Chapter 62: Those Who Live After

*“End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path. One that we all must take.” - J.R.R. Tolkien*

## Our True Nature

Our six adventurers and the devil. The end that was always meant to be. All knew what needed to happen next, all except one, after four centuries Strahd failed to overcome his biggest flaw, arrogance. A quick speech and a temptation of power, that's all it ever took in the past to tear apart the parties that he dragged into his lands. So of course, why wouldn't it also work again now. His hubris blinded him to the fact that this party had shown resilience time and time again to his dark temptations.

Underestimated until the very end. The Halfing Druid, who went from coward to Saviour. The Tiefling Bard, who tore down friend and country for his Son. The Owlbear Fighter, ripped from home to arena, only to finally find something worth fighting for. The Reborn Warlock, tethered between friends and master, yet forever incorruptible to the darkness. The Warforged Wizard, out of time and yet a part of it, a conductor of it. Finally, the Human Bard, a spectator to his heroes tale, unknowingly at it's center. These unshakable adventurers came to do one thing, end the vampires reign of terror.

In the tomb of his brother, the ignition of his curse, Strahd prattled on... All while giving another time to put his downfall in motion.

In the mind of Algernon Elfire, Saint Markovia was making him a proposal. She offers aid, the trapped souls within Barovia will be momentarily freed of their madness and be able to provide strength in the fight a head. However, a feat of this nature needs a sacrifice, for these souls to be allowed a chance at freedom, another soul must be trapped in their place. To any other man, this may have seemed a choice that needed much deliberation, but for Algernon it took only seconds. He'd been hearing the cries of the trapped souls all his life and it was his life he was willing to trade to free them. He accepted Saint Markovia's deal.

As Algernon's mind returned to the living plain, Strahd's negotiations had failed. Finally the fight, had begun.

*“Heroes don't get happy endings. They give them to other people.” -Stephanie Garber*

## The Saviour's Revenge

With their powers drained from the battle of Vallaki, Strahd began unleashing an onslaught of dark magic upon the group, defense and utility from the Wizard and Spirit Bard held back the brunt of the magic, while the Warlock, Fighter and Bard of Swords fought to gain a foothold. It was the ever ignored Druid however who shocked Strahd. Through the power of Sunbeam, he burned through the unnatural darkness of the Vampire's layer and diminished parts of his magic, scorching his swarms of bats and freeing his allies from their embrace.

Despite the magics of the moon bringing hope, there was no getting past the depleted vitality of the party. To face the dread lord at less then half their strength was a cruel joke that was only befitting of Barovia. But as it always is at a stories darkest hour, the light shines through brightest. The lost souls approached.

## Gifts from the Departed

*“...our souls may be consumed by shadows, but that doesn't mean we have to behave as monsters.” -Emm Cole*

Time stands still, as the gifts of Algernon's sacrifice are dispensed.

A tear through time appears opposite Jhinn and he himself emerges from it. Except a much older version, even for a construct and under a different name. Howl. He states "The dead are coming to help the others. You have done well here Jhinn, your purpose is almost complete. Soon, one way or another, it will be time to depart once more. For now though, I'm transferring some of my power to you. Make sure you able to record this story's end." With that, Jhinn is revitalized and his magic reserves are replenished.

A spirit appears in front of Eluned, that of the sundered god Silvanus. "Hello Eluned. I never got a chance to say thank you for freeing me. You've a stronger mind and soul than that of any before. Don't put your faith in gods like me, put it in those around you. These lands are filled with many fiends, but you certainly aren't one of them. It's time for you to look the hero you are." Eluned's sunken eyes and skeletal wings turn back to normal as she receives a surge of power.

Tatyana and Sergei erupt from the moonsword and land in front of Marsden and Asterius. "Our gratitude to you both is indescribable. However, as you can imagine, not even we have found true peace yet. I will not make excuses for my brother. It is true that from our earliest years he was abused by the dark powers that was our father and then later taken and manipulated by a different dark power, but through it all, it was still Strahd in there, I don't believe he was ever truly out of control. It is far past the time that he and his domain were put to rest. Our final strength is yours to wield." The Moonsword bestows lunar power into Marsden and Asterius.

