[EF] Fisted! (1/2020 - 4/2020)

[Judas D'arc]

Summary: No longer bound by their truce, the conflict between the would-be Time Lord Haxley and Renthar reaches its climax! The mysterious Stower Twins emerge from the shadows with nefarious plans!! The Emerald Fist is forced to choose a side!!! The end is here, and when all is said and done, nothing will ever be the same.

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1/25/2020:

At the King’s council meeting, Governor Haxley announced that Trinsic was offering a reward for the death or capture of both Renthar and Jolicia, for their role in sending Sarain’s time shade to slay him the previous summer. He stated that this bounty would not go into effect for two weeks because the couple were currently aiding the Emerald Fist in a matter of importance. He also mentioned that he had arranged to move his family’s crypt from Trammel to Felucca, as well as restore the Haxley family home in Britain.

Additionally, Percival Coburn, a solicitor known to be employed by the Stower Twins, addressed the council. He announced that one of his unnamed clients was seeking information about the rogue scholar Semidar, who was rumored to have somehow returned from death, and he asked that anyone with knowledge of the Semidar’s whereabouts contact him in Nujel’m.

2/3/2020:

In Wind of Felucca, Renthar and Jolicia plotted. The sorcerer informed his lover it was time to go on the offensive against the would-be Time Lord Haxley, which required the recruitment of allies from among the Emerald Fist. Renthar promised her that once their enemy was defeated, they would finally be able to depart this Britannia together.

2/4/2020:

At the same time, Lord Haxley was also determined to gather allies and finally defeat Renthar, so that he could depart this Britannia and resume his protectorship of Everywhere. The would-be Time Lord tasked his “divergent,” Governor Haxley of Trinsic, to look for aid from the Emerald Fist and their associates.

The Governor met with Gauf Guthvigoff, Erollisi Stower, and Piper Swift in an effort to sway them to the would-be Time Lord’s cause. He advised Gauf that Renthar’s evil made him similar to the witches Gauf once hunted. He reminded Erollisi of his alliance with her former mentor Michael Mitre, as well as how he once saved her from Ine Dir’ath on the night the former Governor massacred a number of his political enemies. When addressing Piper, the Governor appealed to their shared history as proof that the would-be Time Lord should be trusted over Renthar.

2/5/2020:

Following up on their prior discussions, Renthar met in secret with Adegas Tazkia. The sorcerer stated that once the Haxleys were defeated, he could share more of his knowledge with her. He then revealed that he was allied with mages from various shard-worlds, each masters of different magical disciplines. As a reward for his loyalty, Renthar promised to help her mystically extend her lifespan, without becoming a lich, as well as put her on the trail of the very elusive yet powerful Ninth Circle of magic.

2/7/2020:

At his office in Trinsic, Governor Haxley met with Kalanna and Sergio Jarrett. He addressed the misgivings Kalanna had about their past dealings during the so-called Time Shade crisis. Due to the outcome of her search for his missing ruby, which led to Chanticleer’s restoration, Kalanna was willing to accept that he was not ill-intended. The Governor then mentioned their respective experiences with Renthar, in an effort to convince them the sorcerer must be stopped.

[Judas D'arc]

2/8/2020:

Jolicia and Renthar visited Tabitha Wardwell’s home to speak with her and the bard Judas. They discussed the matter of Governor Haxley’s bounty on their heads. The sorcerer and his lover then asked Tabitha and Judas to join them against the would-be Time Lord, as well as convince the rest of the Fist to do so. While the bard indicated that he had retired from Fisting in order to care for the ailing Emerald Empress, Tabitha agreed to their request.

2/9/2020:

Previously, the Fist had chosen to slay Lector Stavros, the Technocrat leader, even after being warned that it would cause his followers to return and successfully avenge his death. After the Memory crystal used to restore Chanticleer’s existence was shattered, Ezekiel experienced a recurring dream of the Technocrats’ return and their slaughter of his friends. Consequently, a bargain was struck between Renthar and Ezekial Crowley. In return for siding with the sorcerer and Jolicia against the Haxleys, Renthar promised Ezekial the opportunity to save his comrades from their impending demise at the hands of the Technocrats.

