Edrogorim Pildorsorrow

== Ed ==
Edrogorim, or Ed to everybody else, was an Imperial wizard of the School of Evocation, though some would say he would've been better off with War Magic. Once a party member of Fritz, Darling, Braznii, Milri, and Katerina before retiring after the Siege of Emberforge Citadel. Still keeps tabs on the world and his old friends via Darling and Anna, connecting with them using the Sending spell. 
=== Childhood ===
Ed's father was a wizard of the School of Illusion, and he wished for his son to join the school as well, yet only when he turned 15. Unfortunately for Ed, his father wouldn't see that, for when Ed was around the age of 13, soon to be 14, bandits raided his house, and his father sacrificed himself to save Ed. Ed, a mere child, could do nothing but watch as his father was shot down with crossbows, and finished with a dagger to the heart. 
=== Learning Magic ===
For the next 10 years, Ed would learn all that he could, though being self taught had its downsides. Ed's techniques were never truly refined, going mostly off of what he had seen his father do and his father's spellbook, which made his own spellbook hard to decipher, and his spells weaker than if he had learned at a school. He had "learned" the ways of the School of Evocation by getting to know one of the professors there and "practicing" with him to keep his skills sharp (though in reality he was learning some of the spells for the first time). Still, by the age of 25, he had become considerably powerful, though his spells were a melting pot of different schools, and none of his spells seemed to work together, something that would hurt him later.
=== Adventuring ===
When Ed was 25, his aging mother encouraged Ed to follow his dreams of adventuring and helping other. Ed was still haunted by the day of his father's death, and wished for it to never happen again. Yet fate was cruel to Ed, as by the age of 32, Ed's worst nightmare would occur. While in a dungeon, one of his comrades lit a match, which exploded the chamber and shook it with a loud Boom. When Ed turned around, everything was dark, but he heard something, something in the water. Instinctually, he prepared Misty Step, and when one of his companions casted a new light, he saw and heard something haunting. A monster had been attracted to the loud noise, and Ed could do nothing but watch as his friends were pulled into the murky waters, with Ed barely getting the verbal component needed off before he was sucked below. He was safe, for now, but he had once again lost those he considered family, and now could do nothing but wait.
=== The Party ===
After hours of waiting, Ed heard a voice, and prepared himself. Yet the voices belonged not to foes, but friends. The first one to speak out to Ed was Fritz, and soon Ed was taken along with the party. Ed, feeling indebted to the adventurers who'd saved him, promised himself to help them on their mission, to defeat the dragon Kai. Ed had, since his father's death, considered ruthlessness as the only true way to help those he cared about, that being willing to do anything it took was what saved lives, what saved him from the pain he'd felt for so long. Unfortunately for Ed, he was rather awful at fighting, and worse at killing. Still, his cold attitude remained, which made his views completely at odds with Milri's views of talk first kill later. Ed would once again be taken by surprise as an "employer" of the party would give Ed a scroll of Revivify, telling Ed it may help him not repeat his past. Ed by this point had never told anyone his past, not even his old party. Besides that, the party continued on their travels to Frostheim. Arriving in the town of Jisengwehr, Ed and Darling bonded over the common lifestyle of being extremely poor. They also both feared the forest they would have to get through before Frostheim. Darling and Ed's bond would eventually lead to a friendship which would shape Ed's future.
=== Frostheim and Emberforge ===
Ed's stay in the forest was short, though not short enough to him, and it was at this time that Ed took an interest into religion. For before entering the forest, Ed had prayed to anyone, anyone, to let him and the party just make it out alive. Little did Ed know at the time, but a god was listening, Stranghan heard his prayers, and it was unusual to Ed, as his prayers were never answered. When he finally learned it was Stranghan, he asked why, and the god answered mysteriously with, saying the party would need it for what was to come. 
Ed was still shaken by the lost of his old party, but now, having survived the forest, and having magic imbued into his staff, magic which made him more confident when holding his staff, he felt ready. So the army set off, bound for Emberforge, the climax of the ballet of Ed. Upon arrival, Ed finally got a scope of what Stanghan meant, he was ready to fight a dragon, but he realized he'd have to siege an entire city. After the first beachhead was secured, the party had captured a captain of the Emberforge Army. During the initial crossing, Ed would swear he heard the ringing of bells, but after seeing none of his party react, he ignored it. 
