Ch. 542An operation late at night

Klein had Danitz post notices near Sea Waves Cathedral warning the Church of Storms about Sea God Kavithua and the resistance, then the pair left the area. In Backlund, Emlyn received a 7,000-pound reward from Lord Nibes for risking prayer to The Fool and was told to report anything unusual.

  • Kalat ordered Edmonton to find the high priest and investigate why the holy sword had shattered, while Edmonton told his subordinates to keep searching and suspend rituals and prayers.
  • Klein had Danitz post notices around Sea Waves Cathedral reporting Latiz Dorella's expedition, the strange bone sword, and Kavithua's failing body and deranged state.
  • Danitz worried that the Church of Storms would identify him and increase his bounty, but he posted a notice on the cathedral doors and fled with Klein.
  • Danitz and Klein discussed Bayam's nightlife and the abuses committed by pirates and the Loen navy as they walked away from the cathedral.
  • Emlyn followed Kasimi to Lord Nibes, who rewarded him with a 7,000-pound banker's acceptance and instructed him to report anything unusual.

Ch. 543Suppression

Emlyn White received 7,000 pounds from Lord Nibes and planned to buy a baron's remains, while Derrick and Alger pursued their respective investigations. Klein dreamed that the collapsing Sea God Kavithua would unleash a disaster on Bayam, but Jahn Kottman changed the weather and appeared to suppress the threat.

  • Emlyn White left the Odora family's chambers with a 7,000-pound reward and planned to buy the baron's remains from The Hanged Man.
  • Derrick sacrificed the Spirit Eater's stomach and Beyonder materials to Mr. Fool while the Chief was away exploring with Jack.
  • Alger told Chogo that a young man wearing a crystal monocle had mentioned Bansy Harbor and the Medici Family, prompting Chogo to report the news to Jahn Kottman.
  • Klein dreamed that Kavithua's collapse would bring a tsunami and cause its believers to commit extreme acts, then woke as heavy rain and rising seawater threatened Bayam.
  • Jahn Kottman changed the weather, clearing the clouds and stopping the rain, and Danitz identified him as a Sequence 3 demigod called Sea King.

Ch. 544Visitor

Klein considered the Church of Storms’ plan to let Kavithua die naturally and realized the Sea God’s hidden ruins might be found through the Spirit World with Azik’s guidance. After summoning his messenger and receiving a request from Elland, Klein agreed to help the military and Church search for the archaeologists before more people died.

  • Klein reasoned that Sea King Jahn Kottman could keep Kavithua contained until the Sea God’s madness consumed him, though fanatical believers would likely die and the archaeologists behind Kavithua’s demise remained a danger.
  • Klein wondered whether the Spirit World could lead him to Kavithua’s ruins and summoned his messenger to ask Azik for guidance, while Danitz watched in alarm.
  • Klein sent Azik a letter describing Kavithua and the ruins, disguising his own encounter with the Sea God as part of a dream.
  • Fair Elland arrived and told Klein that the military and Church were searching Bayam for several capable archaeologists, asking him to help find them.
  • Klein agreed to assist in the search so the authorities could contain the danger sooner and potentially save lives.

Ch. 545Bayam under martial law

Gehrman Sparrow, Elland, and Danitz searched Bayam under martial law for Latiz and the other archaeologists while the military hunted pirates and faced resistance. An orange flare led them to a house filled with supernatural cold, where a woman laughed and one of Latiz’s companions was thrown outside charred.

  • Danitz disguised himself with an iron mask and joined Elland and Gehrman Sparrow in searching Bayam for Latiz and the other archaeologists.
  • A Feysacian pirate named Golat fled from a house and was killed by machine-gun fire from a passing airship.
  • The group passed a barricade where Loen soldiers had killed a charging group of native locals, while children watched from nearby.
  • Fors advanced to Sequence 8 and became a Trickmaster, gaining several spell-like abilities.
  • Elland ran toward an orange firework, and Gehrman Sparrow and Danitz followed him to a house surrounded by snow and supernatural cold.
  • A laughing woman remained inside the house, and a charred body identified by Gehrman Sparrow as one of Latiz’s male companions flew out of a window.

