The Silver Sphinx

 

“Don't ask what your faction can do for you. Ask what you can do for your faction."

Ombidias, factor of the Believers of the Source

 

 

First Market Day of Savorus, 126 HR

Once again, Lady Erin had gone to Berronar's to meet with the other factols and the Chosen. Everyone had agreed that it would still be too conspicuous if the heads of such different factions all met at the headquarters of one of them. A joint meal at Berronar's , on the other hand, was - although not completely apolitical - more of a social event and therefore less noticeable. This was all the more important as factol Rhys of the Transcendent Order would also be present today, together with Naghûl's wife Morânia. Erin had been very pleased to hear that the bal'aasi was also one of the Chosen. For one thing, she liked her factotum's companion, and for another, she got on well with her colleague Rhys. And thirdly, the Ciphers were certainly one of her favorite factions for such an alliance. The other Chosen had already arrived, as had factol Terrance. Now the door flew open, and by the way it opened, Erin immediately recognized who was about to arrive. It was Sarin, of course, who entered the room in his energetic manner. Naghûl, Jana and Lereia who had been standing closest to the door, quickly made way for the paladin.

"Lady's Grace," the factol of the Harmonium greeted and immediately let his scrutinizing gaze wander across the room. Erin could not shake off the impression that he was also examining new recruits in this way. When he realized that Ambar, Rhys and Morânia were still missing, he raised a brow. "And here I thought I was late."

Terrance couldn't suppress a brief grin. "You're hardly ever late," he remarked, not without a hint of amusement in his voice.

Sarin immediately frowned. "If you’re hinting at yesterday's meeting in the Hall of Speakers ..."

"Of course not." The high priest raised his hands defensively. "Not me."

His tone at the little jibe was nevertheless good-natured enough to elicit a brief smile from the paladin. "Yeah, yeah."

Erin glanced sideways at the Chosen and could see that everyone except Kiyoshi was visibly trying hard to suppress a smirk. She couldn't blame them. Then Sarin approached her and she offered him her hand, which he kissed in greeting.

Terrance also came over to her, holding a small box made of light-colored wood in his hands. "I haven't gotten around to it yet because of all the greetings," he explained with a smile. "But congratulations again on your Factol’s Day."

Sarin nodded immediately. "From my side, too, of course."

Sgillin frowned questioningly. "Factol's Day?"

"The first day of every month in Sigil," Terrance explained. "On this day, a particular faction always celebrates its arising and the respective factols their birthday. And we do this regardless of when our birthday was originally."

Erin nodded gently. Every now and then she forgot that three of the Chosen were still new to Sigil and very inexperienced in the planes.

"Oh." Sgillin smiled and bowed his head slightly. "Well, congratulations then from me as well, Factol."

The rest of the Chosen joined in his congratulations, except for Naghûl, who had of course already congratulated her the day before.

Erin nodded with a smile. "Thank you, very kind." Then she looked at the wooden box in Terrance's hands. "You have a present for me? That's very thoughtful."

She hadn't expected it, so she was pleasantly surprised by the gesture. The high priest nodded slightly and handed her the small box. Curious, she opened the lid and her gaze fell on fine, elongated leaves that shimmered silvery on the blue velvet on which they were bedded. "Oh, my goodness." She looked at the Athar’s factol in amazement. "Is that really silver rain?" He just nodded kindly and a warm smile spread across her face. "It's incredibly hard to get. Thank you, Terrance!"

Silver rain was a plant that only grew in Elysium and was very difficult to find even there. In the form of a decoction, the leaves made it possible to perceive sounds as colors and colors as scents. Although some drugs also had this effect, the special thing about silver rain was that it produced this effect without being addictive. It was therefore highly valued by Sensates. Terrance tilted his head slightly and Erin let her gaze wander to Sarin. The expectant expression she put into it wasn't entirely serious, she didn't really expect the paladin to have brought a gift for her. It wasn't necessarily customary to give other factols gifts on their factol’s day, so Terrance's gesture had surprised her.

Sarin raised his eyebrows questioningly. "What?" He nodded as he understood. "Yes, I thought I'd give you a very special gift by bringing my nine children to you soon. I'm sure that will be a really great experience for you."

She hesitated and eyed him carefully. Was he serious? Surprisingly, she wasn't quite sure right now. "Well ... that really would be a new experience," she replied diplomatically.

Terrance smirked as Sarin continued. "I'm sure it would. The nannies will have the day off, Faith and I will go to the theater ... Great idea, isn't it?"

Now he could no longer hide a grin and Erin raised her eyebrows. "I ... you're pulling my leg."

Sarin laughed, obviously quite pleased to have unsettled her for a moment. "Yes, that's true. But for a moment you thought I would do it. Admit it, I could see it in your eyes."

