Act 1.6 - Epilogue

When you emerge into the cool forest air, Ashleigh is already running.

She nearly collapses as she reaches her daughter, falling to her knees as she gathers Violet in her arms. Tears stream freely down her face as she holds the girl close, whispering her name over and over like a prayer finally answered. Violet stirs, but she’s alive, and safe—that is all her mother needs. You all stand nearby, exhausted and bloodied, yet undeniably victorious. A family has been reunited because of your courage.

Behind you, the tomb falls silent at last. Whatever ritual the goblins had begun is broken, and the undead horrors they awakened now lie still.

Shrike watched the reunion, somethibg inside him prosessing the juxtaposition of what they just experienced below with the joy and relief that was happeinng now.
He went back inside and started pulling bodies of goblins out of the tomb. This tomb wasn't for them and there was something important about that but he couldnt quite understand why. Maybe he would ask Malfina to help turn them to ash, or maybe they would just be returned to the forest. He hadn't decided yet.

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Later that evening the group was gathered together talking about what they needed to do next, where they were going, Shrike was able to put somemof what he was feeling into words. "My master told me that evry place and every thing and every one has good and bad. It's when the bad is something you can fix and the good is something that fixes you that you find where you belong." Shrike chuffed. "He said it better though." Then he looked off, towards the dorection of the tomb, past the edge of the town and into the forest. "I don't know if I need to know what is in the Tomb out there, but what I need to do is face the challenge of finding out."

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Obsidian is glad to mother and daughter reunited. He has no soft side so there is no actual feeling aroused in him. He will help with the clearing of the bodies and has come to see Shrike as an equal and friend through there front line antics. It was fun to kill goblins, ghouls, skeletons, and zombies. He wonders how long it will be before he gets another chance. For now he will head back to town with the others and share some meat and meade with them and then figure out what he will do next. Listening to Shrike's saying kind of made his head hurt but he got the jist"If you need my maul just give the call."

Malfina smiles warmly at the sight of mother and daughter reunited. It is not often that she gets to see a tale come to a close on a happy note, rather than one of destruction and ash.

She returns to town with the others, her mind swimming with ideas about the magical portal and how she can bring the power of The Flame to be an upon it. She ponders, Surely there must be a library here, or nearby?

Becoming consumed by her desire to open the seal, she looks for any opportunity she can to increase her knowledge--and power--so that one day she might return. In the meantime, she seeks out ways to serve and feed The Flame, just as she always has.

Seeing mother and daughter embrace, Vordokov gives a silent prayer of continued safety over them, and gives thanks to Grole in seeing them all through this ordeal. On the way back to Broadhurst he leans over to Malfina, "Now that that's over, let me know when you're ready to talk about Kul.", his serious tone breaking into a hearty laugh as he gives her a pat on the back.

In the following days he spends time assisting the townsfolk and preaching the word of Grole, eventually though feeling the pull toward something greater. He follows where Grole takes him, but the tomb's portal, it's fabled treasure, and the creatures down there who must certainly be brought to swift justice are always in the back of his mind, like a flame that just won't go out.

Naercalad collects the rings and lenses from the bugbear, wrapping them each in cloth and tucking them away in his pack. Emerging from the tomb he's quiet while the ladies reunite. He scans over the others, well done, he thinks to himself. He returns to the town with the others looking for a bath and some quite to reflect on the battles just fought and plan for the future.