Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)

[talien]

Quintus’ contubernium charged forward, following Roderick val’Tensen’s attack to engage the forces of his father, Adolphos val’Tensen. And just as he feared, Vlad was leading a canton in his direction.

The two forces collided on the battlefield with a clash of steel. The Milandisian cantons presented a thicket of polearms to the longspears of Quintus’ forces. The longer reach sliced through shields and pierced shoulders. Men screamed and cursed, but they pressed forward.

Then they were face to face. Quintus lowered his shield and drew his gladius, only to see Vlad draw Grungronazharr.

“Vlad!”

“Quintus!”

They locked blades halfheartedly.

“You’re fighting for the wrong side!” said Quintus. “Why are you following Adolphos?”

“Me?” Vlad struggled to push him back. Quintus was stronger than he remembered. “I thought you were loyal to the Emperor?”

“The Emperor is mad!”

“Menisis invaded our lands,” said Vlad, gritting his teeth. “You are siding with a conqueror.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” shouted Quintus. “But I will if I must!”

“Likewise,” said Vlad. They shoved off, disengaging.

Vlad pointed and a blast of flames extended from his finger. Quintus muttered a prayer to Illiir that absorbed the attack.

Around them, their men engaged in a bloody conflict, parrying and striking, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

Adolphos and Roderick met in single combat. After an exchange of ferocious blows, Precision went flying out of Adolphos’ hands.

Adolphos fell to his knees. “Do it! What are you waiting for?” he snarled up at his son.

Roderick hesitated, blade raised. “I can’t!” he sobbed, lowering his blade. “You’re still my father!”

Quintus clenched one fist and it glowed with holy flame. He pointed it at Vlad.

The Milandisian held Grungronazharr high and the flames washed harmlessly over him.

The two stood panting before each other, unsure how to proceed.

“You’ve gained new powers since last we met,” said Quintus. “I’m impressed.”

“And your prayers are more powerful than I remember,” said Vlad.

They lifted their weapons to strike again when a tremendous explosion obliterated much of Enpebyn. The blast knocked armies on both sides flat.

Enpebyn’s walls collapsed from the concussive force. Roderick shoved Adolphos aside at the last minute, pinned from the neck down by rubble.

Adolphos picked up Precision. He stalked over to Roderick. “You saved my life. Let me repay you with a quick death.”

“Father…” groaned Roderick.

Adolphos lifted Precision over his head to strike a killing blow, but hesitated as if the sword was held fast in the air.

“What?”

Precision burst into flames, engulfing Adolphos’ hands. He screamed and released the weapon, fleeing the field of battle altogether.

Vlad came up first, sputtering from the dust stirred by the explosion. “What in the hell was that?”

Quintus got to one knee. “An explosion. Blast powder. It must have been buried beneath Enpebyn…”

The rain started. Some of it was soot and rubble. Some of it was body parts.

“Do you see what the Emperor is willing to do?” asked Quintus. “Do you see what folly it is to follow him?”

“For the last time, I’m loyal to my liege, Duke Adolphos val’Tensen,” said Vlad. “I’m following orders just like…” he trailed off, looking past Quintus’ shoulder. “…you.”

Quintus turned around. Out of the hole teemed thousands of ant-like creatures. But they were human-sized and humanoid, scrabbling and darting to and fro with pincers and claws.

“Oh no, that can’t be,” said Quintus.

“Il’Huan!’ said Vlad. “They’ve been breeding!”

Quintus picked up his spear again. “Back to back! Back to back! We must hold together if we are to survive this day!”

Taking Quintus lead, Vlad shouted to his men. “Defend the Coryani! It’s our only chance!”

The Coryani Rebels created a shield formation and the polearms of the Milandisian canton formed a bristling defense as the il’Huan swarmed into Rebel and Loyalist army alike.

Huddled at the front, Vlad grinned at his old friend. “Did I mention I’m glad to see you?”

