The Silver Sphinx

 

“It Is Wrong To Consort With Demons.”

ninth principle of the Pax Benevola from the Book of the Harmonium

 

 

Third Market Day of Mortis, 126 HR

Factol Erin was on her way to the premiere of a new play at the Elloweth Theater when a messenger of the Harmonium with urgent news was announced. The young officer had apparently arrived on a griffon - a clear sign that the matter was serious. For this reason, she immediately received the half-orc and listened to what he had to say. He informed her that he had come directly on Sarin's orders and asked her to meet the paladin at the Barracks immediately – a group that included a member of her faction had returned from an important mission and not everything had gone according to plan. Erin's heart sank when she heard the last part of the message. It could only be about the Chosen and their mission in the Abyss – and apparently something had gone wrong. She briefly told her consort and deputy Da'nanin about it, asked him to go to the premiere in her place, and then made her way to the Barracks as quickly as possible.

In Sigil, as quickly as possible usually meant by air. Erin therefore had her flying carriage prepared. The open gondola consisted of a huge shell, but as a cool rain was falling in the Cage that evening, she activated the magical barrier that formed a transparent roof. Four Arborean pegasi pulled the flying vehicle swiftly but safely across the already darkening sky of Sigil. Da'nanin's assistant, a pink-haired gnome named Amoretta Twinklefern, steered the vehicle. They quickly left the Festhall District behind, flew over Thespia Square, and soon over the Great Gymnasium. Erin suspected that her colleague Rhys was also on her way to the Barracks. Even though Morânia had not gone to the Abyss for understandable reasons, the factol of the Ciphers had surely been invited as well and wanted to hear what unexpected events had occurred during the mission. As the Guildhall Ward merged into the Market Ward and they approached the Great Bazaar, Erin drummed her fingers impatiently on the mother-of-pearl rim of the large shell. What could have happened to make Sarin call for her so urgently? Patience was not one of her strong points anyway, and this flight, as fast as the winged horses raced across the sky, was pure torture.

 

 

As the Market Ward gave way to the Lady's Ward and the towers of the Barracks finally appeared below them, Erin's nerves were stretched to breaking point. Amoretta landed the flying carriage on the Griffon Tower, as the messenger had requested. Two officers immediately took care of the pegasi, while a third hurriedly led Erin to the upper floor of the Barracks and to Sarin's office. When she entered, Terrance and, as expected, Rhys were already there. They sat together with the exhausted-looking Chosen at the long conference table, while Sarin paced restlessly back and forth. Erin immediately recognized that only Naghûl, Kiyoshi, Sgillin and Jana were present - Lereia was missing. As relieved as the factol of the Sensates was to see her factotum, the absence of the weretigress filled her with dread. Startled, she looked at Naghûl, who, like the other Chosen, had stood up and bowed before her, and who nodded grimly in response to her questioning glance. Sarin bowed his head briefly in her direction, a greeting uncharacteristically curt for the paladin, and began to explain when the door opened again and Ambar entered.

“Sarin, I greet you,” he said. “I received your message and came as quickly as I could. What ...” He paused when he also noticed Lereia's absence. Concern and alarm appeared in his eyes. “What ... what is going on here? Where is Lereia?”

Sarin sighed deeply. “She is still in the Abyss,” he replied seriously.

Ambar's eyes widened in horror. “What do you mean, still in the Abyss? Is she ...” His voice died down, apparently unable to express the terrible thought that had crept up on him.

Erin also swallowed hard and eyed the paladin anxiously.

“She's alive,” Sarin assured him quickly. “But she's a prisoner of Red Shroud.”

“She ... what?!” The news seemed to throw the bard completely off track. “But how ... how did that happen?”

Sarin pointed to the Chosen sitting at the table with gloomy expressions. “We'll get a report in a moment.” Then his voice softened a little. “I'm sorry, Ambar. I promise we'll do everything in our power.”

He pointed to the empty chairs between Terrance and Rhys and pulled one back for Erin. She took a seat and Ambar sat down next to her, visibly shaken. It was unusual to see the otherwise eloquent and cheerful bard suddenly so quiet and distraught – and it clearly showed how much he cared about Lereia. Erin gave him a sympathetic look, and Terrance patted him comfortingly on the shoulder as he sat down. After Sarin had also taken his seat, he nodded to Kiyoshi, inviting him to report on the events in the Abyss. Only now did Erin notice that the young man had apparently grown wings and a dragon's tail in the Abyss. In her alarm over Lereia's absence, she hadn't realized it at first. He must have had another surge of dragon blood.

