REVELMOORE: DRAGON HEIST
EPILOGUE
It was thus that the sun set on Ambermantle's Enigma, and the Revelmoore that the moon found that night was a different one than she had seen before. The Red Spirits faced enemies far more powerful than themselves, defied the whims of fate, and forced that which was more than forgotten to be remembered, and for their efforts the City of Splendors was forever changed.
The ten-day holiday of Fleetswake, already among the most famous of Revelmoore's many yearly celebrations, was given a new meaning after the conclusion of the race for Ambermantle's Enigma. With the image of Halaster's flaming visage and brilliant meteor shower serving as the backdrop of the Honorable Knight's first crusade in decades, the 30th of Freyrmond would become a holiday of its own merit, known to the locals as
Heavensfall. Every year thenceforth, Halaster was known to grace the city with a dazzling, but harmless meteor shower to commemorate his defeat of Veszaltyrr Oussndar.
Every Heavensfall, the good people of Revelmoore would reflect on the upheaval and change of Freyrmond, 3521. The events of this month would be dubbed by a particular author as the Dragon Heist, and signaled a turning point in Revelmoore's history.
No sooner did the Sea Maiden's Faire set sail for home in Fortune's Crossing did the planning commence for the distribution of Dagult Ambermantle's stolen gold. Zelem Corvo stayed true to his word and donated a substantial amount of the takings to Revelmoore itself; although a non-insignificant portion of gold was returned to the Council of Lords in an official showing of good faith, a vast majority of the wealth's redistribution took the form of donations to the various and numerous guilds of Revelmoore.
These donations fueled the guilds' efforts to work on public projects, give sustainable jobs and training to those in need, and generally improve the quality of life for those on the lesser side of the noble divide. Despite the tax collection department under the Council of Lords nearly causing a riot on more than one occasion, the Guilds kept quiet about their benefactor as they hung up advertisements for the Sea Maiden's Faire, daring the city officials to audit them after the good they had accomplished.
What was not given to the guilds or the Council of Lords was handed directly to the citizenry in several forms; outright donations and alms, payments for odd jobs and seasonal work for the Sea Maiden's Faire, and mysterious dead drops into the homes of the unfortunate. Whenever the Faire blew into town, so did the scent of coin.
Revelmoore was changing, and the growing power of the guilds would slowly begin to eat away at the august legacies of the nobility and the rulers of the city, if only little by little. The revolution would not come for decades, if not longer, but its shadow had been cast nonetheless.
The City of Revelmoore
Ambermantle's Enigma shook the foundation of the City of Splendors, satisfying all the voices crying out for a new Grand Game. The very nature of nobility in the city was challenged, and even though the entrenched traditions of seven centuries could not be undone in a month, the events of Freyrmond, 3521 proved that cracks could form.
Revelmoore's Independence
The donation of a massive amount of gold from a foreign power undermined the strength of the political faction supporting Revelmoore's independence from the Veldtrada. The ease at which the Devil's Hand slipped into the city's most hidden affairs proved that the Jewel of Akados, no matter how powerful, was in a precarious position due to its opulence.
When the time for voting came, three-fourths of the city's masked lords voted in favor of maintaining official alliances with the other city-states of the Buntesveldt. Revelmoore's flag would continue to fly in tandem with the flags of Bliski, Capra, Morborg, Shinvi, Stavrolpol, and Ustran Pazeel.
Open Lord Reverie Ilvastarr II
Open Lord Reverie's position came under fire once details of the Dragon Heist became public. Between the return of Veszaltyrr Oussndar, the first above-ground appearance of Halaster Blackcloak in decades, the retrieval of Ambermantle's lost gold by a foreign power, a full-scale revolution in the Xanathar Guild, and the uncovered corruption of a founding house, her relative inaction was harshly criticized by the citizenry and nobility alike.
Her irreverent demeanor, status as a chosen of Jamboor and symbolic link to the city's first Open Lord helped to maintain popularity amongst the majority, but Reverie would battle vitriol for her rule during the Dragon Heist for the rest of her time as Open Lord. This further widened the gap between herself and High Dragon Solauvaire Oussndar, who was seen as a public hero for his role in securing the gold for the public of Revelmoore.
High Dragon Solauvaire Oussndar
In contrast to the Open Lord's controversial public perception following the conclusion of Ambermantle's Enigma, High Dragon Solauvaire was quickly elevated from a popular archmage to a beloved hometown hero. The image of his brief alliance with the dangerous Halaster against the will of his father was immortalized in song and art, and all but entirely dissolved rumors of any secret allegiance he may have owed to Veszaltyrr.
With the return of the Fang of Aurinax to its rightful wielder, the Walking Statues were once again brought under the control of the High Dragon for the first time in over 100 years. Solauvaire kept the Fang's century of absence a secret as to not undermine the city's perception in the eyes of potential enemies such as Bard's Gate and Oceanus. His initial unfamiliarity with the artifact assured that he would remain unaware of Zelem's
Instant Summons, and the Masquerade would watch him intently for the day they chose to shatter the sapphire linked to it.
Solauvaire's personal project, the Revelmoore Rangers, was brought into being in the summer of 3521. This elite force of on-call adventurers would remain in the city of Revelmoore or in its outskirts, ready to be mobilized at the High Dragon's command to respond to threats beyond the scope of the City Watch or City Guard. This force was regarded as a dangerous group of uncontrolled vigilantes by the City Nobility, the Council of Lords, and the Flaming Anvil, but quickly became a popular entity in the eyes of the common folk.
Solauvaire's actions during the Dragon Heist cast him as a larger-than-life, almost mythical figure; the archetypal wizard in a distant tower conducting experiments, teaching apprentices, and defending his city. However, the well-informed folk of the north ward know that the High Dragon can often be seen as a patron at Troll Skull Manor, enjoying a glass of wine and the peace of the friendly tavern.
Rydia Margaster
Rydia Margaster retained her seat as the High Priestess of Jamboor, her influence growing with Solauvaire's own ascent in popularity. She oversaw the long-awaited repairs to the roof of the House of Wonder, and assisted in the city's restoration from the Modron attack.
The High Priestess became a very common sight during Heavensfall festivities, where she would watch in awe as the mad mage caused his yearly star-shower. Looking on in amazement, she could only wonder how a being like Halaster arose to such magical might in the first place. Another subject for study…
Halaster Blackcloak
Chief among Revelmoore's mysteries, Halaster was only further enshrouded by the events of the Dragon Heist. The appearance of his flaming likeness and its ascent, as well as the now yearly shooting star show in the evening skies over Revelmoore dispelled many doubts about the Mad Mage even existing at all.
