Lady's Grace, cutters!

 

"Sweet and sour wyverns - fruit gums in the shape of small lindworms. Attention! Please catch them quickly. They try to fly away after unwrapping."

dessert at Berronar's

 

 

 

Third Void Day of Accordant, 126 HR

Although she didn't tend to be overly punctual, Erin was actually only the second to enter the magnificent room at Berronar's that she had reserved for the upcoming meeting. Only Terrance was already waiting there. She greeted him warmly and began a casual conversation about yesterday's events in the Hall of Speakers. Shortly afterwards, the door opened and five people entered, three of whom she already knew: Her factotum Naghûl, Sgillin and Lereia. The young man with the short black hair and dark eyes had to be Sarin's new recruit Kiyoshi, and the blonde woman the Athar Jana.

Kiyoshi immediately bowed with his hands folded in front of his chest. "Konninchi'wa," he said, and Erin assumed it was a greeting in his native language.

The others also bowed in greeting, and Sgillin looked around the magnificent room in awe. "Noble, noble," he remarked.

Jana though seemed visibly uncomfortable. Terrance had told Erin that the sorceress lived in the Hive, so she was certainly not used to such surroundings. Then the door opened again, this time more briskly. Erin immediately knew who was going to appear. Only one of them had the habit of opening doors so forcefully ... The factol of the Harmonium was about to enter, but Lereia was still standing almost in the doorway - and therefore in the way. Sarin cleared his throat, and Lereia jumped a little.

"Oh." She hurriedly stepped aside. "My apologies, Factol." She curtsied as Sarin nodded and stepped past her into the room, while Naghûl and Sgillin bowed.

"Lady's Grace," the paladin greeted in his usual terse manner and closed the door behind him.

At the same moment, Kiyoshi got down on his knees and touched the floor with his forehead. Then he remained in this position. "Factol," he greeted.

Sarin had just been on his way further into the room, but now he stood rooted to the spot. Irritated, he looked at his recruit. "Um..."

Erin took a step closer, almost unwittingly. Kiyoshi's greeting was unusual by Sigil standards and Sarin was obviously surprised by it. This promised to be interesting.

The others seemed to share Sarin's irritation. "You all right?" Sgillin asked the young man.

Jana bowed - somewhat belatedly and awkwardly - to Sarin, but looked at Kiyoshi curiously from the corner of her eye. The latter made no effort to rise or even look up. His factol frowned.

"Recruit Kiyoshi. Um ... I salute you. Please stand up."

Erin could tell that the scene not only surprised him, but also made him rather uncomfortable. Kiyoshi stood up, hit his armor’s breastplate with his fist and bowed his head. "Factol," he said again.

"Thank you," Sarin replied as he stood up, then looked to Erin and Terrance.

She feared she was doing a poor job of hiding her amusement at the situation. A quick sideways glance at Terrance told her that at least she wasn't alone in this. The Athar’s factol crossed his arms and watched the paladin and his new recruit with interest.

Sarin turned to Kiyoshi again. "Is that the ... usual way of greeting on your world?" he asked.

Sgillin grinned. "It seems very tiring if everyone there greets each other like that."

Kiyoshi did not respond, but answered his factol with his head still bowed. "To your own lord, indeed, honorable Factol Sarin-gensui."

His lord. Erin smirked. Yes, Sigil's factols didn't call themselves princes or kings, and yet they were more powerful than most rulers with such titles. So Kiyoshi's classification was not entirely inaccurate. Only his knowledge of Sigil’s etiquette was still inadequate. She noticed that Sarin stifled a sigh.

"I see." He nodded. "And I am honored. But I would ask you to refrain from doing so here in Sigil. It is not customary here that the factols are greeted like that. And I don't want gossip like Sarin is a megalomaniac and wants to rule Sigil . They're paranoid enough as it is, some factions." He looked at Erin and Terrance and cleared his throat briefly. "Present company excluded, of course."

The Athar’s factol grinned. "Of course."

Erin stifled a grin. The exchange of blows between Sarin and Terrance was always a spectacle in itself, and she would have been lying if she had claimed not to enjoy it.

Kiyoshi, on the other hand, nodded. "I understand, honorable Factol Sarin-gensui," he replied. "At your command, I will refrain from paying you the proper respects." He was still looking at the ground, not at his factol.

Now, Sarin smiled a little. "My life is hard, I know," he replied ironically.

Erin had to laugh. The paladin had a certain dry sense of humor that she undoubtedly appreciated. "Oh, Sarin," she said, amused.

