Chapter Summaries

Mask trapped Kozef in a candle on Blackstaff Tower, intending to use the Chaos Hellhound to enter Cyric’s domain. As Aaron’s forces assaulted the City of Strife, Cyric stayed on his throne, refusing Jergal’s plea to face the attack and waiting for the Cyrinishad.

• Mask lured Kozef into a ritual trap and sealed the Chaos Hellhound inside a candle, planning to use him to reach Cyric’s domain.
• Aaron arrived at the burning City of Strife, where Kul-Gangus and the Chaos Army were fighting the Underworld’s defenders.
• Aaron and the Golden Law Beast destroyed dracoliches as Kul-Gangus reported that the Chaos forces were winning and Ka'Bandha had taken Ravenhold.
• Aaron considered the assault a way to weaken Cyric and take his authority, while recognizing that ascending to godhood would bring him into conflict with the Chaos Gods.
• Jergal urged Cyric to confront Aaron’s army, but Cyric threatened him and refused to leave the throne, waiting for his avatar to return with the Cyrinishad.

Mask entered Pandemonium to steal the Cyrinishad, but reading it made him worship Cyric and attack Shar. Aaron’s absurd claim that Cyric had sold his ass counteracted the book’s influence on Shar, who fled with Mask’s [Intrigue] portfolio as Kozef neared freedom.

• Mask used the candle that sealed Kozef to find Cyric’s hiding place in Pandemonium and opened the sealed room containing the Cyrinishad.
• Mask read the Cyrinishad and became convinced that Cyric was the only true god, then prostrated himself before the book.
• Shar arrived and tried to take the Cyrinishad, but Mask attacked her in the name of Cyric; she restrained him with a prison of shadows.
• Shar read the Cyrinishad while Aaron’s Word of Truth made her hear Aaron’s story that Cyric had been adopted and educated by selling his ass, counteracting the book’s influence.
• As Mask’s weakened seal let Kozef begin to break free, Shar failed to seize the Cyrinishad, tore the [Intrigue] portfolio from Mask, and escaped.

Kozef escaped into Pandemonium while Cyric’s forces lost control of the Underworld. After Cyric broke Godsbane and learned Mask had been the sword all along, Kelemvor appeared to claim the Underworld crown and confront him.

• Kozef emerged from the candle and chased Mask through Pandemonium, while the Cyrinishad remained behind.
• Cyric fought the invading Chaos forces as Jergal urged him to defend the Bone Bastion and stabilize the Underworld.
• Cyric accused Jergal of treachery and raised Godsbane to kill him, but the sword revealed that Mask was the real traitor and had hidden Kelemvor inside it.
• Cyric snapped Godsbane in two, destroying Mask’s avatar and losing control of the Underworld as his crown fell from his mouth.
• Kelemvor appeared before Cyric holding the Underworld crown and declared that he had come for revenge.

Kelemvor fought Cyric for the crown of the Underworld while Aaron refused the throne and waited for the outcome. Aaron and Eilistraee stopped Cyric from fleeing, and Drach'nyen consumed Cyric's black fire and revealed Leira's Phantom Crown, leaving Aaron with 2.5 crowns.

• Kelemvor attacked Cyric after recovering his memories, and the two fought while Aaron dismissed the army of Chaos outside the City of Strife.
• Eilistraee visited Aaron and asked him to help Kelemvor, but Aaron said Kelemvor would win the fight.
• Kelemvor overpowered Cyric and made him flee the Underworld, but Aaron blocked his escape with Drach'nyen.
• Eilistraee restrained Cyric with her burning hair while Aaron stabbed him, and Cyric's black fire burned away her conjured hair.
• Drach'nyen swallowed Cyric's black fire and produced Leira's Phantom Crown, leaving Aaron as the rising star with 2.5 crowns.

After Cyric was driven from the Underworld, Kelemvor claimed the realm’s throne and became its new god of death, while Aaron and Eilistraee arrived to meet him. The mortal world remained trapped in suffering until the Underworld had a ruler, and Aaron continued to plan how to deal with Cyric and secure another divine portfolio.