Ch. 546An unexpected truth

Klein and the military attacked the corrupted Latiz, who had taken the Book of Calamity from ancient elven ruins. After Latiz died, Klein reasoned that the ruins’ collapse may have destabilized the Sea God Kavithua’s hiding place and that Kavithua had sought to possess him because of his connection to the gray fog and his uniqueness.

  • Elland tried to rescue the frozen military personnel but had to retreat, so Klein used Danitz’s fireballs and his own matches to reach them and carry them out of the cold.
  • An airship arrived, evacuated nearby houses, and bombarded the house where Latiz was hiding, but lightning struck the airship and sent it drifting downward.
  • Latiz crawled from the rubble in a horrifying, corrupted state, and military Beyonders attacked until she disintegrated.
  • Klein noticed the Book of Calamity inside Latiz’s abdomen, while one of the male adventurers revealed that Latiz had found it in ancient elven ruins and gone mad studying it.
  • Klein suspected the ruins’ collapse had weakened Kavithua and concluded that the Sea God may have chosen him as a vessel because of his connection to the gray fog and his uniqueness.

Ch. 547Expert level

Klein learned that the Church of Storms and the military were closing in on Sea God Kavithua, then found a way to locate its hiding place by sacrificing an iron cigarette case to it. He and Danitz prepared the ritual in an abandoned warehouse, where Klein was about to make the offering.

  • Elland told Klein and Danitz that the target had been found, paid them to stay in the hotel, and the citywide search continued with gunfire and explosions through the day.
  • Klein realized Danitz could read Elvish and considered how the Book of Calamity and the ancient elven ruins might help the authorities bring down Kavithua.
  • Mr. Azik's messenger delivered a reply while Klein was using the toilet, and Klein rejected praying to Red Light Al Moria because it could expose his secrets.
  • Klein divined that his plan carried manageable danger, then asked Danitz for the Sea God's prayer and directions to an abandoned warehouse.
  • Klein told Danitz he would sacrifice an iron cigarette case to Kavithua so he could locate the Sea God's hiding place if it accepted the offering.

Ch. 548The Furious Kavithua

Gehrman Sparrow performed a sacrifice to summon the maddened Sea God Kavithua, and the encounter nearly killed him and Danitz. Kavithua swallowed the gray-fog-tainted iron cigarette case before the illusory door closed, while Klein calmed Creeping Hunger by sending it above the gray fog.

  • Klein used the resistance's ritual materials and Thousand-faced Hunter blood to summon Kavithua, despite Danitz's doubts.
  • Kavithua forced open the illusory door, battered the warehouse with a hurricane, and nearly struck Klein with its lightning-charged tongue, but Klein escaped with a Paper Figurine Substitute.
  • Kavithua created a seawater vortex that dragged Klein toward its maw, so Klein used Creeping Hunger to command Steel Maviti's soul and briefly shield himself with ice.
  • Kavithua stopped the vortex and unleashed a storm of lightning, destroying the altar and forcing Klein to use several more Paper Figurine Substitutes before the door shut.
  • Klein realized Kavithua had swallowed the iron cigarette case tainted with the gray fog's aura, giving him a chance to locate its hiding place after it died.
  • Klein ordered Danitz to close the warehouse door, then sent Creeping Hunger above the gray fog to calm its growing hunger.

Ch. 549The Spirit World

After confirming that Kavithua had died, Klein used the Black Emperor card to keep Creeping Hunger docile and entered the Spirit World to find the iron cigarette case and Kavithua’s hiding place. He followed his divining cane through the strange realm until a disembodied eye appeared before him.

  • Klein had Danitz burn away the warehouse’s remaining traces while he waited for news of Kavithua’s collapse.
  • Alger watched the clouds disperse and hoped the end of the crisis would let him leave Bayam and pursue advancement.
  • Klein divined that Kavithua was completely dead and found that exploring its hiding place posed a manageable danger.
  • Klein entered the real world with the Black Emperor card, which suppressed Creeping Hunger, and prepared his mystical items.
  • Klein entered the Spirit World and divined the location of the iron cigarette case, then followed his floating cane through the realm.
  • Klein saw a sharply defined, bodiless eye watching him in the Spirit World.