2/9/2020:

*Crier Announcement: Bounties Now in Effect*

The City of Trinsic has officially announced that bounties are in effect for the sorcerer Renthar and his apprentice, the mage Jolicia. Both are wanted for their involvement in plotting last summer’s attempted assassination of Governor Haxley by the individual known as Sarain.

The reward for Renthar is 5,000,000 gold pieces, while the reward for Jolicia is 2,000,000 gold pieces.

While Governor Haxley would prefer a trial to sufficiently establish their guilt, both individuals are considered extremely dangerous due to their high-level of magical proficiency. As a result, the bounties will be paid in the event of capture, or sufficient evidence of their deaths.

Any questions regarding this matter should be made directly to Governor Haxley of Trinsic.

2/10/2020:

One night in Emerald Town, Ezekiel shared his vision about the Technocrats’ return with the rest of the Emerald Fist. This revelation was interrupted by Jolicia, who was fleeing mercenaries that sought to collect Haxley’s bounty on her head. The mage’s hunters were defeated, though the Fist left them alive as a warning against others that might hunt Jolicia or Renthar. Following this, they returned to the discussion of Ezekial’s vision. At some point in the future, Sister Niva would lead an army of Technocrats to the Memorial Gardens of Emerald Town, and they would overwhelm and slaughter the Fist, including some future members who had yet to join and Ezekial did not recognize.

2/11/2020:

Governor Haxley met with Faeryl Tyra’them in his Trinsic office to discuss her prior interactions with his alternate self, the would-be Time Lord Haxley. The Governor explained that it was never his other self’s intention for her to be captured in Everywhere, or used by Renthar as a pawn in his schemes. As restitution for all her suffering, the Governor offered to either send the elf back to her native shard-world, or if she wished to remain here, another boon as compensation. He also asked Faeryl to join the Haxleys in defeating Renthar for good.

2/14/2020:

In the hidden underground area known as Foremast, Renthar and Jolicia met with her friend, the ranger Okami. They discussed the ranger’s recent illness and return to life, and the druid Haldir Haerion’s role in both. Jolicia also informed Renthar that Haldir had requested to meet with him. The conversation then turned to how Jolicia was almost captured by hunters seeking to collect on Haxley’s bounty. The three agreed that both Haxley and his “client,” his would-be Time Lord counterpart, must be stopped, and the ranger told them about his current fugitive status. After he departed, Jolicia assured her lover that Okami was firmly on their side.

2/15/2020:

Next, Renthar and Jolicia met in secret with Bacchus of the Emerald Fist. Renthar revealed he knew that Bacchus had chosen to preserve the abandoned abbey, rather than destroying it, thus siding with the sorcerer against the Haxleys. Bacchus explained he was not choosing Renthar, he was simply not willing to destroy a part of his childhood home. Regardless, the sorcerer was pleased by the outcome. They also discussed Chanticleer’s recent restoration, and how Renthar honored his promise to the Emerald Empress by aiding in the effort. Renthar and Jolicia then asked Bacchus to help persuade the rest of the Fist to support them against the Haxleys, and he agreed to consider it. The couple also promised Bacchus that they would tell no one else of his decision regarding the abandoned abbey.

2/16/2020:

Lastly, Renthar and Jolicia spoke with the druid Haldir Haerion. They discussed matters related to the rituals and spells of importance to the druid. In exchange for a portion of space magic, of the kind possessed by the ruby artifact Renthar stole from Haxley, Haldir offered to persuade others, such as his lover Faeryl and some of the Riverwatch Rangers, to stay out of the couple’s conflict with the Haxleys. Not only did Renthar agree to the druid’s request, but he offered to give him the desired power without a promise of anything in return.

