Session 73: Back in a Flash (Act III: After)

## Prelude

*We begin in a chasm.*

Once called the vast oblivium, it has been rechristened the sanctum of the unseen. As the looming apocalypse raged outside, the liberated peoples who once cowered under the rule of the hated eyemonger knew peace. The former slaves--goblins, orogs, humans, elves, dwarves--once believed that their salvation was bound to the fate of their monstrous captor. Now, they believe in something else: love.

When they weren’t foraging in the few miles outside the sanctum, each working to the best of their ability and taking care to avoid the purple worms, they reflected on their prophet’s teachings. And while their prophet, Trix, did not return, they enjoyed lively debates from his apostles. Lemon and Zero Prime Mystery Machine often discussed the merits of varied phenomena. They talked about whether abilities and interests among humanoids were more a product of genetics or cultural upbringing. They described whether someone’s name was predictive of their behavior. They argued about the morality of drinking blood. And, of course, they arrived at a conclusion about the meaning of love.

Zero Prime: **“We should posit a series of theses and rule out the ones with internal or empirical contradictions. We can then truth-test the ones that survive the first round of scrutiny by means of themed narrative storytelling.”**

Lemon: **“Neat!”**

That’s what they did.

## The Long Salt Tavern

Lemon: **“First, you can love your work. And it helps if you like your co-workers.”**

The Long Salt tavern, the place Trix met Grazzilax, Misu, and Bezekira, was full of people who loved their work. Its proprietor, Odarin Deepshackle, happily provided for the needs of all patrons--including flumphs, like Lolmulmit. When Gracklstugh was reclaimed from the undead and new groups started colonizing it, demand got a lot bigger for the in-transit new population. So Odarin was happier still when Mug Goro, the marketing director for the Underdark-famous Slagathor and Slagathor bed and breakfast asked if he’d like to become a franchisee. It was a safe space for all creatures--even after the supernaturally calming psychic energy left by the imprisoned aboleth dissipated when the aboleth was freed, people were happy to come to the space. Master Oakenborn, the surface dwarf, is shocked by how many times he’s been outplayed in cards by goblins. The most recent one, Yuk Yuk, really took him for a ride.

Misu returned here, getting a wave of nostalgia as she reflects on meeting Trix. It brought warmth to her very cold heart.

## Blingdenstone

Lemon: **“But it’s really important to put work aside and take care of your co-workers, too. Because you should love people more than you love the ideas by themselves.”**

Back in Blingdenstone, the trade routes strengthened by Bogteam let Chief Dorbo and Quartermaster Senni develop clearer lines of communication not only with the surface kingdoms, but with the surface guilds. Chipgrin and the wererats were particularly excited to see more of the surface because, by turning into rats, they didn’t have the same sunlight-related vulnerabilities as their brothers and sisters.

The ghosts of Blingdenstone realized they had been constrained to that space for too long, caught up in the Great Betrayal. After Bogtooth helped them leave and assist in the fight against the demon lords, they realized they could leave. They traveled the Underdark, seeing all they could before they were ready to move on.

Tappy, a onetime business rival, was very supportive of Kazook, who opened up about his despair at having lost his wife. Tappy, the founder of the Underdark drive-through, was sad to see Stool Team Five go, but gave his room--with all the best dirt--to his buddy. Kazook is turning to poetry. **“The goblins came to Blingdenstone and we enjoyed them!”**

Mr. Mev Flintnapper served the Diggermattocks faithfully until his body couldn’t keep up with him again. But instead of despairing, he turned to Priest Gunrik, whose teachings kept him mentally agile, flexible, and engaged for the rest of his days.

Nomi kept quite busy. She worked alongside the earth elementals to clear out more safe routes around the area, including clearing what used to be the Devil’s Veins to allow for more interactions with the rebuilt Gracklstugh. She loved being with Bogtooth.

Bogtooth met with Nomi, naming each of her elementals “Sneed.” He thinks of them as Sneedlings--or Sneed and sons. Bogtooth returned to Kazook and gave him back the bit of the shield he constructed. Glyn, too, returned to Blingdenstone to thank him for the shield he made (for Tremble)--which helped remember the goblin Glyn and overcome Graz’zt during the ritual.

Bogtooth also went with Stool Team Five and enjoyed a big cup of dirt from Tappy. Tremble, too, spoke with Stool Team Five (now Stool Team Fifty) and shared Stool’s final words. The myconids abandoned their ‘circles’ and become one, more democratized, more transparent circle. He ames back to Blingdenstone many times. It was a place of comfort for him. He helped Tappy’s business boom.

Pix, too, returned. She made Tappy’s her place of creative fulfillment.

Wilenet felt fulfilled in achieving her vengeance--the Baenres were dead. Tremble offered Wilenet to live somewhere else, outside of Menzoberranzan, and Wilenet agreed to make a reformed temple of Lolth in Blingdenstone. Tremble updated Gunrik on Segojan’s advice on democratizing the church. He was supported by Jimjar.

Jimjar and Tremble played a monthly game of cards. They reminisced about when they first met and Tremble thanked Jimjar for giving him the power of self-confidence.

### Memorable Quotes

* **Bogtooth:** That’s Sneed no. 1, that’s Sneed no. 2, that’s Sneed no. 3…..
* **Nomi:** That was a lot of Sneeds! I will try to get their numbers right! Perhaps we can make little signs?  You are very smart at naming things, Bogtooth!
* **Bogtooth:** Yeah! It’s all up in here! \*taps head\* I think all the elementals appreciate having names. They’re all their own earth people at the end of the day!

* **Stool Team 50:** At one time there was 5, and we did taste the earth 5 times, but as our grove grows again we are now Stool Team…50,
* **Bogtooth:** Wow! That’s a big ol’ milestone! Think you’ll ever be Stool 500?
* **Stool Team 50:** Hopefully 5 billion. We will never stop multiplying.
* **Bogtooth**: So you’ll taste the dirt 5 billion times!
* **Stool Team 50:** We will taste many things! Thank you, Bogtooth!

