Chapter Summaries

Malinda used the Lapis Lazuli Ring to stand down Kemail Manor’s gargoyles, and she told Arthur about the Masons’ Guild and its improved constructs. As Edwin, Mary, and their allies prepared the Manor, Arthur and Malinda headed toward the true purpose of their visit.

• Malinda commanded the two gargoyles to return to their posts, ending Kemail Manor’s heightened defenses.
• Malinda explained that the gargoyles were the Masons’ Guild’s Silver Age achievement and that the Guild had recently developed improved New Guards for nobles.
• Arthur wondered about acquiring gargoyles for his home and considered putting pressure on Garcia.
• Edwin assigned the guards to their positions while Mary organized the staff to clean and decorate the Manor.
• Young Lissop and Fontel offered help, and Mary asked them to assist Edwin with patrols as the gathered guards began securing the area.
• Arthur and Malinda left for a spot inside the Manor that was the real reason for their visit.

Arthur and Malinda entered the Kemail Manor’s secret room to investigate the deathly aura and found a notebook on its central desk. Malinda moved toward it while Arthur held back.

• Arthur and Malinda examined the faded portraits and discussed the Kemail Family’s decline and their own future portraits.
• Malinda opened the secret room behind the study’s bookcase by pulling a distinctive book.
• Arthur and Malinda traded jokes as they went down into the room, then became serious upon seeing the books and desk.
• Malinda approached the notebook on the desk while Arthur quietly stepped back.

Malinda and Arthur survived the secret room’s traps and discovered Baron Kemail’s flawed Activation Ritual alongside Master Herke’s travel journal. Arthur recognized that the journal identified Rainbow Island as Coconut Island, giving him key information for advancing [Hand of the Void], and asked Malinda what she thought.

• Malinda survived poison gas, a fire trap, and six arrows while Arthur stayed back in the passage and praised her technique.
• Arthur and Malinda read Baron Kemail’s notes and realized the incomplete Activation Ritual could not reliably awaken a bloodline.
• Malinda found Kemail’s desperate entry about Glaster and his wish to awaken his bloodline and father children.
• Arthur opened Master Herke’s travel journal and discovered that Rainbow Island was also known as Coconut Island.
• Arthur recognized the island as key to advancing [Hand of the Void] and asked Malinda what she thought.

Arthur and Malinda staged a pregnancy scare to mislead a Pale Hand informant while investigating Glaster’s scheme. After the informant left to report the news, Malinda departed, and Arthur headed back to the Manor as a timely message appeared before him.

• Malinda identified the Pale Hand as the group behind Kemail’s staged death and, with Arthur, located a hidden watcher in the woods.
• Arthur and Malinda pretended that Malinda was pregnant, convincing the Pale Hand rookie that they had not noticed him.
• After the rookie left to report the supposed pregnancy, Arthur and Malinda returned and concluded that Glaster had used him as a disposable pawn.
• Malinda promised to compensate Arthur with Master Herke’s notes, then vanished and told him to walk back unseen.
• Arthur started toward the Manor and murmured that the text appearing before him had arrived at the perfect time.

Tate and Mrs. Amanda considered whether Arthur could help the 346 people whose livelihoods depended on their decision. At Arthur’s Manor, guests gathered for the ruler of South Los’s arrival, and Lord Laurie’s fearsome representative surprised everyone by kneeling to greet Arthur as Young Master.

• Tate celebrated Arthur’s tournament victory and offered to alter Mrs. Amanda’s cane handle to resemble her cat, Kur.
• Mrs. Amanda hesitated over whether to choose Arthur, knowing the decision could change how 346 people survived.
• Arthur gained XP from his championship and the growing attention around him, then returned to the Manor and anticipated exploring the ruins.
• Arthur’s friends and representatives of several lords and barons arrived at the Manor before the ruler of South Los was due to appear.
• Desa approached Arthur while Arthur’s companions prepared for a confrontation, then knelt and greeted him as Young Master Arthur.

Desa knelt before Arthur and addressed him as young master, revealing his ties to the Selena Family and demonstrating his influence at Malinda’s Inheritance Ceremony. Malinda recognized how the scene served their plan, and Desa called for something to be brought in.

