Pieces of Eight, Session 25: Epilogue to Remaining Realm

General Summary

The Pieces of Eight struggle to cope with living in a new better world, where they have new better lives.

Aftermath

The other members of the Pieces of Eight stand over Zangrim Tarkelby’s lifeless body in the ruins of Crow's Crest. Vencyne Amakiir’s ears ring with abolethic screeching as the portal to the Far Realm closes in the distance. Other heroes from other realities rush over from the battleground to help Zangrim. Time seems to slow down as Tolvig Thundersong reaches the fallen gnome first. James Wavebreaker tries desperately to think of a spell to save his friend. Vencyne follows her instincts. The Pieces of Eight see a white light.

New World, Old Problems

A female Drow opens her eyes. For the first time in 20 years she is back home. This is the Rrostarr home. This Drow is Eyrs Thonich. No. This Drow was Eyrs Thonich. Now she was Bela. Belaquarra Rrostarr, the person Eyrs Thonich would’ve been if the Gravebound had never existed. Because in fact, The Gravebound never did exist. The influence of his Rotspores never turned Mabel Bloodsworth’s ally Vilnathari into the horrible Wendigo. That monster never attacked Bela. And she never killed her family in her uncontrolled Wendigo form.
Her family was once again here in Grime Chapel. 20 years older but alive. Her mother, Innilee Rrostarr, was washing the vegetables that Bela would prepare for dinner. Through the window Bela could see her father, Alghar Rrostarr, was outside tending the mushrooms. Innilee softly approached the subject of Bela’s rapidly aged appearance. Bela didn’t mind. Just being with them was everything she’d ever wanted. She's sucessfully undone the biggest mistake she’d ever made. But how did she still remember that she wanted to undo the mistake. If it had really been undone, she wouldn’t remember.
Regardless, Bela happily prepared dinner. She enjoyed her family’s company. She spent her days working for the Underguard with her sister, Rithrana Rrorstar. She was so happy, but the memories nagged her. Worse than the memories were the facts. She looked older physically than she should, and she had those other physical characteristics that she shouldn’t. The curse of Necrolafanthropy was still coursing through her blood. Blood that she could still manipulate with Goremancy thanks to the Order of the Lycan’s teachings.

New World, New Problems

Formerly an orphan pickpocket, an adventurer, a local politician, a spiritual medium, a multidimensional time traveler, a cosmic concubine, an offering to a Far Realm elder god, and a hero of all reality, Vencyne now found herself in the scariest situation of all - she was engaged! Apparently now a princess, Vencyne was being rushed by several servants into a joint wedding celebration arranged by the Axis of Elvenkind to further reconnect the Sundered subraces of Elvenkind. Vencyne was one bride in eight separate weddings happening today.

Oh Brother Where Art Though

Klearic Faymal found himself back home in Craufield, in the middle of a conversation with his parents, Yzerlon and Celra. He asked them about Limonar, who neither of them knew. They then asked him if he would be accompanying them to the royal wedding this afternoon. Celra was particularly excited about her favorite royal princess: Princess Vencyne Amakiir. Klearic was ready to leave.