• Eilistraee told Aaron she had known Lyla and agreed to remain in the Underworld to witness its new king’s rise.
• Manshoon and people across the Realms continued to suffer because the dead had nowhere to go while the Underworld had no lord.
• Kelemvor rejected Jergal’s advice to hurry to the Pantheon, proclaimed that the Underworld belonged to its inhabitants, and threw Godsbane into the River Styx.
• Ao named Kelemvor Lyonsbane the new king of the Underworld, and Jergal began directing souls to their destinations.
• Kelemvor welcomed Aaron and Eilistraee, made peace with Aaron over their shared hatred of Cyric, and agreed they would face Cyric together next time.

After Cyric’s defeat, Kelemvor became King of the Underworld and began judging the dead, while Aaron went before the High God Council to seek the Crown of Murder. The council prepared to vote as Cyric awoke in Pandemonium and heard a mysterious voice invite others into his mind.

• Kelemvor thanked Aaron for freeing him, and Aaron explained that Jergal had chosen him to rule the Underworld.
• Mystra, Torm, and Oghma arrived in the City of Strife, where Kelemvor reunited with Mystra and transformed the Castle of Bones into a crystal spire for his court.
• Torm invited Aaron to the Pantheon to discuss the Cyrinishad and the High God Council’s decision on the Crown of Murder.
• Kelemvor began judging the dead, while the High God Council gathered to vote on whether Aaron would become the new Lord of Murder.
• Cyric woke in Pandemonium, heard a strange voice mocking him and offering help, and laughed as it urged him to let others in.

Aaron stood before the High God Council to win the [Murder] portfolio, arguing that he had fulfilled his agreement by defeating Cyric. The council granted him [Murder], but Ao’s final decree gave him the title Lord of Reincarnation and added the unexpected portfolio of Stockings.

• Tyr opened the vote on whether Aaron should receive [Murder], and Aaron defended his claim by citing his fight against Cyric and the gods’ agreement.
• Talos, Shar, Kelemvor, Silvanus, and Oghma supported Aaron, while Sune, Tempus, Chauntea, and Lathander opposed granting him [Murder]; Tyr disqualified Midnight from voting.
• Tyr cast the deciding vote for Aaron, and the High God Council declared that [Murder] would be granted to him in Ao’s name.
• Ao questioned whether Aaron could preserve Realmspace’s balance under pressure from the four evil gods, and Aaron said he was ready.
• Ao formally named him Lord of Reincarnation with the portfolios Strife, Murder, Phantoms, and Stockings, prompting Aaron to protest.

Aaron accepted Ao’s terms and ascended as a Lesser Deity while using his Phantom portfolio to conceal his godhood across Realmspace. He left the Pole Star Encampment to meet Selûne and Eilistraee, intending to keep his ascension hidden until he could take Chaos from Lolth.

• Aaron asked Ao to let him wield the Phantom portfolio before ascending, and Ao approved his request and accepted the divine name Aaron, Lord of Reincarnation.
• Aaron returned to the Pole Star Encampment, where Helm was startled to find him unharmed and learned that Aaron called himself the God of Stockings.
• Aaron realized Selûne had helped secure Oghma’s support and resolved to protect Eilistraee from Lolth.
• Aaron revealed that he had ascended as a Lesser Deity with the portfolios of Strife, Phantom, Murder, and Stockings, but concealed his ascension with an illusion covering Realmspace.
• Aaron left the encampment to join Selûne and Eilistraee, planning to strip the Chaos portfolio from Lolth.

Aaron told Selûne and Eilistraee that he had secretly become a god and planned to reveal his power during a future strike against Lolth. Eilistraee agreed to join Selûne and Aaron, while Selûne urged Aaron to marry; after the fall of Ravenhold, Aegir discovered Cormyr’s lost royal seal and Dragon Crown.