[talien]

Another ship fell to the mighty sea creature, crushed by its many tentacles. The hideous beast’s maw scooped up the survivors and swallowed them whole. As it did so, its eyes crackled with a dark blue energy. Suddenly, a beam burst forth like a lightning bolt toward the tower in the middle of the sea. The tomb of Leviathan absorbed the beam and glowed with a dark blue light.

Kham looked down at the Leviathan Pistol at his belt. It glowed with the same dark blue light.

“Uh…”

“I see it,” said Sebastian. He was holding the Leviathan Bell and Sextant.

“Me too,” said Beldin, who held the Leviathan Hook and Spyglass. “This can’t be good.”

A powerful bolt of energy left the kraken and shot towards the tower, followed by a deafening thunderclap. The tower began shrinking, collapsing in on itself, as the energy surrounding it grew brighter. Suddenly, the Leviathan artifacts were ripped from their grasp. The Pistol, Bell, Hook, and Spyglas floated in the air toward the tower.

“This is bad,” said Kham. “Very bad.”

The tower disappeared, replaced by a ball of dark blue energy about twenty feet across. The ball exploded outward with a blinding flash of light. In its place was a grotesque creature from some twisted nightmare.

Leviathan was an insane amalgamation of an octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature. A pulpy, tentacled head surmounted a grotesque and scaly body with rudimentary wings; but it was the general outline of the whole which made it most shockingly frightful. A mountain walked or stumbled. The thing of idols, the green, sticky spawn of the stars, had awaked to claim his own. The stars were right again, and what an age-old cult had failed to do by design, a band of adventurers had done by accident. After vigintillions of years great Leviathan was loose again, and ravening for delight.

There was a glowing mark upon its forehead, five stars over a tentacled skull. The mark of the Full-Fathom Five.

Each of the five artifacts was absorbed into one of the stars on Leviathan’s forehead, and the device glowed with a dark blue light. Then, in a booming voice, the thing telepathically transmitted: COME BEFORE ME NOW.

Ghostlike forms took shape in front of the creature at his command.

“The Full-Fathom Five!” shouted Beldin.

Zoltan’s soul was ripped out of Kham, hurling him up into the air in agony before dashing him once more onto the deck of the Divine Fury. He lay still, unconscious, but none could spare him a glance.

An expression of joy crossed each of their ghostly countenances, except for Cathy, who appeared afraid.

The creature turned to face them.

WELCOME MY CHILDREN. I HAVE RETURNED. YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN WHOM YOU SERVE. INSTEAD OF RELEASING ME BY SLAYING THE TRAITOR, YOU BICKERED AMONGST YOURSELVES. I WAS FORCED TO RELY ON WEAK-WILLED HUMANS, WHO PLANTED THE SEEDS OF WAR THAT BORE FRUIT ON THE SEA, SO THAT THE SON OF LEVIATHAN COULD FEED ON THEIR FLESH AND I COULD FEED ON THEIR SOULS. IT WAS THESE FOOLS WHO SUCCEDED WHERE YOU DID NOT.

A long, taloned finger, the size of a man was tall, pointed in the direction of the Divine Fury.

AND BY KEEPING THE TOOLS THEY THOUGHT HAD BANISHED ME FOREVER, THEY HAVE ONLY ENSURED MY RETURN. YOU HAVE SERVED MY ENDS BETTER THAN MY FAITHLESS SERVANTS. SOON I WILL ENTER THIS WORLD WITH ALL OF MY STRENGTH AND THEN I WILL MAKE FREEPORT BURN. I WILL LET YOU LIVE TO WITNESS THIS, AS A LAST GIFT FOR BRINGING ME BACK TO THIS PLANE. CADIC CANNOT SAVE YOU.

The creature turned back to its five former followers.

AS FOR YOU, MY FULL-FATHOM FIVE, YOU HAVE FAILED ME UTTERLY, AND FOR THAT YOU WILL SUFFER. I CALL YOU HOME. THERE, YOU WILL KNOW ONLY TORMENT.

One by one, a whirlpool of at the creature’s feet sucked the evil spirits within. All of them begged their former master for mercy as they were drawn slowly to their deaths, except for Ezekial Carthy, who was no longer afraid.

