Recaps

Seraphina exposed the supposed Amber Dragon scale on Gray's mechanical arm as ordinary ore with a Psionic Energy circuit, then identified a genuine dragon scale on [Lion Hidden in the Eyes]'s mechanical arm. She removed the translucent green scale to show it to the others.

• Gray defended the craftsman's reputation, but Seraphina pried the scale from his mechanical arm and said it was ordinary ore with a Psionic Energy circuit.
• Seraphina broke the circuit and demonstrated that the arm no longer slowed Gray when it struck him.
• Gray speculated that the craftsman might have been deceived or could be a spy for the Eternal Domain.
• Seraphina pointed out that [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] had a real dragon scale on his mechanical arm and called him over.
• [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] held out his mechanical arm, and Seraphina removed its slightly translucent green dragon scale, which left a green trail when she moved it.

After confirming that one dragon scale was genuine and another was counterfeit, Gray and Nora prepared a report that could expose a major scandal in the Graycast Corridor. Seraphina headed toward Dragonborn Village to visit her followers, but a tree she touched dissolved into poisonous matter.

• Seraphina demonstrated that her Green Dragon scale was genuine, warned Lion Hidden in the Eyes not to touch its toxin, and returned it to his mechanical arm.
• Gray and Nora realized that the Amber Dragon scale was counterfeit and discussed how the fakes could become a major scandal.
• Gray drafted a report to the Great Labyrinth City's leadership, and Nora polished it with his description of Seraphina's authentication.
• Seraphina left Valhalla's district and set out through the forest toward Dragonborn Village, which she had never visited.
• Seraphina touched a tree blocking the path, and it dissolved into viscous matter amid green poisonous smoke.

After Seraphina lost some of the green dragon abilities she had gained from touching a scale, she went to Ed to ask what had happened. Ed proposed that they compare what they knew about dragons, leaving Seraphina ready to answer his questions.

• Seraphina tested her poisonous touch on several trees and confirmed that its corrosive effect was weakening.
• Seraphina flew back to Ed with her wings unfolded and asked him to explain the change.
• Seraphina told Ed she had never met her parents or received a proper dragon education, and that she had taught herself the kingdom's language using hostages.
• Ed suggested they share their knowledge and reason through the dragon-related mystery together.
• Seraphina reached toward Ed, who dodged and protested that she had just poisoned a woodland; she then invited him to ask questions.

Ed learned that Seraphina could temporarily gain another dragon’s power, and planned to seek more dragon-scale items for her to use. Meanwhile, [A Huan] trained local forces in Valhalla until Seraphina spotted him and [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] said she wanted to speak with him.

• Seraphina told Ed she had never known she could briefly gain other dragons’ power, and said the experience seemed beneficial despite being new to her.
• Ed planned to ask Gray to bring dragon-scale items so he could help Seraphina make equipment that granted temporary powers.
• After leaving the castle, Seraphina noticed a large, unusually orderly group of Soul Returners and recognized the Dragonborn [A Huan].
• [A Huan] finished training his group and reflected on how his military experience helped him train Gungnir and Motley’s Wild Hunt, while earning money and building a house in Valhalla.
• [A Huan] accepted a private training job from [Good Times Don't Last] for the Adrian Imperial Guard.
• [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] approached [A Huan] and pointed toward the Obsidian Bank, explaining that Seraphina was looking for him.

A Huan agreed to train Seraphina’s Dragonborn in military formations for a fee, hoping to earn enough to build an extension to his house. Seraphina paid for a trial session that afternoon, and Lion Hidden in the Eyes was assigned to notify eligible Dragonborn.

• A Huan approached Seraphina at the Obsidian Bank and learned she wanted her Dragonborn to practice the orderly formations he had taught the Adrian Imperial Guard.
• Needing money for his house, A Huan agreed to train about a hundred Dragonborn and charged one gold coin for each four-hour session.
• Seraphina paid one gold coin and scheduled the first training session for that afternoon.
• Seraphina paid Lion Hidden in the Eyes to notify the Dragonborn and specified that participants had to be at least fifteen and not bedridden, with no restrictions on gender or occupation.

Seraphina arranged for [A Huan] to train the Dragonborn and asked him to create loyalty slogans for them. As the first military posture session began, [A Huan] enlisted [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] to handle the slogans.