• Desa knelt before Arthur, calling him young master and prompting the guests to reconsider his influence and the Creados’ standing.
• Bob abandoned his doubts about Arthur’s connections and returned to his seat beside Arthur and Maltz.
• Malinda realized Arthur had used her ceremony to strengthen their plan, while Linda misread Malinda’s remarks about their private nicknames.
• At Arthur’s signal, Desa stood and shouted for the doors to bring it in.

Desa delivered the Selena Family’s secret-room books and Core Mystic Art to Arthur, declaring the family’s unconditional support and leaving rival nobles scrambling to improve their gifts. Young Lissop and Fontel added pressure by bringing in chests that they opened to reveal a dazzling golden light.

• Desa had two strong men carry a carriage full of copies of the Selena Family’s secret-room books into the hall and presented them to Arthur.
• Desa gave Arthur the Selena Family Core Mystic Art and announced that the family would always support him and that Barney would always be his home.
• Arthur thanked Desa and Lady Selena formally, recognized Barney as his fallback, and invited Desa and the two carriers to sit with him.
• The noble representatives contacted their family leaders as they realized they would need to increase their gifts.
• Young Lissop and Fontel had five large chests each carried into the hall and opened them, filling it with golden light.

Arthur collected compensation from the nobles and merchants, accepted the sworn allegiance of three young noblemen, and exposed Lord Byrne's old steward's attempt to avoid paying. After noticing that one merchant had disappeared and others had sent messages, Arthur sent Fuginn to investigate.

• Young Lissop and Fontel opened ten chests of gold, revealing twenty thousand coins and alarming the merchants and nobles.
• Gudrian Ernest, Erwin Dubois, and Zhukov Bath swore loyalty to Arthur, who accepted their oaths in the Lionheart Salute ceremony.
• Baron Coroll's and Baron Hausmann's chief swordsmen offered Arthur a ring and a bracelet, while Lord Byrne's old steward fainted to evade payment.
• Arthur called the steward possessed and ordered Young Lissop, Fontel, and Wiggins to drag him to the Washroom for treatment.
• Arthur noticed one merchant had disappeared and four others had used Communication Stones, then sent Fuginn to follow the fleeing person.
• Arthur narrowed his eyes when Fuginn's vision reached him.

Walsh secretly contacted Mr. Glaster and reported that the Lady of the Long Night was carrying the South Los Medium’s child, but Bloody John killed him while delivering a warning about the treasure. Bloody John ended his deal with Glaster and escaped into the river, while a bandaged swordsman appeared nearby.

• Walsh retrieved a Communication Stone from a hidden compartment in a tree and contacted Mr. Glaster.
• Walsh told Mr. Glaster that the Lady of the Long Night was carrying the South Los Medium’s child, and Glaster ordered him to deliver the stone to someone at a second location.
• Walsh handed the Communication Stone to a waiter-dressed man, who stabbed him and threw his body into the river.
• Bloody John spoke with Mr. Glaster through the Communication Stone and refused to pursue the item connected to the Pirate King’s treasure because the South Los Medium had received it.
• Bloody John crushed the Communication Stone and turned into water that merged with the river, as a raven and a dog departed and a bandaged swordsman emerged.

The Bandaged Swordsman found the wounded Walsh and suspected Bloody John had deliberately spared him, while Arthur revised his plan to lure both Glaster and Bloody John. Arthur examined two mystic accessories and became especially curious about the bracelet Glaster had traded for clues to the Pirate King's treasure.

• Eli spotted the wounded Walsh by the river, and the Bandaged Swordsman went to help him despite Eli's warnings.
• The Bandaged Swordsman discovered Walsh's sword wound had likely been deliberately missed and asked whether Walsh had been betrayed.
• Arthur concluded Bloody John had spared Walsh as a potential pawn and adjusted his plan to draw both Glaster and Bloody John out.
• Arthur inspected the Blazing Ring, which stored Fire Arrows and a Fireball, then examined the bracelet Aislan's Leap.
• Arthur frowned as he considered the bracelet's significance to Glaster.

