Gwinlyn hesitates to continue participating in the radiant games after the death of another participant. She sneaks out and locates and old friend of hers- a druid named Marshall “Many Fins” Pelagon. She arrives with a fishbowl, and everyone is confused for a moment. Marshall apologizes for their appearance, informing the group that they were cursed by a Kua Toa and cannot use their wildshape properly. They are concerned but allow it when Gwinlyn and Krik’rik connect them to Tungsten’s body. It takes some time, but eventually they are able to master their motor control. The Accountant asks if Gwinlyn will use her time to get information on another shadowtouched woman.
After two more trials, the radiant games come to a conclusion with The Accountant, Dreamer, and Strata Regala becoming the victorious team. Charlie and Stahloknir both seem concerned that the king would allow a last minute change in the final event, but they dismiss it and everyone heads to the bar to celebrate.
Charlie requests a special meal to celebrate victory and the holidays – Elysian Empire chicken pies- completely forgetting that Xaveria doesn’t eat bird. Charlie is saved from her embarrassment when the cook informs the group that the knight in the corner already requested a vegetarian option for Xaveria. The knight had already vanished, but Xaveria looks over and sees one of her “friends.” After dinner, they all bond a bit over a game of rollies, learning more about Marshall’s life as a Triton, and about Charlie’s drive to create a full guide on all the species in the material plane.
Xaveria and Dreamer go out to bar crawl, with Marshall staying close to them to make sure they get home safely. The Accountant finds a spot in the bar to rest for a while.
At the end of the night they return to the airship for a good night’s rest. Unfortunately, Casper rouses Dreamer before he’s able to fall asleep with loud meows as it looks up at the ceiling. Dreamer tries to ask him what’s wrong, but he darts into The Accountant’s room.
The Accountant’s god warns him to get down, so he hits the floor. They hear a group talking outside about the location of a shadowtouched, and the group outside mentions The Librarian. A few minutes pass before a roar sounds overhead. It stirs Marshall and Xaveria, and Xaveria feels a chill run down her spine as she recognizes it as the creature from her vision of the apocalypse. The Accountant looks out the window and sees something massive weaving between the clouds. A crackle sounds as its explosive breath blasts apart the library on top of the hill. Charlie runs in and begs the group to rescue king Calcerio so they can evacuate.
As they begin to leave, Gwinlyn blocks their way, saying that the creature is known only as The Endling, and answers to the queen of Everheir. She lets them know that it gets sent in only for extreme measures. When it becomes clear that she cannot stop them from going to save the king she declares them all as suicidal and flees.
At the Seat of Iron, King Calcerio lays dead on the floor with his head of the guard standing behind him and muttering how proud Pavror will be of his actions. He turns and realizes its the group with the black pearl, so he quickly transforms into his true form of an iron dragon and attacks. Even as more corrupted creatures spill in, the group holds their own until the dragon goes down. However, it doesn’t stay down. Veins of corruption wrap around it and it springs back to life with a wicked smile. It lets The Accountant know that The Endling will be very excited to meet him. He downs Xaveria, Marshall, and Dreamer, and laughs triumphantly.
The Accountant hears thunder crashing and the steady flap of wings outside. Cayden Calloway appears in the room and swiftly uses some healing magic to protect Xaveria and Marshall. She stands in front of Xav and jokes that she needs to stop setting fires. Her arms are bound by painful ethereal chains, but she still smiles at Xaveria.
Stahloknir and Strata Regala both arrive as well to protect their Radiant partners, and Ren rushes in to pick up Dreamer and call for them to make it to the airship. The iron dragon sees he is outmatched and escapes out the hole in the stained glass. Upon seeing Ren, Calloway laments that their reunion will have to be short lived and warps away. Ren approaches Xaveria, looking terrified about Cal’s return. He tells the group that she’s a knight of Talos, Hadea’s name for the war god, Gruumsh.
Strata Regala and Stahloknir both carry the group over the burning remains of Raesha Vicai, and let them know to tell the head mage in Jruska that the city has fallen.