Epilogue for August 2026

The air warped, and space flowed. There was a rushing sound as Travance Proper vanished and the shimmering beams of every possible color rushed to fill every space around him. For the first time in many years Thomas Krystophsky, Celestial of Valos was home. He needed a moment to let all of his senses adjust to the change from the plane of Arawyn to the Valley of Light. He took just long enough for a figure to appear, resplendent wings of light folded down to cloak the figure who carried what seemed to be a simple looking spear, an echo of the chosen weapon of Valos. 

“I greet you, and welcome you back to The Valley of Light, Doctor Thomas Krystophsky.”

Thomas gave a slow respectful bow to the Arch-Angel that served as Valos’ Messenger, and for a moment feared that for such an imperious guest to appear meant he had broken some rule, or earned some rebuke for his time on Arawyn and aid of Travance. 

“I greet you, Messenger.” Thomas replied, “I did not think my return was so important to warrant your visit.” 

“You return to us at a tumultuous time, Visigalis has been slain, and the Divine Crucible is destroyed, both at the hands of Malyc. He who sits on the Dark Throne has marshaled his forces, and intends further ill deeds. Are you ready to rejoin Valos’ Host?”

Thomas moved to speak, but he paused. Somehow his mind seemed to conjure up the itemized list of things his body had done while he didn’t occupy it, and he couldn’t shake the deep desire to search out and resolve each and every one. The amount of time he spent hesitating gave the Messenger reason to speak. 

“You worry about that which is left unfinished on Arawyn. Shall I provide you with the closure you seek?” 

“I would not presume upon your time Messenger.”

“If it would grant you peace, I will show you a glimpse of where their paths will lead. Behold, one year hence…”

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Joanna Starsgrace contemplated a strand of the weave and the concept of change. It had been a full year since she had gone by the name Joanna Halligan, and so much had in fact, changed. A year since she was given confirmation that her adopted father and the scientist who worked for him were both gone forever. A year since she’d been saved from the psionic power that they had put in her mind. That power had been killing her, and the Heroes of Travance had taken every scrap of it. That change had left her, for the past year, a completely normal, mundane girl. 

You’d think she’d be angry about that, but that power was never truly hers. It was given to her by a man who was mad in every sense of the word. That wasn’t who she wanted to be. She wanted to follow the example set by those heroes. She wanted the power to help people when they needed it. She wanted to change things. She may not have had an immense well of power anymore, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t learn. It took months before she was fully recovered, and months more before her body was ready to try and cast anything. She was determined though and, thanks to a generous sponsorship she was able to enroll in the Mages Institute of Spells in Ravenhurst where she’d begun studying.

Maybe she’d never wield power like she had again, maybe everything was different now, but she was still going to try. On the days when it felt impossible, she thought of those Heroes who had saved her and the impossible things they did. She couldn’t find it in herself to turn to religion, she didn’t want to pray, not to the Gods of Light or the Gods of Darkness, but sometimes when the homework was very challenging and she needed some level of divine inspiration, she liked to imagine that maybe Chronicler would help without being asked.  

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John O’Malley walked the halls of The Sanctus Luminarium, stepping into a small out of the way area reserved for prayer. Training as a Holy Knight was challenging in a good way, but today he’d had other obligations. It was the one year anniversary of the end of the Blazing Suns. It felt bittersweet to think about that many lives harmed and twisted. So much had changed since then, in so many ways. 

In Sanctus and elsewhere, there were still so many adjusting to the terrible upheavals that had come with the calamity that marked the end of 1226. For some it felt like things would never go back to normal. For O’Malley, his world had changed so much earlier, though in both cases the Heroes of Travance were at the heart of it. 

O’Malley had been pardoned, Michael Halligan was confirmed dead, and the soul of Thomas Krystophsky was saved. Mary, free of her brainwashing, was found guilty, and unrepentant of her crimes.  In their wisdom the nobles of Travance had her executed. Hyram had changed, merging with the celestial bound to him. They became a dedicated protector of a holy site. Finally, Samuel Proctor died, and then his soulless body was destroyed. John had watched for signs that any of those who’d died might return. As a former spy master he was fairly good at it. Thus far, none had returned. 

For so long, he’d feared a return. He’d struggled with the guilt of his own hand in things. He imagined that redemption was not for him, that if he was not judged in life, he would be when he met Galladel. Now though, he thought of the teachings on Justice - “Justice is not about who does and does not deserve punishment. It’s about healing. It’s about stopping and preventing more pain. It’s about providing people what they need to begin healing. Taking responsibility for when someone has been wronged, and finding healing for them. But also finding paths of healing for those who are guilty. That was what redemption and atonement are for.” 

A Holy Knight from Travance had also told him that he could not truly heal and offer forgiveness to others if he’d refused to give it to himself. For years O’Malley had been tirelessly working alongside the other former Blazing Sun priests in Sanctus to unravel the pain that had been caused. To help the people who’d been hurt to move on. Perhaps it was time he did as well. 

Finally, alone in the temple alcove, John O’Malley let go of the pain he carried. One of the last victims of the Blazing Suns found closure. 

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Thomas’ vision moved past the year, he saw the people impacted by the Cult his years of knowledge and experience had unknowingly created. He saw those whose minds had been impacted recover, or move on. He saw that those rescued by Travance find purpose and meaning with help from those Heroes. He saw that those who had been defeated had never returned. The Cult of the Blazing Sun was not the first to enact evil and claim to be righteous, they wouldn’t be the last, but Thomas knew that they would never return. When the moment passed, Thomas once again bowed to the Messenger. 

“Thank you. I am satisfied, and there is more to do, yes?”

“The war against evil is never ending,” 

“But at least this battle has come to a close. Let us go, it is time for a new one.”

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The End