Chapter Summaries

While reviewing prayers as the Sea God, Klein marked a corrupt police inspector and instructed a merchant to fund aid for native children. He then explored the Spirit World and was swept toward a black sailing ship and its giant, crowned ruler before vanishing.

• Klein reviewed the Sea God's prayers, marked senior inspector Braya, and told merchant Ralph to establish a charitable fund for native children.
• Klein divined that exploring the Spirit World would not be especially dangerous, changed his appearance, and entered it.
• Klein found the Spirit World strangely empty and narrowly avoided being stepped on by a huge, bandaged creature dripping yellow-green pus.
• Klein was pulled uncontrollably toward a black three-masted ship, where he met the gaze of an enormous crowned figure seated on a stone chair, then vanished.

Klein encountered Nast and the Black Emperor while traveling through the Spirit World, then decided to avoid using the Black Emperor card and summon a messenger by ritual. In Bayam, Alger donated a hundred pounds to Ralph’s charitable fund after Ralph said the Sea God had instructed him to help disadvantaged children, while Klein’s summoning brought forth a creature too fast to see.

• Klein concluded that the Black Emperor card had drawn him toward Nast and that a supernatural force had compelled him to approach the ghost ship, so he decided not to use the card for now.
• Alger met Ralph in Bayam and learned that Ralph planned to establish a charitable fund after receiving a divine revelation from the Sea God.
• After Ralph explained that the fund would help children suffering discrimination because of their ancestry, Alger donated a hundred pounds.
• Klein performed a ritual in an abandoned warehouse to summon a fast Spirit World messenger, but the creature vanished before he could identify it.

Klein tried several rituals to find a messenger and finally contracted with the headless Spirit World creature Reinette Tinekerr. Days later, as Bayam returned to normal, Danitz invited Klein to a Beyonder gathering.

• Klein abandoned his attempts to summon a messenger that was too fast, invisible, or too slow.
• Klein summoned the headless woman and learned that she could travel quickly and demanded one gold coin per delivery.
• Klein wrote a messenger contract with Reinette Tinekerr, who signed it and became his messenger.
• Over the next few days, Bayam gradually returned to normal, but Danitz received no intercepted telegrams from the Admiral of Blood's pirate crew.
• Danitz told Klein about a Beyonder gathering that night and asked whether he wanted to attend.

Klein attended a Beyonder gathering with Danitz and bought the residual spirituality of an ancient wraith for 500 pounds. The gathering ended with a 1,000-pound commission to locate a woman named Elaine, whom Klein recognized from a photograph.

• Klein agreed to accompany Danitz to a Beyonder gathering at the Fragrant Leaf Bar and chose not to disguise himself.
• Klein bought a small bottle of genuine ancient wraith spirituality from a thin, sallow man for 500 pounds.
• Oz Kent offered 1,000 pounds or equivalent Beyonder materials for finding Elaine, with instructions not to hurt her.
• Klein examined Elaine’s photograph and asked Oz Kent for her name and a divination medium.
• Oz Kent said Elaine had strong counter-tracking abilities, was stronger than a Sequence 9, and only needed to be located for the reward to be claimed.

Klein considered how to find the red-haired Elaine without compromising his role as the Sea God, then punished a fraud who abused The Fool’s name. The chapter ended with an unfamiliar crimson star lighting up above the gray fog.

• Danitz eagerly reacted to the 1,000-pound reward for finding Elaine, but Klein reminded him that Danitz himself carried a 5,500-pound bounty.
• Klein decided to seek Elaine through Arrodes later and asked Danitz to question his captain if she contacted him in a dream.
• Klein sent his radio transceiver above the gray fog and reviewed prayers to the Sea God with the Sea God Scepter.
• Ed Sheeran posed as a blessed of The Fool and tried to deceive Denise, but Klein struck him with lightning after he recited The Fool’s honorific name.
• Denise discovered Ed Sheeran was dead and fled to report him to the police.
• An unfamiliar crimson star lit up above the gray fog, and Klein observed it without responding.

Klein rescued Cattleya from the Hidden Sage’s ravings by bringing her above the gray fog, then introduced himself as Mr. Fool. Cattleya joined the Tarot Club as The Hermit after agreeing to assist his Blessed and keep the gathering secret.

• Klein recognized that the black-haired woman’s mutations came from the Hidden Sage’s ravings and brought her spirit above the gray fog to block them.
• The woman recovered and introduced herself as Cattleya, the Admiral of Stars and a member of the Moss Ascetic Order.
• Cattleya explained that the Hidden Sage pursues members of the order with knowledge, forcing them to endure the influx or risk losing control.
• Klein told Cattleya to recite his name if she faced the ravings again, and she agreed to assist his Blessed.
• Cattleya asked to join the Tarot Club, accepted its secrecy requirement, and chose The Hermit as her code name.

