AFTERWORD

Chapter 101

Chapter 85

Overview

As the Sledge casts Zerzura to transfer Larracos and Shanty Town to the 12th floor, Carl witnesses the evacuation of thousands of crawlers and NPCs. In the chapter's final moments, the spell completes and both warlords Ferdinand and Juice Box leave the realm, resulting in Team Retribution's defeat and the Princess Posse's victory in Faction Wars.

Summary

The Sledge begins casting Zerzura, a five-minute spell to transfer the combined cities of Larracos and Shanty Town to the 12th floor's Court of the Ascendency, where they will land on fertile hills with cotton fields. Rosetta confirms the transfer includes Shanty Town and that she is moving the NPCs to safety. The chapter details the fate of various groups: mercenaries, hired by different teams, will be stored or returned to the mercenary market; changelings and thousands of NPCs including Semeru dwarves transfer to the 12th floor; and over 50,000 outworlders (mostly former crawlers) are transferred out of the dungeon entirely, leaving roughly 20,000 crawlers to continue. Carl observes survivors including Louis emerging from the hospital tent, and encounters the temptation of the Ring of Divine Suffering but ultimately gives it to Donut to consume. Ferdinand makes a final appearance before departing, and Milk announces that departing crawlers have created two magical books for Carl and Donut—the "Book of Boom" and "A Banquet Fit for a Princess"—containing skills, spells, and personal messages from grateful crawlers. The crawlers shower Carl and Donut with flowers and streamers as they prepare to leave. In the final moments, a dwarf completes a rebuilt statue of Ysalte, the now-dead goddess of Larracos. As Zerzura completes, Juice Box sends a cryptic message that she and Justice Light are taking an alternate route to the 12th floor. The spell triggers, Ferdinand and Juice Box both leave the realm, Team Retribution is defeated, and the Princess Posse wins Faction Wars.

Characters

  • DonutSays goodbye to Sledgie and receives the Ring of Divine Suffering from Carl; receives a magical book and celebrates the victory with gratitude toward all who helped
  • The SledgeCasts Zerzura to transfer the cities to the 12th floor; bids farewell to Donut
  • RosettaConfirms the spell worked and reports moving to the saferoom with Tipid and others, including Samantha
  • CarlObserves the evacuation, resists temptation of the Ring of Divine Suffering, receives the Book of Boom, and witnesses the final moments before the spell completes
  • Juice BoxDeparts on an alternate route to the 12th floor with Justice Light after the warlords leave
  • FerdinandMakes a final appearance offering to stay with Donut before departing; transfers to the 12th floor
  • DrickCarries Ferdinand and nods to Carl before walking away
  • MilkAnnounces the magical books created by departing crawlers; uses magic to amplify her voice to address all present; hugs Carl goodbye
  • LouisEmerges from the hospital tent holding his throat; interacts with Juice Box who turns away from him
  • Lucia MarSits sobbing on the ground surrounded by Florin, Jurgen, and Imani who attempt to convince her to take a deal
  • FlorinSurrounds Lucia Mar attempting to convince her to take a deal
  • JurgenSurrounds Lucia Mar attempting to convince her to take a deal
  • ImaniSurrounds Lucia Mar attempting to convince her to take a deal
  • Corporal PillboxA gnoll mercenary who nods at Carl and is later seen crying during the farewell
  • Li NaReferenced as having marked and killed mercenaries to raise her stats
  • TinaHovers over her mother who holds two babies
  • Miss NadineAttends to the children with Holger and Kiwi
  • HolgerPresent with young Clint on his shoulders
  • KiwiSurrounded by other children, deciding to risk going to the 12th floor
  • BonnieStands beside Skarn looking tired and forlorn
  • SkarnStands beside Bonnie looking tired and forlorn
  • MongoPresent sniffing at the babies; stays with Carl instead of transferring
  • RendPresent trying to catch falling streamers; stays with Carl instead of transferring
  • MordecaiHolds little Ruby who will transfer; does not transfer himself
  • RubyChild held by Mordecai who will transfer to the 12th floor
  • Justice LightAccompanies Juice Box on an alternate route to the 12th floor