SESSION 21: THE SAINT’S SCHISM
May 11th, 2008
The 9th Day of Kadal in the 790th Year of the Seyrunian Dynasty
Tee turned around. “Ranthir?”
Ranthir muttered a few words of magic and then carefully examined the invisible barrier. “It’s completely impenetrable. And beyond my ability to dispel.”
“I thought we got rid of the ghost.”
“Apparently not,” Agnarr said.
“Or there’s more than one ghost haunting this place,” Tor said.
Tee grimaced. “Let’s hope that’s not the case.” She paused for a moment and thought things over. “All right. We can’t get out this way, but we can always climb down the walls. Let’s head back up to that collapsed balcony. I think that’ll be easiest.”
Tee headed back into the courtyard. A flash of lightning drew her eye upwards… and she suddenly caught sight of a large, hunched figure leaning over the edge of a walkway that stretched between two of the keep’s towers. Instinctively she whipped out her dragon pistol and fired.
The blast of energy struck the edge of the bridge. The figure jerked back and then shambled off towards one of the towers – disappearing from sight.
“What was it?” Elestra asked.
“I don’t know,” Tee said, slowly holstering the pistol. “I couldn’t see it clearly.”
A TORMENTED LEAVETAKING
They headed back into the keep. Their footsteps and quiet whispers seemed muffled. The entire place seemed enshrouded by a preternatural silence.
But they reached the room that had once led to the now-ruined balcony without any difficulty. The gaping hole in the wall looked out across a sweeping view of Oldtown, but their eyes were drawn down along the crumbling stonework of the keep’s wall to the sharp, jagged wreckage of the wooden balcony below.
Given their ill-luck with climbing in the past, they decided that they would need a rope if they were all going to make it safely to the ground below. Looking around, Tee decided the best place to tie the rope off was the wrought iron railing of the spiral staircase in the next room.
Tee took a few moments to make sure the knot was nice and tight. But she was also coming to distrust this entire house and whatever spirits were roaming it, so she decided to keep an eye on it.
It was well that she did, because as soon as Tor put his weight on the rope and began to lower himself, the rope began to untie itself. Tee cried out a warning and Tor, feeling the rope go slack between his fingers, jumped for the wall and caught the edge.
After a quick discussion, they decided not to try tying it again. Instead, they all grabbed hold of the rope and tried to lower Tor to the ground. But this, too, met with near-disaster: The rope began to fray, unraveling itself before their eyes. Tor scrambled back up into the room and Tee, frowning, put her damaged rope away. (Elestra promised to fix it for her later – her affinity with the creations of man giving her a magical knack for such things.)
They decided to try another approach. Agnarr took the boots of levitation from Tee and put them on, then he grabbed Dominic and tried to carry him down to the ground.
Looking up as they slowly descended, Agnarr caught sight of another opening father up the wall – a second, smaller balcony that had also collapsed. It was a fortunate that this caught his eye, however, because otherwise he might not have noticed – when they were halfway down – that one of the keep’s crenellations was being “pushed” over the edge towards them. As the massive stone block tipped over, Agnarr turned off the boots and fell.
Agnarr did his best to cushion Dominic, but Dominic still landed heavily and awkwardly. Agnarr only had a moment to give a last, desperate effort to shove Dominic out of the way—And then the stone block landed right on top of him.
Dominic, unaware of what was happening, stumbled away painfully. “What are you–?”
He turned around to see Agnarr crushed beneath the heavy stone block. His legs and lower body had been caught directly beneath the block, and pieces of the broken balcony thrusted up through his shoulder – leaving him twisted awkwardly in the air. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“I need help!” Dominic called out.
The stone block began to rise back into the air.
“Thanks!” Dominic pulled Agnarr out of the way and opened the flow of holy energy that would slowly knit his bones and heal his tortured body.
But none of the others had been responsible for the block’s levitation: It was the spirit. Resetting the trap to crush anyone foolish enough to try to follow Agnarr and Dominic.
Tor, however, was thinking quickly. When the block was halfway up the building, he jumped for it: Landing on the block and trying to quickly jump again. But he wasn’t quick enough: As soon as he landed on it, the block began spinning wildly – throwing him into the wall of the keep. Tor tried to grab onto the wall, but the crumbling stonework gave way beneath his scrabbling fingers and he crashed heavily to the ground below. He felt at least two of his ribs break.