"Lady Erin," he greeted her, and she raised her right hand to him.

"What a pleasure to see you, Sarin," she said with a smile as he bowed and kissed the hand offered to him.

She liked the gallant way in which he used to greet her, especially because his behavior was always chivalrous and never suggestive, which could not be said of all the high lords of Sigil’s society.

"As always, the pleasure is mine," the paladin replied.

From the corner of her eye, Erin could see that Kiyoshi only raised his head again when Sarin had stepped out of his sight.

Terrance now nodded to his colleague as well. "Lady's Grace, Sarin."

The paladin bowed to the high priest, then looked around. "And where is Factol Ambar?" he asked with a hint of annoyance. "Late as usual. Of course."

"Maybe something important kept him," Erin defended her colleague reflexively, because Ambar was usually unpunctual.

"Mhm," Sarin grumbled. "His ascension to godhood, I suppose."

Terrance laughed heartily at the remark. "Possibly," he said, amused.

Erin realized that Naghûl was looking at Lereia as if it was her fault, but then winked at her with a grin. The young woman raised her shoulders innocently, but Erin could tell she was a little uncomfortable with the situation.

Sarin, on the other hand, shook his head unwillingly. "So, let's get started," he explained irritably. "There's no waiting for anyone here, not even the factol of the Believers."

"You're very ungracious today," Erin interjected in a chatty tone to leaven the situation, while Lereia glanced briefly at the door. The young woman really was lovely, and she felt a little sorry that her charming yet carefree factol had just put her in a tense position.

"Lady Erin," Sarin replied kindly. "I'm always ungracious. That's what I'm known for, isn't it?"

Naghûl raised his brows at these words and looked to the ground. She stifled another smirk and instead placed her right hand gently on Sarin's forearm, a subtle invitation to lead her to the table.

"You're exaggerating," she replied with a smile. "You're actually such a courteous and kind man."

His look told her that he knew exactly what she was doing, but that he was letting her play this little game with him. "You flatter me," he replied politely and led her across the room towards the large table. "Unfortunately, I'm also a very busy man. So let's get started, please."

As he adjusted her chair with a slight bow, Terrance also came to the table with a slight grin. "Well, what an opening," he remarked with a touch of irony.

Her colleagues took their seats and Erin turned to the group of mostly new faction members who were standing somewhat uncertainly near the door.

"Please sit down," she asked them.

Lereia looked towards the entrance again, sighing softly, but Sgillin nudged her. "Come on, sweetie," he said quietly, and she followed him to the table.

Naghûl adjusted the chair for Jana, who smiled timidly at him and took a seat. "Sgillin," he then said reprovingly and shook his head when the half-elf simply took a seat without doing the same for his companion. Lereia smirked, and Terrance acknowledged it with an amused smile.

"Oh, uh ..." Sgillin stood up again and adjusted Lereia's chair. It didn’t escape Erin’s notice that he was actually blushing slightly.

At the same moment, the door opened again and Ambar entered. "Sorry I'm late," he apologized as he came in. "Lady's Grace."

Sarin furrowed his brows disapprovingly. "You could come on time for once , Ambar."

While all the Chosen rose hastily and greeted the Godsmen's factol with a bow, the bard closed the door behind him and came hurriedly over to the table. He nodded to Lereia with a smile, then turned to Sarin. "I'm sorry, I was really ..."

"Busy," the paladin interrupted him dryly. "Yes, I thought so."

Ambar spread his arms, but didn't seem particularly sorry or disgruntled by Sarin's harsh tone. He was in a good mood as usual. "I apologize," he replied lightly. "So please don't tear strips off me, I’ve had enough of that yesterday in the Hall of Speakers."

Erin gave Terrance an entertained look and recognized from his expression that the high priest remembered the scene in question just as amused as she did.

The factol of the Harmonium seemed less pleased. "Why do you always have to exaggerate? I didn't tear strips off you, I just pointed out that your knowledge of protocol seemed ... inadequate."

"Pointed out?" Ambar raised his eyebrows with a slight grin. "You gave me a ten-minute, very energetic lecture. I'd call that tearing strips off. My goodness, that could have come from Hashkar."

While all the other Chosen were obviously rather uncomfortable with this exchange of blows and mostly looked at the tabletop, Sgillin watched the two factols with considerable interest.

Sarin leaned back and smiled at Ambar. "If that's how you want to understand it," he replied in an emphatically friendly manner.

