You don’t know how the battle is going on the other islands, but the fight for Untergard rages hard and desperate. The Outsiders seem to be as fearful as you; you notice that they fight more fiercely as time passes. You know that the Gates must be closing, if the Outsiders are struggling to stop you with such urgency.
Rei ducks back through the lines of her stone golems and stops at your side, panting with her tongue hanging from her mouth. “There’s still more of them coming,” she hisses. “They’re coming from the islands now. They’re throwing everything at us.”
“We have to tell the others somehow!” you shout over the commotion.
“No good,” says Rei. “The Outsiders will have the head start. There’s no way we can-”
“What’s that?” you hear someone say. Both you and Rei lift your heads to the skies; in the distance, larger than a star and growing bigger by the seconds, are a series of lights. You note that they streak in from Aegis, from Deadman’s, from the Edge.
“What’re those?” you wonder, but your question is answered in due time. A great impact smashes against the Outsider ranks, and a moment later, a cleaver embeds itself in the soil of Untergard. A stone golem leaps upon it and takes it up, slashing madly at the Outsiders. Even more lights come, hurling objects at ludicrous speeds: apparel, items, even a spare crab, which latches onto an Ice Outsider’s face and begins smacking it with its tiny claws.
And then the lights go out, and with them the stars. There are gasps and murmurs of worry, but Rei’s face breaks out into a fierce Coatl grin. “They never flee,” she says, taking up a fighting stance and charging into the nearest knot of Outsiders. She is joined moments later by shadows, great winged ones: the fighting Grues of the Outlier Sea, having vacated to the Edge of the World after being driven out by the Outsiders, now here to exact their revenge. You hear a great rushing, like that of hurricane-force winds, and the angry Grues slam into the Outsider ranks to a cacophony of screeching.
As you look on, you notice the ground beneath you moving. But it’s not the ground- it’s a crab. In fact, it’s many crabs: yours, saved from the false Sornieth, and a few specimens native to the Sea. They gather at the edge of the water, too small to be noticed by the raging Outsiders, and begin clicking their little pincers madly. They click and click and click, just a little tinkling noise in the madness, but one that is soon rewarded.
There’s a roaring in the deep. You think, at first, it might be a whale or some Sea-creature you haven’t yet met, but in a moment you understand. The great spindly leg of the Constant Companion erupts from the water, then another, and then more: unfolding until the Companion’s great shell looms far above, half as tall as Untergard. The Outsiders mash against the Companion’s shell and dive at its eyes. The Companion in turn lashes out with its pincers, seizing Ice Outsiders and snapping them in two and driving the others back with the force of its screeching.
In the middle of all this, you nearly forget that you’re here because of Meep. The hatchling barrels past you to the entrance of Untergard, then looks up at it, meeping expectantly. You run over to him to provide him some cover, but he headbutts your legs insistently. “Stay out here?” you ask.
“Meep!” says Meep.
“Alright,” you say. “But hurry up.”
Meep darts past the doors of Untergard for a second time, and is gone from sight. You rejoin the battle, aided now by the Grues, the Constant Companion, and the near-endless stream of lights and projectiles pouring in from across the Sea. As you fight, you notice the lights appear to be streaming from more directions than three: there are lights coming from Carmine now, long-range homing magic projectiles; from the south, great bolts of darkness, conjured up by the oldest and most skilled Shadoweaters.
The Outsiders spin around Untergard, unable to flee, unable to continue fighting. They wail in despair at the onslaught, throw themselves uselessly at you and your allies. Rei finds her second wind, and the walls of Untergard themselves bristle with fury at the Outsiders.
Then a light, greater than all the others, brighter than even Sornieth’s own sun. It lances down from above, and the voice of Untergard speaks loud in the minds of all:
FACE JUDGEMENT ETERNAL.
The Outsiders screech and try to run, but the light is all-encompassing. It comes down in a pillar around you all, not touching you, but searing the Outsiders from your sight. Then the gates of Untergard slam closed behind you, the light fades, and when you open your aching eyes, you see only the calmly rolling Sea.
The Constant Companion clicks its claws at you, then begins to submerge itself. You realize that its shell has already begun to deteriorate from the decreased pressure of the surface; if it does not retreat, it will certainly perish. You notice some crabs scuttling over into the Sea as well, their purpose fulfilled. Others wait uncertainly for dragons to pick them up, clicking their claws.
Rei’s golem army dissolves back into dust and dirt, leaving behind one shiny, hungry cleaver. “I’ll be taking you,” says Rei. “I think someone might want you. Alright, everyone?”
“I’m fine,” you say, heaving a great sigh. Around you, the Grues start landing in large numbers, speaking in their strange tongue.
About an hour later, you see movement on the horizon. You point it out to the others, who squint into the distance. Your heart leaps with joy: it’s the others, traveling by wing or on the fastest transports available in Deadman’s Canal and Aegis, returning from the fight. You wave enthusiastically at them as Heralds, First Crew, and friends alike gather on the coast of Untergard.
“The Gates are sealed!” they cheer. “The Outsiders were destroyed entirely!”
“Then the Sea is safe,” you hear Shinji say. Rei waddles over to where Kyu and Asuka have landed and collapses next to them, thoroughly ready for a good, long nap. The Heralds gather in a circle, swapping tales of their adventure; Synestra and Praeteri are already comparing notes, while Namine looks around.