Wedding Crasher

Klearic got to the Farmancy in time to talk to Vencyne before the wedding. However, she was called into a pre-wedding meeting before they could come up with an escape plan. Klearic went back out to watch the ceremony.
In the meeting, Vencyne felt familiar eyes admiring her. Oceanus sat nearby. He looked lovingly at her. He was not her groom. He was engaged to Gilma Graxborn, a Scalelf from the Grax Canyon. Gilma was deeply upset by his wandering eyes and yelled at him. She was interrupted by the wedding planner, who reminded all 16 wedding participants that what they were doing was the ultimate good required by the Axis. Vencyne was backed into a corner with very little options, but there was no way in hell she was going to marry…
“Gumdrop Sugarbritches,” Celra said. Klearic pressed his mother for more information. According to Celra, Gumdrop was the “King of Candy,” she said it like it was a good thing but the descriptions of Gumdrop’s accolades painted a picture in Klearic’s mind of a squat, sticky, old man who had never not gotten what he wanted. He would soon find his assumptions to be correct as each pair was presented to Elvenkind.
King Hentafore spoke aloud to the audience gathered in the Farmancy as each coupled joined him on the immaculate stage. “First, a bond sure to be as sturdy as rock or oak - we have ‘Burly’ Bruce Brickbreaker of the mighty Mountain Elves betrothed to Leafennia Rootlyn emissary of the Wood Elves." Bruce Brickbreaker, a large barrel chested Elven man with greyish rock-like skin ascended on to the stage. His medium length white hair was pulled back into a bun, and his scruffy beard was braided for the ocassion. Bruce wore no shirt, only black high waisted pants, matching black boots, and a stone crown. This contrasted with Leafennia Rootlyn, who's bright green dress was sewn from the leave fiber of the forests her clan inhabited. Her soft brown bark-textured hand interlocked with Bruce's as they bowed to the crowd.
"Second, a match made in the stars - ‘Shimmering’ Stinson Sunshine of the Brightburn Sun Elves will take his bride Xanthia Quiftmain of the Lunos Colony Moon Elves." Stinson Sunshine glowed on his wedding day. Not because of joy or happiness but because he seemed to be made out of solidified plasma. The traditional wedding attire of the Sun Elves exaggerating his brightness even further. On the contrary, Xanthia Quiftmain had a much colder and calmer appearance. Her pale white Elven skin appeared an almost blue, and her dark moon gown seemed to almost glisten on the surface of its ethereal purple and black hombre.
"Third, a love so strong that they crossed multiple planes to find each other - the soulmates from the Shadowfell and the Feywild represent and alliance between the Shadar-Kai and the Wild Elves. Give it up for Count Lucifer Lurk and his tribal princess Twinadyr Hoovestamp." Probably more unlikely than even the first two pairings, two elven races from the Shadowfell and Feywild. Lucifer Lurk was paler than even the Moon Elves. His face held a look of undeath. The brim of his black top hat cast a shadow that seemed to extend into the Shadowfell itself. Meanwhile, Twinadyr was almost nude, the most private parts of her body covered by plant life, as was the custom of Wood-Elves. Special cermonial face paint accented her eyes and cheeks. The pair seemed to almost represent life and death as concepts making a union of some kind.
"Forth, she’s got her head in the clouds and he’s a little more grounded. It’s Dirk Darkseeker, advisor to Queen Arachne, and his new winged bride Yilna Harspybane from Knilmbus." Dirk Darkseeker, a Drow, looked out of place and almost futuristic among the previously introduced Elven races. He wore his military accolades on the breast of his jacket, which featured many buckles and straps. A flintlock pistol rested in the holster on his hip. His winged bride, an Avariel, looked dainty beside the military might of the Drow, but appearances can be decieving. Yilna was probably one of the world's most capable warmongers. It was an open secret that the red coloring on her wings was blood collected from the corpses of her fallen foes, but it sure looked good with her golden wedding armor.
"Fifth, two descendants of disgraced Elder Kings who have gone through much training and turmoil to end a centuries long war betwen the two clans they command. Howl and hiss for Wolfgang Hexblood the Pack Alpha of the Order of Lythari and his elegant bride Lady Raina Vexicousous the Blood Elf heiress of the elder King Erysicthon." Basically Vampires and werewolves getting married. The audience never thought this would actually work out. But these two might've been the only couple here who weren't arranged by political interests. Wolfgang and Raina had a lot in common, and saw each other as peers despite the infighting it caused within their respective clans.
"Sixth, from the deserts of the Grax Canyon and the Seat of Posideon come a pairing that ignores prejudice. Oceanus, the prince of the Sea-Elves, gives his fin to Gilma Graxborn - a Scalef. Not a only a union that helps mend Elvenkind but hopefully one that brings us closer to the grace of Mother Grax." Klearic recognized the familar face of Oceanus the Sea-Elf, but had no idea whether the Sea-Elf would recognize him in this weird new world. He noticed Oceanus wasn't looking at the woman he was marrying. Klearic couldn't blame him. Gilma Graxborn was scary and looked a lot like the horrible dragon-like monsters that had destroyed Elvenkind from this very room in the previous continuity.
"Seventh, a love stronger than heaven or hell - Gabriel of the Celadrin and his bride, Xynthia Hornfang - a Fey’ri - and incumbent archdevil in the forth circle of the Nine Hells." This had to be arranged. There was no way a Celestial Elf and an actual archdevil could work out those issues. They looked like the literal defintion of exact opposites.
"Last but not least, a crowd favorite the eighth pairing for today’s festivities: the Short Elf “King of Candy” Gumdrop Sugarbritches and his princess bride Vencyne Amakiir - princess of the Tall Dwarves and descendant of the Etherelves.” Gumdrop Sugarbritches walked onto the stage in platform shoes that made him appear taller. His soft pink hair slicked back with a thick coat of some sugary pomade. A sickeningly sweet candy smell eminated throughout the Pharmancy. His old lecherous eyes following Vencyne as she walked to the stage of the Pharmancy. Her parents were not present. His parents were long dead. There was no time to react. Vencyne would've been first to say "I do." Vencyne ran, Klearic followed close behind. Elven guards chased them through the halls of Nectarhymn until a familiar face whisked them out of sight.

