Chapter Summaries

Aaron stopped mercenaries from extorting a village and traced their scheme to a derelict outpost in the Stormhorn Mountains, where he suspected the Zhentarim were behind it. As he prepared to leave, a Red Dragon carrying Githyanki riders landed nearby, and Aaron decided to investigate.

• Aaron reached a village near the Stormhorn Mountains and found mercenaries threatening villagers for money and food.
• Aaron used Charm Person on the mercenary leader, learned that northern mercenaries had taught them the extortion scheme, and ordered him to lead the way.
• Aaron followed the mercenaries to a dilapidated Secret Outpost, then let them go and found signs of recent human activity.
• Aaron suspected the Zhentarim were stirring up trouble in the region.
• A Red Dragon carrying Githyanki riders landed nearby, and Aaron decided to take a look.

Aaron watched a Githyanki and Zhentarim standoff near a suspected nursery and secretly provoked them into battle. The Zhentarim trapped the Red Dragon Tanalis of Gul with Dragon-Slaying Ballistas, while Aaron decided to take the weapons and the Enchanting Witch observed him from afar.

• Aaron hid near the Githyanki landing site and concluded that the Githyanki were guarding a nearby nursery from the Zhentarim.
• Aaron banished an ambushing female Githyanki, then used her enchanted bow to shoot a Zhentarim soldier and trigger a battle.
• Tanalis of Gul attacked the Zhentarim with his fire breath, killing many of them.
• The Zhentarim fired three Dragon-Slaying Ballistas, grounding Tanalis and wounding him with poisoned bolts.
• Aaron recognized the ballistas as weapons likely meant for a dragon near Cormyr and decided to take them.
• The Enchanting Witch watched Aaron from a nearby cliff and remarked on his improved appearance and strength.

Aaron intervened in the battle between the Zhentarim and the Githyanki, turning the battlefield against both sides before defeating the adult red dragon, Tanariz of Gul. He captured two dying Githyanki, and Lady Mysty Tanshul appeared to claim credit for the gift that had led to Aaron’s fortune.

• The Zhentarim restrained the poisoned red dragon with dragon-slaying bolts, but the dragon feigned exhaustion and shattered five soldiers with a tail attack.
• The Githyanki attacked the Zhentarim’s ballistas, while basilisks petrified two Githyanki and Aaron decided to intervene.
• Aaron transformed and unleashed Slaanesh’s Torment and Tzeentch’s Firestorm, killing the Zhentarim leader and the Githyanki captain amid the chaos.
• Aaron transformed into a Bloodthirster, knocked back the red dragon, and struck it with a brass light blade, but the dragon escaped the killing blow and counterattacked.
• Aaron dodged the dragon’s wing attack and used Khorne’s Execute to destroy its brain, then restrained two dying Githyanki.
• Aaron called out Lady Mysty Tanshul, who emerged from the woods and asked whether he liked her gift.

Aaron met Lady Mysty after defeating an Adult Red Dragon and learned she had arranged the battle between the Zhentarim and the Githyanki. Mysty transported the spoils to Aaron’s territory, then led him to a secluded cave for their meeting, where they disagreed over her destruction of the Githyanki eggs.

• Lady Mysty praised Aaron’s transformation and revealed that she had arranged the encounter between the Zhentarim and the Githyanki.
• Mysty said she had killed the Githyanki in their nursery, while Aaron objected that their eggs were innocent.
• Aaron collected armor, valuables, Dragon-Slaying Ballistas, Basilisks, and the Adult Red Dragon’s corpse, and Mysty sent the loot through a gate to the Shadowfell.
• Mysty and Aaron left their compromised meeting place and discussed the Githyanki, including their egg-laying and raids on the Realms.
• Mysty led Aaron into a deserted mountain hollow and invited him into a cave with a magic array at its entrance.

