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Arath writes the year 1521 as the great war starts. The [[Elves]], [[Dwarves]], [[Humans]] and [[Draconians]] all find reasons to attack each other. As these races rule the four biggest countries in [[Arath]] almost everyone is drafted into one of their armies.
'''The Imminent Doom''' is a period in [[Arath]] starting in 1521. It is mainly marked by the war between the biggest realms the [[Democracy of Cahemelle]], the [[Dwarven Republic]], the [[Thanate Empire]], the [[Orcish Diarchy]] and the [[Draconian League]].


In this tumult, the mighty wizard [[Blaidd Drwg]] sees an opportunity to rise in power and fulfill the quest given by his late master. So he whispers into the ruling classes ears to further increase the tension.
In the centre of this period of war an unlikely group finds its way together. These are the stories of this groups adventures. Though if you want to read what else unfolded during the time and what they might have kick started in other places of [[Arath]] then you might want to read the [[Backstory of The Imminent Doom]].


== Session 1 - Prologue ==
= The Fall of Marymar =
The players are drafted into the armies of Dwarves and Elves.  
The party meets aftermath of a contested landing between elves and dwarves. Not having many other options they band together and head out eastwards towards Marymar. There they meet the local Govenor and decide to help him out by collecting taxes in the surrounding villages. Not having the best impressions of the Govenor they stole his treasours and head out further east wards across the wide planis.


=== On the Sea ===
In those plains they find a cave inhabitated by a hag, that trubbled them in their dreams. After a short scuffle they then found her cursed treasoure and a ship in a magical bottle. During the following night a headless character finds them and explains that this is the Devilsfall and he would be loyal to the one who found it. In a quick pace they head towards the shore to test this new mans words.
The rain is pouring down. The winds blow colds and all around you are cursing dwarves, gnomes as well as other races.
“The elves have us cursed. They know of our intentions and called the rains to stop us.” Next to [[Aluwyn]] curses. They were sent by the [[Gnome Academy]] to support the dwarf engineering corps. The corps is trying hard to free the ballista and catapults from the muds they are stuck in.  
''Hand over to Aluwyn''


The wind catches strong in the sails and whips the waves high. [[Porof_Dakun|Porof]]'s sits in the crows nest with his trusty weapon and a bottle of grog. He hears the shanties from his sailor comrades down below. They were hired to bring the elves to the shore. An easy task, no fighting was to be involved. The coastline slowly comes into sight.
While traversing the plains they saw that some sort of earth ball rise up into the air and then drop down causing a large dust cloud. With their new ship the party decided to investigate the event. They find nothing where Marymar was last and decided to head further west to the next fishing village, where they are told that Marymar is no more.
''Hand over to Porof''


[[Varis_Alloro|Varis]] is glad that he is not stuck in a big trading vessel, most of his men are hanging over the railing, seasick from the high waves. He is sitting still in his place, uncomfortable wearing his polished and shiny plate armor of the protectors. He is wetting his arrows, making sure that the fletching looks nice and clears the nock with a dagger.
Wanting to figure out the extension of the damage they head out into the wilds the reach the lumberjack village at the southern forest, which they find almost abandond. After some time and arguing the party decided to head further into the dust cloud only to find a wizard in the deep crator who conjures up a Zombie Beholder.
''Perception role from Porof''


They now start to see each other, preparing the spells and siege crafts and getting ready to land or repel the landing.
The fight was tough and resulted in the death of Alloro.


=== The Approach ===
[[The Fall of Marymar|Read all recaps]]
During the approach, Porof will get pushed into fighting with the elves, as they are attacked. At least that is what the elven commander on his ship is saying.


Vari's ship gets hit, he is forced to drop his plate armor and heavy shield, to swim the rest of the way to shore.
= Rebellion in Goblin Town =


Aluwyn has to contempt with a continuous barrage of magical spells cast against their position.
Hearing of some struggles in the east the party heads out. Finding a valley controlled by goblins. A colourful band of rebells is fighting for their liberty against the repressive regiem of the Goblin King.