The air around Dankin rips apart as a spirit appears from beyond Barovia. Dankin's old friend Kamos stands in front of him. "Oh aye, this is a bit spooky, ey friend? I mean that by the way, that your my friend, what happened never changed that. I've spent years watching you torment yourself over what you had no control over. You've done more good in the world than you could ever realise. If you hadn't fallen asleep that day, then you'd have wound up just like me. Then everything happening around us wouldn't exist. Never stop believing in yourself friend, never stop being a savior." Kamos reinvigorates Dankin's connection to nature.

Saint Markovia appears before Algernon. "To sacrifice ones own soul is a terrible price to pay, but it is the heroic action needed in the stories darkest hour. Whether you succeed now is up to you and your companions. Strahd has moved all the pieces required for his own destruction into play. His centuries long list of victims is what has given you the power to vanquish him tonight. The final night. You came here as an admirer of a distant story, now leave as the author of it's conclusion."

Before time resumes, everyone feels another soul trying to reach out, to reach Nebrix. There is a crack of ice and the then the sound of silence as whatever was trying to make contact is driven away.

## Strahd's Last Stand

*“There was one great tomb more lordly than all the rest; huge it was, and nobly proportioned. On it was but one word, **DRACULA**.”* *- Bram Stoker*

The rage of the creature of the night was immense, his indignation at the interference of those who had no right to be, resulted in the complete destruction of Sergei's tomb. The party fell twenty feet below into a chasm of fire and crystal. Two ruby shards of dark energy rested on either side of the pit, channeling power into Strahd, protecting him from harm. Before the party had time to react, more chaos fill their eyes. Eluned own shadow ripped from her and took her own darkly form and began to attack. At the same time Strahd attempted to split the party by creating a stone wall separating the room, leaving Marsden, Algernon and Asterius to his mercy. In quick reaction, Dankin wild shaped into an earth elemental and burrowed through the wall to their aid, as Nebrix and Jhinn dealt with the crystal on their side, Eluned locked in a one verse one battle with her shadowed self.

Strahd's cruelty triumphed over his tactical mind as even in this dangerous hour he wish only to be cruel, as he commanded Asterius to walk into the flames. His father's attempt to override the mind control failed as Algernon lunged into the flames to save the boy. All while the rest of the party destroyed the shards of energy protecting the vampire. Now vulnerable to attacks, Eluned charged forward with haste and together with Dankin, slammed the dread lord in the rocks, pummeling him until his bones crushed and blood poured. With Dankin and Eluned holding him down and the aid of his comrades, Marsden raised the Moonsword high and in one motion, with the spirits of Sergei and Tatyana erupting and holding the blade with him, he plunged it into Strahd. He let out "I knew... it'd be you..." and burned to ash.

## Light

"There is no light in the eyes of the men that feed off this land. They are as dead as the dead." - Strahd Von Zarovich

Hesitation. We never expect the end to be so quiet. The battle worn faces of the victors find each other and those faces say more than words ever could. The only weight left upon them is Algernon's sacrifice and yet, they go on. Strahd's ashes lie in the rubble below as they begin their walk into the light. Castle Ravenloft groans and wails as they march through, even the curse doll Pildwick crumbles at their feet. They once more use the druidic circle to reach Vallaki and are greeted by the cheers and cries of an entire country, blazing light clutching them in the warm embrace of victory. The town squared is filled with the faces of their fellow soldiers and friends, the liberated. For the first time in most of their lives, they can begin thinking of their futures.

If only it were ever that easy.

The darkness reared it's head once more as snow began to fall. The cold touch of the Frostmaiden approaches and the realm was sealed once more. A frost chain erupts from Nerbix, the opposite end tears through the air and pulls through the ice queen, Auril. Winter has arrived in Barovia.

