Chapter Summaries

Aaron secured the Chaos Gods’ support for a journey to the Abyss to rescue Waukeen, then gathered his companions and prepared a route through Hell. The group planned to stop in Amn first, where Aaron would handle several threats and seek help from Waukeen’s church.

• Shar commanded Aaron to succeed and return alive, and told him to leave Jergal to her.
• Aaron sought reassurance from Eleanor, then won support from Khorne, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh for the Abyss expedition, while Nurgle refused to help.
• Morgan, Annomyn, Samir, and Aaron formed the expedition party, with Raphael agreeing to assist under a devil’s contract.
• Aaron arranged for Eleanor and Charlotte to serve as cover while he traveled, and Annomyn and Samir explained their personal reasons for joining.
• Morgan proposed traveling through Hell and the Blood War battlefield to reach the Abyss, while Aaron said they would first go to Amn to deal with enemies and seek the Church of Waukeen’s help.

Aaron and his companions traveled to Amn to prepare for rescuing Waukeen and disrupting Cyric’s plans. In Athkatla, Lady Saint Coin secretly gathered Waukeen’s faithful, while Aaron’s party arrived to offer her a bargain and found Nastya and Viconia waiting.

• Corellon revealed himself to Barrel, took him to Arvandor for training, and Aaron’s group set out for Amn.
• Lady Saranda Orem secretly organized Waukeen’s faithful after Halanna’s nightmares convinced her that Waukeen might be imprisoned and in need of help.
• Aaron’s group decided to seek Lady Orem’s support, eliminate Tinos Agrim and Halken Akmilil, and continue preparations for their mission in the Abyss.
• Morgan explained the party’s plan to secure Six-Fingers’ mark in Baldur’s Gate and wait for Cynthia before entering Azzagrat.
• Aaron and his companions reached Athkatla, where Nastya and Viconia were waiting for them.

Aaron and Nastya arrived in Athkatla, where they learned Abdel was imprisoned after a deadly fight and began seeking his release. The Eye of Judgment agreed to free Abdel and Sarevok if Aaron investigated a nobleman’s murder and paid bail, while he hinted that he recognized Nastya’s violent past.

• Nastya introduced Viconia to Aaron and arranged identification badges before the group split up to pursue its plans in Amn.
• Nastya told Aaron that Imoen had joined the Shadow Thieves and that Abdel and Sarevok were imprisoned after killing forty-three people and destroying fifteen houses.
• Aaron visited the Church of Helm and asked the Eye of Judgment to release Abdel.
• The Eye of Judgment offered to release Abdel and Sarevok if Aaron investigated Ferdinand’s murder and paid sufficient bail.
• The Eye of Judgment hinted that he knew Nastya had once been a murderous master of shadows, and Nastya hurried Aaron away.

Aaron visited Abdel and Sarevok in the Church of Helm’s prison, promised to work toward their release, and offered them a bargain: surrender Baal’s bloodline in exchange for Chaos Seeds, greater power, and a wish. Abdel eagerly asked whether Aaron could help him win Jaheira’s heart.

• Abdel and Sarevok discussed their imprisonment, the deaths of Khalid and Dynaheir, and Abdel’s feelings for Jaheira as they waited for Imoen to help them.
• Aaron arrived with Nastya, reassured Abdel that he would seek the prisoners’ release, and encouraged him to pursue Jaheira.
• Aaron explained that Baal’s bloodline threatened to erode their minds and offered to extract it in exchange for Chaos Seeds and one fulfilled wish each.
• Sarevok questioned Aaron about the transformation, and Abdel asked him to help win Jaheira’s heart.

Aaron explained that he needed Bhaal’s divinity to enter the domain of slaughter and planned to rescue Waukeen to gain access to exchange. He identified Reynard as the killer of Ferdinand, then shifted the blame to Cyric’s followers, while Morgan reached the Golden Spires with news of Waukeen and a rescue from Hell.

• Aaron told Nastya that Gorion’s influence had restrained Abdel’s murderous urges, which instead manifested as his infatuation with Jaheira.
• Aaron explained that he needed Bhaal’s divinity and Waukeen’s cooperation to claim the domains of slaughter and exchange, and Nastya insisted on joining his rescue mission.
• Aaron recognized Reynard as Ferdinand’s murderer and decided to report that Cyric’s followers were responsible.
• Morgan presented a bloodstained divine gold coin to gain an audience with Lady Saint Coin Orem at the Golden Spires.
• Morgan told Orem that he had returned from Hell with news of Waukeen and her last hope: a rescue worth a hundred million.

Morgan and Lady Saint Coin confirmed that Waukeen was imprisoned in the Abyss, and they agreed to support Aaron’s expedition in exchange for his help rescuing her. As the group waited for allies to arrive, Aaron and Nastya slipped away together for the night.