=== The Landing ===
The party wants to help and sets out to hunt down some patrols and to pick up supplies. On their way back they decide to take a more dangerous short cut, which lead them into a runied dwarven underground city. The city is inhabited by mutated spiders and a Drider. Fighting their way through the city they then find the Drider in the throne room in which they challange her to battle. Infighting and bickering amongst the party leads to a loss of battle.
As Varis lands on the shores he has nothing but his quiver and bow and his undergarments. He strips a dead Militiaman from his armor and picks up his rapier.


Aluwyn has to dodge an incoming fireball and rolls down the hill onto the battlefield.
The surving members are handed over to the goblins, which parade them through the valley as openly as possible. Allowing the rebels and their crew to locate and free them. Wanting revenge the party sets out to target the King himself.


Porof’s longboat lands ashore uncontested and can disembark all its soldiers under heavy arrow fire.
With the king dead his empire curmbles, his generals fight amongst each other allowing a new dwarven kingdom growing out of it's ashes.
----
=== Recap ===
After a tough and indecisive skirmish between elves and dwarves, the party emerges still living.


Porof expertly avoided the elves to hide in the crows nest, as he did not want to join the battle. This plan did not work so well as the ship landed he got flung into a bunch of elves, which break his fall. He still tries to stay out of combat, desperate to play injured he thinks he uses his glaive as a crutch, but everyone else would think he walks like a wizard with a staff. During the skirmish, he keeps on praising his weapon and cuts down a few of the dwarves.
[[Rebellion in Goblin Town|Read all recaps]]


The platoon Captain Alloro takes care of his weapons and ready his platoon to disembark. But a neighboring ship loses some of its oars and rams his transport. He loses most of his heavy gear and must make sure he makes it to the land. Swimming with all his might and dexterity he makes it to the shore soaking wet, seaweed hanging on him and quite pissed of. He calls back his weapons with his magic. This sight scares some of the younger dwarves and they run away. He tries to organize the troops as good as he can, and even inspires the commanding brigadier to charge into the last dwarves that stand.
= An Excursion to the Hells =


Aluwyn is an enlisted gnome from the academy, meant to bolster the ranks of the dwarven engineering corps. She had a crash course in dwarven siege machinery and is now in charge of a little group of gnomes to man a 10m wide ballista. One of her crew is a little gnome, that is a little craven. Her position got shot at and she tumbles onto the battlefield, where she tries her best to help out the faltering dwarven phalanx. This does not end well for her, as she gets knocked out by a dwarven shield-bearer, who first shoots then asks questions. The only reason she is still alive is that the little gnome pulled her to the side of the battlefield.
Testing the skills of the party the dwarven pirate captain Greybeard asks them to pick up a package from Durnkuldir. Sneaking into the basement of the Genral Axethain they find the young dwarf Ozmock, Greybeards nephew.


After the skirmish, the elven captain and the human sailor captured the gnome engineer and make their way inland away from the red colored beach.
Yet soon after Ozmock is kidnapped by Deviles on their way back to Greybeard, prompting them to follow them to the Nine Hells. A place full of fighting and constant struggles for power.


== Session 2 - New Lands ==
At first the party tries to break into the fortified camp of one of the Warlords, yet the resistance is stronger than they thought. If it wasn't for the support of their friend Captaing Teolgrag they would not have been able to return from the hells with the young Ozmock.
Aluwyn und Porof (Passive Perception), they might notice that Alloro has been visited in his mind.
----
As the group travels the near lands they find some Tiefling '''Thugs''' harassing a young noble-looking man, who is trying to defend himself.