Her amusement was mixed with a certain astonishment. She had never witnessed her colleague from the Harmonium to be so approachable, and although she liked this ease, it came as a surprise. She jokingly raised her index finger. "Really, Sarin, I'm outraged."

He became a little more serious again. "I still have something for you, but I can't give it to you. I'll explain later."

Her curiosity was immediately aroused, of course, but she decided to enjoy the anticipation of the surprise and to not ask him any more questions.

He, on the other hand, now cast an impatient glance towards the door, again in his strict, military manner. "Where are Ambar and Rhys, anyway?"

Erin sighed inwardly. After all, the clock was only two minutes before the top of the hour.

Terrance grinned a little. "I'm sure they'll be here soon," he said calmly.

Sarin shook his head and was about to make a comment, but then seemed to remember something and beckoned Naghûl over to him. Erin watched with interest as her factotum stepped closer.

"Yes, factol?" he asked politely.

Sarin took something out of his pocket, a small, round, golden object. "Here," he said as he handed it to Naghûl. "I still owe you an astral compass."

The tiefling looked at it with shining eyes as he gently turned it between his fingers. "But this is not the one I gave your daughter, Factol."

"I'm very sorry," the paladin apologized. "But after Daria had it, it was no longer functional."

Erin smiled quietly. Naghûl had told her about the visit to Sarin and had also mentioned the matter of the astral compass. Now he waved it off with a laugh.

"Oh, I had to expect that. Thank you for this wonderful replacement, Factol Sarin."

Before the paladin could say anything in reply, the door opened again - exactly two hours before peak. In stepped a tiefling woman of strange, dark beauty, with thick, jet-black hair, gray skin and ruby eyes. All her movements were fluid and graceful, she radiated calm and poise. But one immediately sensed that there was a strength underneath that should not be underestimated. Directly behind her walked a beautiful, horned woman with alabaster skin, golden hair and white feathered wings. They made a remarkable visual contrast that immediately caught Erin's eye with her Sensate sense of aesthetics.

"Rhys," she greeted her colleague with a smile. "Good to see you."

The factol of the Ciphers stepped fully into the room, her hooves clattering softly on the marble floor. "The pleasure is all mine," she replied amiably.

Morânia now entered the room as well, bowing to the factols already assembled before walking over to Naghûl and briefly taking his hand in greeting. Erin watched as her factotum smiled at his wife and she could see how pleased he still was to be able to share all this with her now, to no longer have to keep it a secret from her.

Rhys, on the other hand, looked around with a smile after greeting Terrance and Sarin. "Where's Ambar?" she asked with a hint of amusement.

"Late as usual ..." the factol of the Harmonium grumbled disapprovingly.

"Don't be so harsh, Sarin," Erin replied reflexively. She often defended Ambar because of his tardiness and for some reason felt she had to take his side, even though she was rarely late herself. She noticed Sarin's shake of the head and smiled at him. "Let's have a seat, shall we?"

The paladin nodded curtly and they spread out around the large table in the middle of the room, around which exactly eleven chairs had been arranged. The Chosen each took a seat next to their factol, Sgillin between Kiyoshi and Lereia. Only the chair to the right of the young woman was still empty. But fortunately, before Sarin could make another comment, the door opened and Ambar entered. After all, he was only five minutes late, which Erin found perfectly acceptable - although she could see from Sarin's look that he saw it differently.

The bard raised one hand apologetically as he entered, holding a small silver casket in the other. "I beg your pardon." He quickly approached the vacant seat next to Lereia, who looked a little embarrassed as all eyes turned to her charming but always tardy factol.

"Factol Ambar," Sarin commented promptly. "Late as usual."

"My apologies." The half-elf indicated a bow to the group. "I was delayed." Sitting down, he nodded to Lereia with a smile. "A beautiful dress," he remarked, a little quieter.

The young woman immediately looked even more embarrassed and mumbled a barely audible "Thank you." Then her eyes fell on the casket in Ambar's hands and she quickly looked away. Erin had watched the brief interaction in amazement. Something had obviously happened between the two of them, and although they didn't seem to be on bad terms, they were obviously both feeling a little uncomfortable. It wasn't too noticeable, but it didn't escape Erin's practiced perception. But she couldn't think about it any further for the time being, as Sarin now opened the conversation.

"Now that everyone has finally arrived," he explained with a sideways glance at Ambar, "perhaps we can begin."

The half-elf nodded. "Well, what I want to say ..."

"I think," the paladin continued unperturbed, "that an agenda and a few rules of discussion would be useful given this group’s size."

Ambar raised his hands defensively. "Yes, sir."

Sarin gave him a reproving look. "Ambar ..."

Terrance couldn't help grinning, while Rhys nodded placatingly at the paladin. "Sarin's right, I suppose." She smiled slightly. "Otherwise it could end like yesterday's session in the Hall of Speakers."

"Well," Ambar interjected. "At least Karan isn't here ..."