Yet even as the city's officials and rulers tensed for a potential hostile surfacing of the uncontrollable Mad Mage, things remained quiet. Halaster, perhaps content with his second victory against Veszaltyrr and the much more neighborly "new" Xanathar Guild, sat silent in his throne deep in the Undermountain. Scheming, plotting, raving stark mad, and awaiting the next flies to fall into his trap of lunacy.
The Masquerade
The clandestine war for Dagult Ambermantle's gold changed the Masquerade's view of the world. Their ancestral enemy had returned, a foreign power outplayed their centuries-old tradition spy-mastery, and a devil-worshiping cult had formed beneath the very streets they swore to protect.
With a mind for the future, the Masquerade looked outwards to expand their network of operations. There would always be another Dagult Ambermantle somewhere in the world, and there was ever a need for those willing to put on the mask and play the part of the silent hero. Cells of the Masquerade began to propagate throughout Lloegyr, bringing their own solutions and problems as they fed information and secrets concerning the world at large back to the nexus in Revelmoore.
Remallia Haventree
Lady Remallia Haventree recused herself as a Master of Ceremonies in the Masquerade after failing to realize the infernal allegiances of her longtime friends, the Cassalanters. Perhaps out of guilt or a desire to redeem her failures, Remallia became the guardian of Elzerina and Tirenzio Cassalanter after they were effectively orphaned.
Anitari Starsong
Anitari Starsong eagerly embraced the Masquerade's new direction and decided to participate the organization's expansion into the outside world. She chose to lead the new cell installed in the town of Saltmarsh, where she settled to pose as an entertainer and occasional painter.
From behind her lute and canvas, Anitari kept a trained eye on the residents and locales in Saltmarsh, paying particularly close attention to Gellan Primewater himself and any of the places touched by the defunct Oweland family. If anything were to happen, she would ensure that the Masquerade knew.
Mattrim "Threestrings" Merreg
Much like Anitari, Threestrings decided to pack up and help with Masquerade operations out in the south. His assignment was as a high-ranking member of the hazardous Bard's Gate cell, where he did his best to keep tabs on Bard's Gate's expansionist policies.
His act drew attention much like it had in his home of Revelmoore, but with far less tolerance for artistic license than back home. Within a year he had disappeared; rumors flew about claiming that he had skipped town to pursue his career elsewhere, while others posited that he had finally become "Nostrings" and hung up the lute for good. One thing was certain; no one knew where he had gone.
Arathir Starsong
The Masquerade's rapid expansion to other parts of Lloegyr convinced Arathir Starsong that he was right to take a backseat in the organization's efforts, and his use of his power as a Masked Lord to arrest Victoro Cassalanter did not go unnoticed by his peers. Following the Dragon Heist, Arathir officially retired as a Masquerade agent and silently relinquished his masked lordship, choosing to tend to the Balladeer's Eclipse full-time.
While his daughter Anitari departed to help the Masquerade's new campaign, Arathir remained home at the Eclipse, continuing in his role as a guardian of the Undermountain and a surrogate father to many adventuring parties. However, he reserved some of his highest praise for the Red Spirits, whom he would often refer to as "the finest troll-slayers south of Frostgale Taiga".
On quiet nights, Arathir would often retreat to his study, where his eyes would rest on his map of Revelmoore… before drifting slowly to the faded, worn map of Waterdeep. As memories returned, Arathir would smile and sing softly of another time in another world lost to history.
House Cassalanter
Proud House Cassalanter, once beloved among even the vaunted noble families of Revelmoore and one of the three founding clans, fell to infamy and dishonor. Theories varied wildly on just how far back the devilish corruption and service to Asmodeus went, casting even fabled heroes of the Cassalanter name in a harsh light. There was even a time when a motion was considered to strike the fuchsia portion from Revelmoore's flag, though this ultimately amounted to naught.
In the end, it was decided that House Cassalanter would go into the care of distant cousins until such a time that Elzerina and Tirenzio were of age to inherit the family's now haunted legacy. Cassalanter Villa became a feared feature of the Sea Ward, avoided by the superstitious and spoken of in ghost stories conjured by tale-spinners. The name would forever be associated with the treachery of Victoro and Amalia Cassalanter, and their willingness to sell everything to hold on to past glories.
Victoro Cassalanter
Victoro Cassalanter, the Man Who Sold the World, was brought to a highly publicized trial that carried on for months and was presided by representatives of the entire Veldtrada. He was eventually found guilty and given multiple death sentences, a decision that met with much controversy; a nobleman had not been executed in Revelmoore in centuries, and more radical opinions defended the man's noble right to worship whatever god - or devil - he chose.
Victoro remained despondent and silent as the final decision was reached; he was eventually escorted to and imprisoned in Revel's End, a high-security prison hidden on the frozen cliffs of the farthest reaches of Frostgale Taiga. Prisoner #41170 remains there in that dreaded panopticon, awaiting the day that he may rejoin his beloved in the depths of Baator to answer for his crimes.
Asmodeus
The Lord of Lies, Master of Baator and All Those Within, got what he wanted out of his dabbling in Revelmoore's affairs. He was delighted to oversee and orchestrate the fall of two mortal souls, and managed to feast on the despair both wrought and suffered by the Cassalanters. Amalia became one of his prized prisoners, with Asmodeus keeping her locked away in Nessus to torment until Victoro's eventual, assured arrival.
Revelmoore soon brought up worship of Asmodeus as an official charge separate from other heretical devotions to dark deities, carrying the punishment of death. This was a controversial move on the Council of Lords' part, but memories of the Cassalanters' misdeeds proved to be stronger than the cries for total religious freedom in the City of Splendors.
The Xanathar Syndicate
Like a phoenix from the ashes, the Xanathar Guild was reborn as the Xanathar Syndicate, and with this renewal came a time of great change in the Undermountain and beyond. Decades of accounting for the mad beholder's lunacy gave way to an airtight guild hierarchy, headed by the one-eyed Xanathar who in turn was served by her ten eyes.
The new Xanathar Syndicate took cues from the old Black Network, creating a union of ideas that some would come to call a masterwork of underworld crime. Taking advantage of the influx of new wealth into the coffers of Revelmoore's citizenry the Xanathar Syndicate purchased legitimate business fronts, invested in gambling operations, made contact with traders of illicit goods in the Underdark, and set down the foundation of one of Lloegyr's most expansive smuggling networks. It did not take long for Ramrider's Retreat to become one of the great locuses of underworld affairs and black marketing.