[Judas D'arc]

2/17/2020:

As previously announced, Governor Haxley of Trinsic held a small ceremony at the cemetery in Britain of Trammel. The purpose of this ceremony was to commemorate the moving of his family crypt from Felucca to Trammel, and to celebrate his family legacy. The Governor also promised a party at the Blue Boar once the dedication was completed. Among those in attendance were members of the Emerald Fist and their allies, as well as some of the local citizenry.

However, after the event began with a sharing of the Haxley family history, a corpse capable of speech emerged from a nearby grave. It threatened Haxley for his placing bounties on Renthar and Jolicia and stated he would die for this. Before expiring, this undead creature summoned a Harbinger demon that swiftly attacked the crowd.

A bloody battle ensued, and the Harbinger was slain, but not before massacring some of the innocent citizens who had attended the celebration. The Governor canceled the rest of the event and left to inform the guards. The survivors then discussed whether or not they believed Renthar was truly responsible for the attack.

2/18/2020:

The next evening, at the monthly King’s council meeting, Governor Haxley reported this attack to Blackthorn and his fellow governors. He reiterated how dangerous Renthar and Jolicia were, and then doubled the amount of the bounties to ten million gold pieces for the former, and four million gold pieces for the latter.

2/21/2020:

A shambling undead appeared at Emerald Keep, carrying a communication crystal. It was soon revealed to be a servant of Renthar’s, closely resembling the one that ruined the Haxley family commemoration ceremony. Speaking to the Fist through the crystal, the sorcerer begged them to locate the missing Jolicia -- she failed to return to him after visiting the library in Britain of Felucca to retrieve some records. The group agreed to help, and before they departed, Renthar mentioned that he had also contacted Okami for help.

In Felucca, the Fist encountered Okami and his fellow ranger, Garnet. They spoke to the Britain librarian who aided Jolicia when she was there. She was searching for genealogical records related to old Britain families (which Faeryl guessed were likely Haxley’s), but before she could elaborate further, there was a burst of brilliant white light, and then she was gone.

Due to the presence of white light, and how it typically signified the use of time-related magicks, the group decided to seek out Governor Haxley. Chanticleer cautioned the others not to attack Haxley, as doing meant choosing sides in the conflict between the would-be Time Lord and Renthar, and this was not something to be done lightly.

When they met at his office in Trinsic, the Governor seemed surprised by their accusations, as well as the white light connected to Jolicia’s disappearance. He confessed he was not privy to all of his other’s plans, but he knew that the would-be Time Lord had some recent interest in or around the village of Lakeshire in Ilshenar.

In Lakshire, the Fist and their allies talked to their old friend, the Meer Kosha. They asked her if she had seen either a white-robed man, or a fair-haired woman. She told them that a beautiful, blonde-haired human woman met with the Meer elders earlier that day, and she was searching for information about a strange ruby. Her next destination was the Isle of Reg Volom.

The group followed her trail, and upon locating the woman, they were surprised to learn that she was another Haxley divergent. This “Lady” Haxley revealed that she was dispatched to Ilshenar to search for a certain ruby. She chastised the Fist and their allies, stating that Jolicia was as bad as Renthar, and their defense of her was akin to picking a side in the conflict. Finally, “Lady” Haxley said their friend could be found within Reg Volom, if they uncovered the correct hole.

Yet down below, there was no sign of her, until they discovered an odd, magical hole that led them back to Trinsic. Inside the city barracks, they discovered the now-dead Jolicia. Physically, she was an elderly corpse, implying that the would-be Time Lord had employed the Sextant of Ancients to twist time and age her until she perished.



After retrieving her corpse, the group returned home to contact Renthar with the communication crystal, informing him of his lover’s fate. The sorcerer soon appeared in Emerald Town, deeply distraught by the news. He confessed to having attacked Haxley’s commemoration ceremony, and promised further retaliation. The Fist offered condolences to Renthar, and he spoke of her fondness for the group. The sorcerer then departed with her remains. Chanticleer also secured the sorcerer’s communication crystal, believing it might be of use in the future.

