Chapter Summaries

Rhode, Lilia, and Gixil returned to the watchtower with Yetius's horn and a Giant Spider leg, earning the bounties for both monsters. Rhode planned to take Lilia home and bring spider meat to Southshore, while Gixil began selling his wares to the adventurers.

• Lilia roasted and ate Giant Spider meat, and Rhode and Gixil joined her after tasting it.
• Rhode presented Yetius's horn to Lieutenant Orinel and claimed the six-gold bounty.
• Rhode produced a Giant Spider leg, and Lieutenant Orinel ordered the clerk to record the extra job and pay the additional bounty.
• Rhode told Lieutenant Orinel that ten young yetis remained near the cave, and the lieutenant promised to issue bounties for them.
• Rhode planned to take Lilia back to the Farm and bring spider meat to Southshore, while Gixil pitched his goods to the adventurers.

Rhode shared cooked spider legs with Southshore’s hungry children, then took Lilia into town to arrange armor and training for her. At the smithy, Lilia showed interest in a huge axe and a yeti head hanging on the wall.

• Rhode cleared the Jade Mine entrance, then carried cooked spider legs with Lilia toward Southshore.
• Rhode cut up and warmed the spider legs, then handed them out to hungry children in town.
• Rhode and Lilia went to Southshore so he could arrange armor for her and seek more training from Marshal Redpath.
• At Vyrintan’s smithy, Lilia tried to lift a double-bladed axe and attempted a Bladestorm, but the axe dragged her around.
• Lilia pointed to a yeti head hanging on an iron rack and said she wanted it.

Rhode bought a custom-made mithril Silver Scale Breastplate for Lilia from the blacksmith Vyrintan, paying a two-gold deposit. As Rhode and Lilia left the smithy, someone called after them to ask if they wanted a Mountain Cloak.

• Rhode and Lilia found the smithy's ordinary armor too heavy and uncomfortable for her.
• Vyrintan showed Rhode a lightweight mithril Silver Scale Breastplate and explained its craftsmanship and price.
• Rhode agreed to have Vyrintan make a breastplate fitted for Lilia for four gold coins, with delivery expected in a week.
• Rhode paid Vyrintan a two-gold deposit, and Lilia teased him that he would have to work harder.
• As Rhode and Lilia left the smithy, someone called out to ask whether they were interested in a Mountain Cloak.

Rhode declined Bath'rah's proposal to supply yeti hides for cloak-making and treated Lilia to lunch at the tavern. There, he overheard Captain Sander and Captain Hans discussing Southshore's limited docks and the profits that a harbor expansion might bring, and he moved closer to listen.

• Bath'rah asked Rhode to supply yeti hides for his Yeti Hide Cloaks, but Rhode put off deciding and hurried away with Lilia.
• Rhode let Lilia order a generous lunch at Monica's tavern, though he stopped her from choosing more food.
• Rhode spotted Nat Pagle talking with Captain Sander and Captain Hans about fishing and their travels.
• Captain Sander and Captain Hans said Southshore's small docks limited trade and suggested that expanding them could bring in more cargo and profit.
• Rhode edged closer to the three men when he heard them talking about making money.

Rhode, Lilia, and Nat Pagle joined Captain Sander aboard his ship for a trip to a nearby island, where Nat fished from the deck. The chapter ended as Rhode used Mage Hand to help Nat pull up whatever had taken the bait.

• Rhode discussed the benefits of expanding Southshore's docks with Captains Sander and Hans and Nat Pagle, who said the town lacked enough workers.
• Captain Sander invited Rhode and Lilia to sail with him, and they agreed to join Nat Pagle for a trip to a nearby island.
• Rhode, Lilia, Nat Pagle, and the two captains shared a meal, packed the leftovers, and went to the docks.
• Rhode, Lilia, and Nat boarded Captain Sander's ship as sailors prepared to depart, while Captain Hans stayed aboard his own vessel.
• Nat Pagle caught several fish from the ship, then hooked something powerful, and Rhode used Mage Hand to help pull it in.

Rhode and the crew sailed toward Southern Island with Lilia and their newly named Murloc companion, Bumpelba. A sudden storm struck the ship, and Rhode discovered Naga Sirens attacking nearby.

• A Murloc recognized Rhode, agreed to join the crew for food, and received the name Bumpelba.
• Captain Sander set the merchant ship on course for Southern Island, while Rhode, Lilia, Nat Pagle, and Bumpelba passed the time aboard.
• A sailor spotted the island, but a violent storm swept over the ship before they could reach it.
• Rhode used a fireball to see through the storm and urged Lilia and Bumpelba to get inside the cabin.
• The sailors warned that the ship was under attack, and Rhode identified the surrounding monsters as Naga Sirens.

Naga attacked the merchant ship, and Rhode devised a stronger version of Frost Nova as they began battering through its hull. He finished shaping the spell and called for everyone to get ready, but its effects had not yet been revealed.