Ambar grinned. He was already familiar with Sarin's reprimands regarding his frequent tardiness and obviously wasn't particularly bothered by them. And while she herself found Sarin’s and Ambar's interactions no less entertaining than those between Sarin and Terrance, Erin was aware that the Chosen were new to this environment and that the factols’ banter intimidated rather than amused them. With the exception of Sgillin, perhaps.

"Gentlemen," she remarked with a smile. "It is very fortunate for us that four factions have come together here, whose factols get along so well."

Sarin crossed his arms and looked at Terrance. "Exactly."

"Don't give me that sour look," the high priest replied with a grin. "I can't help it either."

Erin gave Sarin a mildly reproving sideways glance at this rather offensive remark. But the paladin had already realized that he had been a little too direct.

"Sorry, Terrance," he replied. "I didn't mean it like that. I was just ... I'm sorry."

The Athar’s factol smiled calmly. "That's all right. After all, I know you. And I know that it's just the paladin talking."

Sarin took a deep breath. "Can we stop this, please?"

Erin gently placed her hand on his forearm. "Exactly. Let's get to the real issue." She noticed Sarin's look, his slightly raised eyebrow as she tried to appease him in this way, but also a hint of amusement, possibly due to the fact that she of all people was the voice of reason right now. In any case, he leaned back with a curt nod and let her have the floor.

"I assume," she continued, "that everyone present knows what this is about, Chosen and factols alike." There was a general nod in response. "Who will lead the discussion?" She looked innocently over at Sarin, who smirked.

"Well, milady, since you've already volunteered so charmingly ... And who would I be not to yield to a lady?"

"Chivalrous as always," she said with a smile. "Very well, then." Her gaze wandered to Lereia, who immediately understood what she was getting at.

"I could briefly summarize the events from our point of view," the young woman offered.

"Gladly," Erin replied and nodded to her to indicate that she had the floor.

Lereia told them about the events in the House of Visions, as they had called it, about the scorpion, the voice, the tombs and the children mentioned by the prophecy, as well as the subsequent conversation with Erin and Da'nanin. Jana leaned forward and listened to Lereia with interest, while Kiyoshi maintained a largely impassive expression - as he had done the whole time, since the beginning of the meeting. It was so noticeable that she suspected it was part of his culture rather than his personality. The young woman had just finished her report when Sgillin suddenly stared at Sarin with a slightly absent look and groaned briefly. Then his head flew back and bumped against the back of the chair. Thanks to Naghûl’s report of the events in the Foundry, Erin had an idea of what was going on, as did Ambar, who scrutinized Sgillin with interest. Perhaps Terrance had already heard about the incident from Ambar, but it was definitely new to Sarin, and he eyed the half-elf skeptically.

The latter stared at him with wide eyes. "It ... just happened again," he stated, as if he was a little overwhelmed himself.

"What happened?" Sarin asked curtly.

"I was on my way into your mind, but I was fended off," Sgillin explained. "Just ... this time it was different."

The paladin drew his brows together. "How am I supposed to understand that?

"It was different with you, Factol Sarin, than with Factol Ambar," the half-elf clarified. "The last time it happened with Factol Ambar, the defense was gentle, almost friendly, but firm. With you, it was like a slap in the face."

"Oh, why am I not surprised at all?" Terrance interjected with unmistakable cynicism.

Sarin was not impressed by this dig, but continued to look at Sgillin. "One doesn’t do that, after all" he replied matter-of-factly, not giving the impression of regretting his unconscious but fierce defense.

"I can't control it ..." Sgillin explained himself. "It just happens."

"He really can't control it so far," Lereia came to his rescue. "And we don't know why it happens to certain creatures."

Erin bit her lips briefly at this wording, and Sarin's face promptly took on a less than enthusiastic expression. "Certain creatures ?" he repeated. "Well, thank you."

"Sorry!", Lereia apologized immediately. One could clearly see her nervousness. "But since it involved both a scorpion and a humanoid, I chose that … umbrella term."

The paladin curtly waved off her carefully placed words. "Very well. Your categorization is up to you, notwithstanding certain objections that could still occur to me."

She looked at him questioningly. Apparently she wasn't quite sure what he meant, but didn't dare to ask directly.

"I mean, it's fine," Sarin explained, a little more conciliatory now. "You can say it like that, it just sounded a bit strange."

The young woman nodded, obviously relieved. "Thank you. - Shall I continue?"

"Yes, please continue," Erin replied kindly.

