The Silver Sphinx

 

“Serial killer. This word stirs up primal fears – and that is precisely why serial killers are the focus of public interest.

They orchestrate a drama in which only they themselves participate voluntarily . And it is always the same play that is performed: the mutilation of humanitarian rules.“

Killeen Caine, Treatise on Serial Killers

 

 

First Market Day of Pivot, 126 HR

The rain tapped softly on the windows of the carriage that took Ambar and Lereia to Sandstone Street. Last Light was just falling and the weather had been cloudy all day, so many people got their light on. Ambar and Lereia hadn't talked much during the ride because the serious issues of the past few days hung over them like a dark veil. On the one hand, there was the matter with Sgillin, and on the other hand, there was the Prophecy, which truly did not bode well for the future. And finally, there were also the two images from Jana's last vision: the funeral of Arella Silvergaze, the former factol of the Harmonium, and the man with the bloody dagger and the insane look in his eyes. When Lereia had told him about the black oak leaves in the vision, Ambar's heart had sunk. A dark, terrible fear had blossomed inside him like a poisonous flower. He still harbored a glimmer of hope that his worries might be exaggerated. But ultimately only Lereia could answer his troubling question with certainty, since Jana had shared her vision with the Chosen present. And only for this reason did he now take the young woman with him to Harbinger House, which he would otherwise have liked to spare her. It had been a facility of his faction for a long time, and yet many members found it suspicious and eerie, not least himself. One could call it a mixture of a boarding house, a hospital and a prison – he couldn’t think of a more flattering description even with quite some goodwill. His faction, the Believers of the Source, housed people there whose spark was already so strong that they were on the verge of Divine Ascension. The purpose was, on the one hand, to learn more about the Ascension itself, which was, after all, the core aspect of the faction's philosophy. On the other hand, the inhabitants of the house were often unstable and thus too dangerous to be left unattended. The so-called Harbinger House had the blessing of the Fraternity of Order and was established by Sigilian law, run by his faction to observe and guard emerging powers. Although this task was tailor-made for his faction, the house caused many members discomfort. There were countless rumors about who lived there, and although the guards and staff were sworn to secrecy, of course, some things leaked here and there. Harbinger House was thus a mysterious but important institution of the faction, but still, he would not have brought Lereia here if he didn't have to show her something important.

As the rain subsided, Ambar motioned to the coachwoman to stop, even though they were still about two hundred paces from their destination. But he preferred to cover the last stretch on foot, to mentally prepare Lereia and himself for the upcoming visit. So they walked slowly along the lane that led to the entrance of Harbinger House. By now, only a light drizzle fell on the City of Doors, but it remained cool and damp enough that they were glad of their coats.

A few dozen paces from the house, Lereia stopped. “This is it?” She looked around anxiously. “It seems so dark and abandoned.”

“Yes, we're almost there,” Ambar confirmed. “I know it's not a very welcoming neighborhood. Some say that's because of the house’s influence. Others say the house is here because of the neighborhood.”

Lereia nodded and shot him a quick glance. “I hope you're not in danger in such quarters ...”

“Usually not,” he assured with a slight smile.

That she was concerned about his safety was endearing, but it also proved that she had not been a member of the faction for very long. Those who knew him better were aware that he often traveled alone and on foot in Sigil, even in areas where some other factols, factors or Golden Lords would not venture into. He shared this habit with colleagues like Terrance, Karan, Rhys or Lhar, in the conviction that a factol of Sigil couldn't go anywhere without taking a certain risk.

Lereia smiled, albeit a little hesitantly. “That's reassuring,” she said, and then followed him further through the narrow alley.

They approached their destination, a tower-like building, several stories high and often only mentioned in whispers, even within the faction. The walls were painted black, and the roof was tiled with dark shingles. The windows glowed brightly, like eyes staring into the city. There was always something eerie about this building, something intangible that sent a shiver down his spine. Lereia could obviously feel it too, because she instinctively pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and closed up to him. Then he stopped, by the trees that had always surrounded Harbinger House. Oaks, almost dead, rising into the sky like clawed hands ... But the leaves they still bore were pitch black. When Lereia saw the trees, she stopped and stared, her gaze set.

