“I will learn the weight of my sword. Without my heart to guide it, it is worthless - my strength is not in my sword, but in my heart.
If I lose my sword, I have lost a tool. If I betray my heart, I have died.”
first tenet of the paladin code of Iomedae
Third Clerk's Day of Mortis, 126 HR
Erin strolled along the Great Gymnasium’s main hall, hearing the cheerful cries of bathers and smelling the scent of jasmine blossoms from the café near the entrance. But while the Gymnasium was usually a place of relaxation and well-being, often together with her consort Da'nanin and in the company of Rhys, today she visited it in a solemn mood. The day before, she had gathered various information about Red Shroud and sent a letter about it to Sarin, Ambar, Rhys and Terrance. The letter had also been addressed to the Chosen, and her colleagues had informed their respective faction members accordingly. She had, of course, informed Naghûl herself and told him that he was allowed to pass the information on to Sgillin. Anarchist or not, they were in this together, and the half-elf had even been willing to swap bodies with the factol of the Harmonium. The same was true of Sarin himself, which had surprised Erin. It spoke volumes about how much the paladin and the ranger both cared about freeing the prisoners. Unfortunately, it hadn't worked, and the other plans they had considered were also unlikely to succeed.
Together with the Chosen, she and her fellow factols had discussed the information about Red Shroud in the Great Gymnasium and consulted on possible questions to ask the Envoy. After that, they had taken a short break and now wanted to meet with Mallin and Hashkar, in the hope of finding a way to help Lereia, Garush and Yelmalis without exposing Sarin to the considerable risk of the demanded kiss. They had chosen the Great Gymnasium as location for this meeting because it was accepted as neutral ground for negotiations by all of Sigil's factions. Rhys had agreed, of course. When Erin entered the Moon Crystal Room, the other factols were already present. Although there were usually only carpets and seat cushions on the floor, twelve chairs been arranged in a wide circle for today. Given the serious nature of the meeting, Rhys had thought a more formal setting would be appropriate. Sarin seemed pensive and a little withdrawn, and since the latter was rather uncharacteristic of him, Erin was quite concerned. On his right sat Mallin and Hashkar, the paladin of Hoar with a grim and somber expression, the old dwarf calm but serious. The seat directly on Sarin's left was still empty, with Rhys sitting one chair over, looking composed and even-tempered as usual, although she too seemed somewhat thoughtful. Ambar, sitting next to her, appeared tense and restless, a striking contrast to his usual cheerful demeanor. Terrance had taken the seat next to him.
Erin suspected that Rhys had deliberately left the chair on Sarin's left empty. As she nodded warmly to Sarin and sat down next to him, she wondered whether the friendly approach between her and the paladin was too obvious. It was clear that the factol of the Ciphers had noticed, but would it be wiser not to show the warm relationship she had with Sarin by now too openly? She certainly didn't want to compromise him. On the one hand, she didn't want to weaken his position for pragmatic reasons, but on the other hand, she genuinely appreciated him. However, there had always been a lot of gossip in Sigil, and her lately regular meetings with Sarin would be enough to give people notions. On the other hand, their two factions could certainly benefit from their recent rapprochement, and Sarin surely saw this too, otherwise he would not have allowed it. Although he always emphasized that he wanted nothing to do with the intrigues of the kriegstanz, he was surprisingly good at it. So, within a few seconds, she decided that the developing friendship between Sarin and her was only to their advantage, and all the more so if it was visible to the outside. The Cadence of the Planes seemed to have told Rhys the same, and so she nodded to her gratefully as she took her place next to Sarin. The tiefling woman watched with a knowing smile and the paladin greeted her in a friendly manner.
Shortly thereafter, the door opened again and Naghûl, Kiyoshi, Jana and Sgillin entered. Morânia was not with them, however; the bal'aasi would join them later. The Chosen took the remaining seats, and an expectant silence fell over the room.
Sarin turned to Rhys. “Well, you are the hostess. Therefore ...” He made a brief, inviting gesture.
“Too kind,” the factol of the Ciphers said with a hint of amusement.
“What was wrong now?” the paladin replied, his tone noticeably irritated. Although he was often rather forthright, this went beyond his usual directness and was certainly due to the taut situation.
Rhys raised her hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Just a little joke. I sense a very unpleasant tension in this room.”
Hashkar stroked his long white beard and sighed thoughtfully. “Given the facts, this is not surprising. Of course, this tension could well be exacerbated by further negative facts.“
Ambar looked over at his colleague from the Guvners and took a deep breath before forcing a smile. ”Exactly.”