Arthur realized Glaster and Bloody John were maneuvering against each other, but decided to leave the schemes to Malinda while keeping his own hands clean. As Malinda welcomed Julie to Kemail Manor, she privately asked for help conceiving Arthur’s child, and Julie offered her a potion that guaranteed success.

• Arthur reasoned that Glaster had exposed Walsh to direct attention toward Bloody John, whose planned counterattack could lead to a grand funeral.
• Arthur decided to pretend he knew nothing about the schemes and let Malinda investigate on her own.
• Julie arrived at Kemail Manor as the Countess’s representative, and Malinda welcomed her before taking her upstairs to talk privately.
• Julie recognized Linda Camille as Lady Camille’s daughter and spoke of her mother’s abilities and the Advisors’ past interest in recruiting her.
• Malinda told Julie she wanted to be carrying Arthur’s child, and Julie offered her Quinn’s potion, which she claimed guaranteed a successful result.

Malinda learned why Chief Swordswoman Julie possessed the rare One-Shot Sure Hit potion and agreed to reveal the truth at the Peerage Inheritance Ritual. As Malinda and Julie came downstairs, Linda shared a strange vision of a naked giant pursued by female giants, and the ritual was about to begin.

• Julie told Malinda that Potion Master Quinn made the potion to help Julie's father recover from a shattered pelvis, and explained its effects and the long recovery required after childbirth.
• Malinda put away the potion, suspecting it could ease the Countess's worries about her, and asked Julie to play along while she revealed the truth.
• Linda described a vision of a naked giant running beneath the setting sun while female giants chased him.
• Arthur saw a golden warrior behind Linda, recognized Haha's cat faces on its armor, and watched Malinda and Julie descend as the Peerage Inheritance Ritual neared its start.

Malinda completed the Peerage Inheritance Ritual, establishing the Caesar Family, before her retching sparked rumors that she was pregnant. Arthur and Malinda privately continued their deception, and Arthur persuaded her to stop smoking for the sake of the supposed child.

• The Chief Swordswoman proclaimed the Kemail Family reborn as the Caesar Family and presented Malinda with its seal, badge, and flag.
• Arthur secretly gave Desa from Barney a roast chicken drumstick during the ceremony, and the guests later congratulated Arthur and Malinda at the feast.
• The court painter proposed a joint portrait, and Malinda retched while posing, leading him to interpret her gesture as a mother's protection of her unborn child.
• Malinda left the hall with the Chief Swordswoman, while Arthur rushed upstairs and the guests speculated about her condition.
• Arthur and Malinda relaxed in private with Pendragon, and Arthur convinced Malinda to extinguish her pipe by saying smoking was bad for the child.

Arthur and Malinda waited for night while their allies mingled at Caesar Manor and made plans to strengthen Arthur’s forces. Once darkness arrived, Malinda took Arthur through a smoke ring toward the ruins, leaving Pendragon behind to guard the room.

• Arthur gave Malinda the bracelet and told her to investigate why Glaster of the Pale Hand had come for it.
• While Arthur and Malinda rested, Bob asked Young Lissop to recruit one or two hundred Death Warriors, and Young Lissop agreed.
• Cook urged Scott, Wiggins, and Haywood to endure his father’s four-week training, and they agreed to try it.
• Arthur instructed Pendragon to guard the room, then Malinda took Arthur by the hand and vanished with him through a smoke ring.

Arthur reassured De'erqiao after the expedition failed to clear the Life-and-Death Gate 3000, and De'erqiao offered information about two other ruins. Arthur entered the trapped corridor and chose a route using his fallen walking stick rather than divination.

• Arthur and Malinda emerged from the smoke, and Arthur told De'erqiao the failed assignment was not his fault.
• De'erqiao told Arthur that he knew of two ruins, and Arthur agreed to let the Gale Sword's team investigate them as part of their contract.
• Arthur befriended Uls by praising his archery and tracking skills and agreeing to hunt with him.
• Arthur entered the Life-and-Death Gate 3000 corridor as the gathered teams watched, expecting him to perform divination.
• Arthur let his walking stick fall, pointed in the direction of its handle, and told everyone to go that way.

