The crew dutifully loads the gunpowder to the brim. The cannons discharge at close range, and the extra gunpowder produces a huge cloud of smoke. As the smoke clears, the smithereens of the manifestation of Qxal fall from the sky.
The destruction of the Thorned Monarch’s avatar has left Qxal without a foothold from which to terrorize Bhopan, freeing the island and its people from the fey’s grasp. As the writhing thorns along the shoreline rapidly wither to dust, Audho warns the Pathfinders that what they defeated was only a sliver of the Thorned Monarch’s power and that they still lie scheming somewhere in Garund.
Audho lets out a wearied telepathic sigh from the Perennial Crown and her spirit passes on, content that her people are finally free of Qxal.
A few of the Bhopanese survivors, who had boarded the Unsinkable, come up to deck. They thank the Pathfinders profusely for their work, but note that the Pathfinders collected a bunch of personal trinkets from the island.
"Can we have those back?" they ask.
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Oskar is delighted that the rehearsal for the final act of his opera was as stirring as hoped for and he limits his comments to minor details: "Now Franzine, remember, when the Thorned Monarch strikes you down I need you to look like you are really dying - we want the audience on the edge of their seats, crying for the loss of their heroine! And Hopper, when you throw your bomb into the ocean, try to look a little more surprised!" Still, he is overall quite pleased and issues coupons for tickets to the Absalom opening to all the sailors for 5% discounts.
The survivors return to the island with their personal items.
Khoumrock puts a hand on Oskar's shoulder. "Aye, matey, I'll vouch for what you've done at the Lodge."
Khoumrock suggests that the Pathfinders return posthaste to Ambrus Valsin in Absalom. After dropping the Bhopanese citizens off at the now-safe beach, Blackthane assures them that the Pathfinder Society will be sending assistance for recovery, and directs the Unsinkable for Quantium for rest and resupply before beginning the voyage for Absalom.
Back in Absalom, Ambrus Valsin is astonished and concerned by the Pathfinders’ report of what transpired in Bhopan. He summons for the Grand Lodge’s masters—Sorrina Westyr, Marcos Farabellus, and Kreighton Shane—at once, stating that the Pathfinders need to begin preparations for an expedition to find the door opened by the Perennial Crown. After handing off the Perennial Crown to Sorrina Westyr, he congratulates the PCs on a job well done, though he confesses some amount of worry regarding the severity of the situation at hand. He turns to Khoumrock Blackthane and professes a need for levelheaded experience leading the Pathfinder Society in the days to come and requests that Blackthane end his retirement for the sixth time, reinstating himself as a venture-captain proper. Blackthane accepts with a hearty laugh, informing Valsin that he needs to pay back “that thorn-covered wretch” for damages done to the Unsinkable during his last voyage anyway.
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Hopper looks at the manifestation of Qxal shrieking and falling into the sea.
"Reload the cannons! If it raises from the sea I want us to welcome it with cannon fire!" yells Hopper as he looks worried at Franzine. He sighs with relief after she stands up and seems to be ok.
When the long minutes pass and the monster does not show up Hopper relaxes a bit and smiles broadly.
"Great job! We are still alive!"
He finds a quiet place on the ship and slumps there glad that this is over...