“The only place in Sigil I know where oaks have black foliage,” Ambar explained in a hushed voice. ”Are the leaves the same as in the vision?”

Lereia nodded, very slowly, still staring up. “Yes.” She sounded almost hoarse and cleared her throat. “Yes, I suppose they do.”

Ambar could well understand her unease. He, too, had never felt comfortable around those trees. There was something about them that was ... off, and both the ranger and the elf in him sensed this with painful intensity. “Very well,” he said softly. ”Then let’s go inside and see whether my fears will prove well-founded ...”

Lereia tore her eyes away from the trees and looked at him. “What do I have to expect in the house?” she asked cautiously.

“Come in and see for yourself.” Ambar was aware that his smile probably seemed a bit forced. And that this might be disconcerting, since otherwise he was either actually relaxed and easy-going or he was better at hiding his emotions.

Lereia eyed him thoughtfully, but then nodded and followed him, almost hastily. As they approached the entrance of Harbinger House, the two guards standing there bowed deeply.

“Factol Ambar,” greeted one of them, an older dwarf. “What an honor! You've come to visit Trolan?”

“Not today,” the bard replied. ”I'm showing Lereia around a bit to familiarize her with the house.”

The young woman held back and listened to the conversation, while the dwarf looked at her almost sympathetically. “Ah, well then. Good luck.” He bowed again and took a step back from the door.

Lereia nodded slightly at the guard's words and tried to smile kindly, obviously more and more uncomfortable with every step. Ambar felt a surge of regret, a guilty conscience that he was taking the young woman here to see things ... people from whom he would certainly have preferred to keep her away. But Jana's vision had stirred up his darkest fears, and unfortunately, within the faction, only Lereia could tell him whether they were justified or not. So he suppressed the unwanted feelings and approached the door. He took a small orb out of a belt pouch that looked like it was made of dark stone and fit perfectly into his palm. He held it up in his outstretched hand and when he brought it close to the entrance, blue streaks began to swirl inside it. The lock made a clicking sound and the door opened. Ambar entered, and although he would otherwise have politely allowed Lereia to go first, he decided that in this case it was more appropriate the other way round. She followed him hastily but anxiously. They then found themselves in a smaller anteroom that was simply, even sparsely, furnished. A few stone bowls set into the walls were illuminated by magical crystals, although the light was rather dim. On one side stood a wooden bench for waiting visitors, and on another was a bookshelf and a small table with a decanter and a few glasses.

While Lereia looked around, Ambar carefully stowed the orb back in his belt pouch. “This is the Planarity,” he explained. “It is a key, but not an ordinary one. It has the power to open all normal doors and also all portals in Harbinger House. It is always in the possession of the current factol of the Believers of the Source.”

Lereia had looked at the dark blue orb with interest and now nodded in understanding. “Does it only work in Harbinger House?”

“Yes,” Ambar confirmed. “And it is one of the few objects that can be used as a key for several or even many portals at once. We believe that it also plays a crucial role in the Last Ascension. To become a divine power.”

“As a metaphorical key?” Lereia wanted to know.

“We're not quite certain, but it's probably more than just metaphorical ... but very concrete.”

She nodded, obviously both interested and fascinated. “Has it been used before?”

“I don't know for sure,” he replied. “But I believe my predecessor Curran had it with her when she ascended. There was no one with her, but from what we were able to reconstruct, we think so.”

Lereia smiled. “Then the Planarity is certainly in the best hands with you. What if someone else ascended and didn't carry it with them? Will you sense that?”

He had to laugh, but couldn't hide a hint of embarrassment. She seemed to assume that he had more experience with the Divine Ascension than was actually the case, and this trust on her part almost abashed him. “I don't know, Lereia,” he replied sincerely. “I don't have that much experience with mortals ascending to gods either. Even in our faction, it rarely happens. But it can happen without the Planarity, otherwise no demigods could have ever emerged outside our faction. However, it apparently supports the process.”