==== Ascension to General ====
Realizing this war would not be over soon, Ed knew plans would need to be drafted to ensure minimum time wasted. The logicians of the army estimated a few weeks worth of rations at best, assuming no extra mouths to feed would appear. Once camp was set up, Ed worked tirelessly through the night creating an array of plans and strategies that could be followed, with the party eventually settling on War Plan Silver Star Strike, which involved sneaking into the forges, securing a foothold, and moving onto the siege tower. Understanding the need to keep a line of communications, Ed flipped through his book to find a spell he hadn't used since his mother died, Sending. This spell would prove critical to the war effort, allowing for the party to reach troops around the front at a moment's notice, and with Ed's scroll, it seemed near impossible for Sending not to be available, even if Ed were to meet an unfortunate fate for awhile.
==== Silver Star Struck ====
The party followed step 1 of the plan, sneaking north to the chimneys undetected. Step two would be slightly more challenging, however, with the party finding some truly misplaced maintenance workers who were not so swiftly dealt with. Ed was on the bring of death multiple times during the encounters, and every time he went down he swore he heard more bells, only to wake to the face of Fritz, before a massive blast of heat would send him out again. Still, in the end the Chimneys were secured, despite the massive amount of gunshot wounds Ed had experienced. 
After the chimneys were secured, Ed managed to secure for himself an Emberforge musket from a captured soldier, though he would never truly master it. Still, he would find use in it, along with his newest spell of Toll the Dead, a powerful spell which, while never doing too much damage, ensured that Ed would at least do some damage. The fight for the forges was the next step of the plan, which the party secured after a tough final battle against a giant, defeated mostly by Braznii dropping an anvil on the giant's head. 
==== Playing Defense ====
The party received word of an attack on the central war camp from a lieutenant after their victory over the giant. Ed and katerina agreed it was imperative to return to the camp immediately, as they also had other business to return to camp for anyways. When they arrived, Ed learned the true power of the cannon, shooting down an iron giant with it before 2 giants breeched the gate, where the noble Fritz bravely held them off to allow soldiers to reorganize. At first, Ed had not notices, but he once again heard the bells in his head and time seemed to slow as he turned towards where Fritz was laying. Using his most powerful teleportation spell, Dimension Door, Ed teleported down in front of the giants, and using his staff for extra confidence, led a small group of soldiers to fight the giants and secure Fritz, who was swiftly rushed to the medical center. There, Ed tried a power he had not yet tried, a power Stanghan had given him, the power to channel his divinity to give life. Once Fritz was back up and the party rested, they reconvened at the planning tent, planning their next attack onto the tower. 
==== The Siegeworks ====
The tower, or the Seigeworks, was a critical part of the plan, gaining it would allow more coordinated movement and shooting upon Kai, should the need arise (it would). The climb up the tower was relatively easy, save maybe a few in ground explosives, but when the party got to the top, they would fight an interesting piece of work. Ed would later learn the Emberforge soldiers called it a "tank." Ed had never got it, as he only knew it as a thing to carry liquids around, but it was not his place to question. Once the tank was secured and drivers taken prisoner, after needed medical attention, the tower was secured, including the massive cannons on top. From the tower, the party flew over, where Ed would see a sight that changed his whole view of the war
==== A City Set Alight ====
Flying over Emberforge, Ed had expected minor damage in the areas directly fought in, but he could not have possibly imagined the sight he saw. Houses across the city caught in the crossfire, and as he thought of the people below, he heard the bells, louder than ever, and screams that would haunt him. The city of Emberforge was set alight below Ed, and hundreds, if not thousands were suffering because of this invasion. Ed heard distinct whispers in his ears, "Is this the mercy she preaches, is this the price of vengeance?" Ed couldn't pinpoint the voice, but knew it was someone who he'd once known. Ed looked at Milri and Darling, who both equally looked horrified. Then, as if by divine punishment, Ed saw images flashing through his eyes, himself as a child, watching his child fall, yet the bandits faces were no longer as they once were, now replaced by the faces of Katerina and his present self. How many, how many children were suffering his fate because of him, because of what he's done. Was this truly the price he had to pay for ruthlessness, and was the price even worth it. The bells would not stop until far after the party had landed, with Ed telling the party he was exhausted from manning the cannons and needed rest. When he dreamt, he saw the city, burning, and something he couldn't describe. He thought he saw Stanghan fighting some type of fire being? He saw the party, or parts of it, the past seemed to blend with the future, as the surrounding changed, seeing Milri and a girl he didn't know with the party, the party save for him and Katerina, seemingly replaced by two, someone with a massive cannon (not in their pocket) and someone who looked... familiar. The scene changed, and he saw... his mother? He refused to believe it, as his mother, lying down, said, nay whispered,