Whether Hashkar didn't notice his tension or simply ignored it, he smiled kindly at the bard before turning back to Rhys. “Oh, forgive me, esteemed colleague, I didn't mean to interrupt.”
“Never mind.” The factol of the Ciphers waved it off with a placating gesture. “First of all, I would like to warmly welcome everyone present, especially the two guests who are honoring us with their presence today: Factol Hashkar and Factol Mallin.”
Mallin nodded seriously, and the old dwarf this time contented himself with a silent glance at the others.
“In addition to Lereia, Garush and Yelmalis are also trapped in the Abyss,” Rhys continued. “Therefore, at the urgent suggestion of Factol Sarin, we have decided to meet today in the hope of finding a solution together.”
Mallin gave Sarin a brief nod, a gesture that apparently expressed gratitude for putting their recent differences aside for this important matter. Sarin nodded back just as briefly.
“We all know what is the issue here,” Rhys explained matter-of-factly. “Three of the Chosen are Red Shroud's captives, and her demand is very clear: a kiss from Factol Sarin.”
An awkward silence fell over the room after the factol of the Ciphers had stated the tanar’ri’s outrageous demand so clearly. Erin saw Naghûl press his lips together, and everyone else's discomfort was clearly visible too.
Finally, Hashkar nodded seriously. “A truly unpleasant situation and a demand that is as outrageous as it is presumptuous, and one that simply cannot be made on the basis of any guidelines on diplomatic negotiations and interplanar parliamentary law.”
Erin knew Hashkar's long-winded and convoluted way of expressing himself all too well from the Hall of Speakers, but she could see that the Chosen were surprised, even startled.
“That’s true,” Terrance replied calmly. “Unfortunately, Red Shroud doesn't care about diplomacy or guidelines of any kind.”
Hashkar raised his index finger and was about to reply, but then lowered his hand. “That is correct, my dear colleague.”
When Naghûl, still somewhat hesitant, requested to speak, Rhys nodded to him kindly. “You wish to say something, factotum?”
The tiefling nodded. “Yes, thank you, Factol. I just wanted to point out that this is clearly extortion. Despite the seriousness of the situation, we must also consider that we should not make ourselves vulnerable to any kind of coercion.“
Ambar's expression was worried and gloomy. ”In principle, I understand and share this point of view. However, I still consider the situation in this case a unique and special one.”
Erin nodded in agreement, and Jana cautiously raised her hand.
“I am Jana,” she explained at a gesture from Rhys. She looked at Mallin and Hashkar. “I am the Prophet. I see things, such as the sword in the demon fortress. I believe I have found a way to consciously trigger my visions and would like to try to use them purposefully.”
This statement surprised Erin, and apparently everyone else present, factols and Chosen alike. It was new information that Jana was able to consciously bring about her visions. However, Erin was confused that even Terrance frowned briefly at the sorceress' words.
Mallin also raised his eyebrows skeptically. “We know who you are,” he said. “Would you be able to see anything that could help us?”
“With a lot of luck, perhaps a way to free the prisoners and checkmate Red Shroud.” Jana cleared her throat when Terrance shot her a warning glance. “But probably just an image or a short scene,” she then toned down. “I ask permission to speak with the owner of the Brothel for Slaking Intellectual Lusts to get as accurate a picture of Red Shroud as possible.”
Erin couldn't help her eyes widening briefly. She drew in a sharp breath and struggled to regain her composure. Hadn't she clearly stated in her letter that the information about Red Shroud and Fall-from-Grace was to be treated as strictly confidential? A glance at Terrance told her that he was just as surprised and indignant as she was by Jana's statement. Sarin, Ambar, Rhys and the other Chosen also flinched briefly at Jana's words, while Mallin and Hashkar listened attentively of course.
“Why?” asked the factol of the Guvners. “Does Lady Grace have close ties to Red Shroud?”
Jana now seemed to realize her slip and began to stammer. “I only saw Red Shroud for a brief moment in the Abyss. But I think if I imagine her intensely enough while triggering the vision, I might ...”
“Jana ...” Although Terrance was certainly less than thrilled that the sorceress had just divulged strictly confidential information, he managed to keep his tone more indulgent than angry so as not to arouse further suspicion.
“I mean ... I'd rather be quiet now.” Ruefully, Jana stared at the floor between her feet.
Mallin, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow and looked at Erin. “So, if I understand correctly, Fall-from-Grace, a known member of the Sensates, has some connection to Red Shroud?”