The old days of the Xanathar Guild were gone; in their place came the days of the Xanathar Syndicate. Indiscriminate destruction and unrestrained malevolence were traded for subtler, highly organized works of criminal majesty. Citizens of Revelmoore were unable to agree on which was preferable, but one thing was certain; one way or another, the name Xanathar would be forever associated with the Crown of the North.
The Xanathar
The Beholder once known as the Xanathar retreated to the depths of the Deepwater Harbor following its fight against the Red Spirits and their allies. Wounded, bereft of its minions, and no longer kept from dreaming by a magical dream nulifier, the creature was now more paranoid than ever before. It quickly snatched up a pretty-looking saltwater fish as the new Sylgar and departed, seeking another entrance to the Underdark and a dark recess in which to make its lair.
The mad aberration was doomed to nameless obscurity, known only as 'a beholder' or 'that hideous thing' to adventurers unlucky enough to stumble upon its new home. The new life did not suit the creature, and it soon began to dream of starting anew in another den of thieves; or better yet, revenge upon the Ramrider Family….
Raeziel Ramrider
Raeziel Ramrider; the princess, the exile, the thief, and the queen. Sitting upon the throne of her forebears gave the intrepid new guildmaster of the Xanathar Syndicate a renewed perspective of the journey that led her to this point. Before her was the breadth of Revelmoore's wealth to be taken and hoarded; but she was smarter now. Wiser. It was now, at the pinnacle of her wealth and success, that Raeziel finally came to the realization that money wasn't everything.
Her pastime between work as the Xanathar and independent thievery became the preservation and rediscovery of her family's history. She ensured that there would never come to pass another time where only a lone maverick was willing to champion the proud legacy of Clan Ramrider. This of course led to members of her extended family pestering her to provide an heir to succeed the legacy she had worked so hard to preserve, but Raeziel always maintained that she would see to the family's affairs in her own way when the time came. These statements were always accompanied by the persistent memory of a particular goblin girl somewhere out south.
Lest her reputation be tarnished, Raeziel developed a taste for the finer things in life, amassing a collection of rare spirits, fine works of art, gemstones of prodigious size, and artifacts worthy of a dragon's hoard. After all, money wasn't everything… but it certainly was something.
Don Ramrider
The return of his prodigal daughter brought Don Ramrider to a crossroads. Before him stood the culmination of his greatest achievements and greatest failures alike, bringing him great pride and shame in equal measure. He stayed on with the family for a time, but then suddenly disappeared one cold autumn morning, his guilt over the Ramrider's initial fall and the death of Genziel becoming too much of a burden.
No one knows where Don Grimkon went after his departure from Ramrider's Retreat. Legends persist however, that those who venture deep enough into the Undermountain sometimes catch glimpses of a one-armed dwarf shuffling through the darkness.
Genziel Ramrider
Genziel Ramrider, the Xanathar's most trusted knight, remained silent in stone forevermore. Her petrified remains formed the center of Raeziel's repository of Ramrider lore, standing guard over her family in death as she had in life. The Knight of Many Eyes was forgotten, but fondly remembered and always beloved was the dwarf who gave everything to ensure her family's survival.
Yuan-ti Infiltrators
The faithful of Aapep retreated to their desert sanctuary following their staggering defeat and the defection of Yilani. There were many explanations, sermons, and rituals carried out to reason away their failure to carry out the end prophesied by the eclipse, but deep down it was known; the civilized peoples of Revelmoore had defeated them, and Aapep's wrath would be great indeed. The Yuan-ti receded into their sands, awaiting the next opportunity to bring Aapep's holy destruction to the rest of the world.
The Devil's Hand
The Devil's Hand left a permanent mark on the City of Splendors. To a city steeped in story and song, it seemed only appropriate that the underdog would turn the greatest mystery in Revelmoore's history upside-down in the matter of a single season. The trio of black ships sailing from the south became a popular piece of folk iconography in retellings of Ambermantle's Enigma, to the point that the tale was even sometimes called 'The Black Fleet Heist'.
Just as the Hand had left its mark on Revelmoore, the city itself left a lasting impression on the thieves guild, and they would leave behind a contingent of agents and entertainers to oversee the establishment of a more permanent presence in the Crown of the North. The Castor twins, Nomad Vennel, and Brooke worked tirelessly to establish the first new chapter of the Devil's Hand, which would be known as the Dragon's Ante.
The Ante put a significant investment into opening a fabulous theater and gambling hall, The Dragon's Hoard, and used it as both a base of operations and a hidden temple to Moccavollo. From their glimmering base in the Southern Ward, the Dragon's Ante entertained the people of Revelmoore year-round while stealing secrets and wealth from the rich and powerful. They also helped to establish a firm, if somewhat tense, working relationship with the Xanathar Syndicate, preventing another full-out war like the one between the Guild and the Veszaltyrr's scions.
From two seats of power, Zelem Corvo's network of thieves looked outward and planned to expand their influence even further. Points of contact were formed, like-minded individuals and organizations were scouted, and valuable secrets were sought. Perhaps in time, all of Lloegyr would be in the palm of the Devil's Hand.
Shizukana Miyabe
Shizukana's confidence was somewhat shaken by her defeat by Reilly and Yilani, as well as the total loss of the High Roller. She briefly considered resigning in shame, but encouragement from Rosie was enough to secure her continuing loyalty to Zelem and the Devil's Hand. According to the Thief Lord, Shizukana "had it where it counts" and continued to rely on her skills.
The Sea Maiden's Faire, in its realm-wide travels, would continue to be defended from stowaways and thieves by an unseen shadow. Lurking always behind the curtains to catch her sister's performances, Shizukana became the shade of swift retaliation feared by any and all would-be enemies of the Black Fleet.
Rosie the Riveting
Rosie the Riveting delighted in her dazzling return to center stage, and pushed to remain in the role. With Zelem's blessing, she took over as the Captain of the Sea Maiden's Faire and took the fleet to the sea, stopping in port towns far and wide to ply their trade. As a source of income and an unofficial ambassador of Fortune's Crossing, the Faire saw much success throughout the Bay of Akados.
The Faire would continue to visit Revelmoore, though no longer at specific intervals. The Faire garnered a mystique for arriving seemingly at random on whatever holidays Rosie found appealing. No one would know when the Faire was due to arrive until it weighed anchor.
Outside of the bombastic displays of classical plays and acclaimed foreign epics, Rosie began to pursue writing her own scripts to be performed in front of smaller crowds in more intimate venues. New plays by a new playwright were a hard sell, but after all, she had earned the name 'the Riveting' for a reason. It was only a matter of time.
