The Silver Sphinx

 

“Time is a river without banks."

inscription at the temple of Chronos in Polykeptolon

 

 

First Lower Day of Ligatus, 126 HR

Out of breath, Naghûl rushed up the steps to the upper floor of the Barracks. They had explained to Lady Diana in the reception hall that they urgently needed to see Factol Sarin. The concierge had been unable to hide her confusion, but she had immediately recognized that this was a real emergency. Therefore, she had not hesitated to let the group pass and then accompanied them all the way to Sarin’s office, so that the guards would let in the unannounced guests. Contrary to all etiquette, Naghûl tore open the door without knocking and stumbled into the room. Sarin turned around, and Naghûl noticed that his left hand briefly moved to one of his scimitars. Although in his own faction headquarters and despite the guards outside his door, a certain vigilance never seemed to leave the paladin. Always the warrior, Naghûl suspected – an instinct he could well understand, given his own past. When Sarin recognized them, he didn’t seem less confused, but at least he let go of his weapon’s hilt. Naghûl leaned on his staff and gasped for air, Lereia next to him hastily curtsied, while Kiyoshi gave a salute, that was for sure rather careless by his own standards.

“By the Lady, what kind of entrance is this?“ the factol asked with a mixture of disapproval and concern.

“Factol Sarin-gensui,” Kiyoshi replied quickly. “We have terrible, urgent news. Wetter Jana-san had a vision: The venerable archbishop Spesinfracta Juliana-sama will fall victim to an assault as soon as the honorable Caine Killeen-taisho visits her.”

Lereia nodded frantically. “On the tower of a fortress. An arrow will hit her from behind.”

“Right through the throat ... terrible!”, Naghûl added, still out of breath.

Sarin's gaze wandered from one to the other, it took him a moment to follow their surprising and rather uncoordinated explanations. “Wait ... What? Did I hear you right? There is supposed to be an assault on Juliana?”

“Yes, according to Jana-san's vision,” Kiyoshi explained, unusually agitated. “And we fear that there is no time left.”

“Killeen Caine visited her, he came through a portal,“ Lereia added, her words desperate. “They talked about a parchment and she wanted to come here to inform you about it. At that moment, she was hit by an arrow from behind.”

Despite his tanned complexion, it was clearly visible that the color suddenly drained from Sarin's face. “When?” he asked in a hoarse voice. “Can you say when?”

“Very soon,” Kiyoshi replied gravely. “Before the arrival of ...” Naghûl noticed that he paused for a moment. ”... the honorable Lord Valiant-sama. They spoke of him coming to Sigil, so the vision can become real at any moment.”

Sarin clenched his fist and unclenched it again, then ran his fingers through his black hair while a thousand thoughts seemed to cross his mind. Never had Naghûl seen him so agitated and nervous. “This incident ...” He visibly tried to compose himself. “... could it have already happened?”

“We don't know,” Kiyoshi replied regretfully. “It may have already happened or it may happen in the near future. It could even be happening right now, honorable factol.”

The paladin seemed to think feverishly. “Where was that? In Melodia? On Celestia?”

“Not in Melodia.” Lereia shook her head. “Legate Caine arrived from Melodia. It was a large fortress, and we could spot several archons there.”

“Yes, it seemed to be a fortress of the Archonites,” Naghûl confirmed. ”There was a tower with a mosaic in its center. And the mosaic seems to be a portal.”

Now the factol's gaze brightened. “The cathedral in Excelsior!” He snapped his fingers. “The mosaic there is a portal to Melodia. I'll go myself.” With these words, he was already on his way to the door.

“Can we help you?“ Lereia asked hastily.

“Yes,” the paladin replied curtly. “Follow me!”

Naghûl nodded and hurried after him, but before Sarin had opened the door, he paused. “Wait ... If all of this has already happened ...” Some thoughts seemed to cross his mind as quick as lightning while he stared at the parquet floor in front of him. “The Mercykiller, what did she tell you? About this genasi?”

“The air genasi?“ Lereia asked, confused.

“Yes, exactly!”

“He can time travel somehow?“ Naghûl said, more asking than explaining.

“Exactly!” Sarin gestured forcefully. “Very good, we need him!”

“But we don't know how reliably he can control it ...” Lereia interjected cautiously.

The factol waved it off. “I’m sure, he will be able to do it when it's necessary.”