[Judas D'arc]

2/24/2020:

A few days later, Chanticleer called a meeting of the Emerald Fist to discuss the ongoing conflict between the Haxleys and Renthar. In recent months, there had been an escalation of hostilities, culminating with Renthar attacking Haxley’s family commemoration ceremony in Britain, and the would-be Time Lord using the Sextant of the Ancients to magically age Jolicia until she died.

Chanticleer contended that they needed to choose one side over the other before more people were harmed. Due to their respective artifacts of great power, the Haxleys and Renthar were at a stalemate, and only the Fist could enable one to triumph over the other. Whether this alliance would be genuine or temporary before they turned on the victor was another question, but they could no longer do nothing. The group then voted, and Adegas, Bacchus, Chanticleer, Erollisi, Ezekial, Kalanna, and Sergio (after initially voting the opposite), chose to side with Renthar, and Faeryl, Gauf, Lia, Piper, and Tabitha picked the Haxleys. Next, they decided to only join with the sorcerer long enough to defeat the would-be Time Lord, and then deal with him afterwards.

The Fist contacted Renthar through the communication crystal his undead servant recently left them, and Chanticleer told him of their decision. The sorcerer was pleased and informed them that his foe was currently searching for another version of his stolen ruby to gain an advantage in their struggle. There had been a second version of the gem that Oswin Stower stole from the Camorra, but it shattered when the sorcerer used it to free Piper when she was stuck in time.

This third ruby was the same one that Kalanna learned of while investigating the time shades for Governor Haxley, and months prior, the two related its history to the group:

“More than 75 years ago, the legendary Braknar of the Library of Scars was hired by a merchant and gem collector named Delancy to lead a band of mercenaries to retrieve a peculiar ruby from the Isle of Fire. Decades later, while moving his estate from Vesper to Britain, his caravan was robbed by bandits, who stole the ruby, among other things. This raid was arranged by Cubbins, a Covian criminal, and one of his best known clients was Lord Randall Reich of Magincia. The Reich family fortune was based on gems, and Delancy was one of their fiercest competitors. A month after the caravan was attacked, Randall’s younger sister Nella arrived in Skara Brae and the city’s customs records indicated that she declared a collection of exotic gems. A few weeks later, Nella and a local farmer named Milton were found dead on the mainland. Their killer was never caught, and her gems were stolen from the farmhouse where they dwelled. At the time of her death, Nella was several months pregnant.”

Additionally, the Fist had learned that Alionna Stower (later Arroway), hired the elusive arranger known as Montague to steal Haxley’s ruby amulet. When this attempt failed, Montague sent her agents to Skara Brae, where they murdered Nella and Miltion and stole the third gem. However, in the divergent history that the Fist helped create to restore Chanticleer to existence, Nella and Milton were no longer present for the theft, and they survived, later dying of natural causes.

But according to Renthar, the Stowers still had the third ruby, and the only person with knowledge of its location was their former librarian, Semidar. When the sorcerer contacted Semidar about this, he stated that he would only deal with the Emerald Fist. The group agreed to find him at his hideout in Tokuno. When they arrived, they were surprised to discover the librarian was no longer a ghost. As a reward for his role in removing the abandoned abbey from Britannia, the would-be Time Lord Haley had returned him to life. While disappointed the Fist allied with Renthar over Haxley, he told them he wanted to make a deal.

Semidar proceeded to explain that some years ago, during the reading of Alionna Arroway’s will, her mysterious younger siblings, the Twins, were bequeathed four items: a portrait of Lady Iliana Stower, their later mother; a flawless soul gem; an autographed copy of the book, “Ten Women, One Wand”; and a map. The librarian revealed that the soul gem was the same one the original Emerald Fist created for him decades ago, and it contained the spirit of Iliana Stower. In addition to that, the map was for the Stower matriarch’s hidden cache, which contained many artifacts, including the third ruby. Semidar offered to help the group find this hidden cache if they provided him with protection from the Twins, who now wanted him dead.

The group agreed to the librarian’s demands, and escorted him back to Emerald Town, where they placed him in a prison cell. They then contacted Renthar again, informing him that Semidar was in their custody. The sorcerer requested they keep him updated, and in the meantime, he would continue to search for the third ruby on his own.