Although she obviously felt even more uncomfortable inside the house than she had outside on the street, Lereia gave him a warm smile. “Forgive me if my questions are too absurd. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can while I have the honor of enjoying the presence of my factol.”

As flattering as the remark was, it made Ambar a little more serious again. “Let's hope that it remains an honor in the future,” he said. “And that it does not become a burden due to the events that are currently haunting us.”

“It never will, Factol,” Lereia replied earnestly.

He nodded, but briefly lowered his gaze to hide the worry that had momentarily overcome him. Then he looked at her again. “It's good that you have such a positive outlook on the future.”

She smiled. ”If there's one thing I've learned so far, it's that negative thoughts don't help anyone. Rather, they are obstacles. ... I know that sounds naive.”

“Oh, the Signers would agree with you wholeheartedly,” Ambar replied with a grin. ”But it's also a good attitude in our faction, I suppose. And you're right: we can't afford to be downhearted already. Because we'll probably face even greater challenges, and then we have to be prepared.”

She tilted her head slightly and looked at him with concern. “You too have been feeling uneasy since you've learned about your destiny, haven't you?”

It was a testament to her knowledge of human nature that he couldn't completely hide his emotions from her. But it also put him in the position of having to admit these feelings. On the other hand, they were in this together, so why pretend otherwise? So he nodded, sighing. “That's right, I have admit it. First that image in Jana's vision and then the strange words of the Proclaimer ... I do worry about it a little.”

“You were thrown in at the deep end,” Lereia said sympathetically. ”The rest of us have had some time to get used to it and grow into our roles. What always helped me was the thought that I'm never alone. And neither are you.”

“No, of course not.” He returned her almost shy smile, but he was aware that it had a melancholy undertone that stood in striking contrast to his usual light-heartedness.

She noticed it, of course, and reached out to gently touch his shoulder. ”I know it's presumptuous and doesn't appertain, since you're such a great personage. But if there is anything I can do to get your mind off those worries, please let me know.”

He looked at her a little surprised, then his smile grew warmer and more relaxed again. “Oh please, I'm not that great a personage,” he toned down. “I appreciate your offer, Lereia. But be careful, I might take you up on it.”

He winked at her, and she nodded, obviously relieved that he was back to his old self. “Anytime.”

Only then did she quickly withdraw her hand. A brief, seemingly harmless gesture, which yet seemed more intimate than intended. But he couldn't think about it any longer because a voice was now heard behind them. “Oh, Ambar.”

The bard recognized him immediately, of course. Trolan. The tiefling, who stepped through one of the doors, had shoulder-length white hair and sturdy horns that curved backwards. He was extraordinarily attractive, his eyes and his manner open and friendly. He radiated something thoroughly lovable, his presence seemed to inspire and as always Ambar spontaneously felt the need to hug him – just because he had such a captivating charisma. A sideways glance at Lereia told the half-elf that she felt the same way, because she bowed her head in a friendly greeting and looked at the tiefling with fascination.

“Lady's Grace, Trolan,” Ambar greeted him kindly. “How are you?”

“I'm well, Ambar.” His smile lit up even the dark of Harbinger House, and now that he came closer, his eyes were better visible, shining in all colors of the rainbow.

Although Ambar had known about the tiefling's special charisma for many years and had experienced its effect in numerous encounters, he could never quite escape it – nor did he want to, which was probably also part of Trolan's special aura.

“I would really like to talk,” he assured him. ”But unfortunately I'm here on faction matters.”

Trolan smiled regretfully, but friendly. “That's a shame. But at least you'll introduce me to your charming companion, won't you?”

The young woman looked a little embarrassed, but Ambar nodded. ”Of course. This is Lereia. She's only been a member for a few months, but she's very dedicated, so I wanted to show her Harbinger House.”

