Larian Studios Forums Divinity: Original Sin 2 Divinity - Original Sin 2 - General Does the game end after you beat the final boss?

SPOILER FREE PLEASE** (other than what I am asking)

After you beat the game or the final boss, does the game just "end" and take you back to the main menu or does it let you run around completing side quests, etc.

Also, what happens to your characters? I read there wasn't a new game + and the original just ended (final boss didnt even have loot in the first game) so I wanted to know if they pull that again here too.

I put a lot of time into my characters and for them to just take them at the end would really suck. I like to explore and keep playing after beating.