• Bumpelba recognized the approaching Naga as the creatures that had enslaved his people.
• Captain Sander ordered the crew and Rhode to fire on the Naga, but most of them reached the ship and attacked its wooden hull from underwater.
• Captain Sander's sailors fired into the water without stopping the Naga, while Nat Pagle feared they would be eaten.
• Rhode modified Frost Nova by combining three spell models and connecting their nodes, risking a mana backlash.
• Rhode opened his eyes and asked everyone to get ready before announcing that they would witness a miracle.

Rhode froze the sea to stop the Naga from attacking the merchant ship, then used Mage Hands to push the ship free of the ice. After the crew returned to Southshore, sailors retold the feat in Monica's tavern while Rhode was away with Bumpelba, searching for the Murloc's home.

• Rhode cast an enormous ice spell that froze the sea and trapped the Naga beneath the merchant ship.
• Rhode climbed back aboard, then used Mage Hands to push the ship off the ice and let it resume sailing toward the Southern Island.
• Rhode, Lilia, and Bumpelba explored the island while Captain Sander's sailors moved cargo and Nat Pagle fished.
• After the group returned to Southshore, sailors gathered at Monica's tavern and told townsfolk exaggerated stories about Rhode freezing the sea.
• Hackett asked where Rhode had gone, and a sailor said Rhode had taken Bumpelba along to search for the Murloc's home.

Rhode took Lilia and Bumpelba to the Murloc village, where two factions were fighting over whether the Naga were the Sea God's masters. After Rhode conjured more than a hundred Mage Hands, the Murlocs bowed to him, and he declared himself their Sea God.

• Rhode woke after a sleepless night and took Lilia and Bumpelba to the Murloc village.
• Rhode found hundreds of Murlocs split into two factions, with one side loyal to the Naga and the other rejecting them.
• Rhode told the Murlocs that he had wiped out their Naga masters, but the black Murloc leader refused to believe him because the Naga had many hands.
• Rhode conjured eight Mage Hands, and both factions immediately bowed to him as the Sea God's emissary.
• Rhode created more than a hundred Mage Hands and declared that he was the Sea God himself.

Rhode revealed that he had gathered the Southshore murlocs under Bumpelba and proposed using them to expand the docks into a major harbor. The townspeople enthusiastically supported his plan, and the chapter left Southshore ready to begin the project once Mayor Marebu returned.

• Rhode appointed Bumpelba chief of the murlocs, and Lilia delighted in her pet's new position and her many baby murloc pets.
• Rhode brought the murloc tribe to Southshore's docks and reassured Sheriff Redpath, the sailors, and the townspeople that they were allies.
• Rhode told the crowd he planned to expand the docks into a harbor and described the trade, jobs, goods, and protection it could bring Southshore.
• Rhode said he would wait for Mayor Marebu to return from Durnholde Keep before beginning construction.
• Gixil, Vyrintan, Hackett, Kent, and other townspeople voiced their support for Rhode's plan.

Rhode prepared for the dock expansion while improving his magic and watching Lilia rapidly learn swordsmanship. Mayor Marebu offered him a paid position at Vern Audric’s Magic Tower in Durnholde Keep, and Rhode decided to take Lilia on an adventure there.

• Rhode arranged for experts to inspect the dock and had murlocs clear rubble from the Jade Mine while Bondes and Vyrintan accepted reduced payments.
• Lilia quickly learned Redpath’s sword technique, while Rhode mastered the spells in her textbook and grew more sensitive to mana.
• Rhode used Mage Hand and Fireball to prepare an apple pie, impressing Lilia and Redpath with his magical skill.
• Mayor Marebu approved the dock expansion and offered Rhode work at Vern Audric’s Magic Tower, where he could earn close to a gold coin a month and study stronger magic.
• Rhode accepted the opportunity and asked Lilia if she was ready for an adventure.

Rhode arranged for Southshore’s harbor and farm to be managed before setting out with Lilia for Durnholde Keep. After a leisurely journey filled with conversation and practice, they reached the fortress.

• Rhode arranged for Mayor Marebu to oversee harbor construction and entrusted his farm to Monica before preparing to leave Southshore.
• Rhode and Lilia said goodbye to the townspeople and the Murlocs, then set off east toward Durnholde Keep.
• On the road, Rhode stopped Lilia from eating unknown mushrooms and promised to find her safer food.
• Rhode and Lilia rested and practiced spells and swordsmanship during their journey.
• After several days on the road, Rhode spotted Durnholde Keep’s fortress walls.

Rhode and Lilia visited Audric's Tower in Durnholde Keep, where Rhode used his fire magic to gain entry and met Alex Barov, Archmage Audric's assistant. Alex explained the tower's small staff as he led them to Audric's office, where their meeting awaited.

• Rhode and Lilia found Audric's Tower and presented Mayor Marebu's letter of introduction to its guards.
• Rhode showed the guards two fireballs, and they let him enter the tower.
• Lilia dismissed the tower as ordinary, while Rhode reassured her that they might see something different upstairs.
• Alex Barov introduced himself as Archmage Audric's assistant and led Rhode and Lilia up the tower.
• Alex described the tower's few mages and apprentices, then told Rhode that Audric was eager to recruit new mages.

