Chapter Summaries

Charlie reported that Saruman had helped the Roadside Fortress caravan cross the Brown Lands, while the King of Rohan had tried to seize its goods and horses before his own officers persuaded him to let it go. Li Wei welcomed Charlie in Gondor, then joined Ecthelion and Senger’s families for a banquet, where he met Morwen and gave a silver ornament to her young daughter.

• Charlie told Li Wei that Saruman had greeted him and guided the caravan safely across the Brown Lands to Rohan’s border.
• Charlie reported that the King of Rohan had accused the caravan of profiteering and tried to confiscate its goods, weapons, and horses in Edoras.
• Charlie explained that a Marshal and several cavalry captains had persuaded the king to release the caravan, and Li Wei resolved to remember the incident.
• Li Wei welcomed Charlie and took Roadside Fortress wine and ingredients to a banquet with Ecthelion and Senger.
• Li Wei met Senger’s wife Morwen and gave her young daughter a small silver ornament from Roadside Fortress.

Li Wei gave Ecthelion and Senger Golden Apples, then presented Denethor with an enchanted Iron Sword after realizing the boy had overcome his disappointment. At the banquet, Li Wei told Senger he would confront Fengel over the king’s attempt to seize the Roadside Fortress caravan’s goods, and Senger asked to go with him.

• Li Wei gave a Golden Apple each to Ecthelion and Senger, who accepted them as family heirlooms.
• Li Wei enchanted an Iron Sword with Unbreaking III, Undead Slayer V, and Mending, intending it for someone else.
• Denethor questioned why he had been left out, then set aside his resentment before Li Wei gave him the sword and a wish for an unyielding will.
• Li Wei cooked a feast for the gathering, and Ecthelion and Senger drank and talked with him.
• Li Wei told Senger that Fengel had tried to detain the Roadside Fortress caravan and take its goods, and said he would confront the king.
• Senger slammed the table and asked to accompany Li Wei.

Li Wei and Senger entered Rohan, where Senger disguised himself to avoid being recognized. After a Rohan patrol encountered them, Li Wei announced that he was heading to Edoras to beat up the king, and the Marshal quickly withdrew his riders.

• Turgon accepted the Golden Apple from Ecthelion, then returned it to him for safekeeping.
• Ecthelion told Turgon that Li Wei had left with Senger to beat up the King of Rohan.
• Li Wei and Senger crossed the Merlin River into Rohan, and Senger covered his face to avoid being recognized.
• Li Wei cooked mushroom stew during a roadside rest, and Senger enjoyed the meal.
• A Marshal of Rohan and his cavalry surrounded the travelers, but the Marshal withdrew after Li Wei said he was going to beat up the king.

Li Wei and Senger confronted King Fengel in Meduseld over his attempt to seize their caravan’s goods. Fengel refused to admit wrongdoing, so Li Wei attacked him and fought past the king’s guards.

• Li Wei and Senger rode to Meduseld, where the Grand Marshal searched Li Wei and escorted them to King Fengel.
• Fengel denied trying to detain Li Wei’s caravan, then claimed his own law had justified seizing its goods.
• Senger insulted Fengel, and Li Wei sent him outside before confronting the king.
• Li Wei struck down the Grand Marshal and fought through the soldiers as Fengel hid behind the throne.
• The Grand Marshal told his soldiers to stay down because Li Wei was Senger’s companion.

Li Wei defeated Fengel’s guards and beat the king, while Senger renounced his father and left without claiming Rohan’s throne. Later, Gandalf investigated Fengel’s rumored warrant for Li Wei, warned the king against it, and diagnosed his illness as fright before leaving without offering a cure.

• Li Wei knocked down the soldiers in the Golden Hall and beat Fengel after Fengel threatened him.
• Senger confronted Fengel, struck him unconscious, called him father for the last time, and left without taking the throne.
• Li Wei told the Grand Marshal that Senger would return when the time was right, while Fengel later issued a poorly circulated warrant for Li Wei.
• Gandalf heard rumors about the warrant, learned that Fengel had ordered Li Wei hunted, and went to the Golden Hall to warn the king.
• Gandalf examined Fengel and told him that his illness came from fright, then bid him farewell without curing him.