Ruven Torrel
True to her word, Ruven continued to operate as an agent of the Devil's Hand, bringing an air of mysticism to the organization that added to its mystique. Wherever the water held secrets, Ruven was seen soon after, inspiring tales and whispers wherever she went. And yet every spring, she found time to visit Revelmoore in the north and stop in for a spot of tea with her dear friend Panic and her goddaughter Valor.
Zelem Corvo
Following his stunning upset, Zelem did the only sensible thing a man who had just stolen nearly a million gold coins could do; he returned home to Fortune's Crossing and laid low for a while, plotting out the budget for the heist winnings and planning for the future funded by Ambermantle's folly. After the immediate heat had died down, he began to make regular visits to Revelmoore to help foster the growth of the Dragon's Ante.
Arriving in Revelmoore always in disguise, Zelem acted as an envoy of Fortune's Crossing and brought generous donations as proof of his good will. During these visits, he curried favor with the city's officials in his eternal war against Bard's Gate; even though the Open Lord had plenty of reason to detest him, the two shared a mutual enemy in both Bard's Gate and Ambermantle's growing power in Oceanus. Zelem would also make an effort to uncover the identities of some of Revelmoore's Masked Lords, of course keeping these attempts a secret from his newfound Reveler allies. Secrets were, ironically, worth more than gold.
Between the diplomatic maneuverings and shady dealings, Zelem always made a point to stop in at Troll Skull Manor, still in disguise but with a presence well-known to its operators and owners. These visits were a far cry from his prior visits; no pretense, no secret agendas, just a glass of wine and a peaceful evening in the quiet North Ward.
With money secured and growth sustained, Fortune's Crossing would quickly approach its first mayoral election. Although Zelem would not run for office, he would remain in the shadows still, taking great pains to ensure the office would never be used to harm his guild or the people.
The Black Network
The Black Network's civil war would prove to be its end. Veszaltyrr's return was thought by some to be the renewal of the glory days, and by others to be the death of their way of life, but in truth the Lord of Brass would bring naught but annihilation. Over time, the Black Network would become a name associated only with memory and greed, remembered in the serpentine tattoos borne by its former adherents.
The Doom Raiders
The Doom Raiders barely survived the civil war, outnumbered and fraught by betrayal as they were. Tashlyn Yafeera was buried with honors, while Skeemo Weirdbottle became a name spoken only with venomous recollection, his body fed by the canals to the Bay of Akados.
Davil Cedarfall, Ziraj the Hunter, and Yagra Stonefist left behind the Doom Raider name and pledged themselves to their former compatriot, the new Xanathar Raeziel Ramrider as three of her new 'Ten Eyes'. The trio continued to bear their encircled winged serpent tattoos in memory of where they came from and what they had overcome to survive.
Ziraj found consistent work for a man of his talents under Raeziel's direction. Organized crime despises competition, and there is rarely a more efficient way of disposing of competition than assassination. With every draw of the bow, he drifted further away from his old love, Fala Lefaliir. Before long, the two knew that they would never speak again; a fact that was mourned, but accepted.
The Scions of Black Hearts
Veszaltyrr's army of traitors and opportunists burned like a raging fire, and fittingly faded to scattered embers. After the spring of 3521, no one would ever take on the title of Scion again, and the Scions of Black Hearts faded away to obscurity.
Urstul Floxin's campaign of hatred and vengeance amounted to naught, and he too was forgotten; a footnote in the annals of history, another one of Veszaltyrr's regrets. His lasting legacy would be his flaming katana, kept by Renaer as a reminder to persevere in the face of the overwhelming flames.
Veszaltyrr Oussndar
Having been bombarded by a barrage of deadly
magic missiles fired by possibly the most dangerous mage in all of Lloegyr, many would have been right to presume Veszaltyrr Oussndar, Lord of the Black Network, to be dead. Revelmoore had come to know better, however; there was no body, and the man had a habit of disappearing.
Humbled by the actions of the Red Spirits and their allies, Veszaltyrr Oussndar departed from Revelmoore to parts unknown and once again became the Exile. His years of preparation and amassing a clandestine army had amounted to naught, and it would surely be years before another opportunity such as Ambermantle's Enigma would present itself to him again.
Veszaltyrr would never return to Revelmoore, nor seek to dominate Solauvaire's will ever again. His whereabouts, and the extent of his devastation of the plane of Mechanus to retrieve the Heart of Cygnus, remain mysteries to be uncovered.
Yet the Brass Lord continued to plot and scheme. His were not the goals and ideals meant to be abandoned by a setback, no matter how major. Veszaltyrr held his dreams of an Underdark reborn close to his hardened heart and moved on to his next efforts to realize them. Like most things in Mechanus, he refused to change, and there was nothing he was unwilling to do to realize the brass utopia he envisioned.
The Gralhunds
When Tomassin Gralhund returned to Revelmoore from her studies abroad, she found her family home burned to cinders, her father dead, and her mother & sisters missing. A letter left behind in an entrusted lock-box explained everything and offered apologies that were ultimately not accepted. Tomassin abandoned her noble name and sought continuing education in the ways of magic, becoming one of High Dragon Solauvaire's brightest pupils.
Yalah Gralhund
Yalah Gralhund became a wanted fugitive, forever condemned to arrest upon return to the city she once called home. She was never seen again in Revelmoore. However, in a quiet hamlet nestled in a quiet corner of the Stoneheart Valley, a widowed tiefling seamstress scrapes by a meager living and raises two daughters, her simple existence fraught with nightmares and regrets that never quite go away. Her greatest source of comfort remained her second husband, the Half-orc strongman Hrabbaz, who excelled at scaring away inquisitive visitors.
Troll Skull Alley
Despite everything, Troll Skull Alley remained a quiet part of Revelmoore's quietest ward. The damage from the Gralhund fireball was repaired, and the alley's residents lowered their arms that they had taken up to protect the Red Spirits. Life had finally returned to normal… for what passed for normal in Revelmoore, anyway.
The damage to the alley caused by the Gralhund nimblewright fireball took some time to repair completely, although the generous donation of a mysterious benefactor to speed up the process helped immensely. This, combined with the influx of customers to the newly popular Troll Skull Manor, brought new life to the small little slice of paradise; but never enough to where visitors called it anything but 'sleepy' and 'quaint'.
Vincent Trench
The rush for the gold was far more attention than Vincent Trench wanted to draw to himself, and he briefly considered abandoning the detective persona to start anew somewhere else. However, a surprise visit from High Dragon Solauvaire changed his mind; in return for providing detective services to the Revelmoore Rangers when needed, Solauvaire offered to use the full power of his office to protect Vincent's true identity
Vincent Trench abandoned his plans to move and hired a secretary that week; Patani, a goblin waitress from the Balladeer's Eclipse, found the job a perfect fit for her particular talents. From that day on, hoodlums, cons, and goons the entire city over feared falling under the view of the Tiger's Eye.