This man is called [[Reimar]], he is trying to make a name for himself by serving his dwarven lords in the battle. He will tell them where his father's hold is and promises them a good reward for his rescue and escort back there.
[[An Excursion to the Hells|Read all recaps]]


On their way to [[Maryar]] they might encounter some '''Bandits''' or '''Dire Wolfs'''.
= The Breaking of the Council =


=== First Home ===
Being a member of the Council since their first visit to Might Town the party tried to build up releations with some of the captains, mainly with Captain Teolgrag and Capatain Greybeard. Which is achieved by helping out with some tiresome tasks and other favours.
As they help or choose not to, [[Reimar]] they will find their way to his [[Governor_of_Dostrait_Mansion|father's mansion]]. He is the [[Governor_of_Dostrait|Governor]] of the local region ([[Dostrait]]) and serves the [[dwarves]]. He has some smaller issues with trolls, taxes, bandits, dire wolfs and will ask them to help him out.
The village ([[Maryar]]), near to the [[Governor_of_Dostrait_Mansion|mansion]], has some trouble with the battle. Bandits extorting them, and monsters pressuring them. Almost all able fighting men have been drafted there.


=== Proving their Steel ===
On a return trip to Might Town they find the city in turmoil, knowing their captain is in the city hall they charge in and find Ondas' and Hogans men currently trying to take over the city. In the mean time the Council is informed about a new opportunity, which results in the breaking of the Council.
The [[Governor of Dostrait]] will not listen to them or his son for long, as he is a very busy man and must not be disturbed by his failure of a son, maybe he is more useful in domestic situations.


After a while, Reimar will come back and ask them for help for one more time. He will tell them what they want to, they did save his hide. He is tasked to clear the coast of the [https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Sea%20Hag#toc_3 Sea Hag] and the crawling [http://chisaipete.github.io/bestiary/creatures/sea-spawn Sea Spawn]. As some tinkerer has found a way to extract salt from the sea water. This sounds all a little shady to him, he is not the brightest torch on the porch.
Fighting to liberate the city the party makes a new friend Captain Tavia.
----
=== Recap ===
The rest gave the three survivors some time to calm down. Still, [[Varis_Alloro|Alloro]] does not trust the little Gnome [[Aluwyn]] and casts a mysterious ritual on them. She does not allow that without a fight and draws the attention of a little disoriented [[Kylin_Nelson|Kylin]], she had a tough time during the battle of yesterday and has been washed up on the shore. But she was not the only one listening to a [[Ruven|ranger]] noticed them and investigated the scene. Yet only Kylin decided to show herself.


She quickly recognized [[Porof_Dakun|Porof]], as her old mate she used to sail with. So she joins the group. They soon take off west to find a village [[Kylin_Nelson|Kylin]] knows about. During the first few minutes of their travel, they hear a dwarvish warhorn. Only [[Aluwyn]] knows that it means that everyone has to get ready to march. Scared of it they up their pace to be ahead of them, though later they figure out that the horn was not triggered by them.
[[A Broken Council|Read all recaps]]


As they rested from the morning of their fast walk they hear fighting close by. They find a tall strong and fierce looking man is standing alone against four opponents. He wields his battleax in his full plate armor and knows how to defend himself. Still, the group and [[Ruven]] decide to help him. The fighting is fierce and [[Kylin_Nelson|Kylin]] impresses the defender quite a bit. Now that the group meets [[Ruven]] and get to know [[Reimar]], the son of the local [[Governor_of_Dostrait|governor]].
= The Curse of Conder Isle =
He leads them to [[Marymar]] the capital of [[Dostrait]]. [[Marymar]] is nothing more than a big poor village on the coast and it is apparent that they have little what could interest any of the big countries. The village itself is getting a palisade build and all the buildings except one are build of wood.


At the gates, [[Porof_Dakun|Porof]] meets an old guard that might know his father from old fights down in the [[Darkwoods]]. He tells him to wait for him in the Tavern of the [[Old Lass Inn]], but he never shows up. The [[Governor_of_Dostrait_Mansion|governor's mansion]] is the only stone building in the village and contains quite a collection of old weapons. Unlike like the village or the countryside the [[Governor_of_Dostrait|governor]] has everything a heart desires. They meet this [[Governor_of_Dostrait|governor]] and his two advisors a slim man holding a big book and a fat one, which takes little care of his hygiene. The [[Governor_of_Dostrait|governor]] seems to have some use for this odd group, so he invites them to a feast and offers them a contract for a little problem of his. He also gives them living quarters in his [[Governor_of_Dostrait_Mansion| mansion] for them to rest. During the wait time, the group sets out to visit the [[Old Lass Inn]], where [[Aluwyn]] gives her best to have the worst performance of her life. All while [[Varis_Alloro|Alloro]] learns that there are no boats he can rent, buy or steal for a journey home.
Carrying Sulla, the cursed talking chair who claims to be an old god of fighting, the crew sets course for Conder Isle, Darfin's homeland, where an arena devoted to Sulla is said to be able to break his curse. On the foggy way south Strennun throws himself into a whirlpool, a mutiny is put down and Roftag becomes first mate. Days later Strennun is fished out of the sea by none other than Kylin's estranged sister.