[Judas D'arc]

2/29/2020:

Semidar was released from his cell to meet with the Emerald Fist at their keep. He reiterated his belief that the Stower Twins held the third ruby because the Stower Twins possessed the map to Iliana Stower’s hidden cache.

The librarian explained that he spent time studying the gem after it was retrieved by Montague, and that the Stowers likely had access to his notes on the subject. His research revealed much about the object’s true nature. Like the Haxley heirloom, the one stolen from the Camorra, and a fourth one the original Fist encountered decades prior called the Glimmering Eye, it was a “Sun Ruby,” lesser versions of the kind Mondain corrupted to create his Gem of Immortality. Semidar believed that Haxley’s suicide caused his ruby to develop the ability to manipulate space magics to save its owner, and such a triggering event could equally affect the other Sun Rubies. As far as he knew, the Stowers’ gem was still dormant.

Next, the librarian offered to create a detector to locate this third ruby. According to his theories, the dark wizard Mondain harnessed the might of the sun, while those responsible for defeating him, Lord British and the Stranger, originally journeyed to Sosaria through moongates. This was not a coincidence, and he posited the power of the sun and moons were connected and capable of balancing each other out. Therefore, the basis for his detection device was a shard of active, raw moonstone, such as the sort found inside Kotl City in Eodon. Additionally, Semidar needed copper wiring, a wooden wand, a piece of blackrock, and a power crystal.

The group then traveled to Kotl City to find some raw moonstone. There, they were surprised to find a drunken Oswin Stower hiding behind a stalagmite. When questioned about his presence, Oswin stated that he had received a letter from the Twin’s solicitor, Percival Coburn, ordering him to wait in case the Fist or any others arrived to harvest raw moonstone. He was also told to request whoever appeared to bring Semidar to Percival in Nujel’m, indicating that the solicitor knew that the librarian would be sending them there. Before departing, Oswin warned them to seriously consider doing as his siblings asked.

After they gathered the shard of the raw moonstone, Ezekial collected the four other items, and the group returned home. There, Semidar confirmed his notes on the ruby mentioned his theory about moonstones being an opposing force, and they told him about Oswin delivering Percival's message. They reasoned that the Twins would soon know that Semidar was alive and helping the Fist.

Following this discussion, the librarian assembled his device to detect the third ruby. However, it was then that he informed them that the device could only be used by either Haxley or Renthar, wielding their respective artifacts. Although Semidar was no longer of use, the group decided to let him live, at least for a while longer. Before they dispersed for the evening, Chanticleer said he would contact Renthar to arrange another meeting.

3/2/2020:

Renthar arrived at Emerald Keep, and the Fist provided him with Semidar’s Lesser Sun Ruby detection device. Due to Emerald Town’s protective wards, he suggested they move beyond the immediate area to begin divining for the third ruby. Upon activating the device, the sorcerer was able to locate the gem, and summoned a portal to its location. The group and their ally entered the portal, and arrived at Iliana Stower’s hidden cache, a vault in the wilderness of Malas.

But waiting outside the vault was the newest iteration of the Fist’s old rivals, the Peridot Punch. Four original members of the Punch -- Demon Deraj, the clueless elf Haeronwen, the headless, Faeryl In Quas Xen; and the hero-child Zachariah, were joined by Gondmudasion, Ina Skylark, and … a ferret.



No longer associated with their founder, the delusional Manfred the Magnificent, the Punch now served the would-be Time Lord Haxley, who recruited them after the Fist allied with Renthar. Haxley was already inside the vault, and the Punch was there to prevent anyone else from entering. A fight soon erupted between the two groups, and it ended with the Fist triumphant. Both Gondmudasion and the hero-child Zachariah were slain, while the rest of the Punch were beaten into unconsciousness.