* **Wilenet:** Come and live with all of you instead of going back to Menzzobarenen? But, what about the city? I’m supposed to go back and help build it up again!
* **Tremble:** Well, you don’t have to build the city back up. There are plenty of people who can go and do that. Mr. Jimjar is gonna do that. And a lot of his friends. And if you don’t go back, well, then we can spend some more time with each other. And I dunno….I kinda just like spending time with you.
* **Wilenet**: Oh Tremble! I love spending time with you too! And you know, it would be very nice to have a family again. Alright I shall stay with you here in Blingdenstone and perhaps I can start making my own temple! I can make the reformed temple of Lolth right here in Blingdenstone and we can have a very small faction here to begin with. Oh, and perhaps when some of the city has been built up again, then we can go back. But not before I’m older!
* **Tremble:** Yeah! And you can talk to Priest Gunrik about it because Priest Gunrik knows all SORTS of things about starting temples.
* **Wilenet:** That would be very wise. In fact, I’ve just come to realize that I don’t know the first thing about starting temples.
* **Tremble:** I also don’t know the first thing about starting temples. BUT I did meet a god, and well from what he said you can kinda just do it. And it doesn’t really matter how you do it as long as you put your whole heart into it when you do it.
* **Tremble:** Oh, also, this is gonna sound crazy to you. But I saw Lolth for the briefest of moments.
* **Wilenet:** You saw LOLTH?
* **Tremble:** She’s a spider!
* **Wilenet:** Of course she is! She’s the Queen of Spiders! Wait a minute! You saw her with your own eye? Your own two eyeballs in your goblin head?
* **Tremble**: Yes.
* **Wilenet:** Did she say anything?
* **Tremble**: No… I can only describe it as the absence of saying something. She didn’t say nothing, but she very specifically didn’t say something.
* **Wilenet:** ….she’s so cool.
* **Tremble:** It was very scary.
* **Wilenet:** I bet she said a thousand words without even uttering a sentence! Well that settles it! I’m going to be a priestess of Lolth and we’re going to have a reformed school! And maybe I can teach the magic there. DID you know that when I first met you, I thought that goblins were innately very helpful! It turns out that wasn’t the case at all and that they were slaves! I don’t think we’re going to have slaves at all in New Menzoberranzan.
* **Tremble:** Good! That’s like the goal!
* **Wilenet:** Yes! They’re going to have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, just like you and your hero friends did!
* **Tremble:** Ooor they could just live their lives normally.
* **Wilenet:** Hmmm. Yes they could do that too.
* **Tremble**: You know, I was a slave once.
* **Wilenet:** Oh that must have been awful for you, how ever did you cope?
* **Tremble:** Weeell -- \*Tremble recounts the events of the entire campaign.\*

**Tremble:** You know, you don’t really have to call your god a “He.” The fact that we call them a He is kinda weird. And also the way that everyone prays…it’s not wrong, but by telling other people they're wrong, that’s wrong.

* T**remble:** Mr. Jimjar! Mr. Jimjar! Sorry... we just blew up a demon lord. They were really big. They were like REALLY big.
* **Jimjar:** Tremble we could see them from over here. The one with two heads was very big and there were no buildings in the way. I thought, shouldn’t I go over and help? But I thought my place was here, helping these people. Tremble, I had faith that you had it. And I see my faith was not misplaced.
* **Tremble**: Mr. Jimjar, I remember when we first met. You told me that I didn’t just have to believe in myself and that I have people who believe in me and that would be enough to help me believe in myself. But now I feel like I don’t need to have anyone else believe in me to know that I’m strong. Cause now I know that I’m strong because I AM strong cause I do help people and there are people who rely on me. Thank you for that!
* **Jimjar:** Thank you for teaching me so much about what true strength is. It is hard to define, is it not?
* **Tremble:** Yeah I don't have a real wordy definition. Just when you feel it  you just know. It's pretty neat.
* **Jimjar:** I guess in that way strength is a lot like love.
* **Tremble:** I really don’t understand love, but I have some friends who are trying to figure that out right now!

## Gracklstugh and the Darklake

Lemon: **“And sometimes, love is kinda wacky. Because people who don’t look like they have anything in common at all end up really working out.**

Zero Prime: **“It’s like two negatives make a positive.”**

Lemon: **“Sure, maybe, whatever.”**

It might have taken many human armies years to rout the undead from Gracklstugh. Shuushar and his army did it in two weeks. The volcanic atmosphere of the place, with nobody working forges, using fire magic, or relying on a dragon, was quelled with sufficient prayers to the Sea Mother. The kuo-toans must always be near the Darklake, and Gracklstugh is on the Darklake, so that's where Sloopidoop and Shuushar went. They opened trade relations with the deep gnomes, relying on Finn Dubh Cata’s speedy delivery to help.

And they weren’t alone. The survivors of the Neverlight Grove needed to be around beings who were willing to sponsor their unique life cycles. Mr. Stool didn’t have the strength to restart a circle of hunters, but Stool Team Five introduced him to Shuushar. Now, when it’s time for the fish to sacrifice themselves, their bodies feed the myconids. The circle of life continues. When they cleared out the Whorlstone tunnels of the derro’s Demogorgon experiments, they found a badly shaken but still alive Nigel the flumph. Nigel helps the groups monitor the area, wary of any illithid intrusions. He hasn’t encountered any, though he has noticed some chronomancy. He doesn’t know that Persemone the sphinx has taken an interest in Gracklstugh, but that’s a story for another time.

The kuo-toan now worshipp two of the Sea Mother’s ambassadors: Larry and his old friend. Larry ignores the worship but loves this new neck of the woods. His friend is a bit more old school. But as Larry the aboleth says, **“THE MOST POWERFUL THING YOU CAN DO, IS GIVE POWER TO OTHERS.”**

Pyrite eventually learned to fight from Shuushar. Glyn returned to Gracklstugh in shame, but he tried to improve the city from a less central position, helping people at the individual level and relying on Larry’s advice. Glyn expressed his admiration towards Larry. He also gave the stonespeaker crystal back to the giants, apologizing for what he did and saying he should have trusted those who warned him.

Misu went to Gracklstugh as a scout--but was frightened away by Shuushar's presence.

### Memorable Quotes

* **Pyrite**: Okay, Pix is shit at teaching people things…teach me to fight!
* **Shuushar:** The first rule is to respect your opponents. The only shit thing is a shit attitude!
* **Pyrite: T**hat doesn’t make any-- OW!
* **Shuushar: I** think you got..the POINT!

## Fire Fest and the S.O.B.

Lemon: **“And sometimes, to get others to love you, you just have to love yourself. And that means respecting your limits, and taking time off, and trying to see things in a new light.”**

Skriss was an expert at this. She wasn’t a huge fan of the constant battle. It was enough for her to cool down by lighting up. And that’s what she did when Rotgut came back from the war, deeply traumatized by the loss of the society’s leader and the feeling that he was still a goblin out of time in more ways than one. They relaxed at a place untouched by the war: Fire Fest. Kobolds like Kalama, the bartender, and Burning Eyes, the sorcerer, welcomed them to the party. They poured one out for their old friends Y and Grazilaxx.

Soon, they were joined by a new friend: Finn Dubh Cata. Finn got so fast because of a constant perception that he was being watched. As an unknowing vessel of Garl Glittergold, he wasn't far off. But the Underdark is a huge place teeming with wonders, and you’ll never learn how brilliant the societies here really are until you slow down and take time for yourself. Without Master Vizeran around anymore, he found Fire Fest and joined with Skriss and Rotgut. They call themselves the Society of Benevolence.

Bogtooth eventually accepted Skriss’s offer and smoked with Skriss. Pix also partook, calming down with Skriss, Finn, and Rotgut. She developed a semi-recreational relationship with Skriss’s substances. Pyrite read her book from the corner of Fire Fest. After reuniting with Rotgut in Menzoberranzan, she felt guilty about not becoming a good enough person and saving him in the time bubble.

Glyn went back to Fire Fest to see Rotgut and connect with him. Bogtooth, too, connected with Rotgut and inadvertently inspired him to develop a relationship with Kalama.