• Morgan explained that Graz'zt had imprisoned Waukeen in Azzagrat and was trying to force her to surrender her divine rank.
• Lady Saint Coin showed Morgan that her student Halanna was suffering from divine illusions sent by Waukeen during her escape attempt.
• Lady Saint Coin agreed to provide force and political support for Aaron’s plan to hunt Cyric’s high-ranking priests, and the expedition took the code name Waukeen.
• Aaron and the others settled into Silver Valley Estate while they awaited Jaheira and other allies, and Morgan described a route through the Infinite Staircase to Avernus.
• Nastya pulled Aaron away from the others and invited him upstairs to spend the night together.

After Aaron and Nastya reunited, the group explained their reasons for rescuing Waukeen, while Morgan revealed his plans to escape the Nine Hells with his pregnant lover and child. Aaron then enlisted the Church of Waukeen to help destroy the Church of the Dark Sun in Amn, and Lady Saint Coin authorized the operation.

• Aaron told Nastya that she would always have a place by his side, and she chose to remain in the Sunset Lands rather than return to Sallyan Castle.
• Aaron, Nastya, Samir, Annomyn, and Morgan shared their reasons for joining the expedition to rescue Waukeen, and Morgan revealed that his Daemonette lover Cynthia was pregnant.
• Morgan said he wanted to leave the Nine Hells with Cynthia and their child while keeping his power, and Aaron promised he could free Morgan from the primordial pact and the control of Mammon and Asmodeus.
• Aaron asked Della and Helena to help target the Church of the Dark Sun in Amn, and they agreed to his plan.
• Lady Saint Coin approved Aaron's plan to uproot the Dark Sun's church and followers in Amn, authorizing the killing to begin.

Aaron and the Church of Waukeen captured Tenghakh, the Church of Cyric's overseer in Athkatla, and Aaron sent a Changeling to impersonate him and infiltrate Cyric's circle. After reuniting with Imoen and her companions, Aaron went to Waukeen's Promenade to inspect a supposed relic of Selûne, where he was framed for the murder of Amn's Grand Justiciar.

• The Church of Waukeen used Elemental Frost and six legendary operatives to capture Tenghakh, then handed him over to Aaron and his allies.
• Aaron ordered a Changeling to impersonate Tenghakh and report to Cyric with a fabricated plan, then extracted the password to Tenghakh's safe.
• Imoen, Jaheira, and the others arrived at Silver Valley Estate, where Aaron explained he could not yet secure Abdel's or Sarevok's release.
• Aaron and his companions visited Waukeen's Promenade after he heard a sacred relic of Selûne would be auctioned.
• Aaron uncovered a bloody severed head beneath a cloth, and guards accused him of murdering Grand Justiciar Mertle Slandshant.

Aaron was framed for murder in Waukeen's Promenade, but the Church of the Dark Sun seized the spectacle to reveal itself and proclaim Cyric's rule. The chapter ended with Gilda revealed as Cyric's avatar, forced to thank Tenghakh after the cleric dedicated the performance to him.

• Aaron was surrounded by Helmite guards and Cowled Wizards after Grand Justiciar Melt was murdered, but Melt's head vanished from the scene.
• Cyric appeared over Waukeen's Promenade as Tenghakh revealed himself as a cleric of the Dark Sun and presented the missing head.
• Tenghakh showed the crowd a vision of Tinos killing the Palma patriarch and the patriarch's guards, then declared war on gods and powers across the planes.
• Cyric's symbol flew toward Gilda, whom Tenghakh addressed as his lord, and Gilda revealed himself as Cyric's avatar before thanking Tenghakh through gritted teeth.

Gods across the realms reacted to Cyric’s declaration of war while Aaron and Samir explained how Aaron’s staged spectacle exploited Cyric’s divine portfolio. When Cyric ordered his followers to attack Aaron, Tenghakh instead knelt and kowtowed, turning the watched confrontation into a joke and leaving Cyric furious.

• Selûne, Jergal, Torm, Shar, and other gods reacted to Cyric’s declaration of war, while a vagrant in Athkatla began to remember a greater identity tied to the sun.
• Samir explained that Aaron’s performance forced Cyric to uphold his portfolio, and Aaron revealed that Cyric’s apparent avatar and Holy Symbol were part of the deception.
• Cyric’s Holy Symbol cleared Aaron of the murder accusation, declared him a target, and challenged the gods to witness history as Tenghakh charged at him.
• Aaron readied his Sword of the Dark Moon, but Tenghakh and his shadow clone slid to their knees and begged Aaron to submit to Cyric.
• Tenghakh blamed the auction-house carpet for ruining his attack, then repeated his kowtow as mortals and gods laughed at Cyric.
• Cyric’s avatar lost his temper and screamed while Tenghakh stood proudly beneath the crowd’s laughter.

