Credits (Bonus)

[Anastasia]

Enjoy this as a bonus for completing Balmuria 3: Planar Suikoden. Thank you all for playing and see you next time.

FYI, the order of PCs listed in that section was done by seniority, more or less.

Aurora is full of life, soldiers spilling out onto the reborn Lifasa. Mortal and immortal, human and elf, warrior and mage alike all go forth, taking in the restored world with excitement.

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27

27 misses Ithea, but seems happy with Hanna.

Lisa

Lisa enjoys many naps on Jaela's bed, even when Jaela wishes she wouldn't sleep there.

Jetina

With her task completed for now, Jetina returns to Celestia to learn more of the ways of righteousness. She often thinks of Aurora, and one day the Authority of Wardens asks her to...

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Prince Westwind and Finnegan fly through a portal, diving through Aurora's gates as great gouts of fire slam into it behind them, missing them by inches. The two whirl around as the portal closes, flames cut off, and both share a long laugh.

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Prince Westwind

In bad standing with the Whirlwind Throne, Prince Westwind wanders and helps Aurora's next Crusade - usually when he's in trouble somewhere.

Finnegan

With little to go to other than paradise, Finnegan stays on the Crusade as a bodyguard and powerful warrior. He can't seem to settle down, always finding a battle to join.

Goldanariux

Impressed by Aurora's power, Goldanariux chooses to stay with the Crusade as an official sage and artificer. He meets the love of his life soon after, who...

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Queen Ilsenine, Lady Skye and Crystal all watch the court's festivities, celebrations over Lifasa's return. Moore performs for them all, enthralling them...and then turns to Ilsenine and says something that draws a furious blush from her, which in turn gets Crystal to laugh, spreading to all of them, even Ilsenine.

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Queen Ilsenine

Queen Ilsenine returns to her throne, ultimately ruling as the High Queen of all fey in Lifasa. Rumors of a royal wedding are constant, rumors she does little to acknowledge.

Crystal

Duchess Crystal is always busy, protecting all of Lifasa's fey while visiting Aurora often. She seems happy but so busy!

Lady Skye

Lady Skye assumes the position of Ilsenine's second in command and sees to the day to day runnings of the court.

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All around Lifasa, buildings are restored or rebuilt from scratch. The people hurry about, new villages, towns and castles all made with the air of Aurora's allies. Sunny day after sunny day passes as Lifasa becomes more and more alive, more and more like the past.

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Bubbles

Bubbles parts from Afina and returns to the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls, where the Padisha invests her as a minor noble and makes her the ambassador to Aurora.

Moonlight

With her duty completed, Moonlight returns to Lathander's service.

Cresiel

With Lixer ascendant in Avernus, Cresiel stays with Aurora to continue to fight the good fight. He is assigned to a new battalion that...

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Aurora's forces are on a parade march, down the streets of a restored Lifasa. Men, women and children alike cheer, the crowd full of familiar faces. Tannin cheers while drinking, Ram watches from atop a roof and Rosa stands at attention, watching her troops.

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Stille

Stille makes his way to Brightwater, where he seeks a certain catfolk. Rumors swirl that he's become a were tiger, rumors he denies rather vehemently.

Tannin

Having seen a berserk cornugon, Tannin settles into a much safer life as Aurora's head of Intelligence. It still doesn't help him to avoid 27's scorn.

Arrel

With the start of a real hoard and a great deal of experience, Arrel elects to stay on Aurora to bolster both of these, serving in the Aerial Corps.

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Lady Rosa returns to Aurora, only to find Mei and Arrel talking intently on the practice field. She marches up and points at them, getting them both to startle and blush, before hastily beginning to spar.

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Rosa

Rosa is assigned to serve under Jaela by the Triune, a duty she takes with the utmost seriousness.

Mei

With her vow of silence lifted by the Triune, Mei is often found in between battles gossiping, a fact that always makes her blush when brought up.

The Master

With Aurora's Crusade finished, the Master goes to attempt to find the ultimate meaning of battle as he wanders the planes. Each clash of fists is a new attempt for him.

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Ram and Hanna spar in the courtyard, Mirajane, Jaela and 27 watching. The two trade blows, coming in a clinch before Hanna shoves Ram off and charges in, only for a quick recovery and leap back, the spar raging on. As it does, Mirajane says something to Jaela and she laughs, a moment of contented bliss with family.

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Ram

After the war, Ram stays with Aurora for another Crusade. He's often seem sparring with his family and preparing for the battles to come.

