Something strikes me as I continue working on revisions of my latest novella. The next one will be the the last of the Minstrels of Skaythe series.
Up to this time, the individual novellas have stood more or less on their own. My minstrels have had their separate adventures, trying to fly under the radar of Dar-Gothull’s oppressive regime. That will be much more difficult after the end of Prisoners of the Wailing Tower. So in addition to fixing this draft, I’m starting to gather my thoughts about the next one.
There are already quite a few characters in the four novellas. I need to consider which ones will appear in the finale. Likewise, the evil mages who have grudges against the various minstrels. What will their roles be? Also, there is one specific image, predicted near the end of The Tower in the Mist, that I need to make real.
Most of all, I need to decide the outcome for the total series. Can a rag-tag band really take down an evil empire? If they do, what will replace it? I believe it’s important to be honest with readers. A flimsy, pat ending might be comfortable, but it would also feel hollow. And I’ll tell you now, I’m not setting out to write a flimsy, hollow story with Minstrels of Skaythe.
Those of you who have read these novellas know that I’m not afraid of gray endings. That’s intentional, really. I want to leave space for the readers to think their own thoughts about what will happen in the new status quo.
So that’s what I’m pondering at the moment.
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Wyrmflight 
I like gray endings. Like you said, it gives the reader room for thought.
One of the things I’ve found interesting about the novellas so far is that they could be read in any order. I like the events essentially happening simultaneously. But I do understand you wanting to write a finale.
Non-violent resistance does work, as has been shown historically. I personally would lean toward an ending that gives a definite hope for the future–without completely resolving everything.
Here’s a couple links that deal with the effects of non-violent protests that you might find useful (both these are by doctors of psychology):
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pop-psych/201702/why-non-violent-protests-work
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-life/201404/violent-versus-nonviolent-revolutions-which-way-wins
I call mine Happy For Now endings. I like the term Grey Endings, too.
“I need to consider which ones will appear in the finale.”
I personally would strongly like to see all the minstrels again, and at least hear about all their main companions and the main antagonists. Of course one of the protagonists has moved rather beyond the level of a member of a “rag-tag band” (I won’t say who or what happened to avoid making a plot spoiler). I think you have something of a “wild card” with that character so that you can play that at just about any level.