Realms S1E45 Redemption

In this special, season finale live show: Burakubuu charging recklessly ahead. Farlan’s life is fading face. The sudden return of Ted. It’s time for the climactic final showdown with Jaren.

### Player Characters Present

Jeidobii, Torq, Denahi, Burakubuu, Tallulah, Farlan, Guests: Ted, Thayet

### Synopsis

The party awakens to find Burakubuu missing. Knowing his friend's temperament, Jeidobii immediately assumes the worst, that Buu has gone forward to throw himself at the enemy in hopes of sparing his friends. "Damned fool..." They immediately set out to track down their friend.

Meanwhile Burakubuu is making haste down the dark corridors of the underground lair when he comes across a prisoner: the real Thayet! Buu briefly explains to her the situation and that he must be off to face Jaren alone. Thayet opts not to join him, though she does secretly send her tiny familiar to keep an eye on him. Thayet heads the opposite way of Buu and encounters the rest of the party, immediately debriefing them on Buu's plans after Tallullah eases Jeidobii's concerns about the verity of Thayet's identity.

Buu comes to an altar like structure in a large room lined with the remains of countless victims of Jaren's crusade. There, in the middle, he sees Trine's body chained up over a pool with Jaren himself floating aloft. He releases his little friend Arlo and approaches but finds Jaren is protecting himself within some force barrier. Buu tries with all his might to force his way past it and finding himself denied, instead attempts to start a rapport with his enemy.

The rest of the party catches up to Buu and discovers the same scene. Jaren taunts the gathered party with the remains of their loved ones arrayed along the edges of the room. They immediately jump to action as Jaren summons more demons to occupy the heroes. Thayet manages to dispel Jaren's proective barrier and Buu rushes in to try and free Trine, but finds her magical bonds unbreakable. Suddenly, one of the demons seems to be torn from the inside out as a familiar voice calls to Jaren, promising redemptive revenge. It's TED! Buu looks over at their former friend and later enemy and sees Ted is glowing with a glorious holy light. He assures his friends Ted is here to help though Jeidobii is understandably wary. Torq, Denahi and Jeidobii make short work of the demons with Ted's massively destructive assistance and Tallulah rushes in to strike at Jaren but he disappears, fleeing further in with Trine's body. Briefly, the party gathers themselves. Jeidobii lashes out, attacking Ted but the others calm him. Ted exlains himself, promising that he is here to vanquish Jaren, having now finally freed himself of the high priest's control and having realized Jaren's role in his own tragedy. Torq, Denahi and Jeidobii briefly admonish Buu for trying to go it alone.

As they head further into the living crypt, they find themselves in a glorious cathedral with tall ceilings and gorgeous stained glass windows. Here, with no apparent pomp or ceremony, they find Jaren waiting, standing aside the now headless body of Trine. He cackles, welcoming them, and transforms into a massive dragonlike creature! The party begins the fight of their lives, and it seems at many moments Jaren in his new form may be insurmountable, but just then old friends appear to join the fray. First Romyn, then, beating down the doors with a regiment of King's Guard, King Max himself charges in. United, the assembled heroes are able to just barely overcome Jaren's demonic might, but is Denahi herself who delivers the killing blow, rising up with her last ounce of strength, empowered with rage and vengeance over all Jaren has taken from her and her friends.

Jaren is defeated, a smoldering heap upon the ground of the cathedral. Farlan is restored to vitality. Ted, though, begins to fade. In his final moments, he returns to his former self, the friend they'd made upon the ship all that time ago. He passes, calling out to his beloved Carol in his final moments and offering what apology he can for all that's transpired. Jeidobii immediately goes to incinerate the body but Romyn stops him, insisting they must give Ted the Redeemed a proper burial. Buu picks up and brings the body of Trine to Romyn, and together they carry the fallen outside to see them off appropriately.