Mirajane

Mirajane merely smiles and prepares, having an inkling of what is going to come in Aurora's next Crusade.

Hanna

Hanna is given leave to stay with Aurora longer and promptly joins Jaela in another Crusade. Rumors that she's adopted 27 remain unfounded.

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The Graceful Blow practices as one, the training field as much dance as battle. Mirima leads them, intent - until with a clap of thunder Canderella appears, stopping the practice. She marches up to Mirima with a smile, pointing her sword at her. With her own smile, Mirima draws Woven Gold and rushes the succubus.

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Morniel

After a brief return to Celestia, Morniel is reassigned to Aurora by the personal request of Erathaol of the Hebdomad.

Mirima

Battle over at last, Mirima dedicates herself to aiding Jaela and seeing to the establishment of a new branch of the Graceful Blow on Lifasa.

Ellese

In a small elven village deep in Lifasa, Ellese is known only as the town wizard, until the outbreak of a new Crusade, which...

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Balyss hugs her friends from Whimsical Sweets goodbye - only for a young child with blonde hair to run up, blurting words of magic and presenting her with a conjured portrait of his mother. Balyss blinks and then shakes her head with a smile, kneeling down and giving the young child a hug.

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Simmer

It it said that whenever those who live around Lifasa's Firering Volcano need help, aid can be found from the fire spirit living in the volcano.

Balyss

On one final visit to Balmuria before taking a diplomatic position in Rapture, Balyss finds that Calley suddenly shows a stunning aptitude for any and all sorts of skills far beyond his years.

Sylvie

After vanishing at Aurora's final victory, Sylvie is not seen again. Her whereabouts are unknown to all save...

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Ebony watches Mirima and Canderella spar from afar, unable to resist a smile. Not even thunder and lightning facing against a blade seemingly woven of gold deters her, nor do the sonic bursts or many Mirimas fighting as once.

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Ebony

Ebony is assigned as a part time diplomat to Aurora, where she takes the position of Colonel of the Morale Corps.

Canderella

It's noted Canderella has a knack for visiting Aurora whenever Ebony is there, to the point that lightning is taken as a sign Ebony's about to return.

Sage Vul'lath

Vul'lath takes a position as the Head of the Library, ensuring Aurora's lore is always well maintained and ready. His personality, however, does not improve.

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Baleruk flies over Aurora, roaring in draconic triumph. Dana and Kascha ride on his back, cheering him on as the forces of Aurora below do the same. In his wake colorful rainbows form, glittering with colors unknown to mortal eyes.

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Baleruk

Despite many boastful claims, Baleruk remains on Aurora. It's said his hoard continues to grow almost as fast as his ego does.

Dana

Dana chooses to hang around Aurora a time longer, as she knows she can always count on a good fight there sooner or later, even if they make her an officer of the infantry.

Kascha

In between Surraruthru, Aurora and the Cauldron, Kascha is always busy. Then one morning she finds a mysterious letter that makes her head for Fire immediately.

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Around the Elven Tree are houses of the greatest heroes. Elder Magi Tepen emerges from one, walking it a brisk pace. From another a young elven child emerges, waving around a wooden greatsword and laughing. Hot on his heels is Misalea, shouting at him, not that he bears her any mind. Tepen shakes his head with a wide smile, watching the chase.

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Misaela

Misalea takes a position as a roaming avenger of the Elf Father, paired with her husband Adrian. Pregnancies do slow it down, though.

Adrian

Formally swearing allegiance to Selune, Adrian is tasked as an traveling agent of Selune and paired with Misalea, his wife.

Tepen

Tepen settles down for a well deserved retirement advising the rulers of Lifasa and enjoying his second youth.

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All of Aurora's officers get together one last time, exchanging stories, well wishes and promises to visit. The meeting room is full to capacity, a moment frozen in time.

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Vivantha

Vivantha stays at Muirfinn's side all the while as he tends to those who need his aid on Lifasa. Often a happy song is all that is needed to mend the ill.

Drena

Drena returns to Lady Chan, who promptly returns him to Aurora to continue helping them.

Priest

Priest returns to the Heavens, his eternal tasks taking him to another battlefield, one in a nation called Malana on a Prime Material world.

Shops

With money to spare and customers aplenty, Aurora's shops draw any visitor who can gain admittance. Stories of them spread far and wide across the plains, becoming a legend.