Li Wei said farewell to Gondor’s steward and Senger’s family, then gathered his caravan and set out from Minas Tirith for Dale. He chose the road through Mordor’s Black Gate, and the convoy reached the ash-covered Plains of War, Dagorlad.

• Li Wei bid farewell to Ecthelion, Senger, and their families, and exchanged an Elven embrace with Turgon.
• Li Wei met the caravan in Minas Tirith’s northern market, where Charlie reported that the goods had sold out and the group had bought local specialties.
• Li Wei announced that the caravan would travel north to Dale by way of North Ithilien, the Black Gate, and the Anduin Road.
• The caravan departed Minas Tirith, passed Amon Dîn and Cair Andros, and entered North Ithilien’s Plains of War, Dagorlad.

Li Wei’s caravan reached the Black Gate, where he fought off a squad of Orcs and Olog-hai before forcing them to retreat. He recognized that passing through Mordor with his people was too dangerous and decided they should avoid the gate next time.

• As the caravan crossed Dagorlad, Li Wei recalled the battles fought there and fell asleep atop the goods.
• Orc sentries spotted the caravan, and an armed squad led by Olog-hai charged out through the Black Gate.
• Li Wei teleported among the Olog-hai and killed them while the Orcs rallied under the influence of the Black Speech.
• Li Wei intimidated the Orc leader into retreating through the gate, which then closed behind him.
• Li Wei returned to the carriage and told Charlie that they should not pass through the Black Gate next time.

Li Wei and his caravan left the Brown Lands, crossed into Dale Region, and reached the prosperous Great Road Town. After Li Wei and Charlie drew a crowd with stories about Roadside Fortress and their dangerous route, the caravan packed up and continued toward Lake-town.

• Li Wei ordered the caravan to take Rhovanion Road and told the Rangers and other travelers stories about the Wizards he had encountered.
• The caravan crossed Rushing Ford into Dale Region and arrived at Great Road Town, a growing trade hub built at the crossroads.
• People in Great Road Town recognized the Roadside Fortress flag, and Charlie explained that the caravan had traveled through the Lone-lands, Rohan, Gondor, and the Black Gate.
• Li Wei warned the crowd that traveling through Mordor required thousands of elite guards, prompting people to recognize him as the lord.
• Charlie packed away the caravan's foreign goods to keep them from being bought, and the group left Great Road Town for Lake-town.

Li Wei returned to Dale and told Bard about his travels, including his clashes in the South and Rohan, while learning that Beorn’s people wanted to join the Free City-State. In Dale, Li Wei discovered that an old man he had once shared bread with had died, and received the man’s final letter and a Honey Kram.

• Li Wei told Bard about buying southern crops, fighting Gondor’s pursuers, earning Gondor’s respect, and beating Rohan’s king.
• Bard reported that Beorn’s people wished to join the Free City-State, and Li Wei agreed to accept them as a Territory.
• Li Wei and Bard traveled to Dale, where Li Wei visited a pastry shop and recognized the alley where he had once met an old man.
• Li Wei learned that the old man had died peacefully and bowed to the man’s former home.
• A resident gave Li Wei the old man’s letter thanking him for his protection and kindness, along with a Honey Kram.

Li Wei spent the day visiting Dale, Erebor, and Gandalf, sharing food and catching up with his friends. Gandalf revealed that Bard and Thorin had sent him to find Li Wei, who was expected at a gathering that night.

• Li Wei shared pastries and a meal with Bard in Dale, then watched Bard leave to return to his work in Lake-town.
• Li Wei visited Thorin in Erebor, ate with him, and learned that Thorin was busy managing the mountain kingdom.
• Li Wei wandered around Dale before meeting Gandalf in an alley at night and giving him a pastry.
• Li Wei and Gandalf discussed death and the possibility of a new life after it.
• Gandalf told Li Wei that Bard and Thorin had sent him to find Li Wei and insisted that he come to the gathering as its guest of honor.