Avi & Embric
Avi & Embric continued to exchange ideas and schematics with their inventive neighbor Reilly, and improved their own crafts as a result. Their custom-order suits of armor became renowned the world over thanks to Reilly's experimentation and notes with their pieces, leading them to credit her as a designer and consultant.
They would become some of the first tenants of Reilly's new Spring of Creation, using the space to craft some of their more experimental designs before selling them to the adventuring public. The Steam & Steel brand became a cherished mark on the finest equipment uses by delvers of the Undermountain.
Emmek Frewn
Against all odds, Emmek Frewn's taphouse continued to operate, and things began to turn around for the odd halfling. By all accounts, after the clockwork invasion, he was a changed man with a pleasant personality; this is often attributed to him being struck in the head by Scion Thugs not long after falling off of a roof.
So as to not compete with his neighbors at Troll Skull Manor, Emmek turned his establishment into a proper brewery and began producing his own "Troll Skull Stout", a strong and dark beer accented with cinnamon. It sold well, especially in the autumn months, and made Emmek a modestly wealthy man.
Spite Maleficarius
Spite Maleficarius, most feared of villains, most despised of malevolent malcontents, chief among the naughty and highest of the rat bastards of Lloegyr, knew that Emmek Frewn's taphouse could no longer contain his unstoppable works of wickedness. Thus, while Troll Skull Manor was under assault by the forces of lesser nemeses and its defenders were distracted by the motions of the walking statues, he deviously slipped in, snatched the pass-amulet to Maleficarius Towers, and departed to reclaim his ancestral home.
From his undisputed throne as public enemy number one within the hellish halls of Maleficarius Towers, Spite gathered like-minded followers committed to do-baddery and formed the Federation of Ominous, Unkind Lawbreakers. This legion of doom shall surely go on to plague Revelmoore and all of Lloegyr for centuries to come, until all bow down before God-Emperor Maleficarius!
Luckily, Spite's accomplices have yet to notice that he is soon to betray them, discarding them as soon as their usefulness has passed, to increase his own notoriety and prestige. Any villain worth their salt knows that any evil alliance is bound to fail, after all! And who better than Spite Maleficarius to come out on top first? MUAHAHAHAHA!
Rishaal the Page-Turner
The excitement of Freyrmond 3521 proved to be a bit too much for Rishaal the Page-Turner, who nearly had a heart attack when the fireball exploded near his store. Once repairs were made, he sold the shop to the first bidder and moved to the north to live out the rest of his days with his daughter Panic in Aspencove, where he helped to tutor young children in the use of simple cantrips.
The Book Wyrm's Treasure was purchased by a well known Reveler novelist, who made every attempt to turn the front of the establishment into a massive advertisement of his works. However, longtime clientele and subtle death threats from Rishaal's adoptive daughter reduced these attempts to small tables outside the building.
Panic, Ember, and Valor Vel
Panikkaria Vel returned to Aspencove in Frostgale Taiga with her family after the end of Fleetswake, having done far more than simply visit her in-laws. Few people survive encounters with mages of untold power, let alone twice in the span of a decade; that was more than enough for Panic, who was already considering early retirement before the Dragon Heist affair. She continued in her capacity as First Seer, but became increasingly wary of politics in the south.
And yet, every Spring, she finds herself accompanying her beloved Ember to visit her family in Revelmoore. It is something of a chore, but Panic cannot stop herself from smiling from her perch on Troll Skull Manor's balcony when she hears tales of three black ships approaching from Fortune's Crossing.
Perhaps most surprising of all of Panic's affairs was a large donation of copied tomes from the Seer's League's archives to the newly established university in Fortune's Crossing, hand delivered by her own four hands in her first visit to the lands of the Akadian Pact in years. She stayed for a weekend, and then immediately returned home to gentler winds and kinder stars.
Troll Skull Manor
Troll Skull Manor, a modest tavern in a quiet part of town, suddenly became a beacon of intrigue for the populace of Revelmoore. This was to the surprise of no one; it was the home of some of the central figures in the grandest of grand games in the city's long history, and the nexus around which the Dragon Heist turned about. Visitors came from far and wide to spy upon the den of secrets and whispers, only to find a relatively peaceful tavern with a slight haunting gimmick.
The Manor, under the continuing care of Reilly and Brooke, prospered in the coming months thanks to the booming clientele. Even if it didn't quite match the unexpected chaos of the Balladeer's Eclipse, it satisfied the need for a warm and inviting place to drink; a place where the occasional glimpse of famous faces could be spied and fantastic tales could be heard.
Lif
Lif had achieved his long-awaited dream of seeing his beloved tavern prosper, and found peace in seeing the new owners survive their search for Ambermantle's Gold. With no loose ends binding him to the material plane, he disappeared, passing on to the afterlife to spend eternity in the paradisical fields of Elysium…
Only to return a few months later. Lif was granted leave by the stewards of the Upper Planes to return to the one place where his spirit belonged, and it was Troll Skull Manor where he would remain for the foreseeable future. Eventually he was given a share in the tavern's profits and was naturalized by the order of Open Lord Reverie herself; the first undead being in Revelmoore to legally own property and hold citizenship.
Floon Blagmaar
With his near-death experience and the tumultuous times of the Dragon Heist behind him, Floon took handily to his role as a host at Troll Skull Manor. His flamboyant nature and kind demeanor kept the establishment from getting a little too sleepy.
Now finally financially comfortable enough, Floon and his husband finally made the leap to get their home in order and have children. They adopted four infants orphaned by Veszaltyrr's Clockwork Invasion, and named at least one of them Brooke.
Bepis Flavorburg
Even though Bepis was told to dial back the spiciness of his signature sauce while working at Troll Skull Manor, the enterprising halfling chef worked well under constraints and came up with a number of popular culinary inventions; these included the Fill'em'up Cheesesteak, the Southern Ward Slider, Spicy Griffin Wings, and world renowned Hot Hound.
When not working at Troll Skull Manor, Bepis trawled the streets of Revelmoore in a mobile food stand known as New Flavorburg, decorated with the sign recovered from the Xanathar's hideout. From his stand, Bepis hocked his food to customers far and wide and delighted the palettes of the citizenry. People came from as far as the Free City of Brookmere to get a taste of his delectable dining delights. However, the magisters of Revelmoore continue to reject his demands to recognize New Flavorburg as a sovereign independent nation.