"Sounds as if the fur flew," Sgillin muttered.

Sarin turned his head towards him. "I'm not familiar with that description, but it probably hits the nail on the head." Sgillin grinned briefly and the paladin addressed the entire group again. "Very well, then. I suggest we talk about the matter of the Illuminated first. I'll give a report on the current situation of the citadel on the Plane of Fire. We should also talk about what to do about the victims of the Eternal Boundary plan ... and about the prophecy. Any other points?"

Erin had to smile when Ambar raised his hand like a child at school.

"Yes?" Sarin asked matter-of-factly.

The bard lowered his hand. "Name the point soul question ."

"Soul question?" Erin raised her brows in interest.

The fact that Lereia had bitten her lower lip briefly at Ambar's words had not escaped her notice. When she looked at her, the young woman lowered her eyes, embarrassed, and Erin's impression that something had happened between her and Ambar intensified.

"I see," Sarin remarked, frowning. "Very ominous."

Ambar raised his shoulders innocently, then glanced at Rhys and Morânia, as if to immediately divert attention from the point he had just made. "But first, let's welcome the two newcomers to our alliance."

"You're right," Sarin agreed, bowing his head slightly in the direction of the two Ciphers.

"Thank you." Rhys nodded to the group. "Although I saw parts of all the events concerning the prophecy when I was in contact with the Cadence of the Planes, it still surprises me to see Morânia and myself in this round now, I must admit."

Terrance smiled kindly. "Well, you've come off quite well with us here." He looked briefly at Sarin, and a trace of irony mingled in his voice. "Or so I think."

The paladin had obviously noticed it, because he raised a brow and shook his head slightly, but said nothing.

Rhys gave both men a warm smile. "I'm not complaining." Then she looked at Morânia sitting next to her. "This is Morânia of Wolkenfels. The other Chosen already know her, as does Erin. She is a master of the heart in our faction and a paladin of the Morninglord."

Sarin nodded with satisfaction at this introduction, while the Athar’s factol confidently passed over the religious aspect and eyed Morânia with interest.

"You are a bal'aasi, aren't you?" he asked politely.

"That's right, factol," Morânia confirmed. "Granddaughter of a deva and a succubus."

Terrance's smile was warm and open. "Very exciting," he stated kindly.

Morânia was obviously not uncomfortable being scrutinized by everyone present, and Erin suspected that she was already used to such situations, that she experienced them quite often. Bal'aasi were not a common sight even in Sigil, the mixture of celestial and fiendish blood was too rare.

"You all already know about Morânia's ability," Rhys remarked, obviously a statement and not a question.

Erin nodded. "It could come in handy if you can control it somehow." Then she looked at the others. "Before we begin, my question to the Chosen: Did anything else happen after the events on the Plane of Fire that we should know about?"

"Not as far as I am concerned," Sgillin immediately answered, but Jana spoke up, a little hesitantly.

"Well ... we had that strange experience in Morânia's house. When Kiyoshi spoke a word in the Old Tongue and we suddenly saw blood everywhere. Well, everywhere in the house. Not real blood, but ... well, old blood that was once spilled."

As so often, she got a little tangled up in her words, but Erin was in the picture thanks to her factotum. She nodded gravely. "Yes, Naghûl reported it. Also that the bloodstains disappeared after about three hours."

"Exactly," Jana confirmed. "But not just those. I wrote down the word that Kiyoshi had shouted directly in my notebook. I know that for sure. But it just disappeared from the page, as if it had been erased. I can't ... remember it either, even though I tried very hard to memorize it. All I remember is that it was frightening and left me terrified ..."

"That's because it is the Old Tongue," Terrance explained matter-of-factly. "You can't learn it nor write it down."

Ambar now placed the silver casket on the table in front of him. "What exactly do you mean by old blood ?"

"There were stains of blood that was once spilled in my house," Morânia explained. "I could identify three, but two were unfamiliar. This blood must have been shed before I lived there."

"Hm." Sarin frowned. "I'll have our archives searched to see if we have any records of crimes there."

"Gladly," the bal'aasi replied. "My address is ..."

"I know your address," the paladin replied with a slight smirk.

"I ..." Morânia looked at him with a mixture of recognition and discomfort that Erin could well understand. "Of course. Very thoughtful of you ..."

"That's my job," Sarin replied politely, then looked at Kiyoshi. "Could you do that again? Here, now?"

Jana's eyes widened in shock, and the others also looked at the paladin in astonishment or alarm.

Kiyoshi, who usually hid his feelings quite successfully, could not suppress a certain amount of concern. "I don't know," he finally replied seriously and after some thought. "I didn't think it advisable to play with these powers and so I haven't tried it again. But if you order me to, venerable factol Sarin-gensui, I will try."

Erin suspected that this was a desperate attempt to dissuade his factol from this idea in the most polite way possible.