“But ...” The young woman shot a somewhat unhappy side glance at Naghûl. “If it hasn't happened yet, we might be wasting time ...”

“And if it has happened and we go without him, the time window for him to travel back might have closed,” Sarin replied, undeterred.

Naghûl nodded gently. It was a dilemma, impossible to make the right decision based on the few facts they had. But it was about Lady Juliana, Sarin's former factol, and so the paladin certainly had every right to make this decision, wherever it might lead.

“I can bring him here,” Kiyoshi offered immediately. “He knows me because he met me at Jana-san's trial.”

“Good, soldier. Summon him.” Sarin nodded, unfastened a badge from his armor and handed it to the young man. ”Tell him that you are coming on my direct orders.”

“I can do it, too,” Lereia interjected. “I am very quick when transformed.”

“That's right. But if there's any doubt, you don't have the authority to enforce the summons,” the factol explained before turning back to Kiyoshi. ”Take a griffon. Amariel should be up on the landing platform right now; she will fly you.”

Kiyoshi saluted hastily and then ran off towards the Griffon Tower. Sarin looked after him for a moment, a concern in his dark eyes that could only be caused by feelings for someone dearly beloved. Naghûl knew this look and these feelings all too well. He had already had that experience, and not just once. He did not envy Sarin.

The paladin stared at the door for a few moments longer, then looked at Lereia and Naghûl. “Wait here. I'll inform Prefect Fireheart about the situation, since Legate Shar is not here at the moment.”

He left the room with energetic steps, and a dreadful wait followed. The tiefling and the weretigress exchanged glances, both worried and anxious, but did not speak. After all, the door was still open and there were two guards standing in front of it, who certainly should not get privy to the situation. Every second passed by so slowly and sluggishly, as if time itself had become tired. Finally, Sarin returned, still visibly agitated, but at the same time extremely focused on what lay ahead of him. Naghûl knew this state of mind. The ability of a soldier and a commander, to concentrate only on what might come, on the mission, despite all the pain, despite all the fear and despite all the other terrible feelings. He had that ability as well – but that had been in a different life, one he had left behind. Still, in situations like this, he benefited from those experiences, dark as they were. Sarin released the two guards, who were obviously confused and worried, and put on the heavier parts of his armor. Then they waited again, this time already in the hallway outside the office. It was a relief when Kiyoshi finally came round the corner, with Yelmalis in tow. At least Naghûl assumed that the elegantly dressed young man with shoulder-length white hair was the air genasi in question. He seemed visibly nervous, and three butterflies fluttered around him in a very hectic and uncoordinated manner.

The Harmonium’s factol took two quick steps towards him. “Are you Yelmalis?” he asked, no less forcefully than he would have during an arrest.

The young man bowed low. ”Yes, but I don't understand ... what this is about ...”

“You are the time traveler?” the paladin continued without answering his question.

The air genasi's expression became even more unhappy. “I don't know if that's the right term ...”

“So it is you,” Sarin replied curtly. “All right, you are coming with me.”

“Where ... where to, Factol?” Yelmalis asked, stuttering.

The paladin waved it off. “You will see. We may not need you after all. But will accompany us.”

“Uhm ... Yes, my lord ...” The young man looked from one to the other, completely confused.

Naghûl gave him a sympathetic look. Being asked to come along by a Harmonium soldier and being brought to the Barracks on the back of a griffon was exciting enough in itself. But then having to face the factol, without any explanation of what it was all about ... Yes, that could justifiably be described as disturbing. On the other hand, it was understandable that Sarin did not want to reveal too much about this delicate matter, in case the worst had not yet happened.

The paladin gave Kiyoshi a light tap on the neck. “Well done, soldier. Let's go, this way.”

He hurried down the corridor without even looking back, apparently assuming that the others would surely follow him – which, of course, they did: Kiyoshi with a stony expression, Naghûl and Lereia worried and anxious, and poor Yelmalis completely overwhelmed. Sarin stopped at one of the numerous doors leading off the long hallway on the upper floor.

“This is our portal to Arcadia,” he explained. ”But keep that to yourselves, all right?”