Lily Conway
Lily saved up diligently to afford a racing horse during her time at Troll Skull Manor, and got pretty close to her goal; however, the breeder she had been in contact with backed out of the deal after receiving threats for potentially providing a commoner with a horse for a sport typically reserved for nobility.
Never one to let something stop her, Lily saddled up Troll Skull Manor's mystery horse, Oatley, and soon discovered that he was a champion-quality racehorse. The two dominated the Revelmoore Horseracing circuit for years after, and Lily became the first lowborn champion the city had known. Oatley, of course, was kept supplied with nothing but the finest of oats until the end of his days.
Snarf
Snarf remained the enemy of stains and hard-water buildup, and was a large reason for Troll Skull Manor's sterling reputation as one of the cleanest establishments in all of Revelmoore. There was the occasional chemical fire here and there, but for the most part, Snarf's inventive nature kept the place in a fine state.
Owing to his inventiveness, Snarf was one of the first to join Reilly's association of inventors and artificers. He attempted to diversify his creations, but the vast majority of them ended up being mostly applicable for cleaning. This did not seem to bother Snarf, who happily found applications for all of his new inventions in his line of work.
Upstanding Gentleman
Upstanding Gentleman remained a pillar of Troll Skull Manor's wait staff. When new hires were needed to compensate for the influx of new clientele, Upstanding Gentleman rose to the occasion and tirelessly trained the new staff himself. With his gentle but firm wing guiding the new waiters, customers were rarely ever left unsatisfied with their experience at Troll Skull Manor.
Spiggley's Spaghetti of Darnagal attempted many times to apologize to Upstanding Gentleman for firing him years ago, hoping to get him back on their staff. After repeated refusals, the struggling restaurant closed its doors due to lack of competent staff. Upstanding Gentleman never asked for a raise at Troll Skull Manor, finding the work and clientele to be rewarding enough.
Zug Zug
There were few as relieved as Zug Zug to see an end to hostilities and the cessation of Ambermantle's Enigma. With a return to normalcy came a chance to lower his fists and put his strength to productive pursuits; something the muscle-bound pacifist did not take for granted.
Although he is perfectly satisfied with his manual labor job at Troll Skull Manor, Zug Zug often takes the time to volunteer with Asclepius, an up-and-coming philanthropic organization based out of Revelmoore, where he assists with the more physically demanding parts of relief work; construction, debris clearing, and supply transportation. After every job, he makes a point to gift the founder of Asclepius with a hug before returning to Troll Skull Manor.
Vowyn Marblewander
Vowyn stuck with her job at Troll Skull Manor, having grown to love the place and its people. This proved to be a boon for her, as she quickly became acquainted with a regular patron of the establishment; High Dragon Solauvaire, who quickly connected with the young mage over his experiences with her great-aunt's spirit.
Her new friendship with Solauvaire led to Vowyn spending increasing amounts of time at the Tower of the High Dragon in her off-hours. As the High Dragon helped to diversify and stabilize Vowyn's spellcasting, she quickly became one of his favorite pupils and a leading candidate for Solauvaire's future successor.
Zephyr
True to his word, Zelem fronted the bill on garnering the materials for a true resurrection spell, and soon Zephyr was reunited with her mother Zammaltra after considerable time apart. The two returned to their home in the cliff faces of Mount Ilvastarr facing the waters of the Gulf of Akados, where they are allowed residence by city officials in exchange for their protective services.
She was not at all content with abandoning the new life she had come to know, however, and she often returns to the city proper to pick up part-time shifts as a waitress at Troll Skull Manor, where she still crashes some nights. Despite the full breadth of draconic might in her reach, Zephyr seems most content when catching up with her friends and hearing tales of their most mundane days.
The Rat Catchers
At her speech following the Clockwork Invasion, Open Lord Reverie personally bestowed a Cross of Bravery, the highest civilian honor in Revelmoore, to each of the Rat Catchers for their courageous actions during the Dragon Heist. They were each given a monthly stipend on the city's behalf, rendering them truly independent and capable of pursuing their own goals.
Of course, very little changed for Nat, Jenks, & Squiddly. The three continue to reside in the upper tower of Troll Skull Manor, serving as their headquarters in between their grand adventures.
Nat remains mute, but by all accounts she has never laughed more since the end of the Dragon Heist. Jenks, while still hesitant around fire, fully embraced his wizardly talent and began mastering cantrip after cantrip with the valuable help of Reilly's crafted hat of wizardry. First level spells are surely soon to come from the city's next big archmage. Squiddly remains the leader of the Rat Catchers, and personally oversaw the expansion of their operations to the outskirts of town. The kids needed help to tackle actual threats on the outskirts of town, however, and so did Squiddly negotiate an alliance with…
Kronk the Stomping Hill Giant
Kronk the Stomping Hill Giant, fresh from his resignation from the Xanathar Syndicate. With club in hand, Kronk earned an honorary guard commission from the city as he accompanied the kids on their jaunts to the city outskirts, becoming the official fourth Rat Catcher. While Nat, Jenks, and Squiddly handle the scheming and thinking, Kronk handles the smashing, just as he likes it.
The Red Spirits
Megumi Sakane, Yilani Deniz, Brooke Acropora, Reilly Springs, Lackadaisical, Eula Havenspire, and Renaer Ambermantle. Some called them a motley crew of vagrants, others called them storied heroes sent from the gods themselves in Revelmoore's time of need. Their deeds were immortalized in story and song, featuring prominently in Piece of the Puzzle's lavishly embellished account of the whole affair. This was something they found acceptable, for as strange as Puzzle's literary stylings may have been, the truth was somehow even stranger.
The Red Spirits were brought together by happenstance, bound by necessity, and parted with unbreakable endearment for one another. Although their paths in life diverged following the Dragon Heist, they would forever remain connected through one unmistakable truth; they had faced all that Revelmoore had to throw at them, and survived. Not many could say that.
Lackadaisical
With her newfound fortune, Lackie found a newfound appreciation of life. It's easy to gain motivation when you have all the money in the world to do whatever you want; it's easier still when you know you can turn that couple thousand into a hundred thousand. Lackie, after splurging on the fanciest foods and wines, after indulging all her friends in a few awesome nights out, after equipping herself with fine clothes and a home fit for a lawyer turned adventurer, got to work.
Satisfied with her indulgences, Lackie sought to turn riches into mind-boggling riches. Her days adventuring brought great coin, influencing Lackie to start an adventuring "guild" (which she referred to in private as a 'multi level dungeoneering business structure') known as the Guild of the Rose-Red Tail, in which eager adventurers would be brought together, given the means to fight and explore, and provided with leads and contracts.