Lereia now reported on the zebra in the Foundry, the conversation with Ambar and the knowledge gained from it. Terrance folded his arms, leaned back and listened - occasionally glancing at Jana. At the mention of Naghûl's gift, he looked with interest at the tiefling, who smiled innocently. Erin could almost feel how her factotum would have liked to make himself invisible at that moment.

After Lereia had finished, Erin looked at Kiyoshi and Jana. "Then you should tell us what the two of you know."

They complied with her request and told what had happened in Sarin's office, about Jana’s vision and Kiyoshi being able to understand the Old Tongue. Afterwards, they all sat around the large table in silence for a while. Everyone had just learned something new, they all had to sort themselves out a little from the partly inscrutable, partly bizarre events that they had been confronted with so suddenly and unexpectedly.

Finally, Lereia was the first to speak again. "So, should there be nine Chosen?"

"What leads you to believe," asked Jana, "that there should be nine?"

"I deduced that from the words of the voice in the House of Visions," explained Lereia. "But that's just a guess."

The assumption didn't seem far-fetched to Erin and she nodded. "The voice in the house pointed to that, yes. And if I'm counting correctly, we have nine gifts mentioned now, don't we?

"Right," Lereia confirmed, while Ambar leaned back in his chair.

"Now the question remains, who's who?"

"I'll write down a list," Lereia suggested. "Maybe then it will be clearer."

"Dear colleagues and Chosen ..." Sarin rejoined the conversation. "Before we delve into speculation here, I would like to talk about an essential point. Namely, what do we want here and what do we do with our knowledge and your gifts? Because one thing is clear: we are heading to something big here or are already in the middle of it. Either way ... The question is, what now? We all know about it now, four factions are involved in this story. A few points are important to me. Point one: We keep it to these four factions. We may not be able to prevent others from being drawn into it, but we should not encourage it. Point two: Even within our factions, only a very small circle should know about the matter. Otherwise the Chosen could be in danger. Point three: What do we want? What is our goal anyway? This machine is at the center of everything, but what do we want to do with it? Activate it? Prevent it from being activated? Destroy it? Protect it?"

Erin smiled. As always, he put his points directly on the table. But he was absolutely right and said what needed to be said.

Terrance also nodded at his words. "That's a very good question, Sarin."

Now Naghûl cautiously rejoined the conversation. "As for the machine," he remarked, "I would recommend a list of priorities. The most important thing is to protect it so it doesn’t falls into the wrong hands. I think we can all imagine what would happen if Pentar would get hold of it."

Sarin laughed dryly. "By the Lady, I don't even want to imagine it."

Erin could only agree wholeheartedly. Sinkers were high on her list of factions she'd like to keep away from the machine as much as possible.

"As for the following priorities, we shouldn’t force things," Naghûl continued. "However, my gut tells me that the activation of the machine would be very dangerous. I’d also like to point out that I believe we are acting on behalf of the Lady herself, since, as already mentioned, a dabus led us to the house. Perhaps that would be an important point to investigate?"

"I think so, too," Terrance agreed, and there was a certain quiet cynicism in his voice. "Especially since we could never agree on what to do with the machine. Maybe we should consider the question concerning the Lady. - Jana, you wanted to say something?"

The blonde woman nodded. "I wanted to ... So, the existence of this machine is ... we assume that it actually exists? And that it will be found and possibly activated in the near future? By us?"

She got tangled up in her own words several times, but Terrance remained as calm and patient as ever. He nodded gently. "We do indeed assume its existence. And the prophecy strongly suggests that the Chosen are connected to the Deus Machina."

"Then I'm strongly against activating it," Jana burst out. "The consequences could be unforeseeable."

Naghûl swayed his head. "From my point of view, I don't want to express a strict rejection of activating the machine. We should not forget that we might be able to ward off a great evil by activating it. This prophecy will have some meaning after all."

Ambar nodded in agreement to the tiefling's words. "I also find it difficult to assess. Activating the machine could indeed be dangerous. But also a great opportunity if we were to encounter a significant threat."

"Exactly," Sgillin agreed with him. "No guts, no glory."

Jana opened her mouth to reply, but then refrained from doing so. Sarin noticed, however, and looked at her inquiringly. "What would you like to say?"

She straightened up a little. "I don't think that activating it will have any predictable effect. Things are ... interwoven and often difficult to see through, even for very powerful beings. There could be side effects. A machine of this type is certainly not particularly ... targeted? - Sorry. We have to find it first anyway."

