And so, we defeated the final boss with the ultimate weapon: a group hug.
Session 12 Journal (Finale and Epilogue)
We encountered Wyserias at the top of the Clock Tower. As expected, he was smugly waiting for our arrival, with a demon bodyguard at his front. We exchanged few words, because talking to Wyserias is the worst. Immediately, Ryaan cast cicadas and passed out from a lack of magic. He was prone for most of the fight, but his spell worked wonders for us. Wyserias was completely useless during the fight, letting us focus on his demon. And, thanks to him, I have a birthday present for my sister now! I don’t know how old that demon was, but Gallie’s the archeologist here. She could probably count the rings on the horn I tore off it or something, I dunno.
While I did “kill” the demon, he burst into flames and was reborn into a form far, far worse. By this point, Wyserias had had enough of being silenced by cicadas, and attempted to move to the front to fight beside his newly reborn demon. Now, I don’t want to say Wyserias was a chump. He did pick up an unconscious man and bite him, I’ll give him that. However, Koal murdered the shit out of him with a bell, and that was that. We were all running on empty at that point, but Koal decided to be Koal and tear into that guy with pretty much no issue. Except that fiery blood explosion that happened when he tore through the demon’s flesh, Koal seemed to reel from that.
Wyserias and his demon were killed, but the tower began to collapse, and two of us were out cold. Deneb took Ryaan, and I managed to pick up Koal (with a little help from Coeller,) and we both booked it out of there. As I bravely flipped the bird to Wyserias’s dumb corpse as we passed it by, it transformed into… some awful demon form which I really didn’t have time to deal with. Coeller and Pash both helped us escape, keeping the demon Wyserias at bay as we ran. Also that Blackthorn guy got in the way, saying something about how we ruined his plan or whatever. Deneb bum rushed right through him, then Snickerdoodle plowed through him as she left the building. I don’t know where he got dragged to, but he really got some distance.
And so, that ends our fight against Wyserias and the ETE. We’re waiting for the arrival of our dragons, but now th
Okay, close call there. We sat at the harbor, looking at the smoldering ruins of the clock tower and resting for the final leg of our journey. Ryaan and Koal had regained consciousness, though we all retained quite a few wounds. Then, Pash, emerged. He seemed so sad, despite having finished the battle. Ryaan tried to heal him, but Pash refused, then revealed that he had been possessed as well. It
seemed pretty hopeless for a moment, but Coeller came swooping in and used her power to restore Deneb’s magic. As it turns out, that was exactly what we needed; Deneb had a spell to blast the undead energies right out of him. And to ensure Deneb had enough time to connect the spell, I gave Pash a hug. As did Koal. And even Ryaan. The weird demonic energies, (WDEs for short,) didn’t have the time to do much. I mean I think one stabbed me, but whatever. It only got me in a previous claw gash. I’ll live.
Okay, we’re on the boat. All the dragons that joined us on our journey arrived safely, and Pash is fine. So I guess I have to find some way to end this journal on an… I dunno, actual ending note? Uh… we learned that… human nature is… uh… pretty good sometimes, but not always. And um… friendship is pretty cool? Oh whatever, I hecked this up. I hope the dragon doesn’t mind.
Oh dear. Shrike read the journal out loud. The entire thing. Oh boy, do I wish I were less meandering for this last bit. At least Storm’s okay? I didn’t screw that up???
5th of Fifthe, 1107
We spent a bit of time relaxing in Koal’s village. Now that Storm has been healed, the people here are discussing a new name for the island. Calamity Island probably isn’t the best thing to call it now that the storms over it have dissipated. Koal’s thinking of renaming the town Unswept; it’s a good name, if still on the nose.
That being said, it is time for us to go our separate ways. We just said our goodbyes to Koal, and we’re sailing back to the mainland. I’m gonna miss that guy. Maybe not the atrocities he commit, but that’s behind us now.
Ark is also heading home with me to help out in the restaurant. Dad seems to really appreciate his company, even if he does give him dirty looks sometimes.
10th of Fifthe, 1107
Ryaan was chosen to be Baron of Pendel today. I’m certain he’s not taking the news well, but from what I hear, Beatrice abdicated the hell out of that throne, and there’s no arguing with that. I’m sure Ryaan will make a good ruler, though. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and if anything his sheer terror at basically any conflict can help him avoid any missteps. Paranoia like that can be really inspiring, from what I’ve found.