Sarin immediately shook his head reassuringly. "It's all right. I'm not saying you should. But it would be interesting to know if you could do it at any time."

Rhys had been looking at Kiyoshi with interest, and now the look in her red eyes became even more intense, inquiring, almost eerily insistent. "Don't think about it," she said quietly. "Do or don't."

Erin smirked inwardly as the Cipher factol laid out her faction philosophy, but Sarin raised his brows in alarm. "Rhys ..."

She turned her gaze away from Kiyoshi and smiled at the paladin. "Your soldiers are too rational, Sarin. Have I ever told you that?"

"More than once," the paladin replied with a sigh.

Rhys nodded, seemingly satisfied that he remembered, and then let her gaze wander briefly over the Chosen. "Your abilities seem to develop very intuitively," she noted. "That's actually ideal."

"I think it would be better if we could control it," the factol of the Harmonium promptly contradicted her.

"Oh, Sarin," Rhys replied, gently, almost indulgently, as if she were speaking to a recalcitrant child. "You always want to control everything."

"Quite right," the paladin replied curtly.

Erin had to smile at this brief exchange of blows and was about to make a comment when she saw that Ambar, who was sitting opposite her, tightened up and apparently pulled himself together. She therefore remained silent and looked over at him with anticipation.

"So, now that we're on the subject of gifts," the bard explained with a slight sigh, "I'd like to bring my point forward."

Once again, Erin noticed that Lereia was looking at her factol with a certain unease. Perhaps now it would finally clear up what was going on between the two of them.

Sarin nodded to his colleague. "Go ahead."

Ambar took a deep breath and then pointed to the silver casket on the table in front of him. "In there ... Well, I know how this is going to sound, but there's a part of my soul in there. Lereia and I are sure."

Erin blinked for a moment. Had she misheard him? Had he really just said that? She took a closer look at him, but Ambar's posture, tone of voice and facial expression made it clear that he wasn't joking. "You can’t be serious ..." Erin remarked skeptically.

The bard ran his fingers through his ginger hair a little desperately. "Um, I'm afraid I am. It happened by mistake," he added quickly before looking at Lereia. "Why don't you tell about it?"

The young woman cleared her throat and she didn't seem as calm and composed as usual. She seemed more than uncomfortable with the subject. Ambar gave her an encouraging nod and Erin could see Sgillin place a hand on his companion's thigh to reassure her. Lereia nodded, sat up a little straighter and then reported. Her voice trembled slightly as she recounted how she had used her gift to grab a piece of Ambar's soul and rip it out. Erin could hardly believe what she was hearing, she felt a mixture of fascination, terror and curiosity that was familiar to her as a Sensate, and a quick glance at Naghûl told her that her factotum felt the same way. She kept glancing over at Ambar, who didn't look happy at the memory of the events either.

When she had finished, Lereia looked a little desperate. "I ..." Her voice became firmer again despite her obviously still troubled emotions. "I never wanted to hurt Ambar and I certainly didn't want it to come to that. I didn't even know what would happen. It happened so suddenly and was so powerful ... even with years of practice and mastery of my mind, it took over."

"Lereia couldn't help it," Ambar clarified. "I agreed to try, and I also encouraged her."

The young woman gave him a grateful smile before turning back to the group. "In that respect, I agree with Kiyoshi about our abilities. Of course, we have to learn to control them, but who knows what the price might be."

Sarin measured Lereia with a look for which Erin would have liked to admonish him outright. Really, the young woman was desperate and confused enough by the unwanted events. Did he have to look at her like he was about to arrest her? Terrance had remained very calm during the story and hadn't seemed surprised, so Erin assumed that Ambar had already told him about it.

Rhys, on the other hand, had been watching both Ambar and Lereia closely and now pointed to the casket. "And there's a part of your soul in there now?"

Lereia gave her factol a pained sideways glance at this question, looking almost like an offender seeking forgiveness.

Ambar gave her an encouraging nod and then turned to Rhys. "Yes, the part that Lereia severed is in there, in the form of gold dust and birch leaves."

"By the Lady ..." Erin felt the fascination begin to outweigh the horror. She looked at Lereia. "Could you try that on me too?" She just couldn't help herself, she had to ask.

"No!" she immediately heard Sarin's full, energetic voice opposite her, and Lereia looked at her, startled.

"No," the young woman also replied, albeit more defensively. "I don't want to do that. I'm sure Ambar can tell you how painful it was. I would never intentionally hurt anyone unless it was in self-defense."

Erin was aware of how crazy, dangerous and ... well, Sensate-like the suggestion sounded. The temptation was definitely there, but so was a certain caution that the more rational part of herself was now slipping in. "It's all right," she placated. "It's not that I want to lose my soul. But a piece of your own soul ... to hold it in your hands ..." She glanced at her palms. "My goodness, that would be ..."

