Final Chapter

"It's time to get this show on the road!"

Several hours later, you approach the planet of Xaryxis, hundreds of ships surrounding you. It looks like a motley assortment, all of different designs and in a loose formation. Clearly this is not a well-trained fighting force, but their numbers and determination are impressive nonetheless.

As you approach, you see a truly impressive group of ships coming to meet you. All sleek vessels with elvish writing written on the side and in perfect formations. Alongside them you catch glimpses of massive dragons that nearly invisible in the void of space, their piercing eyes easily mistaken for glinting stars.

Not only is their force more well-trained than your own, but they are more numerous as well. A sense of dread washes over the crew and the whispers begin, wondering what every possessed them to take on this mission.

This will be a story for your young. If we don't then there won't be any young
This one cast a spell that affect most of the ship and calm their nerves

Imti pokes Ziggy with the end of her broom. "I think it's time you said something to the crew," she whispers. "Get 'em fired up, if you know what I mean."

"Say no more, my dear, " replies Ziggy, full of confidence.

"Oh, darlings! We're in a fix, aren't we? The Xaryxian Empire's got its claws on the cosmos, and they're squeezing tight. But, sweethearts, I say to you: we're not just rebels, we're rockstars! We're the glittering renegades of the stars, and we're here to shake the very foundations of that empire's stale, grey existence.

We're not just fighting for freedom, and in defense of our home-worlds; we're fighting for the freedom to be ourselves, to express ourselves, to rock out in the void. And if that Empire can't handle a little bit of sparkle and noise, then perhaps it's time for them to get out of our galaxy.

So, are you ready, darlings? Are you ready to make some noise, to create some chaos, and to bring the Empire down? Then let's do it! Let's rock this galaxy into submission, and let's make it a place where everyone can be themselves, glitter and all!"

To Imti, This One, and Quaxiver, he adds, "I don't know what's going to happen here today, but I promise it won't be boring."

"Always compellingly expressed Ziggy," Quaxiver had shimmied up the mast to get a survey of the entire battlefront. "We need to punch through all that, not be bogged down fighting ship after ship."

Imti peers ahead at the gauntlet. "Do we have enough black cloth to hide the ship against the stars?" she wonders. "Or maybe we need some blockers to tie up some of those ships so we can push through. Time to get those weapons ready, too."

The effects of This One's spell wash over the crowd as Ziggy makes his speech. This seems to calm the crew enough for them to get back to their task of preparing for a fight.

Imti scans the void ahead and finally spots the Xaryxian flagship. It's a monstrously huge thing and surrounded by more than a dozen smaller ships to act as guards. It would be suicide to get anywhere near it. More importantly, Xedalli's brother is almost certainly not on board anyway.

Shortly after the speech, battle is joined and ships on both sides start going down in flames. Though you're unable to actually hear the screams of their crews through the void of space, you can hear them echoing in your mind, haunting you.

Not long into the battle, there's a lull in your area, allowing the true plan to proceed. Two dozen of your side's ships surge past you, launching a reckless offensive against the Xaryxian ships and giving you a path to burst through toward the planet itself. Your run is swift and sure as your vessel dives toward the surface and the royal palace itself. A quick entrance to grant you the element of surprise is the only feasible way for your side to end this victoriously.

You're nearing your destination when your ship lurches sideways. You see a large dragon fly off, having rammed the side of your ship to knock you off course. The world spins as your controlled descent turns into a wild fall and your ship crashes in the courtyard in front of the palace itself. Everything goes black as you're tossed to the ground.

You wake to Admiral Krux shouting at you, "GET UP!" he says, cutting down a palace guard before turning to face another, "We don't have time for you to be sleepin' right now!"

It feels as though its been hours and your heads ache something fierce, but battle is joined all around you and you realize it's likely only been minutes or else you would already have been overwhelmed.

"You've gotta get in there and deal with the prince," he growls, picking up another elf and throwing him from the wreckage of the ship, "We'll hold out here as long as we can!"

"Everyone okay?" Quaxiver shook his head to clear the concussion. Jzu had also been equally knocked cold, and needed a prodding to stir itself. But what fortuitous chance, did they land on the ground, within striking distance of the palace? Here was their opportunity!

Ready! Bellows This One. He has one foot on the railing, poised for action.

"We'll be back, Admiral," says Imti in departure. "Keep the sails tidy; it's a long walk home otherwise."

Grabbing her broom like a staff, Imti descends the wreckage until she reaches the courtyard itself. She orients herself towards the entrance to the palace and heads off in a sprint.

Springing to his feet in a shower of glam, Ziggy lopes after the others. Quiet, tense music accompanies the group's entry into the palace.

Krux chuckles, "I don't know that we're going home from this one, fellas! But I'll do my best."

Xedalli emerges from the wreckage of the ship and appears completely unharmed, "It seems that the extra fortifications I added to my chambers were sufficient," she say, brushing off her stately robes, "Let us go in and deal with my brother."

Forming up ranks around the princess, you head into the palace. She leads you through the corridors and through several small groups of guards, and seems to be growing worried, "This isn't right. There should be more resistance..." she says quietly as you pad through yet another meagerly guarded hallway.

Eventually you come to a massive set of ornate double doors, to which Xedalli merely snaps her fingers and they swing open wide. Inside the huge, pillared chamber are what must be hundreds of Xaryxian soldiers lined up along the edge of the room. At the far end, in a plush throne, is an elaborately robed elven man with his chin resting on his hand a a smile on his face.

The elven man smirks, "Ah, dear sister," he drawls, "I feared you lost. It's good to have you home."

Xedalli sniffs in disdain, "Brother dearest," she replies with a roll of her eyes, "I am here for my throne and invoke the right of challenge."

Xedalli looks to Imti for the ring.

Imti takes a pouch from her belt and opens the drawstring, ready to empty its contents onto the princess's hand. Before she does so, Imti looks inside to verify that she has the right pouch.

Okay. The star druid puts the pouch back onto her belt and removes a different one. Feeling it with her fingers, Imti appears satisfied that this pouch is the right one, and extends her arm towards Xedalli.

They hadn't discussed it beforehand, but Quaxiver hoped that Imti was pulling off some sleight of hand switcheroo in the handling of different pouches. He had considered how valuable the ring was, and had previously even contemplated whether it was even possible to relieve their enemy of his. The plan was still at the back of his head, but for now it seemed the ringbearers were meant to duel.

If it's physical combat one-on-one it'll have to be me." The hadozee conceded and made ready to step up, for he was the only physical combatant amongst them.

Xedalli gives Imti a quick nod of thanks and slips the ring onto her finger, "By my right as princess of the Xaryxian Empire, I challenge you, Prince Xeleth, to a contest of champions, with the winner being declared the rightful ruler."

Xeleth's smile disappears and he stares daggers at his sister, who sneers in return. He doesn't say or do anything for a moment, then looks around at the gathered crowds. Chagrined that he has no alternative, he nods, "I assume you choose these... outsiders as your champions?"

Xedalli looks to you all for confirmation before nodding, "I do."

Xeleth sighs, "The contest will be set for nightfall. Call off the fighting on both sides," he says, waving to one of his advisors before turning back to you, "You have a few hours left of life. Make the most of it."

"Whew," Quaxiver exhaled, glad that Xeleth used the plural. The good news was that they had managed to create a temporary truce to the fighting. No more deaths for now, not until this last trial. The life and death of champions versus entire worlds was a fair price to pay.

Ziggy looks around the grand throne room and sniffs. "It's certainly not the shabbiest venue I've played in. Not the fanciest either, but it'll have to serve. The things I do for my art!"

ThisOne prepares himself