Desert Star [Pharaoh]

[Kala Leukos]

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8th of Searing, Year 123 of Steel

Nearly two months of planning bridged the idea shared with the Divine Twins and her arrival in Atraxis. It was a leap of faith. Sahfri would shit herself if she knew. Perhaps Kala was finally starting to see herself as above a mortal Queen-Regent. In any case, she was assured that as much secrecy as could be afforded her would be afforded her. All the same, her divine nimbus was pulled in tightly. All her mastery as a sembler was engaged to shroud her in mystery. Her cloak masked her wings. Many charms to turn away evil eyes and seeking eyes hung amid the beadwork rustling from her. But if absolute secrecy was so important, she would have retired to Starfall entirely. She was here instead.

Swathed in veils, she was one of the last to walk through the portal, preceded by the Avialae, Ceran and Indric, bearing the banner between them: a seven-pointed star azure on argent. Then the elven magus Asallon. Then the Leukos twins. Finally, the baggage.

She didn't know exactly where they were. In Solunarium, she was going to have to rely on the largesse of the Divine Twins. Desert winds swept them as she stepped from flagstone to sand that shifted under her feet. There was a second sun, and it was bright. It seemed as though she couldn't remember being this warm. Her mind showed her the planet rotating and revolving around its star; this close to the equator, it was rarely any sort of cold she would recognize as such. Of course, Avialae were resistant to the cold. All the same, this was a welcome change.

Fire was strong here, and Fire was her element. She stood straighter as her small entourage approached those awaiting them.

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[Pharaoh]

Three robed Sentinels stood before the mouth of the portal, the black in their vestments stark against the pale, sandy background even as the silver shone under the light of the Sceptre. They might have appeared imposing for a welcoming party, but the apparent leader in the centre promptly doffed his veil to reveal the fair face of Phocion, smiling mildly.

"Gratam Arx Petra Rubra." He offered in Vastian, before translating, "Welcome to Red Rock Citadel." He gestured behind her toward the looming mesa into the side of which fortifications had been erected. The architecture was ancient, but one would not recognise that from any erosion over the millennia it had been in use. In the shadow of the high promontory of dark red stone lay a sleepy Vastian village, the inhabitants of which seemed wholly unconcerned with the arrival of a party of foreign dignitaries.

"I am Sentinel Phocion." He announced to those in the party he didn't recognise. "I thought it best to greet you here before we embark upon the city proper. This facility is entirely under the control of the Vigilia Argenti, and thus in loco Umbrium. The political state-of-affairs in Solunarium at the moment is, in a word... complicated. Please." He gestured toward the structure, and began to march toward it, followed by the two figures at his flanks.

"In the aftermath of Arcas' unexpected visit, the Sentinel Order deemed it wise to form a branch of the Vigilia dedicated to divine affairs. I was placed at the head of this new agency, which we have dubbed the Custodes Deorum. These are our headquarters." And with that, he led the delegation through the high archway into a large hall where Vigils, servants and ostensibly clerics were going about the business of the day. He would lead them up a stately staircase toward the upper levels of the facility.

[Kala Leukos]

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The outline of her smile was visible through the saffron-colored silk of her veil. The moonborn elf was a familiar face in this far-off realm and, with his usual panache, told her quite a bit in that short greeting. She and her party bowed, as well.

"Habes gratias, Vigilia," she replied. Kala had been learning Vastian since before the arrival of their original envoy in Kalzasi. If the Divine Twins had shared her divine status with the sentinel prince, she hoped that his Vigilia Argenti was as close-mouthed as they seemed. Eventually, it would become common knowledge. At least here, she was merely a guest rather than an interloper seeking to draw worship from their royal demigods.

She took in all that he said, observing what was available to observe. Perhaps she could get a hold of one of those Sentinel uniforms so she could have it reverse-engineered into something for her. They seemed impervious even to her power of Semblance. The Kalzasern lady was no fabled grandmaster, but there was little she couldn't glean from the world around her given time and attention. Or perhaps the Twins would show her how to channel her divinity into her magic such that nobody could pierce the veil of her seeming.

"Congratulations upon your promotion," she said. "I am certain you will be successful."

And she hoped she would be a better guest than Arcas, who seemed to be a bull in a porcelain shop despite his best intentions.

"How far are we from the capital?"