Grave-Breaker

James Wavebreaker opened his eyes in Saltmarsh. He heard his father, Mordecai, and stepmother, Zulynn, talking in the next room. The whispers of his father’s sinister facsimile gone completely from his mind for the first time since the Scarlet Brotherhood planted The Grave Glaive in his path.
But he knew immediately that he was not recovering from some horrible nightmare. Well, he was. The actions he was compelled by evil to commit had no longer happened, but he knew faster than the others that those horrible things had actually happened to him. He felt the power of wild magic inside him. He felt two of the greatest weapons ever forged waiting for him to call on them. He did, momentarily, just to see if he could.
The Gravebreaker appeared in a flash of bright white light. No evil within. No souls screaming for help. Just the pure power of the weapon that killed the Gravebound. James put the weapon away. He had no real desire to kill anyone else.
James walked into the communal area of the house. Zulynn asked him if he would be attending church service at his father’s church. He agreed. He noticed on the walk that Saltmarsh was very different. There were so many more churches and shrines, but also technological advancements. James spotted Zangrim. They chatted briefly but James could tell that the history they shared was remembered by him alone. Maybe it was for the best, James had done a lot of hurtful things to Zangrim in particular. James turned over the Clockwork Amulet in his hand. The only memory of what happened. The only last refrence to the Zangrim he knew.

Prescribing the Problem

Gandalf and the other members of the Allargeemedacene look at Klearic and Vencyne with knowing wisdom in their eyes. The wise old wizards aren’t sure what’s happened exactly - they’ve only had a few hours to think about it - but their working theory is that something has changed the whole world, and the only ones who remember the old continuity had traversed the multiverse in its previous incarnation.
They seem cautious but lean toward it being a positive thing, since several people are back from the dead - the entire Elven race being the most obvious example. Vencyne and Klearic explain that they defeated the Gravebound, but they don’t know what happened to James, Eyrs, or Zangrim. Gandalf offers to use the Demiplane of Traversal to send them back to the Malevolent Wastes but recommends they may want to take their other friends with them, motioning to a nearby Elven dungeon.

Jailves

Vencyne and Klearic approach the dungeon. They are greeted wholeheartedly by Bhaciar and Raicahb (who were arrested by the Axis of Elvenkind when they tried to burn down the Pharmancy earlier that morning) and Vencyne’s parents, King Vulidrin Amakiir and Queen Cynthiri Amakiir. Almost immediately Vencyne became aware that Vulidrin was going along with the wedding and its strange customs happily and that Cynthiri only gazed at him with sadness in her eyes.

The Lonely Life of Cynthiri

Cynthiri explained to Vencyne that she was one of what the Allargeemedacene called “The Remainder.” She and Vulidrin had traveled across the multiverse when the Gravebound threatened Reality #1,001. It was during this time that they brought Vencyne to what they thought was safety. Klearic and Gandalf, having previously witnessed this event, admitted this was true.
Cynthiri explained that after successfully handing Vencyne off to the Allargeemedacene the traversal portal closed rapidly, and they were blocked from using it again. The King and Queen had planned to evacuate their realm and save their people but now they couldn’t. The Rotplauge wiped out everyone until it was only the two of them left alive. They fought alongside each other for a time, battling Rotghouls and abolethic monsters from beyond known reality. They survived together until Vulidrin grew ill. Cynthiri ended his mortal suffering, but it was not truly the end.
Cynthiri called on the Power Ethereal and Vulidrin persisted with her. They were the happiest they had been since the Rotplauge killed all life. Vulidrin finally understood the full scope of abilities his wife possessed. Cynthiri finally felt fully understood and appreciated. They were the strongest they’d ever been and they were determined to fix what had been done to their realm. They tried for a long time but today Cynthiri woke up here. Vulidrin was back but he wasn’t her Vulidrin. He wasn’t the same man who grew with her through their life, that man had died - a sacrifice he would’ve made willingly to undo the disaster that had been done to his people.
Cynthiri said one last goodbye to a confused Vulidrin and joined Vencyne, Klearic, Bhaciar, and Raicahb as the Allargeemedacene opened a traversal portal into Reality #264.

