CHAPTER SUMMARIES / DAY TRACKER:
Chapter 1: Reject Heroism, Become a Witch
* Day 1:
* A biochemist awakens underwater beneath ice in the body of Ioan Starfall
* Escapes drowning, discovers a burned village (Svalbard).
* Encounters Yaga Grandhilda, the witch responsible for the village’s sacrifice.
* Rejects the hero path (Dyrkjarl) and demands Yaga make him a witch.
Chapter 2: The Complementarianism of Local Mythology
* Day 1:
* Yaga expresses disbelief at Ioan's choice, explaining the gendered nature of magic in their world (Zemlya for women, Perun for men).
* Ioan insists on becoming a witch as heroes are targeted by other murderous heroes
* Yaga performs the binding ritual, making Ioan into a domain-bound witch.
Chapter 3: Witchy Mobility Theorem
* Day 2:
* Ioan awakens in his glade next morning and discovers that he cannot go past a range limit (33 meters max before he almost goes blind from pain).
* Explores the village ruins, finds untouched metal objects.
* Discovers cold wells with preserved smoked and pickled food.
* Realizes the dragon fire preferentially targeted organic matter.
* Theorizes that magic manipulates chemistry in this world.
* Figures out how to transport his domain in a backpack, overcoming the range limitation.
Chapter 4: Witch Apprenticeship
* Night 2 (Dream):
* Ioan communes with Yaga in the Astral Ocean via a shared dream.
* Learns about the safety of his domain for a week due to dragon fire residue.
* Yaya says dragons don't attack the same location twice.
* Dragons consume adult hearts to prolong their life, see children as “empty vessels.”
* Separate Adulthood rituals (Vigslodi for men, Zemy’s Band for women) are explained involving eating an enemy's heart and weaving a banner from flax while defending from iron beetles and other pests for a year.
* Yaga reveals her difficulty in crafting the Zemy’s Band as a girl.
* Sleeping on domain deepens connection to Zemlya.
* Eating domain-grown food prolongs life.
* Yaga stresses the importance of cultivating spiritual insight.
Chapter 5: The Witch Cultivator’s Codex
* Day 3:
* Ioan creates a "Witch Cultivator’s Codex" to document his knowledge.
* Relocates his entire domain to the village pub for safety and shelter.
* Fortifies the pub with weapons.
* Gathers food supplies from cold wells.
* First meditation attempt fails (falls asleep).
Chapter 6: Material Science vs Witchy Mysticism
* Night 3 (Dream):
* Yaga is amused by Ioan's focus on the physical sciences (crystallization study) instead of the spiritual.
* Meditation is emphasized again.
* Long lifespans of witches and dragons are discussed.
* Ioan asks about potions and containers.
* Yaga explains that her domain grows everything
* Emphasizes trial and error, the slow process of mastering witchcraft.
* The land "remembers all" – focusing will can manifest desired plants.
* Yaga emphasizes sensing, not measuring.
Chapter 7: The Astralscope Tool Assembly
* Day 4:
* Second meditation attempt fails.
* Ioan catalogues crystallization patterns in different materials.
* Creates an “Astralscope” using polished gemstones + pliers, but it fails to see spirits.
* Realizes he needs to view something inherently magical.
* Observes his blood through the Astralscope + water drop microscope, sees motes of light and shadowy forms.
* Theorizes about blood magic, cutting his finger and watching as it heals
Chapter 8:
* Night 4 (Dream):
* Yaga scolds Ioan for experimenting with blood magic, emphasizing its dangers.
* Blood can create links exploitable by Jotuns (monstrous creatures born from fallen heroes).
* Yaga explains that Zemy’s Band banners offer protection from void-born monsters.
* Witches must conceal themselves, sink into their domain's earth
Chapter 9: Witchy Hoarding
* Day 5:
* Ioan collects all the Zemy’s Band banners from the village, covering the pub with them for protection.
Chapter 10: Spiritual Inquiries
* Night 5 (Dream):
* Yaga is amused by Ioan's banner fortress.
* More banners offer more protection.
* Domain growth can be directed by sleeping on its edge.