Li Wei completed the Sky Road, welcomed the Beorn clan and Dale Region residents into its maintenance efforts, and opened the route in a ceremony that earned him the title “Miracle Builder.” Afterward, he brought Gandalf, Bard, and Thorin into the transformed Roadside Fortress, where they marveled at its growth and noticed Li Wei seemed nervous about an overly enthusiastic creature.

• Li Wei accepted Beorn and his people's oaths, bringing the northern Anduin Valley into his Territory and making the Beorn clan Territory residents.
• Li Wei rode from Lake-town to Roadside Fortress along the completed route, passing Mid-road Town and the other service towns.
• With the Eagle King's messenger as witness, Li Wei delivered a speech at the Sky Road's opening ceremony, and the workers celebrated their achievement.
• Li Wei, Gandalf, Bard, and Thorin entered Roadside Fortress, where Bard and Thorin were astonished by how much it had changed.
• Gandalf pointed out that Li Wei was tense, and Li Wei explained that he was worried about being knocked over by an unusually large creature.

Li Wei introduced Thorin, Bard, and Gandalf to Little Pink, a gentle dragon who lived in Roadside Fortress, and eased their fears about it. He invited the visitors to a feast, then explained the magical beacon above his castle.

• Little Pink knocked Li Wei down affectionately, prompting Thorin, Bard, and Gandalf to reach for their weapons until Li Wei calmed them.
• Big Yellow joined Little Pink, and Li Wei explained that the dragon had learned incorrectly and might need to be sent to school.
• Gandalf judged Little Pink to be a new, pure-natured species, while Thorin and Bard gradually accepted Li Wei's reassurance.
• Li Wei invited Thorin and Bard to a Territory feast, and both offered their services; Gandalf also bowed after Li Wei mentioned sharing Roadside Fortress tobacco.
• Gandalf asked about the pillar of light above the castle, and Li Wei explained that his magical beacon blessed nearby people with restored vitality and improved abilities.

Li Wei hosted a celebration banquet for leaders and allies from across the Free City-State, where they admired his Nether Star and the newly installed beacons. The gathering ended with a small thaw in relations between Elves and Dwarves.

• Li Wei showed the Nether Star to Thorin, Gandalf, and others, and Gandalf praised its beauty.
• Li Wei invited every region to install beacons and announced several days of holiday for a celebration banquet.
• Beorn, Elrond, the Woodland Realm's deputy, and other allies arrived at Roadside Fortress, where Li Wei greeted them and reunited with Agra.
• At the banquet, Elrond greeted Thorin, who made members of his company apologize for their disrespectful behavior toward Elves.
• Elrond raised a toast to the Dwarves, and the gathering marked a small easing of the barrier between the two peoples.

Bilbo arrived at Roadside Fortress as elves and dwarves celebrated their reconciliation, while Li Wei spent the evening with Falrodan and Agra under the stars. The festivities grew rowdier with drinking contests and fireworks, and the residents arranged more food for the crowd.

• Bilbo entered Roadside Fortress and joined the festivities, while Li Wei told him the elves and dwarves had already made up.
• Li Wei and Falrodan discussed the lost Eärendil's Star as they watched the stars, and Agra joined them for a drink.
• Gloin lost a drinking contest to the Woodland Realm's second-in-command, prompting Dwalin and other dwarves to challenge him, with Rivendell guards joining the elves.
• Elrond and Thorin welcomed Bilbo and invited him to visit Rivendell and Erebor, while Gandalf went to set off fireworks.
• Beorn and Little Pink silently copied each other's eating, and the residents ordered stored food brought out for the guests.

After Li Wei gave beacons to Rivendell, the Woodland Realm, and Lonely Mountain, the beacons’ vitality helped slow the elves’ decline, prompting Thranduil to seek Li Wei. Li Wei spent the following years repairing the Tower of Knowledge and building Nether Highways, and the chapter ended with news that Senger’s first son, Theoden, had been born.