Erin had long since regained her composure and smiled charmingly. “Jana seems to have misunderstood something,” she explained. “Red Shroud has been in the brothel once, years ago when she visited the Temple of the Abyss. That's why Grace might be able to describe her in more detail. But I don't think we can gain much from that.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Sarin shot a piercing glance at Jana and Terrance. Although he hid it quite successfully, she knew him well enough by now to know that his self-control was hanging by a thread.
Mallin eyed Erin thoughtfully and then nodded. “All right.” It was hard to tell if he believed her story. But he seemed willing to leave it at that. “Are there any useful plans yet?”
“Perhaps we should eliminate the impossible first,” Hashkar said seriously. “The solution must lie in whatever remains, no matter how inconvenient or improbable it may be.”
“Yes, why not?” Rhys nodded and resumed the moderation. “That's not a bad approach. I'll list what we've ruled out as impossible so far. If anyone has any objections, please speak up. A direct attack, storming Broken Reach to free the prisoners, is out of the question. Correct?“
Sarin sighed. ”Correct. It would be an insane undertaking. Even if we succeeded, not just hundreds or thousands, but at least tens of thousands would die – including the prisoners. The price would be too high.“
”That's true.” Ambar nodded, disillusioned. “As much as I would gladly go there myself right now, it would be pointless.”
“The body swap is also out of the question,” Rhys continued. “Because Sarin won't let Sgillin do it, or because it's simply not possible.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” the paladin asked irritably. “I have tried.”
Sgillin nodded. “I guess, it just doesn't work.”
“I think so too,” Erin came to their aid. “Neither Sgillin nor Sarin can help it; it seems to be given.”
“It seems so,” the factol of the Ciphers agreed. “So, that's also out of the question. Option three: sneak in with a small group and free the three prisoners. Any thoughts?”
Mallin didn't seem enthusiastic. “Even though I hate to admit it, I think that's still more realistic than a direct attack. But that doesn't mean I deem it promising. A lot can go wrong with a plan like that, and it would endanger the prisoners' lives.”
Hashkar nodded. “A lot of individual factors would have to be carefully weighed and all possible variables taken into account.”
The factol of the Ciphers looked at Naghûl, Kiyoshi, Jana and Sgillin. “What do the Chosen think?”
The tiefling swayed his head. “I also think that would be a more realistic approach than a direct attack. But one thing is clear: I don't believe that the Chosen alone can accomplish this.”
While Ambar had seemed very tense since the beginning of the conversation, Terrance glanced warily at Jana from time to time, but otherwise listened quietly. Sarin, on the other hand, seemed strangely absent-minded, which was very uncharacteristic of him.
When he didn't express an opinion about the suggestion, Rhys spoke again. “The advantage of the plan would be that Sarin wouldn't have to kiss Red Shroud, and not many people would die, even if it went wrong. The disadvantage: If something goes wrong, we'll probably never see our friends again. Are there any other suggestions?”
A certain helplessness was palpable in the room, and general head-shaking was the answer.
Rhys nodded gently. “To take every opportunity we have, I have asked Morânia to meditate in the next room and prepare for a conversation with the Envoy. Kiyoshi, would you be so kind as to ask her in?”
The young soldier stood up and disappeared briefly, only to return immediately, followed by Morânia. The bal'aasi bowed low to the factols, smiled briefly at her husband Naghûl, and then looked at Rhys.
“Morânia, I greet you,” said the factol of the Ciphers. “Are you ready to wake the Envoy?”
“I am ready,” the bal'aasi replied. “I don't know how many questions she will answer, but I am sure I can wake her.”
“Thank you, Morânia. We have already thought about some useful questions and, with the agreement of our colleagues Hashkar and Mallin, the Chosen and Sarin will ask them.”
The two factols nodded, and Erin noticed how the two men eyed the bal'aasi with interest, eager to see this demonstration of her gift. Morânia took a seat on the last empty chair to be on the safe side, closed her eyes and seemed to lose herself in contemplation. Then, shortly thereafter, she opened her lids again and her eyes shone with a white light, just as Naghûl had always described. However, it was the first time Erin witnessed the Envoy awakening, and she felt a corresponding sense of excitement at the experience.
When Morânia spoke, her voice had a slight reverberation, like an echo inside a cave. “Ask, and you shall be answered.”
As agreed, Sgillin asked the first question. “Honorable Envoy, is my gift strong enough to swap bodies with a chaotic evil being?”
“Possible,” the angel's soul replied through Morânia's lips.
Unfortunately, this was not very specific information, perhaps due to the fact that there were so many different and differently powerful chaotic evil beings. Ambar shook his head with concern.
