Chapter Summaries

After Nepheli lost to a Crucible Knight sealed beneath a cliff in Stormveil Castle, the Tarnished returned from the Divine Tower with Godrick’s Great Rune rekindled and learned of the threat. He set out to face the knight alone, while Melina offered to take him to Roundtable Hold.

• Kenneth Haight and Rogier organized Stormveil Castle, while Nepheli Lou persuaded Godrick’s remaining soldiers to surrender and Edgar secured their loyalty.
• Nepheli reported that a Crucible Knight guarded a sealed-off cliff, and the group decided that Nepheli, Rogier, and Edgar would challenge him.
• The Tarnished reached the Divine Tower, rekindled Godrick’s Great Rune using the remains of the Two Fingers, and rested at a newly appeared Site of Grace.
• Melina apologized for doubting the Tarnished and offered to take him to Roundtable Hold, but he tried to persuade her to hug or hold his hand.
• After returning to Stormveil Castle and hearing about the Crucible Knight, the Tarnished asked Gostoc for his buckler and declared he would fight alone.

Tarnished defeated a Crucible Knight and persuaded him to join by promising to keep trying and by invoking Nepheli Loux. After freeing a second knight, Tarnished discovered that Nepheli's surname tied her to Hoarah Loux, and Kenneth Haight proposed that she rule Stormveil, provoking Edgar.

• Tarnished used the Small Roundshield and a well-placed kick to repeatedly defeat the Crucible Knight without killing him.
• Tarnished promised to return with meals until the knight agreed to join, and the knight accepted after learning Nepheli's surname was Loux.
• Tarnished freed another Crucible Knight from the Forlorn Hound Evergaol and recruited him by mentioning Nepheli.
• Tarnished explained that Nepheli's surname linked her to Hoarah Loux, and Kenneth Haight confirmed that she was his direct descendant.
• Kenneth Haight asked Nepheli to become Stormveil's ruler, and Edgar angrily accused him of betraying his former lord.

The Tarnished agreed to let Nepheli become lord of Stormveil Castle to attract Godfrey's followers, but she left to ask Sir Gideon Ofnir for permission. He then took Rogier and the two Crucible Knights, Rodini and Laurendi, into the castle's depths, where they discovered the source of the deathly thorns.

• Edgar argued with Kenneth Haight and the Crucible Knights over who should rule Stormveil Castle, and the Tarnished supported Nepheli's claim.
• Nepheli refused to accept the lordship without first consulting her foster father, Sir Gideon Ofnir, and promised to return with an answer.
• Nepheli asked the two Crucible Knights to stay at Stormveil Castle and help the Tarnished, and they agreed.
• The Tarnished recruited Rogier, Rodini, and Laurendi to explore the deepest part of Stormveil Castle and keep Rogier from going alone.
• Rogier explained that thorns of death were growing through the castle walls and that their source had to be removed.
• The group reached the depths and saw a huge, misshapen face that Rogier identified as the source of the deathly thorns.

Tarnished, Rogier, Laurendi, and Rodini explored the source of death beneath Stormveil Castle, learning how Godwyn’s death had spread through the Erdtree’s roots. After Rogier was afflicted by death blight, Tarnished and the two Crucible Knights joined hands with him to share the curse, and all four collapsed.

• Tarnished explained that Godwyn’s soul had died while his flesh remained alive, and Rogier described how the Erdtree’s failed efforts to resurrect him had twisted and spread his body through the roots.
• Tarnished persuaded Laurendi and Rodini to accept Nepheli as their lord despite Godwyn being the Golden Dynasty’s rightful heir.
• The group collected giant rat samples for Rogier’s research and defeated a Putrid Tree Spirit that emerged from underground.
• At Godwyn’s root-grown face, Rogier cut into it and was afflicted by death blight when blood touched his finger.
• Tarnished clasped Rogier’s hand to share the curse, and Laurendi and Rodini joined them; all four then passed out while resisting the death blight.

Tarnished and his companions survived the death curse beneath Stormveil, but learned it had shortened each of their lives by about twenty years. They burned away the Death Face Skin and its thorns, leaving Stormveil safe to rebuild but its treasury nearly empty.

