Adimarchus all but ignores JJ, he stares at Marigold "Together we will make Graz'zt tremble"
Maxim also holds, not sure how this plays out.
Stogie flaring as he puffs, the gun-mage eyes the others;
"Make yer play Lil' Miss. We aimin' to cause a ruckus or parleyin' with this here Adimarchus?"
Marigold's Round 1
Marigold holds her breath for a moment and then slowly exhales.
"ಮತ್ತು Graz'zt ನಂತರ ಏನು? ಹೇಗಾದರೂ ನಾನು ಶಾಂತ ಚಿಂತನೆಯ ಜೀವನ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಯೋಚಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ಅಲ್ಲವೇ?" she asks quietly as she returns the creature's stare, finding him exquisitely beautiful and yet insanely horrifying as well.
"And what after Graz'zt? Somehow I don't think a life of quiet contemplation is what you have in mind, is it?"
______________
"Then, the rest of the Abyss" Adimarchus says charmingly at Marigold.
"Do not listen him Marigold, be strong" Nidrama urges the halfling while casting a prayer on the group.
Then Adimarchus form changes to an androgynous angel once more and his expression turns severe "Traitor! You will not usurp my power!" he challenges Marigold whipping her at a distance, the whip shining with brilliant and pulsing energy.
The whip seems made of light and passes through Marigold's armor with ease striking twice. The first time the light implodes with energy from inside Marigold menacing to burst her body from inside out.
The impact also makes her lose balance and hit with her back in the ground.
While he whips with his left, he steps forward and tries to hit the halfling with his clawed gauntlet in the right.
From the floor of the tower, Marigold only manages to dodge one of the attacks while the gauntlet slashes through her skin like a furious claw.
Marigold's holy aura does not seem to affect Adimarchus.
AC = 36/16/35 (38/18/37 vs Adimarchus)
HP = 264/264
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel(Flaming, Holy, Speed)
Condition(s) = Freedom of Movement, Prayer, Air Walk, Blessing of Fervor, Holy Aura
Lay on Hands = 13/17
Kikinnin watches as Adimarchus takes his second form, leaving the black beard to worry that there are even more forms beyond the second. He changes like the water... Before stepping closer to the mad god, Kikinnin petitions Abadar for not only him to be able to smite Adimarchus, but also all of the Watchers.
When Marigold is mauled viciously, Kikinnin steps forward, goading the god. "That's no way to treat your liberator, Adimarchus. She even tried to reason with you. We know it's a lost cause, but you've demonstrated your character, so there's nothing more here to parlay. Either you leave here alive, or we do. Can't be both."
Kikinnin uses the Blessing of Fervor to strengthen his blows, seeking to end this as fast as dwarvenly possible.
Augmented by magics, Maxim scouts around the room and levels his pistol toward their foe;
The gun-mage's bushy brow furrows and his pistol glows with arcane power;
Converting a powerful spell into ammo, he lets fly to test Adimarchus;
JJ Steps forward as Marigold is assaulted.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" He cries out, spinning Alakast as he goes.
Marigold's Round 2
Though Marigold suffers a painful lashing, she at least manages to resist Adimarchus' magics and maintains her form - and her life. For now, at least.
Since there's nothing really for it she stands, invoking further wrath as she does, and takes a step back to put a little distance between herself and Adimarchus.
And with her allies bringing the thunder, the little halfling brings forth the healing as she adopts a defensive position and begins to cast...
...and conjures a wave of healing that washes over everyone nearby.
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Kikinnin calls for Abadar's justice filling the party with the rightfulness to smite Adimarchus. The follow up axe swings score three mighty cuts although the flames and holiness does not seem to affect him.
Maxim's gun bursts with pure arcane energy that flies through the air striking hard on the angel and smiting him with the sudden flash of energy.
JJ readies himself to wash with an swirling attack.
Marigold resists the implosion, standing up, avoiding attacks with fervor believe her resistance is a step forward to win the Demon Lord, and raising her hands to heal the party at full!
JJ lashes out at the beautiful angel.
"Don't Hurt My Sister!"
Alakast burns with a fierce holy light as it slams into the once-holy being. JJ slowly steps sideways trying to get around the back of the creature.
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Alakast turns to a piece of shiny light as JJ swirls it around, back and forth, left and right, hitting once and again on the angel shape. With each strike, and Adimarchus only manages to dodge two of them, big nasty bruises appear in the perfect skin while the staff bursts with truthful rightful divine light.
"This is your end Demon Lord of Madness!" Nidrama goes toe to toe with Adimarchus, after swiftly blessing her greatsword.
