Chapter Summaries

Doherty discovered that Aaron had resurrected him and left the Serpentfolk ruins determined to grow stronger. After Aaron learned that the Bladesong beauty was Nastya Baenre, she revealed her true drow appearance, performed a farewell dance for him, and departed with the Snake God's Egg.

• Doherty realized that Aaron had resurrected him, reclaimed valuables and serpent-pattern steel equipment, and set out to become stronger.
• Nastya Baenre told Aaron her real name, and he recognized the feared surname of House Baenre.
• Nastya thanked Aaron for helping her obtain the Snake God's Egg and explained that she had been guarded because they barely knew each other before.
• Nastya dispelled her disguise, revealing silver hair, crimson eyes, and pale violet-tinged skin, and Aaron praised her appearance.
• Nastya danced and sang for Aaron, kissed him goodbye, and left with the Snake God's Egg while he promised they would meet again.

Nastya delivered the Snake God's Egg to Lolth and earned the Spider Queen's favor, but her conversation exposed her growing attachment to Aaron and her longing for a life beyond Drow control. She left the shrine intending to use Lolth's influence to stop House Baenre's assassination plot against Princess Regent Alusair, while struggling to remember who she really was.

• Nastya reached House Baenre's hidden base in the Stormhorn Mountains and offered the Snake God's Egg to Lolth through a sacred ritual.
• Lolth discovered the egg was incomplete but said it still contained what she needed, then rewarded Nastya with a matron mother's scepter, a divine blessing, and greater power.
• Nastya told Lolth about Aaron, admitted she liked him, and persuaded the Spider Queen to accept her proposal concerning him.
• After Lolth vanished, Nastya recalled how years of false identities had made her lose touch with herself and how happy she felt with Aaron.
• Nastya resolved to use Lolth's influence to make House Baenre abandon its plot to assassinate Princess Regent Alusair, then broke down and cried out over her lost identity.

Aaron returned to Suzail with treasure from the Serpentfolk Ruins and confronted the dwarf Fojal Wilhelm over the dangerous misinformation that nearly got him killed. Their dispute summoned Moradin, and Selûne appeared to defend Aaron, leaving the gods facing off in the smithy.

• Aaron returned to Suzail with two carts of spoils, paid the soldiers and farmers who helped transport them, and settled in at the Sallyan Residence with Aunt Mellie.
• Aaron assessed his haul, sent seven serpent-pattern steel weapons to the Adventurers Guild for auction, donated Serpentfolk gold coins to the Church of the Silver Mother, and kept the Nether Scroll and other valuables.
• Aaron visited Fojal Wilhelm and accused him of lying about the dangers in the Serpentfolk Ruins, where Aaron had faced eight Abomination Serpentfolk, Half-Orcs, and a Legendary Six-Armed Abomination Serpentfolk.
• Fojal dismissed Aaron’s complaints and insisted that he had returned alive and found no Sarrukh, so Aaron insulted the dwarf and his contract before Moradin’s statue.
• Moradin manifested in the smithy and demanded an explanation from Aaron, but Selûne appeared behind Aaron and insisted that Moradin explain himself for mistreating her child.

Aaron confronted Moradin over Fujal's breach of their contract and negotiated a deal by offering the dwarves the serpent-pattern steel technique. The chapter ended with Moradin apologizing on Fujal's behalf after Fujal refused to do so.

• Selûne defended Aaron before Moradin and demanded that he acknowledge Fujal's responsibility for breaking their agreement.
• Aaron insisted that their contract was valid and offered to settle the dispute if Fujal apologized and made him dragonhide armor.
• Aaron revealed a Nether Scroll containing the serpent-pattern steel technique, and Moradin eagerly asked what he wanted in exchange.
• Aaron secured a smiths' guild, dwarven help building a castle and temple, and a Thunderous Divine Incantation, with Fujal's apology as a prerequisite.
• Fujal refused to apologize, so Moradin bowed and apologized to Aaron on his behalf and for the dwarven people.

Aaron accepted Fojal Wilhelm’s apology and signed a divinely notarized contract of mutual assistance with Moradin, securing dwarven cooperation and a use of Moradin’s Thunderous Divine Incantation. The unusual agreement took effect, and news of it spread among the deities of the Realms.

• Moradin bowed to Aaron, prompting Fojal Wilhelm to confess that he had tried to use Aaron and beg for forgiveness.
• Aaron accepted Fojal’s apology and urged him to control his desires while continuing to pursue progress.
• Aaron and Moradin agreed to a mutually beneficial partnership involving dwarven resources and forging technology, with Aaron also receiving one use of Moradin’s Thunderous Divine Incantation.
• Moradin summoned contract officials, but they could not notarize an agreement between a deity and a mortal, so he called for Helm.
• Helm drafted and notarized the contract, which Aaron and Moradin signed before shaking hands.
• News of the contract spread to the deities eligible to attend the Realms’ High God Council.