• The Woodland Realm's deputy won the drinking contest, then accepted a beacon from Li Wei to bring back to Thranduil.
• Li Wei gave beacons to Rivendell, the Woodland Realm, and Lonely Mountain, and the recipients began building sanctuaries for them.
• Elrond’s people discovered that a beacon’s vitality could slow the elves’ physical decline, and Thranduil decided to visit Li Wei.
• Li Wei spent a year repairing the Nameless Tower, which became known as the Tower of Knowledge, and completed Nether Highways linking Roadside Fortress, Gondor, and Dale.
• In 2948, Li Wei received a letter from Senger announcing the birth of his first son, Theoden.

Li Wei traveled from Roadside Fortress to Gondor to visit Senger and meet his newborn son, Theoden. After blessing the child’s future, Li Wei stayed for dinner and learned that Senger’s previous attempt at the mushroom dish had left Gandalf asleep for a day.

• A Gondor messenger explored Roadside Fortress and praised its grandeur while Li Wei traveled to Minas Tirith through the Nether.
• Li Wei surprised Senger by arriving quickly and asked to meet his son, Theoden.
• Morwen returned with Theoden, and Senger carefully guided Li Wei as he held the baby.
• Theoden grabbed Li Wei’s finger and tried to nurse from his armor, making Li Wei, Senger, and Morwen laugh.
• Senger told Li Wei he had gathered mushrooms and confessed that his earlier version of the dish had made Gandalf sleep for a day.

Li Wei endured Senger’s unpleasant mushroom soup before giving him an Emergency Shield Amulet for Theoden. Senger promised to keep the protective gift for his child, while Li Wei considered how its magic might counter hostile wizards.

• Senger served Li Wei mushroom soup, and Li Wei forced himself to swallow a spoonful despite Morwen’s warning.
• Li Wei pretended the soup was all right and avoided drinking more, then poured his bowl out when Senger was distracted.
• Li Wei gave Senger an Emergency Shield Amulet and explained that its magic could protect Theoden from physical and magical harm.
• Senger accepted the amulet with gratitude and promised it would remain with his child.

Li Wei left Gondor and traveled west to Lindon, where he arrived at Tantallon and approached the tower of Elostirion. The Elven guards greeted him, though they were unsure whether to let him near the Palantir that revealed Valinor.

• Li Wei gathered mushrooms near Ithilien, drove off a group of Uruks, and returned to Gondor.
• Li Wei made mushroom soup for Senger and Morwen, impressing them with his recipe.
• After the brief visit to Gondor, Li Wei returned to Roadside Fortress and soon set out for Lindon to accept Círdan's old invitation.
• Li Wei reached Tantallon and approached Elostirion, where Lindon Elves guarded the Palantir that revealed Valinor.
• The guards greeted Li Wei while hesitating over whether to allow him near the sacred stone.

Li Wei visited the Tower of Elostirion and was allowed to view Valinor through the Palantir of Eärendil. He sensed Nienna watching him before the vision ended, then continued west toward the Grey Havens.

• Li Wei asked the elf guarding the tower to let him see the Palantir of Eärendil, but the elf initially refused.
• An unfamiliar elf opened the tower and invited Li Wei inside to view the Palantir.
• Li Wei saw Valinor and its sacred halls, then heard a sorrowful song that stirred him.
• The Palantir showed Li Wei the people and settlements in his Territory, and he recognized Nienna watching him.
• The vision ended, and Li Wei said farewell to the tower's keeper before riding west toward the Grey Havens.

Li Wei visited Círdan at the Grey Havens and asked the ancient Shipwright to teach him shipbuilding. After a month of study and work, Li Wei built a vessel so enormous that it astonished Círdan, though it had not yet been assembled or tested.

• Círdan welcomed Li Wei to the Grey Havens and spoke of his longing for Valinor and the end of his long vigil.
• Li Wei asked Círdan for help with shipbuilding, and Círdan agreed to teach him.
• Li Wei spent a month learning shipbuilding from Círdan and unlocked the Shipwright module and new ship-component recipes.
• Círdan saw a flawless component made by Li Wei and went to the harbor to inspect his student’s progress.
• Li Wei told Círdan to return the next day for a demonstration, revealing a colossal vessel that stunned the Shipwright.