Heroica RPG - Quest #138: Fade To Black

[Lind Whisperer]

Jinnipher shook her head and looked the serpent straight in the eyes. "I've seen things on quest that I never thought I would see, a fortune-telling dragon and a walkway across the sky among them. Say what you want about what could've happened here, but we put a stop to what would've been much worse. It's done now, and the fate of Moone is in the people's hands. We-- They. They will have to rebuild. And I will have something to say about the lack of a fighting force to keep the likes of Vorpalis and perhaps you, dragon, out of Moone. I don't know what you think you're capable of, but you sending Vorpalis here was no act of divinity. You sent him here to conquer, and we slaughtered him. If you interfere with Moone again, expect resistance."

Father Steve incredulously stared at her. "He saves your country - your race - from being embroiled in global war - and that's the way you say thank you?!?

My apologies for my raising my voice to such a tone in your presence, your...greatness...being...sir."

Edited August 14, 2015 by Lind Whisperer

[JimBee]

Father Steve incredulously stared at her. "He saves your country - your race - from being embroiled in global war - and that's the way you say thank you?!?

My apologies for my raising my voice to such a tone in your presence, your...greatness...being...sir."

Jinnipher rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. "Pah! You're more delusional than I thought. This snake can't tell the future - he sent his son to destroy Moone, and he failed. Anything else he says is nonsense. I don't need to thank anyone but myself for slaying Vorpalis and ridding this country of its fog plague. Especially when most of you were too busy screwing it up or backing out!"

[Lind Whisperer]

Jinnipher rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. "Pah! You're more delusional than I thought. This snake can't tell the future - he sent his son to destroy Moone, and he failed. Anything else he says is nonsense. I don't need to thank anyone but myself for slaying Vorpalis and ridding this country of its fog plague. Especially when most of you were too busy screwing it up or backing out!"

Father Steve stared at the Moone Elf's arrogance.

"I...I'm out of words. I am literally, out of words.

You...Just, no. Just no."

He stepped away from her, shaking his head.

"You're...you're...

Just....no."

[JimBee]

"I...I'm out of words. I am literally, out of words.

"Praise be! I never thought this day would come: the death of both the dragon conqueror and your endless babbling."

[Kintobor]

Father Steve joined the great being in sadly regarding the fallen conqueror. "...You do what you must, because you can..."

Karie crossed her arms and turns to the dragon. "Then tell me this. Why didn't you stop the incident before it even began? If you're a prophetic being, why didn't you reel Vorpalis in before he could raze Moone to the ground?"

Edited August 14, 2015 by Kintobor

[Waterbrick Down]

"In a way, I did. I prefer not to get directly involved. My own power brings more destruction than I would like it to." The dragon sends down a blitz of blue lightning behind the party with a single gesture... was he the source of the errant lightning?

The dragon speaks somberly, his piercing gaze directed to the corpse of his son. He cradles his lifeless head in the plam of his hand as he speaks.

"But I did have a hand on setting these events in motion. When Lethauros died, Vorpalis and I discovered the body... and I urged Vorpalis to seek Lethauros's rightful burial in Moone. Should Faust accept, the rift between the two would be mended, and the future I had saw in a vision would be averted. If he refused... Well, you know the rest, I trust."

The dragon pauses, contemplates something, and decides...

"...I am certain that that future is no longer possible, so I think you all deserve to know. Faust had a kingdom at his disposal, -and a generous amount of paranoia, as you saw when the fog brought it to light - and Vorpalis was essentially a one man army. I have visions, heroes - that is my burden to bear. And it is my duty to resolve any inevitable catastrophe, and pass judgment on those who need it. The gift of vision was given to me for that purpose - it would be irresponsible to use it otherwise.

I digress. The future I saw... Faust is consumed by paranoia, and orders Moone's first nation-wide conscription in a thousand years. He orders his army to Dastan, to the realm of dragons, where Vorpalis would reside. This suddenly military presence in Dastan would cause more unrest in Dastan than there already is."

"Cue an international conflict, and a problem much bigger than the one here."