### Memorable Quotes

* **Bogtooth:** Ooooh, that didn’t taste like dirt at all! That’s leeeeaves! That’s…that’s plants! That’s PLANTS! Wooooooaaaah!
* **Skriss**: Wow..thant kicked in really fast!
* **Bogtooth**: Yeeeaaahhh!
* **Skriss:** Have you ever heard of a nocebo?
* **Bogtooth**: What does that meeeean??
* **Skriss:** Don’t worry about it.
* **Bogtooth:** It’s like earthly tones should be here, but I don’t feel like I’m earth anymooooooore!!
* **Finn:** No no no, man, Bogtooth. Just chill out man, it's all fine.
* **Bogtooth:** Alright. Alright, alright, alright….Whoa…
* **Finn**. Whoa…
* **Skriss:** Whoa.
* **Bogtooth:** Whoa.

* **Bogtooth:** Pix, I can hear your song like in my boooones.
* **Pix:** Me too.
* **Bogtooth:** That’s crazy.
* **Skriss:** Yeah it goes like dun dun dun dun.
* **Bogtooth:** YEah, it’s like dundun dundun! It’s like I’m a wooooorm.
* **Skriss:** What do ya call this track, Pix?
* **Pix:** ————————
* **Everyone:** \*Bursts into laughter\*

* **Bogtooth:** Hey, old timer!
* **Rotgut:** Yeah, what’s going on?
* **Bogtooth: Y**ou know, I’m really glad I got you out of that weird time bubble with the cat lady.
* **Rotgut:** Yeah, I’m really glad you saved me from an eternity of chronomancy and damnation, too. I think about it every day. Thank you.
* **Bogtooth**: I just don’t think you’re out of it yet. Just cause you’re a really old goblin who’s gonna kick the bucket any day, doesn’t mean you gotta keep living like an old goblin, ya know? New world and all that! A goblin's whatever you want a goblin to be!
* **Rotgut:** You know, Bogtooth, you’re right. I got one life to live. I’m gonna go for it!

## The Tower of Vengeance

Lemon: **“Because if you never take time off and you do things just because you feel really strongly about them, you’ll burn out. And that’s not really love. That’s obligation. And it could even be an obsession.”**

Shuushar never spoke much about what happened at the tower of vengeance. We know that Vizeran pushed himself to the breaking point as he forced far more demon lords than he realized were there to kill each other in Menzoberranzan. He wasn’t defenseless, since his death slaad was always by his side. But he was weakened. And, without his brother, his rival, or anybody to call a friend--he was alone.

Nobody knows what happened in the tower.

## Y, Grazilaxx, and the Mind Flayers

Zero Prime: **“Sometimes, an obsession with setting things right in a way that optimizes wellbeing is a legitimate way to demonstrate love. It must be contextualized.”**

The mind flayers took Y and Grazilaxx’s bodies. Y’s brain wasn’t intact, but the trauma it suffered might have improved it. Graxilaxx’s empowered mind was resilient. It survived the death of his body. Out of respect for what he did to free them from Orcus, they are researching ways to make Y and Grazilaxx’s remnants into a stronger whole--perhaps a new elder brain.

Glyn tried to make up for killing Grazilaxx and bring Y back, contributing to the creation of this elder brain. Pyrite joined just for the heck of it--**”let the lightning bolts hit the floor.”** One half is primarily Y and the other is primarily Grazilaxx. The vat it’s stored in is crackling with electricity. It’s a truly chaotic-lawful creature--somewhat reminiscent of the Demogorgon.

## Menzoberranzan and Bregan D'Aerthe

Lemon: **“We learn more about what we really value when the chips are down, you know. Like, when everything feels bad and is going wrong, that shows us what we really love.”**

In Menzoberranzan, Lolth’s ambitions for a new demonic council came to a harsh ending. As part of her deal with the gods, she withdrew her protection from the ruling families, which allowed the slaves to leave while groups like the Baenres were devastated. Without clerical magic, all Matron Mother Baenre had was her cunning mind. And a brilliant mind isn’t a deterrent to mind flayers like Grazilaxx.

Lolth could still appoint an heir apparent family to reconstruct Menzoberranzan, but she didn’t have many options the other gods found palatable. She went with the Hallen family. Hanne Hallen, who the party met in the purple worm tunnels, wasn’t unfavorably disposed towards non-drow. Lolth decided to wait a few generations.

She was further delayed by the operations of Bregan D’aerthe, who used the confusion to nudge Menzoberranzan into becoming a de facto plutocracy that thrived on its trade with Blingdenstone, the surface, and the rebuilt Gracklstugh. Jimjar became the face of the operation. When he returned to Blingdenstone, he was able to say goodbye to his mother. Seeing her son’s life work of changing the fates of two cities and fighting prejudice at its heart gave her what she needed to move on.

Jarlaxle introduced monthly musical improv festivals for sacrilege’s sake. Scout-Commander-Friend was soon called by a different name: “the host of game changer,” a new pastime where the contestants didn’t know the rules before joining.

Lolth, of course, had backup plans. There were plenty of outcast drow she was subtly influencing--some more than others.

## Gauntlgrym and the Surface

Lemon: **“Do you think it matters if…I…don’t know what it is to optimalize wellbeing?”**

**Zero Prime: “No. We all operate with incomplete information.”**

On the surface, King Bruenor of Gauntlgrym relied on the counsel of many organizations to fight against the demonic tree, the Demogorgon’s armies, and its wicked balor commander. He turned to Murky Waters, who advised him that, according to the common practices of Pelor, a ragtag group of heroes with unclear goals and pure hearts should be sufficient. He relied on the counsel of the Harpers, including the dwarf Morista Malkin, whose conversations with Misu gave her a good starting point for intelligence on the demons. The group, which included mercenaries from Baldur's Gate and religious warriors from Berdusk, got involved. They fought with Belaphoss the Mad, the balor general. Pyrite, Tremble, Glyn, Pix, and Bogtooth all helped uproot Demogorgon’s wicked tree.

King Bruenor sometimes reflected on the goblins he had met and whether he had been too dismissive of them. As he concluded: **“For most of my life, I felt there was only one goblin who amounted to anything. Perhaps Droop would have placed more faith in these little green guys than me...I only wish he was here now to tell me…”**

Glyn and Tremble took Bruenor up on his offer to tour the surface. They found where they used to live. Pyrite told Bruenor, **“I don’t need your permission!”** and found a random city, intending to murder anybody who tried to stop her--reflecting on never seeing Spindlelegs again. Bogtooth went to the surface to defend the fey and do more reading. Pix went to the surface, but missed what’s down below.

## Gravenhollow

Lemon: **“Yeah. So I guess some people just love gathering more information, huh?”**

Zero Prime: **“Affirmative.”**

Gravenhollow, the library of the Underdark, exponentially grew in terms of its volumes. The goblin’s prophecy was fulfilled, opening up the floodgates of possibilities for new futures. As we all know, once a prophecy is confirmed or denied, there’s space for new ones. For example, the prophecy that Erla, the elf monk of the Sunless Citadel, was destined to change the world by dint of her bloodline had to be extinguished by her death before the goblin prophecy could be empowered.