Ch. 550Priest

Klein traveled through the Spirit World to Sea God Kavithua’s hidden ruins, where he found Kavithua dead and fought his way past its guards. In the central hall, he discovered a priest devouring the sea god’s corpse and realized the priest might be a dangerous survivor of the resulting loss of control.

  • Klein crossed the Spirit World in his Black Emperor guise, passed several monstrous creatures, and used the Black Emperor card’s authority to drive away a skull-tentacled jellyfish guarding the ruins.
  • Klein entered Kavithua’s hidden underwater ruins and confirmed that the Sea God was dead, while its dying roar still echoed through the site.
  • Klein activated the Sun Brooch’s Sacred Oath and burned through the fanatical Sea God Guards as he advanced along the avenue.
  • Klein entered the central hall and found Kavithua’s enormous wounded serpent body, with blue-green lights gathering at a fang as the corpse’s characteristics separated.
  • Klein saw an elderly priest eating Kavithua’s raw flesh and noticed that the priest’s swollen belly pulsed like it contained an enormous heart.

Ch. 551Techniques for Dealing with Giant Creatures

Klein defeated the mutated old priest in the flooded ruins by exploiting the narrow doorway, holy light, and a delayed biotoxin. After confirming the priest had presided over human sacrifices, Klein let Creeping Hunger consume him and approached the scepter formed from Kavithua’s remains, where he heard illusory pleas.

  • Klein threw the Biotoxin Bottle and used Purification Halo as the old priest attacked him with freezing cries and lightning-wreathed tentacles.
  • Klein lured the old priest into the collapsed doorway, then struck him with a pillar of holy light and fought back with Spirit Piercing and icy blows.
  • The Biotoxin Bottle weakened the old priest, allowing Klein to finish him with holy light and confirm through Spirit Channeling that he had presided over human sacrifices.
  • Klein let Creeping Hunger consume the old priest, while the Beyonder Characteristics swept into Kavithua’s fang and transformed it into a scepter.
  • Klein approached the scepter and heard illusory pleas as visions of praying believers and grieving resistance fighters appeared before him.

Ch. 552High elf

Klein explored the elven ruins, identified the Sea God Scepter as a dangerous Sealed Artifact, and uncovered evidence linking the high elf Cohinem to the ancient Creator. After enduring the scepter’s overwhelming prayers, he pulled it free and returned above the gray fog, where he examined the artifact.

  • Klein recovered the Biotoxin Bottle and a corroded iron cigarette case from the ruins.
  • Klein examined a mural depicting the Elf King Soniathrym confronting the Creator and found a golden wine cup inscribed with Cohinem’s name and title, Calamity.
  • Klein searched the collapsed hall, concealed his traces, and approached the Sea God Scepter despite the prayers and visions overwhelming him.
  • Klein seized the Sea God Scepter and pulled it from the pillar as the seawater surged through the ruins.
  • Klein returned above the gray fog, where the scepter’s prayers and visions ceased and he saw light around it corresponding to its praying believers.

Ch. 553The Negative Effects of a Sealed Artifact

Klein discovered the Sea God Scepter’s powers and dangerous side effects, then decided to use it to guide the Sea God’s believers after Kavithua’s death. As Klein announced his return and forbade human sacrifices, Jahn Kottman found evidence of the scepter’s wielder and ordered a search.

  • Klein assessed the Sea God Scepter’s immense powers and concluded that its unpredictable blood-draining effect made it dangerous to use around others.
  • Klein decided to answer selected believers’ prayers and provide guidance, reasoning that abandoning them could worsen human sacrifices and drive the resistance toward cruel allies.
  • Klein appeared to Kalat amid a storm and declared, “I have returned,” giving the despairing resistance member renewed hope.
  • Jahn Kottman arrived at the elven ruins, saw the remains of the sea serpent and a vision of the Sea God Scepter’s wielder, and ordered his people to find him.
  • Klein answered the prayers of about a dozen important believers and issued a sacred covenant forbidding living and human sacrifices.