Cattleya recovered after Mr. Fool drew her Spirit Body into a mysterious space and joined the Tarot Club, while Klein considered the risks and advantages of gaining her as a member. As the Nighthawks began investigating cases linked to The Fool and Fors received guidance from her teacher, the Tarot Club gathered with another unfamiliar member present.

• Cattleya examined the strange sights her Mystery Pryer abilities revealed, reflected on Mr. Fool's power, and accepted that her destiny might now be tied to the Tarot Club.
• Klein weighed the benefits and risks of Cattleya's membership and considered using her ship to reach the sea where mermaids sang.
• Soest received news that a fraudster had been struck dead after invoking The Fool, and Leonard persuaded him to reopen the investigations into two tarot ritual cases.
• Fors read Dorian Gray's advice about acting as a Trickmaster and hurried to join the weekly Tarot Club gathering.
• Fors and Audrey noticed an unfamiliar woman seated at the Tarot Club table, and Audrey greeted Mr. Fool.

At the Tarot Club gathering, Justice introduced the new member, the Hermit, while the members cautiously assessed one another. The Fool collected several pages of Roselle's Diary and ancient-god legends, and the Hermit's intense reaction to his ability to read the diary left Justice and Klein wondering what connection she had to it.

• Justice greeted the Hermit and introduced her to the Tarot Club members through a round of greetings.
• The Hanged Man suspected the Hermit might be Admiral of Stars Cattleya and resolved to be careful about revealing his circumstances.
• The Hermit scrutinized the members' clothing and bearing, identifying possible links to the Church of Storms, the Earth Mother, and other supernatural paths.
• Justice offered one page of Roselle's Diary, the Magician offered three pages, and the Sun provided legends of the ancient gods.
• The Fool materialized and read the submissions, shocking the Hermit because she knew Roselle's notes were a diary that others could not read.
• Justice noticed the Hermit's reaction, and Klein wondered why she was so affected before turning to the first page.

Klein read Roselle’s diary and discovered that Roselle had helped Zaratul steal the Antigonus Family Notebook, the artifact that led to Klein’s awakening. He then studied Roselle’s account of the ancient gathering and Little Sun’s legends about the ancient gods, while the Tarot Club members considered what to discuss and trade.

• Klein read Roselle’s entries about his indulgence, his doubts, and his attempts to practice moderation.
• Klein learned that Zaratul asked Roselle to steal the Antigonus Family Notebook from the Church of the Artisan, and he connected the theft to the artifact that had led to his awakening.
• Klein read Roselle’s account of Hermes explaining the Secret Order’s hostility toward the True Creator and the Shepherd pathway’s potential to gather powers from other pathways.
• Klein read how Roselle devoted himself to studying after consuming the Reader potion.
• Cattleya inferred that Mr. Fool regularly read Roselle’s diary at Tarot Gatherings as he searched for historical secrets.
• Klein finished reviewing Little Sun’s material and learned that ancient gods in the Second Epoch had subordinate deities.

Klein reviewed information about ancient subsidiary deities and considered how little the City of Silver knew about their true names and ranks. At the Tarot Club, Alger agreed to obtain a Sanguine Baron's inheritance for Emlyn, Audrey bought a Psychiatrist characteristic from The World, and Derrick sought a potion ingredient from Cattleya.

• Klein suspected Cohinem was the Elf King's Queen of Calamity and wondered whether subsidiary deities were equivalent to Angels or Angel Kings.
• Alger worried that Emlyn had revealed he was seeking an inheritance held by a great pirate, then agreed to obtain it for 4,500 pounds and a 300-pound commission.
• Audrey chose not to test Cattleya with the Black Emperor card and asked The World whether he had obtained a residual Psychiatrist characteristic.
• The World offered Audrey the Psychiatrist characteristic for 1,800 pounds, and she accepted without bargaining.
• Derrick asked the Tarot Club for the fruit of the Radiant Spirit Pact Tree, and Cattleya said she had one and asked what he could offer in exchange.

Cattleya traded with Derrick for the City of Silver’s history and realized it lay in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, while the Tarot Club continued its transactions. During the free exchange, Alger described Kavithua’s death, leading Cattleya to suspect that Mr. Fool possessed the Sea God’s power.

