Chapter Summaries

Klein was taken to the police station after Caron’s death and a suicide note accused him of forcing Caron to sell his shares. Baron Sindras bailed him out and revealed the smear campaign he had planned, while denying involvement in Caron’s death and admitting he had prepared an offer for the shares.

• Klein suspected Baron Sindras had framed him, then sent Walter to warn Sindras and asked his lawyer to handle the investigation.
• Xio decided to follow Klein to the police station, while Fors remarked that nobles and the wealthy were frightening.
• Klein refused to answer questions until his lawyer arrived, then said he had met Caron only once and left after Baron Sindras posted bail.
• Sindras thanked Klein for his warning and explained he had planned to ruin Klein’s reputation with false accusations if he had accepted the offer to cooperate.
• Klein reasoned that Sindras would have forced Caron to sell rather than kill him, and Sindras admitted Caron had finalized the sale before he could react.
• Xio returned to 160 Böklund Street and told Fors that nothing had happened, then repeated that nobles and the wealthy were frightening.

Klein realized that the Coim Company share deal was part of a plot to frame Baron Sindras and decided to get out of the affair. He donated his shares’ future returns to an education fund, while Xio and Fors grew suspicious of butler Walter after sensing black magic near his room.

• Klein concluded that Caron’s sale of shares had been bait in a conspiracy and warned Baron Sindras, then decided to extricate himself from the deal.
• Xio sensed black magic on the first floor and discovered that the disturbance came from Walter’s room, but the sign of magic vanished before she could investigate.
• Xio and Fors chose to watch Walter and agreed to leave Klein a warning if they could not determine the butler’s intentions within three days.
• Klein visited Bishop Electra at Saint Samuel Cathedral and offered his Coim Company shares to establish an education fund for the poor.
• Bishop Electra praised Klein’s donation and said he would report it to the archbishop and arrange a charity dinner to attract other donors.

Frank Lee prepared a letter and experimental mushrooms for Gehrman, while Audrey advanced to Sequence 6 and tested her new abilities. At dinner, Klein received Frank’s mushroom-laden letter just as fried mushrooms were served, leaving him visibly uneasy.

• Frank Lee wrote to Gehrman about his new mushrooms, warning that they had to be boiled and could become dangerous if grown on monster flesh and blood.
• Audrey drank the Hypnotist potion and successfully advanced to Sequence 6, gaining enhanced physical abilities, hypnosis, and psychological invisibility.
• Audrey tested her new powers with Susie, then agreed to attend a Church charity gala and asked Annie to investigate its educational fund.
• Fors and Xio hid in a restaurant pantry to protect Dawn Dantès during dinner with Member of Parliament Macht’s family, and Xio briefly sensed something unusual.
• Klein received Frank’s letter from his messenger without the other diners noticing, then reacted uneasily when the waiter served fried mushrooms.

While secretly protecting Dawn Dantès at dinner, Fors and Xio discovered that Hibbert seemed able to sense their presence. As Dawn and the Macht family left the restaurant, an attacker tried to shoot Macht amid a startled horse’s charge, but Fors tripped him before he could fire.

• Klein signaled his interest in joining the arms trade and told Macht he had donated his Coim Company shares to a Church fund for poor children.
• Hibbert sensed something unusual in the pantry, returned after dinner to investigate the cupboard, and found Fors and Xio gone.
• Fors and Xio spotted an agitated man near the restaurant, and Xio warned Fors to watch him as Dawn and the Macht family emerged.
• A startled horse charged toward the restaurant while the middle-aged man drew a revolver and aimed at Macht.
• Fors made the attacker fall, causing him to drop his revolver, and the bodyguards subdued both him and the horse.
• The attacker blamed Macht and others for his factory’s bankruptcy, his child’s death, and his wife’s suicide.

After a failed attack on Macht, Klein wondered whether Backlund's calm concealed a growing supernatural threat. Fors dreamed of a sealed treasure and later discovered Richardson secretly praying to Death, leaving her concerned for Dawn Dantès.

• Macht arranged for the police and reporters after a middle-aged man attacked him, while Klein left with Richardson and questioned why Macht had been targeted.
• Klein returned home, worried that danger was building in Backlund but unable to restore Creeping Hunger's power while his bodyguards were present.
• Hibbert asked a gray rat whether her father had acted wrongly, and the rat explained that Dawn Dantès might have a supernatural bodyguard.
• Fors dreamed of a palace full of sealed treasures and a symbol of fate and concealment, then told Xio she sensed a secret nearby.
• Fors found Richardson performing a Spirit Dance and praying to Death for protection.