The gods of Realmspace reacted after Aaron Salian signed a fair contract with Moradin, while Selûne’s proposal for a cosmetics company drew interest from the Justice Pantheon. Cyric sent Nate Frankfell to investigate Aaron, and a goddess in the Shadowfell announced her intent to claim him from Selûne.

• Greater Deities sensed the contract Helm filed for Aaron Salian and Moradin in the Pole Star Encampment.
• Tyr, Torm, and Ilmater discussed Aaron and agreed to accept Selûne’s proposal for the Silver Trade Company.
• The gods of nature, knowledge, and magic reacted to Aaron’s contract and Selûne’s cosmetics, while Tempus and Talos voiced their own responses.
• Cyric ordered Nate Frankfell to investigate whether Aaron was Godspawn and whether the Sallyan family had ties to Bane, commanding him to kill them either way.
• A goddess in the Shadowfell praised Selûne’s child and vowed that Aaron would soon be hers.

Aaron planned his next steps in Suzail, including strengthening his powers, building a loyal team, and finding a fief, while Cormyr’s factions remained tense after two killings. A message from Lady Charlotte revealed that Alusair would visit her manor the next day, giving Aaron a chance to approach the Princess Regent about securing land.

• Aaron noted that he had enough startup capital and reviewed his new spells, Tzeentch's Spell Theft and Slaanesh's Dance, while resolving to develop all four Chaos Gods’ powers together.
• Aaron listed Eleanor, Fojal Wilhelm, and Cousin Robert as the core of his team, then marked finding a fief as an urgent problem.
• Aaron resumed writing the Sallyan Book II until Cousin Robert brought him a message from his older sister.
• Aaron recognized that Lady Charlotte had arranged for Alusair to visit her manor on Dragonmere the next day.
• Aaron decided to use the visit to sound out Alusair and seek a fief.

Aaron reported to the Purple Dragons' fortress before heading to Charlotte's manor, where he hoped to meet Princess Regent Alusair without appearing to have arranged the encounter. As he left, he met Purple Dragon Knight Mannacorn Anaheim, whose familiar presence made Aaron wary.

• Aaron dressed in his Inner Court Knight robes and told Robert he would take him to meet people another time.
• Aaron visited the fortress, where Grand Inspector Ian Hutson let him in and the knights and recruits cheered his arrival.
• Aaron checked on Disma, who resented being overlooked after the battle but had discovered that his class had changed to Thorn Raider.
• Aaron left the fortress for Kaladnei Manor, planning to arrive during Charlotte and Alusair's lunch.
• At the fortress gate, Aaron met Mannacorn Anaheim, a Purple Dragon Knight from the class one year ahead of his, and prepared to defend himself.

Aaron Salian and Mannacorn Anaheim debated Cormyr’s politics and the refugees in Suzail before parting, while Alusair considered the effects of Salian’s First Volume on War Wizard recruitment. Aaron then arrived at Charlotte’s manor with the Second Volume, where Alusair greeted him as Charlotte’s teasing left them both flustered.

• Aaron and Mannacorn discussed the kingdom’s worsening situation, the refugees, and Alusair’s rule as they walked toward the South City Gate.
• Mannacorn criticized the refugees and Alusair’s decisions, while Aaron pointed out that the people wanted Alusair and then departed, leaving Mannacorn wary of him.
• At Kaladnei Manor, Alusair reflected that Salian’s First Volume had more than tripled the projected number of War Wizard apprentices by letting applicants study Astral Magic.
• Alusair sensed a formidable person outside and prepared for a possible threat, but Charlotte went to the door, expecting her little brother Aaron.
• Aaron arrived in his Inner Court Knight uniform, knelt before Alusair, and offered her his hand to kiss.

Aaron sought a fief by arranging a private lunch with Alusair, where they tested each other’s motives and exchanged blunt assessments. Alusair admitted she had recognized his scheme and promised to discuss his fief after he heard her out.

• Charlotte interrupted Alusair and Aaron, then encouraged Aaron to get closer to the Princess Regent.
• Aaron and Charlotte studied his book on Chaos spells and discussed how he controlled the flow of faith to the Chaos Gods.
• Alusair returned in a new dress, and Aaron persuaded her to let him prepare lunch and speak with her privately.
• Over lunch, Alusair asked Aaron whether she was too autocratic for using grain to aid refugees from Arabel.
• Aaron told Alusair she sought approval rather than honest advice and warned that her approach drove others into silence or false agreement.
• Alusair revealed she had seen through Aaron and Charlotte’s plan to secure a private meeting, then told Aaron to hear her out before they discussed his fief.