"Not to mention, the dragons likely would've been rallied by Vorpalis, and they would've entered the fray. It would be a massacre magnitudes bigger than the one here. I took steps to contain the fued here - for that future to be avoided, either Faust or Vorpalis had to fall. After Faust was disgraced, the events I have outlined were impossible. But I was not going to interfere with you when you pursued Vorpalis here. It is not my place to decide conflicts like that. Neither future - a country in confusion, or a country ruled by a militant dragon - were particularly good or bad."

The dragon stares at his son, heaving a sorrowful sigh.

"Perhaps my son's blood is on my hands. It... was not a choice I relished. I raised him. I loved him. My duty is one I must perform, and I cannot stray from the rules I have set. The ill will between yourselves and Vorpalis was a conflict that would resolve itself. The conflict between Faust and Vorpalis simply wouldn't. Thus my... involvement."

"For a nearly all powerful dragon, ya certainly have odd way of gettin' yer plans accomplished. Any plans next or are we done here?"

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Warlen looked down at Vorpalis' body lying there, dead. He opened his mouth to say, or maybe mutter, something, but then the huge... well... God appeared. After getting over his initial splendour at the legendary dragon, he backed away, looking for a shadow, terrified of the possible wrath of the dragon. Even with his guarantee, Warlen was still scared after his display of casual fire.

[Endgame]

"...Can...can you see what will happen to Moone now?"

"Some time of confusion. Extravagent rebuilding proijects, building towns better than before. An increase in chairty. But with the fall of Faust and Aeolus, an increase in crime, and fluctuating tax rates. For a time, it'll be... alright. The wounds will heal, and Moone will be better than before this., That will take time, however. And the lives lost must not be forgotten."

Jinnipher shook her head and looked the serpent straight in the eyes. "I've seen things on quest that I never thought I would see, a fortune-telling dragon and a walkway across the sky among them. Say what you want about what could've happened here, but we put a stop to what would've been much worse. It's done now, and the fate of Moone is in the people's hands. We-- They. They will have to rebuild. And I will have something to say about the lack of a fighting force to keep the likes of Vorpalis and perhaps you, dragon, out of Moone. I don't know what you think you're capable of, but you sending Vorpalis here was no act of divinity. You sent him here to conquer, and we slaughtered him. If you interfere with Moone again, expect resistance."

"This is not the first time I've been in Moone, you know. The first was cleaving apart the mountains here and making the land fertile, so your people could live. The church of Ennoc attributed it to Ennoc's sword. Well... Not quite." Ifthis dragon was strong enough to warp the Earth and control the skies, who knows what else he was capable of...

"But I can sense what you're feeling. My connection to the spirit pools is many times deeper than Vorpalis's and he was already rather attuned to them. Your frustration, your sadness... They're almost tangible to me. And I am truly sorry. But this was something that had to be done. Otherwise, the very same loyalists that Vorpalis killed, and not to mention many others here, would've gotten sucked into a conflict with Dastan. Let us not forget that people on Dastan's side would prish in that scenario as well. There would be less property damage, yes - Algon would still be here, for example. But the body count would be far, far greater. And at the end of the day, I value a human life far more than a building.

War is hell, moon maiden. It is not something you want your country to become embroiled in, after a thousand years of peace."

My apologies for my raising my voice to such a tone in your presence, your...greatness...being...sir."

"You needn't apologize. You may call me Immortalis."

Karie crossed her arms and turns to the dragon[/i]. "Then tell me this. Why didn't you stop the incident before it even began? If you're a prophetic being, why didn't you reel Vorpalis in before he could raze Moone to the ground?"

"I only get directly involved when a country is beyond the brink of reason. Otherwise, I merely nudge a few people, change a few variables, and watch it play out. The only way to stop this conflict before it started was outright killing both Faust and Vorpalis. And the assasination of the king could've led to other nasty things, and I was not going to assasinate my own son. Thus why I comeplled Vorpalis to come here. He would disgrace or kill Faust, and that would be the end of the horrific future I saw for Moone. I could've reeled in Vorpalis before he caused so much destrcution, but he had to do what he did to Faust to stop the events that the king's paranoia would set in motion. And like I said... I let you heroes pursue and kill Vorpalis, since there was no longer too horrific of a future in store. That was your conflict to settle. Not mine.