Aaron recounted his recent battles and plans to Lady Mysty, who grew jealous of his devotion to the Lady of Silver and pressed him to compare their beauty. After their intimate encounter, Mysty aligned Aaron’s powers and unlocked his Lord of Change transformation, then gave him a legendary Githyanki Silver Sword.

• Aaron told Lady Mysty about the Battle of Arabel, his defeat of the Son of Tyranny, and his plans for his territory and the Lady of Silver.
• Lady Mysty showed jealousy when Aaron described his devotion to the Lady of Silver, and Aaron suspected Mysty was connected to Shar.
• Lady Mysty demanded to know whether she or the Lady of Silver was prettier, and Aaron praised Mysty’s beauty and appeal.
• Lady Mysty and Aaron shared an intimate encounter that helped him synchronize his powers and unlock the Lord of Change’s Transformation Ability.
• Lady Mysty gave Aaron a legendary Githyanki Silver Sword and asked him to keep her in his heart and bring her news from the outside world.

Mysty gave Aaron a Githyanki Silver Sword, helped conceal it, and watched him reshape it into a staff he named Night Without Light. She revealed that she was Telamont Tanshul’s daughter and a princess of the City of Shade, then warned Aaron not to rely blindly on the Nether Scroll he had found.

• Aaron hesitated to accept Mysty’s Githyanki Silver Sword because the Githyanki would hunt for it, but Mysty enchanted it to hide it from their senses.
• Aaron used his psionics to reshape the sword into an emerald staff bearing Tzeentch’s symbol, and Mysty named it Night Without Light.
• Mysty told Aaron she was Telamont Tanshul’s daughter and explained how the Flying City Sultansa had escaped Netheril’s fall by moving into the Shadow Plane.
• Mysty boasted that the City of Shade had thousands of soldiers and golems, while Aaron calmly claimed he could summon an army to oppose them.
• Aaron showed Mysty the Nether Scroll he had recovered from a Serpentfolk ruin, and she warned him that the Scrolls were incomplete and he should not rely on them blindly.

Mysty revealed the Nether Scrolls’ Sarrukh origins, their corrupted fifth chapter, and the hidden force that gave and later reclaimed them, while Aaron traded knowledge with her before leaving for Senior Reynard’s engagement. At the ruined Creche, a Githyanki commander blamed the Zhentarim for the massacre and found a spell scroll that chaos magic made him believe was genuine.

• Mysty told Aaron that the Sarrukh created the Nether Scrolls to collect other civilizations’ magic, but their encrypted fifth chapter prevented the Netherese from advancing beyond the knowledge it provided.
• Mysty claimed the Netherese’s celebrated inventions relied on stealing Mystryl’s power, and she said most Nether Scrolls had been destroyed while some were hidden in Myth Drannor.
• Mysty promised to reveal the identity of the person behind the scrolls once Aaron reached legendary rank, arranged to meet him again in a year, and exchanged information and magic with him.
• Aaron left the cave at dawn and flew south to attend Senior Reynard’s engagement ceremony.
• A Githyanki legion arrived at the destroyed Creche and found its guards slaughtered, its eggs destroyed, and a trail pointing to the Zhentarim.
• A Githyanki warrior found a Chaos Wish spell scroll, and chaos magic convinced the enraged commander that it was genuine, prompting him to pursue the Zhentarim.

Reynard abandoned his engagement to Maria-Lysa and disappeared from Cormyr, leaving Lucian disgraced and ill as Earl Lysa took the matter to the Royal Court. Aaron then learned that Disma had been seen in Cormanthor Forest with members of the Zhentarim, raising suspicions of treason.

• After fighting Disma and failing to bring him back, Reynard visited Maria-Lysa and gave her a Sunfire Pearl necklace.
• Reynard told Maria-Lysa that he had devoted his life to Torm, played her one last song, and disappeared after leaving Suzail.
• Aaron learned that Reynard had crossed the border and that Earl Lysa had brought people to confront Lucian at the knightly order.
• Aaron and Eleanor apologized to Earl Lysa, who threatened to take Lucian before the Royal Court; Lucian collapsed and was hospitalized.
• Lady Milmantle Rhaur told Aaron that Disma had been seen in Cormanthor Forest with several members of the Zhentarim.

