The Kindly Ones is the ninth volume, and eighth and longest Story Arc of The Sandman (1989), and the climax of the series. It covers issues 57-69.
In the Dreaming, Matthew questions the nature of its inhabitants. On Earth, Lyta Hall, now the protective single mother to the infant Daniel after her encounter with Morpheus, flees a job interview to see that Daniel has vanished ("1"). Cluracan visits his sister in Morpheus's castle, informing her that she is to return to Faerie, and when the two approach Morpheus, he agrees. In a dream, Lyta is approached by the Fates, who speak ominously of Daniel's fate ("2"). Daniel's kidnappers are revealed to be Puck and Loki. Morpheus visits the once more widowed Hob as odd things begin to happen to the other Endless. An increasingly unwell Lyta learns from that Daniel's burnt body was found. She remembers that Morpheus had told her that Daniel was his ("3"). Lyta wanders the streets seeking vengeance and hallucinating stories as her friend Carla visits Rose, who had been babysitting Daniel ("4"). Rose visits a dying Zelda; Morpheus, having remade the Corinthian, sends him and Matthew on an errand. Carla realizes that the detectives handling Daniel's case were not real police, and is burned to death by "Pinkerton", aka Loki ("5"). Rose visits her grandmother's old nursing home in England, where she sees Alex Burgess, still afflicted with the sleeping sickness ("6").
Morpheus reveals to Odin that he had set Loki free on purpose. Thessaly picks up Lyta and casts some protective enchantments. Lyta finally encounters the Furies, and tells them she wants Dream dead. The Furies can pursue him, as he had killed his own son ("7"). Morpheus goes about his lordly duties before fielding a visit from the Kindly Ones, who warn him of his impending destruction ("8"). Paul McGuire gives Rose a tour of Fawney Rig, where she meets Desire. The Corinthian and Matthew find Loki, and the Corinthian is able to retrieve Daniel. Gilbert is killed by the Kindly Ones. Morpheus visits Thessaly, but her magic keeps him from harming Lyta ("8"). Puck reveals that most of Daniel's mortality is gone. Loki is once again bound in Asgard ("9").
Puck informs Nuala of the destruction about to befall Morpheus. Nuala meets Delirium, and summons Morpheus to Faerie ("10"). She realizes that Morpheus wants the Kindly Ones to kill him in revenge for Orpheus's death. Rose learns that Zelda has died. Cain, the Corinthian, and Lucien watch over Daniel and an increasingly decaying Dreaming as Destiny warns of a reality storm. After seeing that Daniel is in Morpheus's custody Lyta says the Kindly Ones can stop, but they refuse ("11"). Morpheus admits to Matthew that he does not intend to return from his encounter with the Kindly Ones. He asks Matthew to deliver his things to Death. Meanwhile, Delirium visits Lucifer, and Rose visits Hal ("12").
An upset Death confronts Morpheus about his decision to die before taking his hand. Consequences of his death begin to ripple across the worlds. Daniel Hall becomes the new Dream ("13").
This story arc contains examples of:
- Anti-Villain: Lyta thinks that she's avenging the murder of her husband and son by joining with the Furies, which is not, in itself, a bad thing. The problem is that she's hurting scores of innocent people in the process. Also, the Kindly Ones don't care about her son, they only care about Revenge, and while they're only fullfilling their role in the universe, they go about it in a pitiless and ruthless fashion.
- Creepy Crows: Ominously, a flock of ravens arrive at the Dreaming shortly before the Kindly Ones begin destroying it, and are happy to feed on the carrion left behind. Their roles as portents of doom (via their allegiances to figures like Morrigan and Odin) are also discussed.
- Distracted from Death: While Rose is visiting England after supposedly getting a message from her deceased grandmother, Zelda winds up dying from AIDS.
- The Hero Dies: The Furies successfully kill Morpheus, the protagonist.
- Hero of Another Story: The kids that Morpheus gives snacks and advice to during a busy week are on a quest to find their mother.
- Life/Death Juxtaposition: Rose tells Hal she is pregnant at Zelda's funeral, and Hal immediately lampshades the contrast.
- Missing Child: Daniel is kidnapped by Loki and Puck after the latter two knock out Rose while she is babysitting him.
- Pet the Dog: When Rose becomes able to feel emotions again after meeting Desire, they give her some space to get used to the sudden influx of said emotions.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Lyta's arc culminates in this. Several dreams and nightmares are killed in said rampage, including Abel, Fiddler's Green, and Merv Pumpkinhead.
- Speech Impediment: Zelda reveals that she has a stutter hence why she would always have Chantal speak for her.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Hal has done this after his last appearance in The Doll's House, as shown by him saying false things about those who suffer from AIDS. Rose calls him out on this, but they don't reconcile until they attend Zelda's funeral.
- Tragic AIDS Story: Rose's subplot involves her taking care of an HIV/AIDS positive Zelda sometime after Chantal has also died of the same illness off-panel.
- Villain Protagonist: Lyta Hall; she attempts to get revenge on Dream after mistakenly thinking that he kidnapped and killed her son Daniel thanks to Loki and Puck tricking her.