There was one scenario where I would get directly involved, after I sent Vorpalis to do what he did. If Faust drove him out, and he fled back to Dastan, the conscription would've happened, and the Dastan-Moone conflict would've been all but certain. I would've had to come here and pass judgment upon the King and the people of Moone. I have reduced nations to ash and wiped them from the passage of history when they adamantly refused to avert the future I saw, and rejected my guidance. I didn't want to do that here, especially since it would mean the Moon Elve's extinction."

Warlen looked down at Vorpalis' body lying there, dead. He opened his mouth to say, or maybe mutter, something, but then the huge... well... God appeared. After getting over his initial splendour at the legendary dragon, he backed away, looking for a shadow, terrified of the possible wrath of the dragon. Even with his guarantee, Warlen was still scared after his display of casual fire.

"Do not be afraid, young one. I mean you no harm. I apologize for what my child did to you and your friend... And if at least anything good comes from his death, at least you get some closure.

I sense fear in you as well, Sniper."

"I have the sinking feeling that you could reduce me to ash with a single gesture. That... unnerves me."

Immortalis speaks in a clam, comforting tone.

"There is no need to worry. I bear no ill will, and I have no reason to fight. You are all safe."

"For a nearly all powerful dragon, ya certainly have odd way of gettin' yer plans accomplished. Any plans next or are we done here?"

Immortalis chuckles.

"Yes. I suppose you're right. The rules I have set for myself are a bit... odd. I could go in every situation handcannons blazing, but that was more of Vorpalis's trade, and understandably, most do not appreicate that."

At the mention of future plans, Immortalis's face hardens. His voice grows grim.

"...My next plans. Yes. I... have been having disturbing visions of Eubric. And there are far too many variables for me to alter, far too many schisms and issues for me to handle the situation indirectly. Things there may become very dire very soon. And when we are at the brink of that, when calamity becomes all but certain, I will be forced to intervene. I will be forced to pass judgment, and that is rarely a pleasant for anyone involved.

I rarely tell people of the visions I see until they are averted or nearly certain - thus, I hope you understand the signifcance of me telling you this. I ask of you that, as heroes, you try to do what you can to fix the many issues that will tear Eubric to shreds. It is a volatile city, full of many things and people of great power and destruction. And it is nearing the point will it will spiral out of control. I was lax once with Mercution, and its midsection is currently a mile underwater because of it. I will not be making the same mistake twice. I'm unsure if your efforts alone will reduce the havoc in that city... But it is worth a try. Heroes, should we meet again, it will likely be when I pass judgment on Eubric. I hope and pray that day never comes, but the passage of fate is telling me otherwise.

Good bye, heroes. May the lives you lead be long and prosperous."

Immortalis slithers over to Vorpalis's body, and lifts him up in his hands. He casts a sorrowful glance at his son, and a concerned look at the heroes, before launching himself back into the sky, vanishing into the night.

"Well, it's been fun. Though I truly hope there will be no next time."

Charon tears a portal using his cane, just like he did, and walks through it, also vanishing.

A shaken Gabriel watches as Immortalis flies away with Vorpalis's corpse.

"That... Was an encounter I'd prefer not to repeat. Let's head back to Mermont.

And so they do. With Vorpalis dead, the fog had begun to evaporate from the castle. Puffy was still needed in the more congested corridors, but it was no longer the castleof darkness it was before. The party makes their way out with ease, feeling triumphant that they had slain Immortalis but also worried by the grim omen of Eubric's future Immortalis described. They walk back to Mermont...

There, some people were waiting for them: Merlay, Rydel, Eloen, and Faust. Faust was bound to a wheelchair, still trembling, staring off into nowhere.

Eloen runs up to Jinnipher embraces her in a hug.

"Thank the gods you're safe..."

Rydel smiles, crosses his arms, and smiles approvingly at Jinnipher, before addressing the whole party.