Aaron learned that Disma had been sighted in Cormanthor Forest and decided to travel to Myth Drannor to investigate, pursue his other goals, and deliver Banneret Lucian’s message. After making Eleanor steward of Sunset Lands and receiving Lady Laeral’s information and a badge for her contact Sandra Windrider, Aaron began preparing for the dangerous journey.

• Lady Laeral comforted Banneret Lucian and told Aaron and Eleanor that Disma had been spotted traveling with Zhentarim members in Cormanthor Forest.
• Aaron decided to go to Myth Drannor and appointed Eleanor temporary steward of Sunset Lands while he was away.
• Lady Laeral gave Aaron intelligence about Cormanthor Forest and a badge to present to her Ranger contact, Sandra Windrider.
• Banneret Lucian asked Aaron to speak with Disma and warned him to put justice and peace first if Disma had joined the Dark Sun or the Son of Tyranny.
• Aaron prepared for the journey, settled matters with Eleanor, and found Barrel Moonflower at a tavern, where the Sun Elf asked for a final farewell before Aaron left.

Aaron fought off a bandit ambush on his way to Cormanthor Forest, then reached the Snowforest Inn to seek Sandra Windrider’s help. There, he learned that strange, devil-like elves had been seen in the forest.

• Aaron refused to surrender his weapons to four bandits, killed several of them, and used a Chaos Spawn to distract their reinforcements.
• Aaron found a caravan’s wreckage and bodies near the road, but left without questioning the bandits after their reinforcements arrived.
• Aaron reached the Snowforest Inn and revealed that he was Aaron Salian, the Kingmaker, prompting the innkeeper to arrange for Sandra Windrider to be summoned.
• Aaron overheard adventurers say that Alma had seen living elves with red horns and black bat wings in Cormanthor Forest.

Aaron learned that Fey'ri were tied to the bandits and agreed to Sandra Windrider’s request to rescue captives from their hideout. He killed the guards, cleared the cave, and carried out one surviving prisoner, who secretly woke and felt humiliated at needing rescue.

• Aaron heard that Alma had seen wealthy, horned elves and realized the description matched the Fey'ri.
• Sandra Windrider asked Aaron to rescue young people captured by bandits in exchange for helping him find a route to Myth Drannor, and he agreed.
• Aaron and Sandra found the bandits’ cave, where a Fey'ri noble left with an entourage.
• Aaron killed the guards, charmed the Abyss-tainted dogs, and used them to reach a chamber where he killed six bandits and the remaining dogs.
• Aaron found one living prisoner and carried him out of the cave; the prisoner secretly woke and resented having needed rescue.

After rescuing Annomyn, Aaron heard a mysterious call from a rotten place in Cormanthor Forest and discovered a sleeping elven girl bound inside a corrupted tree. Be'lakor revealed that he had lured Aaron there and challenged him to a contest for the Crown of Chaos, leaving their struggle about to begin.

• Annomyn woke at the Snowforest Inn, revealed he was a son of the pashas from Calimshan, and asked Aaron to take him into Cormanthor Forest.
• Aaron refused to help Annomyn with his private matter, but Sandra said she would take Aaron into the forest the next morning.
• That night, Aaron heard a voice calling for help from the Tree of Mist, followed its call to a rotten place in the north, and found a sleeping elven girl inside a bound tree.
• The girl warned Aaron to be careful, and he narrowly evaded an attack before recognizing Be'lakor as the ambusher.
• Be'lakor claimed he had lured Aaron there, demanded the powers of the four gods, and challenged him to a contest in which the winner would wear the Crown of Chaos.

