The Silver Sphinx

 

“Even in the Ethereal, where everything passes and flows, the heart holds on to what it loves.”

wisdom of the phirblas

 

 

Fourth Guild Day of Mortis, 126 HR

 

Ambar sat in his chambers in the palace on the Ethereal Plane and read the short transcript on the piece of parchment in front of him once again. The Chosen had found this text in a book in the catacombs underneath Broken Reach, and Yelmalis had copied part of it. After the events in the Opal Tears Palace, the air genasi had sent a copy of it to the other group. It was the first time they had discovered truly tangible and concrete information about the mysterious Deus Machina. And yet the text fragment remained enigmatic. Once again, Ambar’s eyes wandered over the lines:

 

“... which may even date back to the time of Arendur. The ancient tome ”Deus Machina" by Tolumvire suggests that the so-called God Machine is a machine-like mechanism that is directly integrated into the architecture of Sigil. The book contains a comprehensive theory of the Deus Machina, and one of the last copies is said to be in the Archives of Arendur, in the Library of the Keeper. According to Tolumvire, components of what could be the most complex dream machine in the multiverse still exist, embedded into the ancient architecture of Sigil. If activated, it could alter and shape space, time and all reality. The presumed components of the God Machine are described below.

 

Primary Components:

 

The Wheel

The Wheel is a network of ley lines that connect all other components of the Deus Machina. In this way, all Pillars and God Stones are linked together. The Wheel is often used as a synonym for the Deus Machina.

 

The Four Pillars

The Four Pillars are the nodes or axes of the Deus Machina. They channel the energy of the God Stones through the Machine. The Pillars probably shape the raw energy of the God Stones into something constructive. The Four Pillars are CADE (body), MENO (mind), ANI (soul) and FATI (fate).

 

The God Stones

They provide the energy that powers the Machine. Each God Stone is linked to a specific moral concept. It is therefore assumed that the God Stones serve as a kind of moral compass for the God Machine. In this way, the God Stones determine the intention and feelings behind the changes in reality brought about by the Machine. The number of God Stones is ...”

 

At this point, the text broke off. Ambar sighed. Of course, at this crucial point. Lereia had told him that Yelmalis, Jana, Tarik and Sekhemkare had been unable to turn the page of the Abyssal book to find out the number of God Stones. What were God Stones anyway? And what the Four Pillars? How were they part of Sigil’s architecture? Despite the importance of this discovery, the ancient text raised additional questions.

“Are you still pondering that scrap of paper?” Kayedi's bell-like voice jolted him out of his thoughts.

His pixie familiar fluttered into the room, apparently in a good mood and followed by his deputy, Ombidias.

“Forgive us for barging in like this,” the voadkyn said. “I knocked, but apparently ...”

“Apparently Ambar was too busy reading that old text over and over again and didn't hear you.” Kayedi landed on the half-elf's shoulder, as she did so often.

Ombidias laughed amiably. “Yes, it seems so.”

“Guilty as charged,” the bard replied cheerfully. “Unfortunately, I'm still none the wiser.”

He beckoned Ombidias to take a seat, and his deputy sat down next to him on the sofa. It was, of course, too small for the tall voadkyn, so he had to draw up his knees.

“May I?” he asked, pointing to the transcript from the old book.

Ambar nodded and handed him the piece of paper. While his deputy read it attentively, the half-elf leaned back and gestured briefly to Kayedi to be silent so as not to disturb Ombidias while he was reading. The pixie rolled her eyes but kept quiet. However, she lifted off Ambar's shoulder and spun around the room a few times, leaving a glittering trail of fairy dust behind her.

Finally, Ombidias lowered the piece of paper again. “Yeah, well ... I have no idea what this is supposed to tell us,” he said.

“I'm relieved that you're as baffled as I am,” Ambar explained. “I'll meet with the other factols to discuss it. Let's see if any of my colleagues know more.”

“Where's Lereia?” Kayedi, who had fluttered back to him, interrupted the conversation. “She came to the palace with you yesterday, didn't she?”

