Session0075

==June 30th==
The party takes a moment to regroup in the wake of the battle with the Inquisitors. Thalien Omadithas uses her newfound power to mass resurrect her followers that fell in battle, with the exception of Avourel Orion. Meanwhile, with Avourel slain, Gragnok is freed from his control. Taking a moment to get his bearings and examine his situation, he realizes that he is undead.
Reinforcements from Volus arrive at the shrine, but Thalien Omadithas instructs them to stand down, explaining that the ritual has failed and the fight is over.
Thalien Omadithas and the party discuss Thalien's actions and motivations. As she has said before, she recognizes the evil of what she has done, but expresses her genuine belief that everything she has done was necessary to build a peaceful world long term, which she believes to be impossible without eliminating ego and individuality from the world and making all people the same. The party pushes back against this notion, insisting on the importance of free will, balance, and individuality even if it means an imperfect world. During the conversation, XVIII accuses Thalien of vanity and selfishness, and leaves the shrine, flying down to Volus.
Meanwhile, Gragnok places a gentle repose spell on Avourel Orion to prevent him from becoming undead.
Thalien Omadithas, referencing Odell's attempt to redirect the ascension ritual to himself using the rune of divine transference, asks why he thinks he is more worthy than her, and what his vision for the world looks like. She warns that if he is simply after personal gain and power, she will do what she must to stop him. Odell explains that he only wishes to create a world where knowledge is paramount, and history is remembered and learned from. He then gives her one of her own holy symbols, and explains that he wants to use the ritual to ascend both her and himself, to balance one another: her compassion and empathy with his stoicism and focus on knowledge. Louche telepathically expresses some concern to Odell that this arrangement could jeopardize XVIII's pact with the Raven Queen.
Meanwhile, XVIII finds the Raven Queen's Rites of Ascension in Volus. Speaking telepathically with the Raven Queen, he asks her about her own ascension. She explains that many had to die for her ascension, but they are her angels now, and she stands by her choice to ascend, characterizing Nerull as a cruel god. XVIII asks her if she created the Rites, she says that she believes so, but has last her memories of her mortal life so she does not know for certain. She emphasizes her belief that none should wield such power, and instructs XVIII to destroy them.
Meanwhile, considering Odell's offer, Thalien Omadithas turns her attention to the rest of the party, and asks if they believe in Odell and think he should be a god. Louche, Frog, and Jack express belief and confidence in him, though Falgron doesn't.
Malkoth uses a commune spell to contact Aedra and ask her about Odell's proposal. He asks if there is any way to fill the vacant divine domain within the Divine Gate without someone ascending, and the answer is no. Next, he asks if it is a net negative for the universe if someone ascends, and the answer, from Aedra's perspective, is yes. He asks if it would be better if two ascended than one, and the answer, from Aedra's perspective, is yes. Finally, he asks if Aedra would intervene if the Raven Queen was unsatisfied with XVIII's completing of their pact, and the answer is yes, emphasizing that Aedra has already sent valkyries to arbitrate.
After hearing the party's thoughts, Thalien Omadithas agrees to Odell's offer.
Meanwhile, in Volus, XVIII studies the Rites of Ascension for a while. Louche contacts them with the sending spell and explains what's happening, and asks XVIII to join them to discuss. XVIII says that they do not agree with Thalien Omadithas ascending, and doesn't come back up to the shrine right away. Louche keeps this information to himself for the time being. Shortly afterward, XVIII magically damages the Rites of Ascension to the point of nearly destroying them, rendering them unusable, then returns up to the shrine with the rest of the party. 
Seeing XVIII arrive with the ruined Rites of Ascension, Thalien Omadithas explains that she has agreed to Odell's proposal, and asks them to hand over the book. XVIII declines, explaining about their pact with the Raven Queen. Thalien offers protection from the Raven Queen after her ascension, but XVIII nonetheless refuses and keeps the Rites.
Gragnok asks Thalien Omadithas if she can fix his undead condition, and she explains that she could if the ascension was completed. Hearing this, he fires an arrow at the Rites of Ascension and destroys them. In response, Thalien manifests uses her divine intervention the restore the Rites, causing them to appear in her hands restored to their undamaged condition. Louche places Gragnok under a magical charm, and instructs him to desist.
