The Silver Sphinx

 

“Your devotion to the gods does not mean that

they feel the same about you."

Toriam Osis, Athar

 

 

Fourth Clerk's Day of Savorus, 126 HR

Terrance stood at one of the work tables in his laboratory in the Shattered Temple, tying dried moon thistles and fire nettles into small bouquets. Jaya helped him by sorting the herbs, cutting ribbons and labeling small tags in her curved but neat handwriting. She didn't speak, however, knowing him well enough to know that he was lost in thought. Brewing potions, ointments or other tinctures was always a source of calm and relaxation for him, and he particularly enjoyed doing this when he wanted to reflect on something in peace. Today, his thoughts kept circling around his old temple. Of course, it was nothing new that he was reminded of the Conclave from time to time. The encounters with Elyria, who had visited him repeatedly over the last thirty years, inevitably brought back memories of his time in Elysium. He had grown accustomed to that.

But the Chosen's recent mission and Elyria's surprising role as the Keeper in the Prophecy brought deeper memories to the surface. He thought back to the time when he had left the Conclave. Turning his back on Mishakal had been a strange kind of pain. A deep but inevitable pain. He had known that he would lose the core of his life – his faith – and also that he would never be able to return. And yet, here he was, factol of the Athar. He had left a lot behind and gained a lot again. He was not bitter and had no regrets. He was aware that some members of the faction did not understand this – they had had different experiences. Jana seemed to be one of them. Of course, he always tried to reach these Athar as well and was glad when he could share his perspective with them. But he didn't hold it against them if they didn't understand him. What he did expect, however, was appropriate behavior. Some of the members distributed pamphlets and talked about Athar philosophy on the streets. Wonderful. Some wrote slogans on house walls and mocked priests. If they had to. Others defaced temples and destroyed statues of gods. That wasn't his style, but as long as it didn't escalate, he didn't explicitly forbid it because he knew that some Athar simply needed an outlet. However, he did not accept physical violence against priests, arson, or, of course, murder. And even though he didn't believe that Jana would go that far, the fact remained that she had painted two blasphemous slurs on the wall of the Io shrine in the Temple District. Although he had stood up for her to Sarin, emphasizing that her guilt had not yet been proven, he had immediately recognized from her reaction that the accusations had to be true. After the proclamation of the Prophecy, she had been taken back to one of the detention cells in the Barracks, where he had visited her the same day. In a serious conversation in private, she had openly admitted the deed.

Just as he was recalling this conversation in his mind again, there was a knock at the door, and Askorion and Hobard entered. The young aasimar bard and the old githzerai wizard were always an exciting contrast when they appeared together. Askorion's golden blonde hair stood in striking contrast to the githzerai's shaved skull, just as his elegant frock coat clearly contrasted with Hobard's simple, dark brown robe. In their natures, too, they could not have been more different. While Terrance's secretary Askorion was cheerful, fun-loving and humorous, Hobard could hardly be called anything other than dry and grumpy, with a distinct tendency towards pessimism. The githzerai's character was thus completely at odds with Terrance's own, but he valued Hobard for his expertise in the arcane field, his perspicacity and his keen sense of reality in faction matters. That was why Hobard was the factol's deputy, together with Jaya. The two entrants bowed in greeting and then came closer, Askorion taking a seat on a stool next to the work table while the old githzerai remained standing. He placed more value on formalities than the aasimar, even if Terrance himself did not insist on it in this familiar setting.

“How is Jana doing?” Askorion asked outright.

Terrance had told not only Jaya but also Hobard and his young secretary about the sorceress' deeds. Besides, they were the only three members of the faction he had let in on the matter of the Prophecy.

“She's still in the Barracks,” the factol replied calmly. ”But I was able to negotiate with Sarin that she will be released tomorrow, as long as she promises not to leave Sigil without the explicit permission of the Harmonium. She seemed quite rueful and apologized for what she called a huge foolishness. She said she didn't want to be caught red-handed.”

“Ahh.” The bard grinned. ”So she wasn't ashamed of the act itself, but because she was caught?”

Jaya shook her head with a slight smirk and Terrance raised an eyebrow as he looked at his secretary with a mild hint of sternness. “Nice to hear that this matter amuses you, Askorion. Can you imagine the lecture Sarin has given me? And even worse: I couldn't say much in return.”

The aasimar cleared his throat apologetically. “Forgive me, factol. Of course you're right that she put you in a difficult position as well.”