“She’s still asleep,” Ambar replied with a smile. “She seems to sleep quite a lot, which may in part be due to the exertion caused by her imprisonment in the Abyss. But she is also a weretigress, and tigers sleep a lot.”

Ombidias nodded and eyed the bard intently. Ambar had the impression that it was a mixture of a good friend’s polite curiosity and the interest of a nature-loving shaman. “How do you cope with the fact that your new girlfriend can turn into a huge tigress?”

“I grew up in the forests of Fayrill,” Ambar explained with a laugh. “I had contact with therianthropes even as a child. And I'm a ranger, so I consider it a gift of the wild. She has it under control, so I have no fears.”

Ombidias nodded. “It's good that she accepts this side of herself. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to develop. Does she sometimes roam about in her tiger form? I've never seen that.“

”I think she's still holding back,“ Ambar replied. ”She's not used to showing herself like that from Faerûn. But I told her not to feel pressured if she wants to. That it's not a problem in Sigil.”

Kayedi landed on Ambar's shoulder once more and playfully tugged at a strand of his red hair. “And how are things between you two? You seem a little pensive. Is everything alright?”

“Yes, everything is fine,” the half-elf reassured his familiar. “We are obviously a couple, but it's only been two days since she returned from the Abyss. I think she ... doesn't quite know how to behave around me yet.”

“No wonder,” Ombidias replied calmly. “You are her factol, after all.”

Ambar sighed. ”Yes, she said that too. And that she didn't want to embarrass me or treat me disrespectfully. But I really don't want to be her factol first and foremost. We are a couple now.”

“However, as you said yourself, just recently.” The voadkyn smiled. “I think you both need to get used to it. After all, you haven't had a longtime companion since you became factol. And you've been factol for over twenty years.”

“Not that there was a lack of opportunities or interest,” Kayedi interjected.

Despite her teasing tone, Ambar remained serious. “Yes, as much as I’m singing songs about love, it has never been that easy for me. After Caye's death back then, I was convinced there could never be anyone else for me. And when, after many years, I did enter into a relationship again, I quickly realized ... it wasn't working. At least not permanently. It was nice at first, and I thought I was happy. But it didn't last, as you know.” Ambar reminisced about his time in the Outlands, about a young woman with whom he had parted ways amicably, but also about a man with whom things had been more complicated. More painful. Kayedi had witnessed all of this, and Ombidias also knew about it because he had told his friend and deputy. “I tried again in Sigil, back when I was a factor. But in the end, it didn't last. So after that, I stuck to short and harmless adventures.”

Ombidias looked at him, attentively, sympathetically, inquiringly. “And this time it's different?”

“Yes.” Ambar nodded seriously. “This time, what I feel is different. Deeper, more reliable.”

The voadkyn was silent for a moment, looking at the transcript he had placed on the table. He seemed to struggle with himself, but then he spoke what was on his mind. “And the fact that she was with an Anarchist before doesn't worry you?”

Ambar had suspected that this topic would come up. He didn't hold it against Ombidias for asking. As the factol's deputy, he not only had the right, but also the duty to do so. “Lereia didn't know anything about Sgillin's membership in the Revolutionary League for a long time,” he explained.

“I don’t mean Lereia,” the shaman clarified. “Aren’t you worried that Sgillin might be … well, jealous? And that this could give him any ideas? After all, he is an Anarchist who often has very close contact with various factols.”

Ombidias’ serious tone made Kayedi stop playing with the strand of hair and eye Ambar just as intently.

“I understand your thoughts and your concern,” the bard replied. “They are not unjustified. But I am sure that Sgillin is not that kind of man. He may be chaotic and have his own views on the power structures here in Sigil, yes. But if you ask me whether I consider him a violent criminal or even a murderer, the answer is clearly no.“

Ombidias’ gaze softened again. ”I trust your judgment, Ambar. However, we don't know what company he might get in with in the Revolutionary League. Nevertheless, remain vigilant.”