[[Varis_Alloro|Alloro]] is the first of the group to join the feast and tries to get some information out of the [[Governor_of_Dostrait|governor]]. Later all but [[Porof_Dakun|Porof]] joins the feast as well. They learn little, except for a Dire Wolf, that troubles the [[Direward Village]]. After the [[Governor_of_Dostrait|governor]] leaves the feast [[Varis_Alloro|Alloro]] organizes a drinking competition between the fat advisor [[Ralf]] and [[Aluwyn]], which she wins because of her hesitation to drink fast.
On the isle the party crosses the faerie-haunted woods to Alse Edhil. In search of a book about the old gods they break into the house of Darfin's nemesis Arune Silvaris, steal the book along with a large crystal, and promptly end up on wanted posters. Darfin's wife Elora offers them a way out: help the elven rangers fight a curse spreading through the forest.


The next morning [[Varis_Alloro|Alloro]] tries to gather more information and hears about a missing boy, the help needed on the fields, the troubles of the Sea Hag they are hired to take care off and that a smart man wants to make salt out of water. He is disappointed not to hear more and returns to their room.
Deep in the cursed woods they find a hag nesting in an ancient burial mound and kill her, losing the bag of holding in the process. Beneath the tomb Strennun meets Anathar, an entity sealed in a monolith, who possesses him and Brovara before the crew flees. In a maze near Sulla's arena they clash with Wormtongue, whom Darfin banishes, and the blood of the fallen sets Sulla free. Square becomes his high priestess, and all but Roftag accept his gifts.


During that time [[Kylin_Nelson|Kylin]] starts looking for [[Porof_Dakun|Porof]], as he did not return to their quarters. She looks for him in the Old Lass Inn where she finds out that he drunk three guards and two dwarves under the table. After that, he left the inn with a girl called [[Berta]] to swim in the sea. She meets him perfectly fine on his way back to the village.
Back at the port they learn that Kylin is wanted for desertion and the Devilsfall has been seized. The party breaks into the keep, frees Jack and the surviving crew, and escapes, setting the elven fleet aflame as they leave the isle behind.


== Session 3 - The Sea Hags Layer ==
[[The Curse of Conder Isle|Read all recaps]]
[[Varis_Alloro|Alloro]] and [[Ruven]] have to roll a stealth check to see how good their disguise is for this session.
----
After attending a feast in their honor the group has agreed to kill a [https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Sea%20Hag#toc_3 Sea Hag]. This will result in [[Reimar]] telling them of his father's plan to liberate Dostrait and introduces them to the man who plans to make salt out of water, [[Rigalis]]. He is a mad tinkerer that tries many different things in his workshop.


=== The Cave ===
= The Thanate Gambit =
As they travel north they will find a cave at the shore that gets flooded by night.
Outside of the cave they find 4 [http://chisaipete.github.io/bestiary/creatures/sea-spawn Sea Spawn] crawling around looking for some food. After they have defeated them they can enter the cave where they find a [https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Sea%20Hag#toc_3 Sea Hag] taking care of two of her spawn.