After Be'lakor invaded his dreams, Aaron weighed his options and prayed to the Lady of the Silver Moon for help before continuing toward Myth Drannor. In Shadowdale, he failed to find Elminster, learned why Annomyn had come seeking water from Myth Drannor, and agreed to help him as the group prepared to enter Cormanthor Forest.

• Aaron woke from a blood-filled dream of Be'lakor, considered summoning powerful Force Dragons or using Moradin's divine scroll, and prayed to the Lady of the Silver Moon for help.
• Aaron, Sandra, and Annomyn arrived in Shadowdale, where Elminster's apprentice told them the Great Sage was away.
• Aaron agreed to let Sandra guide him toward Myth Drannor after deciding not to visit Storm Silverhand.
• Annomyn explained that he needed water from Myth Drannor's Pool of Glilraeril to persuade a djinni to cure his gravely ill mother.
• Aaron accepted Annomyn's request without taking his ruby, and the group prepared to enter Cormanthor Forest.

Aaron reached the outskirts of Myth Drannor after Lady Sandra warned him about the dangers and revealed she was the sole survivor of a 36-person expedition. As he entered the mist-shrouded ruins, where magic and perception became unreliable, mushroom-bodied monsters ambushed him.

• Lady Sandra guided Aaron through the forest and explained that the Dawn Seekers’ expeditions into Myth Drannor caused heavy casualties.
• At a waterfall, Sandra warned Aaron to be cautious and said that she had survived alone from an expedition of 36 people who entered Myth Drannor.
• Aaron flew up the cliff, reflected on Myth Drannor’s history and former harmony, and wondered whether he could restore its glory.
• Aaron entered the mist at Myth Drannor’s outskirts, where his connection to the Weave faltered and sorrowful Elvish echoes distracted him.
• Several humanoid monsters with mushroom upper bodies and humanlike legs lunged at Aaron from the mist and ruins.

Aaron fought his way through the ruined waterworks and unveiled Flensing Blades, a powerful Slaanesh spell that annihilated a Fey'ri squad. He then reached Myth Drannor's outskirts, where the corrupted mythal severed his connection to the Weave.

• Aaron burned six charging mushroom men with Tzeentch's Fire, then escaped a larger horde with Misty Step.
• Two Fey'ri spotted Aaron and sent a messenger to report the intruder before pursuing him into the underground pumping network.
• Aaron killed several Fey'ri pursuers and provoked the remaining squad by insulting their bloodline.
• Aaron absorbed the Fey'ri's hatred and unleashed Flensing Blades, destroying the entire squad of eight.
• Aaron found his way out and entered Myth Drannor's outskirts, where the corrupted mythal cut off his access to the Weave.

Aaron sheltered in Myth Drannor, where the Emperor discussed the city's collapse, Aaron's dream of building a harmonious civilization, and the threat posed by Be'lakor. After the Emperor tasked him with finding Rogal Dorn, Aaron explored the ruins alone and spotted Disma in a military tent.

• Aaron entered a building infested with Banshees and used Slaanesh's power to undo their curse, then sealed the structure with Wall of Stone.
• Aaron reflected on Myth Drannor's history, including Coronal Iltarglin's departure, the failed succession, and the city's ensuing decline.
• The Emperor appeared and challenged Aaron's hopes for restoring Myth Drannor, while Aaron declared that Reincarnation could prove different races could coexist.
• The Emperor warned Aaron that Be'lakor was cunning and losing power with each battle, then asked him to find and awaken Rogal Dorn in exchange for teaching him to elevate Living Saints.
• Aaron adapted to Myth Drannor's mist and explored its ruins alone, avoiding several patrols and adventuring groups before recognizing Disma in a military tent.

Xvim rewarded Fuzol and set out for Thay while Aaron entered Myth Drannor to pursue his objective. In Sune’s ruined temple, Aaron transformed into a Lord of Change and defeated its wraiths, preparing the temple as a trap for Be'lakor.