“Of course,” the half-elf assured. “I am, and his friends certainly are as well. The Prophecy protects him, of course. But perhaps it protects us too.”

“Speaking of protection ...” The voadkyn leaned back. “Do you know how Sarin is doing?”

“Unfortunately not,” Ambar replied with a sigh. “I haven't seen him since the events at the Opal Tears Palace. But then again, it's only been two days, and I think he needs time to come to terms with everything that has happened.”

Ombidias eyed him inquiringly. “You're worried.”

“Of course. I'm afraid there's plenty of reason to be.”

“And you feel guilty.”

“There's no question about that.” Ambar sighed. “And Lereia feels the same way. She said that if she had had a say in the matter, she would never have allowed it.”

Ombidias nodded thoughtfully. “Well, Sarin is not a man who lets anyone else have a say in such matters, I assume. Besides, he's someone who makes difficult decisions and stands by them once he has made them. It was his own choice, and he's too honorable to hold others responsible afterwards.“

”Mhmm.“ Kayedi nodded wisely. ”Lawful paladins can be exhausting, but in some matters, you can really rely on them.”

Ambar had to smile a little at that remark. “You're right. And yet ... We're all thinking about it now, of course. Terrance in particular. I could clearly see his anger, but also his self-reproach that it came to ... well, that. We can't yet guess what effects this kiss might have. I fear that it will develop rather insidiously.“

”Yes, probably,“ Ombidias agreed. ”I must admit, as far as I am concerned, the incident has cast a somewhat different light upon him. He no longer seems so ... unapproachable. It was a very honorable decision on his part.”

“Definitely.” Ambar nodded. “Since I've gotten to know Sarin a little better, I think he would often prefer to be the knight rather than the general. But in his position, he has to be the general more often. That makes him seem tougher on the outside.”

“According to the Keeper and the Proclaimer, he is the Lady's Knight,” the shaman said. “Very fitting, then. So what does it mean that you are the Lady's Herald?”

Ambar laughed a little. “I have no idea, believe me. And I'd rather not talk about the nebulous verse Sir Lorias revealed to me. There are too few clues to really make anything of it.”

“All right.” The voadkyn grinned. “I'll spare you. For now. But there's something else I'd like to talk about, now that all this is over.” He made a vague gesture, clearly referring to both the events surrounding Red Shroud and the Abyss, as well as the long-unresolved situation between Ambar and Lereia.

The half-elf raised his eyebrows. “And what is that?”

“The lost fragment of your soul,” Ombidias replied, now serious again.

“Yes, that's something I would also like to learn more about,” Kayedi agreed with the voadkyn.

Ambar sighed. Of course, this was a topic that had often preoccupied him, and the uncertainty was quite stressful. It was only natural that both his familiar and his long-time friend and deputy were also concerned about it. “Terrance and Rhys assume that the severed part of my soul is still in Sigil,” he replied obligingly. “And that sounds plausible. The strange thing is that I don't feel any different. I mean, if part of my soul is missing, shouldn't I sense that somehow?”

“Maybe because it's only a small part?” Ombidias speculated. “Lereia described your signature as very complex. Just like that of the other factols or, for example, the deva Ybdiel – but also Red Shroud. So maybe you're not missing very much compared to your entire signature.”

“Well, let's hope so,” Ambar replied. “But to answer your question, there may indeed be progress. Terrance has managed to find a soul compass.”

“A ... soul compass?” The shaman raised his eyebrows questioningly.

Ambar nodded. “The idea came up when we met after the Hive Strangler Murders. When the Ciphers joined our little alliance. Naghûl spontaneously had the thought, and Terrance said he wasn't sure if such a thing existed, but he would look for it. And he found something.”

“That sounds excellent!” Ombidias said hopefully. “How does it work?”

“I'll find out when I meet with Terrance tomorrow,” the half-elf replied. “I really hope we can solve this mystery then.”

 

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(based on the role-playing sessions with Lereia’s player on May 19 and 27, 2013)