Hourm, the bookkeeper, had a lot of work on his plate after Veldyskar retired. The basilisk found a group of basilisk hatchlings and decided to take parental leave to raise them as adoptive kids.

Tremble studied at Gravenhollow, learning a ton about anatomy and artificing. (He turned Ralph into the ultimate mecha-dog.) Pyrite and Bogtooth helped verify parts of the story of goblins and organize the books. Pix showsedup with freshly written manuscripts and pitched fiction to the librarians. Glyn looked at stories of redemption and found a therapist--talking to villains who became good and heroes who turned bad. He wanted there to be a perfect record of his sins to Bogtooth.

Tremble interacted with sight-seeing chronomancers, which closed the time loop of how they recognized him in the past. Tremble showed them Bregan D’aerthe’s ring; they confessed to being travelers from a dread domain...

### Memorable Quotes

* **Pyrite:** This is CLEARLY not how you should organize it! It should be like THIS!
* **Bogtooth:** But Pyrite, look over here for a sec, can you verify that this actually happened? This bit right here? Ok that makes sense!
* **Pyrite:** Um…I didn’t even do any magic to check yet!

* **Bogtooth: H**ey Tremble can you send Ralph out here to get me one of those volumes from up there!
* **Tremble:** Hold on one sec! ….So scandalous!
* **Ralph**: Ralph!

**Pix:** Hey, I got something to pitch to you. This may not be fact, and I know you got your own writers over here and I;m sure they’re doing a great job, Sure! They’re probably doing a great job, they’re probably doing fantastic! They're probably making…amicable…newsprint. Anyways….THIS, however, top notch, entertaining. Shabam, Kablam, you’re never gonna read anything else like it! Think about it! Ever think about a fiction section? Might be phenomenal? You don’t have that many people in here! Gotta get a bigger audience! Because a good story is honestly just as good as the truth.

* **Bogtooth:** Okay so you intended to betray us right?
* **Glyn:** Uh, yeah. I did intend to betray you. I also intended to send a goblin army to Yeenoghu as a treat for him. I also do torture various individuals in Azzagrat. Uh, yeah.
* **Bogtooth:** Huh, yeah! So, I guess it was team Yeenoghu all along here, huh?
* **Glyn:** No no, no, that wasn’t--
* **Bogtooth:** You teamed up with them! He was part of your posse, right?
* **Glyn:** No, it was actually all a ploy of Lolth. The deal we made was never actually genuine. So I just sacrificed the souls of 300 goblins for pretty much no reason…
* **Bogtooth:** Guess at the end of the day Lady Dulcinea was right, hu? Blindly trusting you? Worked out in the end. Cause you were still there, huh? \*punch\*
* **Glyn:** I am still here yeah.
* **Bogtooth:** You must have pulled some mental stings and if not it still worked out.
* **Glyn:** I mean…Don’t….don't write that down.
* **Bogtooth:** Fine, stricken from the record!
* **Glyn:** It didn’t really all work out. A lot of people died. I did murder gnomish children in cold blood.

* **Tremble:** Hey! I got it, finally!
* **Future Wizards:** Oh you DID it! Marvelous! The ring of Bregan D’aerth!
* **Tremble:** Yeah the ring of Bregan D'aerthe!
* **Future Wizards:** Yes you always have to say it that way!! We pronounce all things in Drow Language!
* **Tremble:** Oh so it's a cultural thing?
* **Future Wizards:** We don’t know, we’re from the dread domains!

## The Feywild

Lemon: **“Okay. I guess I learned a lot. There was that time I died and I found a bunch of oozes that looked like me. But they didn’t really think like me. They thought like dad.”**

Zero Prime: **"Do you love your father?"**

Lemon: **"Yes. But I don’t like him. I guess you can love something without really liking something."**

In the Feywild, Maerad Dawnshard and Fox eventually emerged from their cocoon. Maerad’s eyes were opened to many new ways of seeing the world in this realm of fantasy. But things would never be the same between her and Dulcinea. The things those goblins said to her about the pain she caused gave her a lot of time to reconsider her actions. Without Dulcinea alive to shield her from the truths of the world, she found many things overwhelming. And all was not well in the Feywild.

The Prince of Fools, had been thwarted. His plan to blackmail the fey council into destroying the bridge to Elysium and purging the Feywild of the seelie didn’t work. He attempted to kill Dulcinea before she could revive, but he couldn’t act directly, and the watchful eyes of Garl and Kurtulmak kept their friend alive. Kurtulmak often took credit for the whole affair. Garl reminded him how much this sounded like Pelor.

One-Ear, who was now more plant than man, had an obligation to serve his benefactor. He was allowed back into the Feywild. When Dulcinea was eventually revived, he was given the blissful gift of rest. Some call him the first member of the green hand--not of vengeance, but of vigilance.

Garl also saw to it that one particular briar patch, one that had worked hard to fight to save the world, was well-taken care of. Most thistles are sharp, but this one was soft on top and only prickly on the bottom.

Briar gave a sigh of relief in his bristle state and felt at peace. Glyn went back to come clean to One Ear and ask for forgiveness--and helped in building the Green Hand of Vigilance.

Tremble spoke to Maerad and forgave her. Maerad committed to being a more aware and better person.

Bogtooth entered this area of the Feywild and poured dirt out to Peter the Pear--and met Peter’s seedlings (Penelope, Penny, and Pertram).

### Memorable Quotes

**Briar**: Hmmm. I miss some of my friends, but this dirt is really good. They would like it too. Maybe they’ll eat it one day. Hmmm. Trix would have liked this. Yes.

* **Tremble**: Hey. I just wanted to say.. I was really young when you guys came to my clan in the sunless citadel. I don’t remember everything that happened. But recently I heard about what you guys did. And I wanted to say…well I can’t speak for everyone else but…well, I forgive you. Even though what you guys did wasn’t right, no one should have to live with all that guilt on their shoulders.
* **Maerad:** I don't know what to say. I thank you tremble. I’ve been thinking a lot about the last time we met. We’re going to try to live our lives as best as we possibly can to try and be more aware people.

* **Bogtooth:** To Peter the Pear. \*dumps a cup of dirt on the ground\*
* **Seedling 1:** I’m Penelope!
* **Seedling 2**: I’m Penny!
* **Bogtooth:** The pear!?
* **Seedling 3:** I’m Pertram!
* **Penelope:** We’re seedlings!
* **Bogtooth:** Seedlings? Uh, you guys know Peter?
* **Penny:** We love you forever and immediately.
* **Bogtooth:** That’s a lot to put on someone right off the bat, ya know?
* **Pertram:** We don’t know yet. We’re really brand new to everything!
* **Bogtooth:** Well if you’re brand new I gotta give you a really important piece of advice! YAAAAAARG! That’s it! You’re little now! But always loud! Be big and loud! AAAAAAAH! Like that!
* **The Three Seedlings and Bogtooth:** AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!