Elestra, driven to desperation by the chaos of the situation, suddenly called out to the Spirit of the City – begging it for aid. And the prayer was answered: She felt her body transforming. For a moment she was frightened, but then – as she found herself flying with the wings of a raven – it seemed the most perfectly natural thing in the world. She gently lifted Ranthir’s familiar, Erin, from his shoulder and flew her to safety on the ground below.
By now, however, the stone was hovering twenty feet above the opening they were trying to escape from… waiting for them.
Ranthir, gulping deeply, decided that there was nothing they could do except risk it. He began climbing down the side of the building. At first it seemed as if he might make it… but then it became clear that the spirit had simply been toying with him: The stone fell again. Ranthir let go of the wall, but then felt as if he were being grabbed by unseen hands. These unseen hands hurled him towards the ground, sending him crashing heavily into the sharp, wooden debris. The breath was smashed from his body… and then blackness claimed him as the stone smashed down on top of him.
Agnarr darted forward and snapped the iron collar from Ghul’s Labyrinth onto Ranthir’s body, hoping to trap his soul on the border between life and death until they could figure out some way to get him out from under the stone block… but then, once again, the block began to rise into the air.
Tee, meanwhile, was climbing horizontally along the wall – trying to avoid the stone block. She managed to get almost twenty feet down the wall before another crenellation was “shoved” from the roof. Tee leapt to one side to avoid it, then lost her grip on the crumbling masonry of the wall and fell. She tried to roll with it, but like Ranthir she could feel spectral hands propelling her relentlessly towards the ground.
Agnarr, standing next to Ranthir, looked up just in time to see the second stone block coming towards him – he caught it and, grunting with effort, heaved it to one side.
Tor and Agnarr managed to pull Ranthir free from the wreckage, and then – with Tee and Dominic – hobbled towards the outer wall of the estate. Dominic managed to restore the breath to Ranthir’s body as they went, and they clambered over the outer wall.
The farther they got from the house, the weaker the malevolent spirit hanging over them seemed.
THE TEMPLE OF ITOR
They slowly made their way back towards the Ghostly Minstrel. As they were leaving Oldtown, they were suddenly struck by a downpour – an autumn squall out of the north, blowing out of the lee of the Spire.
As the others turned into Delvers’ Square, Tee and Dominic excused themselves and continued north into the Temple District. They were seeking the Temple of Itor: Tee thought it might be good for Dominic to speak with Urlenius, the Star of Itor. Perhaps another living saint might have some advice for him.
Unfortunately, although the priests there welcomed them inside out of the cold rain, Urlenius wasn’t there. Frustrated, Tee and Dominic headed back towards the Ghostly Minstrel to join the others.
SERVANT OF THE SURGEON
The others, entering the Minstrel, glanced into the common room and noticed Urlenius sitting at a table – his familiar halo of ioun stones floating around his head.
Tellith greeted them with a smile and a wave. “Is Mistress Tee with you? There’s a letter for her. No? All right.” Then she came a little closer and spoke quietly. “There’s someone waiting for you. On the second floor in the room at the head of the stairs. I put him in there because he was disturbing the other customer. Well, unsettling them anyway.”
“Who is it?” Agnarr asked, but Tellith just shook her head.
They looked at each other, and then Agnarr just shrugged and began heading up the stairs.
Their intention was to go to their rooms first and change out of their rain-drenched and bloodied clothes, but as they reached the second floor the door of the room directly across the hall swung open and a strange man stepped out. He was short and squat, but their gaze was immediately drawn to his face where his eyes were covered (or replaced?) with large metal spheres set into the sockets. His ears, too, were covered with boxy metallic contraptions. Small antennas protruded from these devices in various directions.
“You are the companions of Mistress Tithenmamiwen?” The man’s voice was strangely metallic and unnatural. “My name is Ribok. I have… business… with you.”
The man backed into the room and they warily followed him.
“I represent the…. Surgeon in the Shadows… It has come to his attention that you have… recently acquired certain items. Certain technology of the… taint. Is this true?”
“Yes,” Elestra said.
“Why?” Tor asked.
“The Surgeon would be interested in… acquiring such items. He would pay you well. He would pay… better than others would.”