• [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] ran to Dragonborn Village to deliver the training arrangements to the village chief.
• Seraphina asked [A Huan] what the Soul Returners' loyalty slogans meant, and he explained that they strengthened cohesion.
• Seraphina paid [A Huan] to come up with rousing slogans for her Dragonborn.
• [A Huan] gathered one hundred Dragonborn in a clearing outside Valhalla and began their first military posture training.
• [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] urged [A Huan] to prioritize clowning around, so [A Huan] asked him to take charge of creating the slogans.

A Huan and Lion Hidden in the Eyes planned how to make Seraphina pleased with the Dragonborn’s training by borrowing ideas from real-world political pageantry. Lion Hidden in the Eyes proposed an elaborate cult of portraits, statues, badges, embellished stories, and a song, leaving A Huan wondering how they could manage it alone.

• After the first day of training, A Huan asked Lion Hidden in the Eyes for ideas, and Lion said Seraphina resembled certain real-world leaders.
• A Huan and Lion Hidden in the Eyes agreed to outfit the Dragonborn, standardize their movements, and give them a determined look so Seraphina would approve of their training.
• Lion Hidden in the Eyes proposed hanging portraits of Seraphina in every home, then suggested building a statue and giving Dragonborn metal badges bearing her likeness.
• Lion Hidden in the Eyes proposed embellishing stories about Seraphina repelling the Demonic Tide and publishing lavish articles about her activities.
• Lion Hidden in the Eyes shared a classic old song, and A Huan began dancing through tears as he felt swept up in admiration for Seraphina.
• A Huan asked if the two of them could carry out the plan, and Lion Hidden in the Eyes questioned why he thought only two people were involved.

Lion Hidden in the Eyes organized players to create stories and merchandise celebrating Seraphina, while Gray was approached by Soul Returners who wanted to rent Bennett to help them capture a vampire count alive. The chapter ended with Gray weighing their risky proposal.

• Lion Hidden in the Eyes assigned players to make portraits, stories, news, and badge designs about Seraphina.
• A group of players gathered beside Not Bad Tasting’s stall to discuss the project’s details.
• A Soul Returner and his followers asked Gray to rent them Bennett, whose Psionic Energy could attract wild Blood Corpses.
• Gray asked for a deposit, and the Soul Returner agreed, explaining that they planned to use Bennett to locate and capture a vampire count alive.
• Gray was astonished by the Soul Returners’ dangerous plan and contrasted their recklessness with the Graycast Corridor’s concern for civilian safety.

Gray rented Bennett to [Soaring Clouds] and his Soaring Sky Studio crew for three days so they could capture a vampire count, after warning them about the dangers and requiring everyone to sign the contract. The group headed east of Valhalla, where [Soaring Clouds] revealed that the Soldier Bee waiting for them was meant to carry Bennett, not the rest of the crew.

• Gray warned [Soaring Clouds] that controlling intelligent Blood Corpses was risky and cautioned him to keep Bennett safe.
• Gray drafted a three-day rental contract for one gold coin per day with a five-gold-coin deposit, and [Soaring Clouds] and his followers signed it.
• [Soaring Clouds] and the Soaring Sky Studio players wheeled the weakened Bennett out of Gray's fortress and headed east of Valhalla.
• [Soaring Clouds] 2828 asked how they would catch a Blood Corpse, and [Soaring Clouds] assured him he had planned everything.
• The group found a giant Soldier Bee piloted by [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows], and [Soaring Clouds] explained that the ride was only for Bennett, leaving everyone else to walk.

Soaring Clouds led his studio into Blood Corpse territory to capture the creatures alive and prepare to hunt a vampire count. The group began luring nearby Blood Corpses while the studio built a pit and used mutant plants to support the operation.

• Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows warned the group that scattered Blood Corpses lay ahead, and Soaring Clouds's studio equipped itself with light armor and tools for capturing them alive.
• Soaring Clouds explained that they would clear and capture nearby Blood Corpses before seeking the vampire count, then call in reinforcements once they found its location.
• Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows asked Bennett to use a gathering spell to draw Blood Corpses toward the group in small numbers.
• Bennett spread vampiric psionic energy while Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows guided Soldier Bee Pro across the wilderness to scout and lure the creatures.
• Soaring Clouds directed stronger studio members to dig a holding pit, while others used mutant plant plug-ins to accelerate plant growth with their health bars.