"That was a damn fine job you did, heroes. You've done a great service to Moone."

"Agreed. Here, take this."

Merlay tosses them each a Letter of Reccomendation and 175 gold. She smiles sadly...

"I... Don't know what Moone's future is gonna be like from here. And we all have quite a few funerals to attend. Kind of a bleak future, huh?" Merlay brushes a strand of hair from her eyes. They were clearly a bit misty... Perhaps Marlow's death had finally settled in, now that it was all over. "Thanks for making the future possible, at any rate."

Everyone's gaze turns to the silent Faust.

"I'm not sure if speaking to him is a good idea right now. He's in rough shape... He'll never have the throne again, that we agreed on. But we don't know what's next for him, or us."

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall kept his eye on the dragon until it was out of sight, he was uncomfortable with the beast no matter how benevolent he seemed. Upon returning to Mermont the ogre accepted his payment quietly but did not acknowledge Faust, "I'd first come to some sort of agreement between yer group and those that were loyal to the dragon, yer going to have a hard enough time if ya don't tackle that sooner or later. If yer puttin' someone in charge, I'd suggest ya send a representative from each group."

[Lind Whisperer]

"Yes. I suppose you're right. The rules I have set for myself are a bit... odd. I could go in every situation handcannons blazing, but that was more of Vorpalis's trade, and understandably, most do not appreicate that."

At the mention of future plans, Immortalis's face hardens. His voice grows grim.

"...My next plans. Yes. I... have been having disturbing visions of Eubric. And there are far too many variables for me to alter, far too many schisms and issues for me to handle the situation indirectly. Things there may become very dire very soon. And when we are at the brink of that, when calamity becomes all but certain, I will be forced to intervene. I will be forced to pass judgment, and that is rarely a pleasant for anyone involved.

I rarely tell people of the visions I see until they are averted or nearly certain - thus, I hope you understand the signifcance of me telling you this. I ask of you that, as heroes, you try to do what you can to fix the many issues that will tear Eubric to shreds. It is a volatile city, full of many things and people of great power and destruction. And it is nearing the point will it will spiral out of control. I was lax once with Mercution, and its midsection is currently a mile underwater because of it. I will not be making the same mistake twice. I'm unsure if your efforts alone will reduce the havoc in that city... But it is worth a try. Heroes, should we meet again, it will likely be when I pass judgment on Eubric. I hope and pray that day never comes, but the passage of fate is telling me otherwise.

Good bye, heroes. May the lives you lead be long and prosperous."

Immortalis slithers over to Vorpalis's body, and lifts him up in his hands. He casts a sorrowful glance at his son, and a concerned look at the heroes, before launching himself back into the sky, vanishing into the night.

"Well, it's been fun. Though I truly hope there will be no next time."

Charon tears a portal using his cane, just like he did, and walks through it, also vanishing.

A shaken Gabriel watches as Immortalis flies away with Vorpalis's corpse.

"W-...they're gone."

Father Steve watched Immortalis fly off into the night, and Charon step into nothing.

Ignoring the others, he walked a few feet away from them, and bent down on one knee, his head in his hands.

"If...if somehow you can hear me...Immortalis...I pledge my allegiance.

If...if ever I can be of any service, be of any means in changing history for the better, in any way...I pledge my service."

"That... Was an encounter I'd prefer not to repeat. Let's head back to Mermont.

And so they do. With Vorpalis dead, the fog had begun to evaporate from the castle. Puffy was still needed in the more congested corridors, but it was no longer the castleof darkness it was before. The party makes their way out with ease, feeling triumphant that they had slain Immortalis but also worried by the grim omen of Eubric's future Immortalis described. They walk back to Mermont...

There, some people were waiting for them: Merlay, Rydel, Eloen, and Faust. Faust was bound to a wheelchair, still trembling, staring off into nowhere.

"That was a damn fine job you did, heroes. You've done a great service to Moone."

"Agreed. Here, take this."

Merlay tosses them each a Letter of Reccomendation and 175 gold. She smiles sadly...