• Tarnished woke beside Laurendi and learned the group had stayed isolated under King Godfrey’s rule for handling unknown curses; he argued that strength could prevent a war with Leyndell.
• Rogier woke, examined the four survivors, and found that the curse had dissipated without spreading but had cost each of them roughly twenty years of life; Tarnished promised to restore their lifespans when he became Elden Lord.
• Rogier joined Stormveil, and the group returned to Edgar and Kenneth Haight with news of the Prince of Death and the dangerous face skin beneath the castle.
• Rogier advised burning the Erdtree-root face skin, while Tarnished secured Deathmoss despite Stormveil’s depleted funds, using his savings and the Remembrance of Godrick sold to Kale.
• Tarnished led Stormveil’s residents in the Death Face Skin Joint Eradication Operation, and they burned away the underground growth and the death thorns in the castle walls.
• Tarnished found the treasury nearly empty after the operation and declared that Stormveil needed to make money before it could restore the Lands Between.

Tarnished began developing Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula by recruiting a diverse workforce, rebuilding roads and the Church of Marika, and clearing monsters from the territory. As he reached Murkwater Cave, a Red Phantom invaded him, and a Gold Phantom appeared to defend him.

• Tarnished met with Edgar, Kenneth Haight, and Rogier to plan the region’s development, then assigned Edgar’s army to rebuild roads and began establishing farms and livestock bases.
• Stormveil recruited workers to rebuild the Church of Marika and offered long-term employment with food, lodging, and medical care, drawing people of many races, including Stonedigger Trolls.
• Kenneth Haight won most of the Trolls for civil work, while Edgar recruited twelve for the army; the workers grew determined to defend Stormveil as their home.
• Tarnished and two Crucible Knights cleared threats across Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula, captured wolves, and swept through several caves; he invited Istvan to join Stormveil, but Istvan declined.
• A Red Phantom invaded Tarnished at Murkwater Cave, and a Gold Phantom appeared to protect him; the two phantoms immediately attacked each other.

Tarnished and the Crucible Knights defeated Bloody Finger Nerijus, met Yura, and cleared Murkwater Cave. After Tarnished explained his rule protecting Stormveil's citizens, Patches tried to ambush him but was captured and introduced himself.

• Yura fought Bloody Finger Nerijus until the Crucible Knights killed the red phantom, then warned Tarnished about the Mohgwyn Dynasty and Flying Dragon Agheel.
• Yura declined Tarnished's invitation to join Stormveil and returned to his own world with a Finger Severer.
• The Crucible Knights cleared Murkwater Cave, where deserters had attacked them with Rancor Pots, and Rodini and Laurendi beat the bandits without killing them.
• Tarnished clarified that his rule against harming civilians protected Stormveil's citizens and apologized for putting the knights at risk through their misunderstanding.
• Patches jumped down and threatened the group, but Tarnished kicked away his shield and the Crucible Knights captured him.
• Patches surrendered, blamed the country's system for their misunderstanding, and introduced himself as Tarnished replied that his name was Tarnished.

Tarnished confronted Patches over his crimes, spared him after taking a Golden Rune [6], and negotiated a supply deal between Stormveil and Volcano Manor. Patches left a deposit of Margit's Shackle and warned Tarnished that Stormveil’s rebellion would bring it into conflict with Leyndell.

• Tarnished ordered the Crucible Knights to execute Patches, but stopped them when Patches offered him a Golden Rune [6].
• Tarnished fined Patches one hundred thousand runes and offered him a million-rune alternative, then revealed he knew Patches served Volcano Manor.
• Tarnished and Patches agreed Stormveil could supply Volcano Manor, though Tarnished refused to alter Stormveil’s production plans before receiving a confirmed order.
• Patches gave Tarnished Margit's Shackle as a deposit and revealed that Margit was an avatar of Morgott, the Grace-Given King who ruled Leyndell.
• Patches warned that Stormveil would eventually face Leyndell if it continued its rebellion, and Tarnished accepted the shackle while demanding payment in advance.