They nodded hastily and Sarin stepped closer to the doorframe. He activated the portal, although Naghûl couldn't see what the key was. Without hesitation, he followed the factol when he stepped through the shimmering light, and Kiyoshi, Lereia and Yelmalis did the same. On the other side of the portal, a great city awaited the five. It was beautiful and built mostly of white marble, many buildings had silver-ornamented roofs. Melodia, the planar headquarters of the Harmonium outside of Sigil. The portal had opened in the archway of a quiet arcade, on a hill from which they could see a large part of the city. Numerous small parks and statues could be seen from up there. The city was very lively; Naghûl spotted many humans, dwarves and aasimar in the streets. Most of them bore the symbol of the Harmonium in one way or another. Everything seemed very calm and orderly - at least until the moment when Sarin stormed through the portal with the Chosen in tow. The inhabitants who had been walking near the archway stopped abruptly, visibly surprised to see their factol rushing through the gate so suddenly and in such unusual company - a group of obvious civilians who apparently did not belong to the Harmonium.

“This is Melodia, our headquarters on Arcadia,” the paladin explained curtly. “The portal to the Archonite fortress in Excelsior is not far from here.”

Lereia nodded, still a little overwhelmed. “That must be the gate that Legate Caine took ... or will take ...”

The bystanders bowed hastily and looked distinctly confused. Sarin greeted them with a brief gesture, but didn't linger, hurrying down the neatly paved street.

“I'll explain that to Mayor Mabru another time ...” he stated.

Naghûl waved at the bewildered Melodians with a friendly smile and ran after Sarin, who paid no attention to anyone, but turned to the next street at a quick pace. Kiyoshi hurried after him, followed by Lereia. Poor Yelmalis had no choice but to follow, too, without even knowing what he was supposed to do here. Sarin, on the other hand, seemed to know exactly where he was going, hurrying towards his destination without thinking. They stormed past some confused Harmonium soldiers and crossed another wide street, forcing a large carriage drawn by four celestial steeds to brake hard.

“Is there any way to track the assassin in Excelsior?“ Lereia asked while running.

“How should I know?” Sarin replied curtly. “I didn't even see the vision.”

“We'll see that ... when the time comes,” Naghûl said, a little out of breath.

They crossed a magnificent square, where the tiefling could spot a temple of Siamorphe, a museum and a shrine of Marduk. Sarin now headed for the shrine, with Kiyoshi and Lereia close behind him, while Naghûl and Yelmalis had fallen back a bit. When they had caught up, the paladin stopped at one of the shrine's side archways – so that was probably the location of the portal to Excelsior. While he caught his breath, Naghûl took a quick look around the large square. It was lined with magnificent buildings, many adorned with red and white banners – the colors of the planar Harmonium. A majestic griffon had just landed on one of the roofs, while a group of priests were walking past below, apparently on their way to the temple of Siamorphe. Close to them, the tiefling spotted one of the rhinoceros-like rhox, wearing shimmering shoulder plates and a gold-embroidered cloak. Several children were playing near the fountain in the center of the square, and Naghûl noticed a certain relief at the sight of them. It was nice to see that even on a plane as orderly as Arcadia, the offspring were allowed to romp around carefree. Then again, he admitted to himself, such doubts might simply arise from the prejudices that a chaotic mind often held against anything lawful. He had never been to Melodia, and his Sensate curiosity made him wish they had more time for this visit, so they could take a closer look at the impressive city. But there was a much more pressing matter to be dealt with, and Sarin's voice promptly startled him out of his thoughts.

“This is the portal to Excelsior. Everyone ready for the worst case?”

Naghûl immediately focused on the task at hand. “Yes, Factol!”

Yelmalis nodded, albeit less energetically. “Um ... sure,” he replied, a little wobbly.

Kiyoshi put on his helmet and drew his naginata.

“Then let's go,” the paladin ordered, both scimitars in his hands. “Stay close together.”

He opened the portal, though Naghûl couldn't see the key this time either—probably some object the factol was carrying, or maybe a certain thought. They hurried to follow Sarin as quickly as possible. Only a blink of an eye later, they found themselves on the roof of a large tower. The expansive platform was lined with mighty battlements, four gold and white banners fluttered in a light breeze. Immediately, they looked around, trying to assess the situation. At the moment, the tower was deserted, but was this a good or a bad sign?

Lereia pointed to one of the other towers. “The arrow came from over there.”

She was right, Naghûl also recognized the scenery they had seen in Jana's vision. When he had found his bearings, his gaze immediately wandered to the place where Juliana had been standing – and his heart sank. A large dark stain spread out on the ground there ...

