Chapter Summaries

Annan traveled from Starer City to Ize Bay while Francois investigated Tabareo’s claim that the King might be connected to the Ratfolk. At Ize Bay, Annan found the Blade of Freedom anxious to report a disaster, while the Minister of War revealed a proposal to impose economic sanctions on Free City.

• Annan reached Starer City, where residents cheered Olmedo Just Right, and told Francois that Tabareo had accused the Kingdom of colluding with the Ratfolk.
• Annan left for Ize Bay, while Claude trained reserve knights in the mountains and urged them to prepare for revenge.
• Femi and the Blade of Freedom’s leaders waited nervously for Annan, explaining that the flood had destroyed Ize Bay as their base.
• The Minister of War told a messenger that he had no evidence but suspected the King might have a connection to the Ratfolk.
• The Minister of War gave the messenger a proposal to ban goods from Free City, explaining that the sanctions were meant to convince New Royal Capital’s nobles that the Kingdom could oppose Free City.

Annan searched for a way to save Free City's plague-stricken residents, who were also afflicted by a Curse. The Skeleton King proposed using Wood's blood to create a weakened First Embrace as a possible vaccine, and Annan began preparing an Alchemy Room to test it.

• Annan learned that the residents were gravely ill and encouraged Little Smo by promising the Disciplinary Legion would help care for them.
• The Disciplinary Legion discovered that the patients were afflicted by a Curse, and the Skeleton King identified a sophisticated spell involving Fel Energy.
• Annan asked the vampires to give the patients the First Embrace, but they refused because they considered it a serious commitment.
• Annan summoned Wood and tried to persuade him to turn the patients, but Wood said he could only embrace a few people.
• The Skeleton King proposed thinning the power of the First Embrace into a vaccine, warning that it might cause vampiric side effects and might not grant immunity.
• Annan accepted the risks and asked the Skeleton King to prepare an Alchemy Room in an empty cave.

The Skeleton King turned Wood’s First Embrace blood into a vaccine that eased the Plague in three test patients, though the supply could not cover everyone. Annan prepared to prioritize the sickest patients, while Wood’s chance to drink human blood was undermined by the need to collect blood for treatment.

• The Skeleton King extracted Wood’s First Embrace blood and used magic and alchemy to make a vaccine in what felt like only a few minutes to Annan.
• Annan arranged for three patients of different ages and illness severity to test the vaccine, and the Skeleton King treated them with Blood Veins.
• The middle-aged and young patients improved after one dose, while the old patient needed a second dose before his heartbeat strengthened.
• The Skeleton King said the vaccine had largely purged the patients’ curse but warned it was not an antidote and could have side effects.
• Annan learned there were 1,096 patients but only 600 doses, and the Skeleton King advised saving doses for patients with more severe symptoms.
• Wood went to the Prison to drink human blood, but jailers arrived to draw blood from prisoners for Annan’s treatment effort.

Minister of War Reynaldo investigated suspected Free City sympathizers among the Kingdom’s officials and warned them to prepare for Free City’s coming offensive. The next day, Alexi arrested quartermaster Tai and learned he had been sent by the Council Chairman to bait a trap.

• Reynaldo watched a suspected Blade of Freedom member get arrested and saw the Bard among those being executed on his way to meet the Council Chairman.
• Reynaldo heard Councilors Ottema and Alexi argue over secrets and accusations before taking Alexi aside to ask what he knew about Free City.
• Alexi admitted he had received an Invitation Letter or Letter of Recommendation and told Reynaldo that quartermaster Tai was spreading radical ideas among soldiers and subordinates.
• Reynaldo told Alexi to arrest Tai, then visited other people on Free City’s list and warned them to stay alert.
• The next day, Alexi reported that Tai had confessed he was sent by the Council Chairman to bait a trap.

Annan led the Blade of Freedom from ruined Ize Bay to a nearby town while considering how to retaliate against the Rikaner Kingdom’s smear campaign. Meeting the town’s greedy Baron Hellrit inspired Annan with an idea for a Magic Film, and the Blade of Freedom took control of the town as he shut himself away to develop it.