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Afina, Jaela, Ithea, Willim, Muirfinn, Lief, Moore, Surraruthru and Tryll. They all stand together in a portrait, one of many that hangs in Aurora. Children look up at it and talk momentarily, before returning to war games, one swinging a fake weapon while another manages a fake spell.

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Tryll

Tryll busies himself seeing to the full rebirth of the Irrigo, an effort that seems to draw the attentions of the mysterious deity who ruled over them long before.

Surraruthru

Deep in his lair, Surraruthru continues his studies of magic and expands his hoard, all while Kascha visits whenever she can.

Moore

Celestia keeps him busy, Ilsenine keeps him busier! It's all diplomacy, anyway.

Lief

Deep in Yggdrasil a single pixie smiles as his body fades away, his soul returning to the Queen Titania once more. The next morning, a new Child of Liberty is born.

Muirfinn

Together with Vivantha, Muirfinn repays his obligation to Ilmater by serving the sick on Lifasa.

Willim

Deep in Warrior's Rest, a particular favored spirit continues to fight to his heart's content, certain in the knowledge that what he left behind has been finished.

Ithea

Deep within Rapture, Ithea continues to learn and prepare herself for the duty Sharess has chosen for her, but not alone.

Jaela

With family and a Crusade, Jaela's days are busier and full of smiles.

Afina

Afina continues to wander Lifasa, learning all about her world and how to protect it.

THE END

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Victory Score: 5. Unlocking 5 gates.

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The Serpent Throne looms above all, a shadow amid unspeakable shadows. Gathgorian kneels before it, the Lord of the Ninth looking over him. The King of Hell rises and points ahead, a swirling portal appearing.

Gathgorian rises without a single word and walks through. The devil stands amid the Silver Sea, unconcerned as the portal is chained over, the sound of iron gates closing heavily behind him. Instead, once the portal is gone, he smiles - all teeth and malice - and begins to fly onward.

Deep in Hell, Asmodeus sits on the Serpent Throne. Sitting back, the Lord of the Ninth smiles serenely. The death of Taelfagn was more complete than desired, but this is still sufficient. Gathgorian is sufficient. All is going as planned.

Soon.

Soon, 21. Soon, Shar. Soon, Primus. Soon, Zaphkiel. Soon, Arbiter. Soon, Ao.

Soon there will be an answer at last.

Soon there will be revenge at last.

The Serpent's Throne shadows grow deeper, slowly encompassing all.

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Deep within a light unlike any other in Creation, a single figure of golden flesh and eternal calm stands.

It's finally time.

Will there be an answer?

Not even he knows.

But hope is a trait of the Heavens, while the Hells only trade in false hopes and empty dreams. That, more than any other, is the virtue he believes will triumph. Soon his two hopes and those who serve them will arrive, but not yet.

Soon.

Soon 21 will return home. Soon the two chosen ones will come. Soon there will be hope eternal.

The radiance of Chronias grows brighter, as if to blanket all of Celestia in holy light.

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Deep within a realm of arboreal beauty and serenity, a woman of unearthly beauty sits. She is fey and eladrin at once, many versions of her seen at once, many as one. She sits on a throne of roses and dreams, gaze faraway.

Her dream continues undisturbed, yet...

Must it be this way?

So be it. For your sake.

Silent in a battle that is not her battle, the Queen of Stars prays. Perhaps it is not her struggle because of Ao, but she is not powerless.

Come to me.

Corellon Latherian, Lathander, Selune, the Triune. So many of the Gods created by the Three have aided her, and in this she can aid them in a battle they cannot participate in.

Her dream owes so much to all of them. Perhaps this will begin to set things to rights.

But first, she must begin with the one weak point.

She must inform her chosen of the target: Mephistopheles.

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Deep within places where the mind is meaningless, a figure shrouded by a gauzy shawl prepares.

She is so tired. It has been almost too long for her to endure. Not that Ao's spite would allow her to rest, of course.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander, isn't it, Ao?

Heh, heh, heh, heh...so tired.

But it will be worth it. It's the only hope she has to be free of her veiled cage.

Be ready, Sylian. My wonderful child, be ready, I beg of you. I'm so tired.

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"They'll be a part of it, you know. Everyone will in their way."

"I know."

"...I hate dealing with people like you."

"I know."

"...I still think Aurora's a crap name."

"I know."

"You're a shitty conversationalist after all this time."

"Now that is something I don't know."

"Asshole. You ready for this, Medi?"

"Yes."

FIN.