15th of Fifthe, 1107
Gale’s birthday was yesterday, and I knocked it out of the park. Beatrice recovered a mirror on Calamity, and apparently it’s from an even older civilization than the one I broke. I consider that an improvement, really. I also made that demon’s horn into a necklace, and that also kicked ass. And of course, every meal yesterday was on point. French toast for breakfast, toasted ham and cheese for lunch, and burgers for dinner. And of course, a triple chocolate cake, but that’s not a problem. I’ve had that recipe down four years straight, (and quite frankly I don’t think the Great Disaster of 1102 even counts.) Basically, I’m the best sister. I’d say that’s enough to make up for breaking that mirror. I mean, Gallie was overjoyed that I came home alive, but the birthday party was important.
27th of Sixa, 1107
The Fairy King finally came around to honor the… two? Three deals we made? Well anyway, the point is he asked me to help him with a pretty big feat: he wanted to use a magic similar to the one used on the volcano in this region. Apparently he and the Fairy Queen have been clashing pretty frequently lately, so he just decided to rule the northern volcano instead of standing his ground. I suppose I can’t argue if he only wants me to do one (potentially lethal) favor for all the help he gave us during our travels.
30th of Sixa, 1107
I met with Caper today. In addition to taking Ark and the Fairy King along, she also brought Beatrice and Emerine to Pendel so they could join us.
7th of Septe, 1107
We arrived in Flamewrought. Everything’s a lot different with Katherine on the throne, and not having to deal with its former bureaucracy is a blessing. After our journey, Beatrice wanted to speak with her sister, and Ark and I both were really antsy to work in a proper kitchen again.
8th of Septe, 1107
Our journey into the volcano, dangerous as it was, was a success. According to the Fairy King, the eternal bush fire of Flamewrought will be less eternal once the process is complete. It’ll be strange to see that volcano flowing with water, but maybe Flamewrought will be safer now. I say maybe, because chances are the fairies will just start a different bush fire or something. Who knows with those guys. Either way though, our job is done, and we can return home again.
2nd of Fifthe, 1108
Today was the first anniversary of our victory over Wyserias and the ETE. I met with Ryaan, Deneb and Koal in Unswept. Everyone’s been doing well, including Koal. He and Oh-Kae are getting married soon! We’re invited, of course, and both Ryaan and Pash are going to be the best man… er, best men, I guess.
It was a lovely night. Our cooking was on point, as per usual, though the highlight for me was hearing that the ETE was finally done. Koal and Ark (and technically me as well, though I’m 100% certain I drew the least blood,) were a major factor in it, but Ryaan helped put the final nail in the coffin. Good riddance.
19th of Teno, 1108
Today was Koal’s wedding day! He and Oh-Kae seemed so happy. Ark caught the bouquet… and ate it… which may or may not be good luck. I don’t know with that dork sometimes, but if I make it a good sign it’ll be a good sign.
2nd of Dozenth, 1109
Today was the day I married Ark. Today’s also the day we both learned that we don’t like wedding ceremonies. They don’t even let you bake your own cake! Ah well, we have the rest of our lives for good days. And for our own cakes as well.
I’m not normally into guys… or rats, I suppose, but that dork will always be the exception.
10th of Fifthe, 1111
Ryaan was reelected today. I swear I could hear the anguish all the way from the restaurant.
4th of Forta, 1113
Ark and I adopted two kids: one Human, on Guardian. Considering we can’t have our own children, (and even if we could I sure as shit wasn’t about to do that work,) this seemed like a nice idea.
10th of Fifthe, 1115
Pash replaced Ryaan as Baron of Pendel today. Ryaan probably would have been re-elected, but he passed a law to ensure that Barons could only serve two terms. A clever ploy to ensure he doesn’t have to continue on doing a job he didn’t exactly want. But he did a good job over the last eight years, and he seemed so happy during dinner. He hasn’t settled on what to do, but he’s excited about all the choices.
2nd of Fifthe, 1116
It’s the 9th anniversary of the end of our journey, and we finally decided to finish our story and heal the Great Bane.
7th of Fifthe, 1116
I guess it’s technically the end of our journey now. It felt like it ended a while ago, but the Great Bane has remained unfinished business all this time. But a problem like that takes a long story to fix, and that needed a lot of storytellers to finish. The Great Bane was healed at last, and I made sure to have a nice warm meal ready for its revival. Honestly I made it a pretty large burger, which I thought it would take its time with, but no. It ate the entire thing in one gulp. And so while I was happy to have given it something nice to come back to, seeing it down that burger made me think.
Could I make a burger so large that not even God could finish it?