• Annan urged Wood to consider becoming an Executor and planned to send him to the Land of Eternal Night after the war.
• A messenger reported that the King might be colluding with the Ratfolk but had no evidence, so Annan refused to order a deliberate investigation.
• Annan learned from Maria that Rikaner Glory was spreading bizarre accusations about Free City and considered, then dismissed, starting another newspaper.
• Annan disguised himself as a noble and brought the Blade of Freedom to a nearby town, where Baron Hellrit welcomed him and eyed his wagons greedily.
• Annan was struck by an idea for a Magic Film, while the Blade of Freedom, aided by Illymoyas and Maria, easily seized the town and raised its flag over Hellrit's Manor.

Annan stayed in Town to write his seventh Magic Film, adapting the story around the Rikaner Kingdom’s control of the city. He finished the script and sent it to Olmedo, who arranged to bring the actors to Town for filming.

• Annan emerged in a formal suit and glasses, told Maria he was developing a Magic Film, and gave her the draft about bandit Alexander impersonating a City Lord.
• Annan changed the story’s Train to a carriage and reshaped its setting around Sworn City and the Three Great Families.
• Annan told Maria to let the Blade of Freedom do as they pleased while he worked on the more important film.
• Three days later, Annan finished the script and showed it to Olmedo through a Portal.
• Olmedo questioned the film’s release schedule and read the script; Annan told her to bring the actors to Town.
• Olmedo reached Annan’s rewritten ending, in which Alexander’s brothers declared that Free City was Wilhelm and Wilhelm was Free City.

Annan organized the cast and preparations for Let Magic Fly, which the crew would film during winter while waiting for spring. Femi and Mr. Fast were chosen for key roles, but Annan could not find a suitable part for himself.

• Annan persuaded Tina to work on the film’s special effects until the army reached the New Royal Capital.
• Betty brought the film crew and Guard Legion to town, and Annan assigned the crew their usual roles and rules.
• Betty suggested Femi for Alexander, and Annan approved the casting despite Femi’s missing arm.
• Annan rejected an actor’s audition for Hellrit, so Betty showed him a Magic Stone recording of Faster playing cards.
• Annan decided Mr. Fast was right for Hellrit and cast him, but Betty told Annan there was no suitable role for him.

Annan prepared the cast and production for the Magic Film "Let Magic Fly," while securing a gold mine and gaining Lizardfolk for Free City. Filming began in Sworn City, and Annan called cut after Femi’s character freed the Slaves and sent their carriage into an illusory lake.

• Annan assigned Femi to play Alexander and put Betty in charge of training him, while the other cast members chose their supporting roles.
• Annan wrote out the dialogue for "Let Magic Fly," persuaded Illymoyas to let Free City mine her gold, and learned that she had gained a group of Lizardfolk.
• After seven days, Sworn City was ready, Femi and Wood were prepared for their roles, and Annan began filming "Let Magic Fly."
• During the first scene, Femi shot apart the Slaves’ manacles, and their carriage rolled into an illusory lake.
• Annan called cut, Tina dispelled the illusion, and the crew prepared to film the second scene.

Annan oversaw the filming of Let Magic Fly and taught Freedom Academy students to analyze the production while Free City’s influence grew across the Kingdom. As filming neared its final crowd scene, Illymoyas mistook Tina’s illusory Gold Narls for real money and pounced on them.

• Annan watched Femi and Wood perform a scene, then asked Henry and the other Elite students to discuss the filming and write reflections for Betty.
• Members of the Blade of Freedom returned from the front to recuperate in Town, while more officials and Nobles from the Kingdom defected to Free City.
• Annan continued filming Let Magic Fly, completing most dialogue and interior scenes before arranging for returning fighters and their families to appear in the final crowd scene.
• Tina filled a street with illusory Gold Narls, and Illymoyas burst from her bedroom in Dragon form and swept them up, declaring them hers.
• Annan comforted Tina by telling her that at least her illusion had earned a Dragon’s approval.

Annan explained cultural war to Henry and inspired him to join the Blade of Freedom and awaken Civilians. Meanwhile, the Minister of War prepared to apologize to Annan, then learned Annan was approaching the New Royal Capital to confront Clo.