==== The Ship Wreck ====
Fresh off the elven isle, the crew burns an elven flagship and fills its ranks with new recruits, among them Falaria, Nori and Danam. At the hidden fleet Darfin and Kylin finally admit what they have become: pirates. A rakshasa disguised as Falaria strikes on board, and the new bounties arrive. When the captains gather, Teolgrag reports that Hogan, Ondas and Wormtongue have made a deal with the devils in the Deadlands. The alliance decides to strike the orcs and seek allies in the Thanate Empire, and Teolgrag asks Kylin to become his heir.
After they have killed the monsters a kid runs up to them and thanks them for rescuing him. He tells them that further in the cave is a shipwreck in which he hid.
As they investigate the wreck they find:
* 1 Bag of Holding
** 2 Potion of Healing (2d4 + 2)
** 1 Small Barrel of old Whiskey
* 100 Gold Pieces
* 2 Platinum Pieces (DC 25)


=== The Workshop ===
In Quarate, Strennun's homecoming sours when his father Vodan treats him as hired muscle, and the crew chooses each other over family. At Flavia's Frivolous Fantastical Fings they pay strange prices for strange goods: Kylin gets a dagger sworn to Rakdos, Roftag learns his name, and Darfin learns he has been undead for weeks and that a phylactery lies to the west. When the spice merchant Sinan threatens to hand them to Wormtongue, Kylin slits his throat and walks away with his letter of recommendation. Before the council Wormtongue appears as "ambassador" of the master wizards, but the council sides with the crew and expels him. They promise talks, not troops. Strennun avenges his Nana by killing Dunan in a tavern brawl.
After they have killed the Sea Hag and reported back Reimar comes up to them and asks them to follow him. He leads them to a hut outside of the Palisades to the north of the village. Where they meet [[Rigalis]]. A mad tinkerer that currently works on making salt out of water. He believes that this would make [[Dostrait]] rich and a nicer place.
 
----
Sailing east, the crew judges a band of captured slavers on deck, demotes Strennun for disobeying orders and leaves a failed assault on an elven warship behind. Falaria returns as a ghost, and Kylin is haunted by visions of the vengeful Dragon Turtle. At a lifeless tower on the coast, the place Flavia pointed them to, Darfin finishes translating the cataclysm book. It tells of a society that wielded limitless magic fuelled by lifeforce, and of six lowborn adventurers who hunted them down and rose to become the new gods.
=== Recap ===
 
[[The Thanate Gambit|Read all recaps]]
 
= War of the Diarchy =
 
On the way to the Orcish Diarchy, Turlain, an old friend of Kylin's father, scolds her for dragging the Nelson name through piracy and points the crew to a dwarven mountain fortress on the border. There the gnome Thanin shows them a cannon powered by black powder and hands them the diaries of a Rigalis from 1300 years ago, whose map leads to something hidden near Marymar during the Calamity. The plan is set: back Thur'kan's claim to one half of the Diarchy to buy the dwarves time. A first strike on an orc camp ends in an ambush, losses and a burning forest.
 
Turned away from the fortress port, the crew raids another camp at night, only to find the warriors gone and the women, children and elderly left behind. Kylin takes in a nameless slave, and an old orc woman, the crone, arranges a meeting with Thur'kan, warning Kylin of a decision that will break her.
 
At the great oak, the shaman Ga'alak greets each of them by a strange title, and Thur'kan demands proof before any alliance. Roftag drinks from the shaman's bowl, wakes in his old camp in the Nine Hells and slays a great wolf. The crew then ambushes Tar'nok to weaken him, Thur'kan defeats him in single combat and swears to leave the dwarves in peace. Darfin departs for the Gnomish Academy, while the fortress port is overrun by orcs.
 
Back at sea, Kylin burns a rat's soul to cast a black fireball. Her hair turns white, and she promises the troubled crew to stop. In a dream she ferries Tar'nok to her patron and wakes holding his two coins. A well-dressed fisherman on the open sea debates perception with Strennun before leaving through a door that appears from nowhere, and Roftag decides to leave the ship at the next stop and head home.
 
[[War of the Diarchy|Read all recaps]]
 
= Current Chapter =

Latest revision as of 16:41, 22 October 2026

The Imminent Doom is a period in Arath starting in 1521. It is mainly marked by the war between the biggest realms the Democracy of Cahemelle, the Dwarven Republic, the Thanate Empire, the Orcish Diarchy and the Draconian League.

