A Song for Winter: Epilogue

Following the fall of The Matriarch, Drakethorpe saw a significant influx of magitech as it had become a haven for people across the portal network. With the influx of new technology, the once-small hamlet became a metropolis in the north. William knew he couldn’t rule over a large city by himself, so he transferred all the ruling power to a council of five elected by the citizens.

 

Willam became warking in title only as he left politics to the Drakethrope council. As the folf no longer had any magic, he gave up adventuring and settled into the dad life to raise his kids. He explained to everyone that he wasn’t the William native to their timeline, but they decided they didn’t care. Violet said he may not have been the William she knew as a child. He was the one she knew as a man, which was good enough. Jaina was just happy to have her dad back, regardless of which version he was.

 

Violet became the Archdruid of the Harvest Druids after her father, Regalius, retired from the role. Under her leadership, the Druidic Circle transitioned from its war role back to caretakers of the harvest. With their magic and the aid of some magitech, Drakethorpe’s pantries never ran dry again.

 

After being cut off from The Winter Song, Jaina found that she still had access to her magic. She traveled into the wilderness to see the long-forgotten home of her mother, Julia Stormchild, with William. The two of them uncovered the secret to the runic magic of Clan Stormcchild. Under William’s tutelage, his daughter became a fierce shieldmaiden and captain of the guard. While there was peace for now, Jaina was always on guard just in case something happened.

 

Liam followed in Violet’s footsteps and became a Harvest Druid. He quickly mastered his magics to rise to the rank of Grove Keeper. Most days, he can be found softly playing William’s old guitar as he tends to his druidic duties. Despite his appearance, the half lion, half arctic folf wasn’t a fighter but a big softy. 

 

Brianna left Drakethorpe to live in the wilderness following the final battle with The Matriarch. William tried to give her land in town and pardon her for the crimes she committed under the control of The Matriarch. Brianna didn’t want to live someplace where she could feel people’s stares and whispers. A few times a week, she shows up at William’s house for family dinner and, by all accounts, is a great aunt.

 

Izebel and Morrisa helped round up stragglers of The Matriarch forces in space. They used the ships to form an armada centered around their new flagship, The Harlock: The Sequel. Morrisa made Izebel a magitech tail with a retractable tip blade. With the couple’s job done, they settled into retirement in Drakethorpe to raise their newly adopted daughter Bridgette. Their ace pilot, the wolf hawk Tabious, was made the new admiral of the fleet. While now a peacekeeping force, they still maintain their pirate motif.

 

William knew that Bridgette would never be accepted if everyone knew that the child was once the vessel for The Matriarch, so he lied and told everyone he found the wolf girl held prisoner. A select few people know the truth, including Bridgette. Izebel and Morrisa adopted the wolf girl, who grew up with more love than she thought was possible. Morrisa, over the years, made several magitech hands to replace Bridgette’s missing right hand. Bridgette never indicated that she remembered what happened while she was the vessel for The Matriarch, nor did she care to have that define her. Bridgette never showed any abilities to use magic and didn’t care to learn how to fight.