Chapter Summaries

Audrey safely became a Psychiatrist after nearly losing control, explored her new powers, and named her transformed mask Lies. In Bayam, Klein learned why Admiral of Blood Senor was pursuing Edwina and considered hunting Senor and his crew.

• Audrey nearly lost control during her advancement, but Susie calmed her and helped her regain her rationality.
• Audrey examined her new Psychiatrist abilities and transformed her silver mask into an earring, naming it Lies.
• Danitz told Klein that pirates believed a giant, rustproof key found on a sunken ship was Death's Key, and that Senor had joined the hunt for it.
• Klein asked Danitz to record the Admiral of Blood's crimes and said he wanted to hunt Senor and his crew.

Klein gathered Danitz's intelligence on Admiral of Blood Senor and his crew, then planned to hunt Steel Maviti. Meanwhile, Alger was ordered to investigate rumors that Vice Admiral Iceberg had obtained Death's Key and set out to ask around.

• Danitz listed Admiral of Blood Senor's crimes, suspected Wraith powers, lucky mystical item, fleet, and strongest subordinates for Klein.
• Klein considered the Rose School of Thought's possible ties to Senor's pirates and planned to prepare carefully before targeting Maviti.
• Klein assigned Danitz to gather intelligence on Steel Maviti and announced that Gehrman would join the hunt.
• Bishop Chogo ordered Alger to investigate rumors that Vice Admiral Iceberg had obtained Death's Key.
• Alger left Sea Waves Cathedral to question pirates and planned to make a show of investigating while watching for bounty targets.

Alger questioned Danitz about Death’s Key and learned that a mysterious helper had joined the hunt for Steel Maviti. Their conversation led Alger to suspect that the helper was Mr. Fool’s Blessed, while Klein searched Bayam for a suitable person to aid in his acting.

• Alger visited Gold Coin Casino to gather information and recognized the disguised Danitz at a poker table.
• Alger asked Danitz about Death’s Key, and Danitz revealed that Steel Maviti had attacked him and that he wanted information on Steel’s whereabouts.
• Alger deduced that Danitz had a new, powerful helper and tested his suspicion by asking about Bansy Harbor; Danitz’s surprised reaction confirmed the connection.
• Danitz gave Alger an address where he could leave information, and Alger agreed to watch for Steel before buying a deck of tarot cards.
• Klein ate grilled comb-spined fish at the Old John Restaurant and planned to search adventurers’ bars for a dying person whose final wishes he could fulfill.

Klein explored Bayam and investigated the strange death of the adventurer Wencter, discovering that a mysterious gemstone had corrupted him. He learned that Wencter had regretted never confessing his love to Renee, and the chapter leaves Klein aware that the gemstone came from a dead Beyonder.

• Klein left the Old John Restaurant and observed the colonial hierarchy and customs of the Rorsted Archipelago.
• Klein visited the Swordfish Bar, where adventurers discussed Wencter's death and the mushrooms and insects found in his room.
• Klein traced Wencter's room to 47 Blackhorn Street and performed a Spirit Channeling ritual to examine the dead man's lingering thoughts.
• Klein saw Wencter find a blue-green gemstone forming over a corpse, then die with the gemstone pendant on his chest.
• Klein concluded that Wencter had worn a released Beyonder Characteristic as a gemstone and had been slowly corrupted by it.

Klein gathered information about Wencter and Steel Maviti while Fors sought a radio receiver and Derrick prepared materials for a future sacrifice. After The Hanged Man recognized that Gehrman Sparrow was working with Danitz, Klein accepted his offer of help with the hunt for Steel Maviti.

• Klein learned that Wencter had no living relatives, planned to travel to Simim Island, and was in love with Renee.
• Fors reviewed Avril’s recommendations for radio receivers and decided to add her expenses to the price before dealing with Mr. World.
• Derrick prepared a Spirit Eater stomach pouch and other materials but chose to wait for a safer moment to sacrifice them to Mr. Fool.
• Emlyn asked Vemandi about the City of Silver and learned that a Nation of Silver had worshipped Omebella, queen of the Giant King's Court.
• Klein questioned Danitz about his inquiries, recognized Alger as The Hanged Man, and proposed using Danitz as bait to draw out Steel Maviti.
• The Hanged Man prayed to Mr. Fool and offered assistance, and Klein confirmed through The World that he needed cooperation.