Of course, if they could open a portal for her from Kalzasi to Arx Petra Rubra, they could surely open one directly to the capital, but she was curious and hadn't been able to orient herself before walking into the welcome shade of the vast edifice. It hadn't appeared on any of the maps she had studied before arriving.

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[Pharaoh]

"Congratulations on your promotion as well." Phocion countered with a wry smirk, cast over his shoulder. He faced forward again, ascending the steps as he answered Kala's question.

"We are a little over a hundred miles from Solunarium Proper in a relatively remote stretch of desert. The village you saw outside is little more than a trading post, which supplies the nomadic Vastii who traverse the open desert." Reaching the uppermost floor, Phocion gestured and led them to a set of heavy, bronze doors, which looked as imposing as its sundry wards would have felt to any Sembler worth their salt. At a gesture, it opened for the Sentinel, who led them into a medium-sized conference chamber lit by the broad-reaching rays of the nearby Sceptre of Aværys. The blazing orb was visible through a floor-to-ceiling window that occupied the entirety of the far wall.

On either side of them, the tapestries festooning the walls seemed to come to life with illuminated energy. To their left a stylised depiction of Zalkyrion bursting forth from Mount Sorokyn glowed like magma over genuflecting mortals bowing repeatedly. To their right, the moving tapestry depicted the coronation of Solunarium's Divine Twins, with a complement of Platinum Dragons occupying the background observing the rites.

In the centre of the room was a long table arrayed with refreshments. Phocion gestured to the chairs rounding the table, and moved to personally pull out the seat at the table's head for Kala, nodding downward encouragingly.

"Now, then. Why don't you tell me a bit about what you hope to accomplish during your stay with us and what, exactly, you would like to be handled with discretion. Total anonymity is difficult to achieve in Solunarium... particularly for those of potency and potential, but as you can doubtless discern from our uniforms, there are ways to dissuade arcane attention to a point. We can offer warded implements, if you've none of your own, and guide you away from areas most likely to be occupied by those with the ability to pierce them."

[Kala Leukos]

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Kaus let go of his telekinetic grasp of the baggage once the local servi took over. He, the standard-bearers, and her Siltori adherant, were the seeds of her holy order. To those who could not recognize her divinity, they were her brother and their mercenary guards. Once they had come to the conference room, Kala removed the saffron-colored silk of her cloak and stretched out her wings, the light of Aværys' gift catching the gold patina of her white feathers. Asallon took the magical raiment and draped it carefully over his forearm. If he was comfortable around his goddess, his devotion was clear in the care he took of her things.

Kala pulled down at her veil for the Sentinel. Her face bore the formal tribal markings of the mountain people who belonged to her now.

His face was familiar to her, but now her eyes could see his faith and his particular connection to Varvara. She was uncertain whether her Semblance was evolving with her or the gift of Naori had opened new senses to her. In many ways she was all but a newborn now, a woman grown but only the beginning of a goddess.

At a small gesture, Ceran and Indric began to furl the banner of her House, and Asallon looked over the refreshments.

"You did extend an invitation," she reminded him with a mild smile, but didn't dawdle in answering his question in good faith. "I met the Divine Twins, and I seek to learn the logistics of divinity from them. I understand they may only have limited time for me, but that dovetails nicely into learning your realm's culture firsthand. I do not seek to draw worship form your Gods, merely to learn from their example. This place will certainly suffice for audience with them, but I should like to see the capital, as well. I have some control over my nimbus, as well as my skills as a Sembler to invert my mortal aura. The enchantment on my cloak is a masterwork glamour, and the Iron Queen has done everything in her power to hide the fact that a female Avialae exists. I do not know how successful her efforts have been. Even she doesn't know about my... promotion.

"Eventually, the revelation of my wings will reach Gel'Grandal and I will become a target. Eventually, the revelation of my divinity will also become known; I only cling to secrecy there because I haven't quite come into my power, let alone divine wisdom. If my raiment was not enough to turn your senses," she continued, a movement of her arm making beads and charms rattle, many of them enchanted with frivolous things to distract a Sembler as much as offer her little advantages, "then I might need your aid for movement in more discerning company.

"Oh, and if I return to Kalzasi with a trade agreement, I can oust the current Minister of Finance. Deus Aværys does appreciate ambition." She smiled. Her mortal ambitions hadn't left her, though she was aware that at some point they might fall away as loftier goals took up her attention. It would be easier to be a scheming noblewoman for the time being, however, and people were wont to see what they wanted to see.

