult the Chief and decide how to help save the City of Silver, leaving Derrick resolved to consider his next conversation carefully.

• Derrick told the Tarot Club that the exploration team led by Elder Lovia had returned from the True Creator's temple with changed personalities, and Cyril identified them as corrupted.
• Derrick described the team's gloomy behavior and his sense of danger around them, and Cyril explained that his Sun Pathway Spirituality was warning him of corruption.
• The Hanged Man advised Derrick to consider telling the Chief about the True Creator and Mr. Fool, while also warning him that exposing the corrupted team could make the Chief suspect Derrick.
• Klein told Derrick there was no single best choice, reminded him that saving the City of Silver was not his responsibility alone, and advised him to speak with the Chief.
• Derrick thanked the Tarot Club, and Cyril suggested he learn how to phrase the conversation from Justice or the Hanged Man.

At the Tarot Club gathering, Cyril explained the curse afflicting the Abraham Family and reassured Fors that Lawrence had been sent to meet his family. The members then discussed Amon’s attack in Backlund and began sharing news about the Phantom Thief, Black Emperor.

• Justice and the Hanged Man taught Derrick conversational techniques for speaking with the City of Silver’s leaders.
• Cyril told Fors that Lawrence was alive and had been sent to meet his family, but was near death from injuries and the Abraham Family’s full-moon curse.
• Cyril explained that the Abraham Family’s curse caused terrifying whispers and prevented its members from advancing beyond Sequence 7; Fors connected it to her own full-moon whispers.
• Fors agreed to give Mr. Fool the first chapter of Travels in the Spirit World, and Alger offered to help her obtain deep-sea spearfish blood.
• Cyril revealed that Amon had come to Backlund and that the Lord of Storms had destroyed many of his avatars with divine punishment.
• Audrey described the lightning strikes in Backlund and introduced a case involving the Phantom Thief, Black Emperor, leading the others to suspect he was one of Mr. Fool’s blessed.

At the Tarot Club gathering, Cyril described how he had driven off a Rose School of Thought Demigod, surprising the other members. The Fool offered two Beyonder Characteristics for sale, which Cyril bought, while Justice volunteered to explain Beyonder Characteristics to Fors.

• Justice, Audrey, reported that the authorities had rescued young women from Capim’s dungeon after the Phantom Thief left Tarot Cards at the scene, and the Fool said his Blessed had started the calling-card habit.
• Cyril said he had left a Tarot Card at a scene after fighting a Rose School of Thought Demigod, then explained that he had used a Recorded Beyonder Ability to corrupt and occupy the Demigod until he fled.
• The World, Klein, warned the Tarot Club that Demigods possessed divinity and were far beyond ordinary Beyonders, and said Cyril’s path and opportunities had helped him escape.
• Cyril agreed to buy a Sequence 8 Sheriff and Sequence 7 Interrogator Beyonder Characteristic from the Fool for 1,600 pounds.
• Justice offered to explain Beyonder Characteristics to Fors, allowing the Fool to avoid answering her question himself.

At the Tarot Club, Fors learned why the Full Moon’s language affected her, while Alger received the Wind-blessed Potion formula after Queen Mystic’s ship was spotted near the Berserk Sea. Back in reality, Derrick left his home under suspected surveillance, and Cyril woke the intruder who kept fainting at the sight of his Screaming Painting.

• Audrey explained that Beyonder Characteristics could retain dangers from corruption, and Fors realized the Characteristic that made her an Apprentice had carried the Abraham Family’s curse.
• Alger reported that Queen Mystic’s Dawn had entered the Berserk Sea, prompting the Church of Storms to send a high-ranking deacon there.
• After the gathering, Cyril gave Alger the Wind-blessed Potion formula through Mr. Fool, and Alger planned to collect its ingredients within three days.
• Derrick left his home with his Hurricane Axe, while a hidden watcher followed him from the shadows.
• Cyril turned the Screaming Painting toward the wall, then used frost to wake the intruder who had repeatedly fainted whenever he saw it.