XVIII demands the Rites back from Thalien Omadithas, who expresses hesitation, saying that she and Odell need it, and XVIII intends to destroy it. She reassures XVIII that she will protect them from anyone that the Raven Queen sends for them, but the party explains that his situation is not that simple. Eventually, at Odell's insistence, Thalien gives the book to XVIII. XVIII then shows the book to Odell, who commits its pages to memory. XVIII then destroys the Rites by pouring water from the River Styx over them. 
Afterwards, XVIII notices that Avourel Orion's soul is nearby, still tethered to his body, and seems to be doing some sort of necromancy magic to prevent himself from being taken into the afterlife. XVIII removes the gentle repose spell from Avourel's body, and drains the body of its blood and raises it as a vampire thrall. XVIII then attempts to seize Avourel's soul to take it to the Raven Queen, but Avourel resists them. Avourel then confides that he killed his brother and parents to ensure he would be the only living Orion. Malkoth, listening in, passes this information to Thalien Omadithas.
Odell and Thalien Omadithas begin the ascension ritual. In order to facilitate the necromancy portion of the ritual, after Malkoth and XVIII both refuse to do so, Frog uses a true polymorph to take on Avourel Orion's abilities, and assists with the ritual. The ritual is successful, and Thalien and Odell ascend to godhood. Their physical forms remain behind, as their first avatars.
As the ritual is ongoing, Falgron leaves, using a teleportation circle created for him by Malkoth. After the ritual, Frog contacts him using sending, saying that he understands and respects Falgron's disagreement with his decision to help with the ascension, but still stands by his decision. Falgron replies that he won't hold it against Frog personally, but that he is going to tell people about what happened.
Thalien Omadithas, as promised, restores Gragnok to life, ending his undeath. Gragnok, after saying his peace to the party and to Thalien, departs.
Soon after, Charon arrives at the shrine to retrieve XVIII. XVIII instructs Avourel Orion's body, now his vampiric thrall, to go and reveal his crimes and the truth of his birth to the high council of Shaeserin and the rest of the world, then to end his own life. Odell uses his divine intervention to empower XVIII, who seizes the soul of Avourel to take with them to the Raven Queen. 
Before XVIII departs for the Shadowfell, Jack, Djinni, and Pepper bid them farewell. The three of them then depart for Mimrinoth via a teleportation circle created by Malkoth. XVIII then departs with Charon for the Shadowfell.
The rest of the party, accompanied by Thalien Omadithas, use the writ of safe passage granted to them by Aedra to accompany XVIII to the Shadowfell to meet with the Raven Queen. When they arrive at the Fortress of Memories, the Raven Queen expresses some disappointment at XVIII's seemingly deliberate failure to stop Odell and the Morningstar's ascension. XVIII counters that he destroyed the Rites of Ascension as promised, and did try to stop the ascension, but couldn't have prevented anyone from ever succeeding to ascend. Thalien also comes to XVIII's defense, saying that XVIII did everything in their power to stop the ascension. Odell says that it is unfair to punish XVIII and their family for what she perceives to be XVIII's failure. Finally, Louche, leveraging his role as a valkyrie and representative of Aedra, also defends XVIII's choices. The Raven Queen eventually agrees, and holds XVIII's oath fulfilled.
Louche also presents an argument that XVIII should be allowed time - he recommends one day a week - to visit their family and loved ones. XVIII, when asked, says that they would settle for one day per year; specifically, June 4th, the day that they killed Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. The Raven Queen agrees to this.
XVIII presents Avourel Orion's soul to the Raven Queen, and he is taken off to face punishment for his crimes against the sanctity of death.
Afterwards, the party says their goodbyes to XVIII, then uses their writ of safe passage to leave, returning to the Material Plane.
Meanwhile, Falgron arrives at the Fable Bearers' Circle, and tells Aristoadle what has happened. He creates some paintings to record the occasion, and displays them at the monastery. Afterwards, he leaves the kingdom, setting off to live a life of solitude. Before departing, he leaves a note for Frog saying that he understands why Frog did what he did, and hopes that Frog was right.