Fors and Xio discussed secrets around Dawn Dantès and Fors's strange dream, while Klein negotiated an arms deal and received visitors. After dinner, Klein discovered a letter from his dismissed bounty hunters, who claimed they had uncovered something important about him.

• Fors told Xio that Dantès's valet Richardson had prayed to Death, and Xio remarked that Dantès's household seemed full of secrets.
• Klein met Calvin and Macht at the East Balam Veteran Officers Club, agreed to buy a batch of arms for fifteen thousand pounds, and planned to head to the Southern Continent in early July.
• Xio spotted Viscount Stratford arriving at the club, then she and Fors watched Dawn Dantès leave.
• Ma'am Mary apologized to Klein and offered to buy his Coim Company shares, but Klein said he had donated them to establish an education fund.
• After Walter reported that the bounty hunters had been sent away, Klein found their letter saying they had entered his bedroom and discovered something they needed to tell him.

Klein tested the unusual mushrooms Frank Lee had given him, negotiated limits on Creeping Hunger’s praise of the True Creator, and waited for Azik’s reply. At a charity gala, he recognized Audrey as Miss Justice, tried to conceal his reaction, and noticed a golden-haired dog watching him from the doorway.

• Klein tested the mushrooms with his blood above the gray fog and confirmed that they attacked it, then used the mushrooms to bargain with Creeping Hunger over how often it could praise the True Creator.
• Klein divined that he faced little immediate danger and tentatively confirmed that Beyonder factors had influenced Caron's suicide.
• Klein arrived at the Church of Evernight’s charity gala with Richardson and recognized Audrey as Miss Justice when she entered.
• Audrey noticed Klein’s unusual reaction and wondered what he was concealing, while Klein tried to behave as Dawn Dantès.
• Klein sensed someone watching him and saw a large golden-haired dog crouching in the doorway’s shadows.

At an Evernight Church charity gala, Klein used a heartfelt speech to launch a bursary fund for poor children while navigating the attention of Audrey Hall and the gathering’s Spectators. Audrey decided to donate, but remained curious about Klein’s concealed reaction to seeing her.

• Klein recognized Audrey Hall as Miss Justice and learned from Macht that she was Earl Hall’s daughter and a celebrated heiress.
• Saint Anthony arrived, and Klein struggled to control the fear his presence inspired before the charity gala’s prayers and choir ceremony began.
• Bishop Electra invited Klein to speak, and Klein described impoverished children’s hardships before pledging his Coim Company shares, worth 15,000 pounds, to establish a bursary fund.
• Audrey judged Klein’s sympathy and donation sincere, wondered whether he had recognized her necklace, and planned to ask Susie what she had observed.
• Audrey offered to donate 1,000 pounds, while Earl Hall wrote a check for 10,000 pounds.

At a charity gala, Klein met Earl Hall and impressed him with his generosity and experience, while Audrey grew suspicious of Dawn Dantès. After deciding to investigate him before joining the educational fund, Audrey attended the Tarot Club’s Monday gathering.

• Audrey donated 1,000 pounds, while Klein greeted Saint Anthony and praised the Evernight Goddess’s teachings.
• Earl Hall and Klein discussed their donations and the poor, and Earl Hall suggested they might work together in the future.
• On the carriage ride home, Earl Hall invited Audrey to consider joining the educational charity fund, and she said she would think about it.
• Audrey asked Susie about Dawn Dantès, and they agreed that he seemed wary and was performing a role; Audrey decided to have him investigated.
• At three o’clock on Monday, Audrey greeted Mr. Fool at the Tarot Club.

At a Tarot Club meeting, The Fool Klein read three of Emperor Roselle’s diary pages and discovered the personal meaning of the word “Homeland.” He understood that the Mystery Queen Bernadette had supplied the pages to reveal the protective characters Roselle had left for her, then asked The Hermit Cattleya for her question.

• The Hermit Cattleya gave The Fool Klein three diary pages from Emperor Roselle’s early years.
• Roselle recorded meeting Oneg, a Feysac man who left to search for the mythical homeland of the Giants, and wrote “Homeland” after hearing his story.
• Roselle investigated whether the elves had come from Earth, but found no evidence supporting that theory and wrote that he had dreamed of his homeland.
• Roselle wrote that he taught his daughter Bernadette the Chinese characters for “Homeland” as a protective incantation and a bond with his past.
• Klein realized why Bernadette had provided the pages, then asked Cattleya what her question was.