“Hey,” she says. “Where’s Meep?”
You point into the locked fortress of Untergard, where the hatchling had disappeared and has yet to return.
“Oh,” she says sadly. “I guess it makes sense.”
“What does?”
“The Seventh Seal kept the Gates shut,” she replies. “Of course it’d have to return to the Heart of the Sea in order to lock the doors permanently.”
“So Meep is…”
“I guess.” Namine pauses, her head bowed. The dragons around you have taken notice of your conversation and stand with mournful eyes. Even the Grues seem to realize that something has happened, and gather around you.
“At least the Sea is safe,” says Chenille, but the words are hollow.
“It is,” a voice booms. You look up, but see no one speaking: it’s the voice of Untergard, or the Sea, or whatever force controls it. “A second time, thanks to your efforts.” The voice pauses, seeming to think. “O Sornieth-born, I have nothing I can offer you but gratitude… and perhaps companionship.” A light shifts to the gathered dragons: the First Crew and the Heralds. “Those who wish to leave the Sea… exceptions can be made.”
“I’m staying,” Shinji says immediately. “Someone’s gotta let everyone know when it’s time to pass through the Gates after the Shade.”
“Then I am too,” says Kaworu, and the rest of the First Crew agree in short order.
“I’m staying too,” says Xion. “I’ve had enough adventure for a lifetime. Namine?”
“It’d be a nice place to draw,” says Namine, “but I have you to model for me now.”
“I’d like to go,” Chenille says, stepping forward. “From what I saw near Boolcio, it sounds like a fun place.”
“And I,” says Synestra. “Imagine what’s out there!”
Locus raises her makeshift spear and slams it onto the ground, moving to join Chenille. Her desire is obvious; when Praeteri moves forward as well, the voice speaks again.
“Very well. You four will be free to leave. No longer will the threat of death linger upon those shores.”
“Wait, that’s it?” you say. “All some voice has to do is say you can leave and you can just… leave?”
“There’ve been stranger things on the Sea,” Chenille points out. “Anyway, it’s better than going back to Radiance. My second-in-command will know what to do once I’m gone.”
“And it’s not like there’s much else to do here, either!” says Praeteri. “Traveling sounds fun!”
“Well, if you’re sure,” you mutter.
“The Sea will heal,” the voice continues. “It will take time. But when we are ready, we will call for you. You will pursue the Shade. You will vanquish it. The time will come. For now, a gift, and our gratitude.”
The voice falls silent. You shake your head to clear your mind of it, and as you do, you notice a familiar face poking over the bulwarks of Untergard.
“Meep!”
The hatchling skitters back and forth, then opts to leap over the side of the fortress, landing squarely on Praeteri’s face.
“Get him off!” the Spiral wails. “OFF!”
You laugh and retrieve Meep from her, then plop him on the ground. “Silly hatchling,” you say. “You had us worried!”
“Meep! Meep!”
You notice that Meep’s runes no longer glow: the seventh portion of the Seal has been taken from him, as it has been taken from the Heralds. “You wanna go to Sornieth too?”
“MEEP!”
“That sounds like a yes to me,” says Namine. “We’ll miss you, little guy!”
“We’ll all miss you. Except maybe Praeteri,” laughs Xion. Praeteri grumbles, but holds her tongue.
“Then… back to the ship, now?” you ask.
“Back to the ship,” says Shinji. “And maybe a little slower this time.”
- - - - - - - -
You fly back to the First Crew’s ship and settle down for the journey back to Sornieth. Chenille and the others are packing their bags, chattering with one another and discussing the final battle. You’re content to stay and play with Meep and his beads: you’ve had enough of fighting for maybe the rest of your very long lifespan.
You brush up against the docks at Sornieth’s north point a week later. The First Crew disembarks and waves; Namine and Xion hang from the railings of the ship and yell things to both the Heralds and you. You wave back with a heavy heart: even though this won’t be the last time you see them, you know it’ll be a long road back to restoring the Sea to her former brilliance. But for now, you’ve succeeded in holding back another threat; you’re coming home, and now you have new friends to show around.
“So where to first?” says Synestra, holding a map of Sornieth upside-down in front of her face. “I like this Ee-arth place I keep reading about. They have shovels!”
“I’m going to Light,” says Chenille. “Sounds like Radiance.”
“Fire,” says Locus. “Heard they like weapons.”
“Meeeeeep,” says Meep. Looks like he’s content to just ride around on someone’s back all day.
“I guess he can stay with me,” Praeteri sighs. “I’m going to Arcane so I can have a look at their library. What about you?”
“I…” you hesitate. You’d intended on going back to your clan right away, but a tour of Sornieth sounds good right about now. Anyway, your friends back at home would never know… “Well, another month or two won’t kill anyone, right?” you ask. “Let’s go.”
You and the Heralds walk off down the docks, ignoring the curious stares of a large Imperial deckhand and the postmaster. The Sea is saved, and the familiar comforts of Sornieth await.
Reward: +14 Credits
To Complete This Event: N/A
Reward: N/A
Next Event:
Event --: 0000 FR Time, Jan. --th
50 or 
50 or 
50 or 
50
1 random junk familiar
1 random junk apparel