In the centre of this period of war an unlikely group finds its way together. These are the stories of this groups adventures. Though if you want to read what else unfolded during the time and what they might have kick started in other places of Arath then you might want to read the Backstory of The Imminent Doom.

The Fall of Marymar

The party meets aftermath of a contested landing between elves and dwarves. Not having many other options they band together and head out eastwards towards Marymar. There they meet the local Govenor and decide to help him out by collecting taxes in the surrounding villages. Not having the best impressions of the Govenor they stole his treasours and head out further east wards across the wide planis.

In those plains they find a cave inhabitated by a hag, that trubbled them in their dreams. After a short scuffle they then found her cursed treasoure and a ship in a magical bottle. During the following night a headless character finds them and explains that this is the Devilsfall and he would be loyal to the one who found it. In a quick pace they head towards the shore to test this new mans words.

While traversing the plains they saw that some sort of earth ball rise up into the air and then drop down causing a large dust cloud. With their new ship the party decided to investigate the event. They find nothing where Marymar was last and decided to head further west to the next fishing village, where they are told that Marymar is no more.

Wanting to figure out the extension of the damage they head out into the wilds the reach the lumberjack village at the southern forest, which they find almost abandond. After some time and arguing the party decided to head further into the dust cloud only to find a wizard in the deep crator who conjures up a Zombie Beholder.

The fight was tough and resulted in the death of Alloro.

Read all recaps

Rebellion in Goblin Town

Hearing of some struggles in the east the party heads out. Finding a valley controlled by goblins. A colourful band of rebells is fighting for their liberty against the repressive regiem of the Goblin King.

The party wants to help and sets out to hunt down some patrols and to pick up supplies. On their way back they decide to take a more dangerous short cut, which lead them into a runied dwarven underground city. The city is inhabited by mutated spiders and a Drider. Fighting their way through the city they then find the Drider in the throne room in which they challange her to battle. Infighting and bickering amongst the party leads to a loss of battle.

The surving members are handed over to the goblins, which parade them through the valley as openly as possible. Allowing the rebels and their crew to locate and free them. Wanting revenge the party sets out to target the King himself.

With the king dead his empire curmbles, his generals fight amongst each other allowing a new dwarven kingdom growing out of it's ashes.

Read all recaps

An Excursion to the Hells

Testing the skills of the party the dwarven pirate captain Greybeard asks them to pick up a package from Durnkuldir. Sneaking into the basement of the Genral Axethain they find the young dwarf Ozmock, Greybeards nephew.

Yet soon after Ozmock is kidnapped by Deviles on their way back to Greybeard, prompting them to follow them to the Nine Hells. A place full of fighting and constant struggles for power.

At first the party tries to break into the fortified camp of one of the Warlords, yet the resistance is stronger than they thought. If it wasn't for the support of their friend Captaing Teolgrag they would not have been able to return from the hells with the young Ozmock.

Read all recaps

The Breaking of the Council

Being a member of the Council since their first visit to Might Town the party tried to build up releations with some of the captains, mainly with Captain Teolgrag and Capatain Greybeard. Which is achieved by helping out with some tiresome tasks and other favours.

On a return trip to Might Town they find the city in turmoil, knowing their captain is in the city hall they charge in and find Ondas' and Hogans men currently trying to take over the city. In the mean time the Council is informed about a new opportunity, which results in the breaking of the Council.

Fighting to liberate the city the party makes a new friend Captain Tavia.

Read all recaps

The Curse of Conder Isle

Carrying Sulla, the cursed talking chair who claims to be an old god of fighting, the crew sets course for Conder Isle, Darfin's homeland, where an arena devoted to Sulla is said to be able to break his curse. On the foggy way south Strennun throws himself into a whirlpool, a mutiny is put down and Roftag becomes first mate. Days later Strennun is fished out of the sea by none other than Kylin's estranged sister.

On the isle the party crosses the faerie-haunted woods to Alse Edhil. In search of a book about the old gods they break into the house of Darfin's nemesis Arune Silvaris, steal the book along with a large crystal, and promptly end up on wanted posters. Darfin's wife Elora offers them a way out: help the elven rangers fight a curse spreading through the forest.