He looked up at the avatar he once worshipped. “Although I shall endure the slow torment you have prepared for me, I deserve it for what I have done. Know this though: you will fail this day, and the mark of the Full-Fathom Five shall be wiped from your brow. We are no longer your slaves. Do now what you will with me, but with my last breath I renounced you, false god, and hope that your end will be a painful one!”

With that, Ezekial Carthy’s spirit disappeared into the whirlpool.

THE TIME OF EXILE IS OVER AT LAST. ON THIS DAY, A NEW GOD WILL RISE. AND I WILL BE WORSHIPPED IN BLOOD.

Kham groggily got to his feet. “What happened?”

“Leviathan’s about to destroy us all,” Sebastian said grimly.

“Oh, good, I was afraid I’d missed something.”

[talien]

“Fire!” shouted Kham.

The Divine Fury fired all of its cannons. The blast surged into Leviathan’s flesh but the wounds bubbled and sealed.

Sebastian flapped up and around it, a fly annoying a giant. A blast of cold spread from his hands, scouring Leviathan’s head, but the frozen flesh was merely reabsorbed.

Using Cho Sun’s ring, Beldin rode a tidal wave to engage Leviathan. He hacked at its legs, but the thing ignored him.

Flames came next from Sebastian, and again the endless replicating form swallowed up the burnt flesh.

Beldin rose higher on the wave, and this time Leviathan took notice. Tentacles squirmed outwards and snatched him off the wave.

Sebastian threw an orb of acid, and it simply disappeared into Leviathan’s arm with no effect.

Beldin struggled in the tentacles. One tentacle burst the dwarf’s shield into pieces. Another snapped Windcutter in half before his very eyes. Leviathan was toying with him.

“Damn it, Beldin!” shouted Kham. He concentrated, and suddenly he was in Leviathan’s tentacles and Beldin was on the deck of the Divine Fury.

“Wow, you’re even uglier up close.” Kham drew a bead with two pistols. His eyes flashed, and a swarm of crystals burst from his pistols, shredding one of the stars from Leviathan’s head. The avatar recoiled.

The tentacle convulsed, but Kham was already gone, willing himself back to the deck of the Divine Fury.

“Fire at the tattoo,” Kham said to Beldin, who was already skating across the ocean’s surface to engage the avatar. “It’s his weakest point!”

Beldin grabbed his adamantium axe, a backup he carried with him, and wielded it with both hands.

Leviathan reared backwards and a blast of black energy shuddered forth all around it…

[talien]

“I did it!” shouted Enzo, cavorting on the deck of the longship.

The tcho-tchos had turned on the skohiir, slaughtering them and feasting on their flesh. It was an orgy of violence and celebration at the return of their god.

He watched, ecstatic, as a ring of black energy warped out from Leviathan. “Wait…what’s he doing?”

Enzo watched in horror as the decks of ship after ship collapsed, dead. All throughout the fleet, orcs and elves, Freeporters and tcho-tchos, turned to shriveled husks where they stood.

“But master…” was all Enzo got out before he too collapsed on the deck, dead.

[talien]

Kham fired again, and another burst of crystals exploded, wiping a second star off the thing. Leviathan turned towards him with purpose.

Beldin sailed up to the thing’s face. With a mighty roar, he hacked down on the star, cutting it right off Leviathan’s head. Tentacles grabbed him once more, encircling Beldin’s entire body such that he couldn’t even move.

Sebastian sailed past and, with one extended fist, strafed the surface of Leviathan’s head. He struck one of the stars and it sizzled off the thing’s flesh.

“One more star left!” shouted Kham. “Come here you big squid!” He was down to his last pistol. There was no Skiz to reload it for him anymore, but then he wasn’t using normal ammunition either. “Come get some!”

Leviathan lifted one huge, dripping claw and SMASHED Kham and the Divine Fury in half.

“NOOO!” shouted Sebastian. With a roar, he clapped both hands together and unleashed a torrent of eldritch energy from the very depths of his black soul.

