"... We would like to hold a funeral for Elian and Aurora."

"... Since we don't have their bodies, I would like to use Major Image and create an illusion of Aurora curling around Elian with a nearby campfire and have them look like they're peacefully asleep together, surrounded by flower petals and gems."

"We'd like to say a few words..."

---

The party only knew Elian for close to 2 weeks, broke him out of his curse, and fought for his freedom. They reunited him back with his dragon, someone he hasn't seen for 20 years, out of their own good will. The party had a fondness for the both of them and gave them a funeral after their tragic demise.
Apart from Campaign 1's epilogue, this was the only other time I broke composure as a DM and cried, struggling to narrate the scene. It was difficult simply because the act was unexpectedly touching. The party could have just gone on with their lives to defeat the evil they were hunting down but instead they insisted on having a proper funeral to honor their deaths. To honor their friend.

It meant so much to me to know that my characters meant a lot to them. It meant even more to me that they went above and beyond what I expected them to do. Truth be told, I inserted my character in as a hidden side quest - corrupted and held slave to a demon. They didn't have to know it was Elian. He was just an NPC to aid them in their quest, but the party wanted to find out more. The quest was simply to break Elian free from his curse and claim back his freedom. This side quest was personally symbolic, to be free from chains held down by my inner demons. But they did much more than that. They reunited me with a long-lost companion; someone that I dearly lost so long ago, a mistake I still blame myself for to this day.

This reminded me of an excerpt from SCP-1762:

This is the final message obtained from SCP-1762-1. It was written in ink on a papyrus scroll, and also depicted a scene of a painted, mountainous landscape filled with large trees and waterfalls. A single winged dragon can be seen in the background; it appears to be flying away. The message is written in black ink in the bottom right-hand corner.

“Master says that we won't see You again. We are sad. So are the remaining Others. We once filled each other's heads with dreams and goals. It is so sad that we cannot share them any longer. Master says we have to go. He says that he will make us a new Fantasy. He says You cannot be a part of it. We are sad. We love you. We will not Forget you. We are scared. Will You Forget Us?”

I hold myself guilty for forgetting.
I play DnD not only because I have the passion for fantasy and storytelling. My campaigns are my final resort to save the paracosm I once had and keep their memories alive. My campaigns are ways for me to ensure that if I pass on in this world, my characters live on in my players. She, will live on in my players. Immortalized through storytelling. Receiving this gift just shows that my mission was successful, and I am happy knowing my world made an impact to my players, my friends.

This was a birthday gift from one of my players who treasures our DnD campaign and how it was a very special gift that I bestow her and our friends weekly. To me, the gift was being able to share my world in the first place. This art was commissioned by her to https://johnlattaart.com/ .