Naghûl turned to his wife to ask the next question. “Is the plan to secretly free the prisoners likely to succeed?”
“Uncertain,” replied the Envoy.
Erin sighed softly. Once again, unclear information – and yet it was helpful. Because if the plan for a secret rescue mission was uncertain at best, then it was too risky. At least that was how she saw it, and she was sure that the others would agree. Naghûl also seemed little surprised, having probably expected such an answer. Then he looked at Kiyoshi.
The young soldier stood up and bowed to Morânia before asking his question. “Honorable Envoy-sama, is it possible to obtain a construction plan of the fortress of Broken Reach from the archives of the faction of the venerable factol Hashkar-heika or in the Halls of Record?”
“No,” replied the Envoy.
“Why don't you ask for this in the archives?” Hashkar interjected, confused.
“Because they are so extensive that it would probably take days to get such an answer, venerable factol Hashkar-heika,” Kiyoshi replied with a bow. “This saves us time that we may not have.”
The old dwarf frowned and swayed his head, but then gestured that he had nothing more to say. This was a rather unusual reaction for the loquacious scholar, as Erin knew, and thus a clear sign that he too was very eager to hear the next questions for the Envoy. Two more, if she would answer five questions again.
Now Sarin sat up in his chair. Erin knew what he was going to ask, and it was wise to seek this information. “Honorable Envoy,” said the paladin after taking a deep breath. “Would the requested kiss pose a danger to me on a spiritual level?”
“Yes,” Morânia replied without hesitation.
Erin bit her lip and Sarin sighed softly, though he didn't seem surprised. He leaned back and crossed his arms. Jana now glanced briefly at Terrance with a pleading look. After her previous misstep, she obviously wanted to get his permission to ask the question they had discussed. The high priest eyed her sternly, as if to tell her not to do anything stupid, but then nodded. Ambar gave Jana a look, that made it clear that his patience was wearing thin today.
Jana took a deep breath before turning to Morânia. “Honorable Envoy, is Red Shroud or her actions part of the Prophecy?”
“That was a question with or ...” Ambar interjected indignantly.
Erin nodded. Since the Envoy tended to answer questions with yes or no, they had agreed not to ask questions that included or. The question should have been whether Red Shroud was part of the Prophecy, nothing more. When Jana realized her mistake, she blushed from embarrassment and looked guiltily at Terrance, who shook his head and ran his hand over his face. Sarin obviously struggled hard not to snap at the sorceress. Fortunately, Morânia did not answer, and the Envoy seemed to be waiting ... Since Jana's question apparently could not be answered, they had not wasted it.
“Is Red Shroud part of the Prophecy?” Sgillin asked quickly.
“Yes,” replied the Envoy.
That had been five questions and five answers, but the white light still shone in Morânia's eyes ...
“Can I swap bodies with a bulezau?” Sgillin hurriedly added another question, no doubt with the intention of narrowing down and clarifying the first one.
“Yes,” Morânia replied, then the light in her eyes flickered and faded.
Exhausted, the bal'aasi sank back into her chair and Naghûl sitting next to her took her hand and squeezed it. Erin watched with a smile. It was obvious that he was very proud of his wife, and that warmed her heart, all the more so in these difficult hours. Then she looked at her colleagues, but before they could discuss the answers given by the Envoy, there was a knock at the door. Erin glanced at Rhys in surprise, but the tiefling shook her head to indicate that she wasn't expecting anyone.
Kiyoshi's gaze wandered to Sarin. “Honorable Factol Sarin-gensui, shall I see who it is?”
When the paladin nodded, the soldier rose and opened the door. Standing there was a young decurion of the Harmonium who looked a little overwhelmed.
He peered into the room and saluted when he spotted Sarin. “Factol, there is a tanar'ri here who claims to have a message from Red Shroud. We didn't know what to do, but your adjutant Amariel said it could be very important. So we brought her here.”
Erin could see that her colleague from the Harmonium was struggling to retain his composure. However, he nodded to the decurion. “Let her in.”
The young man stepped aside, and a kelvezu entered the room, with deep red skin and two curved horns. She carried something large and flat in front of her, covered with a cloth.
Then she bowed as best she could with the object in both hands. “I present compliments from my mistress, Red Shroud, ruler of Broken Reach,” she said. “I have a message for Factol Sarin.”
The paladin crossed his arms. “Do you,” he replied grimly.
“Indeed.” The kelvezu grinned a little. “If you will graciously allow me, my lord, I will deliver the message.”