"A great experience?" Sgillin asked with a grin.

She smirked a little, caught off guard, but Sarin furrowed his brow, shaking his head. "That would be completely out of the question!" he declared harshly and a little louder than before. "I forbid it! Enough!"

His tone caused her to raise her eyebrows in warning. Was he actually going to tell her what to do, another factol? "Your behavior is anything but chivalrous," she stated reprovingly.

Sarin sighed and took a deep breath. "I beg your forgiveness, Lady Erin. But I am worried that you are contemplating some kind of follies."

Well, that worry could not be entirely dismissed, she had to admit. So she was quickly appeased by his apology and raised her hands. "That's all right. I'll wait until Lereia has more practice."

The young woman didn't exactly look happy at this remark and Ambar came to her aid. "At the moment, I wouldn't recommend it either," he explained seriously. When he caught a still skeptical look from Sarin, he raised his brows. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"I didn't say that ..." the paladin replied, trying to keep his tone diplomatic.

Ambar pushed the casket over to him with a hint of annoyance. "There! Take a look at it. Go ahead."

Sarin darted a long glance at the bard, then pulled the casket towards him and opened it. He stared inside for a while, flipped it shut again, pushed it back and looked at the half-elf, shaking his head with a mixture of disapproval and amusement. "Ha ha."

Ambar frowned. "Ha ha ?" He pulled the casket back towards him and opened it. Then he jumped up, startled. "Where is it?"

Lereia's eyes widened and she leaned forward to look inside the box. Sarin, on the other hand, merely raised his brows meaningfully.

"No!" Ambar exclaimed, genuinely horrified. "It was in there! Really!" He turned to the Athar’s factol. "Terrance, please tell them!"

"Yes, it's true," Terrance confirmed with a worried look at the apparently empty casket. "I have seen it. And I sensed something, although I'm not sure what. There is something to what you say, for sure."

"Then ... maybe, like the blood, it's not permanent?" Jana asked cautiously.

A hopeful spark glimmered in Lereia's eyes. "Does that mean ... the severed part is back with him now?"

Rhys turned a little in her chair and scrutinized the factol of the Godsmen closely. "No ..." she then stated calmly. "No, it's not with you."

There was a certain unease in Ambar's green eyes. "Rhys, you're scaring me."

"Me too," Lereia remarked quietly, with a hint of fear in her gaze.

Partly indecisive, partly worried, partly skeptical, they all stared at the bard, who in turn looked at the empty casket.

Surprisingly, the usually quiet Kiyoshi was the first to speak up. "Forgive me for making assumptions," he said. "But it seems there are only two possibilities at the moment: Either, that part of the factol's soul is in another place - or lost."

"A soul can't be lost," Terrance explained calmly. "Only in a different place."

"I would assume the most likely case," Naghûl interjected. "It went to its plane of destination."

At this comment, Terrance looked at the other factols. "Even if it's not certain, we should tell them about it."

"I think it's certain," Rhys replied, "I'm convinced of it."

Erin nodded gently. She knew what her colleagues were talking about and she also thought the theory was plausible and credible.

Ambar crossed his arms and leaned back. "Tell it, Terrance."

Sarin nodded too, and so the high priest interlaced his fingers and crossed his legs before he began his elucidation. "Sigil is exceptional in many respects," he explained. "Gods are not allowed in. Souls are only allowed out under certain circumstances. Souls can only leave Sigil in a body - or if someone dies and the corpse is sent through a portal within a certain period of time. Otherwise, the soul remains in Sigil. At least that's how an ancient legend goes, known only to very few. In other words, the souls of unburied corpses remain in Sigil. We don't know exactly where they go, but there are indications that it has something to do with the God Machine. Ambar is a special case, but without a body or a burial, the severed part of his soul should have remained here." When he saw that the Chosen were listening to his words with some excitement, some amazement and some disbelief, he took a short break, probably to give them a chance to sort out what they had heard.

Meanwhile, Ambar looked at Rhys. "You're sure it's not back with me? My soul?"

"Look within yourself," the factol of the Ciphers replied calmly. "And you will know."

With a resigned sigh at Rhys' characteristically mysterious answer, Ambar leaned back and stared once more at the silver casket.

Sgillin drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the table. "Perhaps the souls power the Machine ..."

Erin nodded. "Who knows? If the Lady has power over gods, why not over souls?"

"That's why there are no graveyards in Sigil," Sarin explained. “And that's why there's so much fuss in the Cage about all the corpses going to the Mortuary and being sent through portals. Even if almost no one knows exactly why we all make such a big deal about it. A lot of people just think it's a tradition."

"Does anyone know of a way to retrieve a soul?" Lereia asked cautiously. "If it is still in Sigil?"

"It's probably been tried from time to time in the past," Terrance knew. "There are - very fragmentary - sources about souls wandering to special nodes or centers of force. But it's not clear where exactly they are."