Tarnished arranged a trade deal with Volcano Manor and planned Stormveil’s industrial expansion while dismissing old royal secrets as irrelevant to people’s immediate needs. After learning Morgott and Mohg were Marika and Godfrey’s Omen twins, he ordered an expedition to clear Those Who Live in Death from Summonwater Village so Stormveil could grow fiber crops.

• Patches left the deserters with Tarnished, who promised they would receive fair sentences and eventually join Stormveil’s community.
• Tarnished explained that he planned to sell Stormveil’s goods directly to Volcano Manor, using Patches to negotiate a large order.
• Tarnished asked Kenneth Haight and Rogier whether workers resented having no wages, then ordered the canteen to add minced meat to their rice porridge.
• Tarnished revealed that Morgott and Mohg were the Omen twins born to Marika and Godfrey, and Kenneth Haight worried the royal secret could undermine faith in the Goddess.
• Kenneth Haight recommended Summonwater Village as a site for growing fiber crops, and Tarnished ordered Edgar to prepare troops and Holy Water Pots to clear it.

The Tarnished led Stormveil troops toward Summonwater Village to clear out Those Who Live in Death, freeing Alexander the Iron Fist from a hole along the way and recruiting him into Stormveil. After the soldiers defeated an undead force with Holy Water Pots, D approached the Tarnished to propose cooperation, and the Tarnished recognized that D used a single letter as his name.

• Edgar and Rogier joined the Tarnished's expedition to retake Summonwater Village, and the Tarnished assigned the Crucible Knights to deal with the Tree Sentinel.
• The Tarnished freed Alexander from a hole with a greatsword strike, welcomed artificial beings into Stormveil, and recruited Alexander after he pledged to grow stronger alongside him.
• The expedition reached the graveyards outside Summonwater Village, where Those Who Live in Death rose from the earth and attacked the troops.
• Rogier tried to speak with the undead, but crossbowmen drove him back, so the Tarnished ordered the soldiers to attack.
• Edgar cast Golden Vow, and the troops destroyed the undead with Holy Water Pots.
• D praised the Tarnished's methods and offered to cooperate, and the Tarnished remarked that he knew another man who used a letter as his name.

Tarnished’s army defeated Tibia’s Calling Boat and purified Summonwater Village, after which Tarnished spared a group of harmless undead and arranged for them to help rebuild. He then proposed creating rules to manage relations between the living and the dead, ending with a hint that he intended to establish an underworld.

• D offered to help Tarnished fight the Boat at Summonwater Village, but Edgar’s troops attacked before D could explain the threat.
• Edgar’s soldiers defeated Tibia’s Calling Boat with a ballista, destroyed the summoned undead with hammers and holy water, and burned the death-infected growths.
• Edgar found a sealed cellar containing undead that seemed to be imitating a family, and Rogier pleaded with Tarnished to spare them.
• Tarnished ordered Edgar to confiscate the undead’s tools and put them to work rebuilding Summonwater Village, while Rogier helped them communicate and secure a place to live.
• D objected to Tarnished sparing the undead and withdrew his offer of allegiance, but Tarnished explained that the endless conflict required rules rather than extermination.
• Tarnished suggested establishing an underworld to regulate where the dead could go and how the living should treat them.

Tarnished proposed an Underworld kingdom to regulate Those Who Live in Death, and Rogier and D agreed to help establish it. As Rogier and D took the plan to Roundtable Hold, Stormveil’s ventures continued, and Recusant Bernahl arrived to sign an agreement with Tarnished.

• Tarnished outlined an Underworld ruled by Godwyn, based in Deeproot, with ten departments to investigate, punish, review, and eventually rehabilitate Those Who Live in Death.
• Rogier embraced Tarnished’s plan, while D agreed to join and monitor its implementation; both decided to take it to Fia at Roundtable Hold.
• Rogier and D left Stormveil, leaving Kenneth Haight to manage the work as Edgar trained troops and Tarnished cleared monsters.
• Kenneth Haight established a textile center and turtle farm in Summonwater Village, and Roderika rescued the textile venture with her weaving and embroidery skills.
• Roderika taught the dead workers to copy her designs, bringing the textile center into operation.
• Bernahl arrived at Stormveil on behalf of Volcano Manor to sign a formal agreement with Tarnished.