## Azzagrat

Lemon: **"And on the flip side, sometimes you can like doing something a lot and call it love, but it just never gets there. So it isn’t love. It’s just emptiness."**

Graz’zt woke up in Azzagrat. Baphomet’s forces had been laying siege to the city, and Baphomet’s disappearance did nothing to break their formation. He turned to Tasha for counsel, only to find that she was gone. Some scholars link her disappearance to a certain missing treasure hoard that once belonged to the Deepking and was appropriated by Orcus. The most deep-lore scholars note that the wand of orcus disappeared from Menzoberranzan roughly when the goblins faced down the mother of demons. But that’s probably a coincidence.

As his city fell, Graz’zt called on Zariel for assistance. But, as Zariel reminded him, her support was contingent on him capturing Nicholas Ice Cream. And he didn’t--the devils did. He considered taking it up on appeal, but the screams of battle distracted him.

Azzagrat was besieged, and Graz’zt felt alone. But he wasn’t alone. Because there was something he wanted to do. He called on Anna and Suortin. They threw a wild party.

Yeenoghu showed up. He got pats, ate the flesh market, tore Verin to the brink of true death for what he did to his gnolls, and then followed Graz’zt’s suggestions. Then, Rule of Three confirmed their new alliance, forged with Elgrim, with the psions of the empty scabbard killers. Graz’zt had a mind flayer to fuck. It would never be enough, but, for that moment, it was something.

Glyn returned and made good with Graz’zt, Anna, and Rule of Three. He invited Pyrite so Pyrite could get her hook horror back. Pyrite joined what she saw as a crusade into the Abyss--bringing hellfire agents to undermine Graz'zt’s celebration.

Pyrite was also introduced to the Green Hand of Vengeance, who were battling gnolls--she tried to murder them by turning into a giant gnoll (Yeenoghu approved), though Glyn stood in her way. Graz’zt appreciated Pyrite’s debauchery.

Rule of Three pitched Pyrite on how to ‘improve’ things (like Glyn and Drigglezub were improved). She accepted.

### Memorable Quotes

**Anna:** Suortin says dinner Is served! So, everyone eat, drink, fuck, be merry all!

## Elysium

Lemon: **“And some people try to fill that emptiness. They might do it by fighting, or telling jokes.”**

ZERO PRIME: **“Or taking on others’ names.”**

Lemon: **“No. I’m cool. But just because something is empty now, it doesn’t mean it’s empty forever. You can find love and meaning in places where it seems like you might not fit at first.”**

It’s not for me to tell whether Grandpappy Droop ever saw Astrid or Jamie Mountainlion again. But it is for me to tell how tickled pink he was when his descendants came to visit. Hyrsam’s behavior exposed his elements to the Asuras and Guardinals, and his puratanical efforts to shape the feywild and elysium didn’t bear fruit. Elysium’s adventurers, realizing how vulnerable they were to attack, decided to spend more time of their afterlives strengthening themselves, not only helping others. They opened up more divine intervention training programs.

Misu set up a back alley program (how to make ‘deals’) in Elysium; Tremble practiced artificing with her in heaven, delighting Misu. He brought out the best in her.

Glyn saw Misu, apologized to her, and admitted that she was right about Nicholas Ice Cream. They reconciled and swore to thwart the other whenever they did something bad.

Misu’s father was at his happiest when his daughter, for a brief moment, gave him a moment of respect and affection. At that very moment, Tilphousia brought both of them back to hell.

## Memorable Quotes

* **Tremble**: Misu, you’re the nicest devil I’ve ever met!
* **Misu:** Ugh! UGHG!. Hmmmm. You’re the best artificer I’ve ever met.
* **Tremble: T**hat’s not true cause you’ve met yourself!
* **Misu:** You’ve certainly surpassed me, but sure kid…sure.

* **Misu:** Well, I could have done some really heinous things to y’all. But you stopped me from doing that.
* **Glyn:** Well how bout we make a deal. The two of us work to make a better place. And how bout we thwart each other if we try not to?
* **Misu:** Hmmm. That leaves me with a completely capable out on this. Sure! I can do whatever I want with this deal! Try and stop me! I’m gonna be the best devil there ever was! And you can’t stop me! Go make the world a better place kid, and um. Congrats on not being a sweet tooth or whatever.

## The Nine Hells of Baator

Lemon: **“But, with enough elbow grease, you might find that the place you thought you hated is the place you might just be perfect for."**

Zero Prime: **"What does elbow grease have to do with it?”**

Lemon **“I don’t know!”**

Pyrite and Glyn visited Trix relatively early on in Baator, joined by the other goblins. They were immediately placed in an interminably long waiting line. When they got through that line, they found that Trix was in the process of studying for the Baator Advocacy Registration - the BAR exam. Things had changed.

Trix, in hell, was going to be a lawyer. He saw the goblins and acknowledged them. He denied their attempts to rescue him; he wanted to stay in hell. He addressed the goblins one by one. He apologized to Tremble for trying to trick him during the ritual, apologized to Bogtooth for being so dismissive towards him, and asked Pix to mention Drigglezub when she tells the story of their campaign to keep her alive. Then, he rebuffed Pyrite’s attempts to drag him out of hell and thanked her for help.

Finally, he addressed Glyn. Trix chose not to forgive him for any of his sins. He said the only reason he didn’t kill Glyn in hell is because of the rest of the family’s love for him. Glyn tried to warn Trix away from gaining power from devils--and Trix replied that his real goal is to punish Ichabod for putting him through everything. He refused to see Glyn again.

Trix took Tremble fishing in the river of torment. Once, he caught a fish that had one-half of Themberchaud and one-half of the Deepking’s screaming heads.

Ichabod worked with Trix for years. Ichabod was happy to finally have the goblin’s soul, and happier still that the goblin’s insight was so useful in sussing out marks for deals. He liked reminding Trix that, technically, he could collect on the other goblin’s souls whenever he wanted. Trix liked that the goblins’ presence in the afterlife indicated they could stalk and kill him on his home plane whenever they pleased.

Trix tricked Ichabod into going to Barovia, a domain of dread, where he was summoned by the Wachter family--and got trapped.

Trix spoke with Misu. He worked out a deal with her to screw over Ichabod again in exchange for delivering a final appreciative letter to Shuushar.

### Memorable Quotes

* **Glyn:** Oh Pyrite.
* **Tremble: H**ow long have we been here?
* **Pyrite:** If I can get the right oomph on that dispelling magic, maybe I can--
* **Tremble:** Pyrite, maybe this place is meant to be the worst, and when you try to make it not the worst, it becomes more of the worst!
* **Pyrite:** Maybe it’s a constant spell being cast, if I have a counter spell maybe i might have a brief moment---
* **Glyn: A**lright, everyone, I’m NOT with her!
* **Imp:** You said that you’re with her? Hey everyone ascribe her actions to HIM!
* **Tremble**: We don’t even KNOW counterspell!

