Shadows over Sigil - The Deva Spark

A New Chosen

„Know. Act. Be."

Factol Rhys

Third Lady's Day of Tithing, 126 HR

Naghûl reviewed the last few weeks in his mind as he entered the Limbo Bar. Immediately after they had uncovered the Hive Strangler Murders, as they had come to be called, they had returned to their respective factols to report back to them in detail - all except for the still-factionless Sgillin, of course. Erin had found the whole story very exciting, but was concerned about the sleeper issue and had said she wanted to get more information about it. Ambar had been thrilled with the Chosen's success, though belatedly concerned that Lereia had put herself in so much danger. Terrance had been very calm about the whole thing, but was equally concerned about the Illuminated plans and felt that the entire project should be shut down. However, he was reluctant to suggest violent means - at least for now. Sarin had been pleased with the outcome of the mission, if not thrilled that Skall had been on his tail in the aftermath. He had acknowledged, however, that the Chosen could do little about it. He had also hinted at trying to find a solution to the whole thing - and contrary to Terrance, he didn't seem averse to violent means. Then about two months had passed. Weeks in which the new Chosen of the Ring Prophecy had not exclusively gone their separate ways, but in which everyone had nevertheless pursued their own duties, business or inclinations. Kiyoshi, for example, had been fully occupied with going through the eight weeks of basic training that all Harmonium recruits had to complete. While there had hardly been any time for this before the events in the Hive, Kiyoshi's factol had apparently decided that it was important and useful to give his new recruit this experience. An experience that would not have been very high on Naghûl's list of priorities, but which he nevertheless assumed would benefit the young man from Kamigawa. After all, he was completely new to the City of Doors and the basic training would definitely familiarize him with the Cage and its customs. As the investigations in the Hive had shown, this was definitely necessary. Jana had also used the past few weeks to settle more and more into her new faction. She had spent a lot of time on the grounds of the Shattered Temple, often in the company of Askorion, Terrance's deputy Jaya or even the factol himself. The rest of the time she had mostly been found in her house in the Hive, where Naghûl had visited her twice. She still harbored deep doubts about the whole story of the prophecy and had instead preferred to look after the prostitutes of the Gatehouse District or to internalize some of the Athar's writings. Lereia and Sgillin had come to the realization that the events recently set in motion would probably bind them to Sigil indefinitely. Even though it was not easy for them, they had therefore decided to leave behind them the island on the world of Toril, which they had inhabited for a while and which had also been a second home to Naghûl. They had been there for a few more weeks to settle all their affairs and inform some friends that they would be away for a while. Then they had returned to the Cage and Lereia had familiarized herself more closely with her new faction. Sgillin was staying with her, but had been hanging around with Naghûl a lot when Lereia had been at the Foundry. He also made more frequent forays alone these days, about which he did not tell much - and Naghûl did not ask, respecting that the half-elf also had his own business in Sigil, whatever it might be. Naghûl, on the other hand, had spent the time with his duties at the Festhall, a few new experiences and, of course, his wife Morânia. Not being allowed to tell her about the top-secret prophecy or the events in the Hive had been difficult for him, however. It was therefore almost fortunate that Morânia had been on the Prime during the time of the murders and in the few weeks afterwards - on the very same island that Lereia and Sgillin had said goodbye to for the time being. A long history connected Morânia and himself to this island. In the principality of Meresin, located there, they had stood by the citizens in some difficult battles - first against a corrupt prince and his henchmen, then against demons, golems and the undead. Her services to the principality had ultimately earned Morânia the title of countess there - which she had recently resigned from in order to serve the island's security in other ways, in an order of paladins. Those very events - the handing over of the county to her successor and the organization of the order - had kept Morânia away from Sigil completely for a while, just at the time when Naghûl and the others had stumbled into the House of Visions and the whole story with the prophecy. But then she had returned to Sigil, and as much as Naghûl was happy to have his wife by his side again, it was hard not to be able to tell her about the recent events. Especially as he realized that these events would bring him back to Sigil permanently, that the episode they had shared on the Prime was coming to an end, at least for him. That was fine in itself - other, new and exciting experiences certainly awaited him. But his wife was still committed to her paladin order on the Prime and would certainly continue to spend most of her time in the small principality. Fortunately, they were both over a hundred years old and living apart for a few weeks or even months was not as difficult for them as it would have been for a young human couple. But now there was something that separated them on another level - a prophecy on the one hand and his wife's religious obligations on the other. And while Naghûl knew exactly what Morânia's duties were, he couldn't tell her about his new responsibilities. Even though it was quiet at the moment and all the Chosen were - for now - going about their own business, it was not a situation Naghûl particularly liked. He had thought back and forth about what to do. And just as he had decided to ask Lady Erin if he could let his wife in on the prophecy, fate had got there first. They had sat together in Morânia's house in the Market Ward, chatting and spending the evening over a bottle of good Arborean wine. Naghûl had not failed to notice that his wife had been quieter than usual for a few days, pensive somehow. That evening, he had found out why. It was something internal to the faction, she had told him, but after a few weeks of consideration, she had decided that the matter was too big and important to deal with alone. Therefore, she had asked her factol, Rhys, to confide in her husband and had received permission to do so. Naghûl had hardly believed his ears when Morânia had told him that Rhys had found a parchment in the City of the Star in Elysium - a piece of an ancient prophecy. Then she had told him the now all-too-familiar story: about the Chosen of the Ring, the Deus Machina ... and that Factol Rhys assumed that Morânia was one of those Chosen. Her connection to the Cadence of the Planes had led her to this conclusion. Naghûl's boundless surprise had quickly given way to deep relief that not only did he no longer have to exclude his wife, but that they were part of this together. Excitedly, he had then told her his part of the story, and also about Lereia, Jana, Sgillin and Kiyoshi, about the alliance of the four factions and the murders in the Hive. Just everything. And as he had done so, he had realized how Morânia's astonishment too had given way to relief. They had talked most of the night, both in high spirits about all the news, but also happy to be able to get through this together now. The next day, Morânia had told Rhys about it, and the Cipher factol had declared that she would approach her colleagues Sarin, Erin, Terrance and Ambar about the matter. And just as Rhys had put the other factols in the picture, it was now Naghûl's job to do the same with the other Chosen.