The final blow dimmed the light emanating from the tattoo on Leviathan’s forehead. It let out an ear-shattering scream of pain. Beldin slipped out of its grasp and fell into the ocean.

The waters nearby began to churn into a powerful whirlpool as an unseen force lifted the creature’s body. It hovered over the swirling waters for a moment, and then it was hurled into the maelstrom. As it fell beneath the waves, it spoke its final words.

DEATH IS ONLY A BEGINNING. I WILL RETURN, CADIC. I ALWAYS RETURN.

Cadic’s voice echoed in Sebastian’s head, one of the few beings left alive on the now too-quite ocean.

“I knew you had it in you. I thank you for taking care of that cur for me. Don’t worry about him returning. If he does, it’ll be well after your time on this plane has ended. You have my thanks. I will grant each of you one boon: you can call on me but once. If I can help you, I will. I bless you all. May the wind be ever at your back and the waters calm before you.”

One ship sailed into view, its crew still alive. It was the Bloody Vengeance.

“Well look what we have here!” shouted Drak Scarbelly from the deck. “An albatross and some fish!”

Sebastian landed on the deck. “Fish?”

Beldin bobbed to the surface. A second later, Kham’s head appeared. He spat out water as Beldin’s ring lifted them both onto the deck.

Kham stretched. “Ouch,” he said. “I think I died there.”

“You did,” said Sebastian.

“Then I guess I know what boon I asked for,” muttered the Altherian.

[Shieldhaven]

I'm still only about halfway through the Story Hour, but I wanted to let you know that my girlfriend and I are really, really enjoying it. Keep up the great work!

Haven

[talien]

I'm so glad!

We're actually at the end of the campaign. It's been over for two years now, and I've been posting every day for a year to catch up. My current group's story hour is the d20 Modern/Delta Green one (we just finished a four scenario arc this past weekend so there'll be a lot of updates in that thread soon).

I think there's maybe five more updates and then this story hour is complete.

I'm glad to hear you're both enjoying it. Is your girlfriend a gamer as well?

[Shieldhaven]

I will definitely check out that SH next. As it happens, I looked down at the author of the RPG.net column I was reading today, and discovered that I had been enjoying your writing for some months now, rather than about a week.

She is - and the King in Yellow is moreover a particular interest of hers. This SH is uniquely calculated to entertain her. =)

Haven

[talien]

Too funny, my column on RPG.net is actually about the Modern story hour, so it will make a lot more sense when you read both together.

I'm a big fan of all things King in Yellow/Carcosa too. However, because the KIY was a major foe in the campaign, I swore not to include him in the modern game. I did not say the same thing about Cthulhu, however...

[talien]

General Menisis ran down to the area of collapsed wall and wrapped Roderick in the banner of the Pride of Chendo. In moments, the young man’s eyes fluttered to life.

All around Vlad and Quintus, il’Huan bodies lay motionless. Ichor was splashed everywhere, mixed with human blood. Most of Quintus contubernium and almost all of Vlad’s canton were dead.

Quintus, battered and bloody, limped over to pick up Precision. He handed it to the General.

Menisis smiled but shook his head.

Quintus offered it to Roderick, who turned away, tears in his eyes.

“Then it goes back to the Order of the Blade, I suppose,” said Quintus.

Menisis saw Vlad slowly walking towards him, but he made no move to defend himself. “I have a note for your Emperor. Listen well. It is but this: I am coming for you.”

Vlad nodded. “I’ll pass that along.”

Menisis gave him a curt nod.

The battle was over. Enpebyn had not been taken, but there was little left worth conquering. The il’Huan had evened the odds for both sides. In the end, they had fought and won nothing.

Both armies no longer had the stomach to fight. Mountains of il’Huan bodies were piled high, forming their own sort of hilly terrain on the battlefield. Men who had been slaughtering each other moments before helped their enemies to their feet, just as Vlad and Quintus leaned on each other for support. Such was the way of war.

Vlad and Quintus limped off the battlefield together.

“Now what?” asked Quintus.