• Annan told Henry that farmers could change the balance of power by awakening and refusing to cooperate, and Henry decided to join the Blade of Freedom.
• Annan described four kinds of war and explained how Magic Films and other media could shape people’s thoughts and actions.
• The Minister of War agreed to send Annan an expensive public apology gift, confident that his support for Free City and the Blade of Freedom had secured his position.
• A messenger told the Minister of War that Annan was near Brock Valley and intended to question Clo face-to-face.

After finishing Let Magic Fly, Annan sent volunteers and the Hellfire Legion to distribute Magic Stones across the Kingdom while he headed for the New Royal Capital. In Courage Town, residents watched the film for several nights before Alexander rode into town and called them to follow him.

• Annan recruited a hundred adult vampires to deliver Magic Stones throughout the Kingdom and ordered Femi to lead the Hellfire Legion along a route through the northern towns.
• Femi set out for Courage Town while Annan headed toward the New Royal Capital.
• Boli and other residents of Courage Town watched Let Magic Fly projected across the sky, and the story stirred their interest in resisting the Kingdom.
• On the seventh night, Alexander appeared in person, galloped through Courage Town with his Magic Musket raised, and shouted, “Gun in hand, follow me!”

Femi’s Hellfire Legion defeated a Banshee and brought Courage Town under the Blade of Freedom’s protection. Annan arrived secretly at the New Royal Capital and met with the Minister of War.

• Femi led his Cavalry into the land of the Undead, where townspeople followed to help confront the Banshee.
• The Hellfire Legion used enchanted Magic Muskets to defeat the Banshee’s servants, and a Mage captured her for Lord Annan.
• The Town Chief of Courage Town asked to enlist, and Femi told him the Blade of Freedom would take over the town.
• Annan and Maria entered the New Royal Capital, paid no entry fee, and went to an inn owned by the Blade of Freedom.
• Annan sent a messenger to contact the Minister of War, who arrived at the inn and greeted him.

Annan discovered that Martin had secretly followed him to New Royal Capital and joined the City Guard as a sentry, then agreed to honor the Minister of War’s promises to the nobles. As the Minister of War prepared a banquet to strengthen their support, the Purification Court readied a raid targeting Quartermaster Tai and other Blade of Freedom members.

• The Minister of War told Annan he had arrested suspects, arranged an army post for a special envoy, and promised Letters of Recommendation to nobles.
• Annan learned that Martin, not Maria, had come to New Royal Capital and realized Martin had slipped away to join the City Guard.
• Annan found Martin at a sentry post and failed to persuade him to return to Free City; the Minister of War told an officer to protect his nephew.
• Annan agreed to hold a banquet and promised the nobles would retain their Wealth and status if they supported the Blade of Freedom.
• The Purification Court prepared to raid the City Guard’s Military Camp and capture Quartermaster Tai and his accomplices.

Martin stood watch outside the New Royal Capital’s Military Camp during a snowstorm and shot Purification Court Soldiers who approached, believing their correct password response was wrong. After the City Guard Officer discovered the misunderstanding, he raised the alarm and rushed to investigate the bodies.

• A City Guard Officer assigned Martin to watch the Camp and told him the challenge was “Snow covers the Maple Forest” and the response was “How beautiful.”
• Martin shot the first approaching Purification Court Soldier after mistaking the correct response for a wrong one.
• Martin killed several more Soldiers, including one who answered correctly, and later complained that dozens of Bandits had approached the Camp.
• The City Guard Officer rang the alarm bell when Martin revealed the bodies outside the Camp.
• A sentry explained that “How beautiful” was the correct response, and the City Guard Officer swore and ran outside.

Annan attended a banquet as Reynaldo’s nephew while quietly assessing the nobles and speaking with Maria about the Stuen Clan’s presence in the Royal Palace. A messenger reported that Martin had killed more than a dozen people at the City Guard, leaving Annan shocked and bewildered.