After this battle, Renthar approached the vault and discovered it was surrounded by an invisible barrier that shimmered with a white light indicating time magic. The sorcerer reached inside his robes to retrieve his sun ruby and touched it against this field. This let him push past the barrier, but then he vanished as soon as he reached the vault's entrance. The door began to glow with the white and red energies of time and space magics, and the Fist was unable to follow him into the structure. Renthar soon contacted Chanticleer through the communication crystal he had previously provided to the group, and requested that they return to Emerald Town. The group acquiesced, bringing along the surviving Punch members.

Back at Emerald Town, the Fist treated the wounds of Deraj, whom they assumed was actually the true Deraj, and his comrades. While doing so, they communicated with Haxley and Renthar.



The would-be Time Lord and sorcerer explained they were trapped inside the structure, and no one else could enter or exit it. Additionally, the wards nullified the power of their respective artifacts. Due to this, the two had entered into a temporary truce to escape. They also confirmed the presence of the third ruby, but indicated that they were unable to access it. It was now apparent to Renthar and Haxley that the Stower Twins had manipulated them and were responsible for their predicament.

At the end of this discussion, the Fist agreed to Haxley’s request to allow the surviving members of the Punch to freely depart, and they told Renthar that they would wait to hear from him as he and Haxley continued their efforts to free themselves.

[Judas D'arc]

3/5/2020:



The Emerald Fist and others were gathered at Britain’s Salty Dog Tavern when Governor Haxley of Trinsic suddenly interrupted them. He told them that his other-self, the would-be Time Lord, and Renthar had finally negated the barrier trapping them inside the Stower Vault. However, as soon as they did so, they were attacked by an army of Stower minions. The Governor believed that this was all a setup for the Stower Twins to kill them both and take possession of the Haxley sun-ruby, the Sextant of the Ancients, and the third ruby. He then asked those present to travel to Malas and save his other and the sorcerer. They agreed to this and left for the vault.



After reaching their destination, they were soon met by the first wave of Stower forces, including greedy Paladins of Luna, sorcerers, and Hand of Death mercenaries from Jhelom. Once these were defeated, two refurbished Technocrat juggernauts, a pair of pirates serving the infamous pirate, the Hairy Bastard, and two of the late Ilyana Stower’s apprentices attacked.



Then, their last opponent appeared, a demonic creature called Ilyana’s Pet.



The demon was vanquished, and the group approached the entrance to the vault. As they did so, the door began to glow red, then white, then red and white again, indicating the use of time and space-related magics. It then unlocked, and they rushed inside, only to discover the bloody and dismembered corpse of the white-robed Haxley. Renthar, the Haxley heirloom, the Sextant of the Ancients, and the third ruby were all gone. The sorcerer had them all.



Upon returning to Emerald Town, the Fist and their allies were surprised to find Jolicia, alive and waiting for them -- Renthar had used his newfound powers to restore her to life.



She informed them that once the sorcerer completed his work with the Pathways, he would visit the Fist and address all outstanding business with them. Then the mage and her lover intended to leave this Sosaria forever. Jolicia also relayed a separate message to Chanticleer. Due to his past alliance with the now-mentally shattered Emerald Empress, the sorcerer offered to return her to the land of Everywhere, where she could be cared for by the Fist members still there.

[Judas D'arc]

3/9/2020:

At Emerald Keep, the Fist was visited by Governor Haxley. While he expressed his displeasure with the outcome of recent events, including their choice of ally and the fate of his white-robed other, he mainly wanted to know how things stood between them.



With his family ruby and Everywhere forever beyond his reach, Haxley wished to establish his own life separate from his other-self’s ambitions and remain as Governor of Trinsic. He also told Faeryl he would still honor his promise to return her to her home-world. The group allowed him to leave in peace and look forward, rather than backwards, with their relationship.

Soon, Renthar appeared. Physically, he was restored, all of his injuries inflicted by the Technocrats were fully healed. He explained that his work here was finally done. Adapting the Spell of Binding he ripped from the mind of the Techno-Prophet of Everywhere, he had joined all of his counterparts from every shard-world into a single, composite version. Every Renthar across the multiverse was now one being. The sorcerer revealed he absorbed the power of the third ruby into his own artifact, that he and Jolicia would soon be leaving for a new home to call their own, one untouched by all, and that he had no further designs on Everywhere.