“I think I might go back to Freeport.” He smiled. “It’s a shame you don’t visit more often. You’d be surprised by what you can find there.”

Quintus was haggard. “I’d retire to my farm, but I’m afraid I’m not much of a farmer. The crops haven’t been good this year.” He looked out over the battlefield. So many of his friends were dead. “But still, anything is better than this.” He looked hopefully at Vlad. “Have you heard from Ilmarė?”

Vlad shook his head. “I haven’t been back to Freeport since the war. But I’m sure she’s safe. I’ll give her word.”

Quintus shook his head. “Don’t. Perhaps it’s best if she thinks I died.”

Vlad slapped Quintus on the back. “Don’t be so glum, my friend. I think things are going to start to look up for all of us.”

[talien]

Sebastian sat brooding at the gathering of the Captain’s Council. This time they had the good sense not to convene in the square. And yet much of Freeport was present, filling the Sea Lord’s Palace as never before. It was almost like the old days.

Emric smiled at each of the remaining council members. Twelve seats surrounded the throne. Dirwin Arnig the gnome was there, along with the Altherian Liam Blackhammer, Lady Elise Grossette, Marilise Maeorgan, and the high priestess of Yarris, Sister Gwendolyn. Then he addressed the crowd, more man than boy.

“Freeport has lost much this past week. But in any time of sorrow, Freeport returns stronger than ever before. We mourn the loss of Captain Xavier Gordon, Captain Marcus Roberts, Captain Hector Torian, Captain Garth Varellion, and Captain Buster Wallace.” He nodded at the five empty seats, each represented by a wreath of flowers. No one mourned the loss of Arias Soderheim and no flowers were on his seat. “But in the interest of rebuilding Freeport, I hereby announce the following new Council Members.” He turned to special seats facing the throne.

“Petra Fricke.” The crowd cheered. The leader of the Guild of Craftsmen was a popular choice. Petra came forward, bowed, and demurely took her seat.

“Captain Baldric.” The crowd cheered again. After all his efforts, Baldric had finally gotten the seat he so sorely coveted.

The grizzled old captain hobbled up to the dais, tears in his eyes. He bowed awkwardly and took a seat.

Kham leaned over to whisper to Beldin. “What’s up with Baldric?”

Beldin shrugged. “Something about losing his cat…”

“Morgan Baumann,” said Emric, “Captain of the Kraken’s Claw.” Cheers went up. Captain Baumann had fought heroically during the battle and redeemed herself in the eyes of many, but not all. Morgan’s detractor glowered at her from a nearby seat.

Baumann marched up, her eyes filled with tears of pride. She saluted Emric and then sat down in the Council seat provided for her.

“High Priest Egil Thompson of the Temple of Althares.” A man of medium height and build, with fairly short brown hair, brown eyes, and no distinguishing features, clapped loudly, leading the crowd into applause. It was Steel, K’Stallo’s form for when he wished to walk amongst humans.

Egil was popular but his suspicious connections to ssanu, even if they were friendly, tainted his legacy. Egil humbly bowed before Emric and took his seat. His appointment to the Council paved the way for a bill guaranteeing amnesty for the Hitthkai ssanu. But that was for another day.

“High Priest Peg-Leg Peligro of the Temple of Cadic.” More wild applause. Most Freeporters knew Cadic was the reason Freeport was saved and they venerated him as much if not more than Yarris. Few caught Lady Gwendolyn’s frown.

Peg-Leg stumped his way up to the dais, managed an awkward bow, and took a seat.

“Drak Scarbelly, Captain of the Bloody Vengeance.” There was an audible gasp. Then all the orcs in the room went wild, cheering and hooting, and even crushing humans in bearhugs.

Scarbelly hobbled up to the throne and bowed low, lower than any of the others. He slowly, painfully took his seat.

“And last but not least, filling the Privateer Seat…Kham val’Abebi, Captain of the Divine Fury II!”

The crowd went nuts, screaming and whistling and yelling Kham’s name. Touldrix gave him a long kiss before the Altherian took the stage. Kham walked up to Emric, ruffled his hair, and sat down in his seat. He was seated next to Liam Blackhammer.