Aaron and the Changeling turned Cyric’s confrontation into a humiliating circus performance, provoking Cyric to attack Aaron directly. The gods then beat Cyric’s avatar into destruction, leaving Aaron free to set his sights on Hell.

• The Cyric Avatar tried to attack Tenghakh, but Midnight and Talos intervened, and the Tengjia Army began a circus performance demanding that Aaron submit to Cyric.
• Tenghakh and the six followers performed increasingly elaborate tricks before Aaron, then staged their own deaths while Aaron pretended to kill them.
• Cyric lost control and attacked Aaron with divine power, but Aaron escaped into the Feywild using Crescent Eight Steps.
• The gods turned on Cyric for attacking Aaron and battered his combat avatar until it was destroyed.
• Aaron’s threat from Cyric was over, and he prepared to head to Hell.

After Cyric’s avatar was destroyed, Aaron departed for Baldur’s Gate and entered a portal to Hell with his companions. During the journey, a golden light caught him, and the Emperor revealed that it was time to disclose the mysteries of the unborn Fifth Chaos God, the Dark King.

• The Saint Coin ordered the Church of Waukeen to follow Salian’s plan to besiege Halken and outlaw the worship of the Dark Sun, while leaving Tinos alone.
• Aaron sent Imoen’s party to raise Abdel and Sarevok’s ransom, then traveled with his group from Athkatla to Baldur’s Gate.
• At The Devil’s Fee, Morgan met Raphael, who said he had hidden Cynthia and prepared a portal to Avernus in exchange for Morgan’s help.
• Aaron, Nastya, Morgan, Samir, and Annomyn entered the portal and plunged through the planes toward Hell.
• A golden light caught Aaron in the darkness, and the Emperor announced that he would reveal the mysteries of the unborn Fifth Chaos God, the Dark King.

Aaron met the Emperor at the Infinite Staircase and learned that the Emperor had been destined to become the Dark King, but had delayed his ascension on the Golden Throne. The Emperor transferred his Dark King authority to Aaron, asking him to become the Lord of Reincarnation and end the ascension ritual.

• Aaron encountered the Emperor, whose body was divided between golden light and pale nothingness, at the gates of Hell, which the Emperor identified as Yggdrasil, the Infinite Staircase.
• The Emperor explained that the Imperium could serve as a catalyst for the Dark King's birth, and that Horus's duel with him aboard the Vengeful Spirit would have completed the ascension ritual whichever of them won.
• The Emperor revealed that he had used the Golden Throne and ten thousand years of human faith to keep himself between ascension and death, preventing the Dark King from being born.
• The Emperor asked Aaron to inherit his authority, become the Fifth Chaos God and Lord of Reincarnation, and let the Emperor return to protecting humanity; Aaron accepted.
• The Emperor transferred his white-flame authority to Aaron, completing the concept of Destined Death, and Aaron asked whether the Emperor's sacrifices had been worth it.
• The Emperor smiled and said that his choice to bear the burden was a sacrifice for everyone.

Aaron endured the Emperor’s transfer of the white flames, was reborn with a source seed of their power, and entered Avernus with Morgan’s party to begin their business. The party sheltered him from the plane’s hostility while they waited for a convoy to arrive.

• Aaron endured the Emperor’s agonizing transfer of power as the Emperor’s humanity began to return and the Golden Law slowly repaired Magnus’s Webway breach.
• The Emperor gave Aaron a white-flame source seed and warned him about would-be gods seeking to steal it, then asked him to capture Perturabo and Lorgar if possible.
• Aaron left the Emperor and traveled through the Infinite Staircase to the gate leading to Hell.
• Aaron emerged in Avernus and felt the Nine Hells suppressing and rejecting his presence.
• Nastia led Aaron behind a hill, and Dark Elf Sister gave him an amethyst ring that eased the planar pressure.
• Morgan said the group was in Avernus to do business and complained that Zariel’s rule was disrupting trade while they waited for a convoy.

Aaron and his companions struggled through Avernus, where the plane weakened their powers, and Morgan guided them toward the Wandering Emporium. There, they unexpectedly encountered Astarion, who recognized Aaron and Nastya and begged them to save him.

• Aaron and his companions endured Avernus's hostile conditions as Morgan explained how Zariel's rule had turned the layer into a war-ravaged wasteland.
• Morgan said they needed to reach the Wandering Emporium and obtain a Hellcar before their mind-shielding rings expired in seven days.
• Aaron's group defeated a demon warband, took its Hellcar, and crossed Avernus through repeated battles.
• Aaron and his companions reached Mahadi's Wandering Emporium, where Morgan greeted the merchant lord.
• Mahadi summoned Astarion, who emerged in a bunny-girl outfit, recognized Aaron as Lord Salian and Nastya as Lady Julia, and begged them to save him.