Arthur guided the party through hidden passages and a trap corridor with his supposed Wayfinding Art, then encountered a giant Fierce Beast among a swarm of snakes. The snakes accepted Arthur as their king, and he asked the giant snake to follow him.

• Arthur used his walking stick to guide the party through a maze, claiming the method was a Creados Mystic Art invented by his grandfather, Old Charlie.
• Arthur's walking stick revealed a Hidden Door, and he crossed the trap corridor safely before telling the others which floor tiles to follow.
• The party advanced through the ruins and encountered thousands of snakes guarded by a giant Fierce Beast.
• Arthur walked through the snakes unharmed as they bowed and treated him as their king.
• Arthur stopped before the giant snake, introduced himself as Arthur Credos, and asked if it would follow him.

Arthur named the enormous serpent Nidhogg after it submitted to him, and the creature’s revealed powers promised to make his fleet safer. Nidhogg cleared the passage to a room full of books and experimental equipment, where Arthur spotted a mask he resolved to claim.

• Arthur asked whether the great serpent could be tamed, and Nidhogg lowered his head affectionately toward him.
• Malinda reconsidered Arthur’s claims about his family, while De'erqiao and the others admired him and Little Wenna asked to pet the serpent.
• Arthur named the serpent Nidhogg and learned that Geppetto had transformed it into a powerful mutant with defensive abilities and command over nearby snakes.
• Little Wenna pointed out Nidhogg’s horns, and the serpent moved aside to reveal a room filled with books, equipment, a mask, and a dagger.
• Arthur recognized the mask in the display cabinet and decided he would have it.

Arthur and Malinda searched a ruined laboratory and discovered it belonged to the infamous Grand Alchemist Geppetto, not the figure Malinda had hoped to find. After Malinda let him choose first, Arthur picked up a vessel mask containing another [Death Hound] and noticed new text appear.

• Arthur recognized a mask that housed a [Death Hound] and asked Malinda whether she had heard of Geppetto.
• Malinda identified Geppetto as the mad Grand Alchemist, and Arthur explained that the ruin was one of his laboratories.
• Arthur realized Malinda had expected the ruin to belong to someone else and used the truth to secure the first choice of their shared spoils.
• Malinda let Arthur choose first, and he examined a Bone Dagger that could summon Captain Dallas and his skeletal squad.
• Arthur chose the mask containing a [Death Hound], and unexpected text appeared as he picked it up.

Arthur gained a second Death Hound, Kili, whose pack traits could strengthen and resurrect the pair, while Malinda claimed the Bone Dagger. Malinda revealed she had been searching for the First Gun, and Arthur hinted that the laboratory might once have belonged to the Tower of Mist as he turned to investigate its books.

• Arthur read that Death Hounds in a pack gained stronger attacks and defenses, improved growth, and the ability to resurrect one another through their Seeds of Death.
• Arthur named the new Death Hound Kili and watched him approach Kuliqi, who regarded his companion with disdain.
• Malinda chose the Bone Dagger, and Arthur congratulated her as she stored it away.
• Malinda told Arthur she had believed the laboratory belonged to a Red Robe of the Tower of Mist and had come seeking the First Gun, an item capable of killing an Ascendant with one shot.
• Arthur suggested he sensed the Tower of Mist in the laboratory, and he turned his attention to its books for clues, including knowledge about bringing puppets back to life.

Arthur and Malinda sorted through Geppetto’s laboratory and discovered notes revealing his cruel experiments and his work with souls. Arthur gained new soul abilities, and the group prepared to confirm their expedition was complete.

• Arthur and Malinda found Geppetto’s experimental notes, which described his experiments on the brothers and his creation of Pinocchio.
• Arthur and Malinda continued searching the laboratory for information about the First Gun and Black Robe’s work.
• Arthur gained the [Soul Charging] and [Soul Trimming] traits under [Gift of the Soul].
• Arthur looked forward to attaching souls to items and helping “Lady Anna” move freely.
• Arthur asked the others whether their exploration of the Ruins was complete.