• Xvim gave Fuzol treasure, a white dragon, and command over thirty more dragons before departing for Thay to rebuild Bane’s forces.
• Aaron followed Barrel’s map to Myth Drannor’s Alliance District, seeking the ruined temple of Sune that Mama Selûne had described.
• Aaron transformed into a Lord of Change as wraiths rose from the temple’s dried pool and attacked him.
• Aaron fought off the wraiths with magic and the Sword of the Dark Moon, then used Banishment Light to weaken the remaining creatures and finished them with Chaos Bolt.
• Aaron collected shadow crystal fragments and decided to make Lady Firehair’s temple a place of heartbreak for Be'lakor.

After Aaron freed the cursed souls in Sune’s temple, he convinced the elven lich Belsa to help him lure and defeat the daemon pursuing him. Meanwhile, the Fey’ri summoned Be’lakor, who declared himself the fifth dark god and began asserting his power.

• Aaron’s Life spell freed the cursed souls and briefly revealed Myth Drannor as it had appeared in its golden age.
• Belsa attacked Aaron with Rope Golems, but stopped after Aaron recited an elven proverb and showed Barrel’s letter identifying him as a guest of the Moonflower Family.
• Belsa explained that he guarded the temple to witness visions of Myth Drannor’s past, and Aaron persuaded him that a powerful shadow daemon could destroy those visions.
• Aaron introduced himself to Belsa and asked him to use his magic to lure Aaron’s pursuer to a chosen location.
• The light above Sune’s temple drew Xvim, Disma, the Red Wizards’ adventuring party, and Lathander’s Dawn Seekers toward the disturbance.
• The Fey’ri completed their ritual, summoning Be’lakor; he consumed the eight sacrificial souls, proclaimed himself the Lord of Darkness, and destroyed a Mind Flayer ship for Salvi Draegajeth.

Be'lakor overwhelmed Myth Drannor’s defenders, defeating devils and a summoned Balor before crushing Lathander’s Sunstone. He left the scattered Dawn Seekers behind and continued searching for Aaron Salian.

• A Bloodthirster killed an Elder Brain while a Great Unclean One fought a Phaerimm amid the battle for Myth Drannor.
• Xvim fought a Keeper of Secrets as Be'lakor led the Shadow Legion against a devil army and ordered his forces toward Sune’s temple.
• Be'lakor attacked Zack, Rehanna, and their adventuring party, killing their mercenaries and a legendary Thayan Knight before the Red Wizards summoned a Balor and escaped.
• Be'lakor defeated the Balor and banished it by diverting its Death Throes into the Outer Planes.
• Rockefeller and the Dawn Seekers confronted Be'lakor, but he shattered Lathander’s Sunstone and blasted their ranks with a Shadow Wave.
• Be'lakor resumed searching for Aaron Salian.

Aaron lured Be'lakor into a prolonged fight inside Sune's temple, then unleashed a hidden Selûne array and joined forces with Belsa the Incomprehensible to immobilize him. Aaron used a scroll of Moradin's divine wrath to destroy Be'lakor, and the duel ended with Be'lakor dead beneath Myth Drannor's sky.

• Be'lakor crushed the Sunstone and entered Sune's temple, where he attacked Aaron and drove him into a desperate retreat.
• Aaron fought Be'lakor while concealing a Selûne array beneath the pool, then activated Lady of Silver's Astonishment and amplified its light with Slaanesh's Mirror.
• Be'lakor suppressed Selûne's divine power, shattered the mirrors, and wounded Aaron, but the moonlight left Be'lakor badly injured.
• Belsa the Incomprehensible used Wish to channel Myth Drannor's mythal and immobilize Be'lakor.
• Aaron unleashed Moradin's divine wrath from a scroll, disintegrating Be'lakor, then declared that their duel was over and called him Be'loser.