Sarin signaled to Kiyoshi to close the door. “Very well. Let me hear your mistress' message.”
Mallin had risen and stepped beside the tanar'ri, as if to make it clear that she should not dare to do anything foolish. One of his hands lay lightly on the hilt of his sword, but otherwise he stood calmly beside her. The kelvezu set down the object she had been carrying and pulled away the cloth. A large mirror in a dark metal frame appeared. Sarin rose and stepped a little closer to the mirror. Erin sat up straight in her chair, holding her breath to see what would happen next. The kelvezu spoke a command word, and the mirror glass lit up briefly. Then an image of Red Shroud appeared in it – in all her almost painful beauty. The mane of jet-black hair flowing down her back, her full lips and high cheekbones combined with her reddish skin, curved horns and large, leathery wings created a breathtaking sight. The black, gold-embroidered fabric of her dress revealed enough to showcase the perfection of her body, but still concealed enough to spark the imagination.
The mere sight of her surely was enough to send a wave of heat through the men present, and Erin realized that neither she herself was entirely immune to it. Red Shroud's mere image in the mirror seemed to warm up the room a few degrees. The factol of the Sensates saw that Sgillin in particular was staring at the mirror as if spellbound. The other men made more of an effort to hide their fascination, but it was clear that no one remained completely unmoved at the sight of the demon princess. As Sarin stepped closer to the mirror, it was evident that the succubus staring back at him was making a certain impression. It was hard not to think about the demanded kiss at that moment.
Sarin briefly twisted his mouth as she accurately guessed what was happening in Sigil.
With a playful expression of reproach, she raised her index finger. “I would amicably advise you against it, even though I know it will be of no avail. I would like to offer you my conditions for our meeting. Of course, I don't expect you to come to Broken Reach, and certainly not alone. And you can't possibly expect me to come to Sigil.”
Sarin crossed his arms. Since it was a message recorded in the mirror, to which he could not reply, he had no choice but to listen to her conditions.
“I therefore propose a meeting on neutral ground,” Red Shroud declared, now more serious. “Everyone brings only a reasonable entourage. You ten people and me ten people. That's all.
No armies, no legions of bodyguards. You also give me your word that you will not try to betray me in any way, your word as a paladin. I get a kiss, you get Lereia, Yelmalis and Garush. I assure you that they are well and no one has harmed them - yet. That's how it shall stay, isn't it?”
A sigh of relief could be heard, especially from Ambar and the Chosen. Erin suspected that Red Shroud was telling the truth. Since she still needed the prisoners as lever, they were probably safe, for now.
“But I have to warn you,” the demoness continued. “And all those who are undoubtedly working with you on this matter. Should there be any sign of treachery, the three prisoners will die. I will always keep capable demons close to them who will end their lives if you try to betray me. But that goes without saying, doesn't it?“ She smiled grimly. ”So, to sum up: We'll meet on neutral ground, everyone will bring a maximum of ten people, no matter who they are. You kiss me, then you get the prisoners I'll bring with me. If anything goes wrong or if I even suspect treachery, the three will die. A simple agreement, isn't it?”
Erin saw Sarin's hands slowly clench into fists. The unholy but no less powerful attraction of the beautiful demoness, combined with her outrageous demand and brazen extortion, was certainly not easy to bear, even less so for a paladin and happily married husband. But he contained himself and listened to the message until the end.
“Send me your answer by tomorrow evening in this magic mirror or by any other means of your choosing,” Red Shroud demanded. “Don't take any longer, or I will kill one of the prisoners! I’ll still have two left, who I'm sure are also dear to you. I don't know yet who will be the victim. I'll decide on whim. Give the mirror to my courier tomorrow. Or kill her and send another messenger, I don't really care. I wish you the Lady's Grace, Factol Sarin, and look forward to meeting you.”
Then the image faded and Sarin stared at his own reflection in the mirror. For a moment, he looked at it with a grim expression, then clenched his left hand into a fist and struck the glass with his right. He had used only the heel of his hand, but the mirror shattered and broke. He would have to convey the answer to Red Shroud in another one. Startled, the kelvezu took a step back.
“Kiyoshi!” Sarin said in a harsh voice. “The men outside are to arrest this demon and imprison her in the Barracks.”
The young soldier nodded briefly, opened the door again and looked outside. “Comrades, orders from the factol: the demon is under arrest.”
The decurion saluted. “Of course!” He and another officer led the kelvezu away, who made no attempt to resist.
When Kiyoshi closed the door again, Mallin let out a fierce growl. “Charming.”