Wasting Time

The party of five stepped back onto the battlefield. Corpses of alien creatures littering the ground. Tolvig Thundersong and Mabel Bloodsworth are helping several others conduct a cleanup. Tolvig is startled by the groups reappearance. “Oh, good, I’m so glad you’ve come back to help cleanup,” Tolvig says.
Klearic and Vencyne correct him. They’ve actually returned to find their friends, and to revive Zangrim. “I’m sorry but I think it’s too late for the little guy. I tried to revive him but it didn’t work,” Tolvig admitted solemnly. Vencyne, undetered, tries to speak to his soul but finds that Zangrim's soul is not present.
Cynthiri began to speak. “If he can’t revive your friend, and you can’t communicate with their ethereal form, do you think it’s possible you created a…”
“Soul Trinket? Yes! I did. I felt it,” Vencyne blurted out. Vencyne began to search herself for a soul trinket but found she was wearing a traditional elven wedding dress. She had no pockets. “They changed my clothes. They put me in this wedding dress.” “Then we’ll have to go back to that place,” Klearic said. Vencyne nodded, visibly upset.
Mabel opened her book in the background as Tolvig used the T.A.R.K.E.Loop to reopen the traversal portal. Several letters from Mabel's book carried Zangrim’s corpse over to them. “You’ll need to take him with you,” Mabel said. Tolvig nodded grimly. “According to Valkur, the gods know about this little thing.” Tolvig shakes the T.A.R.K.E.Loop. “Some of them aren’t too happy about it. Might be hard to travel time or realities for a while so be careful.” The group acknowledge the warning, grabbing Zangrim’s corpse and dragging it back through the portal to Amalgam.

Vacation

The Wish changed the world and it fixed the threat, but Bela herself was the same as she was the moment she watched Zararuk get ripped apart by the Wendigo. It occurred to Bela that the things that happened definitely happened at one point, even if they hadn’t anymore. It occurred to her that the others might still exist somewhere out there in this strange new world. She could talk to them about it, maybe even figure it out. A year had past now and she had to know, and so she took a little vacation from Grime Chapel.
Bela’s first stop was the Citadel. Maybe Zararuk and the Order were still operating out of there. After all, her dead family was still alive, maybe her partner was too. Bela approached and was invited inside. Bela met Meestra, the daughter of the Elder King Erysicthon, stewarding a museum that warned of the folly of disrespecting gods. Bela found this new development interesting but traveled onward to Saltmarsh.

What A Tool!

Zangrim Tarkelby celebrated his nephew Zangrim Jr’s birthday in Seaton with his family. His brother, Yeros, and their family doing well. Unlike the others members of the Pieces of Eight, Zangrim had no recollection of what had happened. This was a fresh copy of Zangrim, created with this new world. He had not been aged by ghosts, or had his eye taken by a sea monster.
At one point in the party Zangrim's father, Warrick Tarkelby gives him the Tarkeltool, a family heirloom, expressing pride in his craftsmanship and his success working for King Skotti in Saltmarsh. After spending the day with his family Zangrim returns to Saltmarsh to prepare for the finishing touches on the Stealthjammer.

Reunion

Bela Rrostarr lands in Saltmarsh. She looks for all of her friends. First she finds Xolec, chained up in Crabber’s Cove where she originally found him. He sadly remembers none of all their exploits but is very intrigued to hear of them. Bela promises to free Xolec and help him kill his brother Tahd.
From there Bela makes her way to Eliander Fireborn's house to talk to Krag. Krag was elated to see Bela. Krag had spent all of the last year wondering if everything that happened in The Remaining Realm was a dream. He was happy to have Eliander back in his life but he had changed so much and he couldn't share those changes with Krag. Living in Amalgam was bittersweet. Bela shared this sentiment. The two talked about various changes in their lives and briefly discussed the others.
In town, Zangrim was preparing for the first launch of the Stealthjammer. King Skotti would be coming later that morning to witness it, and it was the culmination of mutiple years of work. Local naval captain James Wavebreaker would be piloting the ship, and both were preparing together for the journey. While Zangrim was stepping inside his workshop, James noticed a ship made of candy docking at the port. Vencyne - dressed in her normal attire - running all around the ship as the unskilled sailors tried to dock safely.
Vencyne, Klearic, Bhaciar, Rhaciab, and Cynthiri stepped off the Gumyacht - Gumdrop Sugarbritches pleasure ship that they stole from the port in Nectarhymn after exiting the traversal portal. Vencyne asked James to get Zangrim into the Kreb Shack, and hurried inside with the others ignoring the many quesstions James had about the Gumyacht, the world famous wedding she fled from, and several other smaller matters.