[Soaring Clouds]’s plan had Soaring Sky Studio turn the Blood Corpses’ approach into a game of Plants vs. Zombies, using mutated plants to slow and weaken them. The first Blood Corpse was trapped and subdued, while the remaining Blood Corpses advanced toward the enclosure.

• The ten Soaring Sky Studio players built an enclosure with an east-facing entrance and planted rows of Resin-Dropping Pines, Blood-Drinking Thornbushes, and Oil Vines.
• [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] warned the players that eighteen Blood Corpses were approaching, and Bennett led them toward the entrance.
• The first Blood Corpse stepped into sticky resin, became stuck, and toppled into the Blood-Drinking Thornbushes.
• Two players pulled out its teeth and fingernails, bound it with Deadwood Vines and Strangler Figs, and dragged it behind the plant rows.
• The players continued neutralizing the Blood Corpse by removing its toenails and embedded thorns, while its toothless bite failed to hurt one player.

[Soaring Clouds] organized the players into an assembly line that trapped, restrained, and prepared eighteen Blood Corpses. On the next lure, Bennett sensed interference from a nearby intelligent Blood Corpse or an awakening count, and [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] asked how to proceed.

• [Soaring Clouds] approved adding Oil Vine bindings to the Blood Corpse processing routine and told the players to harden the vines with fire.
• A player explained that he knew how to tie the Blood Corpses because he helped tie up hairy crabs each autumn.
• The players restrained all eighteen Blood Corpses in the pit, and [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] flew off with Bennett to lure another group.
• Bennett warned that his Psionic Energy spell was being disrupted by a nearby intelligent Blood Corpse or an awakening count.
• [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] asked Bennett for the best way to handle the threat and warned him against trying anything.

[Soaring Clouds] Studio cleared nearly a hundred Blood Corpses while postponing its attempt to locate the Blood Corpse Count. Afterward, the players discovered they had sealed themselves inside their work area and learned that the Dragonborn warehouse had acquired Fir City's chapel doors.

• [Soaring Clouds] decided to clear nearby Blood Corpses first and seek the count after the production line could handle another batch.
• Over three hours, [Soaring Clouds] Studio dealt with nearly a hundred Blood Corpses, and [Soaring Clouds] sent [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] off duty.
• [Shit Appraisal Master] arrived with a Dragonborn freight convoy, but the players realized they had built no back entrance and had to cut through three iron birches.
• [Soaring Clouds] asked [Shit Appraisal Master] to supply sturdy doors, and he offered to broker and install doors from Seraphina's Dragonborn warehouse.
• [Shit Appraisal Master] revealed that players had taken the chapel's front and back doors from Fir City, leaving [Soaring Clouds] amazed at how they had extracted them.

[Soaring Clouds] and [Shit Appraisal Master] discussed the many uses of captured Blood Corpses and arranged for a neutralization device to boost the studio’s work. The next evening, Soaring Sky Studio began securing its hunting area with double doors as it prepared to capture a vampire count.

• [Shit Appraisal Master] explained that Blood Corpses could power forging hammers, provide safe combat training and experience, and serve as cargo-hauling vehicles.
• [Soaring Clouds] realized other groups would soon compete to capture Blood Corpses and decided to hunt a vampire count within two days.
• [Shit Appraisal Master] offered to arrange a neutralization device built by [Do Some Farm Work], and [Soaring Clouds] agreed to buy or rent it.
• [Soaring Clouds] ordered his employees to log in early the next day, clear nearby Blood Corpses, and capture the count to avoid renewing Bennett’s expensive rental.
• The following evening, [Soaring Clouds]’s employees logged in to find Dragonborn installing two large doors in the Iron Birch wall while [Soaring Clouds] planted trees around them.
• [Soaring Clouds] told the group that [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] had gone to lure the mobs and asked everyone to help finish the double-door setup.

Soaring Sky Studio tracked a reviving vampire count to an underground pit and confirmed the location with Bennett. After surrounding the pit and clearing the nearby Blood Corpses, [Soaring Clouds] threw Molotov cocktails into it to attack the sealed resting place.