"I... Don't know what Moone's future is gonna be like from here. And we all have quite a few funerals to attend. Kind of a bleak future, huh?" Merlay brushes a strand of hair from her eyes. They were clearly a bit misty... Perhaps Marlow's death had finally settled in, now that it was all over. "Thanks for making the future possible, at any rate."

Father Steve raised his hand. "Whatever it is...however it is...do not let those that lost their lives be forgotten. On both sides... They gave their lives to a greater cause..."

Everyone's gaze turns to the silent Faust.

"I'm not sure if speaking to him is a good idea right now. He's in rough shape... He'll never have the throne again, that we agreed on. But we don't know what's next for him, or us."

Skrall kept his eye on the dragon until it was out of sight, he was uncomfortable with the beast no matter how benevolent he seemed. Upon returning to Mermont the ogre accepted his payment quietly but did not acknowledge Faust, "I'd first come to some sort of agreement between yer group and those that were loyal to the dragon, yer going to have a hard enough time if ya don't tackle that sooner or later. If yer puttin' someone in charge, I'd suggest ya send a representative from each group."

"What my fellow mercenary said.

Have each town - what is left of them - elect representatives to some...council, I suppose, there really should be a better word for it - and have them create some sort of charter, some sort of document, something with laws written to knit Moone back together as well and as quickly as possible."

[Endgame]

Skrall kept his eye on the dragon until it was out of sight, he was uncomfortable with the beast no matter how benevolent he seemed. Upon returning to Mermont the ogre accepted his payment quietly but did not acknowledge Faust, "I'd first come to some sort of agreement between yer group and those that were loyal to the dragon, yer going to have a hard enough time if ya don't tackle that sooner or later. If yer puttin' someone in charge, I'd suggest ya send a representative from each group."

"The Vorpalis loyalists are currently not out for blood. Affairs are more awkward and bitter, than outright hostile. Every leader Moone has had is either dead, or..."

Merlay glances towards Faust.

"Well, you get the idea.I'm the only one of the originalruling group left. And, I hate to admit it, I may have been an advisor, but my position was a little bit more than formality. I did the budget balancing and steered Faust a bit, but I'm hardly a ruler."

Have each town - what is left of them - elect representatives to some...council, I suppose, there really should be a better word for it - and have them create some sort of charter, some sort of document, something with laws written to knit Moone back together as well and as quickly as possible."

"On the subject of laws... We've already decided that we're going to dispose of some of Faust's more controversial laws. Not officially of course, but I doubt that the Vorpalis loyalists would reject that offer.

Who knows if Moone is ready for that yet, though? We've lived under a king for a thousand years. We have a lot of things to figure out, and it's going to be a long time..."

[Lind Whisperer]

"The Vorpalis loyalists are currently not out for blood. Affairs are more awkward and bitter, than outright hostile. Every leader Moone has had is either dead, or..."

Merlay glances towards Faust.

"Well, you get the idea.I'm the only one of the originalruling group left. And, I hate to admit it, I may have been an advisor, but my position was a little bit more than formality. I did the budget balancing and steered Faust a bit, but I'm hardly a ruler."

"You sound like the perfect person to head up such a council, then - no inflated opinions of yourself. Not a common thing..."

"...Who knows if Moone is ready for that yet, though? We've lived under a king for a thousand years. We have a lot of things to figure out, and it's going to be a long time..."

Father Steve shrugged. "No time like the present."

[Kintobor]

Karie brushes herself off as she leaves the castle, noticing Lind bend the knee. She frowns as she walks with the rest of the group.

Merlay tosses them each a Letter of Reccomendation and 175 gold. She smiles sadly...

"I... Don't know what Moone's future is gonna be like from here. And we all have quite a few funerals to attend. Kind of a bleak future, huh?" Merlay brushes a strand of hair from her eyes. They were clearly a bit misty... Perhaps Marlow's death had finally settled in, now that it was all over. "Thanks for making the future possible, at any rate."

Everyone's gaze turns to the silent Faust.

"I'm not sure if speaking to him is a good idea right now. He's in rough shape... He'll never have the throne again, that we agreed on. But we don't know what's next for him, or us."