Total Recall

The party walked through the Kreb Shack's Saltmarsh facade and appeared inside the resturaunt. The freshly cleaned tile floor squeaks beneath their boots as they step through the door into the Demiplane of Dining. The white wallpaper adorned with cornflower blue crabs softens the unnatural glow of magical lighting that seems emminate from nowhere.
Greeting them upon their entrance is Kreb Shenker, and his formerly deceased brother Jeb. The party navigate towards the counter at the back wall, stepping around the stanchions and soft blue velvet rope while approaching. "What can I get you today," Kreb Shenker asked, looking upwards towards a bright glowing sign. The menu of the Kreb Shack moved magically, rotating through a carousel of various lunch and dinner options. Vencyne placed an order for a Kreb Fishmuffin, but more people entered the store before the others could complete their order.
"It is you!" Bela Rrostarr stated happily as she entered the Kreb Shack with Krag behind her. Noticing Bhaciar and Rhaciab, Bela's smile got even wider. "So you remember?" Bela cautiously asked, fairly confident she was correct. "Yes and Vencyne thinks she can fix Zangrim," Klearic revealed. Before anyone else could say anything James Wavebreaker entered the lobby.
"He's coming right behind me, Vencyne. I hope you're ready," James said quickly. "I hope you have the amulet. His soul is inside of it," Vencyne finally revealed. "I always keep it with me," James said, pulling it from his coat pocket. A moment later Zangrim Tarkelby appeared from the doorway.
"James, did you see that candy ship outside? I can't believe the engineering on it! Anyway, I hope this meeting is quick. We set sail in an hour," Zangrim said with equal mixture of anxiousness and excitement. Everyone was slightly confuised as Cynthiri was the first to step towards the gnome. "So you're the great Zangrim Tarkelby I've heard so much about," Cynthiri said flirtatiously. Zangrim blushed and answered, "Uh, yes ma'am, that would be me." Cynthiri grasped Zangrim's shoulders and he looked very excited for one brief moment as Cynthiri, last of the Etherelves, untethered the fresh Zangrim's soul from its body. The empty body collapsed to the ground. Everyone looked on with suprise, barely able to process the ethical fallout from this choice.
"Quickly, Vencyne! Free your friend from his soul trinket," Cynthiri said loudly, while using magic to hold the fresh Zangrim's soul outside of the untethered body. Vencyne reacted quickly, walking over to James and releasing Zangrim's soul from the amulet. Their friend, the original Zangrim, in his ethereal form tethered himself to the new Zangrim's body and Cynthiri deposited the fresh Zangrim back into the amulet. For a moment the room was silent as they waited for Zangrim to return.
Zangrim opened his eyes and picked himself up off the hard tile floor. The room held its breath. "Did we win?," Zangrim asked. The room exhaled with joy. "Yes, but a lot has changed. The King is coming within the hour to see the launch of the Stealthjammer," James Wavebreaker confessed. "MY STEALTHJAMMER IS BACK?" Zangrim blurted out with excitement while spriting out the door. He rambled with excitement at the return of his eye, Tarkeltool, and youth. He noticed Tarkeltopia orbiting the planet above. But none of these were more interesting than the candy boat and its impossible engineeering. Vencyne stepped into Saltmarsh mentioning to Zangrim that his possessions were inside the Gumyacht.
The uplifting victory of Zangrim's return took a macbre downward slope momentarily as Zangrim collected his various possessions from the corpse of his previous incarnation. The soul of his body's true owner screamed silently from within the amulet in James' pocket. However, there was no time to worry about these things, the party set the empty Gumyacht adrift into the sea, and stepped back onto land to prepare for the launch of the Stealthjammer, Zangrim taking special caution to look for signs of a Kraken lurking in the depths near Saltmarsh.

Report Date

05 Aug 2022

Related Characters

• Belaquarra Rrostarr
• James Wavebreaker
• Vencyne Amakiir
• Zangrim Tarkelby