But none of her attacks touch Adimarchus' skin.
The Demon Lord roars with grief as he faces Marigold "You benefited from my power, then you claim my title, my land, and finally bring these beasts with you?! Are you scared to fight me alone?! You traitorous snake will not take my title and position!" and keeps whipping at the halfling, but this time taking a more defensive stance.
Ignoring Marigold's armor with brilliant energy, the whip lashes out through three time, again menacing to implde the halfling from within.
And once more, she goes to the floor when he pulls the whip back.
Aggressively continuing the pounding over her, Adimarchus steps forward to hit Marigold with his other hand.
Marigold dodges the first attack from the floor, Adimarchus cuts her in the shoulder, then on the face, but his third attack directed at the chest is deflected by Kikinnin's aura of justice!
Holding position Maxim once again funnels his magic into his trusty firearm;
His pistol glows intensely as the gun-mage squints and fires;
JJ winces at the assault that Marigold endures. But he knows he has to stop it rather than just step betwene them. So steps around the back, striking the mad angel from behind.
Alakast burning as a blue beam of light slams into the fallen angel again and again.
Blazing with holy vengeance the staff seems almost alive in the youths hands.
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Marigold's Round 3
"ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಬಿರುದು ಅಥವಾ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಬಯಸಲಿಲ್ಲ! ನನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರಿಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಲು ನಾನು ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡೆ!" Marigold screams back at the crazed, insane Adimarchus as she once again staggers to her feet. "ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರಿಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಲು ನೀವು ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿದಂತೆ! ಸುರೇಯಾ ಸುಳ್ಳಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ; ಅವನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಭಾವನೆಗಳು ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ!"
"I never wanted your title or your power! I took the test to help my friends!"
"Just like you gave it all up to help YOUR friend! It doesn't matter that Sureya was false; your feelings for him weren't!"
As she speaks she adopts a defensive position once again as bolts of electricity suddenly spill from her body and fire off in all directions, though they bend around her allies and do them no harm.
______________
AC = 36/16/35 (38/18/37 vs Adimarchus)
HP = 264/264
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel(Flaming, Holy, Speed)
Condition(s) = Freedom of Movement, Prayer, Air Walk, Blessing of Fervor, Holy Aura
Lay on Hands = 13/17
Kikinnin catches the moment when Adimarchus adjusts his stance, reveals that even a god can strategize to strengthen his defense against the onslaught at hand. It pleases the black beard, despite the halfling lass savagery not two paces from where he stands.
Kikinnin adjusts his wide arcs to something tighter, hopefully more precise, now that his target is thinner profiled. He nods to Nidrama, his flanking partner at the moment.
Before everyone closes up with the Demon Lord, Maxim profits his clear view to shot another powerful blast of pure arcane magic. Just by an inch, the dwarf's ray touches Adimarchus bursting on his back to great pain!
JJ surrounds then the Demon Lord, beginning to pound on him with Alakast's help, striking with a seemingly infinite string of blows until Adimarchus expires with a loud shout of pain!
Yet, out of this death, he borns back with ash skin and tentacles into his demonic form. He extends back his hand to Marigold "Let's ally..." who stands up answering with a burst of lightning that powerfully surrounds the Demon Lord, despite it seems not to damage him.
Kikinnin continues the work on the Demon Lord, three of his swings striking hard on Adimarchus, Eldgammel's magic piercing through his flesh and smiting its evilness!
Nidrama keeps trying to help.
But her cuts only touch the air as the Demon Lord dodges them.
Adimarchus raises his hands trying to stop the pounding and ignoring Marigold, instead focusing his attention on JJ and his staff "Welcome to my mind" as he says his words a maze effect menaces to banish the young inheritor of the Surabar dynasty, unless the group has a trick to stop that.
Then, he turns to Marigold "You are right, there is a strong connection between us, you can feel it isn't it? I have given you all your power, the plague, the death of your parents, the gnome's vanishing, the Cagewrights, and now my freedom! No one else has channeled this connection to the world like you! We have no limits together!"
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AC = 36/16/35 (38/18/37 vs Adimarchus)
HP = 264/264
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel(Flaming, Holy, Speed)
Condition(s) = Freedom of Movement, Prayer, Air Walk, Blessing of Fervor, Holy Aura
Lay on Hands = 13/17
Kikinnin watches the Eyes of Adimarchus, how they only fixate on Marigold. He can't seem to rip them away from her, and focus his ire on his own frame...
"Welcome to my mind."