Sarin raised his shoulders. "We can only speculate about how targeted this machine is or isn't. We don't even know how it works or how to activate it. Not even where it is located. We're pretty much in the dark about everything."

Erin nodded. "Yes. And until then, we don't need to determine what to do with it. First we have to find it, don't we?" She saw Lereia raise her hand and looked to her. "Yes, Lereia?"

The young woman brushed back a strand of her white hair. "I don't know what resources the factions have," she explained. "Where they got the writings, and it's none of my business either. But is there anything else you can do to investigate? Archives, libraries or something similar? Maybe we can gather more knowledge before we speculate."

"Yes, I agree," Sgillin said. "As something has already made such a big fuss about tombs, prophecies and Chosen, then there must be some information out there."

"Actually, there would be something ..." Terrance remarked quietly.

Erin listened up. The high priest had the ability to interject meaningful information as calmly as if it were only about the agenda for the next meeting in the Hall of Speakers. She looked at him intently, and the eyes of everyone else at the table turned to him as well.

"We have become aware of a man who goes by the name of Eliath," Terrance explained. "He may be able to shed more light on the darkness in which we move. He often stays in Hive, but has no permanent home. And with the recent events in the Hive and Lower Ward, perhaps time is of the essence."

"You mean the murders," Sarin stated.

"Exactly." The Athar’s factol nodded, but remained calm. Kiyoshi, who had kept his eyes lowered the whole time, looked up briefly.

"Murders?" Sgillin raised his brows. "This just keeps getting better and better."

"Murders?" Jana blurted out at the same time.

"There have been a few murders in the Hive in the last few days," Terrance explained. "Murders that were out of the ... well, out of the ordinary."

"I might be able to ... well, I can certainly find this Eliath and keep an eye on him," Jana offered. "And maybe find out something about the murders, too."

Terrance nodded. "That would be the next reasonable step."

Now Lereia spoke up again. "May I ask why this Eliath could help us? What's so special about him?"

"Possibly - but that's not certain - he has one of the gifts mentioned in the prophecy," Terrance explained his guess. "Caylean, an Athar factotum, overheard him talking a lot about strange dreams. Dreams that were more real than they should be."

Erin felt a slight tickle in her stomach, which intensified her anticipation regarding the whole situation. "That could be a clue, yes."

Lereia raised her brows in interest. "Yes, indeed."

"Good." Sarin nodded curtly. "Then I would suggest the five of you investigate this matter."

"And preferably right now," Sgillin added. "Before someone rubs him out."

Terrance nodded. "We'll try to do our part. But I also think it's best if the Chosen keep track of Eliath so that as few people as possible find out about him."

"Definitely, Terrance," Ambar agreed.

"One question," Naghûl interjected. "How should we proceed if we recognize a Chosen who belongs to the Doomguard or the Dustmen, for example?"

"In that case, don't let anything show at first," Sarin ordered. "Don't reveal who you are. Then report back to us and we'll think about what to do."

Erin had to smile a little at how easily the paladin gave instructions to other factols’ Chosen, but in this case he was right, of course.

Lereia specified Naghûl's question once more. "Should we withhold information from other Chosen as well? Or does that only apply to the two factions mentioned?"

Erin was about to answer, but her factotum forestalled her. "From all of them, for now," Naghûl said. "We never know exactly who might behind this person." Then he realized that he had cut off his factol and his light blue skin took on a slightly darker hue. "Forgive me, Factol, I didn't mean to interrupt you."

"I'll think of an appropriate punishment," she replied with a smile and had to admit to herself that she enjoyed the way her factotum's eyes widened at those words.

Sgillin grinned in Naghûl's direction and factol Sarin shook his head in amusement as well. Lereia, on the other hand, cleared her throat.

"I have no other questions. I will make a list of the gifts mentioned in the prophecy and send it personally to everyone here."

"I think it will take me two or three days to find this Eliath," Jana added. "Maybe we should meet in the Hive then?"

She glanced at the other Chosen, but Sarin shook his head. "Maybe it would be better if you did this research together." He looked at Terrance. "No offense."

The Athar’s factol only raised his hands defensively. "I'm used to your distrust, Sarin."

"If I distrusted you, I wouldn't be sitting here," the paladin replied sternly. "And you know that."

Terrance contented himself with a slightly cynical smile, while Jana dared to throw in a cautious interjection. "It's not that simple, Factol."

"Then make it that simple," Sarin replied curtly.

The young woman took a deep breath, but didn’t give up. "My … sources don't react particularly well to strangers, Factol. They are easily frightened."