“Two Altherians and a priest of Althares on the Council,” said Kham with a grin. “Wonder if it’s another Continental plot to take over the city?”

Liam smiled back. “Don’t be so sure,” he said seriously. “Altheria issued a statement indicating that Althares was angered at the waste of his gift of blast powder. He’s taken the special spark away.”

Kham blinked. “How do you know that?”

“Because I tried to make some,” Liam said seriously. “And I can’t anymore.”

Kham looked skyward. “Wow, and I thought Cadic was a hardass.”

You know what would make dis a perfect scene? whispered Zoltan’s voice in Kham’s mind. A crystal floating around your head. You can pretend I’m an ioun stone.

Kham bit his lip. “Shh, Zolt,” he said to the emerald on his collar that contained a sliver of Zoltan Zaska’s soul.

“Hmm?” asked Liam.

Kham focused his attention back on Emric. “Nothing.”

“To replace our beloved Commissioner Williams, I have chosen the most morally upstanding citizen of Freeport, who laid down his life to protect our beloved city. Beldin Soulforge, please step forward!”

Beldin stumped up, his beard resplendent with gold fastenings at the tips. Windcutter had returned to him, bonded as it was to his soulstone. The dwarf received a symbolic key to the city, provided by Emric.

The crowd cheered. Beldin took his seat near Kham.

Kham leaned forward. “Psst! Where’s Sebastian? Doesn’t he get any accolades?”

Beldin shrugged over his chair. “I think he has all the power he needs. He said something about researching his heritage.”

Satisfied that the Sea Lord of Freeport was restoring order to the city, Sebastian stirred from his perch in the crossbeams of the Sea Lord’s Palace, nearly a hundred feet above them. He spread his wings and flew out a nearby window.

It was time, he decided, to reclaim his own birthright.

[talien]

A black-clad figure stepped into the Last Resort at precisely midnight. A nervous Bobbin Brandydale met him at the door.

“You must be Mr. Ducayne,” he whispered so as to not wake the other guests. “It’s an honor to have you here sir.”

Ducayne nodded, his pale lips curling in a feral smile. “The pleasure is mine. I take it you did not object to my requirements?”

Bobbin shook his head. “Not at all.”

Ducayne was dressed in a black fedora, trench coat, leather pants, gloves, and boots. Two pistols hung from either hip. He waited until Bobbin got the hint that he should repeat the instructions.

Bobbin cleared his throat. “You’ll have the Imperial Suite all to yourself. The door has already been painted according to your instructions. Automatic withdrawals will be made from your account at the Vault, to be paid in gold the first of each month.”

“Very good. I think our arrangement will work nicely.”

Bobbin led the strange man up to the Imperial Suite. It consisted of four rooms, the first being a reception area, complete with furniture Ducayne had purchased.

Whoever he was, Bobbin knew he was wealthy. He guessed that Ducayne was a Coryani escaping the war; although his manner of dress suggested an Altherian, his pale skin was more akin to a Milandisian. And yet he had a hint of a Canceri accent. He was probably an adventurer.

Ducayne hesitated at the door. It was painted with the words: DO NOT DISTURB in red.

“In the past, I am aware that you have suffered some unfortunate…incidents, here.”

Bobbin spread his hands over his apron to wipe the sweat from his palms. “That’s true. Between the samat attack and Coombs’ bombs, the Last Resort has suffered quite a bit of damage. But thanks to our arrangement, we’ll be able to pay off all the old debts. Unfortunately, orc labor’s not cheap anymore.”

The stranger allowed a slight smile. “Those days are over. From now on The Last Resort is under my protection.”

“That’s…comforting, sir.”

“That is all, Mr. Brandydale. Thank you for your time.”

Bobbin nodded and stepped backwards. Before the door closed, a squeaky voice reached his ears.

“So I gotta stay on watch all day in here, boss?”

“Not just here, Skiz,” said the man who called himself Ducayne. “I have other work for you to do…”

Then the door closed and Bobbin was glad he could hear no more.