Renthar then addressed a number of outstanding matters. First, he promised that by the end of the evening, the Sextant of the Ancients would be in Chanticleer’s hands. While the artifact was likely incapable of being destroyed, he trusted the Fist would not be tempted to use it. But first, he wished to discuss other things.

Second, the sorcerer gifted Adegas with magical tomes detailing portal magics, and an elixir to slow her aging process.

Third, he warned them about William, the son of the rangers Mylar Tyrmitore and Michael Mitre (the spirit of the dead ranger Mitre placed in the body of Renthar’s counterpart of this world). The sorcerer told the group about the vision that Adegas experienced due to participating in the Emerald Town warding ritual. Within two decades, William would become a great sorcerer and seek revenge against any who harmed his parents, including Sergio, Renthar and Jolicia, and especially the Stower family. Because the Stowers were now settled in Nujel’m, William's quest would also cause significant harm to that city and its people.

Fourth, the sorcerer returned Chanticleer’s equipment that vanished when he was erased from existence, including the weapons and armor gifted to him by the Emerald Empress. Renthar had used the power of the sextant and the ruby to retrieve them.

Fifth, he asked Chanticleer about his offer to return the Empress to Everywhere, where Malcom Glade and Ellin Lionsden, two members of the Fist still there, would be able to care for her. Despite some reservations, Chanticleer agreed to let her go.

Sixth, he gave Faeryl a box for the druid Haldir Haerion, an arcane gem filled with a sliver of space magic from his ruby.

Lastly, Renthar turned Ezekial, who said he was ready. The Sorcerer used the Sextant of Ancients upon him, and Ezekial vanished in a burst of white light, leaving his comrades confused and angry. But after a couple of minutes, Renthar employed the artifact again, and Ezekial reappeared, mortally wounded, a mechanical arm lodged through his chest.



Despite the group’s efforts, Ezekial soon died after saying his good-byes. Renthar then explained how Jolicia’s own vision from the warding-ritual foresaw that the Technocrats would eventually return to punish the Fist for executing their leader, Lector Stavros. During this battle to come, at least some of the group would perish. So Ezekial arranged for the sorcerer to use the Sextant to send him forward in time, allowing him to warn his friends prior to the Technocrat ambush. A sacrifice to manipulate fate and and ensure that Ezekial would be the only one to fall to their foes' revenge. Because of this, Renthar told them, the group would encounter their fallen comrade again in the future, when he arrived to deliver his warning. With that, the sorcerer handed the Sextant of the Ancients over to Chanticleer for safekeeping.

As Renthar and Jolicia prepared to depart, Adegas expressed a desire to go with them. This greatly upset some of those present, especially Chanticleer, but the sorcerer and his lover refused her. Jolicia wanted them to start over without any reminders of the past. The group then bid them a farewell, and the couple left their lives forever. And the surviving members of the Emerald Fist were left to contemplate their own future, now that the grand struggle between Haxley and Renthar was finally over.

3/16/2020:

The Emerald Fist hosted a public service at the Emerald Town Memorial Gardens to honor the sacrifice of Emma Reich, the Emerald Empress, and Ezekial Crowley. The memorial monument inscription was updated to include their names, and read as follows:

“For the ones who were lost and did not return. For the ones who raised their fists and did not falter. For the ones who sacrificed and did not surrender. You are never forgotten.”

Jackson
Dannik
Wilhelm Af Zolltan
Duke Edmund Brunabar
Doctor Sylin Rhyas
Trug’clog
Ssin’Urn
Janus
Collan Rosvenir
Dumahbh
Iago
Sir Conor Starfalcon
Jon Abbot
Kaylin Windsong
Leigh D’arc
The Emerald Empress
Ezekial Crowley



In addition to Chanticleer, Bacchus, Gauf, and Piper also spoke.



When the service was finished, those present reconvened at the Salty Dog Tavern in Britain.

4/6/2020:

Story: Fisted! (An Epilogue)