The Tarnished welcomed Bernahl to Stormveil, where their friendship grew as Bernahl taught combat skills and helped Volcano Manor arrange a major trade deal. The chapter ended when the wounded Rogier warned that Gideon Ofnir planned to massacre the Village of the Albinaurics and had captured Nepheli.

• The Tarnished hosted Bernahl, and they shared their grief over the women who had died because of them while discussing the Tarnished’s goal of becoming Elden Lord.
• Bernahl learned the Tarnished’s song, signed a major trade order with Stormveil, and settled in to teach its people combat skills.
• Bernahl grew attached to Stormveil’s community and resolved to pass on all the fighting techniques he could, despite continuing to serve Volcano Manor.
• The Tarnished banished the Tree Sentinel and oversaw Stormveil’s expanding production and construction across Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula.
• Bernahl and Istvan discussed whether Bernahl could stop killing for Volcano Manor, but a horn sounded before he answered.
• Rogier arrived at Stormveil covered in blood and told the Tarnished that Gideon Ofnir planned to massacre the Village of the Albinaurics and that Nepheli had been captured.

Rogier and Nepheli uncovered Gideon Ofnir’s plan to seize Tarnished’s Great Rune and massacre the Village of the Albinaurics, but Gideon had them attacked before they could expose him. After Rogier escaped and reported the violence, Tarnished revealed he could reach the Roundtable Hold, and Melu appeared to help.

• Rogier spoke with Nepheli, who revealed Gideon Ofnir had ordered her to obtain Tarnished’s Great Rune by theft or force, and she resolved to refuse.
• Rogier and Nepheli entered Gideon Ofnir’s study and overheard him order the Village of the Albinaurics massacred for the Medallion.
• Gideon ordered Ensha to kill Rogier; Ensha wounded Rogier and Nepheli, while Nepheli fought to let Rogier escape and warn Tarnished.
• Rogier escaped and told Tarnished and the others what had happened, prompting the Crucible Knights to demand they rescue Nepheli.
• Tarnished said he could reach the Roundtable Hold and summoned Melu, who asked whether he had changed his mind about visiting.

Tarnished organized Stormveil’s defenses and a mission to aid the Village of the Albinaurics before Melina took him to Roundtable Hold. There he confronted Sir Gideon Ofnir, who agreed to lead him to Nepheli after Tarnished offered Godrick’s Great Rune in exchange for her freedom.

• Melina explained that she could take only Tarnished to Roundtable Hold, and Tarnished set out alone to bring Nepheli back.
• Tarnished ordered Edgar to reinforce the Village of the Albinaurics, assigned defenses for Stormveil, and sent Rogier to find Blaidd; Sellen gave Kenneth Haight the Glintstone Kris to smooth negotiations with the Academy.
• Istvan visited Bernahl and implied he had decided to help defend Stormveil.
• Melina brought Tarnished to Roundtable Hold, where Sir Gideon Ofnir warned him that he was only a visitor until he defeated another Shardbearer and heard the Two Fingers’ teachings.
• Tarnished told Gideon he had come for Nepheli and offered Godrick’s Great Rune for her release; Gideon then agreed to take him to her.

Tarnished rescued Nepheli from Gideon Ofnir and Ensha, then fought them in Roundtable Hold. After using a Rune Arc to empower himself, he killed Ensha and challenged Gideon Ofnir.

• Gideon Ofnir led Tarnished to Nepheli, whom Ensha had tortured and chained in a room of corpses and books.
• Tarnished freed Nepheli, but Ensha attacked him from behind and left him apparently dead while Gideon Ofnir revealed his plan to make Nepheli rule Stormveil.
• Tarnished revived with a Flask of Crimson Tears, fought Ensha with his shield and Great Epee, and nearly killed him before Gideon Ofnir intervened with sorcery.
• Tarnished used a Rune Arc to gain Godrick's blessing, then battered Ensha with repeated Shield Bashes despite Gideon Ofnir's Comets.
• Tarnished crushed Ensha against the wall and taunted Gideon Ofnir to avenge his attendant.