[talien]

Three evenings a week, cats from every part of the city congregated in an alley behind the Freeport Institute. And sitting at the front of the peculiar gathering of felines with a tiny black-and-white kitty.

“The Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign has suffered a crippling blow,” she said in the cat tongue. “But the rise of the Children of Leviathan was unexpected.”

One of the cats mrowed loudly from the back of the alley. “I warned you last week!”

“As I said,” the lead cat continued, “unexpected. As the Cult of the Unspeakable One lost its power, the Cult of Leviathan experienced a resurgence. We must not let that happen again.”

“I said that too,” muttered a large gray tabby.

“Pardon me,” said the instructor, “but some of us were putting up with drunken pirates on a ship, trying to keep their people safe and on the right path. I don’t need to remind you about that idiot chef Reed wanted to COOK me.” When sullen silence greeted her, she continued. “Now, we were able to keep casualties to a minimum during the war, but there is much rebuilding to do. And in times of chaos, evil takes hold. What have you discovered?”

“The Bleeding Fist Cult,” said a fluffy white cat. “They are popular amongst the disaffected orcs who believe all elves should be driven off the island.”

“Noted,” said the instructor. “The strays will need to keep track of Scurvytown.”

“We ALWAYS keep track of Scurvytown,” said the gray tabby. “Not all of us have our noses stuck in books.”

“Cuttleback’s back,” muttered a jet-black kitten. “Fishing for more brains…”

“Another Harvester has popped up,” said a spotted brown and white cat. “Eudokia Kasovar.”

The instructor sighed. “Great, I thought we wiped them out.”

“Lord Bonewrack’s awoken,” said a shorthaired orange feline. “That rift in the Plane of Shadow must have stirred him…”

“There’s something fiendish going on,” said the gray tabby. “I don’t have any proof yet, but your sorcerer friend has been stirring the pot and I think what he awakens will not treat Freeport kindly.”

“Duly noted—“

“What in Althares’ eyes is going on out here?”

The lesson was cut off as a spectacled, middle-aged woman in a nightgown shone a light into the alleyway from a window. The instructor immediately returned to licking her paws. Every other cat did the same.

Wilimina Gertz chuckled. “Oh, it’s you. Well, try to keep your Council of Cats quiet, won’t you?” She shook her head and whispered, “silentium.”

The majority of the felines were magically silenced. “You’re lucky you’re such a good mouser, Miss Maya, or we’d have thrown you off the premises a long time ago.”

The malkin turned her head to squint upwards at the source of the light, as if noticing Wilimina for the first time. “Meow?”

“That’s what I thought,” said the professor. “I swear, sometimes I think you can understand me. Try to keep the noise to a dull roar; my magic can only do so much.” Chuckling to herself again, the professor closed the window.

Maya stopped cleaning herself. “Resolvo veneficus!” With the silence dispelled, the malkin rolled her eyes. “Now where were we?”

[talien]

Quintus sat on a chair, surveying his failing orchard. Without a war to fight or men to lead, Quintus was alone once more. The sun-dappled fields were beautiful nonetheless. He stared at them for a long time.

Quintus turned to his major domo. “I think we’re going to have to pack up this place. We’ll free the slaves and take what we can.”

The major domo looked surprised, but with his tongue cut out there was little he could say about it.

“I know,” said Quintus. “But we haven’t enough crops to sustain the farm.”

The trees had not been growing well. The season was harsh, and with war came demand. He had sacrificed what little harvest he had to the Rebels, secretly of course.

The major domo put one hand on Quintus’ shoulder, a gesture that could have gotten him killed. But it was one man to another, not as equals but as a family of sorts. He understood.

The sound of hoof beats broke Quintus out of his funk. A carriage pulled to a stop in front of the farmhouse.

Quintus got up as someone stepped out of it.

“Ilmarė?” he asked, hardly believing his eyes.

The elorii smiled and nodded. Then she turned away to scoop up a bundle on the seat behind her.