"Oh my sweet Ed, I'll keep waiting. My darling when you come home I'll be waiting. Even if you're the last thing I see, I'll keep waiting. Waiting. wait---" with her final breaths 
Ed dropped to his knees sobbing telling his mom he was there, that she didn't have to wait any longer, still regretting that he was only an hour later home after his mother passed. He mumbled to himself about how he'd adventured too far, and how he'd traveled too long, all while his mother was waiting. With one final goodbye he stood up, and was immediately bombarded by bells, with them playing in a rhythmic pattern (I'll compose this eventually). Ed couldn't stand it, and as he saw light in front of him and saw a bird, but one made of pure fire, surrounded by an army of undead, ravaging a city Ed didn't know. In the back of his head he heard but a whisper, accompanied with images "A ballet of broken friends" the picture of Ed with his past party. "leading the end of many men." The city of Emberforge, and people in a panic, the screams of thousands are heard as cracks form and lava spews forth "Proceeded by your final stand" Ed standing defiantly in front of the mighty dragon Kai, staff in hand. "Visions of the one far past the brink of death" a dim flame turned into a massive spew of light, and a card appeared afterwards, with a flame and a diamond beside it. "Soon followed with final breaths" A stone-like figure smashed by a falling rock. "Two who adventures on" a mirror appears, Katerina on the other side as she whispers "But, not you, General" Ed sees the mirror shatter, before waking up sweating and breathing heavily, heart racing. Ed hoped it all to be a dream, trauma from what he saw at worst. Yet unfortunately for Ed, fate was far too cruel for such leniency. 
==== A Change of Heart ====
Ed decided to talk with the Captain they had captured on the first day of the Siege. Ed asked him for help, if he knew anybody, anybody in the Emberforge Army what would dislike Kai's reign enough to help end the war swiftly. The Captain told him of Runelord Tharak Goldenheart, currently stationed at the crystal at the center of the city. Ed thanked the Captain, and promised he would do his best to ensure minimal lost life. Making good on his promise, Ed would divert rations and resources towards setting up temporary encampments for the civilians who's homes had been destroyed. This make the time crush slightly harder, but would also ensure the civilians would not suffer so much, and that they would be less willing to fight Kai. 
When the party got to the crystal, Ed followed the Captain's instructions and met with the Runelord alone, and after convincing him, the Runelord pulled his garrison back, giving the party about 30 minutes to do what was needed. Examining the crystal, Ed thought he remembered some of the symbols on the ground, trying his best to remember. Then, flipping through his spell book, he found the scribbles he had made years ago with the different schools of magic on it. From there, the party had to use a spell of the respective schools in the orbs next to their respective symbols. Ed personally activated nearly half of them, using his very nice teleportation spells to zip around, and using his vast spellbook on the orbs. Ed would also hit his first shot with a musket, striking a critical hit on one of the metal giants. 
==== The Armory ====
After dealing with the crystal, the second to last point would be upon the adventurers, capturing the armory. This would prove to be slightly too easy, as they would capture the armory with only a single guarding it. They would loot the armory for enormous amounts of potions for the party to use, and use it they would need to, as now with the city under the party's control, it was nearly time to face Kai.
==== The Final Preparations ====
===== Gun Team Six =====
After taking some of the Emberforge Muskets for research, Frostheim had developed its own, and had trained its own squad, comprised of 4 shooters and 2 healers. These would prove crucial to the success against Kai, allowing for quick healing of especially Ed.
===== Cannon Team Six =====
Upon the Siege Tower were great cannons, which could be fired with extreme precision and could be summoned with a Sending Spell from Ed. It is undeniably obvious that without the Cannons, the fight against Kai would have been far, far harder, if not impossible.
===== Emrica Louisan =====
A friend of Katerina, Emrica was a powerful mage who would help channel the crystal's energy to fight Kai, pushing him back to his lair, 
===== The Ordinary Troops =====
The Army was told to be on standby, whether to help the civilians escape should something go wrong, squash uprisings that occur, or provide backup to the party, but they were not to start any widescale engagement without direct orders from one of the Party Member. 