* **Trix:** What are you guys doing here?
* **Tremble:** We came to get you back.
* **Pix:** Yeah this looks like hell. Literally.
* **Trix:** Yeah, it is.
* **Glyn:** This is hell!
* **Trix:** Um. Look I um…I know you’re probably here to come and save me? But um, I kinda made another deal…
* **Bogtooth:** Why would you do that?
* **Trix:** Well, it's complicated. It’s the same deal I made with Ichabod earlier. For you guys….but. um…I think I kind of wanna stay here….
* **Pix**: Why?
* **Bogtooth:** Why in the THIS PLACE would you wanna stay here?
* **Trix:** I have so much to clean up from everything we did. And I have a lot of business here. And this is the best place to do it.
* **Tremble:** So…Every time we wanna visit you we have to stay in that really long line?
* **Trix:** I think it's best if we don’t visit each other. I mean I’m really glad that you did and it’s sorta helpful to me to sorta show how scary you are…but Think we have to part ways. And I just…I have a  lot I wanna say to you guys. Tremble, I just... ever since.. I just wanna say I’m sorry about what happened at the ritual. I know you had a plan but I thought I could change things. And I would have told you about it but people were listening. I should have trusted you more.
* **Tremble:** No you’re right, I should have thought more about what I was doing…
* **Trix:** No Tremble, you were always better than me at all this adventuring stuff. I should have trusted in that.
* **Tremble:** Am I really not gonna see you again?
* **Trix:** I just want you to be safe and happy. Keep adventuring but don’t get mixed up in anything like THIS.

* **Trix:** Bogtooth. I just …I ‘m sorry I was really dismissive of you, pretty much the whole time I knew you. But other than Shuushar, I think maybe…when we were outside that bar, I was in a really bad place and then you helped me. A lot. And I know I always pretended like I didn’t know your name. But I hope that everyone knows your name from now on.
* **Bogtooth:** I oughta beat the tar out of your head there Trix. Gonna run away? You’re just a fucking coward. But clan’s blood is my blood. So keep on studying. Make us proud.

* **Trix:** Pix, you really mean a lot to me. Thank you for helping and ensuring all of that. I have a favor to ask you. From here I can see all of the versions of the Sunless Citadel and all that says that stuff could have happened. All the versions where Drigglezub is alive or died even more gruesomely than she did…when you tell the story of all this, would you mind mentioning her? Just so she can be alive for people other than me, too?
* **Pix:** Yeah...of course I will. Here you should take one of your silly little devil legal books and describe her the way you want to. I mean, I can embellish, but whatever you want to share
* **Trix:** Thanks. Pix you really kept us together. Thanks for that.
* **Pix:** Trix? If you need ANY help. Any other help. Because this mess involves all of us. You let me know. And I hope we can come visit you? For like goblin easter and shit?
* **Trix: I** know goblin easter’s our favorite holiday, but I don't think we should make meeting each other too common. I sorta gotta convince people here I’m evil, here? So…potentially…one day.
* **Pix: I** respect your decision. When I died and came back, I had a choice too.
* **Trix**: Thank, I love you.
* **Pix:** I love you too you silly little goose..

* **Trix:** Hey Pyrite! Hey, Glyn. Hey Pyrite….ooh my god, you’re small again.
* **Pyrite:** Grrrrrr.
* **Trix:** You know, I mean….I’m really good at reading stuff, It’s useful in hell. You’re safe right now, glyn. I guess you should know I’m staying here.
* **Glyn:**  Why? Some sort of deal with a devil? We’ll kill the devil, Trix.

* **Pyrite:** I have the most powerful magic in the world. I can get you out of that! I have wishes coming out of my asshole everyday!
* **Trix:**  I have a lot to do here.
* **Pyrite:** No you don't. If anyone does, it's me! You took the bullet for ME back there. You have NO responsibility. No! Shut up! You’re leaving! You can’t fucking stay here!
* **Trix: P**yrite, thank you for being someone that I care about even though everything you do is…SO insane. I’m not staying here cause I’m taking a bullet for you but it is kind of a plus.
* **Pyrite:** I swear to you, you won’t know when you won’t know how.  Will fucking kidnap your ass and drag you out of here! And you will have no say in the matter! And show you what a fucking good time it is anywhere else! And and how much you can do to make things better ANYWHERE else! And you’ll never come back here. Do you need like some telepathy right now?
* **Trix:** No. I’m fine. I’m gonna talk to Glyn now.
* **Pyrite:** ……..You’ll never know what hit you.

* **Trix:** Glyn...I….when you stuck your sword through my chest back there at the ritual, I realized that I spent so much time pretending to do good that I never really tried to figure out what being good meant. I’m still working on it. But, for now I’m just gonna do what feels right. I just wanna tell you in the spirit of that….. that I don’t forgive you for anything that you did. I know sometimes it wasn’t of your own will and I know that there were a lot of mitigating factors. But I don’t forgive you for killing Drigglezub, for doing what you did in Gracklstugh, I don’t forgive you for any of it and I know you’re gonna go right back to the Abyss after all of this. And I know that you don’t change and I don’t trust you with my family. I was gonna kill you with this. I was gonna attack you or force you into this. But seeing everyone here…even though they shouldn’t, I know they still love you. So, you’re welcome.
* **Glyn:** Never forgive me, Trix.
* **Trix:** I won’t.
* **Glyn**: If you think you can get power from the devil to make something better, to help us, you’re right, but it comes at a terrible cost. Come back with us. Don’t. Do. This. You never have to talk to me again, or see me again. Just…don’t do this
* **Trix:** I’m not here to get power from devils. I’m trying to fuck over the devil that fucked me over. You’re right. I will never see you again.

**Studying Devils:** Fuck, what the fuck man? We get it you don’t forgive…FUCK! Just fucking what the fuck!

* **Ichabod:** You know I always said he’d be a powerful cleric. I’m really proud of him! He says that soon I can go to a place of darkness, and I can prey on the feelings of everybody involved and where I can really spread my wings! Hey, Trix, what was it called?
* **Trix:** Barovia! It’s a Domain of Dread!
* **Ichabod:** Right, Barovia! Ripe for the pickings!

* **Trix:** Misu!
* **Misu:** Trix! I knew you’d end up here! Oh, I’m so happy!
* **Trix:** Yeah it was the deal with the-- it was a whole thing.
* **Misu:** Deal with who?
* **Trix: I**chabod, I know I know.
* **Misu:** You went back to that fucking insect?! Trix! You could have made a fucking deal with me!
* **Trix:** I’m kinda in this position I can do whatever I want, no, I know--
* **Misu:** Why didn’t you make a deal with me? Why go to that insect? He doesn’t deserve anything!
* **Trix:** Ahhhh! It’s a whole plan, it's really convoluted!
* **Misu:** Fine. I accept convoluted.

**Misu:** Come with me, we’re coming come up with a plan to fucking screw over Ichabod. If I go to Shuushar, you’re dead! Shuushar is not gonna deal with me! Shuushar is gonna fucking murder me! He will kill me for good. I’ve seen it in his eyes!

## The Gods of the Hexagon

Lemon **“I guess the thing is, it’s not like we only have one life to live. Even in the afterlife, you can find new things to love.”**

Zero Prime: **"Do we have to wait for the afterlife?"**

Lemon: **"No. We can reinvent ourselves all the time. I learned that from Extra-Dimensional Spacey. Right?"**

Jessica: **"That’s right!"**

Lemon: **"Yeah, that’s right. And it’s not only people who can change what they love. I think if you love something enough, you can shape the world around you. To become a more loving place."**

The gods of the Hexagon were willing to renegotiate; Garl spoke to Pyrite about this. To give you, as mortals with the power to aid the divine, a say in how the multiverse was reimagined. Specifically--to change the afterlives for the better. They can’t undo what’s done, but they can make things better going ahead.