“It is a great pleasure to meet you,“ she said, bowing slightly in Trolan's direction.

“Oh, Ambar, that's hardly a reward.” The tiefling grinned briefly and winked at Lereia. “The pleasure is all mine.”

He bowed and Lereia smiled at his words, although she looked a little abashed and eyed Trolan with fascination. From his own experience, Ambar knew what she sensed. When he spent a few minutes in Trolan's company, he always felt a sweet peace. If his mind were a garden, flowers would bloom everywhere in Trolan's presence, and that was obviously how Lereia perceived it as well.

“What exactly do you want to show her?“ the tiefling asked.

“I'll tell you the next time I visit.” Ambar smiled apologetically. He didn't like to dismiss Trolan, because he was by far the most pleasant conversation partner in Harbinger House. But this time he was here for a different reason.

“All right, then I won't hold you up any longer.” The tiefling seemed happy and carefree as usual. “I was just about to have dinner anyway. The Grace of the Radiant and Most Beautiful, Mistress of Sweet Pleasure. The Lady's Grace, Ambar.”

This farewell made the bard flinch despite Trolan's engaging aura and gave him a sharp sting of unease. “Trolan,” he began. “You know ...”

The tiefling raised his hands in defense. “I'll be quiet.” Then he bowed and light-heartedly went his way.

Lereia watched him for a moment and then looked questioningly at Ambar.

“He is one of the inmates here,” the bard explained. “An ascending power.”

“An inmate?” She raised her eyebrows in surprise. ”I would have guessed an overseer. What is his special ability? The aura that surrounds him?”

Ambar smiled. “The inmates here in Harbinger House are very different. - Yes, that effect he had on us. He evokes feelings of peace and friendship and also has some abilities related to that. If I had to guess, I'd say he could ascend to a deity of love and peace.”

“I could well imagine that, too.” Lereia took another fascinated look in the direction in which the tiefling had disappeared. ”I am now very curious about the people who live here.”

Ambar nodded, a little more serious again, as he sensed the effects of Trolan's aura gradually fade. “Come, I will show you those who might match the image you saw in the vision.”

He left the entrance hall through the door on the opposite wall and Lereia followed him. At the end of a long, sparsely lit corridor he turned right into another hallway, shorter but wider. He stopped in front of one of the doors, but did not open it. There was a small hatch that could be pushed back, and Ambar opened it carefully, almost silently. When he took a quick look through it, he saw what he had expected: a medium-sized, rather gaunt person with black hair and a dark cloak standing at one of the many bookshelves in the room. The man then took one of the books, turned around and went to an armchair, where he sat down to read. Ambar stepped aside to let Lereia peek into the room. He noticed that she almost had to stand up on tiptoes to be able to see through the hatch. She frowned in confusion, and Ambar nodded knowingly, because of course he knew what she saw: on closer inspection, one could see that the man in the room wasn't actually wearing a cloak at all ... The garment seemed to move ... it consisted of several shadowy creatures that merged with each other to form the cloak. After her initial amazement, Lereia continued to look closely for a while, but finally shook her head.

Ambar nodded, quietly closed the hatch and stepped aside. “It's not him?”

“No,“ Lereia said. “What is this ... about his cloak?”

The half-elf felt a brief disappointment that this inmate was not the man from Jana's vision. Because that left room for another ... “His cloak is made of shadow creatures,” he explained. “They are part of him in a strange way. At his will, they become independent creatures that act according to his orders.”

Lereia seemed worried. “That sounds dangerous. And yet you don't seem relieved that it's not him?”

“Well ...” Ambar hesitated briefly. “If it had been him, it would have been one of the lesser evils.”

“Oh.“ Lereia's composure briefly slipped. “I see ...” She glanced uneasily at the cell door, then pulled herself together and nodded as affirmatively as possible.

“Come,” Ambar said in a hushed voice. “There are two other candidates.”