Ch. 554The Ten Commandments

Klein reshaped the Sea God’s commandments and learned more about the limits of the Sea God Scepter, while the rebels welcomed the divine changes. Alger received an order to find the mysterious person suspected of taking something from Kavithua’s remains, and Klein later questioned Danitz about his abilities.

  • Kalat and Edmonton received the Sea God’s revelation, agreed to follow the new commandments, and decided to tell the high priest and build a new statue.
  • Above the gray fog, Klein examined the Sea God Scepter’s limits and the altered cigarette case before returning to his hotel room.
  • Chogo gave Alger an indistinct portrait and ordered him to watch people connected to Intis, Feysac, and the cathedral notices.
  • Alger suspected the mysterious target was connected to Kavithua’s death and wondered whether the World had taken Kavithua’s Beyonder characteristic.
  • Klein found Danitz removing his bandages and asked about his Sequence; Danitz insisted he was an expert at provocation.

Ch. 555A Grand Undertaking

Klein and Danitz discussed the aftermath of Kavithua’s death while Alger learned that believers thought a new Sea God had appeared. Klein received his reward from Elland and gave a partial account of how he had uncovered the truth about Latiz and the holy sword.

  • Danitz explained his targeted provocation techniques and trapping skills to Klein, then wondered whether Kavithua was truly dead and whether hunting the Admiral of Blood would be delayed.
  • Klein concealed his plan to use Danitz against the Admiral of Blood and considered contacting Captain through a Spirit Summoning Ritual after waiting another day.
  • Alger visited Ralph and learned that Kovaro had gone south and that Ralph believed God had reappeared on earth in a new image; Alger suspected Mr. Fool was behind the new Sea God.
  • Elland paid Klein one hundred pounds, and Klein gave Danitz twenty pounds from the reward.
  • Elland asked Danitz about the notice exposing Latiz and Kavithua; Danitz denied knowing who posted it, and Klein described his encounter with Latiz, the holy sword, and the resistance.
  • Elland offered Klein a more generous reward if he brought him such information directly and told Danitz that Blazing’s bounty was likely to rise again.

Ch. 556Danitz's efforts

Danitz tried to avoid the danger of his rising bounty, but Edwina ordered him to keep following Gehrman Sparrow as her liaison. Klein then told Danitz to inform Edwina that he had a way to find Admiral of Blood, and wrote to Mr. Azik for advice on obtaining his own messenger.

  • Danitz urged Gehrman Sparrow to leave Bayam, but Klein told him to advance his Sequence instead.
  • Alger received confirmation that Blazing Danitz had posted the notice and began planning to hunt for ingredients at sea under the Sea God's new identity.
  • Danitz performed a Spirit Summoning Ritual and contacted Edwina, reporting Sea God Kavithua's death and asking to return to the Golden Dream.
  • Edwina ordered Danitz to continue following Gehrman Sparrow as their liaison, then agreed he could return to the ship because Gehrman had a messenger.
  • Klein told Danitz to pass on that he had a way to find Admiral of Blood, then wrote to Mr. Azik asking how to obtain a messenger of his own.

Ch. 557Playing God

Above the gray fog, Klein used the Sea God Scepter to answer prayers, save fishermen, and empower the resistance, while reflecting on the dangers of acting as the Sea God. The chapter then shifted to Audrey riding through the countryside with Susie to explore an old tower.

  • Klein used the Sea God Scepter to calm a storm and save fishermen, who praised Kavithua, prompting him to consider the risks of immersing himself in a Faceless identity.
  • Klein heard the final prayer of a dying girl who had been sold to the Red Theater and promised to do his best to have her buried properly.
  • Klein discovered Kalat, Edmonton, and other resistance members praying for power, then infused their offerings with temporary Beyonder abilities.
  • Klein considered making charms for underwater activity and lightning before returning to the real world.
  • Audrey rode out with Susie and her attendants to explore a collapsed ancient tower in the woods.

