Epilogue (Kreet 32)
#34 of Kreet
Drawing by Guoh, colored by me. A fitting way to truly end this story I think. Drink a metaphorical toast to Kreet.
She will be back, have little doubt of that. But not for a while. Gotta see how this D&D game pans out. It will, of course, be a lot of the next story. So far Kreet has...
Risen to a Level 3 Cleric.
Escaped the Slavers.
Accidentally freed some sort of demon princess - probably not a good thing.
Got 1000 gold. Has spent 18 of it so far. 15 on tavern food and drinks for everybody, 3 to get a big oaf of a companion to carry it for her.
Had some sexy time with a kobold bartender. About 5 minutes give or take a minute. Kobolds live fast and play hard.
So there, you know as much as I do about the next story so far!
Brand did look for Kreet for days. Weeks in fact.
After the Mind Flayer was dead, its minions scattered - some even managed to get out of the labyrinth of caverns alive. Others fell to the kobolds and their traps. Fortunately the kobolds were well-disposed towards Karl and what remained of his party for having killed the Big Fire Person. Brand was able to talk with them and the kobolds helped them bring Karl's son and the rest out of the tunnels safely, though when they reached the mouth of the caverns Brand did not continue with them.
Instead he stayed with the kobold clan, learning more about them as they helped him to search for his missing friend. They found the body of the Mind Flayer readily enough, but the pit ended in nothing but corpses and stalagmites. There was no river - in fact there was no exit at all. It was, as far as he or his little friends could tell, impossible that her body was not there. Yet it was not.
Even as he gave up hope of finding his friend's body, he honored her memory by staying with the little kobold clan, which prospered under his guardianship. He taught them many things, not least of which was the art of compromise and diplomacy. But he also taught them fighting skills. The next time a band of adventurers were seen lurking around the kobold's home, Brand was there to intercede. Neither the adventurers nor the kobolds came to any harm, and rumors began to spread among Adventurers about a growing group of tough but friendly kobolds - something unheard of prior to Brand's presence - lurking somewhere in the depths of the underground.
Karl returned to his wife, of course, child unharmed and unaware of what had happened. Under his care, Vosa recovered nearly fully, with only some slight scarring as evidence of the attack. He took over the duties of the Cleric Quint, who went into seclusion after the incident. Some say he moved into a run-down shack in some woods not too far from Brand's new home in the caverns.
And in the Wicked Kobold tavern, the stories of the dancing Kobold that once worked there grew and expanded to heroic proportions. Eventually Red and Cherry left the town and ventured all the way to the caverns where they met and talked with Brand. They returned with a new kobold in tow, she a young and unusually curious specimen who had practically begged to go. So the Wicked Kobold had a new mascot, but they kept Kreet's image on the sign that swung outside in memory of their missing friend.