• Aaron met Eilistraee and Selûne outside the Pole Star Encampment, then followed them to the Moon Gate after Selûne spoke with Helm.
• Selûne confronted Aaron about his risky actions against Cyric, and Aaron explained that an illusion concealed his ascension so he could surprise Lolth during her bid to become a Greater Deity.
• Eilistraee said Corellon approved her leaving the Cindarella and Underdark pantheons, and she agreed to join Selûne and Aaron as the Lady of Masks.
• Aaron and Eilistraee agreed to act as Selûne’s subordinate deities while helping her become a Greater Deity, and Selûne told Aaron to hurry up and marry Eleanor, Charlotte, and Alusair.
• After Ravenhold fell, Robert reported that the Zhentarim stronghold held three hundred tons of gold and showed Aegir the lost royal seal of Azoun IV and Cormyr’s Dragon Crown.
• Aegir concluded that the recovered royal treasures were a sign that destiny favored Aaron.

After the war in the Moonsea ended, Aegir used Cormyr’s recovered Dragon Crown to push Aaron toward the throne while he returned as a newly ascended god. Aaron tried to refuse the coronation, but his allies crowned him and proclaimed him the new king.

• Aegir learned that Cormyr’s Dragon Crown had been recovered and decided to make Aaron king, summoning Maximian and Nastya to help.
• The fey’ri lost the Dragon Crown during their rout by Xvim’s Dark Army, and the Western Army’s victory ended the war in the Moonsea.
• Outside Zhentil Keep, Eleanor worried that Aaron’s ascension would widen the distance between them, while Charlotte hinted at another surprise.
• Aaron returned to the Moonsea as a god, and Nastya sent him out to announce victory to the assembled Western Army.
• Maximian, Robert, and Aegir dressed Aaron in royal garments and placed Cormyr’s Dragon Crown on his head despite his protests.
• Aegir, Nastya, and the gathered troops proclaimed Aaron the new king as cannon fire sounded.

After the fall of Zhentil Keep, Aaron withdrew from the Moonsea’s politics by granting its lands to loyal allies while rejecting a rebellion against Cormyr. He revealed that he planned to marry Alusair, making their child heir to the Cormyrian throne as well as his other domains.

• Elminster, Khelben Blackstaff, and Laeral Silverhand left the Moonsea after Elminster urged Aaron to withdraw and help reclaim Myth Drannor.
• Aaron forgave Fuzor Cherbury’s past offenses, promised Zhentil Keep to him, and made him Archduke of Zhentil Keep in exchange for allegiance and tribute.
• Aaron redistributed Moonsea lands among ten allies as the Ten Salian Banners, while reserving the greening Anauroch for his loyal followers.
• When his followers urged him to seize Cormyr’s throne, Aaron rejected rebellion and said there were other ways to gain power.
• Aaron announced that he would ask Alusair to marry him alongside Eleanor Dinefleur and Charlotte Caradnae, and said their child would inherit the Salian Shogunate, Green Velar, and Cormyr’s throne.
• Aaron’s followers understood his plan and pledged to support him if the Kingdom Council opposed the marriage.

Aaron began learning to manage his divine duties while developments across the Realms reshaped his plans. In the Astral Plane, Apocalypse reunited with Dorn and asked Aaron to use his power of reincarnation to judge his corrupted sons.

• Aaron tested his new divine abilities, including receiving prayers and granting magic, and discovered that stockings had become one of his symbols.
• Aaron learned that Elminster had fallen into Hell after fighting the Shade Enclave, while House Baenre's losses left Lolth's rule over Menzoberranzan in danger.
• Aegir tried to please Aaron after sensing his ascension, while Aaron advanced plans involving Suzail, the Anauroch Desert, and the succubus Grudge.
• Ana knelt before Apocalypse in the Astral Plane as Dorn's companions questioned his loyalty and Dorn refused the offer to become Warmaster.
• Aaron arrived with Perturabo sealed in a crystal cross, and Apocalypse asked him to use the power of reincarnation in a judgment ritual for his corrupted sons.

Aaron established a Divine Realm in the Astral Plane, centered on a Golden Tree and an eternal war that could empower him through reincarnation and mortal souls. The Emperor sent Lorgar and Perturabo into the realm, while Aaron prepared to finish his wedding before secretly expanding into the Abyss.