She took a deep breath and then followed him down the corridor to the next door, where he stopped. Here, too, he pushed aside a hatch, and when he took a look inside, he saw a round room with countless frames on the walls. At first glance, they could be mistaken for ordinary pictures, because each one showed a different motif. But at a closer look, one could see that they were in motion. Again, Ambar let Lereia look into the cell and recognized from her expression that she was interested in the many frames, that could also give the impression of windows. But none looked onto the streets of Sigil. Behind one, there were the crowded streets of a large human city. Behind another, a desert under a black-red sun. Behind the next one, a beautiful castle and behind yet another, a landscape made of metal. Lereia studied the frames for a while, then her gaze wandered to the center of the room. There, a dark-haired human man was sitting on the floor, looking at the pictures, sometimes happy, sometimes horrified. Lereia eyed him closely, but then shook her head again.

Ambar sighed softly, closed the hatch and stepped back. “That's Galkin,” he explained. “He has the gift of seeing all the worlds of the Prime Material Plane ... at the same time.”

“What?” Lereia looked at him in amazement. “That's incredible.”

“Yes.” Ambar nodded. ”No wonder it confused his mind, though. We built all the mirrors in this room especially for him. They reflect what he sees and help him to separate and organize the images. At least that makes it a little easier for him.”

He saw the mixture of fascination and unease on Lereia's face. “How long has he been struggling with this?” she asked.

“For years,” Ambar replied. “He came here shortly after I became factol, but he's had this problem – or gift – since he was seven years old.”

Lereia looked thoughtfully and solemnly toward the door. “And is it getting better?”

“Yes, he's making progress,” the bard explained. “Maybe it will bring him closer to his ascension. But ...” He paused briefly and lowered his voice. ”... we still have to see the third candidate, don't we?”

He would have liked to spare her this, but he knew it had to be done. Lereia clearly sensed his discomfort, for she followed him hesitantly, as if preparing for something bad. The cell they were going to was in a different wing of the house - one that was better guarded and more thoroughly secured. There were more guards here and the doors were fitted with high-quality, magically reinforced locks. Ambar had to use the Planarity several times to open them. Finally, they were standing in a smaller room. A door studded with iron bands led off from it.

The guard posted there, a sturdy half-orc, bowed to Ambar. “Factol. You ... want to talk to him?”

“That's right,” the bard confirmed. ”You can wait outside.”

The half-orc hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“I'm sure.” Ambar nodded slowly. “It's fine.”

“As you command, my lord.” The guard left, but he didn't look very happy about it.

This brief exchange of words had, of course, not exactly helped to reassure Lereia. She watched the guard leave and then looked at Ambar. “Is he that dangerous?” she asked quietly.

“I don't want to scare you, Lereia,” he replied in earnest. ”But I don't want to lie to you either. Yes, the man is very dangerous. His name is Sougad Lawshredder. He committed a series of eleven brutal and spectacular murders in Sigil about ten years ago. I ... I hope he's not the man from the vision. But it is possible. Therefore, you should ... see him for yourself.”

Lereia visibly swallowed, but then nodded firmly. “I will. ... Is he posing a threat to us here?”

“No,” Ambar reassured her. “He has been here for ten years under strict watch. There is an anti-magical field over his cell and there are always very capable guards here.”

Lereia's gaze darted to the door, then back to Ambar. “What is his gift?”

The bard took a deep breath. ”Just as Trolan evokes peace and joy, Lawshredder's presence causes fear and terror. He resists many types of magic and the grip of his bare hands is like an electric shock.” After a brief hesitation, he took Lereia's hand and looked into her eyes. “Can I ask you to do this? If you don't want to, I won't force you.”

She smiled at him as he took her hand and seemed quite nervous, perhaps even a little afraid. But she nodded firmly. ”I want to do this. We don't know why Jana has those visions, but they are certainly important.”

Ambar smiled warmly in return. “All right. Then come.”