The young soldier now recounted the Chosen’s journey through the gate town of Plague-Mort and their passage through the portal to Pazunia. He apparently wanted to fall back into his usual attention to detail, but a glance from Sarin was enough to bring him back to the essentials. He reported how they had reached the fortress of Broken Reach, how they had managed to find a way into the catacombs and how they had met the other group of Chosen there. Erin was not overly surprised that the others had also found ways to learn about important things such as the Three Swords. Kiyoshi then gave a somewhat brief account of their journey through the catacombs, their discovery of the book about the Deus Machina – the copied pages of which were now in Yelmalis' possession in the Abyss – and finally he told how they had found the sword Hope . He immediately showed the white blade, placing it carefully, almost reverently, in the middle of the table. Then, with a serious expression, he recounted how they had been teleported directly into Red Shroud's chambers when they had left the catacombs – and that Lereia, Garush and Yelmalis had been missing.

At this point, Kiyoshi paused briefly to clear his throat before continuing: “Then she explained that she wanted something in exchange for the prisoners and made her demand ...” He paused once more and looked at his factol, visibly nervous, as it seemed to Erin.

“Now tell us,” Sarin urged him. “What does the demoness want?”

Kiyoshi took a deep breath. “She demands ... a kiss from you, honorable Factol.”

“What?!” Erin exclaimed in disbelief.

Sarin stared at Kiyoshi as if he hadn't understood his words - or as if he couldn't believe them. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. It was the first time Erin had ever seen him speechless. All the color drained from Ambar's face, Terrance looked genuinely surprised and even Rhys seemed astonished. Naghûl, Sgillin and Jana nodded grimly at Kiyoshi's words.

“She ... what?” Sarin finally found his voice again, clearly stunned. “Repeat that! I must have misheard, right?”

Kiyoshi lowered his gaze. “Honorable Factol, I'm afraid I must inform you that your hearing is excellent.”

“That's insane!” Ambar exclaimed. “What kind of crazy demand is that?!”

Sarin knit his dark brows. “What ... whatever gave her that idea? What’s the point of it? Why would she want something like that?”

“Yes, why?” Ambar ran his fingers through his red hair, clearly in a state of agitation. “What kind of farce is this?”

“Red Shroud is a succubus,” Naghûl replied, uncharacteristically serious and dejected. “Her purpose is to seduce and lead people astray. It would be an immense triumph for her if she could get someone as respected and of such high standing as Factol Sarin to kiss her.” He sighed and then addressed the paladin directly. “Factol, you are a loving husband and father, a paladin of a good and lawful goddess and the head of the Harmonium. Any one of these qualities alone would be reason enough for a succubus to want this kiss, but you embody all of them. You would therefore be a welcome ... trophy for Red Shroud.“

Sgillin nodded grimly. ”Not to mention the potential dependence that could follow."

At the word trophy and Sgillin's final remark, Sarin's expression changed from stunned to angry. “It's outrageous to even make such a demand!”

“I understand your concerns,” Ambar replied unhappily. “But what will become of the prisoners? How will we get them back?”

“I want to free them too,” the paladin assured him earnestly. “But without becoming one of Red Shroud's victims.”

Sgillin, who had obviously been pondering for a while, now sat up straighter and apparently made up his mind. “Perhaps you won't have to, honorable Factol.”

All eyes now turned to the ranger in surprise.

“Do you have a plan?” Sarin asked, no less astonished.

Sgillin nodded. “Perhaps ... if it works. I mean, if I manage to use my gift on you, then ... in truth, I would be the one she kisses, not you.”

When the half-elf made this suggestion, a silence fell over the room, partly astounded, partly respectful. Erin had to admit to herself that she was surprised that Sgillin had made such a proposal. On the one hand, because he and Sarin were not exactly on friendly terms due to the recent revelations, and on the other, because the idea was actually out of the question due to the factions the two of them belonged to.

Sarin seemed to feel the same way, raising his eyebrows doubtfully. “You want me to ... swap bodies with an Anarchist? Do you know what you're suggesting?”

“Yes, I do,” Sgillin replied seriously. “I'm open to alternatives.”