“We don’t have them,” Tor said.
“Would Mistress Tithenmamiwen have them?”
“Perhaps,” Tor said. “In any case, we would need to talk to her before making any kind of decision.”
“I see.”
“How can we contact you?”
“I will… wait.”
They backed carefully out of the room and headed upstairs.
THE STAR OF ITOR
Tee and Dominic returned to the Ghostly Minstrel. Tee received her letter from Tellith, but immediately pocketed it because she had spotted Urlenius in the common room. He had a massive feast laid out on the table before him.
Tee herded Dominic over to him. “Urlenius? I don’t know if you’ll remember us—“
“Of course I remember you,” Urlenius said. “Mistress Tee and Brother Dominic! …chicken leg?” He proffered a roasted drumstick.
“No, thank you.” Tee smiled. “I was hoping you might be willing to talk to Dominic. You see, a few days ago…” She quickly spilled out the entire story of how they had gone to Rehobath; how he had identified Dominic as the Chosen of Vehthyl. “And he’s called a convocation tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure what to do,” Dominic said.
Urlenius had become serious, his food forgotten. “Rehobath believes you to be the Chosen of Vehthyl?”
“Yes.”
“Is it true?”
Dominic hesitated. Then he murmured a prayer to the God of Mysteries, and opened his eyes to reveal the silver glow. He only allowed them to shine for a moment before willing it away again.
Urlenius’ lips had parted. “It is true.”
Tee hesitantly interrupted. “Can Rehobath be trusted?”
“I don’t know,” Urlenius said. “I do not trust the Imperial Church, but that doesn’t mean I don’t trust those who are part of it.”
“Why don’t you trust the Church?”
“When I was younger, I was a monster. Bestial like much of my kind. The Brotherhood of Redemption found me and took me in. They taught me the ways of civilization. They gave to me the teachings of the Nine Gods. But the Church condemns the Brotherhood and its works. They have even condemned me upon occasion. It is hard to trust that which does not trust you.”
At the moment, Tellith came over and whispered in Tee’s ear. She wanted to know if Tee could take the time to deal with Ribok. Tee, not entirely sure of what was going on – but gathering that the others were already involved – agreed. She excused herself.
Dominic stayed. “How were you Chosen?”
“I received a vision in which I spoke to the god Itor himself. He told me that there was a path before me and that, if I chose to follow it, great good would come of it.”
“He actually speaks to you?”
“No. I have never been visited in that way again. Except once, and I will not speak of that. Being one of the Chosen means that your entire life is an expression of the will of the gods.”
“That didn’t happen for me. At least… I don’t think so…” Dominic paused for a moment, and then candidly told Urlenius of his memory loss. And of the few memories he did have – including one of waking with the holy symbol of Vehthyl clutched in his hand.
“Most strange,” Urlenius said. “Perhaps you should speak with the Malkuth.”
“Who?”
“The Malkuth. They claim to have stood before the Nine Gods themselves and returned. You met one of them – Aoska – at Castle Shard.”
“And what do you think I should do about Rehobath?”
“If you have been Chosen, then you should follow your own instincts. They will guide you true. And he is, after all, a member of your own Church.” Urlenius smiled, gesturing at Dominic’s shoulder. Then he held out his other hand. “Chicken leg?”
“Yes, please!” Dominic grinned.
TURNING THE SURGEON AWAY
Tee headed upstairs and spoke with the others. They explained the situation. Then she headed back down to the second floor. As she reached up to knock on the door, it opened.
“Welcome… Mistress Tithenmamiwen.”
“You know who I am?”
Ribok looked up into the air for a moment. “Yes… of course. It has come to our attention that you have… certain items in your possession. Chaositech. The Surgeon would like… to purchase them.”
“I don’t have them any more.”
“But you could obtain them?”
“I doubt it.”
Ribok looked into the distance again, then back to Tee. “The Surgeon would… pay well… for nothing more than the location in which such items were… found.”
“We’ll think about it.”
“I cannot… persuade you?”
“Not for now. Where can I contact you?”
“We will… contact you.”
Ribok walked past her, down the stairs, and out of the Ghostly Minstrel.
“Creepy…” Tee muttered under her breath.
