"The Plot" - Epilogue

Ted strode purposefully into the medical wing. All around were beds, on each was an injured member of the thieves guild. As he continued toward his destination, Ted saw Raven walking from patient to patient, healing them with his ki powers and medicine syringes built into his new mithril arm.

“Are you here to help?” the plague doctor queried. “I only have so much medicine and ki you know.”

“Yes, but I am mainly here about Cloud,” the dragonborn clarified.

“I’m glad you could come. Even I can’t heal death, but I know you can,” Raven explained.

Ted strode to the cot on which lay the dead body of Cloud. The dragonborn placed the corpse on the floor and began an hour-long ritual involving druidic chanting as well as the application of rare herbs and oils. Once the ritual was complete, Cloud’s body sunk into the ground, and was replaced a few seconds later by a living and fully grown frog person.

“What happened?” Cloud the grung groggily questioned.

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Chelm watched excitedly as his cheese cultists positioned a life-sized statue of Blex, made entirely of cheese, in the city’s center. Chelm had sculpted the statue using his disintegration ray, in celebration of Imperium Cleptarum’s victory, and more importantly, the beholder thought, the sponsorship of Chelm’s Cheese as the official cheese producer of the kingdom. It was a terrific reward, and Chelm had terrific plans.

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Blex levitated over his war room table, carefully examining the map with his eyestalks as he pondered the great tasks which lay ahead. He had killed King Argos the 5th and taken his crown, yet the beholder still needed to cement his position as ruler of Argen. He continued to operate out of Imperium Cleptarum HQ because his paranoid mind found the castle to be far too exposed and unsafe. I can use the gold my men have plundered from the royal treasury to upgrade my construct factory and hire more thieves, assassins, and other henchmen! the beholder plotted. Then I can strike down any who would oppose me and rule as the greatest king Argen has ever seen! As Blex finished his thought, the room’s heavy double doors swung open.

General Grave strode into the room, flanked by a pair of eye guards. The construct general had been completely repaired since the battle and showed no signs of the injuries the king had inflicted upon him. “I have returned,” the recently promoted Grave announced.

“Well? How did your mission go?” Blex eagerly questioned.

“Our forces have secured the entire stretch of countryside surrounding the capital, but in the far corners of the kingdom, dissent is on the rise,” the general gravely began. “Although you wear the crown, not everyone is willing to accept you as their king, my lord. Soon we will have several rebel groups vying for power, each lead by some foolish noble or other looking to claim your crown. I suggest we make ready,” General Grave finished determinedly.

“I foresaw that this would happen and have planned accordingly. I have already begun preparations for this eventuality,” The beholder king explained with a wide grin. “Gather the troops. We have a civil war to win!”

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