Erin was torn. On the one hand, the ranger's suggestion was selfless and did not fit a group in which most members would certainly prefer to watch Sarin kiss Red Shroud rather than put themselves in danger for him. On the other hand, she could understand Sarin all too well. The mere fact that he had shown leniency towards Sgillin's Razor Angels membership was not something that could be taken for granted from someone in the Harmonium. Even less so from the factol. But swapping bodies with an Anarchist - willingly and knowingly - could cost him his office if anyone found out. As could the requested kiss ... a more than messy situation.

“I can't just swap bodies with an Anarchist,” Sarin explained. “As much as I appreciate the gesture ... I am the factol of the Harmonium! There are rules – rules that bind even me! Especially me!”

“By the Lady!” Tension and growing desperation resonated in Ambar's voice. “Can’t you just take a leap of faith? After all, Lereia's life and the lives of the others are at stake!”

Sarin glared at him. “Easy for you to talk. You are not supposed to kiss her.”

Rhys raised her hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Please, gentlemen, this is getting us nowhere. If we start attacking each other, Red Shroud has already won half the battle.”

Terrance nodded. “Yes,” he agreed with the factol of the Ciphers. “That’s true.”

“As I said, I'm open to alternatives,” Sgillin interjected. “I'm not exactly eager to kiss her either.”

“Sarin, please.” Ambar visibly struggled to keep his tone of voice calm. “Can we at least consider the plan? I mean, what are the alternatives? Storming Broken Reach?”

Sarin leaned back and sighed deeply. “That would most likely fail. And even if we managed to do it, the prisoners would certainly not survive such a frontal attack.” He buried his face in his hands for a moment, then fixed his gaze on Sgillin. “What ... would you have to do?”

Sgillin, who had been staring thoughtfully at the tabletop, raised his head. “You have to ... well, how should I put it ... open up to me. Allow the swap. Last time, you repelled me effortlessly. But my attempt wasn't intentional then. The decision was made by my mind, so to speak. But I could try to control it consciously this time.“

”But I wasn't aware that I was repelling you at the time,“ Sarin objected.

Sgillin nodded. ”I think that has to do with the fact that you have a very strong mind and a very strong soul. Similar to Factol Ambar, with whom the swap also failed.”

Ambar sighed. “If the situation weren’t so serious, I’d find this very exciting.”

“Be careful with your soul experiments,” Terrance admonished his friend matter-of-factly.

The bard raised his hands defensively and Sarin took a deep breath. “All right ... Try it. And don’t get any ideas if it works.”

Erin felt relieved, but also somewhat surprised that the paladin was really willing to take this step - as well as Sgillin. It spoke for both of them that they were willing to do everything in their power to save the prisoners.

“You want to try it right now, Factol?” Sgillin seemed a little taken aback by Sarin's quick agreement.

The factol of the Harmonium nodded. “Yes, I'd rather get it over with.”

“All right.” The half-elf sat up a little straighter. “Try not to close your mind.” Then he concentrated on Sarin and his expression became vacant ...

Everyone present watched the scene with bated breath – Erin herself, Naghûl and Jana with excited interest, Rhys and Terrance composed and calmly, Ambar with a certain tension and Kiyoshi with a stoic expression that nevertheless betrayed a hint of concern. Sarin apparently tried to relax, but after a short while, Sgillin was literally thrown back into his chair.

“Ouch!” the half-elf exclaimed.

Erin flinched and everyone looked at Sgillin in alarm.

The paladin, however, raised his hands apologetically. “I'm sorry ... I didn't mean to.”

Sgillin's gaze cleared and he briefly shook his head. “You ... you noticed?”

“Yes, I did,” Sarin confirmed. “I apologize if I hurt you.”

“No, it's fine,” the ranger assured, although he looked a little pale around the nose. “I had my hand on the door handle … so to say. But then you threw me out.”

Sarin cleared his throat. “I briefly felt that this is too dubious after all.”

“Yes, that feeling must have been the problem,” Sgillin said thoughtfully.

Rhys eyed Sarin intently. “You have to let it happen,” she explained with a slight rebuke.

“Oh, really?” the paladin replied, a little irritated. As Ambar took a deep, controlled breath, he rubbed his temples briefly and nodded. “All right, one more time.”