• After returning to Aquitaine Palace, Aaron began carving out a Divine Realm with the Emperor's help, and the Emperor explained that its eternal war could provide souls and power.
• The Emperor decreed that Lorgar and Perturabo would be repeatedly defeated and reincarnated in Aaron's realm until their Chaos corruption faded enough for them to be reborn.
• Aaron established the Lands Between around a Golden Tree, where mortals and Chaos Daemons would fight, transform, and reincarnate; victors could earn blessings or return to the mortal world.
• The Emperor sent Lorgar and Perturabo into the new Divine Realm, and Aaron returned to the mortal world after completing its foundation.
• Aaron told Charlotte he would finish the wedding before going to the Abyss, where he planned to confront its powers and pursue his divine portfolios.

Aaron prepared to use the Shepherd Legion’s victory parade to pressure Cormyr’s court, while his new Chaos Expedition slowly wore down Lorgar and Perturabo. The triumphant procession through Suzail drew overwhelming divine and draconic support, leaving observers wondering whether Aaron intended to claim the Dragon Throne.

• Aaron and the Emperor launched a new Chaos Expedition in which adventurers fought Lorgar and Perturabo and gradually reduced their true health.
• Aaron listened to his followers’ prayers and considered finding a high priest, while Charlotte teased him with magical toys and he later spent the night with Alusair.
• Alusair ordered the Ninth Shepherd Legion to proceed with its triumphal parade through Suzail as more than a hundred thousand people watched.
• Doherty’s Half-Orc Greatsword Battalion and Aaron’s thirty-thousand-strong Shepherd Legion marched through the capital amid cannon fire and displays of the gods’ blessings.
• Selûne and numerous other deities, along with Aegir and twelve other Dragons, publicly honored Aaron during the parade.
• Spectators and observers wondered whether Aaron’s growing power and army meant he planned to claim Cormyr’s Dragon Throne.

Aaron and his allies launched a coup to pressure Cormyr’s royal family, then entered the palace with the Queen’s Blade’s cooperation. Before Queen Mother Filfaeril and the cabinet, Aaron knelt and asked to marry Alusair Obarskyr, leaving them stunned.

• Charlotte announced that the royal cabinet had offered Aaron the title of Protector of Cormyr, prompting his retainers to demand greater rewards.
• Aaron declared that a change of dynasty was near and ordered his forces to surround Suzail, seize key positions, and isolate the Royal Palace.
• Aaron gathered Fuzor, Nastya, Teach, Charlotte, Harald, and other allies to approach the palace and request Alusair’s hand in marriage.
• Yuri Bakov and the Queen’s Blade welcomed Aaron and let his group enter the palace while the cabinet ministers and dukes urged Filfaeril to stop him.
• Aaron introduced his powerful companions to Filfaeril and then knelt to ask for Alusair Obarskyr’s hand in marriage.

Aaron forced Queen Mother Filfaeril and Alusair to sign a marriage contract, turning his bloodless coup into the founding of the Sallyan-Obarskyr Dynasty and uniting Cormyr. At the celebration, Selûne and Eilistraee arrived with news that Eldath had fallen and Be'lakor had taken her place in the Pantheon.

• Aaron's allies pressured Filfaeril into signing a marriage contract between Aaron and Alusair, warning that refusal could bring civil war.
• Cormyr's senior officials presented the contract to Alusair, who signed after they argued it would preserve the kingdom and avert conflict.
• Alusair's signature ended the Obarskyr Dynasty and began the Sallyan-Obarskyr Dynasty, uniting Cormyr as an empire without bloodshed.
• At the Sallyan Residence, Aaron's companions celebrated the coup and revealed that Alusair had secretly wanted Aaron to take the initiative in arranging their marriage.
• Selûne and Eilistraee interrupted the celebration and told Aaron that Eldath had fallen and Be'lakor had taken her place in the Pantheon.

Aaron learned that Be'lakor had killed Eldath by exploiting Aaron's conquest of the Anauroch Great Desert, and vowed to stop him before he claimed the Chaos portfolio. As Aaron and his allies prepared to confront Lolth sooner than planned, Nastya revealed how to reach Lolth's sanctuary and chose to join the fight for Aaron's sake.