=== The Clock Strikes Twelve ===
==== Pre Fight Thoughts ====
The moment was upon the Party, the moment they had waited, some weeks, Katerina years, for. Gun Team Six and The Party entered Kai's great hallway, and it was scarier than Ed could've imagined. He heard the ringing again, thinking of all the times he failed to protect those he cared about, and how he'd reacted. As he pondered, Kai interrupted, monologuing about how this was the end for The Party. Ed held his staff and waited, patiently planning a strike. The ringing would not go away, but he couldn't focus on that right now. He thought back on his life, and all those he had lost, it broke his confidence, he'd been left with nothing to fight for. He'd lost his father, his old friends, his mom! Who knows how many men gone during the siege, civilians and troops alike. He had ran away from home, ran away from his past in that dungeon, thought about running away before entering the Forest, but no more. He had friends he could fight for, and if he had to give his life to save The Party, he'd do it in a heartbeat. Courage raced through Ed, but courage only gets one so far, as immediately to his right, two members of Gun Team Six were snuffed out in a single breath of the dragon. This was the final straw, this dragon will face retribution. 
==== The First Attacks ====
With a loud roar, Ed saw many of his friends standing there in fear, no more, he thought to himself, he must be strong for them. He resisted the urges he'd felt his whole life. Ed would heal Miltri, who had been caught up in one of the blows, telling her to get to safety. Ed now stood alone, the Mighty Kai fighting him head to head, Ed backed into a corner. Ed stared down the beast as it used its strongest attack on Ed, it's mighty Fire Breath. Still, Ed held strong, refusing to fall down, dropping his staff but for a moment to cover himself in a magical shield. Suddenly, Ed realized something, something that would cure the wounds he'd felt for so long. Even after dropping his staff, he felt just as confident, he no longer needed the staff's mystical powers to gain the courage fight for his friends, his troops, his comrades.
Ed looked defiantly at the magical dragon, quickly looking to Fritz for a way out, which Fritz guaranteed. With an escape plan, Ed casted an ability he'd long been afraid to use with the bells haunting him since the start of the invasion, Toll The Dead. Yet now, instead of fearing these bells, Ed felt emboldened by them, his dreams will not come true, Noxirum's cruel tricks would not stop Ed, not now. Fueled by a desire to save them all, Ed embraced the sounding of the bells, striking Kai and teleporting out via Fritz. Ed would then regroup with the members of Gun Team Six, bringing one of the medics, Anna, out of the trance of fear. Calling in star strikes, hence the name, from the siege tower with Sending, the floor eventually collapsed under Kai, sending Kai and the party falling into Kai's horde of treasure. 
==== The Treasure and Transformation ====
Falling into the treasure horde, Ed noticed that the fight would soon become much harder, as he was running out of Sendings and his troops running our of Star Strikes. The grand magician Emrica would hit Kai with a massive blast of energy, forcing Kai to his lair. The party would soon follow, hitting Kai with all they had. Just as Fritz delivered what seemed to be a fatal blow, Kai faltered, but still spoke. He told the party the fight had only just begun, and suddenly, the mighty dragon transformed. The floor started crumbling around the party, as lava engulfed the room. The brave soldiers of Gun Team Six sacrificed themselves as nobly as any general could wish for. Ed and Darling realized first that they must retreat out of the crumbling palace, and the party was quick to agree. Ed refused to leave the room without the final member of Gun Team Six, Anna, making it out alive first. The battle had only begun, but for now the party would have to regroup. Braznii, Anna, and Ed, being the last to leave the lair, didn't see the rest of the party go to the treasure horde, assuming they were all rational and wouldn't back themselves into a corner. When Ed got outside, he saw the entire city ablaze, just like in his nightmares. Ed tried to use Sending but was out of slots for it, so Ed did the only thing he could think of. He prayed to Stranghan, praying for the ability to clearly communicate with his troops for coordination and coordination only, any Star Strikes would still require a spell. Stranghan, possibly pitying the state of the city, granted Ed this ability, and Ed immediately took charge, messaging generals and war high command staff all around the city with a single objective, indiscriminately evacuate the city, civilian and soldier alike. Ed would then go back to the original place of battle, looking down upon the party and seeing Kai close in. The party, with some help from Emrica, teleport back to the relative safety of the outside.