Aaron and his companions encountered Astarion enslaved at Mahadi’s Wandering Emporium, where Morgan bought out his debt. Astarion recounted his failed attempt at vampire ascension and his journey through the Blood War, while Morgan decided to use him as a gift for Six-Fingers to gain access to the Silver Palace and Waukeen.

• Aaron warned Astarion not to reveal their identities, and Mahadi explained that Astarion had become his slave after accruing an unpaid debt.
• Morgan paid Mahadi for Astarion’s freedom and brought him with Aaron’s group to the Infernal Pleasure City.
• Astarion told Aaron that he had killed Cazador, attempted the vampire ascension ritual, and been rescued by Slaanesh after it failed.
• Astarion explained that demons had conscripted him into the Blood War and that he had escaped Zariel’s forces before falling into Mahadi’s debt.
• Morgan sent Astarion to fetch Aaron a drink, then revealed that he planned to offer Astarion as a gift to Six-Fingers to gain access to the Silver Palace and Waukeen.

Aaron recruited Astarion through a contract and negotiated an alliance with Bael to overthrow Zariel. After Aaron's party left Infernal Pleasure City, Mahadi delivered a copy of their contract to Asmodeus, who decided to watch what happened next.

• Morgan offered Astarion a place in the party in exchange for traveling with them and providing services, and Astarion signed the contract after searching it for loopholes.
• Aaron met Bael in Infernal Pleasure City and proposed cooperating to remove Zariel as Archduke of Avernus.
• Aaron and Bael negotiated for eighteen hours, signed a detailed Hell Contract, and agreed to work together against Zariel.
• Aaron's party left Infernal Pleasure City for the front lines of the Blood War, where Bael said they might encounter Zariel.
• Mahadi revealed his rakshasa form and delivered a copy of Aaron and Bael's contract to Asmodeus, who praised its craft and told Mahadi to continue his business.

Aaron diverted the Hellcar to the Blood War battlefield, where he and his companions watched a vast demon army attack the devils’ fortresses. As the devils finally marched out to meet the demons, Morgan identified their flame-wreathed commander as Zariel, the former Solar and current Archduke of Avernus.

• Aaron learned that Zariel might recover her angelic memories if something triggered them, then persuaded Morgan to take the Hellcar to the Blood War battlefield.
• Astarion protested as the Hellcar carried him back toward the battlefield, where Aaron and his companions arrived and saw a demon army assembling along the River Styx.
• Khorne urged Aaron to bring his daemons into the Blood War, but Aaron blocked out the demand and watched the demon army gather under Demogorgon’s banner.
• A colossal balor commanded the demons to attack, and repeated waves of them charged the devil fortresses while the devils held their defenses.
• Zariel led an elite force of devils out of the fortress to confront the demons, and Morgan identified her to Aaron.

Aaron and his companions watched the Blood War begin as a vast demon army attacked a devil fortress in Avernus. When Zariel led a small force of elite devils out to confront the demons, Aaron finally saw the former Solar in battle.

• Aaron asked Morgan to take the Hellcar to the Blood War battlefield, and Morgan agreed after Aaron invoked the support of four greater deities.
• Aaron and his companions reached the battlefield, where nearly a million demons gathered under Demogorgon's banner while the devils waited inside their fortress.
• Demogorgon's commander began the assault, and waves of demons charged the fortress as its defenses slaughtered thousands at a time.
• After repeated attacks brought the fortress close to collapse, its gates opened and about twenty thousand elite devils marched out to meet the demon army.
• Morgan identified the flame-wreathed devil leading the counterattack as Zariel, the former Solar and current Archduchess of Avernus.

Eleanor and the Silver Hand Legion launched a surprise assault on the Church of the Dark Sun’s forces in Amn after Aaron’s plan enabled Selûne to enter the Dream Domain. Halken’s attempts to escape through repeated dreamlike loops left him surrounded and facing Eleanor’s coalition.

• Eleanor, Isobel, and Aylin agreed to begin their campaign in Amn while Aaron distracted the greater devils in Avernus.
• Eleanor used a dreamlike illusion to make Halken believe Cyric had discovered his treachery and stripped him of divine favor.
• The Silver Hand Legion and allied churches attacked the Dark Sun forces’ camp, breaking through its defenses as Aylin led the assault on the towers.
• Halken fled Eleanor and woke from what seemed to be a dream, only to find the same attack unfolding again; he killed a subordinate and tried to escape.
• Eleanor confronted Halken with Waukeen’s legendary combatants behind her and ordered the coalition to attack, while Selûne entered the Dream Domain.