The Belligerents #22

The Belligerents gathered up the body of Flapjack and met with the enigmatic Golden Guard figure who abstained from the battle aboard Chataway's Charm

• The figure was a man named Bato'o who also came from Bao's organization of the Damiya. He was very interested in the balance of all things, and claimed Flapjack's death had set to right the balance of not only the battle but Saiorsa's crimes, allowing the group to go free on the condition they never return to Serenity Shores, ever.

• The group agreed, and as Bato'o left, the god of deals himself showed up, Wizzler. Newly released from his long slumber within the Phantom Plains, the creation god made sure the deal the group had just made was binding, which seemed to give Wizzler some gratification and power

  • Now knowing they could never return to Serenity Shores, even if they wanted to, the group bid farewell as they pulled out to sea, Raithe especially coming to understand how much he'd grown since he'd starter out

Over the course of the next few days, the Belligerents discovered the Chataway's Charm was much larger inside than out, with an entire village worth of people being hosted within its hull.

• Raithe spent the time learning how to be a good captain, which the pirates aboard the Charm were happy to help him with

Eventually, they arrived at the Church of the Mire Made on the southeastern tip of the Arrowhead Isles. There, the daughters of Eve, Arakis, Gork, and Brine awaited them

• Dahlia and Lily discussed the ramifications of bringing back Flapjack, claiming it was going to cost something. Dahlia was fine paying whatever price since she was the one paying it, but Lily, who could not truly resurrect someone, was worried for her sister, which worried Phira in turn.

• They went through with the resurrection, and Flapjack returned, but was pulled back from somewhere unexpected

  • Before returning to life, Flapjack had found himself in a place of war, with a shattered sky and a shattered landscape before him. Unknowable soldiers battled against mortals lead by a massive dragon and two sphinxes. Next to him stood a towering figure who claimed to be immeasurable. Flapjack introduced himself but the figure claimed Flapjack was of his own creation, and he knew Flapjack well. He said it was time for Flapjack to join the fight, but before he could, he was pulled back into his body.

Flapjack awoke and was greeted with joy by the group, but Dahlia fell into a bit of a stupor, and it seemed she'd grown black feathers along her neck and forehead. 

• Lily claimed necromany was from their mother, but this new power to fully restore life felt like it came from their father, and the feathers seemed to agree. Dahlia claimed their father would be coming for them now. He didn't like having his power used without his consent.

The group loaded up the creatures of Ephemeraldion onto the Chataway's Charm, got the Gravy Trained ready to depart, and bid goodbye to Brine, with both sides hoping to never see the other again.

The Belligerents, along with all of Caster's creation of Ephemeraldion, departed for the Kindred Isles, where they hoped they'd be welcomed as creatures in search of a new home.