• The Inquisitor questioned his subordinates after their undercover agents were killed and ordered them to keep the failure secret.
• Annan escaped an amorous guest at Reynaldo’s banquet and learned that Knight Smalov was unlikely to support the Blade of Freedom.
• Annan danced with Maria, who told him that the Stuen Clan was preparing to act in the Royal Palace.
• A messenger told Annan that Martin had shot arrows and killed more than a dozen people at the City Guard.
• Annan reacted in disbelief and joked that he was Spider Queen Lolth and would make the messenger a Dark Elf priestess.

Annan investigated Martin’s unlikely success in killing spies and discovered Martin might be protected by the legendary Son of the North. Martin stayed with Annan and Maria as they went to begin interrogating the captured spies.

• A messenger told Annan that Martin had killed a dozen spies after mistakenly believing they had given the wrong password, and Annan went to the City Guard’s Camp to verify the report.
• Martin demonstrated his archery on the Watchtower and accidentally found another spy from the Purification Court hiding near the target.
• Annan tried to send Martin home through a Portal, but Maria suggested he might be protected by the Northern legend called the Son of the North.
• Annan allowed Martin to stay, then went with Maria to begin the interrogation.

Annan questioned a captured Purification Court spy, then was recognized by Hisham, a military official who turned out to support the Blade of Freedom. After meeting with powerful allies who expected the Blade to reach the capital within two months, Annan decided to explore the New Royal Capital with a local guide.

• The captured spy described the Purification Court’s mission and revealed that he knew two other accomplices, whom the official ordered arrested quietly.
• The official recognized Annan from Breeze City, dropped his arrogant manner, and promised to report to Reynaldo without revealing Annan’s presence.
• Annan told Reynaldo about Hisham, and they considered whether Hisham could be useful to the Blade of Freedom.
• Reynaldo and his guests discussed recruiting members and taking control of the Kingdom as the Blade of Freedom advanced toward the capital.
• Annan asked to explore the New Royal Capital, and the Minister of War’s nephew recommended a guide who had spent time in the slums.

Annan and Maria entered the Outer City slums with Schofield and found impoverished people waiting to die. After Annan rescued one resident, Schofield revealed that someone was exploiting the Blade of Freedom’s name, leaving Annan to suspect the Kingdom was behind the abuse.

• Schofield warned Annan and Maria about the dangers of the slums and led them to a bleak district where the poor lay motionless.
• Schofield explained that the residents were too weak to work, and Annan spotted figures dragging away a man who was still alive.
• Annan stopped Schofield from helping the figures, and Maria confirmed the resident had a pulse.
• Annan healed the resident with a Magic Scroll, paid Schofield to care for him, and decided to seek help for the others through the Minister of War.
• Schofield told Annan that a supposed Blade of Freedom member had demanded food, money, and daughters from locals, while the City Guard ignored reports about him.

Annan and Maria were surrounded by Hoss’s gang, and Annan fought back after the gang threatened them. After Hoss died, Annan put Schofield in charge of the gang and ordered him to clean it up.

• Hoss stopped Annan, Maria, and Schofield, demanded that Maria remove her hood, and refused to let them leave peacefully.
• Annan summoned Lemon and confronted Hoss, while Maria deflected an arrow and a hidden attacker struck during the fight.
• Lemon trapped Hoss in water and killed him after Annan’s Kobold summon failed to help.
• Annan appointed Schofield as his Gray Glove, named the boy with the slingshot as Schofield’s second-in-command, and left Lemon with the gang to help secure the territory.

Annan sought a way to act in the New Royal Capital without exposing the Blade of Freedom, so Reynaldo pointed him toward a Royal Palace talent-selection order that could lead to a City Guard Officer post. Annan set a plan in motion through Schofield, then led guards to arrest the Seblin Gang, leaving Tiger in charge of the gang as the raid began.

• Annan told Reynaldo that the people of the New Royal Capital needed saving and asked for a position that would let him act freely.
• Reynaldo showed Annan a confidential Royal Palace order recruiting promising young people, and Annan agreed to earn merits toward a City Guard Officer post.
• Annan asked Schofield to gather the Seblin Gang, transfer its valuables and noncriminal members to a new address, and leave Tiger in charge.
• Schofield handed the Seblin Gang over to Tiger and left with the members he had selected.
• Annan returned with ten guards and announced that they had come to arrest the criminals.