The black beard's greying eyebrows raise in sudden awareness, as Adimarchus addresses the young man rather than the halfling lass.
"No. Not him. Welcome me, instead."
For the briefest of moments, Kikinnin meets JJ's gaze, flicking his head in the direction of the Mad God, indicating that the young man get on with it.
Three right hands rest upon the perfect black granite tabletop. Kikinnin's, yours, and His. Before the flicker of time extinguishes, the black beard speaks with you, his closed mouth unmoving.
"He fears you more, Surabar. Rightfully so. Save your kin, and finish this. Your purpose has never been more crystal."
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For a moment a black maze dances in front of JJ's eyes. A blinded beholder bespies him, opening its mouth wide to take a tasty bite.
And then, out of nowhere, Eldgammel splits it down the middle. Kikinnin appears, waves and plummets down a suddenly appearing pit as JJ blinks and appears again, right in front of the mad god.
"The power of friendship!" he says calmly. "Is stronger than the power of madness."
And then the youths anger boils within him. Blue light seaths to the surface of his skin and his eyes all but start glowing. With a vengence Alakast strikes out, lashing the demon lord who took away the most solid stone of JJs existence.
"RELEASE KIKINNIN!"
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As the knot of melee tightens, Maxim shifts to a better vantage and renews his blasting:
Pistol barrel glowing with arcane energy he fires again!
"Sons o' Malachite!"
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Marigold's Round 4
Marigold narrows her eyes as she takes another step back from Adimarchus and adopts a defensive position. "ಮಿತಿಯಿಲ್ಲ? ನಂತರ ನಾನು ನನ್ನ ಕುಟುಂಬವನ್ನು ಹಿಂತಿರುಗಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ! ನನಗೆ ನಿನ್ನ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಬೇಡ, ನನ್ನ ಕುಟುಂಬ ಬೇಕು!"
"No limits? Then bring my family back! I don't want your power, I want my family!"
"ಮತ್ತು ನೀವು ಕಿಕಿನ್ನಿನ್ ಅನ್ನು ಮರಳಿ ತರದಿದ್ದರೆ, ನಾನೇ ಅದನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ!" she cries as she channels her magic and beseeches the powers that be - Sarenrae or any of the goodly deities that might be listening - to reverse the maze spell and return Kikinnin to the fight.
"And if you won't bring Kikinnin back, I'll do it myself!"
______________
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As Adimarchus completes his spell, Kikinnin interposes himself in the magics, with his own sacrifice giving JJ the chance to keep his pounding over the Demon Lord. While Maxim shots another potent arcane blast with his gun, Marigold says miraculous words to bring back his new family together. Alakast bangs, once and again over Adimarchus, each hit more potent and resolved than the previous one, the young heir of Surabar becoming stronger with each hit. While Maxim's ray burns the Demon Lord's vitality, JJ's attack goodness pierces through his skin. Adimarchus steps back, raising his blade, but he can do nothing for blows are coming from all sides apparently all at the same time like a meteors shower.
Adimarchus falls. The Demon Lord of Madness is dead.
Kikinnin reappears after a glimpse on the maze of madness, saved by Marigold's miracle.
The Cauldron Watchers saved Cauldron, Golarion and the worlds beyond!
Adimarchus body lies dead on the ground of Skullrot's tower, the prison suddenly quiet, like feeling what just happened.
JJ looks at the fallen angel. Perhaps in death he might find the rest that he had lacked in life. Or maybe his essence really had become that of madness and it would seep into the plane around him, further corrupting the abyss, were that even possible.
Withdrawing Alakast, the youth looks around his fellows, and his grandmother, and then back to the fallen angel once again.
"Grandmother... I know you might not be welcome in the heavens any more, but I think his body... should be returned there."
Maxim nods in grim satisfaction as they win both the battle and the war in one fell end.
He shoots a look toward his companions; each of them awe inspiring in their own heroic fashion as he pats his pistol affectionately and holsters the glowing weapon;
"Hell's Teeth... It's over..."
"I...I th-think so, too," comes Marigold's voice, small and soft. "He t-tried to do a g-good thing in the end, before he was imprisoned and the m-madness took him. It won't b-bring back all the souls he's s-sent to the Boneyard, b-but...it j-just doesn't feel right to l-leave him h-here..."
Yet even though she pities their fallen foe, the little halfling still feels a tiny spark of fear in her heart.
What if he's not really gone?
Silently, she reaches out within her own mind, trying to touch the consciousness that has cast its shadow over her for so long.
And hears nothing. Nothing but blessed silence.
Slowly, Marigold exhales the breath she hadn't even noticed she was holding.