At the Tarot Club, members discussed mystical items and a trade before Justice Audrey commissioned an investigation into Dawn Dantès. The World Gehrman Sparrow raised his hand to take the mission, while Fors, who knew a great deal about Dawn, had been about to volunteer.

• Cattleya asked Mr. Fool what the Chinese symbols “故” and “乡” meant, and he explained that together they meant one's hometown.
• Alger told Gehrman Sparrow that the mystical item made from the Ocean Songster characteristic would be ready that week.
• Emlyn offered Derrick an artificial Vampire Sequence 5 characteristic in exchange for a Sequence 5 potion formula, and Gehrman Sparrow sold him the Light Priest formula for 5,000 pounds.
• Audrey commissioned an investigation into Dawn Dantès, citing his presence at two recent Backlund incidents and his large donation to the Church of Evernight.
• Fors recognized Dawn Dantès and prepared to volunteer, but Gehrman Sparrow raised his hand before she could speak.

At the Tarot Club, Gehrman Sparrow revealed that he and his companions shared the identity of Dawn Dantès, alarming Fors and prompting Audrey to recognize a chance to help from the sidelines. The members suspected that major events were brewing in Backlund, while Audrey decided to join the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation.

• Audrey asked whether World would accept the investigation mission, and Gehrman Sparrow answered that Dawn Dantès was an identity.
• Gehrman explained that he and his companions shared the Dawn Dantès identity and that he sometimes disguised himself as the wealthy merchant.
• Fors realized that Dawn Dantès was Gehrman Sparrow and feared that her earlier remarks and actions had put her at risk.
• Audrey connected Gehrman to Dawn Dantès and decided to join the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation so she could help from the sidelines.
• Alger and Cattleya concluded that something major was about to happen in Backlund.

At the Tarot Club meeting, The World warned Fors that the treasure in her dream was a trap linked to the Hermits of Fate, while Klein resolved to deal with the hidden demigod near Böklund Street. The meeting ended with Cattleya promising intelligence and Derrick reporting progress on the former Chief’s mausoleum.

• Alger and Cattleya decided to investigate the cases involving Baron Sindras and Macht, while Emlyn asked about Dawn Dantès and The World refused to explain further.
• The World asked Derrick whether Trickmasters existed in the City of Silver, and Derrick agreed to check records and ask around.
• Fors described a dream treasure bearing symbols of fate and concealment, and The World showed her Lanarvus’s badge and warned that the treasure was a trap connected to the Hermits of Fate.
• Klein realized that a Marauder-pathway demigod was likely hiding near Böklund Street and had influenced Fors through her dream, so he planned to alert his poet classmate.
• Cattleya promised to provide the requested West Balam intelligence, and Derrick reported that the Council of Six planned to open the former Chief’s mausoleum and recover its characteristics.

Klein used Arrodes to locate Leonard Mitchell and the Marauder demigod hiding near Hibbert Macht, then had the mirror warn the demigod to leave the neighborhood. Arrodes’s intrusive question provoked the weakened rat into anger, and the mirror struck it with lightning while Hibbert watched.

• Derrick set himself a goal of making another friend before the next Tarot Gathering, and The World offered to help with matters concerning Death.
• Klein realized he had no way to contact Leonard, so he summoned Arrodes and learned Leonard would stay at 7 Pinster Street.
• Klein asked Arrodes where the Marauder demigod near Hibbert Macht was hiding and saw that the demigod had parasitized a gray rat in Hibbert’s bedroom.
• Klein instructed Arrodes to warn the rat about a Marauder-pathway angel and Amon roaming nearby, and the mirror relayed the warning.
• Arrodes asked the rat an embarrassing question about its mating desires; when the rat tried to leave, invisible restraints held it in place and silvery-white lightning struck it as Hibbert watched.

Hibbert moved the charred rat claiming to be her teacher to her family’s suburban manor after it said a mirror divination had attracted an unknown being. Klein learned from Arrodes that the rat was a demigod resisting loss of control, then received Danitz’s intelligence about West Balam and judged that traveling there alone would be too dangerous.

• Hibbert found the charred rat standing and, after it explained that a mirror divination had drawn an unknown gaze, agreed to take it to her family’s manor.
• Arrodes told Klein it had warned the Marauder demigod and punished her with lightning, explaining that killing a weakened demigod could provoke a loss of control.
• Klein accepted an honorary position on the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation’s board and agreed to attend its formal establishment.
• Danitz went to Edwina to ask about West Balam, and she described the region’s competing powers and factions.
• Klein read Danitz’s report and decided not to travel to West Balam unless Mr. Azik accompanied him.

