Act IV, Chapter Thirty One "hit him to death" (22/03/2025)

As conversations with alternative possibilities of themselves come to a close the Ashen company prepare to leave, Silas takes his turn at a boon and gives up his adept nature at saving against attacks on his wisdom in favour of a powerful spell.

As they all turn to leave the door isn't there; Flynn, Berrick & Silas all see the shadow monster eating the door as the mirrors begin to crack. Quick thinking Berrick casts a wall of force in a dome around his friends which saves them from a downpour of shattered glass as they take a second to prepare for a fight.

At this point, dear reader, you will be only too aware of the limited abilities your narrators have to track action or interesting moments from battle so let us leave it up to your own wild imaginations on what a glorious battle was won. 

Spells were slung; swords (and maces) were swung; action arose aplenty; terrifying moments of trepidation transpired; a brawl of bravery and brilliance befell our brazen heroes; there were stumbles and shuffles but the Ashen Company neither wavered nor wobbled and they moved around the battlefield with measured momentum and mobile manoeuvres. With stirring sacrifice, striking stratagem and even a stroke of fate they shifted the skirmish in their favour. No scuffle is too much of a struggle or strife to swamp our heroes. As the Ashen Company crushed their foe and circumvented certain capitulation, they conquered the consequences of their actions and returned to the end of all things for a wee rest.

Null gets a little de-aged after the shadow monster took her into her twilight years a little sooner than she had planned and was suddenly victim to an aching back, sore knees, the urge to learn crochet and a really small bladder.

Barrick leads the group to the next destination, an orb like structure that seems to be pulsing a wave of magic in all directions. As they arrive Berrick hears voices in all languages but even more concerning after being hit by one of the waves finds himself a Wood elf! He takes it reasonably in his stride, especially when - looking around - they realised they are surrounded by all number of random objects that may once have been something else. Berrick, quick thinking as always, casts an anti-magic field that the group can shield in as they make their way to the source of this wave. Each object they pass changes as the wave hits.

Berrick can feel his anti-magic field fading against the force of these energy waves and they do their best to pick up the pace, just when it's no longer large enough to hold everyone Flynn times a dimension door to take him & Lotty through a wave and in to the centre of the structure. 

By the time the group are together at the building Null is being escorted by a sentient swarm of butterflies that used to be Berrick and an oversized, over aggressive, dandelion that used to be Silas. Lotty meets her holding on to a talking door knob with a penchant for riddles that used to be Flynn.

Act IV, Chapter Thirty "This feels like psychological warfare - part 23" (15-03-25)

 As our heroes float in the endless void, they can't help but take a moment of introspection.

Berrick is doing his stoic best to suppress the thoughts of inevitability, things always end in a fight but surely there's got to be another way.

Silas is ever defiant in finding hope for people. Fuelled but his oath of vengeance it takes the form a fighting to the last, he'll go down swinging, but what he is fighting for is hope for everybody else.

Flynn considers how attacking and destroying are not always the right actions, maybe words are a solution, he can't shake the feeling that maybe we're missing something else.

Lotty had been running on anger, this is starting to subside into sorrow. She's bordering on catatonic just thinking and trying to reconcile the vast number of people known to her now lost.

Null can't shake the anger and confusion. She doesn't understand the reasons why, why doesn't the Watcher just stop what they're doing, why is wiping out civilization the only conclusion. She reflects on what Latharial would do and decides to set about gathering all the facts and information and channel that into whatever she can do to make a difference.

Silas holds up the Mote he was given; ever the champion of hope, he sees an opportunity to give hope to his friends. He explains the liquid in the vial can restore a soul, it could be Lotty's soul, his soul or anyone we've lost. The Ashen Company reflect on all the people that have been lost and the possibility that they may need this in the near future to bring one of them back. In the end, they decide that the dead should stay buried, Lotty doesn't want to risk anything happening to the piece of her soul that keeps Cade alive; the action company ask Silas to take this boon for himself. Whilst they all know
Silas thinks it a selfish act they convince him it's the most selfless thing he can do for the people that love him.