"It's...it's o-over. It's r-really, r-really over..."
"It is over" Nidrama echoes Marigold's words and nods towards JJ gently picking up the fallen angel's corpse on her arms "This does not belong here indeed"
Yet at that exact point, Adimarchus body fades away and disappears taking with him all his equipment!
Nidrama looks with surprise "W-what?!"
"Could it have gone back to his home plane? " asks JJ.
He looks at Marigold... "I guess your plane now? Can you tell?"
Kikinnin returns to Skullrot intact, save for traces of white at the base of his eyebrows and chin hair. He looks around slowly, as if expecting something to be over his shoulder, before nodding to himself, a twitch in his lower left eyelid, and setting eyes firmly upon his friends.
"We should probably..."
As the body of Adimarchus disappears, so do the words coming from the blackish beard's mouth. Disappointment isn't the word. The word is dread.
"Could it have gone back to his home plane?"
Words return to Kikinnin. "Like Vhalantru? Pulled back to Occipitus, to begin healing again? That can't happen. It can't."
Kikinnin looks to the Ruler of Occipitus, his eyes pleading.
"I...I d-don't know how it would happen b-but yes, we need to g-go and see r-right now!" Marigold agrees, holding out her hands to the others as she prepares to plane shift them all back to Occipitus.
Maxim scowls and replaces the victory stogie;
"Gods be darned... Alright then, let's get after it..."
He pats the sheathed stogie, then nods toward Marigold reaching to take her dainty hand;
"Lil' Miss. Take us to where this gits finished fir once an' fir all."
As Marigold completes her spell, the world around starts to turn in a swirl and vanishes, Skullrot replaced by Occipitus Skull Palace, you can see a design trend in there.
Adimarchus body is in fact in there, laying on the middle of the skull throne room. Still on his demonic form, skin is slowly closing.
The proctors look at you, not surprised, and kneel "Lady Marigold. Adimarchus has returned from his vanishing, but he is dead. What shall we do about him?"
"W-well, we'd prefer that he stay d-dead. Vhalantru t-too. Why do their b-bodies return here if they a-aren't l-lords of Occipitus?" Marigold answers, genuinely curious and flummoxed by the whole thing.
Kikinnin addresses Lady Marigold. "Say the word, and I'll bring Eldgammel down on Adimarchus. We'll see if his head and shoulders try to find their way back together. Once we've seen that result, I'll want to check on Vhalantru, too."
Eldgammel glows bright again, and Kikinnin calls down Abadar's Resolve. The blackish beard brings the axe head down, execution-style, and demands that Adimarchus returns to death, highest hope that it is permanent.
"I believe is due to their connection to the plane, Lady Marigold" answers one of the proctors after a good silence where everybody asks the same question "This was Adimarchus plane. He can only truly die here."
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Marigold considers this answer...and then offers a low chuckle.
"Of c-course, this was h-his originally so I g-guess it's only fitting for him to re-t-turn here to d-die...I sh-should've g-guessed."
The answer given, she turns to Kikinnin and nods.
"End it."
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Permission granted, Kikinnin follows through with the singular execution. He examines the body, posting a vigil for as long as it takes for one of the other Watchers to tell him it's been long enough.
When it's clear enough that Adimarchus no longer lies in some undying stasis, the blackish beard decides to end Vhalantru in a similar fashion. That's if ending Adimarchus and his mad seepings wasn't enough to see the beholder beheaded from the source.
Kikinnin walks Occipitus a bit to clear his head, circling back to speak with the Watchers.
"Miss Marigold, you're tethered to this place, eh? Unless someone comes to claim rulership through the same gauntlet you selflessly ran. Are you set on ruling here? You'll have our support, no matter what you decide, I just don't know how quickly we can respond, if you find yourself in trouble with conniving demons." It's clear in the dwarf's words that he's intent on returning to Cauldron, returning to Malachite, but only when he's assured that the threat is truly over.
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JJ nods. "You've grown up little sister. I don't somehow see Sara wanting to settle down here..." he says, gesturing to the rather gruesome surroundings.
"And I can't help but think this wouldn't be a great place to bring up kids." he adds with a sly grin.
The wanderer touches the amulet that hangs near his throat, and fingers the tuning fork in his pouch. "But I've got some tools now, that with a bit of practise, I think I might be able to come and visit of my own accord."
He offers the halfling a slightly sad hug. "But Kikinnin is right. This is your place now, and if anyone can make it beautiful and a family friendly place, it is you. My life is back in our world. With Sara and peace."