Klein prepared for a possible trip to West Balam without Azik’s protection, then attended Caron’s family identification at the police station, where they accused him of being the murderer. Daly’s spirit channeling revealed Baron Sindras in Caron’s final vision, while Leonard wondered about Dawn Dantès; Audrey later arrived to begin work with the new Loen Charity Bursary Foundation.

• Klein reviewed Danitz’s intelligence about the native generals Mesangyes and Katatmi and considered how to manage the danger of traveling to West Balam without Azik.
• Klein went to the police station, where Caron’s family identified Dawn Dantès as the man who had killed Caron, though Klein had never met them.
• Daly Simone used spirit channeling to sketch Baron Sindras as the figure reflected in Caron’s final vision and explained that Caron’s suicide had involved Beyonder suggestion.
• Leonard Mitchell told Daly that Dawn Dantès had met Saint Anthony, leaving unclear whether the Archbishop had found anything suspicious about him.
• Audrey Hall arrived at the Church of Evernight’s building on Phelps Street, ready to join the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation’s board and fundraising department.

Audrey and Dawn Dantès shaped plans for the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation, and Audrey agreed to help with outreach and applicant assessments. Later, Leonard entered Klein’s dream to ask who he thought had murdered Caron, leaving Klein to ask what Leonard had discovered.

• Audrey met Dawn Dantès at the foundation and listened as he proposed starting school outreach immediately and protecting bursary funds through controlled bank withdrawals.
• Audrey recognized that Dawn had approached her to secure her support before the board meeting, and she agreed to help publicize the foundation and assess applicants.
• The foundation’s first board meeting concluded successfully with Audrey’s support.
• Leonard entered Klein’s dream and asked who Klein thought had murdered Caron.
• Klein asked Leonard what he had uncovered in his investigation.

Leonard and Klein discussed the trap surrounding Caron's death and the possible reasons Baron Sindras had been targeted, then arranged ways to pass information about Ince Zangwill. Klein sent Danitz to investigate the territories of two native generals in West Balam and gave him a Sun Brooch; the chapter ended with Reinette Tinekerr delivering Klein a letter.

• Leonard reasoned that Caron's reflected image of Baron Sindras was meant to prompt a routine Nighthawks investigation into the baron's hidden problems.
• Klein told Leonard that his former colleague wanted to know how to report a sighting of Ince Zangwill, and Leonard named 7 Pinster Street as his contact address.
• Leonard asked how to contact the former colleague, and Klein told him to use Gehrman Sparrow's messenger or consult Pallez about the ritual.
• Klein sent Danitz to West Balam to investigate the territories of Mesangyes and Katatmi, especially for signs of the Rose School of Thought.
• Danitz accepted the assignment and received a Sun Brooch through a ritual requesting a bestowal from Mr. Fool.
• Reinette Tinekerr appeared before Klein with a letter in one of her heads.

Klein met Sharron and Maric to hear their plan to steal the mummy of Tutanssess II from a ship arriving at Pritz Harbor, and agreed to consider helping. He then learned that someone investigating The Fool’s worshippers was Amon, leaving him confronted with the Blasphemer’s apparent presence in Backlund.

• Leonard Mitchell struggled to write a letter, while Klein received Sharron’s message and replied that they could meet that night.
• Klein visited Sharron and Maric at the Bravehearts Bar, where Maric explained that they wanted to obtain the mummy of Tutanssess II and feared the shipment might be a Rose School of Thought trap.
• Sharron offered Klein money and information about Spirit World Plunderers in exchange for his help, and Klein said he would decide before midnight.
• Ian told Klein that someone had been asking about an organization worshipping The Fool, and Sharron helped him produce a sketch of the man.
• Klein recognized the sketch as Amon, the Blasphemer.

Klein learned that Amon had arrived in Backlund and feared the Angel King could discover his connection to The Fool. He warned Pallez Zoroast, prepared for Sharron and Maric’s mission, and the chapter ended with Leonard receiving the warning and hearing the Parasite inside him breathe.

• Klein realized Amon was likely searching for an organization that believed in The Fool and resolved to advance to Sequence 4 as soon as possible.
• Klein decided to warn Pallez Zoroast about Amon and sent Reinette Tinekerr with a letter to 7 Pinster Street.
• Klein divined that helping Sharron and Maric steal Tutanssess II’s mummy posed little danger, then prepared his Fate Siphon charm and recorded demigod-level powers in Creeping Hunger.
• Klein sent Leonard a letter asking for the exact time, location, and plan for the mission.
• Leonard found Klein’s warning that Amon had arrived, and he heard the Parasite inside him breathe for the first time.