Ch. 558A late-night "call"

Audrey found no clues at the ruined tower but wondered whether an old song about dragons and dreams pointed to the Dragon of Imagination’s city, Liveseyd. Meanwhile, Klein used a wireless telegraph receiver to contact Admiral of Blood’s crew, and Danitz unexpectedly received a message from Arrodes.

  • Audrey searched the collapsed tower, heard a local song about monsters and dragons in dreams, and connected it to the imagined city Liveseyd before Susie admitted she knew nothing about poetry.
  • Kalat saw signs of divine grace on the altar’s offerings and went to tell the high priest Edmonton and the others.
  • Klein summoned Edwina through Danitz and explained that he had obtained Admiral of Blood’s wireless frequency and cipher information from White Bear.
  • Klein gave Danitz a wireless telegraph receiver and its operating instructions so he could monitor for signals.
  • Danitz woke to the receiver operating by itself and read a message from someone named Arrodes, who demanded an answer to one question in exchange.

Ch. 559Different Treatment

Danitz was embarrassed when Arrodes exposed his feelings for his captain through the radio transceiver, while Klein discovered that the device could connect to the magic mirror. Klein asked Arrodes where to find mermaids, then considered the risks of using the transceiver to contact it again.

  • Arrodes asked Danitz about his crush on his captain and his ideal woman, exposing his feelings as Klein watched from the doorway.
  • Klein realized Arrodes was communicating remotely through the radio transceiver and ordered Danitz to stand guard outside.
  • Klein asked Arrodes where he could find mermaids, and it named waters east of the Gargas Archipelago, Serenity Cathedral, and the Church of Repose on Oravi Island.
  • Arrodes required Klein to answer a question in return, and Klein said his breakfast would depend on what the hotel provided.
  • The radio transceiver lost its supernatural quality, and Klein considered how to contact Arrodes again while worrying that more dangerous beings might reach him.

Ch. 560Autosuggestion

Audrey used Psychological Suggestion to enter and explore a lucid dream, reaching the Sea of Collective Subconscious and the Sky of Spirituality. She spotted a Mind Dragon and woke herself, while Danitz returned to the room and asked Gehrman Sparrow to keep what he had seen secret.

  • Audrey removed Lies before sleeping and suggested to herself that she stay lucid in her dreams.
  • Audrey explored a dream of the Hall Family ancestral castle and recognized her lingering fear of nearly losing control after drinking the Psychiatrist potion.
  • Audrey opened a staircase into the gray haze and descended through memories in her subconscious to the Sea of Collective Subconscious and the Sky of Spirituality.
  • Audrey observed other people's consciousnesses and saw a Mind Dragon fly through the sea of subconscious.
  • Audrey returned through the mountain of her own consciousness and woke herself, intending to seek advice at the next Tarot Club gathering.
  • Danitz returned to the room and asked Gehrman Sparrow whether he would keep what he had just seen secret.

Ch. 561Searching for Anomalies

Klein buried the dead girl under the name Bodi while Jahn Kottman ordered the Mandated Punishers to search the archipelago for anomalies linked to Kavithua’s Beyonder Characteristic. Back at the inn, Klein learned that Danitz’s bounty had risen and considered how to obtain a messenger, deciding to explore the Spirit World outside the archipelago.

  • Klein warned Danitz to keep listening and left him at the inn to monitor the wireless telegraph.
  • Klein retrieved the dead girl’s body, took it to a native cemetery, and arranged her cremation and burial with the epitaph “She was a human being.”
  • Jahn Kottman learned that the resistance was making a new statue after receiving a response from Kavithua and ordered the Mandated Punishers to search the archipelago’s waters for anomalies.
  • Klein returned to the Azure Wind inn, where Danitz told him his bounty had risen to 5,500 pounds.
  • Klein received a letter explaining how to obtain a messenger and decided to enter the Spirit World outside the archipelago to find one.
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Page 28 of 72