Sgillin concentrated again, his expression once more becoming vacant, but then he opened his eyes and shook his head. “It's not working,” he said, downcast. “Your mind was open, but the swap wasn't possible. Something else is blocking me. Perhaps your entire attitude to life ... your alignment, so to speak.”

Erin nodded thoughtfully. “You are quite opposing souls.”

“That may well be,” said the half-elf, then he looked at Sarin, genuinely dejected. “I'm very sorry.”

With a sigh, the paladin leaned back in his chair. “I don't know whether I should be disappointed or relieved.”

“Relieved?” A hint of indignation crept into Ambar's voice.

Sarin shot him a dark look. “Stop it, Ambar! I'm not holding Lereia captive.”

Rhys raised her hands again in a conciliatory gesture. “Gentlemen ...”

The bard immediately made an apologetic gesture and then ran his hands desperately over his face. “But what now? I mean ... we have to do something!”

Naghûl, sitting opposite Erin, spoke up softly, almost hesitantly. “I might have an idea.”

Sarin raised his head. “Speak.”

“When two extremes collide,” the tiefling explained, “it doesn't necessarily mean that only one side gets hurt. Might there be a way to turn the tables here?”

“Should I kiss her and send her a blast of holy energy?” A hint of cynicism was clearly perceptible in Sarin’s voice.

Naghûl smiled weakly. “Actually, I was thinking of something like that. The consequences would harm her, not you.”

Sarin eyed him seriously. “So your suggestion is that I kiss her?”

“I would prefer the word punish her, Factol.”

Now Sarin actually had to grin briefly. “Nice try to make it palatable to me.”

Ambar, however, remained concerned. “But ... wouldn't that be dangerous? I mean, for the prisoners?”

Erin nodded. “You mean what Red Shroud will do if she is harmed by the kiss? A good point, and one we should not underestimate.”

As she had been doing for a while, Jana stared at the tabletop in discouragement. “No matter what we try, it's going to be a risky game.”

Erin looked at Sarin and could clearly see how torn he was. There was no question that he wanted to help the prisoners, but Red Shroud's demand was not only outrageous, it was also extremely dangerous. This kiss could cost him his status as a paladin as well as his position as factol. But what was even worse: if the demon princess gained influence over him, his family would suffer as well.

These very thoughts seemed to cross the paladin's mind, for he sighed heavily. “Apart from the fact that kissing her is not really up for debate here ... How do I protect myself from her? Red Shroud is very old and powerful, dangerous things could happen.“

The factol of the Sensates cast a hopeful glance at Terrance, and indeed, the high priest nodded. ”There are certainly a few ways to protect you.“

Sarin looked at him seriously. ”Protection you can guarantee, Terrance?”

“Absolute guarantee is something I cannot offer, unfortunately,” the Athar’s factol admitted.

Ambar eyed the two of them tensely. “So ... is the kiss still on the table, or what am I supposed to make of that?”

“I ... no.” Sarin buried his face in his hands in despair. “I don't think so. I ... I'm not sure.”

Rhys gave him a sympathetic look. “I think we should first go through all the options we have and discuss what would be the most sensible and promising course of action.”

Terrance nodded. “Good. So, a frontal attack is out of the question, we agree on that, right?”

“Even though I'd like to say otherwise ...” Sarin sighed. “But yes, I think that's one of the least sensible plans.”

“Maybe a secret rescue mission?” Naghûl considered. “Sneak in? One by one, one here, one there. Just a small but powerful group.”

Kiyoshi thoughtfully shook his head. “Forgive me for saying so, but I'm afraid I'm a terrible sneaker.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, Erin couldn't help but smile a little at this remark, but then she became serious again. “A risky game.”

“Yes, we could easily be killed,” the young soldier stated matter-of-factly. “But there is no shame in an honorable death in battle.”

Sgillin frowned. “Why do you always want to die?”

“I don't want to die,” Kiyoshi clarified. “But in the face of all these powerful demons, it seems more than just a possibility.”

Sarin sighed. “Don't get me wrong: I'm quite willing to die for some things ... if it makes sense.”

“I don't know Red Shroud very well,” Erin interjected. “But I met her once in Sigil and got a certain impression of her. I think she's a woman who is prepared for many things. She's also evil and chaotic, of course. I suspect - just my gut feeling of course - that she would destroy something she can't have or that compromises her rather than give it up. In other words, I could imagine her killing the prisoners at the first sign that something is going wrong with her plan.”