He approached the door, pushed back the hatch and stepped aside to let Lereia look through. She closed her eyes briefly, then peered into the room beyond. But she immediately winced, stepped back from the door and turned away in horror. Ambar had an idea what had happened, and although it took a certain effort, he stepped up to the hatch and looked through. As he had feared, he did not look into the room, but right into a pair of eyes. The irises were unnaturally bright, almost white, and the two eyes stared straight into his ... full of malice and sheer lunacy. He felt that instant sense of dread spreading through him ... He already knew that this happened in Lawshredder's presence but he never got used to it. A cold horror that suggested only one course of action: running. It was an icy fear that seeped into his entire being.

Ambar banished this dread to the furthest corner of his heart and furrowed his brow. “Sougad, stop this nonsense,” he said calmly but firmly.

A hoarse laugh was heard from inside and Lereia took a few audible breaths. Then she raised her head again and took a step forward, apparently determined to remain calm.

“I'm opening the window, Sougad,” Ambar explained. ”Don't do anything reckless.”

He closed the hatch and then opened a larger window in the door, about half a pace wide, but barred. The man behind the door didn't move, he continued to eye his visitors with that unpleasant grin, with pure madness. Ambar hardly dared to look at Lereia, as if an answer to his question would make the vision real, as if he could change the course of fate by avoiding that answer. But he knew it was impossible, and so he slowly turned his head and looked questioningly at the young woman. She nodded ever so slightly, her features showing pure horror ... He closed his eyes as the cold inside him clawed even more ruthlessly at his heart. How he had hoped and prayed that it would not be him ...

 

 

Sougad Lawshredder, meanwhile, stared at Lereia. “What is this beauty?” he asked in a hoarse voice. ”Did you bring me a toy, Ambar?”

She bit her lower lip as he spoke, but continued to look at him as firmly as possible. Ambar admired her composure. She was facing this man for the first time and had not known what to expect.

He eyed the infamous murderer as unimpressed as possible. “No, Sougad. Of course not.”

Lawshredder laughed again, and another wave of horror washed over Ambar. Yes, no matter how often one met this man, the effect of his terrible aura never weakened. Perhaps quite the opposite ...

“What do you want then, hm?” Lawshredder approached the bars a tiny bit. “Ask me some more of your pointless but wonderfully naive questions?”

Lereia pulled her cloak tighter around her as if it would protect her from the horror of the serial killer.

The line between Ambar's brows deepened a little. ”Would you answer them, my questions?”

Lawshredder grinned. “Give it a try.”

The half-elf didn't really hope to learn more from this man than he already had. But maybe something of what he would tell could give Lereia a clue. Every little spark of knowledge might be important in this matter. So he folded his arms as he looked Lawshredder in the eye – not without effort. “I still wonder, of course, what you wanted to achieve with all these murders.”

The lunatic stared at him piercingly. ”And what do you want to achieve, my dear Ambar?”

Every time this man addressed him by his first name, the bard felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He was slowly regaining his composure, but only outwardly, he was aware of that. “I protect the harbingers of a new age,” he replied. “I try to enable new beginnings.”

Lawshredder laughed hoarsely. “Well, then I am the very beginning, short-sighted fool!”

Lereia looked worried from her factol to the prisoner, but this time Ambar was not deterred by Sougad's attack. He already knew this kind of outburst. “Would you like to explain that in more detail?” he asked calmly.

“I will answer, even if you don't understand,” the murderer replied, apparently amused. ”I am the beginning and the end. Every death is like an entrance, a performance, and the final act will be beyond imagination. This carefully considered dance will lead to a reality so perfect that I doubt anyone can grasp the plan. Even chaos has its purpose, Ambar.”

The factol nodded slowly. Yes, Lawshredder had told him something like this before. “Have you completed this dance, Sougad?” he asked.

Lawshredder grinned, and another wave of horror washed over his visitors. “You and I wouldn't be standing here right now if I had.”

“What is the final act?” Lereia asked, quietly but obviously determined to learn something from the murderer.

He jerkily turned his head to the young woman and looked her straight in the eye. ”What a brave question, you innocent, ignorant child. The final act? It is the fulfillment of my destiny. Don't worry ... you will surely live to see it.”