Knowing that Mordecai gave up part of himself so that Silas could return to them Flynn looks into his urn and calls for Mordecai. There's no response, Flynn moves over to Silas leans in and listens to his heart pounding in his chest “it's done” Flynn shouts out, Silas has his own soul now. With no response Flynn grabs null and Silas and heads into the jar.

There's no sign of Mordecai anywhere, inside the urn is covered in mud - the mix from the gardener that was used to repair the urn. For once it's Flynn that insists the place is cleaned, the three of them set about putting some elbow grease to use and clean up the urn. When he is happy with the state of the urn Flynn gives Null and Silas a cookie each, it's only been a few days since Mordecai was here, and they're only a little bit stale. He then, unceremoniously, kicks the two of them out of the urn sits alone taking in the space.

For the first time since Flynn lost his connection to Mordecai, he comes to terms with the thought that Mordecai might actually be gone forever. As he eats a cookie and let's the tears flow from his eyes he sees a crumpled parchment stuck under the corner of a table, wiping away enough tears to see Flynn reads a half written letter:

My dearest Flynn, Flynn my man, Flynn

I'm so nervous for you, I've heard you all are going to the city and I don't know what that means and how difficult dangerous it will be for you. It has been a great journey being your patron my friend, we've talked many times about me wanting my freedom and I've often thought daydreamed about whet what that would look like. Whilst I've been bound by this urn you've been the greatest frien fami warlock I could have asked for and you've made me feel free. So, if that's the only taste of freedom I get it's been sweat sweet. I do hope one day we

When Flynn comes out of the urn his friends are there to comfort him, Flynn makes Silas promise he'll take care of himself and his friends.

After the mixture of celebration that Silas' soul has been returned to him but commiseration the Mordecai wasn't returned as expected the Ashen Company move on to the next construct they see. As they enter a void like space shimmers around them, the stars in the background shift and a mirror like surface appears beneath and all around our heroes. Their reflections in this glass don't mirror their own movements though, after a moment they realise that they're seeing alternative versions of themselves when they all hear a voice at the same time warning them that they may be able to gain boons in this place where all possibilities converge it comes at a cost, and they shouldn't be too greedy.

The Ashen Company all talk to different versions of themselves. Flynn finds a version of himself that owns a successful cigar shop and he's never heard of Erathax, another Flynn is a chiselled fighter; Silas find contentment in a version of himself that seems like they've led a good life, Null spend some time talking to Ellie a version of herself that turned out to be a farmer happy in her work without the worries of the world on her shoulders; Lotty is satisfied to see as a version of herself that had a family, stayed at home and earned an honest living.

Our heroes discover this room provides the opportunity for them to swap their skills and expertise with other versions of themselves. As both Flynn and Berrick take advantage of this chance they both see in the background of the mirrors black creatures stalking around, unseen to the rest of the party they seem to be getting closer each time a swap takes place.

Act IV, Chapter 29: "Soul poop" (2025/03/01)

Hey so the Ashen Company are dicking around in the submerged titty temple thing, waiting for some more exposition. Null notes that there is absolutely no iconography anywhere in this building, no matter what her lying eyes might tell her. Flynn saunters up to the massive organ in the centre of the space and decides to tickle the ivories. He plays something that comes out all cacophonous in a minor key (Somewhere, perhaps in another timeline, Jimmy from Degrassi is in shambles). The sound summons a bunch of gyarados-looking motherfuckers. They are annoying but we overcome them eventually.

After winning the battle, we explore plunge deeper into the cleavage of this place to figure out where the creatures came from. We find a large crypt, complete with an impressive sarcophagus. As we approach, the heavy stone slab ominously slides off, revealing a big lady with the spiky aesthetic of a northern European metal band. We introduce ourselves and, in turn, she tells us her name is Vhailor. Lotty drops her maces - She's been doing that a lot all of a sudden. So weird! We are invited to sit and chat awhile, which we do. Banter and such.