Ambar took a deep breath. “I ... I think she's capable of that, yes.”

Rhys nodded seriously, and Sarin leaned back in his chair with resignation. “As Jana rightly said, everything we try will be risky. And besides ... we should discuss this with Mallin and Hashkar. Garush and Yelmalis are also held captive in Broken Reach. If we don't talk, we might end up planning rescue operations that thwart each other.”

“Unfortunately, that's true,” Ambar admitted.

Erin sighed inwardly. She had resisted working with the Mercykillers and the Fated so much – and after Mallin's aggressive behavior, she had even believed in her victory. But this situation changed everything, of course. She understood Sarin, but she couldn't give in without at least making her position clear. “Despite all that, I'm reluctant to sit down at a table with Rowan Darkwood,” she stated. “I deeply distrust that man.”

“I understand your point of view,” Sarin explained. “But right now, I only want to talk to Hashkar and Mallin.”

“What they learn Rowan Darkwood will most likely learn, too,” Erin replied seriously. “I just wanted to say that.”

“You all have some nerve!” A certain displeasure now crept into Sarin's gaze and voice. “You want me to kiss a succubus and wouldn't let me talk to Mallin and Hashkar about it.”

“I didn't say you should kiss her,” Terrance remarked calmly.

“And I didn't say I was completely against talking to Hashkar and Mallin,” Erin conceded. “But we shouldn't forget what Mallin did.”

Sarin sighed when the subject came up. “I'm partly to blame for that because I fobbed him off several times.”

“Oh, knock it off,” Ambar said angrily. “Now you should be to blame for this outrageous behavior? Come now!”

“I said partly to blame,” the paladin replied irritably.

Erin was downright grateful when Naghûl spoke up again, defusing the tense situation a little. “What happened was indeed outrageous. But in Garush's defense, she was always one of the first to fight and protect all of our lives. We were in the Abyss, where you grow together and other mistakes somehow lose their significance.”

Sgillin nodded in agreement. “And she pulled Lereia out of that trap. I won't forget that.”

“Thanks.” Sarin looked over at the tiefling and the half-elf. “At least two people support my opinion here. Besides, Harmonium, Guvners and Mercykillers are close allies. It can’t go on like this in the long run anyway. And Yelmalis pleaded Jana’s cause - well, that's more of a doubtful honor ...”

The paladin glanced apologetically at Terrance, but the factol of the Athar waved it off. It was clear that he, too, was still not enthusiastic about Jana's actions. The sorceress cleared her throat quietly and lowered her gaze.

“So ...” Ambar ran his fingers through his red hair, his despair and helplessness clearly visible. “Let's go over our options again. A frontal attack is out of the question. A body swap is also out of the question. Sneaking in secretly ... very risky.”

“Body swap might not be completely out of the question,” Sgillin interjected.

Sarin frowned. “How so?”

“If it doesn't work with one side ...” The ranger swayed his head thoughtfully. “Maybe it will work with the other.”

The paladin didn't seem particularly enthusiastic. “And if it doesn't ... I'll look pretty stupid.”

Sgillin sighed. “I admit, the plan isn't without risk.”

“But it might be a good idea to focus on Red Shroud,” Erin considered. “Maybe there's something we can use to extort her just as viciously. I can't think of anything off the top of my head, but I'll make some inquiries, of course.”

The others nodded in agreement, then a thoughtful and helpless silence fell over the room for quite some time.

Finally, it was Rhys who spoke again. “I have a suggestion,” she said with her usual calm. “Let’s pause the meeting, take some time to think things through on our own, and consider possible solutions. Then we’ll meet again, and I’m sure we’ll come up with a promising strategy.”

Sarin nodded. “You're right, Rhys. It's late, our Chosen are exhausted and we're all more than a little shaken right now. This is no time to make good decisions. I ... need to talk to my wife. Naghûl surely wants to tell Morânia about everything that happened. And I'm sure everyone else also needs some time to think things over. Let's sleep on it and meet again tomorrow.”

“As much as I would like to find a solution right now ...” Ambar sighed. “But you and Rhys are right.”

The paladin pushed his chair back to go to his family quarters, but paused and placed a hand on the bard’s shoulder. “Ambar, I promise we will do everything in our power.”

The half-elf nodded gratefully, then they all left Sarin's office to give the situation some thought and process what had happened.

 

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

played April 5, 2013