Lereia's voice was now trembling a little. “So it will happen soon?”

“Soon ...” Lawshredder laughed hoarsely. “Time is a concept that can be interpreted in many ways. But if you want ... soon.”

“But you are ... locked up,” Lereia objected hesitantly, looking at him with discomfort.

“Am I?” The serial killer's gaze became even more intense, even more piercing.

Ambar looked at him seriously. “There are a few guards who think that you are here voluntarily, Sougad. Why would that be the case?”

Lawshredder's smile was even more unpleasant than his raucous laugh. “I take my time.”

“So you are saying the guards are right?” Ambar took a deep breath. ”But you've been here for almost ten years. You're very patient. Why?”

The serial killer's stare seemed to literally pierce him. “After all these years, Ambar, now that you know me a little ... Do you really think I have been caught?” It was almost a relief when his throaty laughter replaced the unpleasant smile. “Next time it will be ... better.”

“So there will be a next time?” Ambar followed up.

This time Lawshredder's laughter was very quiet, almost a whisper, and therefore even more frightening than before. ”Oh yes. And when that time comes, believe me, nothing will stop me. So enjoy your time, Ambar. While you still can ...”

Although he was no stranger to such allusions from the serial killer, a shudder still ran through him every time. It seemed that no one could escape the fearsome aura of Lawshredder, and protective spells did not help either.

Lereia had unconsciously stepped a little closer to Ambar's side. “Are your threats directed against everyone in Sigil?” she asked quietly.

“Threats?” The murderer scrutinized her intensely. “You misunderstand, child.”

“Then what do you mean?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Lawshredder came even closer to the window, so that his forehead almost touched the bars, and eyed them both, first Lereia, then Ambar. There was clearly madness in his eyes, but at the same time a strange clarity, two traits that did not go together. He grinned broadly and then stepped back. “Good night, Ambar. Take good care of the sweet child.”

“Sougad ...” the bard tried to stop him.

But Lawshredder didn't answer, instead retreating to the dark back of his cell. Lereia swallowed hard and Ambar closed the window, then quickly left the room. The half-orc who had been waiting outside the door nodded gravely and then went back to the cell, where he resumed his post. It was only when Ambar pulled the door closed behind them that the aura of horror emanating from Lawshredder seemed to subside a little.

The factol silently eyed Lereia for a while, then sighed. “It was him, right? The man in the vision?”

“Yes.” She nodded slowly. “The vision showed something important, we were sure of that, but we couldn't tell whether it was the past or the future. Now I'm afraid that the vision shows what he was talking about.”

Ambar shared her concerns. “That image was linked to the sentence Something begins, wasn't it?”

“I noticed that too,” Lereia confirmed. “He spoke of being a beginning ...”

The bard ran his hands over his face briefly. “I feared it when you told me about this vision. I had hoped so much that it wasn't him, but ...”

“I can understand that hope. I've never met a more unpleasant person.” Lereia shuddered visibly. “I can't tell whether he's just insane or truly convinced because … it is the truth.”

Ambar nodded gravely. “That's hard to tell.”

Once more, Lereia's gaze wandered uneasily to the door behind which Lawshredder's cell was located. “Can he leave the house if he wants to?”

“No,” Ambar reassured her. ”None of the inmates can. They are too dangerous. Not all of them are evil, but all of them are unstable in their own way and too powerful to be left unsupervised in this state. However, his words do worry me. When Lawshredder was arrested back then ... that was a big deal. All of Sigil had been in fear and terror.”

“Who caught him?”

Now Ambar smiled again for the first time. “Guess.”

“I would have said the Mercykillers or the Harmonium,” she said. “But since you're smiling and he is here ... the Believers of the Source?”

“No, it was actually the Harmonium,” Ambar explained. “There was a special group of officers back then who had a lot of experience and talent in such investigations. And that unit consisted of Sarin, Killeen Caine, Tonat Shar ... and Valiant.”