It was a baby elorii girl. She cooed and yawned in Ilmarė’s arms.

“The child,” said Quintus in wonder. “You’re both all right!” Tears filled his eyes. “I had thought…”

Ilmarė put a finger to his lips. “Shh. No more tears. The God War came and went. And you know what that means.”

Quintus shook his head.

“I don’t have to kill you anymore.” She smiled sheepishly at him, the silver in her hair reflecting in the sunlight. “Now that we’ve got that settled, my daughter and I are looking for a safe place to stay. Do you know of any?”

Quintus blinked. “I…you are welcome to stay here, but the farm is failing. I don’t think that we can—“

Ilmarė laughed. He hadn’t heard her laugh in such a long time. “I nearly forgot.” She snapped her fingers, and Quintus’ major domo dragged a heavy chest out of the carriage. With a groan, he dropped it at Quintus’ feet.

“Open it,” she said.

Quintus unlatched the chest and threw the lid open.

Inside was a glittering cache of gold doubloons. There were so many that the sun sparkled in Quintus’ face, forcing him to squint. An envelope sat in the center.

Quintus opened the envelope and scanned the note.

It read: “For duty and honor! V.”

“There’s got to be thousands of gold pieces in here,” said Quintus.

“Thirty thousand, to be precise,” said Ilmarė, rocking her baby. “Will that be enough for our room and board?”

Quintus laughed in disbelief. “I don’t know what to say…”

“Say yes.”

“Yes,” said Quintus with a broad smile.

“Good, now let me introduce you to my daughter.” She held the child up, who cooed and grabbed Quintus’ finger.

“What’s her name?” asked the legionnaire turned farmer.

“Anulee Persius Galen,” she said softly.

Quintus nodded, amazed at the baby’s grip. “In honor of your sister.”

“No,” smiled Ilmarė. “This IS my sister.” She abruptly handed the baby girl off to Quintus, who looked stunned at the delicate package in his hands. “Let’s go inside and I’ll explain.”

And together, Quintus, Ilmarė, and Anulee walked into his farmhouse.

[talien]

Well folks, that's it. Even with me posting every friggin day, it took six years to get this campaign published on ENWorld. I'm not entirely sure, but it may be the most read story hour on the board and possibly the Internet -- if not, it's definitely ranked highly amongst them, and I have all of you to thank for that.

It's been a fun ride. But after awhile, posting so frequently was starting to become cumbersome. Toddlers don't like it when you type on the computer, and you can only play Yo Gabba Gabba videos in another window for so long before they get antsy. As much as I enjoyed writing and publishing this story hour, it was becoming a bit of a chore.

You'll notice that there's a little plot point with Sebastian that was never resolved. That was Hell in Freeport, which we still joke that we might play one day. If there's enough interest from players here, we may just get everyone together to do it -- or I may cheat and do a narrative game (where I tell the players what happens, we skip the combat, and just role-play the story and I write it later). But right now there's no pressing need...I'm working on my book, we've got our modern campaign to contend with, and the birth of my second child is imminent.

Oh right. So, the whole reason the campaign ended was because my son was born. That was nearly three years ago! Although the story didn't quite match the outcome (Ilmare's child was a girl) the timing was right...because our second child, due at the end of May, is a girl. And no, her name is not Anulee.

At least for a little while, I'm happy to leave the characters we lived with for so long to their happy endings. Quintus and Ilmare finally have their (admittedly weird) family they always wanted. Kham is a certified pirate with his very own ship. Beldin has respect and power. And Vlad's filthy rich. I like to think they will live out their lives to happy old age. I think they earned it.

Except Kham of course. He'll die a quick death -- if not drugs or alcohol, it will certainly be women. But I digress.

I'm in touch with all of the players in the game, so if you have any questions or you want to hear more about any particular character, I might be able to drag them onto the boards or at least relay your questions.

I've been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss lately to my son, so I think it's appropriate to quote him here:

Originally Posted by Dr. Seuss

But on you will go though the weather be foul.
On you will go though your enemies prowl.
On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

Good night and God bless.