JJ's hands run fondly down the smooth length of Alakast. "And you my friend. You I think can hang above the fireplace. Your place is history is sealed. While you may thirst for demon blood, for the moment you may rest and also enjoy the peace you have helped bring us all."
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Maxim too stands, and when his Bror swings his keen axe once more, he nods with a self satisfaction as he claps the warriors broad shoulder;
"Bror, rest easy knowin' I have the magicks to get us here faster than ye can say Hell's Teeth! Lil' Miss calls we'll answer..."
Reaching for his pocket the gun-mage produces his saved stogie... straightening it then with a muttered incantation lights the cheroot.
"Surabar has the right o' it tho' Marigold. Reckon all them scraps he's been in have knocked some sense into that head o' his. This realm is yours fir the shapin' and a pretty place it'll be for it."
He leans back, enjoying the tabac and the end of this journey with folk he now calls family.
"Time I started makin' some dishonest coin. Safer too, than all this heroing... Have a notion to expand the Trading Company... Golden Barrels - Purveyors O' Quality Spirits and Black Powder..."
Maxim grins, then tips the nod towards Marigold with a wink;
"Who knows Lil' Miss, maybes we'll open up an Occupitus Branch!? Demon drink an' all that!"
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"Um...I th-think...it's best if I st-stayed, at least for a l-little while," Marigold agrees with little hesitation but with an obvious touch of sadness. "I w-willingly t-took the t-test and now that we've b-bested Occipitus' original r-ruler...well, it's m-my responsibility. And I c-can't let it f-fall into w-wicked hands again."
She looks around, her expression weary but hopeful.
"M-maybe I can m-make it a p-place of goodness, with t-time. A p-peaceful waystation in the p-planes...c-complete with a Golden Barrels sh-shop," she remarks, returning Maxim's wink with a grin.
Her expression turns wistful.
"I'll m-miss Cauldron, th-though...and G-Gretchen and Anafa and everyone else..."
When Kikinnin puts his axe to work decapitating the two bodies, nothing happens. At least nothing flashy or apparent. But an able observer will see any sign of regeneration stopped completely and any tissue quickly falling cold and dead.
The monsters that have been compromising Cauldron and Occipitus fate are now defeated and dead at your feet. The danger has been conjured.
You are finally released of your heroic commitment.
The future is new, to some this means ruling over a new family, for others ruling over a multi-planar emporium, where others would find commitment ruling over a dwarven state and some even over their own plane of existence.
But one thing is certain, whatever awaits in the future for each of you Watchers, it is only for you to decide!
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Kikinnin surveys Occipitus as it stands before his eyes, wondering what changes are likely to be made by the halfling ruler. He has no suggestions of his own, as it now resides in good hands, though he does wonder to himself how the Trials of Occipitus might be deactivated permanently, leaving Marigold the sole bloodline. It befuddles him, so he leaves it alone, in the last moments of time he spends in the strange demiplane.
"Eldgammel will answer you should you call, Lady Twinkle, as will its dwarf. If I have my way, Malachite will send more than me, if your land is threatened by something greater than a succubus come looking for Catnip."
Kikinnin considers for a moment, before adding to his pledge. "Miss Marigold, you are the noblest of us all. You've made us better for knowing you, and although our paths have come to a split in the vein, you'll always be welcome in Malachite as the kin that you are."
Readying to leave Occipitus for a good duration, the blackish beard takes his Ring of Sustenance from his right hand, and places it in Marigold's palm. "Don't know what you do for food on this plane, but something tells me, you're gonna forget about meals, as busy as you might get, fixing up the place. This'll help me worry less about you, while we're gone."
...
Upon their return to the region 'round Cauldron, Kikinnin travels with the remaining Watchers, a deliberate circling of the cities he considers necessary to the good relations Cauldron will need to restore itself to its former glory- Hollowsky, Redgorge, Kingfisher Hollow, even returning to the Lucky Monkey, to establish an understanding of the impact of the recent horrors come to the caldera.
He's never considered himself much of a storyteller, but he spends the time learning the craft of diplomacy by accounting the Downfall of Adimarchus and his Cagewrights, detailed enough in the telling to assuage the fears of local leaders, vague enough to avoid upsetting or unsettling the people of the land, and how close they came to losing everything. He's grateful for JJ's quick mind in picking details he's missed, and Maxim's wry wit to break the tension when he's spoken more darkly than he gauged.
For the days he can spend with the people of each city, Kikinnin makes it a point to spend his full day's healing, spreading the good graces of Abadar. His daily reverences remind him that he's only able once a day to raise the dead, but he doesn't hesitate, if called upon to do so.