Elsewhere, as the party arrives back on the Material Plane, Heartsong emerges from Frog and says that he should return to the Star Road. He asks Louche if he is ready to traverse the Star Road to a new universe. Louche has some things that he wants to do first, and Heartsong agrees to remain with Frog for a while longer. Jack also asks Heartsong, since he was able to resurrect Djinni himself, to instead use his favor to bring another Jack and Djinni together somewhere else in the multiverse. Heartsong agrees.
==Denouement==
With the story complete, the party spends some time talking about their character's futures, and the direction of their lives over the coming weeks, months, and years.
===Louche===
In the days following, Louche finishes his musical about the party and their adventures. He also visits Natalie Shaw in Sigil, spends some time with her, and leaves a letter with her to give to Lane Coronato once his transformation into a celestial is complete.
The party meets up to say farewell when Louche is ready to depart. They give him some gifts and letters. Malkoth makes a request that Heartsong bring back some object from Louche's new universe, so that he can later use conjuration magic to reach him, to which Heartsong agrees. 
Heartsong takes Louche to the Star Road, leading him to a new universe that Louche finds suitable: one with stable magic, distant gods, more advanced technology, and good weather. He sends an electric brazier with Heartsong to take back to Malkoth, as promised.
In the new universe, Louche finishes his psalm to un-assimilate himself from Israphel and Mahadi. After doing so, the three remain close friends and allies for years to come, starting a business venture together creating technology and marketing musicians. Louche and Israphel also have children, with the aid of magic. 
===Gragnok===
After fleeing Volus, Gragnok returns to Ossidia, and reports everything that happened to the Empire. Afterwards, he takes up a life as a vigilante outlaw. During his travels, he finds Valania Aloro living outside Paxeter with Yuengling. 
Eventually, Gragnok has a romantic tryst with Empress Roslyn Alvira, who ends up conceiving and bearing his child, passing them off as her trueborn heir.
Of note, in the wake of the events of the campaign, Hartwell withdraws from the Alviren Empire, under the perceived weak leadership of the Empress and ineffectiveness of the Empire in addressing the threats of the past months. 
===Odell===
In his newly ascended form, Odell spends some time cultivating his and the Morningstar's divine domain. Eventually, he meets with several people to discuss the ascension and his new nature, including Grenfi Nackle and Nuraval Silverstone, who has been promoted to Paragon of the Divines at the College.
Speaking with Grenfi Nackle, Odell works with her to help bridge the gap between the Weavers Conclave and the College of Mimrinoth, and ease magic regulations. 
In the years that follow, the College makes revolutionary advances in arcanotech, thanks to Kajido's salt refinery methods. Eventually, Mimrinoth leaves the Alviren Empire over disputes regarding magic regulation.
Odell spends years developing a theory of divine dispersion, wherein the divine domain inside the Divine Gate could be filled without the need for a god or gods. 
===Malkoth===
As requested by XVIII, Malkoth recovers the body of XIX, and buries her at Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's old keep. He also helps fix up the old keep, and install magical wards and abjurations on it. 
Later, Malkoth visits Elysium, where he trades Asmodeus' relics to Pelor in exchange for immortality and boons. He also visits Lane Coronato, and returns to visit him from time to time in Sigil.
A few months after the ascension, Malkoth is invited to join the Weavers Conclave, and to become the Paragon of Far Weavers at the College of Mimrinoth, both of which offers he accepts. As a member of the Weavers Conclave, he helps to lower barriers for people to access magic, and stabilize the world's magic based on the theories and writing of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel.
After Hartwell withdraws from the Empire, Malkoth speaks with Immanuel Belder, convinces him to stop punishing himself for what hapepned, and helps him escape Hartwellian jail. 
Some time later, Brook comes from the Feywild to visit Malkoth and redeem the favor that he owes her. Specifically, she requests to live with Malkoth for a while, having been asked to leave the Feywild for a time after the wedding of Passeri and Primrose.