"Jana," the paladin replied calmly but adamantly. "I have no intention of telling you in detail how to proceed. I only expect you to involve the other Chosen appropriately. That goes especially for Kiyoshi. I think we understand each other."

Kiyoshi still didn't move a muscle, which Erin found admirable given the situation. Ambar, on the other hand, grinned and saluted to Sarin as he gave his orders.

The paladin gave him a reproving look. "Ambar, please."

The bard lowered his hand and tried, not entirely successfully, to stifle another grin. "My apologies," he said, and Erin did not miss the smirk with which Lereia looked at her factol.

Erin couldn't hide an amused smile either. She was glad for the Godsmen's participation in this alliance, as Ambar's light-hearted nature brought a little support for her own little games.

After a quick glance at Terrance, Jana realized that she could hardly disobey Sarin's orders. "Good," she said, "I'll ask around and then discuss the next steps with the other Chosen?"

Sarin nodded. "Yes, make it so. Any other questions?"

"None that I hope to get an answer to," Naghûl remarked, and the other Chosen shook their heads.

The factol of the Harmonium leaned back in his chair and looked at Erin. "Lady Erin, your turn."

She smiled and put her hand to her heart in a gesture of surprise. "Oh, moderation is up to me again? Thank you." The paladin was about to retort, but she waved him off in good humor. "No, I was only joking, Sarin. I really appreciate your ... positive way of exercising authority, you know that."

His look made it clear that he had understood her little ironic jab and accepted it as compensation for having taken the lead from her without asking. She looked at him again, with a smile that she had begun to reserve specifically for him - first unconsciously and now quite deliberately. Then she looked around again.

"So ... As it stands, we have an alliance: Harmonium, Athar, Believers of the Source and the Society of Sensation. You could rightly call this a historic moment. Now, I speak without political pleasantries and not in between the lines when I say that I could hardly have wished for three factols with whom it would have seemed more reasonable and better to work together. I mean that apart from our philosophies, on a very personal basis."

"Oh." Terrance smiled warmly. "We can only return the compliment, Lady Erin."

Ambar nodded with a grin.

"I would like to say a word to our Chosen," she continued. "Whether this is an honor, a blessing or a curse, we do not know. But it is a great responsibility. And we will not leave you alone in this. Think of it as a promise."

Kiyoshi's expression remained unmoved and Jana also kept a straight face, but nodded slightly and looked at Terrance. It was clear that the situation was unsettling her. Lereia, on the other hand, smiled gently and Naghûl seemed delighted by her words. Sgillin also seemed pleased.

"Yes," Terrance now confirmed her promise. "With all the means at our disposal. And given the very different facets of our philosophies, these are likely to be diverse."

"Which means you can count on a lot of support here in Sigil," Ambar added. "I hope that you won't soon be opposed just as much. Only time will tell. But for now, we've taken a big step forward."

"We really appreciate that," Lereia declared, obviously relieved.

Jana smiled briefly, but seemed only partially reassured.

Erin nodded at Ambar's and Terrance's words. "To cut a long story short: We have an alliance and we will honor it. We are at the beginning of a path that may take us far. But we can take it on together." Then she looked at Naghûl, who obviously wanted to say something, and gave him the floor with a short gesture.

"I believe," the tiefling explained, "that I speak for all the Chosen here when I say that we are grateful for the four protective hands that are held over us. We, too, take our task very seriously and will attend to the prophecy. Thank you."

Erin leaned back and let her eyes wander over those present as the meeting ended. She hadn't thought she would ever be involved in the legend of the Deus Machina. And although the joyful excitement of this incredible experience prevailed, there was also a slightly uneasy feeling mixed in. This whole story could have consequences, both on a multiversal and personal level, that they couldn't even imagine at the moment. And they would certainly not only have pleasant experiences. She was under no illusion that this would be over quickly, was sure on the contrary that it would be with them for quite some time. She wasn't lying: She was glad to have Ambar, Sarin and Terrance at her side. Of all her colleagues in the Council of the Factions, she would have welcomed only Darius and Rhys, and outside the Council, Bria, to this group equally. And on a political level, the alliance with the Harmonium was an extremely valuable one. She had confidence in her factotum Naghûl that he was up to the challenge ahead. She could not yet judge the other Chosen well enough, but she assumed that there were good reasons why the prophecy had fallen on them. Finding Eliath would be their first task and trial. Everything else would follow.

 

(played February 12, 2012)