Sensing JJ's longing to be with his new wife growing, Kikinnin speaks with the young man before they part. "You've gone from raw clay to hardened steel, JJ. Your metal is folded one hundred times over. I can't picture Alakast in the hands of any one else. No one worthier than you."
"Never been married myself, so one of these days, you'll have to lend me your wisdom. When the time comes for you to continue the Surabar line, the Rouradonts will want to honor your newborn, so don't forget us. Dwarves live a long time, and we remember our oaths. My oath to you, and all Surabars who come after you- should you ever need an ally, a Rouradont will be at your service. If not me, then one of my line." Kikinnin smiles with a twinkle in his own eye.
...
Next, Kikinnin reconnects with the Church of Abadar, with St. Cuthbert, and with Revered Jenya Urikas and Mayor Ryan Taskerhill. Here, he feels much more comfortable being explicit with his debriefing. From the Fiery Sanctum to Shatterhorn to Skullrot, the blackish beard leaves nothing out. He even recounts his time in Karran Kural, and the bad dreams he sometimes has from having touched the Pillars.
He pledges his strength and alliance with Cauldron, promising to send the best dwarven craftsmen and women to rebuild the foundations of the city, once he's reconnected with the Malachite, as well as dwarven clans beyond his own.
...
When the blackish beard is satisfied with the formalities of renewing civilization in the region, he turns to family. Gemma Rouradont first. When he's located his Pebble, he asks for her and for Maxim to travel with him to Malachite, and counsel him on the decisions he expects to take.
Kikinnin seeks the Throne of Malachite.
...
With a hearthfire warming the main hall of Malachite, two stogies waft fine tobacco smoke ribbons, marble trays catching ash. The light of the fire reflects a rich amber through two glasses of ancient whiskey.
Kikinnin raises his glass, clinking it against Maxim's. "It's been a long time coming. Can't remember the last time I could walk the stone without clicking." The blackish beard lifts his leg, wiggling his bare foot. "I'm looking forward to some quiet nights, without your snoring the floorboards loose." A sip of whiskey, closed eyes that open with a wink at the blond beard.
"You're gonna be a busy business bee, pollinating the lands with the Golden Barrels' finest, eh?" Kikinnin takes a slow drag from the stogie in hand, nodding to Maxim in appreciation. "If the whiskey is any sign, you're not going to have enough pockets. Of course, Malachite could use the expansion. Make room for all those vaults you're gonna need." The blackish beard chuckles.
"Stogie and Whiskey. Blond and Black. Not much is certain in life, but I've come to rely on you and your good heart like no others of our kind. Brothers in arms, brothers in blood. No one knows what we've been through but ourselves. I only ask that if things grow heavy, you ask for a helping hand, because I'll certainly want yours. Broad shoulders are hard to come by."
Kikinnin raises his glass, half empty, and toasts Maxim, and the Watchers in absentia. "La meg dø først, men la oss vente en stund før jeg gjør det."
"Let me die first, but let's wait awhile before I do."
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When the time to depart Occipitus arrives, JJ finds himself oddly reluctant to leave. The place is evil, for sure. Centuries in the abyss have had its effect on the place. But here and there are signs ... signs of the celestial origin of the whole lands.
And of course the planes new ruler was having an effect too. One day, walking near the skull fortress JJ came upon a beautiful tree of crystal. The foul wind of Occipitus striking it generated pure notes, and came out smelling of rose, not brimstone. It was just the one "tree" but it was a start.
"Well little sister, if I stay here any longer, someone else will try to grab Sara from me, married or not. Likely as not a cousin of Maxim spotting the real treasure of Redgorge and wanting to stick her in a store room!" he grins.
"And even if that didn't happen, she will be worrying. After her hard life, I'd prefer to not be the source of any more worries than necessary." He offers her a final hug before joining with the other watchers who are intent on returning to the more natural environment of Cauldron. "Just call if you need help." he adds, fingering the amulet at his throat. "It might take me a try to two to get back, but I will get back here."
--=-=-=-=-=--
As the abyss vanishes and the sweet smell of the jungles surrounding Cauldron return, JJ breathes in deeply, enjoying the scent of his home. He immediately coughs and spits out a mosquito.
"Only thing going for the abyss is that these blood suckers don't seem to survive long there." he grins. Looking around for a moment he picks a direction, seemingly at random and announces "Redgorge is that way, not a long hike at all. Maxim, I think you are getting better."