• [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] brought back Blood Corpses while the studio processed them, then led the Blood Corpses away from the count's southeast location.
• Bennett sensed a nearby count who was still reviving, and [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] marked the direction for the studio.
• [Soaring Clouds 2828] found a pit after hearing digging and scratching sounds, and [Soaring Clouds] asked Bennett whether it could hold the count's seal.
• Bennett confirmed that the pit was a plausible resting place, and [Soaring Clouds] ordered the group to guard the area while the count was investigated.
• [Soaring Clouds] lit and threw two [Installment Payment Cocktails] into the pit.

[Soaring Clouds] and the players burned and defeated the Blood Corpses in a cavern, then discovered a rock wall hiding a vampire earl’s resting place. Unable to break through, they asked Bennett for help, and he offered to lead the Blood Corpses in digging through it.

• [Soaring Clouds] and the players threw incendiary bombs into the cavern, then entered after the flames died down and finished off the charred Blood Corpses.
• The players used a tight formation to defeat the Blood Corpses fused together in the narrow passage.
• [Soaring Clouds] found a strange rock wall with an existing excavation hole and concluded that a vampire earl lay beyond it.
• The players realized they had no effective way to break through the wall and asked [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] to consult Bennett.
• Bennett offered to lead the Blood Corpses himself in digging through the wall, prompting [Soaring Clouds 2828] to joke that he had served three masters.

Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows questioned Bennett about controlling the Blood Corpses and learned that the players could avoid their attacks by covering themselves in Blood Corpse flesh and blood. The Blood Corpses began digging through the crypt’s rock wall under Bennett’s direction, while he and Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows oversaw the work from outside.

• Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows questioned Bennett about his control over the Blood Corpses and whether they might attack the players or fall under the revived count’s control.
• Bennett explained that he controlled the Blood Corpses he had led out of the count’s range, but could not fully suppress their instinct to attack the living.
• Bennett advised the players to cover themselves with Blood Corpse flesh and blood so the creatures would be less likely to attack them.
• Soaring Clouds passed the advice to the players, who smeared Blood Corpse remains on themselves despite their disgust.
• A Blood Corpse entered the crypt, ignored the players, and began clawing at the rock wall; more followed and formed an excavation line under Bennett’s direction.

Bennett’s plan led the players to break through the cavern wall and discover a sealed chamber containing a vampire count. After Bennett spoke with the count, Luoli Adelaide, he pretended to leave, prompting the trapped vampire to offer any terms for his rescue.

• Bennett organized the Blood Corpses into an efficient excavation line, and they eventually opened a crawlspace through the rock wall.
• [Soaring Clouds] sent [Soaring Clouds 2828] and [Soaring Clouds 6365] into the chamber, where they found a rune-covered room and a stone coffin surrounded by failing seals.
• Bennett asked [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] to take him inside because he sensed the count calling to him.
• Bennett introduced himself to the vampire in the coffin, who identified himself as Luoli Adelaide and asked for help breaking the seal.
• Bennett feigned disdain for the Adelaide Lineage and turned to leave, so Luoli pleaded with him and offered any terms for his release.

Bennett negotiated with the sealed vampire count Luoli Adelaide, who refused to abandon the Adelaide bloodline but asked Bennett to help free him. Bennett recognized Luoli’s demand for blood as a threat and left him with an offer of fifty Blood Corpses.

• Luoli sensed humans near the tomb and assumed Bennett had subdued them as followers.
• Bennett asked Luoli to join the Antos Lineage, but Luoli refused to abandon the Adelaide bloodline.
• Bennett praised Luoli’s loyalty and offered to help free him, prompting Luoli to promise him a village’s worth of Blood Corpses.
• Luoli asked for the blood of two hundred Blood Corpses to revive, and Bennett accused him of planning to attack him after escaping.
• Bennett refused Luoli’s reduced request of one hundred and fifty Blood Corpses, offered fifty instead, and wheeled away.

Bennett tricked Count Luoli into accepting the help of fifty Blood Corpses and promised him nearby humans as food. The players broke Luoli’s seal and prepared to fight, but the coffin only shook until Bennett revealed that its lid slid open.