Sarin rubbed his temples as he returned to his chair, visibly struggling to regain his composure.
“If the kiss is not to take place in Broken Reach,” Sgillin now interjected cautiously, “then perhaps that opens up new possibilities for us.”
Erin gave him a friendly look to make it clear that they were all in the same boat now and that his faction allegiance was irrelevant to her, at least for the moment. “In what way, Sgillin?”
“We bring ten people and they bring ten,” the ranger explained. “But we still have the three prisoners, so we're already thirteen. And we're on neutral ground, which greatly improves our chances, unlike in Broken Reach. Furthermore, we have the opportunity to use our gifts.”
“Didn't you hear what that woman just said?” Ambar interjected emphatically. “That she'll kill the prisoners at the first sign that something's wrong!”
Sgillin nodded. “Right. But assuming that I manage to swap bodies with the demon guarding the prisoners ...”
The bard shook his head. “And what if there's more than one guard? Which I think is likely.”
“Then I could use the element of surprise,” Sgillin suggested. “If she reacts quickly enough, Lereia might use her gift to take out at least one guard. And I don't think Garush will stand back either.”
“That's a lot of ifs,” Ambar said skeptically. “The risk of the prisoners being killed in such an action is very high!”
Morânia apparently shared the bard's concerns. “We must also not forget that Red Shroud is a master of poisons,” she said. “She certainly has access to substances that would make it impossible to heal and thus rescue the prisoners.”
Sgillin nodded and his shoulders slumped a little. “But the alternative is only the kiss ... or a rescue mission in Broken Reach itself.”
Ambar took a deep breath and looked at Sarin. “May I ... ask the blasphemous question ... whether the kiss ... is in any way an option?”
The paladin looked up. “I've been waiting for that question for quite some time and I'm surprised it wasn't asked sooner.”
“So you're considering it?” The half-elf seemed to hold his breath.
Sarin eyed him seriously. “Do you know what that could mean for me, Ambar?”
“Yes,” the bard replied quietly. “Of course.”
There was silence for a moment, then Terrance spoke. “If you fear Red Shroud's influence - and rightly so - there are ways to protect you.”
Sarin sighed deeply. “But it's not just about the consequences of this kiss and how I protect myself. Do you realize what you're asking of me? To kiss such a powerful succubus? Do you understand what that could mean for me?“ He was visibly torn, and Erin felt for him. It was a more than difficult decision.
Terrance nodded. ”Yes,“ he replied, more curtly than usual. ”That's clear, this is especially problematic … for a paladin.“
He was clearly trying to keep his tone neutral, but of course he had hit a sore spot with Sarin, so it was no surprise that the paladin took offense.
“I know you don't care about my religious conviction,” Sarin growled. “Athar ...”
Erin looked alarmed at Rhys, who was also watching the two men with concern. The danger of an unpleasant confrontation was in the air.
Terrance leaned back. “I didn't say I don't care. But I think the core problem is not what I just said, but that it bothers you that I have clerical power without believing in the gods.” His voice was calm, but his statement was obviously fuel for further conflict.
“Yes!” Sarin replied vehemently. “Yes, it bothers me immensely. Because it is wrong!”
“Wrong?” Now, for the first time, there was displeasure in Terrance's voice. “And who decides what is right and wrong? You? The Harmonium? By the Lady, you are at your best today. Sometimes, Sarin, you really grate on me.”
Erin could see Naghûl shrink a little in his chair while Mallin shot the Athar's factol a withering glance.
“Likewise,” Sarin snapped at the high priest of the Great Unknown. “But what kind of understanding did I expect from a man who betrayed the goddess to whom he owed everything?”
Terrance's eyes darkened. “What I have achieved in my life, I owe to myself! And how dare you claim that I betrayed my goddess? My beliefs have changed, and when I realized that, I had enough honesty and decency to resign my office immediately!”
Erin felt the urge to step between the two men, but she held back. There simply were profound philosophical differences between Harmonium and Athar, and it was not for her to belittle the position of one – or both – of her colleagues by downplaying their dispute. Only if they came to an agreement on their own, it would permanently strengthen their alliance. None of the others present intervened either; the room seemed to hold its breath.
Terrance still glared at Sarin. “So stop using a word like betrayal in this context! You're frustrated that you can't act as you might think is necessary because your goddess forbids it. I am not subject to such restrictions and yet I possess the same power. And that is what bothers you.”
“Yes!” Sarin snapped at him. “Yes, that and your whole faction of embittered, blasphemous, god-despising would-be saviors!”