==== Choices ====
Being a Commander was hard, especially when morality comes into play. After his own near death experiences, and his ability to see the severity of the suffering in the city, Ed's heart had softened to the civilians. Ed thought of visiting the Captain, asking for his help in organizing civilians to ensure the least amount of deaths as possible, but Katerina and the war staff kept him busy with sending messages up and down the chain of command. One message was of great interest, Kai was heading towards the crystal. The party decided they must intercept him there, and could not allow him to use the crystal to recharge himself. The mission seemed pretty simple, all things considered. Except, to stop Kai from using the crystal they would have to destroy it, and when the party did so, the crystal got brighter and brighter. As he was running away, Ed didn't remembered seeing Braznii running away, and remembered his dreams, the flame, the diamond, the visions of the one who had pasted death, it must've been Braznii. Just as Ed was about to leave the cover to quickly get Braznii, the crystal exploded, hurting Kai severely, but absolutely destroying Braznii. Ed was certain that they would find anything, and Mozart would come in clutch, finding but a piece of Braznii, and Milri's diamond would work well with revivify to bring Braznii back. Still, he was completely spent, as was the rest of the party for awhile. So, with orders to the soldiers to wake Ed should it be necessary, the party took a well deserved rest, all while Kai plotted.
==== The Finale of the Tower ====
Kai knew just how devastating the siege towers had been, and the dragon wished to crush such puny resistance. After their rest, the party, minus Fritz who Ed entrusted with keeping civilians and soldiers safe with his natural luck, hurried to man a defense while the troops still on top safely evacuated. Ed would use Dimension Door to quickly travel 150 feet above Kai. Katerina would very quickly zoom up the tower, leaving the party behind to be fed to Kai, as aristocrats tend to do. Kai would once more shoot his fiery breath, which Ed would survive, though his good friend darling was not as fortunate. After healing Darling, Ed would notice Braznii continuing to be the main character, riding Kai's back like a stallion. This would come in handy as Once Darling and Milri were safely above, Kai charged forward, coming face to face with Ed. Braznii would use his fire magic, hitting Kai's last good leg and sending him sliding down the tower. Braznii would be saved by one of Milri's eagles, and Kai slammed into the ground, taking massive amounts of damage. Soon he would head to the forges, where the final clash would occur.
==== Forged By Moonlight, Wielded by Fire ====
This was it, where the invasion truly begun, the battle of man and beast would too end. The party had been forged by moonlight, tested by sunlight, strengthen through spirit, and wielded by fire. The dragon, a mythical, magical beast who had underestimated the party's determination for its extermination would soon meet its own termination with affirmation. There in the forges, surrounded by lava, fire, and heat, the Party and Kai, would have one last dance under the clouds which blocked Alaria's bright morning rays. Braznii blasted the beast with fire, Darling would shoot his musket, piercing the beast's defenses, Katerina used magic to summon mystical weapons to slice the dragon's stony skin, Ed rung the bells of Toll the Death, Milri conjured a mighty storm, while soldiers and civilians alike who could see watched in shock and awe, holding their breath as the foes fought on. Finally, Kai would respond, during the battlefield into a hell with lava pools everywhere. Still, the party fought on. After long, gruesome combat, both sides equally exhausted. After another one of Kai's attacks, Braznii did one final hurrah, and would strike the dragon with all of the power he had left, and when the flames settled, the smoke cleared, and the light dimmed enough to see clearly, there in Kai's place sat a pile of rocks. Quite filled the battlefield. Ed looked down at his hands, there were many blisters, cuts, scars that may never heal, his arms littered with tales of the siege, proof of his one day stories. Coved in ash, soot, dirt, and gods knew whatever else, Ed stood up, having been coved behind protection before the silence, and something hits his eye. He looks up, and through the dark, everlasting clouds, a single beam of Alaria's rays meets his face. Ed grasps his amulet, the only thing of his to truly be unharmed throughout the war. Months, no, years Ed had felt cold and isolated from the rest of the world, the death of his parents, the loss of his party, the bells that plagued him every night when he tried to dream. They all seemed so small now, as this ray of sunlight graced him. When Ed rose, limping over to the corpse of the beast, he knew he rose not as the scared boy he couldn't protect his father, the haunted man who couldn't be there for his mother, nor the broken soul who couldn't protect his party. He rose as a General, a Hero, a Liberator, and a Legend. After confirming it dead, Ed would send a final message to his top commander, "Commander, sound the bells of joy, the great dragon is no more." Ed would send one final star strike, destroying the rocks that lay where Kai once stood, with the few remains being pushed into lava.