As he approaches town JJ pauses for a moment. "Gentlemen, I do worry a little about my sister. And I think the passing of a God deserves a marking. I propose we meet annually to return to celebrate with her. And provide any help she might be unwilling to ask us to cross the worlds for."
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At the offer of Rouradont support in the future, JJ nods enthusiastically. "And the Malachite throne will have the support of the Surabar family too." He pauses for a moment. "Though we are a little thin on the ground at the moment." With a grin he adds "I think Sara might be keen on changing that situation sooner rather than later though."
-=-=-=-=-
Once in Redgorge, JJ makes quickly for the Surabar mansion. Alakast is hung with ceremony above the fireplace. If there was one piece of wood in the whole town that wasn't at risk of burning, it would be Alakast. "Rest well old friend. Perhaps it is just as well you can't talk, for your stories would surely terrify the strongest of hearts."
He turns to see his wife looking at him a little oddly. "Honey, I'm home!" he declares. "No dashing off tomorrow to save the world. So far as I am aware it is currently saved, and will remain so for the foreseeable future."
Even as he says the words, JJ gets a momentary vision of an all-seeing-undead-fiendish-beholder sitting just below the horizon. He shakes his head to dispel the vision. "So, I can do chores. Oh... how I am looking forward to just doing chores." he says with a grin in his eye.
"Now.. before I forget.. I've not asked her yet, but how do you feel about Grandmother staying with us for a while? No need to answer straight away.". The youth sinks into his wife's arms, resting his weary head on her shoulder. And the scene fades to black.
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One by one, Marigold says her goodbyes and watches as the companions who've been by her side for so long take their leave back to their own homes, their own lives. As they wink out of Occipitus, she sighs softly and draws her hand across her eyes.
It's not really 'goodbye', you know. More of a 'see you later'.
Now alone, save for the proctor and Occipitus' other denizens, she drops her hand and moves to gaze out on what's now hers. Well, hers until a new challenger appears. And they will, eventually, once the tales of her exploits with the others begin to fade in the minds of mortals and immortals alike. Once the dust settles from Adimarchus' demise. But this isn't a new revelation to her, just a simple reality that has been ever-present in the back of her mind since she woke up from death.
I'll be ready. Until then...
She smiles as she looks out over Occipitus. The road forward will have its challenges, as it always does, but isn't that true for life itself, no matter what sort of life one lives? And hers isn't over yet, with hopefully many chapters still to come. More than ever, she knows she'll need to make the most of them.
"O-k-kay!"
The little halfling claps her hands together as she turns to address the proctor and the other servants of Occipitus. "There's g-going to hopefully b-be a lot of changes h-here, in t-time, but s-slow and st-steady wins the r-race. H-here's what I'd like to do f-first..."
...there's work to be done.
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The reception back at Redgorge is quieter than the one after the columns of fire partially destroying Cauldron, but still, those who know what the group departed for, are most impressed and receive you with pads and a worry look for Marigold not being among you.
Once things are explained, an even brighter page of the Cauldron Watchers is written, and a party in your honor is celebrated.
Jenya and Ryan are quick to secure Kikinnin's help on rebuilding Cauldron's fundations.
Hackbus Wyrdbore receives Maxim with a pad and showing him a metallic gun "Ah, you have to see this Maxim, it can shot twice as fast as the previous one! Well, that when it does not blow itself! Hiz!"
Sara fuses on a hug with JJ "It is time for us to open our own tavern. Clients will come just to hear the stories of the orphan boy that saved Cauldron from collapse and defeated the Cagewrights and even a nascent Demon Lord" as dawn falls over the town, turning the ruined walls to orange she tells the young man "I was sure you will return. You still have to tell me what the JJ initials stand for"
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With a raise of his own glass, Maxim answers the toast in time honoured tradition;
”Og mens vi venter, så lad os drikke noget mere!”
”And while we wait, let us drink some more!”
Chuckling the gun-mage leans back, letting the potent dram warm his throat.
He smiles, teeth plated with mithril and gold glinting in the chamber’s hearthfire as thoughts drift to all they have accomplished, all they have built and yet to rebuild.
In the region Golden Barrels Trading & Tinctures enterprise continued to flourish. While as much a vanity project as a business, Maxim had high hopes for the future. Under his patronage he had found roles of importance for those who had assisted him in The Watcher’s endeavours: Myrza, the young lamplighter and Irruth Mercadi, the chandler. Both now key members of his mercantile house alongside his longtime mentor and Hackbus.