Cyril caught a thief hired by a Sanguine to steal an item from his home and used Divination to identify Cassimi Odra as the likely employer. After taking the thief’s Mystical Item and binding him to secrecy, Cyril set out with the Painting Scroll to warn the Sanguine Baron.

• Cyril questioned the intruder and used Divination to confirm that the thief had accepted a job to steal an item from his home.
• The thief produced a crimson paper figure, which Cyril burned and recognized as linked to the Sanguines.
• The thief revealed that the job’s contact address was Nibis’s manor, leading Cyril to suspect Nibis’s grandson, Cassimi Odra.
• Cyril took the thief’s black cloak as compensation and made him repeat Cyril’s Honorific Name before letting him go.
• Cyril took the Painting Scroll from the wall and headed out to warn the Sanguine Baron.

Derrick told Colin that Mr. Fool had helped free him from Amon’s parasite and warned that Elder Lovia’s exploration team had been corrupted by the True Creator. Meanwhile, Cyril confronted the Sanguine at the Odra estate and prepared to warn Cosmi Odra with the Spear of Longinus.

• Cyril asked Father Utravsky to record more Storms of Light, the Dawn Armor, and the Sword of Dawn, then waited while the priest finished his prayers.
• Derrick showed Colin the expelled Worm of Time and explained how Mr. Fool’s angel had purified the Amon avatar that had parasitized him.
• Derrick warned Colin that Elder Lovia’s team had been corrupted by the True Creator, and Colin agreed to inspect the quarantined explorers with him.
• Cyril arrived at the Odra estate and told the Sanguine Demigod Mistral that Cosmi Odra had tried to steal an item containing a Scarlet Scholar characteristic.
• Cosmi denied the accusation, but Cyril clarified that he had not claimed Cosmi personally carried out the theft, then summoned the Spear of Longinus.

Cyril attacked Cosmi at Lord Nibis's manor, forcing Mistral to intervene and spar with him. Mistral ended the clash by promising to restrain Backlund's Sanguines, and Cyril vanished while Cosmi was left wounded and facing an explanation to Lord Nibis.

• Cosmi protested when Cyril pointed the Spear of Longinus at him, and Mistral stepped between them to protect him.
• Cyril's spear pierced Mistral's moonlit form and struck Cosmi's Substitute Marionette, while Mistral accused Cyril of attacking a Sanguine without cause and bound him with a curse.
• Cyril used his reflected image to blind Mistral, then summoned a twelve-winged angel that restored their connection and set black flames burning across Mistral's vampire bats.
• Cyril recorded the battle and unleashed Storms of Light, wounding Mistral and grazing Cosmi before Mistral stopped the fight and promised to keep Backlund's Sanguines in check.
• Cyril bowed and vanished, while Mistral warned Cosmi that a stronger Demigod had watched over Cyril and that Cosmi would have to explain the incident to Lord Nibis.

After leaving the Sanguine, Cyril reunited with Clarice and took her to an expensive restaurant, while Klein watched over them from above the Gray Fog. Clarice encouraged Cyril to take her home, and he agreed, leaving Klein still concerned about her intentions.

• Cyril told Klein he planned to leave Backlund that week, retrieve the contents of Amon's tomb, and go to sea as a Bounty Hunter.
• Clarice caught up with Cyril, teased him, and asked how he would thank her for helping him.
• Cyril invited Clarice to an expensive Intis restaurant, and Klein continued watching them from above the Gray Fog.
• Clarice flirted with Cyril over wine, and Cyril told her he wanted to take her home.
• Clarice slipped into Cyril's arms and told him to take her home immediately.

After spending the night with Clarice, Cyril received an Ice Amulet and learned she was searching for a small white statue in the Mirror World. He later asked Klein to disinfect his Spirit Body above the Gray Fog, and the intimate infatuation he had felt toward Clarice disappeared.