• Bennett told Luoli that a nearby settlement held thousands of humans and offered fifty Blood Corpses to help break his seal.
• Luoli agreed to the deal and asked to eat the players beside Bennett to regain strength.
• The players pretended to be hypnotized and entered the tomb as the Blood Corpses drained their blood into the seal’s runes.
• While the Blood Corpses worked, the sixteen players armed themselves and prepared to attack Luoli when he revived.
• The final rune went dark, and Luoli’s coffin shook violently three times without opening.
• Bennett told the confused players that the coffin lid slid open.

The players broke Count Luoli’s seal and attacked him, but he revived and drained one player’s blood. After absorbing it, he turned his Psionic Energy against Bennett, whom he called a traitor.

• [Soaring Clouds] led the players in stabbing Count Luoli as soon as his coffin opened.
• Bennett warned the players to drop their weapons and retreat, and Count Luoli revived.
• Count Luoli seized [Soaring Clouds 3773] and drained him, then recoiled at finding Blood Corpse blood in the player’s body.
• The players used Directed Alienation to make more blades while Count Luoli recovered by absorbing the blood.
• Count Luoli called Bennett a traitor and pressed him down with Psionic Energy.

Luoli used recovered abilities to weaken approaching players, while [Soaring Clouds] warned them back and [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] tested him with a ranged attack. One arrow struck Luoli, giving the players an opening to press their attack.

• Bennett urged the players to attack Luoli before he could recover further.
• Luoli called the charging players enemies and inflicted debuffs that weakened them.
• [Soaring Clouds] ordered the players to retreat, realizing Luoli was luring them closer while still unable to move freely.
• [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] used his blood-powered bracer to fire two arrows at Luoli.
• Luoli dodged one arrow but was struck in the back by the other and cried out in pain.
• [Soaring Clouds] ordered the players to loose their attacks.

The players overwhelmed Count Luoli with arrows and trapped him in his stone coffin. After confirming he was still alive, they restrained him with a ball gag and vines, leaving him helpless.

• Count Luoli fell back into his stone coffin to shield himself from the players’ arrows, but the players continued firing at him for twenty minutes.
• [Soaring Clouds] sent [Soaring Clouds 2828] to check whether Luoli was dead, and he found the count alive but riddled with arrows.
• Luoli begged the players to stop shooting, and [Soaring Clouds] gave [Soaring Clouds 2828] a ball gag to keep him from biting anyone.
• [Soaring Clouds 2828] secured the gag and bound Luoli’s hands and feet with Strangler Fig and Oil Vine, leaving the count powerless.

[Soaring Clouds] and [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] devised a flashy way to transport the captured Count Luoli and publicize Soaring Sky Studio. The players headed toward Valhalla with Bennett under guard, while Luoli was carried on a bloodstained cross pulled by Soldier Bees.

• [Soaring Clouds] asked [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] to devise a showy way to take Luoli away and attract publicity for Soaring Sky Studio.
• [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] agreed to help on the condition that Bennett stayed safe, and Bennett used his power to make the Blood Corpses carry the stone coffin outside.
• The players built a large wooden cross, nailed Luoli to it, and attached it to Soldier Bees with vines.
• The players killed the remaining Blood Corpses, collected their ears as proof for military merit, and set off for Valhalla with Bennett guarded in their formation.
• The next morning, players saw Luoli flying toward Valhalla on the bloodstained cross.

The players brought the captured vampire count Luoli Adelaide to a cabin outside Valhalla and left him exposed to sunlight while [Soaring Clouds] planned to use Bennett to teach him the rules. [Do Some Farm Work] opened his door to the spectacle and prepared to help.

• The players carried Luoli on a cross to the outskirts of Valhalla, drawing a crowd that brought [Soaring Clouds] new studio orders.
• [Soaring Clouds] stopped the group at a cabin outside the city to keep Luoli from endangering Valhalla’s innocent NPCs.
• [Soaring Clouds] decided to keep Bennett for the rest of his loan period so Bennett could teach Luoli how to behave.
• [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows] returned the rented Soldier Bee and left after receiving his balance.
• [Do Some Farm Work] opened his door, mistook the scene for a crucifixion, then learned Luoli was a captured vampire count.
• [Do Some Farm Work] told [Soaring Clouds] that everything was ready.