"Bad ..." Naghûl muttered.

The new knowledge about the synergies between Sigil and the souls of its inhabitants had obviously given Lereia some hope back. "Perhaps I can sense the severed part of Ambar's soul?" she pondered. "Like a scent? But that would probably only work in close proximity."

Terrance nodded. "Yes, I think so too. Especially since it really is only a small part. Otherwise Ambar wouldn't be sitting here like this."

"Thank you, Terrance," the half-elf murmured, looking at the empty casket.

Lereia immediately looked more downcast again. "I'm so sorry," she said softly.

The bard smiled encouragingly at her. "Hard luck. But as I said, it's not your fault. I mean it. And who knows ... Maybe it has a deeper meaning?"

This was one of the traits that Erin had always appreciated about her colleague Ambar: his ability to see the positives in everything and never let anything get him down.

Meanwhile, Sgillin had come up with a new idea. "Or someone could donate a part of their soul," he suggested. "We wait until it disappears and then track it with Lereia's gift."

Lereia's head moved jerkily to Sgillin. "No," she said firmly.

Ambar shook his head as well. "Well, I would be eager to retrieve my soul. But I certainly wouldn't want others to endanger their souls in the process."

"Right," Sarin agreed, a crease forming between his eyebrows. "We don't know what the consequences might be. Let's stop this soul gamble now!"

His forceful tone and scowl stifled any further discussion of the matter, and this time Erin said nothing. As much as she hated to admit it regarding this fascinating subject, he was right. Experimenting with a soul might mean overstepping the mark, even for the Sensates. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Naghûl take out the astral compass Sarin had given him. He turned it between his slender fingers and examined it from all sides.

"We might need a soul compass ..." he mused.

Lereia looked hopefully at him and then at the Athar’s factol. "Would something like that be possible?"

Terrance shook his head slowly. "I have never heard of such an object, dear Lereia. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course. Hm ..." He raised a finger to his lips. "That's a very interesting approach. I'll have to think about that."

He didn't say anything more about it, but Erin was sure that an idea had just occurred to him that he would pursue further. Since the topic of souls seemed to be closed for the time being, she now took the floor for one of the other points. "Let me tell you then what we've found out about the Illuminated. They are a sect based in Plague Morte, the gate town to the Abyss. They believe, much like the Believers of the Source, that there is a divine spark. However, they do not think that all beings possess it, but only a select few."

Ambar knit his brows in disapproval. "What nonsense. Everyone has it! Elitist garbage ..."

Erin nodded gravely. "And that elitist attitude makes them quite dangerous. They think they themselves have this spark and that everyone else is inferior. That's why they think to have the right to suppress others. Their leader is a man called Marvent - the same one who wrote the letters to Toranna. Their base in Plague Morte seems to be pretty strong. At least, they seem to have quite a few members there."

"Plague Morte ...", Naghûl pondered. "Isn't there a new Arch-Lector there, according to SIGIS?"

"That's right," Sarin confirmed. "A woman with celestial blood named Sarshán Krahav."

Erin saw Morânia's features slip at the mention of the name. "Excuse me?!"

"You know the woman?" Terrance asked matter-of-factly.

"Yes," Morânia replied darkly. "She's from a prime world called Ravnica and has visited the island that I lived on temporarily until recently. I find her ... ambiguous, to say the least."

"As she is Arch-Lector now, I guess your impression has been confirmed," Rhys remarked calmly.

"What exactly is an Arch-Lector?" Lereia interjected, and Sgillin and Kiyoshi nodded in agreement to her question.

"You know what the gate towns are?" the Cipher factol asked amiably.

Lereia nodded. "Yes. Is she something of a mayor there?"

"Exactly," Rhys confirmed. "Every gate town is governed in some way. By a single person, a council or the like. The title of Arch-Lector is unique and denotes the head of Plague Morte."

Erin leaned back in her chair. "Perhaps we can make cautious contact with her to learn more about the Illuminated. They may be a thorn in her side too - but only possibly... I'm afraid that's all I can tell you about this sect for now."

Rhys nodded gently and then turned to Sarin. "May I ask about the fortress on the Plane of Fire?"

The paladin sighed deeply. "Factol Skall has paid me a visit ... Which I could have done without."

"Oh, well," Terrance said, not without a certain amount of cynicism. "Since you were sending members of other factions on missions like this on your own authority, I think it's only fair."

Sarin gave the Athar's factol a piercing look. "With a little more discipline, your members might have sought your permission beforehand."

"Oh, gentlemen, please." Rhys raised her hands placatingly. "The important thing is that the mission was successful, isn't it? So, what did Skall say?"