Lereia's eyes widened. “What? Those four?”

“Yes, mainly them,” the bard confirmed. “At times, two or three other officers were with them, I believe. But I don't remember exactly.”

Lereia thoughtfully wound a strand of her long, white hair around her index finger. “That was after the factolship of Arella Silvergaze, wasn't it?”

“Yes, that's right. Ulan Delazar had just become factol then. About a year before the murders, I think.”

“Maybe it's all connected,” Lereia said. “At least as far as Jana's visions are concerned.”

Ambar nodded. “I'm convinced that everything is somehow connected. These visions are certainly not showing Jana something arbitrarily.”

Lereia was silent for a moment, her silky hair still wrapped around her index finger, and Ambar could see that many, many thoughts crossed her mind. “I have to tell the others about this,” she finally said. ”Would that be all right?”

“Yes, they should know,” the half-elf replied.

Lereia nodded, then looked down. “I'm scared,” she confessed. ”So far, it hasn't been tangible, but that man ... So much madness and malice ...”

It pained Ambar that he had put her in such a frightening situation, and once again he gently took her hand. “I understand, Lereia. Honestly, I'm scared too. I'm very sorry that you've been dragged into all of this. I promise I'll do everything I can to protect you.” With the notorious serial killer in the cell behind them, he had to admit to himself that he didn't know if he would really be able to protect her from everything. But he would do everything in his power.

Lereia looked at his hand and held it tight. “Isn't it actually the duty of the faction members to protect their factol?”

Her candor, combined with a genuine innocence, were moving him. “No, not exclusively,” he replied cordially. “It's a matter of give and take, at least that's how I see it.”

“That's good.” She smiled warmly, but still with a tinge of timidity. “And I do feel safe in your presence, even here.”

She seemed completely sincere, and oddly enough, her undiluted trust gave him a brief sting. If only he had been as sure of himself as she was. But he squeezed her hand, gently and encouragingly, although he didn't know whose faith he wanted to fortify more, hers or his. “I hope I will never disappoint your trust, Lereia.”

“I'm sure that won't happen,” she said. ”But in the near future, we should take care of you. Jana's visions about the factols and what the Proclaimer said ... I'm more worried about your well-being than mine.”

He had to laugh. “Well, in a contest of who lives more dangerously ... I dare not bet on who of us two would win.”

His words cheered Lereia up a little and she returned the brief squeeze of his hand. “Maybe we worry too much.”

“Maybe.” He grew pensive again. ”But one thing seems certain: all of this is just the beginning. I wish you hadn't had to see and experience that today. But I needed certainty on such an important question.”

Lereia sighed. “Those eyes will surely haunt me in my dreams for some time. But it was important to have certainty, I agree with you. The question that I find even more eerie: the beginning of what?”

“The beginning of the end?” He couldn't suppress a smirk. “Yes, I know it sounds like very bad poetry. But the Keeper and the Proclaimer did call Sigil the Last City of the Last Cycle ...”

Lereia nodded seriously. “And it seems that Sougad Lawshredder has something to do with it.” She looked around and hesitated briefly before continuing. “I know it's one of our facilities ... But could we maybe leave the house? Somehow it still makes me uncomfortable.”

“I understand that,” Ambar replied. Only now did he realize that he was still holding her hand and let go of it. “I'll show you out.”

She smiled gratefully and he led her back through the long corridors to the entrance. He felt a sense of relief as the grip of Lawshredder's aura gradually loosened. As grim as it was that his fears about the serial killer and Jana's vision had come true, he surprisingly felt a certain confidence. A sense of trust in the future that he hadn't reckoned with tonight. He wasn't sure if this was because of Lereia's presence, but he knew one thing: her safety and well-being were important to him in a way that went beyond simple concern for a faction member.

 

------------------

played November 11, 2012

This was the first encounter of the players (for now only Lereia's player) with the famous Harbinger House from the eponymous adventure and with the infamous serial killer Sougad Lawshredder.