=== A Cold and Broken Celebration. ===
Ed should've been happy. Everything he had wanted came true, hadn't it? So why did he feel so... wrong? Was life truly that unfair? Darling returned, seeming happy, Ed, who knew what he did and knew it was to help his family, vouched for him immediately. katerina's curse had been lifted, Darling could send money home, Milri would soon be off to find her wife, but what about Ed. Ed excused himself from the tent, going to check on the Captain, to let him and the other prisoners free. When he opened the door, he immediately noticed the lack of guard inside, and saw 3 bodies, and 3 Emberforge knives. Ed ran up in disbelief, examining for signs of murder, but was unable to find damning proof then and there. After resisting casting a spell of the ignorant and arrogant guards outside, Ed saw his friend Darling, who had a knowing look. They had a talk, both expressing their regrets at the blood on their hands. Darling talked about his disgruntlement with Katerina, and brought up the possibility of staying behind, helping Emberforge rebuild. This would soon affect Ed's thinking. For now, the two went back to the tent, where Milri brought up her issues with how the war went. For once, Ed agreed with Milri's way of thinking, this ruthlessness, this rash invasion, it was not the best way the Party could've slain Kai. Katerina and the Forstheim soldiers brushed her off, annoying Ed even more. Still for now he could do nothing, and the army packed up and went back to Frostheim for metals.
=== The Nightmare Comes True. ===
Ed contemplated on the dream from that night, a dream that nobody yet knew about. He had figured out most of it, except for the last lines, what did it mean he wouldn't... he held onto the thought for awhile before dropping it, getting in nice attire, and meeting with the party for the metals. Ed was second to last, only before Katerina, and he received the title of The Blaze Breaking General. he accepted it with grace at the time, waiting for a moment the Party would be alone to discuss important matters. After the ceremony, the party met by the crystal at the center of Frostheim, not unlike the one in Emberforge. Katerina and Darling talked, and Ed would storm away after Katerina said it wasn't her fault the dwarves didnt't fight hard enough for their home. Darling would follow, and Ed would send a Message to Milri expressing his hopes to adventure on with her and help her find her wife, before having a conversation with Darling, starting by saying,
"well Darling, it seems we have a choice to make..." 
"Personally, I'm... sigh I'm for supporting the people we're with... but I don't feel like we can... follow along under a tyrant, a killer, who has no empathy for others... Do you remember back when we were traveling up here, we had to wager on who would pay for a room, and not an gram of help offered. So, I'm for being with these people, because they're friends. Take Milri, she has morals. Fritz may have some issues, but he's a good person, maybe egotistical, but still a good person-"
"Darling, do you remember the flight we took over Emberforge, when we saw the city burning. It changed something in me. Ever since, I haven't been able to dream, all I hear is the screams of those suffering below, and every time I dare to blink I see that image once more, tormenting me with the suffering I inflicted onto others. Unlike the soldiers, I have no excuse, I was the leader and I allowed it to happen. The blood split... well Katerina wouldn't care if it were on her hands but somebody has to help the dwarves rebuild. I made a promise to the captain... that if he helped us end the war quickly I would ensure Emberforge not be abandoned. I would love to help my friend Milri, the one who showed me there is still beauty in mercy, find her love, but I cannot go back on a promise this extreme."
"I'd say, let's take a gamble. I'm all for helping Emberforge, so we need to figure out how. Clearly, this isn't a long term plan, we aren't city planners. Frostheim collapses around us, and it seems as if people will begin to go hungry before the area thaws. So my take is that... well, we let progression do its thing, let balance return to normal, while the druids of Frostleaf help Frostheim, while the Dwarves suffer, hiding. They no longer face a threat of their homes being destroyed, those threats have already happened, all they've left to fear are people.
"What if we could help both cities"
"While you may be a recognized leader, I am not so talented. What if, you carve a way, and I follow the path"
"I... can agree with that. How about this Darling... I last wager, for old time's sake. Still got them dice?"