Klein and Alger met at Pame's Divination Hut, used a tarot reading to coordinate a plan against Danitz and Maviti, and agreed on a discreet contact. Alger then informed Bishop Chogo and planted information about Danitz with a man at a bar, setting the trap in motion.

• Klein met Alger at Pame's Divination Hut and used the tarot spread to show he understood Alger's plan to involve the Church of Storms against Danitz and Maviti.
• Alger hinted that the Church's dream-inducing artifact and a Sun-domain item could threaten them, while Klein indicated he could prepare for both dangers.
• Klein and Alger agreed to use the aromatherapy contact point on Fragrant Tree Avenue, then parted after Klein teased Alger about his wizard-like outfit.
• Alger told Bishop Chogo that Danitz claimed Vice Admiral Iceberg's key was unrelated to Death's treasure and wanted Alger to watch for Maviti, then proposed using the information to trap them.
• At the Fragrant Leaf Bar, Alger told a thin, dark-skinned man that Danitz had said Maviti was in Bayam, and the man hurriedly left to act on the information.

Alger sold Steel Maviti’s group information about Blazing Danitz and was confined while they planned an ambush. Maviti’s pirates secretly watched the target house, where Danitz arrived at dawn and was joined by hidden adventurers.

• Alger met Calm Squall in an alley and offered information about Blazing in exchange for payment.
• Squall negotiated a temporary confinement for Alger and took him to Old Quinn’s windowless basement.
• Squall told Steel Maviti and Blood Brambles Huntley about the lead and suggested using it to lure Blazing and the adventurers into danger.
• Huntley flew Maviti’s group to a concealed observation point near 15 Fragrant Tree Avenue.
• Danitz entered house 15 at dawn, and several figures emerged from nearby hiding places and rushed into the house.

Cordova Roye used Sealed Artifact 2-37 to lure Blazing Danitz and the pursuing pirates into a dream, while Steel Maviti, Huntley, and Squall moved to capture Danitz outside. Their apparent victory ended when the real target emerged: Gehrman Sparrow had been posing as Danitz, and he attacked Steel.

• Cordova Roye ordered the Mandated Punishers to activate Sealed Artifact 2-37, drawing John Smith and the others into a shared dream while they attacked the apparent Blazing Danitz.
• Steel Maviti, Huntley, and Squall spotted the escaping Danitz and pursued him, leaving two pirates to hold their position.
• Steel froze Danitz’s shadow, Huntley bound him with plants, and Squall cut off his head, revealing that the body was a paper decoy.
• Steel sensed that the target was not Blazing Danitz, then blocked a compressed fireball with his arms.
• Gehrman Sparrow stepped from the flames in Danitz’s black cloak, revealing that he had been impersonating Danitz.

Klein swiftly defeated Steel Maviti, Squall, and Blood Brambles Huntley during the chaos at 15 Fragrant Tree Avenue. He escaped with Maviti’s body as the Mandated Punishers arrived to find the aftermath.

• Klein used Spirit Puncture and Holy Light to weaken Steel Maviti while Huntley and Squall tried to intervene.
• Klein planted a bottle of Sun Holy Water in Maviti’s wound and detonated it, killing him.
• Squall used a Screaming Charm, but Danitz’s fireball struck Huntley while Klein recovered and pursued Squall.
• Klein shot Squall in the head, consumed him with Creeping Hunger, and returned to collect Maviti’s body.
• Klein escaped in flames with the peacock-blue flying carpet, leaving the Beyonder Characteristics behind.
• Cordova Roye and the Mandated Punishers arrived to find scattered remains and the signs of the battle.

Klein used Creeping Hunger to Graze Steel Maviti, gaining three Beyonder powers before escaping the alley. As the Mandated Punishers investigated the scene, Alger anesthetized Old Quinn and his companions and broke out of the sealed basement.

• Klein Graze Steel Maviti's spirit and gained the strength of a Living Corpse, ice control, and the ability to control Living Corpses, but not Maviti's steel-like body or vitality.
• Klein took Maviti's cash, left the bounty notice over his corpse, and vanished before Cordova Roye and the Mandated Punishers arrived.
• Berg concluded that a powerful helper using a mystical item had assisted Danitz, while Cordova wondered whether Edwina was involved.
• Alger received the Fool's report that the mission had succeeded, then used Sanguine Anesthetic Gas to incapacitate Old Quinn and the others.
• Alger shattered the heavy stone door's lock with a Raging Blow and walked out of the basement.

