Endgame:Ending

Spoiler Warning: This article contains information normally only found in the course of advancing the main quest line.

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This information is reliable as of patch 2.0.209.44. If this is no longer the current patch, you can help by updating it.

This information is reliable as of patch 2.0.209.44.

A run of Caves of Qud can end a few different ways.

• The player can die, and if they are in Classic Mode, the run will immediately end, or if they are in Roleplay or Wander Mode, then the player may choose to end the run rather than restore from a previous point.
• The run can be abandoned from the game menu.
• The player can achieve a Victory.

Victories

Crossing into Brightsheol

On entering the Thin World by becoming entombed at the Tomb of the Eaters, the player may ask Rainwater Shomer to cross into Brightsheol rather than return to Qud by recoming at Gyl. This is distinct from the other victory types as while the player does not die, they do not see the end credits or enter the Epilogue. This is referred to in the conversation with Rainwater Shomer as a lesser victory.

North Sheva

A variety of different victory types can be achieved at the North Sheva. After completing We Are Starfreight, the player ascends the Spindle and arrives at the North Sheva. After this point, the player may not return to Qud without ending the game. There are five different victory types available at the North Sheva, and on completing any of them the end credits will roll, and the player will enter the Epilogue. These victory types are:

• Return, where the player returns to Qud
• Covenant, where the player forms a covenant with Resheph, remaining on the North Sheva
• Accede, where the player agrees with Resheph's plan to annihilate intelligent life on Qud
• Launch, where the player leaves the North Sheva on the Exodus at the Starfarer's Quay
• Marooned, where the player is unable to leave the North Sheva or participate in the other ending types

Additionally, if the player has killed or pacified every Girsh Nephilim, including Starformed Ehalcodon, the Gyre will be annuled. Starformed Ehalcodon will be present at Reclamation if the player has killed or pacified every other Girsh Nephilim prior to Reclamation. Annulling the Gyre raises the grade of these victories from a victory to a greater victory.

Return

The player returns from North Sheva and goes back to Qud. This victory can be achieved one of two ways:

• In the conversation with Resheph at the Northern Ark, the player declares that they will return to Qud to "nurture its communities."
• If the player destroys Resheph by opening or breaking the nondeterministic core, then the graphene ribbon at the Arrivarium will become operational and the player may descend it while piloting the Golem.

Either of these actions will immediately end the game in a victory.

Covenant

The player convinces Resheph to form a new Covenant, and remains on the North Sheva to guide the denizens of Qud from above. To achieve this victory, the following conditions must be met:

• The player must have learned that Barathrum the Old was a part of the Trium during the conversation available with him during the Spindle ascent.
• Barathrum must either be dead, or have already left the North Sheva by launching the Exodus at the Starfarer's Quay.
• The nondeterministic core must be intact.
• The player must be able to speak with Resheph, and not be stranded in another part of the North Sheva.

Accede

The player accedes to Resheph's plan to till the noosphere. To achieve this victory, the following conditions must be met:

• The player must be able to speak to Resheph, so nondeterministic core must be intact.

Launch

The player leaves both the North Sheva and Qud behind, leaving on the Exodus at the Starfarer's Quay. To achieve this victory, the following conditions must be met:

• The Exodus must not have already launched without the player.

Barathrum the Old will automatically attempt to leave on the Exodus on arriving at the top of the Spindle. If the player ascended with Barathrum, the player must either follow him and join him as the Exodus is being launched, or prevent him from launching it by trapping or killing him. If Barathrum does not start the launch sequence, then the player may by interacting with the pilot console on the Exodus.

Once the launch sequence has started, the starship will launch after 200 rounds, and the player will achieve the Launch victory if they are on board.

Marooned

The player is stranded on the North Sheva, and cannot achieve any of the other victory types.

Currently, as of build 209.44, the marooned ending is broken/unimplemented. While achieving it by meeting its intended conditions is impossible, the player can still achieve it with the goend wish, where any of the North Sheva victory types can be achieved along with their greater variants.

The conditions as implemented are:

• The Golem must be dead.
• The Exodus must have been launched. Either Barathrum the Old may launch it himself, or the player may start the launch sequence and leave the Exodus before it takes off.
• The player must open or break the nondeterministic core.

After these conditions have been met, then the game would end with a Marooned victory after the player takes a turn.

Gyre Annulment

This article has information that is missing or not up to par.
Reason: describe gyre anullment, super victory

Endmarks

This article has information that is missing or not up to par.
Reason: describe the different messages/sprites the player can see on victory, with images

Epilogue

The epilogue is the post-credits narrative where the player gets to visit a village in Qud 1,000 years later.

This article has information that is missing or not up to par.
Reason: describe epilogue, different victory types effects on epilogue