Karie unrolls her letter of recommendation and signs it off to the Hinckwells.

"Well, when Faust recovers let him know that I appreciate the reward and he can rest easy knowing Moone is safe for the time being." Karie instinctually stays out of the politics debate, not wanting to get her ear bitten off by anyone in the party, but she does turn to Gabriel.

"Well, where are you off to now?"

[Endgame]

"Well, where are you off to now?"

"I'm probably going to hang around Eubric. No jobs here anymore. Now that I'm going to lay off the drugs and booze, assuming whatever the fog did to me sticks, I'm going to have even more of an expendable income."

Karie is left wondering just how much Gabriel made as a hired killer, especially when it seemed like he spent next to nothing.

"I'll... figure something out, depending on if the fog sticks."

[Waterbrick Down]

"Well I guess yer free to hitch a ride back with us. By the way, are ya aware of any blacksmiths in the area?"

[JimBee]

Jinnipher watched as the dragon and the archangel flew away. She scoffed. "No one tells me what to do. The fate of Eubric or anywhere else is in it's own hands. No god, real or not, can change that."

Eloen runs up to Jinnipher embraces her in a hug.

"Thank the gods you're safe..."

Jinnipher embraces her mother, but looks over her shoulder at the disturbed Faust with concern.

She then addresses Merlay and her father, standing determinedly. "Whatever you're going to rebuild, it had better be defensible. This country was helpless to fight against a dragon, and now more than ever the Moon Elves and the rest of the people on this island need unity. The time for pacifistic policies is over."

She considered for a moment. "I... Karie was right before. I can no longer call this land my home. I would like to help rebuild, but... my calling is elsewhere. I don't know how to help lead a country, or train an army. Maybe somewhere down the road that could be true, but for now, I think I can best help Moone by fighting evils like Vorpalis around Olegaia. Mother, Father... I am sorry. I wish I could've seen you on better terms, but... I'll be back to visit this time. I promise." She looked her parents in the eyes, a little misty-eyed herself.

"I'm probably going to hang around Eubric. No jobs here anymore. Now that I'm going to lay off the drugs and booze, assuming whatever the fog did to me sticks, I'm going to have even more of an expendable income."

Karie is left wondering just how much Gabriel made as a hired killer, especially when it seemed like he spent next to nothing.

"I'll... figure something out, depending on if the fog sticks."

Jinnipher nods, and gives a small wink. "I'm sure I'll see you around, sugar."

[Endgame]

"No. You guys have good weapons. You have a blacksmith back in Eubric, right?"

"That... That was the answer I expected, Jinnipher. You were calling was elsewhere, I was aware of that. Do what you need to. But I will be holding you to that promise."

Eloen lacks the composure of her husband, and silentlty sobs.

"Just, just write to us sometimes, okay? You can't leave us in the dark like that, now that we know what you're capable of taking on."

"We have a decent boat trip ahead of us, a couple of days." Jinnipher wasn't sure whether or not Gabriel was referring to her statement, or speaking generally. "We best get going."

Edited August 14, 2015 by Endgame

[JimBee]

Jinnipher embraces her parents one more time, and nods to Gabriel. "The job is finished. I'm ready to return to Eubric. The rest is up to the people here."

[Waterbrick Down]

"Aye, I'm all set."

[Endgame]

The party bids their final goodbyes, and as they wrap up, the then silent kid cranes his head around as they walk away. He speaks, his voice raspy, jumbling words together as if he wasn't fully sure what he was saying.

"Heroes... Thank you."

At least he seemed grateful.

The party marches back to the Docks. They recieve no opposition... As they walk, they see the fog begin to lift into the sky and be whisked away be the wind. In a matter of days, it'd gone, and Moone could rebuild.

They arrive where their journey started, regarding the beheaded statue with somber looks. They see the Excelsus on the horizon.

"Here's one way to get a ships attention. Back away."

Gabriel angles his handcannon towards the sky and fires up several handcannon shots, each one leaving a trail of blue mist - presumably the narcotic he laced the bullets with. Before long, they see a rowboat approaching the ruined docks, the familiar first mate manning it.

