Shadows over Sigil - The Deva Spark

The Blood of Days Gone By

"In a seemingly monumental move, Tanar'Ri forces grapped control of the hotly contested hill in Othrys known as 'the Stones of Draetilus'. Although located in one of the most inhospitable swamps in the multiverse, the Draetilus stones have remained one of the most coveted prizes in the Blood War. These stones reportedly act as powerful portals to numerous realms and burgs throughout the multiverse. Governor Tenemus Al Karak, Second Librarian of the Vault of Knowledge, told SIGIS that historical records indicate, the stones open conduits to strategic places in Mungoth (third layer of Gehenna), the Prime and even onto the Cage itself."

Report on SIGIS

Third Lower Day of Tithing, 126 HR

A little lost in thought, Morânia leaned against a windowsill in her house in the Market Ward and watched her husband Naghûl set the table: he put down glasses and two carafes, one with water and one with Ysgardian ice wine. Then he fetched plates and forks and proudly placed a homemade cake on the table. Morânia had to smile a little at his joy and enthusiasm. The kitchen was his domain, so she didn't interfere. And as they were expecting guests, Naghûl had of course not missed the opportunity to bake something - not that he had ever needed a special reason to do so. After the unexpected and quite upsetting experiences in the House of Visions, they had all had to sort themselves out a little, but they had planned to meet at Morânia's home a few days later. Unfortunately, Lereia had had to cancel on the same day as she had been called to a meeting with her factol. Sgillin couldn't come either - urgent business, as he said, about which he didn't want to give any details. Morânia had asked Naghûl about it, but he had only shrugged his shoulders and explained that he did not know anything about it. But Sgillin would certainly know what he was doing. Morânia hoped so too, of course, but she couldn't shake off a slight uneasy feeling. In her experience, deals that you didn't want or weren't allowed to tell your friends about were not the most desirable. But she contented herself with it for the time being, and so they now waited for Jana and Kiyoshi. The young soldier arrived right on time, the sorceress only a few minutes later. In contrast to Kiyoshi, who remained standing not far from the door, silent and polite, even serious, Jana immediately looked around curiously.

"Nice here," she remarked cheerfully. "Cozy and quiet."

"Thank you," Morânia replied with a smile. "I've lived here for quite a while. For ... about fifty years, my goodness."

"Oh dear." Jana's eyes widened as she looked at Morânia. "If only I still looked this fresh in fifty years' time."

The bal'aasi was quite familiar with this kind of reaction, especially from short-lived species like humans. She raised her shoulders almost apologetically. "Well, this mixed heritage must have some advantages."

This answer seemed to irritate Jana a little and she frowned. "Well, that's a huge advantage, isn't it?"

"I think so," Morânia conceded. She blocked out the thought of the disadvantages, especially her own, and certainly didn't want to discuss them at the moment. "If you're lucky enough to find a partner to whom that also applies. Otherwise, it can certainly be stressful."

She briefly thought of Lereia and Sgillin - by no means the only couple to whom this was true, but the last one she had dealt with recently. Now, fortunately, Naghûl intervened, jokingly rebuking them and asking them to drop the gloomy topics and honor his cake instead. They all agreed and took their seats around the laid table. Naghûl cut the cake and distributed large pieces onto the plates, while Morânia offered the guests drinks. She noticed that Kiyoshi refused the ice wine and contented himself with water. Whether he considered himself to be on duty, generally didn't drink alcohol or simply didn't feel like it, she couldn't quite fathom. Then they turned their attention to Naghûl's, as always, excellent cake. Jana's table manners left a lot to be desired, but Morânia tried not to let her slight displeasure show. She already knew the sorceress, after all. Kiyoshi, on the other hand, didn't seem to know how to use a fork, but tried bravely. The bal'aasi suspected that he would probably have preferred two chopsticks if the culinary customs of his culture were comparable to those of Sigil's Lotus Blossom District.