Erin bit her lip in the face of Sarin's barely suppressed anger, but contrary to her fears, Terrance now calmed down again.
“Thank you for telling me so frankly what you think of me,” he said dryly. “I would certainly feel the urge to withdraw from this matter, but my conscience stands in the way.” He leaned back, crossed his arms and fell silent.
Erin could see that Sarin was already regretting his outburst, because he closed his eyes, probably in an attempt to regain his composure as well.
Rhys cleared her throat, apparently deciding to intervene after all. “We should postpone this particular topic ... or drop it altogether, I suppose.”
Erin reached out and placed her hand gently and carefully on her colleague's forearm. “Sarin, everyone in this room, without exception, understands if you don't want to or won't do that.”
“It's not that I don't want to help ...” the paladin replied, but he paused when a soft groan came from Jana's direction.
The sorceress slid off her chair and sat down on the floor in front of it, then her eyes turned milky white and her head fell back. As she slumped down, Terrance, sitting next to her, quickly leaned forward and held her by the shoulders so she wouldn't fall to the side.
Hashkar raised his bushy white eyebrows and watched the scene with interest. “Is she having a vision?”
Ambar nodded. “It seems so.”
Jana sat there quietly for a while, only her eyes moving back and forth. Everyone present watched her intently, but no one said anything, as if not to disturb the vision – even though this probably would not have had any effect. After about a minute, Jana came to herself again and gasped for air.
Terrance leaned forward. “Are you all right?” he asked, clearly concerned despite his earlier annoyance over the matter with Grace.
“Yes, Factol,” the sorceress murmured. “Thank you.” She hurriedly stood up and sat back down in her chair.
Mallin was the first to break the ensuing silence. “Don't keep us in suspense,” he urged impatiently. “What did you see?”
Jana glanced at Terrance, who nodded encouragingly, not without shaking his head reproachfully at Mallin's brusque manner.
“There was a room,” the sorceress explained. “It was round and had a fairly high ceiling. I saw several people there. I can't remember all of them, but I recognized Factol Ambar, Factol Terrance and the Chosen gathered here. Then Factol Sarin entered the room, dressed in precious garments, and spoke to you for a moment, Factol.” She looked at Terrance. “Factol Ambar also said something, but I couldn't understand it. Then everyone disappeared from the room, as if there was a time leap, and for a brief moment, Red Shroud was visible. Then she too disappeared and I saw Factol Sarin again, together with his wife.”
Sarin raised his eyebrows. “With my wife?”
Jana nodded. “You ... were holding her in your arms, Factol,” she replied quietly.
“Was I?” the paladin murmured.
“You didn't seem … particularly happy,” Jana explained, looking quite distressed.
Sarin eyed her for a while, then nodded slowly and leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
Hashkar frowned. “Does that mean ...?” Uncharacteristically, he didn't finish the sentence, clearly unhappy.
“We don't know,” Terrance explained calmly. “We only know what Jana saw.”
For a while, a deep silence hung over the room. Everyone seemed to be lost in thought, trying to figure out what Jana's vision, combined with the Envoy's answers and Red Shroud's message, could possibly mean.
Finally, Terrance looked up and turned to his colleague from the Harmonium. “I want to apologize, Sarin. I was a little harsh. I know your faith means a lot to you. I didn't mean to belittle it.”
Sarin actually smiled at these words and waved it off with a hint of exhaustion. “It’s all right. And I shouldn’t have used the term betrayal. I ask your forgiveness.”
“You said what you think,” the high priest replied matter-of-factly. “That’s how it is with Athar and paladins.”
There it was, the common ground Erin had hoped the two men would find by themselves. She had been sure they would find. She was relieved that, even in this difficult situation, the new alliance between their factions did not threaten to splinter.
Mallin, on the other hand, grumbled impatiently. “How nice that you understand each other so well. However, it doesn't solve the core problem. How do we deal with Red Shroud? The kiss? The secret rescue mission? Open combat?“
”Surely Red Shroud has enough enemies,“ Naghûl pointed out. ”Even such who would love to attack Broken Reach. It would be difficult to relate them to us. But amidst such chaos, a rescue attempt could be successful.”
Ambar frowned. “I thought we had ruled out a direct attack.”
As rare as it was for Godsmen and Mercykillers to agree, in this case Mallin concurred with the bard. “I don't think we have time to forge a quasi-alliance against Broken Reach with other shady elements. Red Shroud wants an answer tomorrow and ...“
”I will do it.“
All eyes turned to Sarin, who had sat up in his chair and was looking around seriously.
Mallin faltered at his interjection. ”Sarin ...”