Aaron accepted that he had not yet earned a fief and asked Alusair to support his plan to join Countess Milmantle Rhaur’s effort to reclaim Arabel from the Orks. Alusair agreed to back him if he helped achieve the reclamation, and their deal ended with a weekly lunch arrangement at the palace.

• Alusair told Aaron that his current contributions did not merit a fief and urged him to consider what he had done for Cormyr.
• Aaron reflected on Azoun IV’s sacrifice and resolved to serve the kingdom rather than scheme for land.
• Aaron asked Alusair to support him joining Countess Milmantle Rhaur’s liberation army, and she promised to make him House Obarskyr’s representative if they reclaimed Arabel.
• Alusair said House Obarskyr would bear no responsibility if the effort failed, but asked Aaron to return alive, and they sealed their agreement.
• Alusair arranged to meet Aaron for lunch every Monday, and he kissed her gloved hand before they parted.

After leaving Kaladnei Manor, Aaron received a dossier on Milmantle Rhaur and learned that helping her reclaim Arabel could strengthen his case for receiving a fief. He planned to spend Midwinter with his family and prepare to fight the orks, while recognizing that Chaos's influence on him was growing.

• Alusair ordered Aaron to leave with her, discussed his relationship with Charlotte, and gave him a dossier on Milmantle Rhaur, Countess of Arabel.
• Aaron escorted Alusair to her carriage, and she reminded him not to neglect his future duties.
• Aaron walked back to Suzail through the rain and read the dossier, considering the agreement that reclaiming Arabel could make his own fief negotiable.
• Aaron admitted that he had not yet earned a fief and resolved to prove his worth by acting against the orks.
• Aaron reflected that Slaanesh and Tzeentch's influence was deepening and decided he needed something to balance it.

Aaron studied the history of Countess Milmantle Rhaur and considered reclaiming Arabel before using Earthwalker Roddock’s Witherbark Staff to explore nature magic. He transformed the staff’s corrupt power into the Water of Life, opening a path to life magic.

• Aaron read Alusair’s documents about Milmantle Rhaur, learning about her military career, family, and claim to Arabel.
• Aaron considered how to gain a fief and felt responsible for helping Cormyr’s refugees by reclaiming Arabel.
• Aaron unwrapped the Witherbark Staff, and his Chaos power forced its malicious magic to retreat.
• Aaron sensed Roddock’s conflicting hatred, love, and Druidic knowledge within the staff.
• Aaron connected his magic to nature through the staff and transformed its corrupt energy into the Water of Life, discovering life magic.

Aaron mastered the beginnings of life magic and used it to bring new growth to Suzail, then prepared to bring Eleanor home for Midwinter. At the Church of the Silver Mother, he found a stranger boldly courting her.

• Aaron learned to channel life magic through water, creating Life Water Jilun, and spent five weeks studying the new art.
• Rumors spread through Suzail about miraculous growth and recoveries, while Druids failed to identify the source of the magic.
• After the first snowfall, Aaron used Life Water Jilun to revive lettuce for his aunt and told her to keep his magic secret.
• Aaron announced that Eleanor would spend Midwinter and New Year's with his family, then went with his relatives to the Church of the Silver Mother.
• Aaron reached the Hall of the Crescent Moon and heard an unknown man flirt with Eleanor, prompting Aaron to wonder who the man was.

Aaron confronted Kavil-Kent, who tried to court Eleanor despite her relationship with Aaron, and drove him from Selûne’s temple. After Aaron transformed Kavil’s rose into a vine bearing donuts for the congregation, Eleanor accepted Aaron’s invitation to spend Midwinter together.

• Kavil-Kent made a grand entrance at the Hall of the Crescent Moon and pursued Eleanor, but a Selûne cleric warned him that Eleanor had a boyfriend.
• Aaron arrived, and Kavil realized he was Eleanor’s boyfriend but challenged him to let Eleanor choose between their invitations.
• Aaron ordered Kavil to leave and magically tossed him aside when he reached for his rose.
• Aaron transformed the rose into a huge fruit-bearing vine filled with donuts, then cursed Kavil with Slaanesh’s Power so opposite-sex humanoids would find him repulsive and same-sex humanoids would be drawn to him.
• Aaron invited Eleanor to spend Midwinter with him, and she shyly accepted as the congregation cheered.