* Witches are instinctively tied to their domain, wake from nightmares if disturbed.
* Yaga reveals that she projected herself to Svalbard using blood magic and dream herbs.
* Explains that a witch’s domain is powered by soul shards of those sacrificed for its creation.
* Cultivating strength and wisdom in mortals is explained (absorbing life essence).
* Everything can house a spirit, but some are malicious.
* Witches can cultivate spirits like mortals cultivate trees.
* Evil witches and heroes exist, corrupted by dark pacts and deeds.
* Zemy’s Band is potent against Jotuns.
* Zal-Slavi (afterlife) is likely real, fueled by belief and existing in the Astral Ocean.
* Sinking into the earth is a spiritual act, a merging with the domain.
Chapter 11: Witchy Companion
* Day 6 - Day 23
* Ioan begins to fortify the pub further with a tree barricade.
* Ioan meets a black kitten on the step of his pub and names her Stormy
* Ioan & Stormy hunt down an elk
* Ioan finishes pub fortification using dead trees in about two weeks of work
* Stormy runs to the window and Ioan sees a trio of men on horseback in front of the pub
Chapter 12: Confrontation
* Day 23:
* Three men from Bernt arrive, led by Cecil.
* They try to manipulate Ioan, intending to rob or enslave him.
* Ioan kills two with his arbalest, spares Cecil and sends him back with a message so that a merchant can come to Svalbard and bring Ioan chicken eggs and other goods to trade
Chapter 13: Witchy Familiars
* Night 23 (Dream):
* Stormy is revealed to be Ioan’s familiar.
* Familiars are conduits of magic, protectors, and companions, can chase tracker spirits.
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* Yaga reveals her raven familiar, Acorn.
* Jotuns are a threat due to a Gygr (dark witch) seeking witch blood.
* Familiars grow in power with their witch, have intuition and can perceive the Astral.
* Cats perceive potential futures.
* Yaga reveals that witches can glimpse their own death in dreams.
* Familiars can help find potion ingredients, protect domains, and even guide potion-making.
* Potions must be diluted to prevent addiction.
Chapter 14: The Astralgraph Theory [Day 26]
* Ioan observes his witch’s garden feeding on the bandits' bodies, confirming his hypothesis about its power source.
* He theorizes about the domain's power conversion process involving spiritual essence and crystalline microstructures.
* He confirms Stormy's increased intelligence and attributes it to the domain's influence.
* Ioan analyzes his experiences with "bullet-time" and concludes that the fight-or-flight response might trigger life-rad extraction from crystals.
* He develops the "Astralgraph Theory," proposing that the witch and their domain act as a recording mechanism for astral imprints onto nearby crystals.
* He considers the possibility of different types of domains (fairy circles, cursed domains) and their potential effects.
* Ioan decides to procure a rock from River Glinka's domain for analysis, despite Stormy's mild apprehension.
Chapter 15: Yoink [Day 27]
* Ioan integrates a rock from his domain into his armor, confirming the link between crystals and Astral Projections.
* He feeds his horses life-rad infused greenery.
* He observes and contemplates the specific augmentation effects of his domain on different materials and processes.
* Ioan theorizes about a possible "Auric Signature" embedded in crystals, influencing their functions.
* He questions his identity and origins, embracing his current journey of discovery and survival.
* He crafts a crystal-decorated collar and harness for Stormy, enhancing her resilience to the cold.
* Ioan observes River Glinka's female spirit and steals a rock from her domain
* He contemplates the nature of Glinka's spirit and the potential consequences of his actions.
Chapter 16: The Unified Theory of the Radiosynthesis of Magic
Days 27-33:
* Ioan buries the fish-spirit rock in his domain and experiences a clashing sensation, confirming his connection to his domain.
* He continues his meditation attempts without success.
* He dedicates himself to systematically studying the effects of different gemstone arrangements.
* Ioan discovers specific functions associated with individual gems, such as soap enhancement, metal strengthening, and liquid alteration.
* He develops the "Unified Theory of the Radiosynthesis of Magic," theorizing about astral projections executing different tasks.