Danitz accepted the flying carpet as his share for helping Gehrman Sparrow, while Alger received 6,000 pounds from the Church of Storms for the pirate bounties. Above the gray fog, Klein kept his promise to release a soul from Creeping Hunger and chose the Nightmare.

• Danitz realized Gehrman Sparrow owned Creeping Hunger and, fearing the adventurer's power, returned to the inn instead of escaping.
• Klein offered Danitz either 3,000 pounds or the flying carpet, and Danitz chose the carpet.
• Alger told Bishop Chogo about the battle, and the Church of Storms awarded him 6,000 pounds from the bounties.
• Alger planned to account for the 3,000 pounds owed to The World by buying a mystical item and adjusting its reported price.
• Klein decided to honor his promise to release a soul from Creeping Hunger and released the Nightmare.

Klein learned from David Raymond that the Nighthawk’s daughter lived in Connaught City and that the Death documents had been collected by Jimmy Necker, then reviewed his operation against Steel Maviti. He left to pursue a new lead and told Danitz he was taking him to meet his captain.

• Klein questioned David Raymond, who explained that he had been investigating Death documents when Qilangos attacked his ship and killed his companions.
• David Raymond asked Klein to tell his daughter Niel that her family’s murderers had been punished and that her father loved her, then named Connaught City and tycoon Jimmy Necker before disappearing.
• Klein decided to investigate Jimmy Necker and the Death documents, then reflected on his preparations and the Mandated Punishers’ response during the fight against Steel Maviti.
• Danitz asked whether he could leave, and Klein told him he was free before revealing that he was capturing him again.
• Klein told Danitz that he wanted to meet his captain, prompting Danitz to ask what he planned to do.

Klein traveled to Simim Island disguised as Wencter and acted out a farewell and marriage proposal to Renee, then left after seeing her reaction. He remained on the island overnight, waiting for the morning ship back to Bayam.

• Danitz suspected Gehrman Sparrow had powerful connections and decided to stay put to protect the captain.
• Klein arrived on Simim Island in a local disguise and calculated his wealth, considering what to do with the Nightmare Beyonder characteristic.
• Klein transformed into Wencter and told Renee he loved her, wanted to marry her, and was leaving to pursue treasure.
• Renee called Wencter a coward and selfishly struck at him with her broom, driving Klein away.
• Klein used a charm to make Renee fall asleep, then watched her wake and curse Wencter before he changed his appearance and left.

Klein posted a fabricated death notice for Wencter, then rented a room in Simim under Gehrman Sparrow and spent the evening observing local adventurers. During the night, his spirit intuition warned him of a venomous snake in the bathroom, and he killed it with a sudden strike.

• Klein mailed a false death notice to Simim’s sheriff, reporting that Wencter had died in Bayam, and reflected on how his impersonation might affect Renee.
• After a proprietor refused to rent him a room without identification, Klein changed into Gehrman Sparrow and secured a quiet room by presenting himself as a foreigner.
• Klein ate dinner at the inn and noticed a grayish-blue-eyed woman and her three companions, judging from their muddy boots that they had returned from the jungle.
• Klein went to bed early, woke during the night, and took the Sun Brooch with him to the bathroom to ease the cold.
• Klein’s spirit intuition alerted him to a venomous snake dropping from the bathroom vent, and he struck it, splitting it in two.

Klein kept watch after sensing that the adventurers had disturbed an evil spirit, then followed them onto a later passenger ship after divining it was safe. Back in Bayam, he learned Danitz’s bounty had risen to 4,200 pounds and greeted the pirate with a pointed congratulations.

• Klein divined that the inn was safe, stayed awake through the night, and sensed a spiritual disturbance fade from the adventurers’ room.
• At the Fragrant Leaf Bar, Danitz overheard that Steel Maviti and others were dead, and that his bounty had risen to 4,200 pounds.
• Klein changed his ticket to the ten o’clock passenger ship, divined that it was safe, and watched the adventurers during the uneventful journey to Bayam.
• Klein read about Danitz’s increased bounty on his way back to the Azure Wind Inn and found Danitz still there.
• Klein called Danitz “Mr. 4,200 Pounds,” leaving Danitz suddenly afraid for his life.