Malkoth and Brook - accompanied by Gragnok for security - later meet with Potpie and his cartel, who demand an increase in supply of fey drugs from him. Malkoth refuses and takes control of the cartel, killing Bobblin Gocks. 
===Jack===
A few months after the ascension, Pepper and Lo get married. Malkoth uses conjurations to bring XVIII and Louche to the wedding, and Louche gives them a music box from his universe as a gift for their coming child.
Shortly after, Pepper and Lo's children are born: twins named Robin and Orion.
Jack and Djinni also have a child of their own, named Potential, or Pot for short.
Later, Jack takes his family to the Golden Wastes, where he introduces them to his parents. In the Wastes, he also spends time using his magic to help empower and develop the infrastructure of the Wastes, and aid them in protecting themselves from Hartwellian expansion.
Eventually, Malkoth invites Jack to join the Weavers Conclave, to which Jack agrees, under the condition that they help with developing the Wastes. 
===Frog===
In the coming weeks, Frog works with Aristoadle to establish a new role for the Fable Bearers' Circle, aiding in expanding the colonies, connecting them all via warp pipes, and improving Mycorrhiza's political standing.
Eventually, with Frog as advisor, Porcini decides to withdraw Mycorrhiza from the Alviren Empire. Sibillini follows suit, and a new Mycorrhizan Empire is formed, becoming one of the most powerful and prosperous world powers.
Some time later, Porcini and Marcello are married.
===XVIII===
XVIII begins their new role as the shepherd of souls into the afterlife. Over the coming weeks and months, they begin to find some satisfaction and fulfillment in their work, recognizing the importance of it. 
On one Prime Zenith, XVIII collects the soul of their grandfather, Gilbert Hackett, who has died. They take Gilbert to the afterlife to be with Freddie and Daisy Hackett. They also get the chance to meet Freddie and Daisy and make amends with them. Daisy leaves them with a pink flower.
Several months later, while making rounds, XVIII finds XV, having used a necromancy ritual to temporarily separate his soul from his body to draw XVIII to him, so they can have time together. XV swears that they will still find away to free XVIII from the Raven Queen; XVIII, however, says that it is important for them to continue doing the work that they're doing, but they will continue to visit. 
Jack, with Malkoth's help, use a gate spell to draw XVIII into the world briefly to meet Jack's children and grandchildren.
In the coming years, XVIII keeps up with their siblings as well. IX becomes a student at the College of Mimrinoth, XI takes up a life of adventure, XIII moves back to Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's old keep, XVI gets involved in petty crime, Valomir Quinn becomes a doctor studying under Alvoril Shukura, and XXI eventually lets go of her hate and grief and moved on to the afterlife. 
On one of his days off granted to him by the Raven Queen, XVIII meets with Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel in Sigil, and they start their relationship over.
===Patches===
Patches (Deity) asks Patches to leave this universe and explore the multiverse together. Patches agrees, and they set a date for departure. He also invites the party to be there when he leaves.
On the departure date, the party meets with Patches at the spot in the Chwaka desert where he originally arrived in this universe. Here, he plants a changing tree sapling, uses a divine intervention to return to his original tabaxi form, and gives Odell the phaelux beacon. With help from Patches (Deity), he summons the killer fey worm from his magic beans, and traps it in a jar.
With all his preparations complete, Patches uses his magic yacht to depart the universe with Patches (Deity), destroying the killer worm in the process.
===Sigil===
Gregarian Advantis wins governorship of the Lower Ward. 
Lane Coronato, reborn as a celestial, and now going by the name Delectus that was given to him by Louche, visits Natalie Shaw in Sigil and makes amends with her. Here, he also receives the letter that Louche left for him.
===Syntithenai===
In the weeks following the ascension, Syntithenai gradually goes inert, and its power wanes, and its symbols fade. The party gives it to the Circle of Architects at the College of Mimrinoth for study, and in the coming years, it plays a role in the development of advanced arcanotech. 
===Weavers Conclave===
Some years later, the Conclave publicly renounces any relationship with the Alviren Empire, and rescinds its regulatory recommendations, and withdraws from having any role in magic regulation. 
Category:SessionLog