Well, I must say that, while I wasn't very active near the end, this has been one helluva game.
Thanks, Edena, and thanks to everyone else. It has definitely been an experience to remember... and I won't ever look at a map of Oerth the same way again...
---
Kessel GnomeWorks looks around.
"Well... it's over. Finally, over."
"But it's been difficult. Whenver we see one who had died, whenver we read the history we mangled... we must remember the past. For those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Certainly we now have everything we could ever want," He motions to the demiplane in general. "But there are always those lurking in the shadows, those that hunger for power or control. Are they rare, in this place? Most certainly! I would not think that someone would show up so soon after peace is attained..."
His voice trails off. He stops, shakes himself, then continues on in a louder voice.
"Remember the past, dear friends. Forgive, but never forget. Evil still lurks outside this place, darkness yet remains. While it shall be a long time, it shall strike again - have no doubt of that. It shall."
He sighs.
"But, of course, my words shall not be heeded now. We shall grow complacent, and forget all that has transpired here. The generations that shall come after us will be ignorant of all that has happened. And although it may be a different set of circumstances, this shall all happen again... but not necessarily with the same ending."
His voice grows more quiet, more of a whisper.
"Even as this place is perfect, the epitomy of happiness and joy, there are those who cannot live in such conditions. Some thrive upon the uncertainty of life, upon the possibilities that an uncertain world and fate can have. Others... require evil, hatred, and death to survive."
"We have seen, many things in the last several months. We have seen the development of nuclear weaponry. Powerful magics that even Vecna had not had access to. Strange new technological advances that we have today that, had we found them even two years ago, we would have been incredibly baffled. We have seen deeds both great and terrible. We have seen the purest good and the vilest evil, the truest law and the utmost chaos."
"Yet, through it all, we have persevered."
He pauses, and mutters to himself. "Gods, where am I going with this?"
He shakes his head, then continues. "Once more, I warn you. Remember the past, for those who do not are condemned to repeat it. Forgive, but never forget. In the times to come, our memories will fade... but the evil, my dear friends, will never fade completely."
"And that is all."