Deep in the cursed woods they find a hag nesting in an ancient burial mound and kill her, losing the bag of holding in the process. Beneath the tomb Strennun meets Anathar, an entity sealed in a monolith, who possesses him and Brovara before the crew flees. In a maze near Sulla's arena they clash with Wormtongue, whom Darfin banishes, and the blood of the fallen sets Sulla free. Square becomes his high priestess, and all but Roftag accept his gifts.

Back at the port they learn that Kylin is wanted for desertion and the Devilsfall has been seized. The party breaks into the keep, frees Jack and the surviving crew, and escapes, setting the elven fleet aflame as they leave the isle behind.

Read all recaps

The Thanate Gambit

Fresh off the elven isle, the crew burns an elven flagship and fills its ranks with new recruits, among them Falaria, Nori and Danam. At the hidden fleet Darfin and Kylin finally admit what they have become: pirates. A rakshasa disguised as Falaria strikes on board, and the new bounties arrive. When the captains gather, Teolgrag reports that Hogan, Ondas and Wormtongue have made a deal with the devils in the Deadlands. The alliance decides to strike the orcs and seek allies in the Thanate Empire, and Teolgrag asks Kylin to become his heir.

In Quarate, Strennun's homecoming sours when his father Vodan treats him as hired muscle, and the crew chooses each other over family. At Flavia's Frivolous Fantastical Fings they pay strange prices for strange goods: Kylin gets a dagger sworn to Rakdos, Roftag learns his name, and Darfin learns he has been undead for weeks and that a phylactery lies to the west. When the spice merchant Sinan threatens to hand them to Wormtongue, Kylin slits his throat and walks away with his letter of recommendation. Before the council Wormtongue appears as "ambassador" of the master wizards, but the council sides with the crew and expels him. They promise talks, not troops. Strennun avenges his Nana by killing Dunan in a tavern brawl.

Sailing east, the crew judges a band of captured slavers on deck, demotes Strennun for disobeying orders and leaves a failed assault on an elven warship behind. Falaria returns as a ghost, and Kylin is haunted by visions of the vengeful Dragon Turtle. At a lifeless tower on the coast, the place Flavia pointed them to, Darfin finishes translating the cataclysm book. It tells of a society that wielded limitless magic fuelled by lifeforce, and of six lowborn adventurers who hunted them down and rose to become the new gods.

Read all recaps

War of the Diarchy

On the way to the Orcish Diarchy, Turlain, an old friend of Kylin's father, scolds her for dragging the Nelson name through piracy and points the crew to a dwarven mountain fortress on the border. There the gnome Thanin shows them a cannon powered by black powder and hands them the diaries of a Rigalis from 1300 years ago, whose map leads to something hidden near Marymar during the Calamity. The plan is set: back Thur'kan's claim to one half of the Diarchy to buy the dwarves time. A first strike on an orc camp ends in an ambush, losses and a burning forest.

Turned away from the fortress port, the crew raids another camp at night, only to find the warriors gone and the women, children and elderly left behind. Kylin takes in a nameless slave, and an old orc woman, the crone, arranges a meeting with Thur'kan, warning Kylin of a decision that will break her.

At the great oak, the shaman Ga'alak greets each of them by a strange title, and Thur'kan demands proof before any alliance. Roftag drinks from the shaman's bowl, wakes in his old camp in the Nine Hells and slays a great wolf. The crew then ambushes Tar'nok to weaken him, Thur'kan defeats him in single combat and swears to leave the dwarves in peace. Darfin departs for the Gnomish Academy, while the fortress port is overrun by orcs.

Back at sea, Kylin burns a rat's soul to cast a black fireball. Her hair turns white, and she promises the troubled crew to stop. In a dream she ferries Tar'nok to her patron and wakes holding his two coins. A well-dressed fisherman on the open sea debates perception with Strennun before leaving through a door that appears from nowhere, and Roftag decides to leave the ship at the next stop and head home.

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