AT THE COMMISSAR’S REQUEST
Tee suddenly remembered that the items she had requested from the Dreaming Apothecary might have arrived. With a wide grin, she took the stairs two at a time and threw open the door to her room.
… but, sadly, the items had not been delivered.
Standing in her room, however, she remembered the letter that Tellith had given her. She pulled it out and broke the seal.
Mistress Tithenmamiwen—
I would like to speak with you. Please come to the Dalenguard at once.
Commissar Urnst
“Oh shit…” Tee quickly jammed the letter back into her pocket and ran out of the Ghostly Minstrel, hailing the first cab she saw and commanding it to use all haste in taking her to the Dalenguard.
At the Dalenguard’s gate, she showed the Commissar’s letter to the guards on duty. From there she was led up onto the battlements of the Main Keep.
The rain had eased itself into a gentle drizzle, but the sky was still filled with a cold, grey light. The Commissar stood by himself, inspecting more than a dozen cannons.
The guard leading Tee stopped a fair distance away. The Commissar looked up and waved her towards him. She stepped gingerly forward, leaving the guard behind.
“Mistress Tee?”
“Yes, Commissar.”
“I have heard your name many times over the past few weeks.” The Commissar paused and studied her face. Tee couldn’t think of anything to say, so she didn’t. “Leytha Doraedian has told me that the Silver Fatar believes your friend Dominic to be a living saint. Is it true?”
“I think so,” Tee said. “He has the signs.”
“I see.” The Commissar frowned slightly. “And is it also true that Rehobath has summoned a convocation on the morrow? And that he intends to present Dominic there?”
“Yes.” Tee said. “Do you think we can trust him?”
“I don’t know,” the Commissar said. “But the last time there was an unexpected gathering in this city, I was nearly assassinated.” He paused for a moment, then turned and laid one hand on the cannon he was standing next to. “Do you see these cannons, Tee?” She nodded. “They are known as the Commissar’s Guns. They are powerful weapons. They were made to protect this city. Just as I have been chosen to protect this city. From the walls of the Dalenguard they can be fired to the south. And to the north. And to the west. But they cannot be fired to the east. Do you know why?”
Tee looked to the east and, through the silvery gloom of the rain, the answer was clear. “Because of the Spire.”
“Yes. Because of the Spire. The greatest enigma. The utter unknown.” The Commissar turned back and looked at her. “These cannons cannot protect the city from any danger which comes from the unknown. Neither can I. I don’t know what Rehobath intends. And I can’t protect the city against what I don’t know.”
Tee again found herself at a loss for words.
The Commissar turned back to his cannons. “Thank you, Mistress Tee. I have no doubt that I shall be seeing you again soon enough.”
OF PRELATES…
(09/10/790)
The next morning, with doubt still hanging over them, they left the Ghostly Minstrel and headed towards the Outer Cathedral of Athor.
As they approached the cathedral, it was impossible to miss the distinctive navy blue uniforms of the Commissar’s Guard surrounding the cathedral at a respectful – but not discreet – distance. They stood all along Sunrise Street and Godsday Circle.
A crowd had already begun to gather on the grassy avenue between the two artificial ponds leading up to the cathedral. A temporary stage had been erected in front of the cathedral, extending out from its ancient stone steps. Several rows of seating were arranged directly in front of the stage, with the rest of the crowd arrayed behind them.
The party was met by several priests. Dominic was taken inside the cathedral while the others were shown to seats in the second row. Tee, looking around, could see that here on the cathedral’s grounds the Commissar’s men were absent – but there were several dozen members of the Order of the Dawn standing guard here and there. Elestra spotted Sir Kabel Dathim, the head of the order, sitting in the front row.
Dominic, meanwhile, was being taken up to Rehobath’s office. Rehobath greeted him as he arrived with a friendly smile, although Dominic couldn’t help but notice that he met him on the far side of the room away from the desk of godwood. “Dominic! Thank you again. You have given me a clarity of vision and set a path before us which shall see the Church restored to its proper glory.”
“Oh… You’re… welcome?”
Rehobath gestured to one of the many priests circling around him. The priest brought forth a finely carved box of darkly-stained wood. “This for you.”
Dominic opened the box… revealing the purple robes of a prelate.
“Umm… These are above my rank.”
“Not any more.” Rehobath smiled. “One who has been chosen by the gods can’t be merely a priest.”