Terrance tied another bouquet of fire nettles and moon thistles and nodded placatingly at Askorion's apology. ”All right. I may be more irritable than necessary on the subject. But it is something that really annoys me because I consider it so senseless. At least Jana assured that she didn't resist her arrest in any way and that she didn't behave improperly. Sarin admitted that, too."

Hobard folded his hands in the wide sleeves of his robe. ”May I ask what exactly she painted on the shrine wall?”

“One of the pictures was a symbol of the goddess Sune,“ Jaya replied, but then looked questioningly at Terrance. “What was the second one supposed to be, with the waterfall?”

The factol sighed. “Eldath.”

“Isn't Lereia a follower of her?” Jaya asked in astonishment.

“Yes,” Terrance confirmed. ”That's what Ambar told me.” He put the last bouquet of herbs on the pile with the others, while Askorion leaned back with folded arms and frowned thoughtfully.

“Sune and Eldath ... Why those two in particular?”

“Jana said she had prayed to them once,” Terrance replied. ”And she thought it was obvious because she knew them best.”

A knowing grin appeared on Hobard's lips. “What did you answer?”

Terrance chuckled as his deputy seemed to have an immediate idea of how he felt about such a statement. ”I said that it is not an explanation that makes sense to me. I also worshiped Mishakal. But I didn't deface temples to blaspheme against her. Jana asked me if I hold a grudge against Mishakal, and I told her that I don't. That I don't feel betrayed or abandoned by her. That I respect her as a powerful being with good intentions, even if I no longer worship her.”

Jaya nodded at his words, smiling. He knew that the young woman shared this attitude with him. Hobard was less understanding of any deity in this regard, but had accepted Terrance's point of view many years ago and respected his factol's opinion.

“What do you think she has to expect in the worst case?” Askorion wondered.

“Fortunately, she didn't do any permanent damage and didn't hurt anyone,” Hobard stated. ”She'll probably have to remove her works of art. And pay a fine, too, most likely.”

“But since it is well known that such fines are often paid by the respective factions, such an act can also be punished with a prison term,” Terrance pointed out. “That would be less than favorable right now. But a good lawyer should be able to achieve a lot.”

“Does she already have one?” Jaya asked.

The factol shook his head. ”Not yet. But there will certainly be someone in our ranks who can take on this task.“

The young woman nodded and then looked at him thoughtfully. From the expression in her eyes he immediately knew what she would say next, which topic she would turn the conversation to.

“And how are you feeling?” she asked, as expected. “After ... all that you have recently experienced?”

He wasn't particularly keen on discussing the matter. But he understood her concern and didn't want to dismiss her, especially since she was like a daughter to him. “You mean the Prophecy?“ he asked matter-of-factly.

“Yes ... the Last City of the Last Cycle.” Jaya sighed. “That sounds quite ... final.”

He nodded seriously. “I have to admit that I'm still a bit shaken after that last meeting. The whole Prophecy sounds dark and worrying. What the Keeper revealed to me personally, without further explanation, concerns me as well, of course. And I also think it's very bad that Valiant is returning to Sigil.”

Askorion gave him a puzzled look. “It sounds as if the downfall of Sigil is imminent. And with Sigil, the entire multiverse will be extinguished ... What role does Valiant yet play in the light of this?”

Terrance couldn't prevent a hint of bitterness and sarcasm creeping into his voice when the subject came up. “We don't know if this downfall is supposed to happen tomorrow, in a year or in ten years,” he explained. “But if it's not tomorrow, then this man will play a role.”

“Yes.“ Hobard narrowed his yellow eyes grimly. “I'm afraid Jana has seen him in her visions too often to hope for anything else.”

Askorion nodded in understanding and displayed an uncharacteristic look of unease. “Do you think Sigil will really fall?” he asked quietly. “ Can fall ?”

Terrance gave him a serious look. “It's hard to imagine, I know. But who can say what is possible in this multiverse?”

He didn't want to worry his confidants, but he had let in those three on the Prophecy for a reason. Because he knew he could trust them, but also because he was sure they would be strong enough for those unpleasant truths. They looked at him, partly heavy-hearted, partly thoughtful, and then nodded calmly. They would, each in their own way, draw their own conclusions and develop their own theories, Terrance was sure of that. He would be there for them if they needed him, anytime, but all three would have to find their own way of dealing with it. Ways as different as they were themselves.

 

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based on the role play with Jana’s player on November 10, 2012