* He ponders the possibility of cursed domains having harmful effects.
* Ioan fails to sink his hand through the floor
Chapter 17: Hexometer
Days 33-40:
* Ioan experiments with crystalline bone dust, discovering its unique properties of vitrification and rapid cooling.
* He compiles a list of anomalies observed within his domain, pointing to a rewriting of basic laws of physics.
* He realizes the significance of water in gemstone manipulation and theorizes about witches liquefying matter.
* Ioan identifies gem 51 as the key to altering energy barriers between states of matter, dubbing it "phase transition" gem.
* He crafts basic glass lenses from human-bone-glass, enhancing his Astralscope.
* He decides to build a "Hexometer" to measure magical energy flow, inspired by the galvanometer.
* With Stormy's guidance, Ioan assembles the Hexometer using gold wire, a crystalline needle, and a magnet.
* He tests the Hexometer and confirms the existence of a "magical current" with varying strengths depending on the material.
* Ioan theorizes about "Aetheric density" and its potential influence on magic potency.
Chapter 18: Arcanoelastic Resonator
Days 41-42:
* Ioan focuses on understanding and controlling the "Arcanoelastic Resonance" effect exhibited by gem 51.
* He aims to build a remote control for gem 51, with Stormy guiding the design process.
* Ioan uses the Hexometer to map the flow of magical energy from gem 51 onto a piece of birch wood.
* He carves a fractal-like snowflake pattern into the wood, creating a "circuit board" for Arcanoelastic Resonance.
* Ioan integrates witchglass (melted and fused gem 51-B) into the carved channels, creating a functional remote.
* He tests the remote and observes the liquefaction of the floor within a chalk-drawn hexagram, confirming its success.
* Ioan determines the remote's range and observes the eerie fluidity of the liquefied wood.
* He experiments with different objects, including Glinka's fish-rock, and observes their interactions with his domain.
* Ioan plans to create Astralscope goggles using the Arcanoelastic Resonator.
Chapter 19: Callista Liesl
Day 43:
* Merchant Callista Liesl arrives in Svalbard, claiming to have been sent by Ioan's message through Cecil.
* She reveals herself to be a Felix Arcanicx, a cat-like humanoid.
* Cali expresses sympathy for Ioan's situation and offers trade, including requested chicken eggs.
* Ioan is intrigued by Cali's tales of her homeland, Iridium, and the use of Wormwood Star shards in magic.
* Cali emphasizes the impact of "Starfall" (the comet impact) on Thornwild and its inhabitants.
Chapter 20: Felix Arcanicx
Day 43:
* Cali reveals her sleigh is magically enhanced with a Wormwood Star shard, making it "bigger on the inside."
* She continues to charm Ioan, sharing humorous stories and subtly manipulating his emotions.
* Ioan shares more about his experiences with the bandits, further lowering his guard.
* Cali presents a contract and urges Ioan to sign, claiming it's a formality for their partnership.
* Stormy intervenes, biting Ioan's hand and breaking the spell of Cali's necklace.
* Ioan realizes the danger, observing the blue, mind-controlling threads emanating from Cali's necklace with his Astralscope.
* He refuses to sign the contract, despite Cali's increasingly insistent demands and attempts to regain control.
Chapter 22: Witchy Lie Detector
Day 43:
* Ioan confronts Cali about her deceptive intentions, her facade of friendliness crumbling.
* He uses the Arcanoelastic Resonator to liquefy the floor beneath her, trapping her.
* Cali pleads for mercy, claiming the contract was a joke, but Ioan sees through her lies.
* He uses Stormy's future-seeing ability as a "lie detector" to force Cali to reveal the truth about the contract and her plans to enslave Ioan.
* Cali reveals the brutal realities of the slave trade in Iridium and her role in it.
* Ioan learns about the white blight's destructive nature and its connection to sunlight.
* He disables Cali's mind-control necklace, severing its influence, but it attempts to crawl back to her.
Chapter 22: The Dealermancer [I & II]
Night 43:
* Ioan forces Cali to sign her own blood pact, turning the tables on her.