Vhailor offers to regale us with the story of how she ended up in this situation. The Wyrms came for them, same as everyone else in this place. Her people tried everything to deter their conquerors, but to no avail. At the end, cornered and out of options, she and her people took their fates into their own hands and crafted their own end by flooding their last bastion. This way, she had hoped, they could at least meet their end on their own terms and avoid their souls being consumed. We all nod in sympathy and understanding. She continues, explaining that their souls could not be saved - Do we know what happens to souls when the Wyrms start their all-you-can-eat buffet? The Ashen Company figures they just kinda disappear. No, Vhailor informs us. The souls are digested - stripped of "nutrients", stripped of everything that makes a soul a person. The empty, harrowed soul husks are then somehow pooped out to spend eternity in an empty plane of refuse (the logistics of this are less than clear).

We ask her some more questions, trying get a better picture of what we're supposed to learn/take away from this part of the Watcher's twisted little museum. We find out that Vhailor feels massive guilt over not being able to save her people. She is the only one left "alive", propped up here by the Watcher for eternity. She is okay with this, because she thinks she deserves to suffer alone forever after she could not avert the destruction of her people. Null asks if Vhailor has communicated with the Watcher. She has. Vhailor expresses regret over not being able to offer the Watcher another solution. Null responds with some quick rage.

HEY - Wait a goddamn minute. This chick buys in to the Watcher's whole premise? The big eyeball's down line of wyrms does mass extermination at its behest, and she's like "Oh, that's totally reasonable! You're here to kill me and everything I've ever loved? Damn, it's on me that I failed to think of another acceptable option to you that wasn't literal genocide. I'm actually SO sad that my people had to die no matter what :( "

Null can't understand. Vhailor is a collaborator. She doesn't get to feel guilty about the destruction of her people if she agrees with the invader, with the premise that sealed their fates. Null asks point blank if Vhailor's people deserved to die. The undead empress replies that they didn't. With that, Null can't stand to be in Vhailor's presence any longer - she has nothing to learn from her. The rogue curtly leaves through a nearby portal, cursing Vhailor's name. 

The rest of the Ashen Company, namely Silas and Flynn, apologize for their friend. Her sister just died, you see. The gang doesn't hang out too much longer. Before they go, Silas sympathizes with Vhailor and offers her a boon to light up the eternal darkness that surrounds her (Flare's passive ability). They leave through the portal.

Upon zapping back to the end of all things and reuniting with Null, all hear a voice in their heads.

"Cruel. Sloppy. But not without hope."

[We're the cruel ones? The big Peeper in the sky manufactures the destruction of civilizations and we're the cruel ones? Bro's gotta get some perspective. Can a literal eyeball learn to see inwards?]

Okay bye!

Act IV, Chapter Twenty Eight "Titty Tower" (22-02-2025)

As the Gardener of the Fallen continues to tend to the flowers here, the Ashen Company ask more about the statue. The Gardner explains it was a symbol of his goddess, however - no matter how hard he tries, the statue cannot be repaired. Lotty and Silas help the Gardener clean the statue and after a basic mending cantrip, Lotty sees the issue with the statue Falling straight into disrepair at the moment after it's mended.

Flynn asks the Gardener of the Fallen what went wrong in his cycle and the gardener explains there was too much indecision. His people were innocent, wandering the lands whilst the powers-that-be from his cycle failed to take any action to save themselves. The Gardener was provided this garden in recognition of his people's innocence.

As thanks for their efforts in cleaning the statue the Gardener takes down Lotty and Silas' names and asks what their favourite flowers are; Lotty offering a rose and Silas the reeds that form around an Oasis in a desert. The Gardener says that he will make sure they are replanted as their favourite flowers when they eventually reach this place.

