Iris Iknar flys off into the distance out of sight. Exile's Henge returns to peaceful normality as the locals reemerge from shelter. The party talk with Reot Windwalker for a while longer, Edward receives a greater potion of healing, an apology for the wounds Reot inflicted. The party leave and bid farewell to the Warden of the Exiled.
They return to the village centre where Crom receives the shield he ordered from Erasotus. Yishi the Gangrenous beckons Amarion to approach as he keeps looking over disdainfully, unsure of Edward's past dealings. This leads to others following suit, curious of the hag's wares. By the time they are done, each have made a sacrifice to claim an item from her stock.
Mornington receives a shimmering blue cloak that allows him to turn invisible in the rain. The price he pays however, is waking each and every morning, crying involuntarily. Crom takes a cloak of beautiful petals that allows him to distract opponents in combat, he pays the price by growing animal horns, ears and eyes. As he already had the yellow eyes of an eagle, his pupils change to a rectangular shape, much like a goat, while keeping their striking yellow colour. Amarion, surprisingly, takes up the hag on an item. To pay he has to slap the singing sprite by The Bathing Pools, after a short venture and angering the sprite with an uncalled for slap he receives the Rowdy Ring, an item that allows him strike with force when unarmed.
A dispatch of Centaur are heard approaching the village centre. Mornington tells the others to leave the village for the river. The centaur had indeed come to warn the party for assaulting the sprite villager, Mornington uses his silver tongue to calm the centaur and allow him on his way.
As the party exit the village, Vix bounds up to them, catching them just before they leave. He says his goodbyes, thanks them for saving him, and notes that despite the ups and downs of their journey, he looks forward to seeing them again and wishes them all the luck he can spare for their safe travels.
Once the party reach the river they unpack the folding boat, mostly self-repaired after the damage caused by the river monster. They sail south, seeing more of 'The Collapse' that Reot had spoken of during the journey.
When the ship reaches the mouth of the river, the great sea stretching before them, they spot the whirlpool leading back to the Material Plane. Just as Pimlin described, a large void depressing the surface of the water at its centre. The boat swirls around its perimeter, getting faster and fast before they slip through, submerged, into darkness.
A misty grey infinite stretches out around the boat. Nebulas clouds, distant stars shimmer in all directions, currents of grey fog swirl about the ship, the horizon, the sea. If it could be called that. Amazed and confused by their surroundings a building size object comes into view. From where, they don't know, but it's there. The back of a throne, simple in shape, made of one solid monument of stone. The ship, as if sailing itself, turns in a large arc until it faces the front of the throne, revealing a humanoid shape sat upon it. Around 20ft tall, this humanoid figure is a torrent of dark, billowing smoke. The ships halts. A voice churns forth.
"Edward! It's a pleasure to meet your companions finally. It seems I have caught you at an opportune moment."
The party have many questions for Edward's mysterious patron. But he warns them that he cannot speak freely, he does not know who could be listening. He offers his help to the party and that he can guide them to achieve their goals. He wants what they want, balance, for things to return to how they once were. Before the party can press further, Edward's patron informs them it's time for them to leave this plane for theirs. Leave the Astral Plane for the Material Plane. A click of smoke like fingers, and all is dark once more.
The sun peaks through the clouds, blue seas, green speckled shores. After an impressive journey across planes, the party are back in Guradam. Regaining their composure they start to sail up the Stonepool River. Towards human civilization once more.
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