In exchange, the adventurers would a certain percentage of their riches to the guild and encouraged to spread the word of this guild's accessibility and the potential for greatness within the guild's ranks. (Plus, if you got someone to sign into the guild, you'd get a small bag of coin as thanks!)
With this, along with investments in small businesses in Revelmoore and Neverwinter, Lackie hoped to separate herself from her father's legacy and instead create her own empire where she stood above all, rich and living in luxury. While this was certain to take a few hard years, Lackie remained indubitably confident in herself. Some closest to her, in particular some old adventuring friends, may have attributed this deep seeded confidence to Lackadaisical having a Devil's own luck on her side.
Megumi Sakane
Megumi turned out to be a delectable prize to be added to Asmodeus' collection of doomed souls. After sacrificing herself to save the lives of the Cassalanter children, Megumi was whisked away to the infernal city of Malsheem, Asmodeus' seat of power in Nessus and largest city in all of the Lower Planes. Orthodox imprisonment did not await her, however; Megumi was instead conscripted to serve as one of Asmodeus' thousand infernal accountants, responsible for balancing the value of damned souls like herself and reviewing infernal contracts bestowed by other, lesser devils acting in Asmodeus' name.
From her small, cramped scribe's desk in Malsheem, Megumi diligently sees to her work and awaits either salvation or the grip of oblivion. One thing gives her hope; the soft, gentle breeze that sometimes blows in through her small, barred windows on her longest days.
Eula Havenspire
Ser Eula Havenspire, Knight of the Azure Wind, balked at the wealth placed at her feet. 13,000 gold would have been enough to live comfortably for the rest of her days, enough to afford a fine villa and eat delicacies for the remainder of her life. But this was no fitting end for a knight with a solemn oath to fulfill. Eula spent her 13,000 gold dragons in the span of a fortnight on traveling equipment and magic items, and then disappeared from Revelmoore.
In the lower planes, as the Blood War rages on with no end in sight save for the cessation of eternity itself, a gentle but determined wind blows through the ashen plains of Avernus, heralding the impending arrival of justice herself.
Yilani Deniz
At the conclusion of Ambermantle's Enigma, Yilani Deniz wished to honor her friends and the good-deeds they had done by putting the considerable wealth she had gained to good use. She began by reaching out to like-minded individuals to help those had suffered under the clockwork invasion. Aid-givers were donned with a green jacket, and the work began.
Damaged homes were rebuilt, rooms were rented out for free from Trollskull Alley while construction was done, food was imported and many began to respect the green-clad folk and the help they were giving. It was then that it became official, and the humanitarian group named "Asclepius" was formed. The organization called Revelmoore their home, but would soon begin to expand to many other coastal cities in the Gulf of Akados.
Asclepius' focus was on helping those who have been displaced or harmed by major tragedies, calamities and wars, providing supplies, food, shelter and even martial aid to defend the innocent. While they refrained from getting involved in political disputes, the group would occasionally send out peacekeepers to try and negotiate the fair treatment of prisoners and care for civilians displaced by the wars and battles that often came from them.
The groups primary income came from donations. Those who have been helped or apprenticed by the group were often willing to donate some adventuring proceeds to them or just their time, and some cities even offer tax funds to aid in the group's efforts.
While Asclepius was often reactive, some of the group's funds were used to fund adventurers who proactively investigated possible disasters before they could unfold, attempting to evacuate civilians or stop the disasters before they happened.
Yilani would frequent many cities, but she always returned to her humble beginnings at Revelmoore and Troll Skull Alley. She enjoyed giving Puzzle tales from afar, giving bobbles and trinkets to the Rat Catchers, and catching up with her old friends on the lives they had lived while she was absent. While content for the time being, Yilani's long-term goal was to leave Asclepius self-sufficient, and one day return to the wilderness to live out the rest of her days in peace.
Brooke Acropora
It would come to the surprise of no-one that Brooke relished in the fame and fortune he found in the wake of Ambermantle's Enigma. He continued to act in the capacity of a Masquerade Agent and a member of Solauvaire's new Revelmoore Rangers, all while secretly acting as the leader of the local branch of the Devil's Hand; known as The Dragon's Ante.
Brooke quit his job at the Targe, and subsequently debuted as the master of ceremonies and headlining act at The Dragon's Hoard Gamehall and Theater six months after the conclusion of the Dragon Heist. Channeling his eternal love for gossip and and scandal, his performances centered around glamorous, parodical shows lampooning Revelmoore's nobility and their way of life.
The result was a smash success; an entertainment spectacle that managed to enthrall the nobility able to laugh at themselves, while simultaneously undermining their sterling image in the eyes of Revelmoore's common folk. The star of the show being a hero of the legendary Dragon Heist only served to bolster attendance, placing Brooke as one of the most in-demand and lauded entertainers in all of Lloegyr.
Yet despite the stardom, Brooke remained largely the same; derisive but kind, and always charming his way into the hearts of those around him. Tales and rumors of his romantic trysts surrounded his public image, only adding to his glamour and mystique; but nothing added more mystery than Brooke's refusal to invite anyone to his bed when the Sea Maiden's Faire was in town.
Reilly Springs & Fala Lefaliir
While the Grand Game had instilled in Reilly a new belief in her own strength, it had also shown her how dangerous the life of an adventurer could be. Having found a place for herself in the community of Troll Skull Alley and a new relationship with Fala, Reilly took this time to settle down a bit in her new life. She would still assist the Masquerade where she could and even don her armor when she was needed, but for the most part, she was happy to manage Troll Skull Manor and spend time with Fala.
While she took a mostly bureaucratic role in the Manor, she worked to grow the management abilities of the other employees, eased by Lif taking an official role as owner of the establishment. With her new found wealth, she established a new artificing workshop, The Spring of Creation, where those without traditional education or access to such facilities would be free to practice their craft without fear of collateral damage. She would invite Snarf and Vowyn to practice there, as well as having occasional classes for budding mages of the common folk.
Through special permissions negotiated with the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors, Reilly negotiated the right for members of the workshop to sell their creations in a small shopfront, The Nine Tail Magi-Shop, which Reilly helps operate until its proper owner can return, a goal that Reilly continues to research.
Ever the voice of reason, Fala Lefaliir continued to watch over Reilly and kept her from pushing herself too hard. They would insist on Reilly being a bit selfish from time to time and not try to save everyone in the world on her own. While the gardens of Aelbwyn's Crown and the floral arrangements at Troll Skull Manor flourished, Reilly would always be their favorite flower.
As she began to sense the wanderlust or greater ambitions of her friends and allies she made during the hectic month of Freyrmond, Reilly wanted to ensure that they would always be able to reach her. She crafted a set of Sending Stones for each of the Red Spirits, keeping her halves with her at all times. No matter where they went or what they faced in the future, the friends of Reilly Springs will always have her at their side.