"Well, looks like you fellas mad eit through. Fog is already clearing, I could tell just from looking from the crow's nest. Hop in. Hope you don't mind rowing a bit to balance out the extra weight, I know you've had a tough journey."

They enter the rowboat, and before long, they find themselves besides the lofty deck of the Excelsus. A ladder is thrown down, and they ascend, getting settled onto the deck...

--------------------------

About an hour passes. Food was served, wine was passed around. All was calm. Even the boat didn't seem to rock and tumble in the waves as much as it did.

"Good to have ya back on board, heroes."

In the hour that passed, Gabriel had removed his helmet and succumbed to boredom.

"It was good questing with you guys. Not sure if I'm going to feel the same way come morning. But the trip was worth it."

[Kintobor]

Karie settles into the boat, ready to return home. She still hated travelling by sea, especially with a lack of good company.

"Warlen, you doing alright? I mean, killing the dragon that murdered your friend?"

Edited August 14, 2015 by Kintobor

[Lind Whisperer]

"No. You guys have good weapons. You have a blacksmith back in Eubric, right?"

"Yes, but he gets rather crusty when I ask him to figure out how to sharpen paper..."

"We have a decent boat trip ahead of us, a couple of days." Jinnipher wasn't sure whether or not Gabriel was referring to her statement, or speaking generally. "We best get going."

The party bids their final goodbyes, and as they wrap up, the then silent kid cranes his head around as they walk away. He speaks, his voice raspy, jumbling words together as if he wasn't fully sure what he was saying.

"Heroes... Thank you."

At least he seemed grateful.

Father Steve dipped his head. "I...hope my actions have been satisfactory, and compensated in some measure for whatever happened that night in the Hall..."

The party marches back to the Docks. They recieve no opposition... As they walk, they see the fog begin to lift into the sky and be whisked away be the wind. In a matter of days, it'd gone, and Moone could rebuild.

They arrive where their journey started, regarding the beheaded statue with somber looks. They see the Excelsus on the horizon.

Father Steve dug around in the dirt, while watching Gabriel impressively summon the ship.

--------------------------

About an hour passes. Food was served, wine was passed around. All was calm. Even the boat didn't seem to rock and tumble in the waves as much as it did.

"Good to have ya back on board, heroes."

In the hour that passed, Gabriel had removed his helmet and succumbed to boredom.

"It was good questing with you guys. Not sure if I'm going to feel the same way come morning. But the trip was worth it."

Father Steve's eyes seemed to grow a little bit misty with the music.

"...For whatever it's worth...this was the best quest I've ever been on.

I...know we've all had our fights, our squabbles, our mass political viewpoint differences...but I wouldn't trade it for anything. You'll are some really great mercs. If any of us can be called heroes...it's some of this group."

He quickly looked away, off over the ocean.

[Lind Whisperer]

"Darn...darned music making me feel all sentimental inside.

Gabriel, you should try and get a job at the Theatre. You...you could really make a good living. You've got a real talent..."

Edited August 14, 2015 by Lind Whisperer

[JimBee]

Jinnipher watches Moone disappear over the horizon as the ship sails south. She knew she would return one day.

"It was good questing with you guys. Not sure if I'm going to feel the same way come morning. But the trip was worth it."

"You're a capable fighter. And... a good person. I wish I could say the same about some of the others in our party." She gave Lind and Skrall dirty looks, despite the former's sentiments.

[Endgame]

"Darn...darned music making me feel all sentimental inside.

Gabriel, you should try and get a job at the Theatre. You...you could really make a good living. You've got a real talent..."

"Thank you, but quite frankyl... I'm a better at killing than playing guitar."

"You're a capable fighter. And... a good person. I wish I could say the same about some of the others in our party." She gave Lind and Skrall dirty looks, despite the former's sentiments.

Gabriel nods and stands up.

"I'm... going below the deck. You guys stay out here and enjoy the view. And the booze."

Gabirle does as he says, and begins his walk below deck.