Frieza from Dragonball Z
It will only be a little bit of the finale, but it’s probably the biggest part. Who will get the final blow of the battle? I’ve considered this for a long time and find a reason to go with just about everyone, including non-champions.
Baron Kernaghan
Well, this kind of has to happen if I go with the Age of Darkness route. It would end up being a massive slaughter after a tough fight.
Luke Callindor
He’s been the longest running hero of Legends of Windemere, so many people might expect him to get the last shot in. Does he deserve it? After what the Baron put him through in Ritual of the Lost Lamb, I would say he’s a top contender. Not to mention his habit of being an unpredictable enemy, which could throw the meticulous Baron off balance.
Nyx
She has been raised as a champion and working toward this fight, so it could even be in her head that she has the right to finish it. Nyx also takes what has happened to her friends and family very personally. With her, it could come out that she simply has the defiance and raw power to get through the Baron’s defenses too.
Sari
Considering her journey started with the destruction of her clan, Sari has a really big argument for getting the final blow. While the Baron didn’t do it himself, he ordered the massacre. She also is the most likely one to sacrifice herself to save the others, but she does lack the power to pull off such a feat. Her biggest strength is her versatility too, which puts her in a similar category to Luke.
Timoran Wrath
Unlike the previous three, Timoran hasn’t really suffered due to the Baron. He’s always been a solid, consistent force of strength and wisdom. That’s why it could work with him finishing the battle. It isn’t a personal reason for him, but he has the physical abilities to go toe-to-toe with the Baron. All Timoran would need is one clear shot, which means it would be a big ‘team effort’ scene.
Delvin Cunningham
He is in a similar boat as Timoran, but he is harboring some anger about what has happened to his friends. Delvin wishes to protect those close to him and the Baron has crossed many lines. One factor that puts this as a big probability is that he is the one who comes up with the strategies. It wouldn’t be surprising if Delvin created a plan that put him in the position to deliver the final blow.
Dariana
If Sari and Luke have a right to the final blow because of trauma then Dariana has a bigger claim. After being tormented for centuries, she has a pretty big grudge against her father now that she has friends. The fact that she might not have any future even with the champions winning puts her on a slight suicide mission.
Fizzle
Fizzle wants to protect friends. So, Fizzle will find a way to protect friends. Would he have the power to finish things since he isn’t a champion? Hard to tell.
Kira Grasdon
Not very high up the list since she’s not a champion and doesn’t have anywhere close to their level of power. One can’t even be sure if she’ll be at the final battle, but the Baron could try to bring her in as a hostage. That’s the reason she’s on the list. Regardless of her not being a champion, Kira has suffered greatly at the hands of the Baron and his agents. She has some payback due to her, which means any opening Kira finds, she’s going to take.
Queen Trinity
Again, she isn’t a champion, but her power can push Nyx to her limits. She would be fighting for her people too. That’s a heavier reason than the previous ones, especially since the chaos elves were being tortured since the Great Cataclysm. Only real question is if she would be willing to get involved to that extent.
So, who would you give the killing blow to?
Legends of Windemere 
This is a tough one. Just in the time it took me to get signed in so I could comment, I changed my mind a couple of times. My top three – based on reasons you mentioned above – would be Luke, Nyx, or Trinity. I look forward to reading the book and learning who you decided on in the end.
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To be honest, there’s an added wrinkle if the death blow goes to Fizzle, Kira, or Trinity. Not being champions, it would bring all of destiny into question and make people wonder if Gabriel has any power at all. It would really make future stories interesting though.
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I would “cheat.” I would have Delvin devise a strategy where he secretly delivers the final blow. However, he’d have everyone believe it would be Luke or Nyx doing so–until the very last moment, when he gets to do so instead.
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You mean use one of the others as a decoy and then a sneak attack?
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That could work.
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I’d go with Luke for the reasons you stated.
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He’s definitely near the top of the list. Only real question is if he has the ability since he’s the one champion who kind of rejected his full power. That gives him both a disadvantage and a level of unpredictability.
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But it’s that unpredictability that makes him irresistible to read, at least for this reader. 😉
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That’s definitely his strength. One real trick here is to make sure every champion has a role to play.
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Well that’s your department. 😉
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Death blows are most effective coming from the most unexpected person, especially if that person enhances their powers through self-sacrifice (caused by a sudden feeling of overwhelming desperation or panic?) – Fizzle 😎
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The only challenge with that kind of sacrifice is that it’s become fairly common. Mostly in movies and TV where the hero dies taking out the villain.
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Or, SEEMS to die, Charles 😎
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A possibility. Would that make sense for the grand finale?
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Must admit it lends itself more to a sequel, where the ‘resurrected’ or ‘reconstructed’ character features (think Spock, or the tree character in one of the recent Marvel Movies)
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Yeah. It does seem to be a better method to move a character from one adventure to another. Almost like a restart for them.
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Wouldn’t dream of answering that question. I wrote a main character’s death, followed immediately by side character revenge. Then followed that with a resurrection. It’s up to you, and you alone to face the monster. Much like your characters are facing theirs.
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Thanks. So, did the side character end up becoming one of the new main ones or was this an ensemble cast?
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It was an ensemble cast.
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That’s a tough one. I can’t help thinking of Gollum who inadvertently ended the saga. My first thought is Luke. Second thought: Trinity. Third thought: Dariana.
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A Gollum ending would probably involve the Lich if I had to pick someone for the role. Seems Luke and Trinity are the favorites.
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I have to say Luke because of all he’s been through. The series started with Luke and should end with his final triumph.
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Think a lot of people see that. He’s named as the main character by readers at times.
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It’s like he has earned it.
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Interesting question, but what if the Baron is mortally wounded at the time and delivers the last blow? If he knew that he was dying, he wouldn’t have any reason to hold back and could try to kill someone, or even use the last of his strength to cause an explosion that could kill all of them. Just a thought I had.
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It’s a possibility. Though, the Baron has a pretty big ego. He’d have to be really hurt to consider that he’s losing. So, this would bring up the question of who could hurt him that bad.
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It started with Luke, so it has to end with Luke.
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That does seem to be the popular opinion.
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If Luke had an opening, would he step back and let Dariana or Nyx take the glory?
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Probably not. Only because the Baron isn’t an enemy that you ease up on. You see an opening and you take it.
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