Tremble worked with the gods to create a DEI committee and multiplanar advocate to help make things more fair for afterlife assignments. Bogtooth concurred.

Glyn made some reforms on the infinite battlefield; there’s more food, water, and no diminishment when souls die.

Pyrite argued that every afterlife should be connected, like the Abyss and Baator. Pelor agreed--until Pyrite was impolite, at which point it became a debate. The results of the debate created the subsequent edition of Dungeons and Dragons.

Bogtooth finally asked Garl about his bet with Kurtulmak and Dulcinea. The god admitted that he needed to push the proper buttons to persuade them to help support the goblins--which Bogtooth understood.

### Memorable Quotes

* **Pyrite:** I’d like to put a presentation in front of you gods. Cause you really fucked up on this thing. And we can’t change it and go back, but we can do what we can to make it better. SO. Piece of Evidence #1: Hell is the Heaven of devils. The Abyss is the Heaven of Demons. YET they are interconnected and always fighting. Doesn’t make one the torturous domain of the other necessarily. But it allows conflict. It allows cross-pollination. Do that with literally every afterlife. Connect them all. Give everyone super cool super powers and let them duke it out in whatever kind of ways they want!
* **Pelor:** IT SHALL BE DONE!
* **Pyrite:** I’m not finished! The greater benefits of this are more forms of debate, more forms of conflict, more forms of growth. People changing is a good thing, and they can’t do that when they’re dead unless to become, like fucking, I dunno worms or celestial beings that serve you. Let it all happen! Don’t even give a shit if a demon makes it to Elysium cause it won’t even be able to do shit cause everyone will be capable of throwing hands, as my good friend Tremble might say. To conclude my presentation, you all suck, you’re isolationist pricks, and you need to get out there and do the work. Connect all of the afterlives, make sure anyone can get anywhere, and challenge anyone to any duel of any type, including you, and I’m gonna start this right now! Pelor’s already on board.
* **Pelor**: I was on board until the insults! This shall be a debate to last a millennium.
* **Pyrite:** YES! The fist duel of my new system!

* **Bogtooth:** Hey, if you’re a goblin… just let us end up where we end up! Stop making it based on what color of what we look like or if we got muzzles or not! It’s as easy as that.
* **Garl:** I have long suggested that perhaps we are not worshiped primarily on the race that we helped bring into existence.
* **Pelor: I** am worshiped by all who worship the sun!
* **Garl:** Yes, yes, that worked out very well for you. I’m saying that perhaps other gods can partake in a similar cross-pollination?
* **Pelor:** Hmmm let me take out my flow.

* **Tremble:** I think it's important to note that while some cultures may have a preference for a certain religion of afterlife, it's important to not generalize  through that cultural preference. Because some people like myself really just kinda like the deities of other cultures! I don’t even know who goblins worship.
* **Maglubiyet: G**grrmmohguurmph!!!
* **Pyrite:** Well, we can start now. Pelor, if you don't mind, let's add someone to this domain!

* **Bogtooth:** So Garl, I’ve been reading a lot of books…what’s this about a bet?
* **Garl**: Listen, different deities have different incentives. You just gotta know which buttons to push. And Dulcinea and Kurlulmak, they have their buttons. And Pelor has his. Even if I was straight forward about the whole thing, that is not really the cloth that I’m cut from. What did I say to Tix? I’m just kind of a tricky guy, I guess.

**Bogtooth: Y**ou guys are the brightest group of stars I have ever seen in my life. Keep on shining okay? I’m a star too, but you know every star starts to dim. Might as well spend my time here. Can't do any spells anymore, might end up dying if I do. I’m happy. And this library is great! Whenever you need it, it’ll be there for you! And I’ll be there too! TO REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT BOGTOOTH IS! Oh..it’s a library… maybe the library should be A LITTLE LOUDER, YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN?! Alright, Gobs. I’ll see you guys out. I love you all, but I gotta get back to my books.

* **Shuushar/Trix:** Please don’t kill Misu, thank you for showing me what it means to sacrifice for what truly matters. You showed me what I had to live for and what I had to die for.
* **Shuushar:** I love you.

## Character Endings

Lemon: **"And I think if you really love something, and you feel like the time is right, the most loving thing you can do is say goodbye to it. Or let it say goodbye to you. "**

### Bogtooth's Ending

* Bogtooth becomes a pest to the rebuilt Menzoberranzan’s leaders. He bothers the Hallens, writing to Halle a lot.
* He releases all the Christina Aguileras from the bag of tricks, falling asleep with all of them.
* He encounters a goblin camp and comes to blows with his brother, Swampfang. They reconcile--and leaves a book for his brother.
* Bogtooth is with Bogteam after beating the Demogorgon and looks up at a new star in the sky--a reminder that goblins will always be able to beat demon lords.
* Bogtooth meets a regrowing Dulcinea. He thinks of himself as a flower, and the seeds of his ideas and adventures are spreading.
* At last, we see him entering the library--and staying as a librarian. He’s done writing stories and decides to take care of it. He takes the book of his stories and puts it on a shelf. He doesn’t cast any more spells--and he’s content.

### Tremble's Ending

* Tremble is a normal person and finds his own passions--just things he enjoys.
* He investigates for Bregan D’aerthe.
* He tells Nomi about magic he’s learned.
* He visits Stool Team Fifty, Mr. Stool, and others.
* He’s on the surface, being melt with adversity and hostility, but convincing people that goblins are terrific.
* He creates insane advancements in artificing--with a special interest in prosthetics. He wants everyone, regardless of disability, to achieve what they want. They evolve into Fullmetal Alchemist-style automail.
* He spends time with Priest Gunrik and gets really on board with doing what’s right, spreading around religion.
* He has monthly games of cards with Jimjar, but they become more infrequent--but they stay in magical communication.
* There are scenes of him calming down Wilenet from doing more evil things.
* The final image of Tremble is sitting on the surface in a circle of dirt--he has a cloak, his little hat from Trix, and he’s ready to do some more good.

### Briar's Ending

* Briar is a plant, living happily in the Feywild.

### Misu's Ending

* Misu ‘mission impossibles’ her way into Gracklstugh and puts Trix’s letter next to Shuushar--she’s ambushed by Shuushar, but explains herself. She loved the respect she earned from Trix and appreciated the love the goblins had to each other. She’s here to connect to great friends whose legends aren’t finished.
* She battles with Glyn (as friendly rivals) throughout the ages; she does devilish plots and he thwarts them.
* Some of the cities she’s involved with fall; some of them before metropolises.

