Context: The party killed Belasco and Guy sealed the portal to the Abyss. Clarys was in shock from her experience, and angry at Guy, since he'd taken away her access to Rachel. The party got rid of the last storm giant by giving a Sarduvar soldier the hazy orange crystal, which turned him into a giant. The two fought, and both died.
They returned to Allentia City, to find that all of the other leaders were already there, along with the Sarduvar army. Mugul mostly took control of the army, and after some time, the leaders all met and informed Clarys that they'd decided she should be queen. After some deliberation, she agreed. Off camera, we stopped the civil war in Illarum, Arioch's power receded and Mystra returned to the world.
Mugul disappeared during the night, and went south to retire.
He never fully trusts the peace that the five cities so suddenly proposed. Part of him wants to go back to being a nobody, settling down or disappearing like Mugul did, but instead, he builds up a more and more complex spy network, infiltrating the ruling class of every city, as well as the Sarduvar. The more favorable the reports are, the less he trusts them, so he keeps expanding his network. In his mind, this is for the safety of Allentia.
He searches for Mugul to no avail, certain that one day, the clever half-orc he once perceived as an easily bribable, incompetent guard, will take control of the Sarduvar or the underworld and cause a disaster. And he’s constantly on the look-out for Ladiana. Whether she is in league with demons or conquering the underdark, she will certainly show her face again. As for Ephram, whenever Guy sees something even a little out of place, he makes sure to take a step to one side to make sure it’s not a drawing rendered in perfect perspective.
Guy is never far from Clarys, seeing himself as her behind-the-scenes protector, even though she probably doesn’t need it. He grows to love her, though he’s too intimidated by the prospect of accidentally ending up king to do much about it other than remain her close friend.
With Mystra back in the world, Guy doesn’t dare accept his legacy as the descendent of Par Salien. He just becomes all the more secretive, developing a slew of new disguises and personas.
Inevitably, Guy’s paranoia and the occasional real threat leads him to the Red Crystal. He follows in the Shenga’s footsteps, taking a small sip every day or two, so he can always be aware and in control. He becomes addicted, and while he tries to manage that addiction, the frequency and volume of his doses slowly increases over time.
This is not a particularly happy ending for Guy. He never wanted power; it just happened that way. His self-interest combined with his love for Allentia City made it inevitable. Now he suffers for it, but it’s not all bad. The information broker in him has reached the pinnacle of perfection, and he’ll never have to live in a hole in the wall again.
Yes, thank you so much to such a great group and DM! Can’t believe we ran almost two years- it was really a joy. As a somewhat less dour alternative (though I think this could mostly coexist with Eli’s ending- poor Guy!) here’s my take on a wrap up:
Clarys seizes the power of the throne with more determination than she had expected of herself. She rules as best she can, although admittedly dotes on Allentia City. She works with the Sarduvaar to maintain firm control over the remaining cities- some consider her a benefactor and protector, others chafe at her interference.
Keeping a hawklike eye for seeds of Arioch’s return, she routinely enlists Ephraim and Oriana’s skills and network to remove threats to the balance of the continent. They are efficient, and it offers little to no chance for the suspected to redeem themselves. The White Order is displeased with the approach, but she knows they don’t understand its necessity.
She wonders sometimes where Mugul disappeared to, and is never quite sure if she’s relieved or disappointed that he’s gone. Regardless, she hopes he is growing fat and happy somewhere in the southern sun. That she hasn’t heard anything is hopefully a good sign that those bizarrely named swords stay sheathed.
Ladiana plagues Clarys’ frequent nightmares. Whether the drow rules the abyss alone or alongside Belasco, her cruelty rivals his- at least in the queen’s sleeping mind. The guards to her chambers grow used to her screams over time. Talk of the missing sorceress or Northville are quietly discouraged around the ruler as the more vicious rumor mongers spread concerns about her stability.
Guy remains a trusted advisor and able spymaster, although his suspicious nature feeds into her new tendency to see the dark one’s shadows in the world. He’s the only person that Clarys attempts to recount her trials in the abyss to. As the years pass, court gossips speculate that he is the queen’s consort. True or false, he is clearly a significant power behind the throne to those that think to turn their attention to him. But the keenest among those observers see that the queen near completely defers to Rachael, the barkeep’s daughter. Thankfully, the commoner-turned-Par seems only to have the best of intentions.