• Cyril woke beside Clarice and remembered their night together, then asked whether the Steam Church could detect her.
• Clarice told Cyril to watch for a palm-sized white jade statue in the Mirror World and gave him an Ice Amulet for contacting her and traveling through mirrors.
• Clarice left through a mirror to continue an unfinished handover, and Klein teased Cyril about experiencing Emperor Roselle's joy.
• Cyril found the Screaming Painting sick and learned it had tried to warn him about Clarice's seduction.
• Cyril summoned Klein and asked him to disinfect his Spirit Body above the Gray Fog, whereupon Cyril's intimate infatuation with Clarice vanished.

Klein helped Cyril complete a ritual after discussing Cyril’s recent bewitchment, while Lawrence brought Owen and Verdu to visit Abraham family graves and met Fors at Anlisa’s tomb. Fors agreed to speak with Lawrence about her Apprentice Beyonder Characteristic, and Cyril began a ritual to recruit a messenger.

• Cyril told Klein that a woman had bewitched him, and Klein sent him back with instructions to perform a prayer ritual and take the stored items downstairs.
• Klein answered Cyril’s prayer by forming a massive blue-black door above the Gray Fog.
• Lawrence told Owen and Verdu that his brother Laurolo and Laurolo’s wife had died, then went alone to visit Anlisa’s grave.
• Lawrence met Fors at Anlisa’s tomb and offered to teach her about the mystical world; Fors agreed to talk with him.
• Cyril used the retrieved materials to begin a ritual to recruit a messenger, while the figure in his Painting Scroll offered itself for the role.

Cyril summoned a messenger and discovered that the withered old man who answered was an Angel seeking the corruption in the Screaming Painting. After they agreed on a contract, Cyril recognized him as the passerby who had once calmed the tide in his Mind World.

• Cyril performed a summoning ritual, but the creatures gathering beyond the Gate of Summoning could not find their way through.
• A withered old man appeared and demonstrated that he could move too quickly for Cyril's spiritual intuition to detect.
• The old man offered to deliver letters and fight in exchange for the corruption, or Gift, carried by the Screaming Painting.
• Cyril agreed to the arrangement, and the old man completed their contract while asking Cyril to keep his existence from Adam and Adam's associates.
• The old man showed Cyril a memory of calming the tide in his Mind World, and Cyril recognized him as the source of his Gift of Soothing.

Cyrin signed a contract with the Ancient Dragon Edefana, who suggested he use his paintings to disguise his presence. After a thief prayed to him for help escaping the Church of Storms, Cyrin found him just as his pursuers closed in.

• Cyrin signed the contract under the alias Randolph Carter, and Edefana signed his name as well.
• Edefana warned Cyrin that Mystery Pryers might notice his presence and suggested painting a disguise onto himself.
• Edefana vanished, and Cyrin ended the messenger-summoning ritual before listening to a prayer from Luciano.
• Luciano prayed for rescue after the Church of Storms put a warrant out for him, and Cyrin appeared behind him.
• Luciano attacked Cyrin with a dagger, but Cyrin deflected it and revealed that Mandated Punishers and Bounty Hunters were nearby.
• Luciano offered his faith and soul to the Supreme Being above the dimensions in exchange for Cyrin saving him.

Cyril escaped a raid by Mandated Punishers and delivered Luciano to Lawrence before testing his disguise. Meanwhile, Klein visited Emlyn to ask for help obtaining a mutated Thousand-Faced Hunter’s pituitary gland, and tried to persuade him by bringing up his expensive doll collection.

• Cyril used a paper effigy and the Screaming Painting to escape Mandated Punishers with Luciano through the Mirror World.
• Cyril handed Luciano over to Lawrence, then removed his disguise and reflected on how effectively it confused people who did not know him.
• Klein went to Harvest Cathedral to ask Emlyn for help buying a mutated Thousand-Faced Hunter’s pituitary gland for the Faceless Potion.
• Emlyn asked whether Klein had come to seek his help, and Klein asked whether Emlyn was short on money.
• Klein mentioned Emlyn’s costly dolls and a Trier master who made custom dolls, leaving Emlyn shocked and suspicious.