Shadowgast headcanon (I originally posted this as a reply to someone else but it deserves its own post)
My personal headcanon for Shadowgast is that Essek always finds his way back to Caleb. Even if Caleb tried to distance himself knowing he would grow old Essek makes it clear he dose not care about age or appearance because he love Caleb’s soul. Caleb has his heart forever and always no matter what. Sometimes Caleb finds him in his house cooking a meal sometimes he wakes up and Essek has slipped in bed beside him. Essek always ends up leaving because he can’t stay in one place for long and he enjoys seeing many friends now.
Essek is always plotting, making things, crafting spells developing new ones. He does make a pair of very small sending stones and sets the in a pair of matching rings. He gives one to Caleb and he wears the other in his left ring finger. He eventually unlocks the secret behind consecution and the reincarnation process of the Luxen. He doesn’t tell Caleb though. He knows Caleb want his soul to move on, to be with his parents again. When Caleb inevitably passes of old age Essek brings his body to the Blooming Grove and Cadeuceus enters him amongst his family plot. Essek eventually does the same for all the Mighty Nine, even Cadeuceus himself. Kingsley eludes him but Essek keeps hearing rumors of a new purple skinned, horned and tattooed Plank King and he has a sneaking suspicion that purple tiefling might just outlive him. After that Essek retreats into a tower he has made for himself somewhere far from any civilization and has painstakingly enchanted every stone to keep prying eyes away from him. He keeps himself busy by crafting new spells and magic items and trying everything he can possibly think of with a small beacon he has found. He still wears his sending stone ring though he knows he’ll never hear from Caleb again but it feels right to keep wearing the ring because even if Caleb isn’t there he still has his heart. One day Essek hears a voice coming from the ring: “H-Hello?” He thinks he is finally going mad at first but it comes again “Hello? Is this E-ssek?” the voice sounds unsure and it’s not anyone he recognizes. He is angry because he knows it means someone disturbed Caleb’s rest to get it “Who is this?!” he demands “How do you know who I am?” Essek starts to prepare the components he needs to teleport. Reading to send himself through space and time to exact revenge on a grave robber. “It’s…Euh… Caleb… I think. I’m not sure why I know this. I wasn’t born with this name but I heard it in my dreams. That’s how I knew to come pick up this ring. My ring.” Essek nearly drops everything he is holding “I can’t be!” He teleports and is brought to a place he hasn’t seen in a very long time; the Blooming Grove. Essek winces in the daylight tho the trees provide a lot of shade. as his eyes adjust to the light he sees a half-elven young man kneeling over a grave and a pink haired firbolg he recognizes as Caduceus’ niece standing beside him with a knowing smile on her face. he knows exactly which grave the man in kneeling at; Caleb’s. Essek is surprised to see the earth undisturbed save for a small hand sized earth patch in front of the young man. The young man seems to recognize him and tears well up in his eyes. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand but i know you! why? How?” The firbolg pipes up “You’ll need time,” She says looking directly at Essek “and Patience before you can remember. I’m sure Essek can help you, he is very knowledgeable about magic. You’ll help him won’t you, Essek Widowgast?” She asked in a tone that said “of course you will” without speaking the words out loud. Of course he does; Essek is too curious he needs to know what happened. So he takes the young man back with him to his towers and they go through the rituals similar to when reborn consecuted souls go through to regain their memories. When the memories do come back and it’s clear that this man is indeed the same soul he remembers Essek asks: “How is this possible?” Caleb smiles in a way that only Caleb could and answers “You were a bit careless with your notes and you know me;” he tapes his forehead “once it’s in it doesn’t leave. Once I knew I started to think, dangerous I know; my parents can wait. Cadeuceus told me time doesn’t exist on the other side, not like it does here. And I thought what is a few more centuries for souls who know no time? So I did it myself. I asked the others m9 for help with certain parts” “Why?” Essek follows up, tears welling in he eyes. “Because I knew you still had a few centuries to live and I didn’t want you to spend them alone.” he motions to the tower Essek has isolated himself in for the past 50 or so years. “I’m not completely alone here!” Essek says incredulously petting an orange tabby named frumpkin the fourth.
“Cats don’t count meine Geliebte.” Caleb says with a smile They continue Essek’s work and find a way to spread the knowledge he accumulated in a way that will help the most people they can. Becoming teachers for a bit. Eventually when they are both nearing the end of their lives they teleport the entire tower to the blooming grove. it becomes and extension of the house/temple there. The two retired wizards spend their twilight years gardening until they are eventually both entered side by side by Cadeuceus’ family. They both choose not to come back this time. And so now they rest souls at peace with the souls of their loved ones forever in peace together.