Sarin snorted. "He said that he was unhappy about our intrusion into his headquarters. That he could cause us a lot of trouble - which of course he didn't want, he wasn't that emotional. But that he expected to receive something in return as compensation, namely from the Harmonium, which - oh wonder - he sees as being primarily responsible." Ambar couldn't suppress a slight grin at the paladin's report and Sarin gave him a quick sideways glance before continuing. "Skall sent a few of his people, including the vampire Zamakis, back to the fortress to investigate the situation. So it was no surprise that when we arrived, the fortress was deserted and all the important documents had disappeared. Skall asked me to take care of the matter by getting the fortress off his back, as he doesn't want something like this on his doorstep. A small squad led by my adjutant Amariel attended to the matter. They destroyed the stabilization crystals, causing the fortress to drift away from the location of the portal, which was never part of the building in the first place. They also rescued four prisoners who had still been in the fortress: a half-orc named Alvion, a tiefling woman named Shill, a human named Clarent and a gnome named Ulfwald. They all had the mark behind their right ear and had thus obviously already undergone the procedure."

As he finished his report, the others nodded, obviously glad to have the matter of the Illuminated Fortress settled, despite whatever differences some their factions might have with the Harmonium from time to time.

"It's unfortunate that the documents slipped through our fingers," Rhys remarked, matter-of-factly, without a trace of reproach. "But what about the records that the Chosen had already brought with them?"

"Ambar and I looked at them," Terrance explained. "Some of them are detailed records of the wizard Imogen. It's about mind manipulation through psionics in conjunction with alchemy. There was also another letter from Marvent to Imogen. It mentions again that the Eternal Boundary project has made good progress and that higher-ranking faction members can soon be abducted. But that he has important things to take care of in Plague Morte."

Erin felt a certain anger at the arrogance of these people. "Kidnapping higher-ranking faction members. They have a lot of nerve ..."

"It might even affect you directly," Sgillin remarked as matter-of-factly as possible.

"Yes," Erin replied seriously. "Very directly, in fact." She had not forgotten that her consort Da'nanin was on the list of targets, which naturally increased her anger, but also her concern.

"That leads directly to the next question," Sarin cut in. "How do we deal with the people on the list? Those who already have the mark will be placed under surveillance until we know for sure whether and how we can reverse the process. All others should not be left alone or should be guarded when they are out and about. And from now on they should be checked for the mark regularly. The question is, of course, whether the Illuminated are still after these people at all, since they know we have the list. But better safe than sorry."

"Have others been found with the mark?" Jana asked.

Sarin nodded. "Indeed. In fact, we were able to discover people in all the factions represented here who were on Toranna's list and also have the mark behind their ear. Among the Believers of the Source, it was a young human man from Thrassos named Felix. He is currently under observation at the faction headquarters on the Ethereal Plane. Factol Terrance was able to discover a mineral genasi named Savra with the mark. She is currently under the supervision of his deputy Jaya. In the faction of the Ciphers, a half-elven woman named Lataris Goldeye was discovered and is now under observation on the upper floor of the Great Gymnasium. And finally, Lady Erin came across a young aasimar named Tarek Ataras, who is currently staying in a private Sensorium. You have already reported on Tylaric Stormwing, who has joined the Harmonium. We have placed him under arrest as a precaution, as well as Eliath, Alvion, Clarent, Shill and Ulfwald."

Ambar didn't seem particularly happy with Sarin's comments. "But how long is that supposed to last? I mean, these people haven't actually done anything wrong. Do we have the right to lock them up for a longer period of time?"

The paladin gave his colleague a doubtful look. "Ambar, if the Harmonium says they are suspicious and a potential danger, then of course I have the right. What kind of question is that?"

"Our way or no way , huh?" Terrance's remark was not without a certain bitter overtone, but then he nodded resignedly and sighed. "But in this particular case, I suppose it really is safer that way. And since you are a man of high ideals, I assume that they will be well accommodated."

"That goes without saying," Sarin assured him and then turned to Erin. "Mylady, would you like to share what we have learned about the other people on the list?"

"With pleasure," she replied. "We can be sure that the following people do not bear the mark of the Illuminated - provided that they are really the people mentioned on the list: Lissandra – although she is not called Lissandra the Gate Seeker on the list, Rhys and I have decided to check the Gate Seekers' guild master for the mark. When she was in the Great Gymnasium for a massage recently, Rhys was able to make sure she isn't wearing the mark behind her ear." The Cipher factol nodded affirmatively. Erin noticed Sarin's slight smirk at her comments, but there was a certain recognition in it. Yes, she thought to herself, she and Rhys had their own ways of acquiring information, and the Harmonium's factol knew exactly how valuable the alliance of their factions was even outside of the prophecy. Not that the Sensates didn't benefit from it as well. "Harys Hatchis," she continued. "I think we can safely assume that Harys Hatchis of the Free League is meant. I met him recently at the opera and, given his sparse hair growth, was able to determine relatively easily that he does not bear the mark. Iarmid: Rhys checked the aasimar of that name, who is a known member of the Ciphers and owner of the spa The Other Place . He does not bear the mark. Cuatha Da'nanin ..." She smirked. "I could easily check my lover for the mark, of course, and I can guarantee that he doesn't have it behind his ear or anywhere else on his body."