The old gnome continued to crank out new blackpowder weapons, which in turn provided new protections to the coach folk and merchants who served his Trading Company. Discussion had turned to grand plans of arming both Malachite’s soldiery and a rebuilt Cauldron’s militias. Hackbus had even presented him scribbled designs and babbled notions of monstrous “bombards” to protect her walls.
Others not forgotten he paid tribute to in his wares; Brokenhill Brandy, Blackscale Bourbon, Last LaChance Tequila and of course the signature spirit of the company: Wyldbore Whiskey, which he and his staunch Bror were imbibing at that very moment.
Finally his eyes settled on the Black Beard who was at once his opposite but also truly his Bror. Malachite would be blessed to have him as regent. Already a legend to the dwur folk, Kikinnin’s reign would be one for the ages, and with family like Surabar and Lil' Miss they would never fail.
Hell's Teeth we deserve this.
Maxim’s glit-grin shone in the firelight and with a self-satisfied nod he charged their glasses once more and raised his own in toast;
”Skål”
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As proposed by JJ, a year after Adimarchus' demise, the group gathers once more to check on Marigold. Back in Occipitus, the plane has already clearly changed, many of the red pustules healed, most of the imprisoned angels released. The place has started to heal under the the influence of the halfling's personality, who survived the horrors of Cauldron's plague that took her family, who gave herself in ultimate sacrifice to save her friends, and finally accepted a life of servitude taking care of the plane.
JJ proudly presents to his friends a baby, inheritor to the Surabar's surname. The man has finally found peace in Sara's arms, whose resolve has seen the couple bringing up a bustling tavern at the core of Redgorge, serving the hundreds of people who saw their homes in Cauldron destroyed and now live in the city funded by JJ's ancestor to defend humanity from the terrors of the Demonscar. Warmly welcomed to live with them, Gretchen, the old halfling director of the Lantern Street Orphanage, is proud to explain foreigners, in front of Alakast hung on the wall, tales on the stories of how the mischievous orphan faced vampires, cabals of cultists (some of them pretty attractive), beholders, dragons, hordes of demons, including the legendary Nabthatoron, and even a nascent Demon Lord to bring peace to the region.
Maxim proudly shows the wares of Golden Barrels Trading & Tinctures, bringing presents for his friends like in the old times. His Emporium has expanded from a strong base in Cauldron to Sasserine and from there to the most prosperous ports in Avistan and Garund. Firmly routed in the forges of the Malachite, his business has even expanded multi-verse, with resources even fetched from Occipitus itself. The dwarf, known for his keen eye to those who helped him in the past, has seen Myrza and Irruth Mercadi, humble lamplighters before, become important traders in his network. While Hackbus Wyrdbore continues to surprise the world with his designs, only sold at the best prices abroad the Golden Barrels network of sellers.
From his humble beginnings as a ratcatcher, Kikinnin arises as a true leader of the Malachite, helping to patch the scars of the volcanic eruption, bringing new prosperity to both communities as the forges are put to the service of reconstruction. Still, the marks of the eruption are clearly seen at Cauldron, but the dwarves and humans together slowly bring up the less affected buildings. Under the rule of Kikinnin the Upright, the Malachite lives 200 years of prosperity, as the strongly willed dwarf faces the nightmares of the glimpse on the maze of madness at night, without letting himself be affected. Past his life, his descendants will wild Eldgammel, the axe that destroyed Nabthatoron and many other evil outsiders, is passed from generation to generation as a symbol of power and pride, helping to keep the region at peace.
Likewise, on the following years post eruption, Kythel becomes High Priest of the Cathedral of Wee Jas. His task at Cauldron sees the Cathedral dome reformed, as the sun cease to be blocked for the Chappel of Sarenrae, and the name of Pharasma's church is slowly cleansed from the atrocities committed by Ike Iverson and Embril Aloustinai. Year by year, with persistent work, he sees all of the statues at Vhalantru's manor free from their petrified prison.
Juraan becomes a full member of the Striders of Fharlanghn, keeping the paths safe on the dangerous, uncivilized frontier that surrounds Cauldron. The professor and Shensen Thesseril become fully romantically involved and form an extended family together with Fellian, Fario and the other Pathwardens.
Finally, Ryan Taskerhill takes the role of Mayor of Cauldron seeing for the city to be reconstructed and a focus of civilization once more under the watchful sight of Abadar.
Centuries will pass from there on, but the courage, perseverance and cunning of the Cauldron Watchers will persist in the memory of the people they defended and their descendants, inspiring them on moments of dire. With the demons expelled from the region and the madness finally defeated, this plane of existence has one less thing to worry forever more.
And so, let the legend of the Watchers stand in these boards, for as long as someone wants to read it.