After Gideon framed Tarnished for Ensha’s death and tried to rally the Roundtable Hold against him, Tarnished challenged the group’s claims of divine authority. D and Fia sided with Tarnished, and Bernahl arrived as Gideon ordered them to leave the Hold forever.

• Gideon accused Tarnished of killing Ensha and tried to turn D, Diallos, his retainer, and the blindfolded prophet against him.
• Tarnished admitted he had killed Ensha, rejected Gideon’s rules and the divine, and argued that Gideon’s conduct contradicted his own claims about divine will.
• When Diallos, his retainer, and the prophet attacked, Tarnished fought back, while D turned against Diallos and joined Tarnished.
• Fia left the Roundtable Hold and stood with Tarnished, and Gideon escalated the fight by attacking them with Comets.
• Tarnished shielded D and Diallos from Gideon’s magic, but Istvan’s gravity orb interrupted the attack and gave Tarnished time to recover.
• Istvan asked Gideon to let Tarnished leave, then Bernahl appeared; Gideon backed down and ordered Tarnished to leave the Roundtable Hold forever.

Tarnished rejected Gideon Ofnir’s attempt to make him doubt Nepheli, giving up the Great Rune to prove he trusted her and taking her back to Stormveil. He then went to the Village of the Albinaurics, where his forces had rescued villagers, and prepared with Nepheli to confront the surviving raider leader.

• Gideon Ofnir warned Tarnished that Nepheli might be plotting to steal his Great Rune, but Tarnished tossed the Rune to him and declared that trust mattered more than power.
• Tarnished and his companions returned to Stormveil, where Kenneth Haight and Rogier welcomed them and reported that the Village of the Albinaurics was under attack.
• Tarnished took Nepheli to the village, where Stormveil’s soldiers and Irina’s medical team had rescued and cared for the Albinaurics; Irina told them that Tarnished was on his way.
• Tarnished arrived to cheers, reunited Nepheli with Irina and the others, and learned that Edgar had trapped the raider leader on a cliff.
• Nepheli asked to fight, and Tarnished gave her a Flask of Crimson Tears before taking up the Manor Towershield to defend her as she prepared to attack with the Stormhawk Axes.

Tarnished and his allies defeated the Omen Hunter and saved the Village of the Albinaurics. Tarnished welcomed the villagers to Stormveil as workers, despite learning that they intended to leave for the Haligtree when they found it, and received an Ivory Sickle that could help recruit other Albinaurics.

• Tarnished blocked the Omen Hunter's repeated attacks while Nepheli struck from behind and killed him with her Stormhawk Axes.
• Edgar's soldiers repaired the village, cleared the ruins, and buried the dead as Irina learned from Alpas about the Albinaurics' persecution and lack of funeral traditions.
• Tarnished learned that the Omen Hunter was a puppet borrowed from Seluvis, and Edgar warned that the All-Knowing might have ties to Raya Lucaria Academy.
• Alpas told Tarnished that the Albinaurics followed Miquella and would leave for the Haligtree if they found the way, but Tarnished still offered them shelter and ordinary work at Stormveil.
• Alpas gave Tarnished an Ivory Sickle that could help recruit Albinaurics elsewhere, and Tarnished ordered everyone to return home.

Tarnished oversaw Stormveil’s redevelopment and addressed its labor shortage by recruiting the dead, while Fia proposed encouraging marriage to grow the population. When Edgar and Kenneth Haight pushed him to marry Irina or Nepheli for political reasons, Tarnished rejected both choices and announced he would marry them both.

• Tarnished defended the soldiers’ warm welcome from the people and reminded Edgar that leaders were responsible for guarding against corruption.
• Tarnished approved a redevelopment plan for Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula, replacing shantytowns with new districts, housing, farms, industry, and roads.
• Fia recruited Those Who Live in Death, and Tarnished put Those Who Live Forever to work, easing Stormveil’s labor shortage.
• Fia proposed encouraging marriage and asked to lead the effort; Tarnished agreed on the condition that everyone involved was an adult and consenting.
• Fia, Kenneth Haight, and Edgar urged Tarnished to marry and argued over whether he should choose Nepheli or Irina.
• Tarnished rejected both candidates as individual choices and declared that he would marry them both.