Erin felt her heart sink and saw Naghûl and Morânia exchange worried glances across from her.
But Sarin looked at Mallin. “It is as you say: Red Shroud won't give us time for such plans.” He raised his hand to prevent his colleague from responding. “No, seriously. I will do it.”
Terrance was clearly surprised. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Sarin replied seriously. “Otherwise I wouldn't have said it. And I will explain why. I think a direct attack is absolute madness. Red Shroud has defended her fortress against many a demon prince, successfully. Besides: her threat to kill the prisoners as soon as she suspects the slightest sign of betrayal ... I take that very seriously. She hasn't been in the Abyss for so long and is still alive and powerful for nothing. I wouldn't put it past her. I'm not saying it's impossible to save the prisoners' lives. But it's just as possible that they'll die during a rescue attempt. As Lady Morânia said it, Red Shroud is a master of the most unimaginable poisons. Who knows what she has up her sleeve. It could happen incredibly quickly. And we know from Yelmalis that the past cannot always be changed ... or the future. It's a very special situation and the risk for the prisoners is extremely high. If we were facing a bunch of gnolls, I would say: Go for it. But this is Red Shroud, that's a different league. I ... I talked to my wife about it. She's the only person I'm accountable to in this matter, and she agrees.” With that, he leaned back in his chair and stared at the floor in front of him, his expression that of a man who has accepted something inevitable.
The silence in the room after this statement was almost tangible. Erin felt a mixture of relief and deep concern, a mood that was apparently shared by Ambar, Naghûl, Morânia and Kiyoshi. Jana, on the other hand, seemed just as relieved, but not concerned, rather satisfied with Sarin's decision - possibly precisely because it jeopardized his status as a paladin. The factol of the Sensates sensed that Jana's reaction annoyed her, partly because she herself cared a lot about Sarin, but also because she found such behavior inappropriate within a joint alliance. Sgillin, by contrast, seemed genuinely surprised and, despite the quarrels between him and Sarin, clearly concerned. Terrance's reaction was similar. Rhys appeared calm and composed as usual, but seemed more serious and thoughtful. The same was true of Hashkar, while Mallin didn't hide that Sarin's decision made him anything but happy.
Erin looked at the paladin sitting next to her and resisted the temptation to put her hand on his arm once more. “Sarin ...” she said slowly instead. “I ... well, this is a very risky thing to do. The Envoy explicitly said ...”
“It is what it is,” the factol of the Harmonium replied curtly, but not dismissively.
Mallin eyed him seriously. “Sarin ... I really care about Garush and I want her back safe and sound. But still, I'm not sure you should do this.”
Sarin shook his head as if to prevent further discussion. “I believe somehow ... this is how it shall be.”
“I think I know what you're thinking ...” said Rhys.
Naghûl sat up straight in his chair. “I think Factol Sarin is right,” he stated seriously. “It seems there is no other way.”
Hashkar sighed deeply. “That thought does not make me happy.”
“Me neither, my dear colleague,” Sarin replied. “But based on the facts at hand, there seems to be no other option. Red Shroud wants an answer tomorrow, and she'll get it. That leaves several questions: Where and when exactly shall the kiss take place? She will let me know soon, I'm sure, and I suspect she won't want to wait long. So we should prepare ourselves for the possibility that it could happen within the next two or three days. The next question is who will accompany me. I will think about that during the course of the day. And finally ...“ He looked at Terrance. ”Finally, there is another very important question: Can you protect me from this woman's influence?“
This direct and open question surprised Erin, and Terrance also raised his eyebrows in surprise. ”Me? Are you sure?”
Sarin frowned. “I would like to say that I am sure to be strong enough on my own. But I don't want to risk falling for a succubus' charms out of false vanity.”
A certain sarcasm crept into Terrance's voice, but it was more self-deprecating than cynical. “The factol of the Athar is helping the factol of the Harmonium so that he doesn't lose his paladin status? By the Lady ...”
Sarin sighed. “Because this paladin is going to kiss a succubus, which he should never do, because of a Prophecy that we don't know where it will lead us. Both things are absurd enough, so at least they go together.”
Hashkar looked at his colleague thoughtfully. “An unusual logic, my friend, but one I can't argue with at the moment.”
When Sarin's decision was made, Erin felt the spark of hope for the prisoners' survival grow into a steady flame. But at the same time, that light was overshadowed by concerns and dark forebodings. If the kiss really happened, what might the consequences be? Even if the Envoy could have answered that question, Erin wasn't sure she wanted to hear it.
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played April 16, 2013
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