Session 81: The Equinox Part 6

General Summary

The party is face to face with their old ally, Uk-Thin Rolsar, and two Guards of the Imperial Bloodline; one with a pike, the other wreathed in flame. This is their last stand, the fight to determine the fate of the Salmon Coast.

Uk-Thin would be disintegrated, unfortuntately they have legendary resistance. Mystan drops Spiritual Weapon and casts Sunbeam on the air guard. Then casts Healing Word on Virion.

Lillian poured literally all their resources into immediately killing Uk-Thin

Menace attacks the fire guard with an acid sword thanks to a channel divinity. This breaks concentration on investiture of flame. They attack again, dropping the other concentration. Then they get hurled through hell.

Virion engages the air guard in melee, while Mystan Sunbeams them.

The fire guard of the royal bloodline Dimension Doors away.

Mystan uses thaumaturgy to deliver a speech. "Soldiers of Keoland. This battle is over. If you want a chance to see the next dawn, drop your weapons now."

"These lands are no longer under the Empire's thumb."

Lillian asks Virion if she should kill Uk-Thin. Virion says "I think I'm just tired."

Mystan says "I think they would be too proud, too angry, or too stubborn to stay a prisoner."

"This is what happens to those who take our lands!" Lillian says, running Uk-Thin's bloodied, stripped body and kicking them off the tower. Then she leaves.

The POWs are rounded up. The dead on both sides are being collected, and a mass funeral is to be held--though those who can be identified will have their families informed.

There's a mass funeral procession. Family who can collect the bodies. Lillian buries Shan'tie on the edge of the cliff where they reunited, all those months ago.

"I thought you were dead, and then I thought you came back to me. You lied to me, you tried to manipulate me. And you loved me. I never want to see you again, but I'm sorry that you're gone."

Lillian leaves the grave unmarked. She returns to the party, and explains that the Nightmares of Granny Nightshade will kill all they can in Seaton and then leave. She can wander to find them, or become a Ghost of Saltmarsh. She would be honored.

Virion is tired. Mystan says there is more fighting to do. Menace asks if Lillian realizes that they're trying to stop the need for nightmares, right?

Lillian says "When this war is over, the Nightmares of the Dreadwood will slumber for a very, very long time. We do relish in causing harm, but there comes a point where its too much, even for us."

"If you're gonna stay, you have to live by our rules. Our morals. Or really theirs," Menace says, "I'm still working on it."

"I will follow them so long as I don't break my oath."

"That's what I'm worried about. I know how strong the pull of a warlock's oath is."

"I'm a paladin."

"You're a paladin?!"

The siege of Seaton takes a few more days. But Marik Feldren's head is eventually on a pike.

Kiara Shadowbreaker surrendered Burle, being vastly outnumbered.

Saltmars hwas terrified, but largely unharmed. Its leaders are imprisoned.

Menace leaves the party with a way to contact them, and leaves with Ciara(n) at the gate of Saltmarsh. But this time, Virion gives Menace a hug. Menace is startled, but returns it. He gives a handshake to Ciaran. Mystan says "Despite everything, it was nice to fight alongside you again."

"I'm glad I found my way," Menace says, glancing at Ciara, "I'm sorry for all I did before."

"I'm not the one who deserved the biggest apology, but I appreciate it."

"The dead do not take apologies. But I will help you again, no matter what you need. Ciaran will too."

"I was about to say the same thing to you too. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to reach out." Mystan and Menace exchange sending stones.

Menace and Ciaran leave, back to the Sea Princes.

Mystan regroups with Delmirev and heads back to the main area of the order, seeking to help in the ongoing civil conflict within the order.

"I hear Port Ountzous is a warzone right now. There's a lot of Serrenos out there, it'll be a bitch to get in."

"There's a lot to do. So let's get to it."

And the two dragonborn sail south.

Lillian, now an official Ghost of Saltmarsh, is not a rebuilder. She takes the elemental prisoner to Granny Nightshade, and then decides to go hunt down the Fireborns. That's one loose end she doesn't feel comfortable leaving out there, even with the forestfolk. She rides out on her owlbear into the northwestern mountains and woods, intent to either make sure they swear pacifism or feed the rest of their flesh to Chester the Owlbear.

Finally, Virion takes some time to rest with his brother in the Silverstand. He sends for his family in Ahoyhoy after a while, but first he puts in some genuine, earnest work in rebuilding the Salmon Coast and reaching out to some of the communities who historically didn't look too favorably on him. He does what he can to help, and when his family arrive on canoes in the Silverstand. They disembark, a little confused, and the sylvenne family hugs, finally reunited. Virion cries. Virion becomes a community organizer, sharing his wealth via potlaches. Eventually Virion becomes the Tyee of a village, and one day of the Silverstand.