## The Pact

*“Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They’ll hate you for it, but that’s the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice.” – Alfred Pennyworth*

"Well done, Nebrix. You have done... admirably. Our pact is almost complete and you are nearly free. All that remains is for you to complete my physical link to this land." Tension grips the town the square. Nebrix hesitates. Pleas come from Marsden, who sees the memories of Menowin's end flash before him. His party members attempt to get him to see what the frostmaiden is, but all Nebrix appears to remember are the times she was there for him and they were not. A bark breaks through the discourse, as Tess runs around the corner towards Nebrix.

The dog begins to transform and quickly in place of Tess, stands a middle aged woman. "Nebrix please, you've made me so proud. You've transcended her. When she took everything and everyone from you, you came out stronger. Your memories and your life before her may be gone for you, but we never left, I never left. Look around you, look at the faces of your true friends, ones who never held you hostage for their own gain, but accepted you as an equal and valued companion. Your not Strahd, you didn't come all this way to fall victim to the same evil he did. Please listen to your mother and stand with them and not with her."

Nebrix approaches Marsden and whisper's in his ear "Do it". There's a pause before Marsden replies "Like Menowin?". "Yes". The Moonsword plunges into the weaken Warlocks chest as he falls to the ground, however Marsden refuses to completely finish him, leaving Auril's connection open. Enraged, she begins to make a move toward the Bard. It's at this point that Gertruda rushes forward and kneels at Nebrix' body. She looks up at Marsden and says "Do you trust me?". Marsden hesitates and she answers "Smart Taily". She activates an amulet in her hand and both she and Nebrix burst into flames and ash. Auril's connection to Barovia is broken and she's pull back into Icewind Dale as she screams. Light breaks through once more, the Warlocks the only victims of the Ice Queens wrath.

## Those Who Live

*”Everything’s got to end sometime. Otherwise, nothing would ever get started.” - Stephen Moffat*

In large, this is where our story ends. Whether this makes for the happy ever after of our heroes is yet to be determined, but for now we shall leave it with the tales of their immediate exploits and hopes for the future. For the future is bright and there has been enough darkness.

Marsden, of the Rayburn estate, left Barovia. He left rather quickly at that, accompanied by his Son and new Fiancé, Ismark the Greater. With plans to get married and rebuild his family estate, Marsden could finally begin living his life, but not before he gave someone else back there's. With the assistance of Dankin, and the sacrifice of the amulet of Ravenkind, Menowin was resurrected. However this time he wasn't an Vistani, but an Eladrin. Before leaving, Dankin place his Jester hat upon the grave marked Pallas.

Staying with Dankin, he journeyed home to Luiren and resurrected Kamos, finally bringing an end to his guilt and solitude. He returned to the frog sanctuary that he'd create during his two year absence from Barovia, beginning again the druidic protection of the forests. Due to Dankin not returning to the Mire, they needed a new protector. That protector and leader came in the form of Eluned as she searched for a way to find her Fey roots and build the mire as a gateway to the world she was torn from.

Jhinn found that his journey as Howl had come to an end, he recorded the history of Barovia and aided in it's freedom. It was time for him to move on. The next great mystery was the ever present Whispering Wall, which was to decide his next destination. He was waved off by Algernon as he step through into a new unknown time and place. Algernon, the only member of the party to remain in Barovia, whether it was due to the lack of choice or always his destiny, took up residency of Castle Ravenloft and began to transform it in a library for all.

As for the others who played a part in the tale. Although the death of Barren came as no real shock to Aurelia, the pain of it wasn't lessened. She continued to stay with her family and raise their child, Bluebell. Zilyana became the ad-hoc leader of Barovia and provided her knowledge of Elvin architecture to rebuild it's cities. All the while news of her exploits reached dangerous ears. Figures such as Blinsky, Madam Eva and the Abbot faded like the mists and weren't seen again.

The only thing left to mention takes us far from Barovia, far from anywhere in Faerun. Down to the final layer of the nine hells, Nessus. Where two Warlocks awoke and worryingly... began to plan.