Recaps

Arthur strengthened his network in South Los while preparing for the tournament and recruiting people connected to Didian. At Harold Manor, Baron Harold sacrificed himself against the Blood Scion, leaving Glaster and Titon to protect the unborn Cosette and seek Arthur’s protection.

• Arthur gave Rick and Dill a barrier-oil recipe and planned dangerous training for his growing operation.
• Mrs. Susan welcomed Arthur as her grandson, gave him the Orange Cat Faction’s chart and base material, and explained the tournament’s new noble title and fief prize.
• Arthur studied the chart, recognized Herke’s handwriting, and learned that the Cat’s Orange ritual could advance with XP.
• Didian attacked the men threatening her family, and Arthur’s puppet Grindelwald froze their leader before warning Didian and Garcia on Arthur’s behalf.
• Malinda gave Arthur two ravens, which he named Stolas and Mapa, then placed a bounty on Joel Coleman.
• Arthur welcomed Didian, Sapier, Langbain, and Garcia to 2 Kirk Street, but told them his Black Cat Followers were full and had Grindelwald set rules for their contact with him.
• At Harold Manor, Baron Harold revealed that he had sacrificed his loyal people to gain a one-use power, then died attacking the Blood Scion while Glaster protected Titon.
• Glaster and Titon discovered Cosette hidden beneath the manor, and Glaster ordered Titon to pledge the Harold Family to Arthur and make him Cosette’s godfather.

Arthur claimed Harold Manor, uncovered Glaster’s Distortion research, and built a force of Death Warriors while events around the Golden Lion Family and Inner Bay converged. The stretch ended with Hayes cornered by Jimte and Carral, and Alvis fleeing into the Inner River.

• Arthur accepted Harold Manor from Titon, paid him five hundred gold coins as rent, and met Cosette in the underground Secret Room.
• Arthur discovered Glaster’s damaged Guide of Distortion and learned that the Mystic Art required the powers of both life and death.
• Arthur charged the Bloodline Seal with gold, while Dill Buck reported Arthur’s apparent flight to the Old Lion and Greisa ordered him to protect Arthur.
• Jennifer and Jane arrived at St. Joan's Girls' Academy, where Cassandra’s invitation drew them, Anna, Amy, and Sarah into her organization, The Invisible.
• Arthur welcomed fifty prisoners and desperadoes, inspired them to pledge themselves to him, and oversaw their successful transformation with Bob’s improved Death Warrior Potions.
• Arthur named the twelve strongest recruits the Golden Warriors and encouraged the other thirty-eight Death Warriors as he prepared for his journey to the Inner Bay.
• Alvis escaped by ship but was betrayed by Greisa’s captain and plunged into the Inner River, where three young men appeared.
• Hayes admitted his crimes to Jimte and Carral and prepared to fight for Manta, but the pair revealed they had been wagering on whether he would surrender or resist.

Arthur and Malinda used their supposed random outing to uncover the danger facing Acker’s family and begin taking control of the Old District. After drawing Acker and Aivor into his plans, Arthur prepared to travel to the Inner Bay with their protection.

• Hayes signed Jimte and Carral’s Contract to join their plan against the lord who had manipulated his cousins, but a ship captain attacked them to silence them.
• Arthur upgraded Abdul’s Fire Control Art and Arrow Guidance Art, then offered Malinda information about Dorn in exchange for one hundred thousand gold coins.
• Mrs. Susan visited Malinda, spoke about Arthur’s family, and offered to help secure Malinda’s power before Malinda went to see Arthur.
• Arthur and Malinda played a game of following a random person, which led them to Alma and the danger facing her family in the Old District.
• Acker killed the men targeting Alvin and Alma, then joined Aivor, who urged him to tell his children the truth and offered to help them escape South Los.
• Arthur brought Chief Maltz and the patrol officers into the case, then told Malinda to send her people to displace the Old District gangs and share the gains.
• Arthur won Acker’s cooperation by asking for food as repayment, encouraged Alvin to pursue pastry-making, and drew Aivor in with praise for his cooking.
• Arthur asked Acker and Aivor to protect him on his trip to the Inner Bay, and Acker agreed while warning that Bloodshadow Thorn would oppose them.

Arthur spread his fame through South Los during Wintertide and pursued the Great Orange ritual while dealing with pirates on Coconut Island. The ritual brought him a vision of Mimi and Aeolia, and he emerged stronger but still aimed for Entry Rank.

• Arthur celebrated Wintertide with Malinda, Lady Anna, and his neighbors, while the Countess of South Los secretly visited and Malinda warned that trouble in the Inner Bay might force her to suspend operations.
• Arthur and his agents spread the title Wintertide Guardian, and he gathered enough XP to advance Great Orange to its ultimate limit.
• On Coconut Island, Arthur killed Sakiri and discovered a map and Compass needle tied to Pirate King Edward, which seemed to identify Matidal as Edward’s descendant.
• Arthur began the Great Orange ritual in a hidden cave and witnessed Mimi’s vision of the killings in Saint Siss and her escape from the Inquisition’s base.
• Aeolia rescued Mimi from the Inquisition deputy director, shared the Doran Fruit’s power with her, and invited her to travel with him as the current Orange Cat of the Cat Cave.
• Arthur completed the ritual, raising his Physique and Spirituality and gaining new abilities, then judged that Entry Rank still lay beyond him and took out the Initiation Chart.