"I still do"
"tearing up Wanna bet 25 gold"
"tearing up Why not"
"I'll take evens"
"I'll take odds"
The roll comes up a 3
"Heh... Never was lucky. Well, thank you Darling. I... I hope to meet you again some day"
"Wh- I- I... Oh... I hope we will"
"Until then, Ed looks around seems I have plenty of work to do... Won't be easy, it'll take a lot of time, but... If I don't try, I'll never know if I can. Here, you'll be needing these more than I do... Ed gives Darling his 2 remaining Emberforge Muskets and his remaining healing potions and takes Darling's hand Darling, my entire life, ever since my father died, I've been terrified of losing others again. It is a pain that nobody should have to feel. I was given this awhile back in case any of the Party Member fell but... I won't be there now will I. So... Ed hands him the Scroll of Revivify make sure to uh... make sure to use this if someone goes down..."
"I- I will"
"I know you'll do great things Darling"
"I know you'll make a great leader... You know, I've never been good with goodbyes so... I'll wish you luck instead. I know, I just know you'll make a great wizard."
"Your words are kind, Daring. One last thing... as I am leaving you'll need to help the party attune to that... I'm sure there'll be those who are saddened but... Ed hands him his Quarterstaff of Confidence you need to stay strong, and stay confident, and stay alert! You'll... you'll do great, may the staff give you the warmth you need and the boost confidence you possess. Well... Goodbye Darling Ed casts Dimension Door on himself.
Before the Party left Frostheim for good, they would all receive a letter from a messenger. The letters wrote as such
To Fritz: Thank you for taking me in. When you found me in that cave, I was alone and afraid, unsure of what I was meant to do in my life. Yet now, my purpose is clear. I know you will lead the party to great things again and again... 
To Braznii: Keep your flame strong, and keep moving on. While I don't get all of your tactics or strategies, I know you have some wits up there, and that you'll be able to burn anything standing in your way...
To Milri: Only now, regrettably so late, I see why your always hesitant to do harm. You've probably caused the greatest change in me, before I believed that being ruthless was the way. But now, I think I'm ready to great this world with open arms. 
To Katarina: Congratulations Princess, I'm glad your curse is removed. I doubt you will stay with the party, after all you have a town that will soon need to be rebuilt. I hope to work together in the future to ensure an age of peace and prosperity between Emberforge and Frostheim 
To Darling: My friend, my one good friend, thank you. If you receive this letter, it means I did go through with my plan to leave. Thanks to you, and your help, I see now that I don't need my staff to be confident. I know you will do amazing things. Also, I know you do this all for your mother, so please, give this to her in the envelope there is Ed's holy amulet, the source of his healing magic and carry on.
Thus was the end of Ed's time with the party, for now. He did indeed, not adventure on as his dreams had told him. Still, he had one last trick up his sleeve for his friends. 
=== A Deal With A God. ===
Ed was a powerful wizard, a rather misguided one, but powerful. Still he had recently gotten into being a servant of Stranghan, even if he gave Darling his amulet. He found his way away Frostheim to the last survivor from the war he personally knew, one Anna Larsen. He knew Anna was a kind hearted soul, one who had nowhere to go. Her parents had been long gone, and her few good friends had died in the war. Ed could tell Anna was special, and had a hunch she would be critical to the party's success in the quest for Milri's wife. He never understood the Gods, maybe never would, but he knew Anna knew plenty about them, even having a poster of the Goddess of Travel, Lyra, in her war tent. She had aimed to pull people back from the brink of death, but never, never, revive them. This would fit perfectly for Stranghan, Ed thought. So he found Anna, and told her of his plan, to which she was ecstatic. Together, they prayed to Stranghan, who responded. Ed offered all of his power as a wizard for Anna to become a Cleric of the Grave Domain, fighting against the Undead. Stranghan started talking in a language Ed barely understood, but he caught a single name, Emberot. Ed believed he had heard this name but could not pin it. Stranghan said both Anna and Ed would be important in this struggle, and thus offered Ed a deal. He would help Emberforge, and in due time become a cleric. Anna would adventure with the Party, as Stranghan knew of the quest and knew of the possibility of facing undead. So it was decided, Anna felt a massive rush of power surge through her, and she felt the presence of life, especially the presence of fading life, all around her. She knew it had worked. Ed gave her a gift for Darling before she left. Since he would no longer be a wizard, perhaps Darling would better be able to use Ed's spell book now... With that Anna was off south to catch up to the Party. Meanwhile, Ed was due north, last stop, Emberforge.
Category:Character