Madrigal 2 Finale / Epilogue
The events described here take place at an indeterminate place and time in the future, in the Madrigal LARP world.
A quiet voice speaks from within a dark gate, “Who stands before the gate of death?”
The red-robed spirit standing outside the gate responds, “It is Adeon.”
“Enter.”
The figure steps forward, passing through the veil and into a dark chamber. Before him sits a Reaper, perhaps the very same one who travelled with the heroes of Shadowfane as they traversed the path of the Aurora to save the world from the Blood Queen. On a table between them rests a book, closed. Hovering in the air above the book are faint, ghostly words, lettered in red with a golden nimbus, “Though my soul may pass through the gate of death a thousand times, yet it shall return, and I to the fight until my family is safe.”
The Reaper speaks, not the words Adeon expects to hear, but rather “I heard your oath, those many years ago, and though not bound by it, I honored it. Your family is safe, now.”
Adeon simply nods in response. Though his wife perished fleeing from Wickford, her sacrifice allowed the children to escape. Adeon had found them in the Greyfang and brought them to Mal’Kharad root, and had spent many years living there with them after the Blood Queen was made whole and sent back to her world to face justice.
“You have not been here a thousand times, but this time is your last. The deck holds only one card for you.”
“I know,” Adeon responds aloud, “or I suspected as much. I am at peace, and ready for my fate.”
“There are some things you must do first,” the Reaper continues, “You have some things of which the world may still have need - the torch, the pendant, the toadstool,” and after a moment’s pause, “the hammer.”
Adeon knows the items to which the Reaper referred. The torch, created of the fires of a volcano and the boons of the Fae, to cleanse the Carrion Rot which Skarris had inflicted upon the Root Maze. The Phoenix pendant, found by chance along a path as he had pursued training in higher magics - the very same pendant which had been owned by an Archmage generations ago whose title Adeon inherited. The toadstool, given to him by the patron Fae of the Order of the Spore. The last one surprised him, though. The hammer the Reaper referred to was once known as the Chaos Hammer, but since defeating Atkoya it had no power. “Shall I leave them with you, then?”
“No, not here. You know where they belong. Go now, as a spirit, and return once they have been delivered.”
* * *
A spirit hovers in the midst of a volcano’s core, just above the fiery magma. The Guardian was brought forth but does not see any Champions approaching. A red-robed spirit appears in front of him, holding a small torch containing some of the Guardian’s power. “The Carrion Rot has been cleansed and there is no further need for this in the world. I return it to you, to hold against some future need, should the Rot return.”
* * *
The red-robed spirit appears in a clearing next to a non-descript path in the woods. He sets a small phoenix-shaped pendant in the center of a fire-pit in the clearing, and murmurs a few words under his breath - an enchantment to keep the pendant hidden until its next owner should rest there.
* * *
On the edge of Shadowfane, a toadstool ring grows atop a tree stump. The red-robed spirit appears in the midst of the ring, and gently sets a red ceramic toadstool in a gap in the ring. A few whispered words, and the toadstool sinks into the stump and becomes a living thing, left behind by one of the founders of the Order.
* * *
Farris, an Eurvein of Fire, stands next to her forge. She has been working all day on a new sword for her not-brother Dag, and after a few more runes are carved, it will be complete. A red-robed spirit appears before her, holding a golden hammer. She looks at the spirit, surprised at first but then understanding. She nods. The spirit uses the hammer to carve two runes upon the sword - a Rune of Sharpening to ensure the blade will always hold a sharp edge, and a Rune of Immolation, his last gift to his son. He sets the hammer down next to the anvil, and fades away.
* * *
A quiet voice speaks from within a dark gate, “Who stands before the gate of death?”
The red-robed spirit standing outside the gate responds, “It is Adeon.”
“Enter.”
The words no longer hover in the air. Adeon speaks quietly, “It is done.”
“Your time among the living has come to an end, then. It is not for me to decide the fate of your spirit; that decision has already been made. Have you anything left you wish to say?”
“No, it has all been said.”
The Reaper extends one arm, and gently touches the teardrop-shaped crystal below Adeon’s eye. “You have wept so many tears for this world; it is good to see you at peace.” With those last words, she inflicts Final Death upon the once-hero of Shadowfane.
* * *
A new rune appears on the Serpent’s Forge. This new Rune of Courage, in the shape of a teardrop, is a warning against Despair. Its spirit is one of Courage and Hope, and lends its power to artifacts created upon this forge.
* * *
A new spirit appears in the Topiary. It resembles the red-robed spirit which stood before the Reaper, and yet it is somehow less. All traces of runes are gone, and only its arcane nature remains. A pair of fiery wings grows from its back before it slowly turns to stone, to stand as a Guardian against any who would threaten the Crystal Tower.