“Over there ...” he whispered.

Sarin followed his gaze and froze. His scimitars fell to the ground and he ran over to the pool, where he sank down on his knees. He stared at the blood in disbelief. “No ... NO!” His second call echoed loudly over the fortress walls.

“Too late ...” Naghûl murmured, downcast.

While Kiyoshi took up position next to Sarin, as if to keep guard over his lord, Lereia turned to the air genasi, who was watching the events with wide, questioning eyes. Several butterflies fluttered around him quickly and rather erratically. “Yelmalis ... can you only do it alone or can you take someone with you? Time travel, I mean.”

The young man shook his head in confusion. “I ... I can't do it as consciously as you might think. What is going on?”

“Archbishop Juliana was killed here,” Lereia explained seriously. “It wasn't long ago, and we want to prevent it. Please, can you try?”

“By the Lady ...” Yelmalis turned even paler than he already was, and the butterflies fluttering around him also took on a lighter hue. “Lady Spesinfracta, you mean?”

Lereia nodded. “Yes. Yelmalis, you are our last hope of preventing this assassination attempt.”

The air genasi looked utterly overwhelmed. “I can try, but my goodness, I ... don’t know if ...”

“Just try,” Lereia pleaded. “Do you always travel alone?”

“Yes, I can only do it alone ... at least so far.”

Sarin, who had been kneeling next to the pool of blood for a while as if in a daze, now seemed to be regaining his composure and stood up. He approached Naghûl, and the tiefling could recognize that the factol was still teary-eyed.

“How exactly did it happen?” the paladin wanted to know. ”In Jana's vision, I mean.”

“The archbishop and the legate were standing right over there,” the tiefling explained, pointing to the spot. ”An arrow pierced Juliana's throat from behind. Killeen Caine was standing in front of her. Both would either have to duck or dodge.”

At that moment, they heard loud talking, shouting and arguing from inside the tower.

The factol listened attentively. “I hear Killeen's voice. It may not have been long ago.”

“Pardon me,” Kiyoshi interjected. “I don't think we can prevent the vision. I think what we can do is appear right afterwards to heal the honorable Archbishop Spesinfracta Juliana-sama.”

“We have Yelmalis here,“ Lereia answered. “We can try.”

The air genasi shook his head. “I'm afraid the soldier is right ... Kiyoshi, is it? There are things ... it's really hard to explain, but ...”

“Why don't you just try?” Lereia objected. “What do we have to lose?”

“How far can you travel back?“ Sarin wanted to know.

“Up to twelve hours,” Yelmalis explained. “At least that was the longest time span so far.”

The factol nodded. “That should be enough.”

The air genasi took a deep breath. The butterflies that surrounded him calmed down a little, and one of them landed on his lapel. ”All right, listen ... I can try this. I have no idea if it will work and if I can even jump to that exact moment in time. But I will try.”

Lereia nodded gratefully. “Lady Spesinfracta was standing here and Killeen Caine was arriving via the portal,” she explained. “They were talking over there by the battlements when the assassination happened. Perhaps you can travel further back in time and warn them. They must find the assassin or at least prevent the assault.”

“But there is ... a problem,“ Yelmalis objected cautiously.

“What kind of problem?” Sarin asked immediately, his voice louder than usual. He was obviously struggling to compose himself and seemed very concerned.

“Not everything can be changed,” the air genasi explained, almost apologizing for a fact beyond his control. “Time and its flow cannot always be arbitrarily changed or influenced.”

Sarin frowned. “What do you mean? If you change something in the past, doesn’t it always have an effect?”

“Time is fluid, just like the future,” Lereia said. “A butterfly flapping its wings can change everything, right?”

“No.” Yelmalis sighed. “Quite the contrary. It's hard for me to explain. I'm only just discovering this gift myself. But I've already learned that there are events that cannot be easily changed. These are called fixed points in the fabric of time.”

“Oh.” Sarin sounded a little disillusioned. ”I see. Well, let's hope that this assassination attempt is not one of those fixed points.”

The genasi nodded gravely. “Otherwise, there is little I can do. Besides, in this case it's not enough to travel back in time mentally. I have to jump back physically, and I'm only able to do that since recently. So I hope that all of this ... works the way I imagine it.”

Naghûl was not quite sure what Yelmalis was talking about. And although he was quite interested in how the Guvner's gift worked, this was not the time to ask questions. Sarin nodded encouragingly at the genasi, and the young man took a deep breath.

