Session 187: Weddings & Wind-Up

"Love is the plan"

General Summary

In the months following Messeneth's defeat, the group went their separate ways. It was not long until they found themselves reunited once again, though this time in celebration of the long-anticipated marriage of Sir Bartleby and Mani. Following a lavish formal celebration in Mas'Uld with foreign dignitaries and other notable personages, the group enjoyed a somewhat more intimate affair with friends and family back in Calicia.
The group was treated to a performance of an expertly crafted ballad written by Chari and performed by Opal and Fordwin, the bards she had commissioned in Tandarrah. Jinn also gifted the couple with a merely-lightly-incriminating speech. The group took the opportunity to catch up with old friends, and were even treated to a tispy Tabitha and Lady Anjah Wilmont-Burke regaling the party with the tale of how they first met.
Towards the end of the festivities, Bart and Marley were able to slip away to have a private conversation. With the Ushers of Seudihr defeated, Bartleby had tendered his resignation to Knight Commander Jarek. No longer carrying the mantle of Knight of Cups, Bart's supernatural connection to Lliira had dwindled. Marley was granted permission to take corporeal form one final time to wish his friend well. He congratulated the former paladin and let him know how proud he was, both of everything Bart had accomplished, and to have served as his companion.
In the years that followed the Dragon Punchers remained in touch as best they could. Chari and Al’ethera Nemetsk-Daywind stayed together for a time before Chari left for the Feywild to fulfill her promise to the Hart of the Forest. Micah continued adventuring, searching for Cordyceps's companion armor, before finally returning to Nid in his twilight years. Bart managed his vineyard and tended to affairs of state as required. Only after nearly a century had passed did Jinn's gift to his sister and friend become apparent. The elf, in an act of utter selflessness, had sacrificed years of service to Old Nan in exchange for Bartleby to live a full-elven lifespan.
As the wounds the Ushers of Seudihr made on the people of Caelvoran slowly mended, the scars of their work fell back into legend. And with them, so too, did the story of the Dragon Punchers.

So'asna Mara'hid's Speech Upon the Wedding of his Youngest Sister to his Dear Friend and Companion, Bartleby Glass

If there’s something I’ve learned from my time with the Dragon Punchers, it’s that one should always be unapologetic, shameless, and genuine with their approach to the world. And so, I will strive to be all three:
Firstly, I’ll be honest: I wrote a heartfelt toast, but I found that it was impossible to condense the praise these two deserve, and--as it turns out--even I get tired of my own voice.
Secondly, I’ll be shameless, and address some of the more interesting rumors and questions you--several hundred of their closest friends and allies--may have heard or asked:

• Mani did--in fact--announce her relationship with the Knight of Cups by rushing to hug and kiss his naked body in front of both the Queen and King.
• Bart really did fly--on the back of his noble pegasus, Marley--to southern Khard and call down a Fairy Dragon who then decided it would be nice to be Mani’s familiar; hello Tiru.
• I do remember the moment I realized I’d trust Sir Bartley as a brother: I was deep in his throat… gripping a gecko and cursing his hubris.
• I have seen both of them--on multiple occasions--do incredibly embarrassing little dances because of the other. Like, really exceptionally dumb dancing.
• Mani, having been summoned halfway across the world to save Jarrow, stumbled downstairs the next morning in nothing but the sacred tabard of the Knight of Cups and informed me--gleefully--that the Knight of Cups was just as wonderful as in the stories.

And lastly, I can say--unapologetically--that I’m thankful Mani is my personal savior, that Bart was shoved into a rain barrel alongside me, and that events conspired to bring the two of them together.

Mani, Bart: may you continue to live your lives without shame, without apologizing for who you are, embodying genuine love and kindness; and may you have many fine children who will be full of joy and just as difficult to deal with as yourselves.

“Ode to a Royal Wedding”

(To the tune of Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler)
Composed and Performed by Opal and Fordwin feat. Chari Eleanor Cross

Executive Producer: Chari Eleanor Cross

Bartleby,
Was a dreamy knight with a horse that was an angel and smile that the ladies loved
Knight of Cups
Went out on a journey and he thought that he was looking for the grail but he was looking for love
Joined a group
Of intrepid heroes like a sword guy and a punch girl and a literal criminal
Found a cult
A bunch of real assholes with some orbs that were evil and they were trying to end the world
Kicked their butts, badly
And burned down a warehouse on the side
Bigger bad, watching
We beat up his dudes and then he cried
Irador
We thought he was a good guy but he really was a dragon and he tried to kill us all
Called him out
Shot him through the heart with a ballista then he turned all big and teethy and he tried to eat our heads
Stole his orb
He shot us with his frost breath and he clawed us and he bit us and things were not going well
Micah died
Don’t worry he got better but it was our first time and things were looking bleak
Jinn escaped, bravely
He established stealth and ran away
Irador, chased him
And just when everything was looking lost
It turned out Jinn was a secret prince
And he had a magic amulet
And when he was close to death
It summoned his sister to save his ass
And with a blast of her magical lightning
The dragon was slain forever
And the Dragon Punchers won the day
And they saved Bart and Micah and that first wizard guy
(First wizard guy)
And Mani Mara’hid met the Knight of Cups
And love bloomed on the battlefield like tales of old
Love at the end of the world
Between the princess and the knight
Like the tales of old
Once Irador sought to end the world
Now he’s an attractive breastplate
And that’s what led to
The Wedding of Mani and Bart
Once upon a time the bride and groom punched a dragon
Now they’re punching each other in the heart
And now we’re all at
The Wedding of Mani and Bart
No dragon ever could tear them apart
And now it’s time to join them heart to heart
Now these two attractive people
Will be wedded in holy matrimony
Like it’s crazy how good-looking they both are
Their kids are gonna look amazing
And since Mani is princess of Khard,
Bart is technically a prince
And since Chari’s like a sister to him she’s a princess
That’s how it works no takesies backsies (takesies backsies)
And now it’s in a song so it’s legally true
Chari can crash at the palace and wear fancy dresses
This is a beautiful night
And the feeling for the wedding is right
So let’s get these two hitched
Once upon a time the world was ending
Now tonight their world can finally start
It’s why we’re all here
The Wedding of Mani and Bart
Once upon a time he was the Knight of Cups
Now he’s the Knight of Hearts
So let’s do this thing
The Wedding of Mani and Bart
This is the Wedding of Mani and Bart
Mani and Bart
Mani and Bart
Wedding day!

Campaign

99 Problems

Protagonists

So'asna "Jinn" Mara'hid

Level 17 Elf Chaotic Neutral Rogue Assassin
(Runaway Prince)

109 / 109 HP

Chari Eleanor Cross

Sir Bartleby of Calicia

Micah of Nid

Wilf

Report Date

17 Jul 2021