• Selûne and Eilistraee brought Aaron to the Pantheon, where the gods revealed that Be'lakor had killed Eldath and taken her divine rank.
• Selûne explained that Aaron's conquest of the Anauroch Great Desert had exposed Eldath, allowing Be'lakor, Malcanthet, and Daba-Thorn to lure and ambush her.
• Aaron promised Silvanus that he would put an end to Be'lakor, while Silvanus offered the Nature Pantheon's help.
• On the balcony, Eilistraee told Aaron and Selûne that Lolth needed a chosen one to ascend, and Nastya appeared to explain the ritual and its dangers.
• Nastya revealed that she, Quenthel, and Halisstra Moran could open the way to Lolth's sanctuary, then agreed to help because Aaron had chosen to face Lolth.

Aaron became Cormyr’s Protector, Alusair was crowned queen, and their marriage united Cormyr into an empire. As Reynard and Disma confronted the aftermath of the changes, Lion El'Jonson invited Disma to join the Dark Angels.

• Filfaeril announced Aaron’s lifetime appointment as Protector and Alusair’s accession as Cormyr’s queen, and Aaron crowned her with the recovered Dragon Crown.
• Filfaeril announced Aaron and Alusair’s marriage and their child’s inheritance of their titles, establishing the Cormyr Empire and the Sallyan-Obarskyr Dynasty.
• Aaron addressed the celebrating crowd, and the people’s support deepened his understanding of the domains of Rule and Order.
• Reynard, now a holy spirit knight serving Torm, refused to congratulate Aaron but acknowledged that he had brought Cormyr peace and prosperity.
• Disma, uncertain where he belonged after Cormyr’s transformation, accepted food from a cleric of Selûne before the First Legion appeared around him.
• Lion El'Jonson praised Disma’s loyalty and invited him to become his son and join the Dark Angels.

After marrying Alusair, Aaron recruited Moradin and the dwarven gods into a plan to attack Lolth before she ascended to greater deity status. Eilistraee agreed to help eliminate the other Underdark gods, while Aaron continued securing allies and binding her to their cause.

• Disma left with Jonson, Reynard left with Torm, and Aaron married Alusair in a private ceremony before taking her on their honeymoon.
• At the Sunset Lands resort, Alusair, Eleanor, Charlotte, and Grudge played mahjong while Aaron met with Moradin and Clangeddin Silverbeard.
• Aaron persuaded Moradin to support a strike against Lolth, and Eilistraee confirmed that Corellon had been consulted and invited the dwarves to help.
• Moradin agreed to send gold dwarf and shield dwarf armies, and Aaron gave him a prototype rotorcraft helicopter before the dwarven gods departed.
• Aaron marked the dwarven pantheon among the allies joining his plan, while Eilistraee agreed to eliminate the other Underdark gods using Drach'nyen's power.

Aaron, Nastya, and Eilistraee planned a campaign to kill Lolth in the Weave Pits, while Aaron and Nastya prepared to undermine House Baenre in Menzoberranzan. In Azzagrat, Be'lakor proposed that he and Graz'zt sabotage both Aaron and Lolth and seize their portfolios.

• Aaron cooked Ancient Roman stewed lamb, and Nastya and Eilistraee discussed how to defeat Lolth by entering the Weave Pits.
• Nastya agreed to lead the assault on Menzoberranzan with Aaron, while Eilistraee planned to confront the Dark Pantheon and destroy its lingering divine consciousnesses with Drach'nyen.
• Aaron and Nastya planned to exploit House Baenre's weakened rule and Lolth's silence, and Nastya revealed she had supported Aaron's plan from the start to give him leverage with Eilistraee.
• Be'lakor visited Graz'zt in Azzagrat and told him Aaron planned a decisive battle against Lolth.
• Be'lakor and Graz'zt agreed to join forces against Aaron and Lolth, then swore by the River Styx to divide the portfolios they hoped to take.