Ambar laughed heartily at her words, but cleared his throat at Sarin's reproving look and raised his hands apologetically, albeit still amused. Naghûl, Sgillin, Morânia, Lereia and Terrance had not hidden their amusement either.

With a grin, Erin continued. "Wip Wildfang: There is a decurion of that name in the Harmonium. Factol Sarin had the halfling checked and informed me that he does not have the mark. Zena: This is not a rare name. However, among the more well-known personalities of the factions, we know Zena from the Believers of the Source. A check by Factol Ambar revealed that she does not bear the mark. Jaya: This is a similar case to the name Zena. But the best known woman of that name in Sigil is Factol Terrance's deputy. She does not have the mark." Sarin, Ambar and Terrance nodded affirmatively at her words. "And finally, Alluvius Ruskin. With the help of a shopping stroll in Tivvum's Antiquities , I was able to ensure that Alluvius does not bear the mark."

"Not bad, Erin." Ambar nodded appreciatively. "I'm always impressed by the way you gather information, and often in person."

"One of my more pronounced talents," she replied with a wink. "As for the other names on the list, we're pretty sure who the following people are, but we haven't yet been able to determine whether they bear the mark: Autochon - most likely the Bell Ringer ; Prisine - most likely the water genasi of the Will of the One; Tessali - most likely the elven Bleaker factor; Quake Lavender - most likely the wild mage of the Xaositects; Parakk the Rat Catcher - most likely the githzerai; Aram Oakwright - most likely Rowan Darkwood's deputy; Jemorille - most likely the rilmani; Jamis - most likely Factol Hashkar's deputy; Spragg - most likely Ely Cromlich's assistant; Alisohn Nilesia - most likely factol Mallin's aide and finally Djheck'nlar - most likely the githyanki. We cannot identify the following people by name and have no clues as to who they are: Varis, Pox, Rianna and Veldrak. So much for Toranna's list and our findings so far. And the last point that remains: We still have to find the Keeper and the Proclaimer. So now the prize question is: What do we proceed with next?"

With a fluid motion, Rhys silently put down the glass of water she had been holding. "With regard to the fact that a metal face came to life to speak to Kiyoshi in the Old Tongue, I'd say Keeper and Proclaimer."

"I would say so too," Terrance agreed.

Sgillin seemed quite pleased at the prospect and smiled. "After the Mortuary and the Plane of Fire, an Upper Plane would be a nice change."

"All right, then." Sarin nodded curtly. "The Chosen will be looking for those two. The Harmonium is taking care of the marked ones and we're also looking for the Shadowknave."

"I'll try to find out a bit more about the Illuminated," Erin explained.

"And I will do some research about the legend that souls can't leave Sigil," Terrance added. "I'm also going to help Ambar find the severed part of his soul. I can't get the idea of a soul compass out of my head. Let's see what I may find out."

Ambar nodded with a soft sigh. "Yes, I think I'll ... take care of my soul."

Seeing that the Cipher factol was the only one who had not yet spoken, Sarin turned his head towards her. "And you, Rhys?"

The tiefling woman smiled inscrutably. "The Cadence of the Planes will let me know."

Erin suppressed a smirk. Like no one else, Rhys had the ability to mysteriously lie low and yet give the impression that she always knew exactly what she was doing or had to do. And she probably did .

Sarin also knew her all too well, so he just shook his head with a brief grin. "Of course."

Then Naghûl assumed a slightly more upright sitting posture. "Finally, I would like to get one more personal thing off my chest," he said. "I am glad that we are working together in this combination and I hope that it will stay that way. We Chosen also work very well together as a group now, as the mission on the Plane of Fire has shown."

Sarin nodded to the tiefling. "Thank you, Naghûl. I can only confirm your words. I ..." He cleared his throat briefly. "I would like to emphasize that I appreciate everyone here at the table, even if I sometimes ... hide it quite well."

Erin grinned once more as his gaze went briefly to Terrance. For a man like Sarin, that was almost a peace offering, and the high priest smiled warmly.

"A leopard can't change its spots," he said amiably.

"So much harmony," Rhys remarked with a laugh and not without a hint of self-irony. "I've got nothing left to arbitrate."

"Oh, just wait for the next session in the Hall of Speakers," Terrance said immediately. "That will change very quickly when Sarin hears the Athar's latest proposal ..."

The paladin sighed audibly. "Oh Terrance, spare me!"

The high priest looked at Rhys with a wink. "You see?"

"I'm reassured," the factol of the Ciphers replied amused.

 

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played June 6, 2012