After Kavil-Kent was rejected by Eleanor and Aaron, he tried to pursue another woman but was approached by two male druids. Aaron and Eleanor spent the snowy day together and went to a fashion boutique with Reynard, Disma, and Maria-Lysa, where they encountered a tiefling attendant.

• Kavil-Kent left Selûne’s temple after Eleanor rejected him, then agreed to have a drink with two male druids from the Emerald Enclave who invited him to their Jungle Comrades Brotherhood.
• Aaron and Eleanor walked through snowy Suzail, teased each other, and agreed to spend Midwinter together.
• Aaron took Eleanor to the Saint Angel Cypher boutique to buy her new clothes.
• Aaron and Eleanor met Reynard, Disma, and Maria-Lysa outside the boutique and went inside together.
• The five froze when a tiefling attendant with red skin, goat horns, and a demonic tail greeted them.

Aaron took Eleanor shopping in Suzail, where they met the tiefling shop assistant Bruna Marconi and learned how her father earned her family citizenship by dying in the Goblin Wars. Aaron teased Eleanor with the clothes he bought her, while Disma brooded over his jealousy; the chapter ended with Samir Morningstar and Lady Eleanora approaching them.

• Aaron, Eleanor, Reynard, Disma, and Maria-Lysa visited a fashion boutique and met its tiefling assistant, Bruna Marconi.
• Aaron gave Eleanor magical marks to choose clothes, and Bruna explained that her father had died fighting in the Goblin Wars, earning her family a pardon and citizenship.
• Eleanor tried on a dress, stockings, and shoes, then realized Aaron had chosen them for a private purpose and angrily threatened to punish him.
• Aaron lifted and spun Eleanor, while Reynard, Bruna, and Maria-Lysa felt envious and Disma grew jealous as he watched Lysa beside Reynard.
• Samir Morningstar and Lady Eleanora arrived and greeted Aaron.

Aaron agreed to join Lady Rhaur’s campaign to retake Arabel after learning that churches were financing an army of seven to eight thousand. After Aaron and Disma helped Reynard pay for Miss Lysa’s shopping, Samir invited the two Paladins to join the campaign, and both accepted.

• Samir told Aaron that Lady Rhaur was raising an army to retake Arabel and had strong support from local churches, including the church of Lady Luck.
• Aaron agreed to join the campaign and asked Samir to introduce him to Lady Rhaur after the New Year.
• Aaron bought Eleanor clothes, shoes, and stockings, while Reynard discovered he could not afford the items he had offered to buy for Miss Lysa.
• Disma contributed money and Aaron arranged for Samir to help Reynard settle the bill without embarrassment.
• Aaron argued that restoring Arabel would help refugees return home, and Samir invited Reynard and Disma to join the restoration army; both accepted.

After Reynard and Disma joined the Arabel Restoration Army, Aaron brought the cold-sensitive Eleanor to his family’s home and showed her his heated kotatsu. As they drew close to kissing, Aaron noticed that Eleanor’s statue of Selûne was watching them and kissed her anyway.

• Aaron recognized that Reynard joined the war from a sense of duty, while Disma sought fame and had feelings for Lysa, who favored Reynard.
• Aaron and Eleanor left the snowy street, and Samir welcomed their support for Lady Laeral’s cause.
• Aaron’s family warmly welcomed Eleanor to the Sallyan Residence, where she worried about the gap between their backgrounds.
• Aaron showed Eleanor his kotatsu, and they relaxed together beneath its quilt as he embraced and complimented her.
• Aaron noticed that Selûne’s statue had turned to face them, then kissed Eleanor as she closed her eyes.

Aaron and Eleanor kept their relationship chaste because Eleanor had vowed to remain pure until she came of age, while Aaron gained new Chaos spells and learned of the Wind of Heavens. During Midwinter preparations, Charlotte Caladnei arrived at the Sallyan Residence and recognized Eleanor, leaving Aaron caught between their questioning stares.

• Aaron learned that Eleanor had vowed to remain chaste until she turned twenty, and Selûne’s statue had struck him to stop him from breaking her vow.
• Aaron gained the fifth-circle spells Tzeentch’s Banishment and Slaanesh’s Torment and learned about the Wind of Heavens, Azyr.
• Eleanor moved into the Sallyan Residence, helped manage the household, and explored the power of the Twilight Domain while Aaron handled his duties and studied spells.
• Aaron and his family decorated the house for Midwinter, and Aaron used life magic to grow a decorated tree.
• Charlotte Caladnei arrived with presents and called Aaron her little brother, then recognized Eleanor as the woman she had seen at the sanatorium.
• Eleanor and Charlotte exchanged suspicious looks toward Aaron, who feared their confrontation.