* Cali reveals she came to Svalbard specifically to enslave Ioan, looking for a Nordstaii Champion to be her bodyguard
* Ioan extracts Cali from the floor and tests the blood contract's control, forcing her to obey his commands.
* He learns about Cali's Dealermancy (deal-making), Tonguemancy (language learning) and Detectomancy (sniffing gold and Star-Shard) abilities.
* Ioan decides to dismantle Cali's lavaliere despite her pleas and attempts to bargain for its return.
* He learns about the dangers of male Sorcery and the potential for transformation into Jotuns (tale of Archmage Korranta)
Chapter 23: Literacy
Night 43 continuing into Day 44:
* Cali argues against dismantling the lavaliere, claiming it's crucial for her survival and abilities.
* Cali teaches Ioan how to read, reading him the book of monsters and Svalbard records, which shows that Ioan is 17 years old.
* Ioan learns about various magical creatures, including Felix Arcanicx, Medusa Laima, Ammalggam (fusion of people), Thorn-o-heart (man fused to rosebush), Kerrigoff (dopple), Mettarust (Iron Elemental) and Murdorx (crow girl)
* He damages Cali's lavaliere with a hammer despite her pleas, observing strange self-repairing properties in the gems.
* Cali reveals the necklace was created with blood magic and contains the essence of her ancestors.
* They begin excavating Svalbard for gold, with Cali using her diminished "smell for gold" to guide them.
* Ioan learns about Star-Seekers, an elite order of Felix Arcanicx tasked with finding Wormwood Star fragments.
* Cali reveals her encounter with a "Star-Eater," a powerful man who consumes the shards, and her subsequent trauma from being slapped by him.
Chapter 24: Star-Eaters
Day 44:
* Cali explains the importance of Wormwood Star fragments to Iridium's magical superiority.
* She admits her lack of success as a Star-Seeker and her fear of encountering another Star-Eater.
* Ioan learns about the "contamination" of star shards bound to noble families, rendering them useless to Star-Eaters.
* Cali's desperation grows as she realizes the full extent of Ioan's control and his determination to dismantle the lavaliere.
* She offers increasingly extravagant bribes, including slaves, wealth, and even herself as Ioan's first wife, in exchange for her necklace.
* Ioan rejects her offers, prioritizing his scientific curiosity over material gain or power.
* He continues excavating Svalbard's treasure, showcasing unusual strength and resilience to the cold.
Chapter 25: Thirsty for Knowledge
Day 44 continuing into Night 45:
* Ioan brings Cali back to the pub, the Seeker exhausted and defeated.
* He feeds her life-rad infused water, surprising her with its exceptional taste.
* While Cali sleeps, Ioan realizes he possesses innate skills, possibly linked to soul shards within his armor.
* Ioan contemplates the potential of soul shard skills, including their activation, transferability, and combination.
* He refines his plans for further research and exploration of his magical abilities.
* He decides to study and utilize Cali's abilities, integrating her into his plans.
Chapter 26: The Apex Omniarch
Day 45:
* Cali wakes up in the pub, reflecting on her catastrophic miscalculation and the trap set by Empress Amari.
* She realizes Amari knew about Ioan's true nature, calling him the "Apex Omniarch."
* Cali pretends to be still asleep as she observes Ioan writing in an unknown language
* She contemplates escape plans, considering manipulation, trickery, and relying on the delayed arrival of the raiders from Bernt
* Cali feels the watch of Stormy, recognizing the cat's future-seeing ability.
* She stops pretending to be sleeping and rushes to the bathroom
Chapter 27: Storm-tastic
* This chapter recounts Stormy's perspective of the dragon attack and her own survival.
* Stormy describes her unique "know-sense" and its role in her actions.
* She details her failed attempts to save the other villagers and her own harrowing escape.
* Stormy recounts losing her know-sense due to the dragon's roar and wandering blind and deaf through the forest.
* She follows the scent of death back to Svalbard, drawn by a new, strange scent.
* Stormy is rescued by Ioan and regains her sight after drinking his enchanted water.
* She recognizes Ioan's unusual aura, the complex pattern of his future and the unsettling depth in his eyes.