Renaer Ambermantle & Bonziel Ramrider
The relationship between Renaer and Bonziel was forged in fire and tempered with loss and grief, and thus when the dust of Ambermantle's Enigma settled, the two decided to take it slow and explore their feelings in peacetime. They were married seven short months later on a snowy Winterfyll evening.
The wedding was a simultaneously grand and perplexing affair, the subject of nearly enough intrigue to warrant a new grand game. The attendance of the Red Spirits, High Dragon Solauvaire, and Xanathar Raeziel all at one event gave way to unending rumors for months. The event was truly routine, but that didn't stop people from talking.
As rising stars in the Masquerade and a formidable husband-and-wife team, Renaer and Bonziel were given the pick of the litter for their assignments. Renaer chose to leave his estate in the care of the Starsongs, and the couple shipped off to Oceanus to begin a local chapter of the Masquerade in the area.
The Oceanus Chapter of the Masquerade kept a close eye on the tenuous political situation of the area; in particular, the career and machinations of Dagult Ambermantle, who continued to make a ruthless bid for the Crown of Oceanus. Renaer and Bonziel kept a low profile as they worked towards their goals, but they both knew an inevitable conflict between father and son was on the stormy horizon. Whatever the future held, however, the two had each other, and somehow that was enough.
Dagult Ambermantle
Few lost more in the vaunted Dragon Heist than Dagult Ambermantle himself. With the retrieval of the gold by the Devil's Hand, Dagult's dream of wearing the twin crowns of Revelmoore and Oceanus was well and truly shattered, and Zelem Corvo made an enemy for life. With his ultimate goal forever beyond his reach, Dagult was forced to settle for lesser ambitions; something that would fuel his contempt for the Devil's Hand for years to come.
Regardless of his defeat in Revelmoore, Dagult made great strides in bolstering his popularity in Oceanus, his ancestral homeland far removed from his controversies in Revelmoore. By years end, the charismatic and well-spoken Ambermantle had amassed enough popular support for his claim to the Throne of Oceanus to spark a civil war that mirrored the ongoing conflict in Khemit. Oceanus crept into 3522 with its streets bathed in blood, its future uncertain, with Dagult Ambermantle determined to snatch the crown from the hands of the unworthy.
The Stone of Golorr
With its role in the Enigma completed, the Stone of Golorr remained quietly resting in the Hall of Wonder, stewing in its own labyrinthine treasure trove of knowledge. High Dragon Oussndar and High Priestess Margaster agreed that far too many people knew of the stone and its capabilities, and that it would have to be hidden away in the one place no one would find it.
Knowing the Stone would not agree to erasing knowledge of its own existence, the pair instead decided to erase the knowledge of the new keys to the Vault of Dragons, as well as the vault's location. Following this, they placed the Stone within the Vault itself, leaving the Vault as the two remaining individuals on all of Lloegyr with knowledge of how to open it. Like locking the keys of a safe in the safe itself, the Stone rested in silence for the foreseeable future; Solauvaire and Rydia prayed to whatever gods that may have been listening that such precautions were enough.
Piece of the Puzzle
Piece of the Puzzle, the most illustrious author who brought this thrilling tale to your delicate ears on this fine evening, continued to write dazzling tales and mystifying histories. In fact, 3521 turned out to be his most profitable year on record, as his detailed (if not somewhat fantastically embellished) account of the Grand Game,
Revelmoore: Dragon Heist, outsold even
Puzzle's Revelmoore Enchiridion!
So did this enrapturing wordsmith finally escape his unfortunate debts, that had hounded him for the final time! No more impromptu book tours and unsavory borrowing; it was all looking up for our intrepid "quilladier", who was finally given the space to simply write as he always loved to do.
With the success of my - er, I mean, his slight dramatization of Ambermantle's Enigma, Piece of the Puzzle decided to touch upon other intriguing events from every corner of Lloegyr. There was of course the tale of an unlikely alliance battling a shadowy wizard, as well as the tale of a group of adventurers walking into a haunted house and disappearing into a strange land of mists and regret. There are even whispers of a jaunt to Baator itself to rescue a beloved friend from the greatest of captors; something that will make the finest of ballads in certainty!
However, there was one story that he simply could not wait to put to paper; the fantastic tale of the Endless Winter of 3447, over seventy years ago, and the brave heroes who fought to end its grip on Frostgale Taiga. Truly a tale for the ages, and one any reader would be delighted to hear. But ah, where are my manners? We cannot start a story before properly ending this one first!
Conclusion
And so do the curtains close on our story for the eve. Ambermantle's Enigma, Ambermantle's Folly, the Black Fleet Heist, the Dragon Heist; whatever you choose to call it, its mark has been left upon Revelmoore and will likely never fade. After all, many threads of inquiry have been spun from this one alone!
Where did Veszaltyrr Oussndar go, and what are his next plans? What is next for the mysterious Devil's Hand, and what will they do to achieve their vision of a better world? What became of the beholder once known as the Xanathar, and where will Raeziel Ramrider take the organization that once held her family in submission? Is this the last we've seen of Victoro Cassalanter? What will become of Oceanus after the Old Open Lord bleeds her dry? What are the consequences of entreating the Mad Mage for assistance?
These questions have answers, but it is not in tonight's telling that they will be found. The fire grows dim, the cold wintry air creeps in, and the time for tales has ended. It is my sincere hope, however, that you join me once more for another round of talespinning. The night may no longer be young, but we've all the time in the Lost Lands to enjoy yet another legend on the morrow.
I sincerely hope you enjoyed this account of the Dragon Heist, my dearest readers, and I understand the desire to find the answers you seek. The loose ends, the unanswered questions, they are all but irresistible! But any mystery is made better by letting the unknown sit and stew for a moment, so that we can come to appreciate the attention created by the answer's absence.
There will be more tales, however, for Lloegyr is a large place and Revelmoore is but a small part of it. Farther to the north, an older story is told; a tale of desperation, a tale of the imperious rule of cold, and a tale of love lost and grief unending. A tale of motion against stasis, and the sentient people's uncanny ability to survive in even the most damned of circumstances.
The year is 3447, and Frostgale Taiga has been frozen over for two years. For two long, long years, the sun has yet to breach the omnipresent clouds overhead. Snow packs in the banks, ice collects in frozen rafters, and the beleaguered people of Frostgale Taiga seek any possible solution to their increasingly desperate plight. From her frozen throne, the Queen of Ice and Snow, La Saia, pens another icy verse in the Rime of the Frostmaiden.
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