Rhode and Lilia toured the Magic Tower before meeting Archmage Vern Audric, who assessed their magical abilities and recognized Lilia as a High Elf. Audric then identified Rhode’s Ruby Earring as one that had once belonged to him.

• Alex showed Rhode and Lilia the Magic Tower’s floors and led them to Rhode’s room on the eighth floor.
• Rhode and Lilia visited Vern Audric in his office, where Rhode watched him conduct a spell test.
• Audric sensed that Rhode was at least an Intermediate Magic User and recognized Lilia’s mana as that of a High Elf.
• Audric asked to see Rhode’s Ruby Earring and said that it used to be his.

Rhode returned the Ruby Earrings to Audric, who let him keep them and offered him the post of vice president of Audric’s Tower. Rhode accepted after learning the position paid five gold coins a month, despite the complications surrounding the tower’s other vice president.

• Audric recognized the Ruby Earrings as his missing property, explained that they paired with a Ruby Necklace, and gave them to Rhode.
• Audric offered Rhode the vice president position and explained that Audric’s Tower belonged to the Kirin Tor’s branch network in Durnholde Keep.
• Audric said the current vice president, Hearthglen, neglected his duties and held the post because his teacher was Council of Six member Kel’Thuzad.
• Audric offered Rhode five gold coins a month, and Rhode eagerly accepted and asked whether he needed to sign a contract.

Rhode attended his first briefing as the magic tower’s new vice president and proved his combat ability by wielding Mage Hand with devastating force. The apprentices accepted him, and he appointed both Lilia and Sally as his assistants.

• Rhode attended an introductory meeting with Alex and Lilia, where Alex introduced him as the magic tower’s new vice president and announced that he had defeated Yetius.
• At Alex’s request, Rhode demonstrated how he used Mage Hand to smash wooden and stone dummies, impressing the apprentices.
• Alex presented Rhode with the tower’s roster and recommended Sally as his personal assistant.
• When Lilia insisted on becoming Rhode’s assistant, Rhode appointed both Lilia and Sally.
• Lilia whispered that Rhode’s mana had surged when he looked at Sally, and Rhode told her to shut up.

Rhode took charge of the Magic Tower’s routine affairs and chose construct magic as his next field of study after learning spatial spells required more mana than he had. He discovered that his assistant Sally’s full name was Sally Whitemane, leaving him startled by her resemblance to a famous future figure.

• Audric left Rhode as the only vice president on duty, and Alex and Sally handled most of the Magic Tower’s routine work alongside him.
• Rhode found that the apprentices struggled with his advanced spell models, though Alex improved his Mage Hand under Rhode’s guidance.
• Rhode explored the library’s spell collections and set aside spatial magic because his mana capacity was too low to meet its requirements.
• Rhode chose to study construct magic and borrowed Assembly and Technology of Constructed Creatures from the library.
• When Sally brought him refreshments, Rhode asked her full name, and she told him she was Sally Whitemane.
• Rhode recognized Sally’s name and stared at her legs, prompting her to ask where he was looking.

Rhode and Lilia wandered into a slum alley, where beggars asked them for food and Rhode prepared to help. Lieutenant Drake arrived with soldiers and violently seized the beggar who had approached Rhode, leaving the others cowering.

• Lilia practiced her Charge skill by startling a cat, and Rhode teased her about her studies before promising to find her another swordsmanship teacher.
• Rhode and Lilia followed the cat into a squalid alley, where a group of beggars asked Rhode for food.
• Lilia urged Rhode to give the beggars money, and Rhode reached for his purse.
• Lieutenant Drake arrived with a squad of soldiers, warned Rhode not to interfere with his work, and slammed the beggar leader against a wall.

Rhode investigated a family’s murder after Lieutenant Drake accused a group of beggars, and he argued that the evidence pointed to skilled killers instead. He questioned the beggar Katel about why he trusted mages.

• Lieutenant Drake interrogated and assaulted a beggar while Rhode and Lilia objected.
• Drake told Rhode that five members of a merchant family had been murdered in their home.
• Rhode challenged Drake’s suspicion of the beggars, noting they had left silver behind and were still begging in the city.
• Drake explained that the victims had been pierced by a sharp weapon, but the murder weapon was missing and little blood had been found.
• Rhode concluded that the murders were likely carried out by one or more expert assassins, then asked Katel why he believed mages were good people.

Rhode learned that a mage using glamour had likely murdered someone and agreed to help Lieutenant Drake investigate in exchange for Drake teaching Lilia swordsmanship. He arranged work and lodging for Katel and the beggars, then asked Drake to take him to the crime scene.

• Katel told Rhode that a mage had given the beggars a silver coin, but glamour had prevented him from seeing the mage's face.
• Rhode agreed to investigate the murder on the condition that Lieutenant Drake teach Lilia swordsmanship, and Drake accepted.
• Rhode offered Katel and the other beggars work helping build a dormitory and told them to come to Audric's Tower the next day.
• Rhode asked Drake not to call the beggars lowlifes and explained that he wanted to treat them respectfully.
• Rhode asked Lieutenant Drake to take him to the crime scene so he could look for clues.