### Pyrite's Ending

* Pyrite acknowledges the group as family. She and her hook horror head out--off causing havoc or dueling on the material plane. She studies great magic on the planes, gets ready to fight the gods.
* She learns manners from Pelor.
* She pokes her head into the Abyss again and tries to avoid Azzagrat.
* She’s in an isolated tower on her own, crafting Simulacra as she tries to create the perfect goblin (a mad scientist).
* She’s alone, contemplating on a grassy hillside, and tries to find Trix and kidnap him. She talks to Bogtooth about what she’s done, who she is, and apologizes--saying the reason she was weak is because she never could rely on anyone who wasn’t under her command and she didn’t allow the strength of others to support her.

### Pix's Ending

* She travels the world, goes back to the Cragmaw camp. She isn’t fulfilled. She writes parables, digesting what happened in little bits and pieces.
* She feels distant from the Underdark and goes back to Blingdenstone, finding home in Tappy’s. She meets a wererat lass and finds love.
* She checks in on Trix on goblin easter, brings Bogtooth some dirt and marble cake.
* She records her family’s stories. She still worries about the people who have been impacted--both saviors and those who are to blame. She hands out stories and builds a cultural narrative about what happened--something that made meaning. It’s a story about adversity and the unexpected would be powerful and leave room for greatness. It’s a story she would have wanted back when her family died.
* She feels like there was something in her past that made her whole--the old song she can’t remember from Eldeth--and that makes her sad.

### Glyn's Ending

* Glyn and Longhorn are on the surface; Longhorn eats apples, gallops through fields of flowers, enjoying sunlight. He spends time with Twinkleface.
* Glyn tracks down the families of the gnomes that he killed and makes sure they’re taken care of from afar.
* He does things for Graz’zt and Dulcinea. He sees value in Graz’zt’s ideal of freedom; he tries to guide Graz’zt into being a little bit better. He goes to the Feywild for other chaotic things.
* Glyn’s there at Rotgut and Kalama’s wedding.
* Glyn makes a grave for Drigglezub; he buries her desiccated hand and leaves flowers.
* He sets up an orphanage: the Drigglezub Dwelling for the Displaced. Glyn brings in Kalama to teach bartending, Suortin for cooking, the clerics of Milil for music, Slagathor for hospitality, Lemon for love, Tremble for archery, Misu for a class on deals, Pix for creative writing, and Bogtooth for library science.

### Trix's Ending

* Trix is in hell, thinking about his important cases--but a paper that falls out of his briefcase is a note with all the important things he said to his family in hell. He’s working with Am’Hii and Murmur--and going to visit Nicholas Ice Cream in a baator maximum-security prison.
* It took years for Nicholas Ice Cream to figure out how he had been caught. It didn’t make sense. But Murmur the Moribund and Am’Hii the Secondary were promoted all the way to the ninth circle for their work on the matter. And, after a conversation with the followers of Asmodeus, they were armed with the knowledge of what really happened. Nicholas Ice Cream got a hold of his staff. Nicholas Ice Cream used the maze machine. But this Nicholas Ice Cream has no memory of it. And there’s no trace of another Nicholas Ice Cream anywhere. Asmodeus has been clear--dealing with multiversal matters is beyond any of their pay grades. And tracking down little shards of a creature that can’t be detected isn’t a worthy use of resources if he’s not making any trouble. So they’ve left it alone and relished this one’s torment.
* Murmur and Am’Hii never spoke to Nicholas Ice Cream directly for fear of being tricked. And they still didn’t trust Trix with confidential information. But there was nobody more insightful outside of the archdevils themselves. So Trix was appointed as his Clarice and Hannibal Lecter-style interrogator.
* Trix and Nicholas speak in hell. Nicholas implies that he was tricked by a version of himself back at the maze machine--someone who used it to go to the far future and left this version of Nicholas to take the rap. Nicholas Ice Cream suggests, rather than stick around and lose a ‘game’ - the battle with the demon lords - he’d rather prevent the ‘game’ from being played at all.
* Trix ponders the implications.

#### Memorable Quotes

* **Trix:** Nicholas, I hope you’re well. I don’t, really.
* **Nick**: Trix. Do you remember that riddle? The more I take, the more I leave behind? Did you ever figure that out?
* **Trix:** I didn’t really think about it, Nick.
* **Nick:** Sometimes I just gotta give the answer, Trix. It’s footprints. tRix, if you can’t find footprints, what do you think happened to them?
* **Trix:** I dunno, maybe they were never there?
* **Nick:** Could be. Could be they were never there. Could be they were flying high. Could be they were covered up by dust. Or it could be they were washed away by the tides.
* **Trix:** I used that trick once.
* **Nick:** I think I did too. I think I pulled one over on myself. You all keep telling me I was messing with that machine. I don’t remember that machine at all… so I’m thinking if there was a game, and I knew I was gonna lose that game, I’d probably just play a different game, wouldn’t I?
* **Trix: Y**ou’re saying…you switched with yourself?
* **Nick:** Either I play a different game Trix or I…I would just stop the game from continuing.

### Nick's Beginning

* The Christina Aguilera pulls into the seaside pit stop en route to Junkyard Heap. Sugo cooks. Ernest writes, Beck Vivian navigates, Coconut does a preschool retelling of Braveheart. But something’s caught Must Gulo’s eye.
* The captain notices a nondescript, pleasant looking man fishing by the pier. He has a big beard and small face. And he’s pulling some very pleasant fish.
* Must Gulo speaks with the man--Nicholas Ice Cream. Nicholas subtly provokes the captain into acting in a chaotic, aberrant way.
* In the real world, the DND game these characters were a part of--Two Piece--ends.
* Two years later, the game hasn’t been revived. Old Nick is killing stories on the meta level.

##### Memorable Quotes

* **Must:** Keep this on the down low, but we’re pirates!
* F**isher:** Oooh pirates! Well, I have seen may a pirate in my day! Hey can you help me round up all these fish! I got a lot of fish!
* **Fisher:** Oh, I don’t have much of an appetite for fish. I just sell ‘em. I’m pretty good at catching things, you know?
* **Must:** Yeah I getcha. I’m not always in the mood for fish. But my cook, Soog(sp?), he knows a thing or two about cookin’!
* **Fisher: I**’ll bet he does! He ever cook any of 'em birds?
* **Must: L**ike seagulls? chickens?
* **Fisher**: Well, kinda, I used to work in the tropics. I did birds. I had this whole a falconry. Became a bakery. It was a long time ago. Now, I’m just saving up to buy something more expensive with all these fish! It’s a marvelous invention. I’m warning you--once you hear about this, I doubt you’ll be able to think about nuthin’ else.
* **Must:** You know what? Hit me!
* **Fisher:** I don’t think you’ll be able to find any around these parts. You’d have to travel pretty far off course to find one. Just picture it, if you could-- a thick, sweet, cold mixture. You need milk, you need some ice cream, and you can put anything you want in there--butterscotch, caramel, chocolate syrup. Really tickles the taste buds.
* **Must:** Yo, sir, what do ya call it.
* **Fisher:** Just make sure you ask around for a milkshake machine, and don’t you take no for an answer.
* **Must:** Yeah! Yeah… that sounds GREAT! My belly’s feeling real…I got a hankerin! What’s you say your name was again?
* **Fisher/Nick:** Well, my name is...