Two of the priests helped Dominic put on the purple robes. Rehobath stepped forward and fixed the symbols of his rank – those of the prelate and the itinerant – on his shoulder.
…AND NOVARCHS
Rehobath led them down to the sacred hall of the cathedral. A procession had gathered there, and Rehobath took his place at the head of it, with Dominic immediately behind him and at his right hand.
Rehobath mounted the stage, along with Dominic and several other prelates. Rehobath raised his arms and the crowd fell silent.
We live in a time of darkness and pain. We live in a time of trouble and despair. We look towards the gods and we wonder when they shall give us the hope of salvation to guide us and light our way.
But the gods have been silent. They have been silent because we have lost our way. And turned our backs upon them. And cast our eyes into shadow.
I come to speak to you today because the Church has lost its way. In its failures we see manifest the fracturing of our faith. We see the loss of our pride and our hope.
Tee began shifting uneasily, her thoughts casting back to the words of the Commissar the night before. Where was Rehobath going with all of this?
And how has the Church come to lose its way? Not through its own actions – blessed by the gods as they are – but by the meddling of others. A meddling that we have seen before. A meddling that was denounced by the Holy Blood of Barund. Denounced by the councils! Denounced by the Nine Gods themselves!
It is the meddling of the false Emperor. And now it is the meddling of the False Novarch that the False Emperor has raised up in idolatry. I was there in the Council of Councils and I saw these heresies performed. I saw the Nine Gods forgotten in the holiest of all places!
“What?” Elestra murmured, her face turning white. Tor glanced over and saw Sir Kabel glowering, clearly unhappy with what he was hearing.
I have prayed long to the Nine Gods. I have pleaded with them to reveal the path by which I could restore the true light of the Church.
And, at long last, they have answered my prayers. They have sent to me a sign. The chosen of Vehthyl – a living saint – walks among us. He has come to me and he has told me that the time has come to act.
Rehobath turned to Dominic and held out his arm. Dominic, with nervous steps, edged forwards. At Rehobath’s inviting nod, he murmured his prayer to Vehthyl… and his eyes shined forth.
The crowd gasped. Rehobath whirled.
The Nine Gods have answered my prayers. They have named me their Living Voice. They have chosen me as the True Novarch and told me to stand against the False Novarch of the Emperor.
Today is the day we take back our Church and our Faith! If you hold the Nine Gods true in your heart, then raise your voice with me in their praise!
“Oh gods…” Tee began edging her way towards the edge of the crowd, worrying that things might turn to riot. But the crowd was cheering. The priests nearest them had also risen to their feet, although they maintained a slightly greater decorum.
The doors of the cathedral opened again. The holy symbols of the nine gods – each crafted from glowing godwood – were brought forth. As they passed Dominic, each symbol pulsed with scintillating brilliance, prompting a fresh cheer from the crowd.
The symbols were placed in a circle around Rehobath, who kneeled in the center of them and lowered his head in prayer. After a few moments he raised his face to heaven.
Liquid light in a diamond flask was brought forth. The glowing liquid was poured across Rehobath’s brow, bathing him in its light as it coursed down over his shoulders.
A circlet of elfin gold was produced and placed upon Rehobath’s brow. As it settled into place, the liquid light flowed back up across his body, becoming concentrated in a great glowing bauble that shone forth from his forehead.
Priests bearing the red robes of the novarch emerged from the cathedral. Rehobath rose and the robes were wrapped around him, covering the silver robes of the fatar.
Rehobath turned and led the procession as it returned to the cathedral.
Dominic, following in his wake, was filled with sadness. This had all been a mistake. He had sought aid from the Church when his village had been lost. He had sought help from Reformist and Church alike here in Ptolus. He had gotten none. All of them it seemed wanted nothing more than to use him for their own gain or send him away as a madman. Rehobath couldn’t help him. Or, at the very least, Dominic couldn’t trust him. He was confused by the betrayal of his Church. He was worried that he had failed his friends and placed them in danger.
But perhaps he didn’t need a Church. He communed with the Divine in his own way every day. He would find the answers on his own. He would find the strength of his own resolve in this. And when he needed help, he would rely on the strength and trust of his friends.
The great doors of the cathedral swung shut behind him. The sacred hall seemed to fall into darkness.