“All right ...” He concentrated, then the air around him began to shimmer and he disappeared.

As always when someone used their gift, Naghûl could not perceive any arcane energy flow, just as Morânia had never sensed any clerical energies. It seemed to be something different, ancient and mysterious. And hopefully powerful enough to influence the twists of fate. They all stared at the pool of blood, expectantly and tensely.

“Please ...” Lereia whispered, barely audible.

Then, only seconds later, Yelmalis reappeared, rubbing his temples. Naghûl felt a terrible cold spreading inside him. The stain was still there ... Lereia stared at the blood and then at the genasi with an anxious look.

Sarin clenched his fists. “Nothing has changed!” he exclaimed.

“Yes.” Yelmalis seemed very exhausted. Although only a few seconds had passed, he looked as if he had been up all night. “I know. I can't ... I can't change it. I'm sorry.”

Sarin grabbed his arm. “No, you have to!”

“But I can't!“ the young man replied desperately. “Am I a god?”

“You have to try again!” the paladin urged.

“I have!” Yelmalis assured. “I've tried three times! I went back three times and tried something else. But it always happened!”

“Forgive me for asking,” Kiyoshi said. ”But could you try to make sure that a healer is with the honorable Lady Spesinfracta Juliana-sama immediately after the assassination attempt? By going back a little further and alerting the clerics here in the fortress?”

Yelmalis sighed. “There are two very powerful priests right on the top floor of that tower. They were there and they tried everything. Do you think someone would shoot an arrow here, where there are so many healers and not play it safe? Make sure healing isn't an option?”

Sarin shook his head vigorously. ”No.” He grabbed the air genasi’s other arm as well. The pain in his voice was overwhelming. “You have no idea what this woman means to me! What she means to our faction! There has to be a way!”

Yelmalis’ butterflies were now moving in a surprisingly calm pattern. He studied the paladin very quietly and for a long time, then looked away.

Sarin understood immediately. “Yelmalis ...” He shook him briefly, but not roughly. ”There is something, right? I can see it in your eyes. There’s still a possibility. Something you don't want to reveal.”

The young man lowered his gaze for a moment, but then looked up and locked eyes with Sarin. “Yes, Factol. There is something.”

“What?”

“I have never done this before,” the genasi explained. “I can't say for sure if it will work. I've only read about it because I've been doing a lot of research on time mechanics since I discovered my gift ...”

Once more, Sarin shook him gently. “Speak!”

“You can ...” Yelmalis took a deep breath. “You can make a deal, so to say … under certain circumstances. If an event is not avoidable, you can redeem something, like a pledge ... something irrevocable.”

“Who?” the factol asked immediately. “Who can do that?”

“Basically anyone ... who dares.”

“All right,” the paladin replied without hesitation. “I will do it.”

“Factol,” Lereia objected, worried. “You are too important.”

Yelmalis nodded in agreement with her words. “If you take this step, Factol, there's no going back. Never, time travel or no time travel.”

Sarin waved it off energetically. ”I said, I will do it!”

“What is the price?” Lereia asked. “Someone else has to die for her?”

“The mechanisms of time are difficult to understand,” Yelmalis explained. ”And as I said, I'm just starting out. I can't say for sure.”

The situation was taking a direction that Naghûl didn't like at all. “Factol Sarin,” he intervened. “With all due respect, I must disagree. If anyone will do this, it will be one of the three of us, but not you.”

“I agree with Naghûl,” Lereia came to his aid.

Kiyoshi nodded gravely, too. “Honorable Factol Sarin-gensui, it is my duty to protect you. I would gladly give this pledge for you.”

“No,” Sarin replied, his voice a little hoarse. “This is my task. My path. And only I can walk it.”

Lereia eyed him thoughtfully. “ Begin to dare means: fall and yield ...” she softly quoted from his verse of the Prophecy.

Sarin's expression was difficult to read, a mixture of concern and determination. “Yes, who knows ...” Then he turned to Yelmalis. “Do it.”

The young man looked anything but happy. ”Are you sure?”

“Otherwise I wouldn't say it,” the paladin replied. “Do it.”

Naghûl decided to make a last-ditch effort. “You are too important for Sigil and for us, Factol Sarin. You may have to protect the Chosen. Just remember, who will return to Sigil soon, and then you must be there no matter what.”