• Cattleya asked to review the common monsters near the City of Silver, then agreed to trade the information for its history.
• Derrick conjured an outline of the City of Silver’s history, and Cattleya arranged to send him the fruit of the Radiant Spirit Pact Tree through a sacrifice to Mr. Fool.
• Cattleya connected the City of Silver’s history to the Cataclysm and the Forsaken Land of the Gods, then reconsidered the Tarot Club and Mr. Fool’s aims.
• The World bought the eyes of a Six-Winged Gargoyle from Cattleya for three hundred pounds.
• Alger told the gathering that Latiz’s discovery had led to Kavithua’s death, though the Sea God’s believers still received responses.
• Cattleya recalled the sea-and-storm divinity of the scepter she had seen Mr. Fool holding and looked toward him in suspicion.

The Tarot Club members inferred that Mr. Fool might be answering prayers as the Sea God, but he neither confirmed nor denied it, instead revealing that Kavithua had become a demigod through a relic of Calamity Cohinem. The World then asked about red-haired Elaine, and after Cattleya identified her, Audrey began describing her investigation into a Mind Dragon.

• Cattleya looked toward Mr. Fool after Alger discussed the dead Sea God Kavithua, prompting the other Tarot Club members to wonder whether Mr. Fool was answering Kavithua's believers.
• Klein neither admitted nor denied the suspicion, but said Kavithua had become a demigod through a relic left by Calamity Cohinem.
• Alger concluded that the current Sea God was Mr. Fool's incarnation, while Audrey was delighted by the possibility of receiving answers to prayers at sea.
• The World showed the group a photograph of red-haired Elaine, and Cattleya identified her as a young woman of the Sauron Family who had been captured by Disease Maiden Tracy.
• Audrey said she had been following traces of a Mind Dragon and had visited a place where people worshipped dragons.

Audrey recounted her journey through dreams into the collective subconscious, and the Tarot Club warned her against exploring it again before reaching Sequence 5. The gathering also revealed historical information about the Giant Queen Omebella, while Cattleya left with suspicions about the Tarot Club and sent a discreet warning about someone collecting the Emperor's diary.

• Audrey described reaching the collective subconscious and seeing a dragon, then asked whether she should search for the City of Miracles, Liveseyd.
• Alger and Cattleya warned Audrey that the collective subconscious held dangers and told her not to explore it again before Sequence 5; Klein stayed silent because he lacked reliable advice.
• Emlyn cited Sanguine history to challenge Derrick, and Cattleya confirmed that Omebella was the Goddess of Harvest and queen of the Giant King's Court.
• After the gathering ended, Cattleya judged the Tarot Club and Mr. Fool to be powerful and mysterious, then sent a letter warning that someone was collecting the Emperor's diary.
• Klein returned to the real world intending to test an idea inspired by Audrey's dream exploration.

Klein tested whether he could receive prayers by reciting The Fool’s honorific name in a lucid dream, then warned Audrey that she could call on him if she faced danger in a dream. He also learned that the wanted red-haired Elaine was connected to Vice Admiral Ailment Tracy and ordered Sea God believers to find and protect her.

• Klein used a Nightmare Beyonder Characteristic to enter Danitz’s dream aboard the Golden Dream.
• Klein recited The Fool’s honorific name in Ancient Hermes and heard illusory prayers, confirming that the method worked in dreams.
• Klein entered the space above the gray fog and saw a halo containing his dream, then warned Audrey not to explore dreams rashly and told her to recite his name in Ancient Hermes if she faced danger.
• Audrey gladly accepted Mr. Fool’s warning and planned to learn more before attempting dream exploration.
• Klein connected red-haired Elaine to Vice Admiral Ailment Tracy and ordered Kalat, Edmonton, and other Sea God believers to find and protect Elaine while watching for Tracy’s forces.

Klein considered using Elaine’s identity to draw out Vice Admiral Ailment Tracy, but decided to find the real woman first. After Admiral of Blood’s fleet headed south, Danitz tried to leave Bayam for Generous, but his rising bounty made the trip dangerous, so he returned to ask Klein to accompany him to meet the captain.

• Kalat prayed to the Sea God about Elaine, believing she could shift the balance of power at sea.
• Klein rejected his idea of impersonating Elaine and decided to search for her and learn more before acting.
• Danitz told Klein that Admiral of Blood’s fleet had appeared at Longtail Island and sailed toward the Raging Sea, then asked to return to the Golden Dream.
• Klein gave Danitz his messenger’s summoning method and allowed him to leave.
• Danitz went to the Seaweed Bar to arrange a black-market ticket to Generous, but fled after spotting Blue Eyes Mith and realizing he was in danger.
• Danitz returned to Klein and asked whether he would go to Generous to meet the captain.