Danitz dreamed that Edwina visited him to teach him a ritual for contacting Gehrman Sparrow, while Klein entered the dream with a Dream Charm. The chapter ended with Klein and Edwina meeting face-to-face but neither beginning the conversation.

• Danitz dreamed that Edwina reached him through ritualistic magic and explained that she was aboard the Golden Dream, far from Bayam.
• Danitz recounted his experiences with Gehrman Sparrow, the horrors of Bansy Harbor, and the fight against Steel Maviti, while Edwina judged that Gehrman bore no ill intent.
• Edwina taught Danitz the Spirit Summoning Ritual so she could communicate with Gehrman through him.
• Klein sensed something unusual, checked the sleeping Danitz, and used a Dream Charm to enter Danitz's dream.
• Klein recognized Edwina Edwards, exchanged greetings with her, and then waited in silence as she looked back at him.

Klein questioned Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina Edwards about rare sea creatures, Beyonder corruption, ancient evil spirits, Death's Key, and the adventurers he had encountered. After learning more about the key and the secretive Element Dawn, he proposed that they work together to hunt the Admiral of Blood.

• Danitz interrupted Klein and asked Edwina to answer his questions, and she first assessed his education and knowledge of mysticism.
• Edwina described places where uncommon Beyonder creatures could be found and offered her hypothesis that a deity could shatter a corrupted Beyonder Characteristic.
• Edwina agreed to watch for ancient evil spirits and explained that Death's Key belonged to giants and might point to the lost Giant King's Court.
• Klein showed Edwina the image of Latiz Dorella, and she identified her as an archaeologist rumored to belong to the Moss Ascetic Order or Element Dawn.
• Edwina said Element Dawn opposed the Moss Ascetic Order and was rumored to have been founded by Bernadette Gustav.
• Klein asked Edwina whether she would join him in hunting the Admiral of Blood.

Klein and Danitz arranged to wait for Admiral of Blood Senor’s fleet to reappear, then went to meet a local resistance faction in Bayam. They reached a secret contact’s door, where a sea-serpent tattoo identified the group’s connection to Sea God worshippers.

• Klein asked Edwina to help him hunt Admiral of Blood Senor, and she said Senor’s fleet had vanished after fighting Vice Admiral Twilight’s crew.
• Edwina told Klein that Danitz would know how to contact her, but her dream projection faded before Danitz could object to staying with Klein.
• Danitz explained that the local resistance sought independence and worked with pirates, adventurers, and foreign backers, so Klein agreed to visit them.
• Klein disguised himself as a native, and Danitz led him through Bayam to a square where Sea God Kavithua’s believers fled from them.
• Danitz gave a password at a nearby house, and its door opened to reveal an arm tattooed with a sea serpent.

Klein and Danitz visited Kalat, a leader of the Sea God-worshipping resistance, and learned that they were searching for Latiz Dorella. Klein rejected a sinister bone sword and hurried away after sensing danger, leaving Danitz unsettled by the strange behavior of those around them.

• Klein followed Danitz into Kalat’s room, where Kalat recognized Danitz despite his disguise and asked about the deaths of Steel and Blood Brambles.
• Kalat offered a supernatural object as payment for finding Latiz Dorella and showed Klein and Danitz her portrait.
• Klein connected Latiz’s disappearance to an important item taken from a forgotten temple and declined to get involved.
• Klein touched a bone sword that triggered painful, bloody visions, then refused Kalat’s offer to take it.
• Klein abruptly left with Danitz after sensing danger, and they passed a worshipper whose flesh dried and fell away.
• After they left, Danitz saw the carriage driver kneel and kiss the ground where Klein had stepped.

Klein used the gray fog to disperse the Sea God Kavithua’s attempt to possess him after he touched the bone sword. He concluded Kavithua was nearing destruction, while the sword shattered and two of Kalat’s companions died.

• Danitz followed Gehrman Sparrow through streets filled with snakes and sensed a terrifying sea-like power around him.
• Klein entered the bedroom, performed a ritual, and watched Kavithua’s sea-serpent form dissolve in the gray fog.
• Klein realized the Sea God’s power had been contaminating him and inferred that Kavithua was trying to possess whoever touched the bone sword.
• Klein returned to Danitz and said the danger was resolved, while Kalat and Edmonton waited for the holy sword to bring their god back.
• Two of Kalat’s companions died as their bodies dried out, and the bone sword shattered into pieces.