Epilogue for March 2026

As the war cries died down after the defeat of the monster from beyond the stars, and the cheers of victory fell silent, the cracks of their realm began to fill the empty air. With an ever-present reminder that their time was short, long goodbyes were reduced to brief words or even simply looks of recognition.

The celestials were recalled to their various portions of Eodra, some with new souls to join them. As the Lost walked outwards away from the center of all that they had known in Confluence, their paths began to change and take the shape of their destinations. Then finally, as if manifesting from their need, doorways and portals appeared of many kinds taking them to their final rest. Some, after manifesting wings, flew into the brilliant light of the eternal summer. Others immediately entered great halls, where countless cheering souls offered a toast with raised drinking vessels to the newcomers. And in a desolate wasteland, three stood among many circled around the cries of pain (or perhaps elation) of one that watched as vipers grew out to form a hand where one was missing.

Near the source of chaos that tore the realm asunder, Killian kneeled before the threshold into the former realm of The Seeker. A stalwart voice called out to him “It is time, my son. Join me, and let us make right what has become so wrong.” Killian was astonished, “Father? Why are you here?” when suddenly, as if shaking off a visage that was donned to brace the gallant warrior, a woman of brilliant luminance stood in his place “His soul and memories I can recall so easily. His legacy endures through you, and I would be honored to have you by my side.” Killian rose, taking his weapon in hand, and joined the Army of the Light.

Locked in a barely intact room, a crowd encircled the captured forms of two fallen celestials. Their mortal souls still tainted by each a lattice of astral strands and a stone-like tomb around their souls’ hearts. The crowd poured their might, their wisdom, and their hope into the pair as the souls purified forms became free from their fallen influence. As new celestial bodies were made, the pair took labored breaths that did not seem to do much to infuse them with much stamina. Then, at great personal sacrifice by those bereft of metaphysical essence to cleanse the pair or form bodies, the vitality of courageous heroes granted Thalorian and Seraphial the strength to leave upon their own might. Escorted for as long as they could, the pair and the crowd left the maelstrom that the Eternal Confluence had now become.

High in the storm of the now crumbling landscape the mad cackles of a devil could be heard, cleaving the remaining invaders in two before she spied a group carrying the ghostly forms of Ulmath’Verhak’s imprisoned souls up into the closing tear into the Astral. With an echoing call of rage, the last of these intruders was cut down and Ava took the souls under her wing and carried them to the one place left in Eodra for such maniacal tormented souls.

As the final group took shelter while they prepared the Ceremony of Mending in the grove that crumbled around them, each of them answered questions solemnly in their mind, until a look of panic took hold of one so desperate that finally they cried out “I wish, more than anything, to be there again”. As they looked on, a cry came from the distance, of a soul leaping from crumbling ground to whatever path they could find. Finally, the last soul had arrived, and the ceremony truly began. A swirl of air brought with it the scent of spring flowers and fall harvests. Then suddenly, it all fell short. The practitioners looked to each other in quiet panic, unsure of what was wrong. Filling the silence, the Crystalline Form of Arlee said “It’s okay. I always knew this was my true purpose. Farwell, my friends.” As a prismatic light shone out to fill the area, the ceremony completed in earnest as their shattered form of the Adamero shot out crystalline energy into the hearts of all those seeking to return to life, and with a blink they all took a breath of air on Arawyn once more.

With a final dot, these words complete the final page in a tome that closes before reforming into the humanoid form of The World. The Confluence had ended, and they turned once more to regard Arawyn before saying “As one chapter closes, another begins.” And descended back to the realm of mortals for a new great story was about to take hold.