Klein agreed to meet Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina and used Danitz as bait at the Seaweed Bar to test the local pirates, then took a discreet route toward Generous by way of Oravi. As their ship sailed south, a huge black vessel appeared on the horizon, and Danitz recognized it as the Black Emperor.

• Klein accepted Edwina's invitation to meet in Generous and divined that the trip would not be very dangerous.
• Klein took Danitz to the Seaweed Bar, made him reveal his identity, and had him buy tickets while Blue Eyes Mith recognized him and fled.
• Klein and Danitz left before the bar's patrons could report Danitz to the Mandated Punishers, then decided to travel through Oravi Port.
• Klein disguised Danitz, and they boarded a ship bound for Oravi Island.
• A massive black sailing ship appeared near their vessel, and Danitz identified it as the Black Emperor.

Klein traveled with Danitz to the Golden Dream and met with Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina, asking about Tracy and the unusual convergence of powerful figures in the Rorsted Sea. Edwina explained her theory and revealed that she knew Klein had sacrificed to Kavithua and that the Sea God continued answering believers after Kavithua died.

• Klein and Danitz saw Nast's Black Emperor pass nearby, then continued their journey to Generous and boarded the Golden Dream.
• Danitz showed Klein the Golden Dream's Cannon of Purification, and Klein met Edwina on deck.
• Klein asked Edwina about Tracy, and she identified her as a Sequence 5 Demoness of Pain who trafficked people for the Demoness Sect.
• Klein told Edwina about the recent involvement of several prominent pirates, and she used a fishing net and objects to explain how an unknown presence might draw them together.
• Edwina questioned Klein's false identity, then said he had sacrificed to Kavithua and that the Sea God still responded to believers after Kavithua's death.

Klein met Edwina aboard the Golden Dream, agreed to protect Danitz during an aid mission, and examined her collection of strange artifacts. Edwina offered to sell him Groselle’s Travels for 8,000 pounds if he shared any discoveries, leaving Klein interested but unwilling to commit.

• Klein revealed that his glove was Creeping Hunger after Edwina questioned him, then agreed to protect Danitz while he arranged aid for the Rorsted Archipelago resistance.
• Edwina told Klein that Senor had offered 5,000 pounds for the giant’s black iron key, and Klein warned that it might conceal a great secret.
• Edwina showed Klein her collection, including the giant’s key, a Solomon Empire coin, and Groselle’s Travels, whose final pages could not be opened.
• Klein examined the key and the book, while Edwina explained the story and invited him to study it.
• Edwina offered to sell Groselle’s Travels for 8,000 pounds on the condition that Klein share any research discoveries, and Klein said he would think about it.

Klein learned more about the ancient book Groselle's Travels and the Golden Dream's crew before leaving the ship with Danitz. Back in private, he went above the gray fog and found a prayer reporting that Elaine was hiding in the Intis consulate.

• Edwina said Groselle's Travels was made from parchment at least three thousand years old, and explained that Beyonder pathways and Sequences had not existed before the first Blasphemy Slate.
• Klein heard Edwina quote Roselle's saying that whatever separates will converge and whatever converges will separate, then decided to ask Little Sun about the book privately at the Tarot Gathering.
• Klein learned that third mate Jodeson could imitate Danitz's flame abilities while preventing Danitz from using them, and recognized the power as similar to the Blood Vessel Thief.
• Edwina asked Klein about the gold coin used to summon his messenger, and he specified a Loen gold coin without explaining the other details.
• Klein and Danitz left the Golden Dream, and Klein later found Kalat's prayer saying that Elaine had been spotted inside the Intis consulate.

Elaine prepared to leave Bayam for the Northern Continent, but Klein intercepted her carriage and questioned her about Tracy and a wealthy merchant. She began explaining how her family’s debts had led her to become a Beyonder and maritime merchant.

• Elaine disguised herself as a young man and prepared to travel from the Intis consulate to Pritz Harbor.
• Elaine grew suspicious when the carriage took a quiet route, but fear from Klein’s aura stopped her from escaping.
• Klein entered the carriage while Danitz took the coachman’s seat and drove away with Elaine.
• Klein asked Elaine about Jimmy Necker, Tracy’s documents, and her collection room; Elaine said Tracy had never mentioned Necker or kept ancient Balam Empire documents.
• Klein asked Elaine to tell him about herself, and Elaine explained that she had become a Beyonder and gone to sea to repay her father’s debts.