The Ashen Company asked Gardner if he knows the way to leave however the gardener isn't convinced that the Ashen Company will be safe outside of his garden and insist that they stay for their own safety. When the Ashen Company explained this isn't an option for them, the Gardner insists on knowing what their plan is to defeat or change the mind of the One Who Watches but isn't satisfied with their answer. As ever, the action companies good-intentions-bad-plans methodology impresses no one.

Flynn is feeling the indecision and lack of action in this situation and when the gardener unsheathes his sword, albeit not raised, Flynn decides now is the time for action. Flint starts to shoot out Eldridge blasts hitting various statues and even a few flowers (even though that probably wasn't his intention) to make the point that this gardener should let us leave. The Gardner doesn't see it that way and a fight breaks out between the two of them, the rest of the Ashen Company is reluctant to get involved not wanting this situation to end in bloodshed and when Flynn is on his last legs; the Gardener relents hoping a lesson has been learned.

The Gardener approaches Lotty, who is still pondering over the giant moon statue, there's a thing that needs to be fixed and she can't fix it. The gardener whispers in Lotty's ear that the way out has been here all along we just need to jump in and swim down the well but it's a long swim we'll need to hold our breath. Lotty asks the gardener if the statue is important to him, if it would actually mean anything to him for this statue to be repaired and he confirms how pleased he would be to have the statue restored.

Lotty announces to the rest of the group the gardener will allow them a way out but it will take some time, as they have a bit of time they may as well try to do what they can to repair the damage that they've done and leave this place better than they found it.

Flynn and Null set about doing their best to straighten up the garden, replanting what they can and cleaning up what they can't. After an identify spell tells Lotty that this statue is cursed at a high level Silas and Barrick between them managed to remove the curse from the statue. As they do the atmosphere brightens the Crescent moon restored again to its original, beautiful, stone statue. There is no longer the feel of despair in the air and Silas can fill that the land here is no longer desecrated. The Gardener rewards them by giving Lotty & Silas a seed each - The Blessing of the Gardener - an item that will allow them success against death saving throws.

Satisfied they've done a good thing, Lotty confesses her lie to the group. She isn't sorry she lied, she wanted to make sure they did a good thing but she does remember the promise of honesty within the group. Just before Berwick casts Oasis to dive into the well, Flynn takes the opportunity for one last one-to-one with the Gardner of the Fallen.

Flynn packs the urn with earth and takes some water from the well hands it to the gardener, after an sincere apology for his actions; Flynn explains that the urn used to house someone very dear to him but now that he's gone, will the Gardener look after the urn in this place that now, beautifully, seems more fitting for the dead. The gardener says that what Flynn did was cruel and unnecessary, whilst action is often needed he should think carefully about what action is taken. Looking at the urn, the gardener says that there is still life in there, and it will return in some manner once it serves it purpose. The gardener takes a little more earth and water from around him  and uses it to patch the crack in the side of the urn, this time... It holds.

After diving through the well, the Ashen company find themselves back in the landscape of the end of the universe. With no logical reason to do anything else, Flynn spins in a circle and points in a direction, and that's where the Ashen Company head.

In the next representation of a cycle that the Ashen Company find themselves in; they see cathedral of sorts ahead of them, although it is surrounded with a vortex of water in a vast chasm. There is a feeling of evil coming from the chasm below but nobody can quite sense what the feeling is coming from. Deciding to tackle the cathedral first, our heroes see that the building is full of water even with cracks in the windows or missing panes the water seems to be defying physics - it is flooding the building but not pouring out. There seems to be some kind of membrane that our heroes can pass through but the water does not seep out of, with Berrick's Oasis still protecting them the Ashen Company decide to go in through a window.

Inside the cathedral, the design and the décor seem both decorative and dangerous, the structures here look somehow brutal. Our heroes head towards the large organ in the chamber, Lotty grabs a lute and with Flynn's help interpreting languages Lottie attempts to play the sheet music sitting at the organ whilst Flynn attempts to tinkle the ivory's in front of him.