The paladin looked at Naghûl with an exhausted smile. “I feel honored that you put so much confidence in me.”

“And as we know, we are replaceable,” the Sensate added. “You are not.”

“Everyone is replaceable,” Sarin replied quietly.

“Think of your family, too,” Lereia pleaded. “The rest of us don't have such an important position in the faction or in life.”

Kiyoshi straightened himself. “Honorable Factol Sarin-gensui. I can only offer myself once more. I beg you, let me make this sacrifice for you.”

Sarin nodded slowly. “Thank you all. I won't forget this. But this is a path I must walk alone.” He took Yelmalis' hand. “Do it. Now!” His tone was firm and insistent.

Naghûl made his decision in the blink of an eye. “We're all going. Let's see who will give the pledge in the end.” And with that, he reached for the air genasi as well.

“Naghûl, no!” Lereia exclaimed.

Yelmalis looked at Naghûl, an apologetic expression in his eyes ... Then the air flickered and the genasi and the factol vanished. Naghûl, Lereia and Kiyoshi stayed behind.

The tiefling cursed – and regardless of the sacred surroundings of the Archonite cathedral he did it in Abyssal. Kiyoshi stared at the spot where Sarin and Yelmalis had disappeared with a stony expression.

Lereia, on the other hand, let her gaze wander over the battlements, then to the spot with the pool of blood. She gasped. “The blood ... it's gone. What happened?”

Almost at the same moment, the air flickered again and Sarin and Yelmalis reappeared at the same place where they had vanished. The factol immediately looked over to the battlements, then buried his face in his hands with a sigh of relief.

Yelmalis exhaled slowly. “It worked.”

Sarin grasped the genasi's hand. ”Thank you!”

“Better not thank me,“ Yelmalis replied quietly. “You don't know what it will cost.”

Sarin nodded. “We will see.” Then he looked at the other Chosen. “Yes, it worked.”

Naghûl felt the dark wings of foreboding brush him. Something irrevocable had been set in motion, something that made him shudder.

Lereia seemed to sense it, too. “What happened?” she asked anxiously.

Sarin shrugged. “I don't know exactly what Yelmalis was doing ... and how.”

“I'm not even so sure about that myself ...” the genasi murmured.

At that moment, voices were heard from within the tower. “Come, let's go up,” a man said. “Lady Juliana wants an honor guard up there when Legate Caine arrives.”

“It will happen yet …” Lereia murmured. “We could search for the assassin.”

“It will not happen,” Yelmalis assured. ”But we mustn't be seen here, that could destroy everything. We have to leave.”

Sarin nodded and didn't hesitate to open the portal in the large floor mosaic. He obviously had no doubts about Yelmalis' words, and so the Chosen hurried to follow him back to Melodia before anyone could spot them. Once they had returned to the large square in front of the Marduk shrine, they all took a deep breath. They sat down on two marble benches, which stood in the shade of some gold beeches. For a while they remained silent, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

But Naghûl finally had to speak about what was bothering him. “I had a dark premonition earlier. What if that sets him free? If this is the price that must be paid …”

“I don't know who you're talking about,” said Yelmalis, whose butterflies were floating around him more calmly again. “But the price concerns Factol Sarin alone.”

“Exactly,” Lereia said. ”It is Sarin's path, after all.”

“Hm.” Naghûl nodded thoughtfully. “That's true. Maybe it was just a dark, paranoid fear.”

“I gambled with part of my destiny,” Sarin said, unusually quiet. “Only my own.”

Lereia sighed. “Whatever that means …”

“In any case, I thank you all for your efforts,” the paladin said. “Rest assured, it will not be forgotten.”

Kiyoshi saluted and Naghûl nodded gravely. “Always a pleasure, Factol.”

“Oh, Factol.” Lereia now seemed to remember something. “The parchment that Legate Caine and the Archbishop spoke of ... It was obviously important, but also disturbing, and they wanted you to see it.”

Now Sarin smiled a little. “Then I am sure I will receive it soon, intact and, above all, not bloodstained.”

As much as Naghûl would otherwise have been interested in a walk through the city, the recent events had temporarily clouded even his Sensate joy of discovery. And since the factol was in a hurry to return to Sigil anyway, they didn't stay in Melodia for long, but soon made their way back to the City of Doors, with many questions and dark forebodings.

 

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played November 19, 2012