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[Pharaoh]

“Indeed I did, and I am glad you accepted it, but my question is more about where in the realm you hope to tread now that you’re here. My foremost concern is security.” Phocion replied, matter-of-factly as he claimed a seat across from Kala.

“The new order headquartered here is devoted to divine affairs and our knowledge of your particular circumstances derives not from my own powers of assessment, but from Their foreknowledge. The Founders take personal interest in your well-being. That being said, you will be accorded the freedom of this facility and the Umbrium, which remains under Sentinel oversight. I would suggest you accept a complement of our own to bolster your security in the capital. I would also suggest you avoid the Luxium altogether, but if you insist, at least keep out of the inner walls. The House of Sol’Aværys is likely to regard you as a threat or a valuable resource to be exploited. Likely both. If you would like to see a sunlit city, I might recommend Tertium where we would be better positioned to protect you. It is under joint custody, and so your diplomatic immunity extends there.” Phocion nodded to the servi, who moved toward the table offering carefully curated wine selections.

“I’ve no doubt a trade agreement can be reached with ease, though I shall leave that in the capable hands of them who specialise in matters mercantile.” Smiling, he extended a gloved hand to grasp the stem of his glass.

“In the meanwhile allow me to toast your first visit to the ancient dual realm of Solunarium.” He would meet the eyes of all who joined in the toast before taking a sip.

“I have not been briefed on your audience with the Founders, Blessed Be Their Glory, but that I know you are here means that They do withal.”

[Kala Leukos]

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Kala sat, as did Kaus. Without needing a visible signal from her, Asallon departed with servi to see to their lodgings and the unpacking of their baggage. Ceran and Indric paused, then took seats at the table, deferring to their betters. But their ears perked at mention of security, which was their foremost interest. They were young as the Leukos twins, albeit not brought up in courts; rather than show their incredulity, they kept stone faces.

The toast was raised and accepted.

"Then I will keep myself to these premises and the Umbrium," she assured him. "Kaus and the others have less to hide, though, and might wish to fly under His... fulsome eye."

Kaus, at least, flushed faintly at that.

"If I cannot see Deus Aværys' realm, I should like to see Domina Varvara's. Her temples, et cetera. All the things a minor noblewoman from abroad ought to see. Ought I to pay my respects to His Exalted Majesty? I wouldn't want to be a boorish visitor. In truth, I am in your hands. I trust you will show me what I ought to see to better understand your Gods and your people."

She paused, then, "As their devotee, I suppose I ought to let them describe our meeting to you if they wish it. I don't know the protocols for these things."

Kala didn't know if they spoke to Phocion personally with any regularity, whether he might pray for guidance with regard to her presence. She certainly didn't want to get him into any trouble, nor make any waves while she was here.

"Well, I should like to see how you have fun in Solunarium," Kaus declared with a sunny smile. He might try to be devilish, but he was generally well-behaved. The family's honor, as well as his own, was always at stake. It meant something to him, and to his sister. But they were young.

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[Pharaoh]

Phocion glanced to Kaus, nodding.

“But of course. I shall see a Sentinel assigned to show you about the Upper City.” Sensing that the personal guard brought from abroad took his concerns as a slight to their abilities, he framed the Sentinel supplement as a guide rather than a guard. While their abilities were likely formidable, they had no idea what they were up against with an increasingly unhinged Solar Sovereign devoting vast resources toward anything that might buy her power or, failing that, time.

“His realm his Hers and Hers His. When He ascended, He recognised that Ambition need not be unilateral and might be better enjoyed when shared. To quote the Radiant Chronicle: ‘No matter how great the Hunger, a shared feast better sates the soul.’” Phocion’s eyes widened and he shook his head.

“No, no. Your audience and the memories thereof are your own. I would not ask you to recount them. As for His Exalted Majesty, he is aware of your visit. You will, at the very least, meet his son the Princeps Draconum. We have a banquet scheduled for tomorrow evening at the Palatium Umbrarum, where you can meet the most active power players in the realm- senators and princes alike.” His gaze turned to Kaus,

“And if you are inclined to extend your revels later into the evening, I’ve no doubt you can charm someone into taking you to the Noctis Æternæ district for a proper lesson in how Solunarians have fun.” The Sentinel said this with the detachment of a chronicler, as if tacitly distinguishing himself from those Solunarian revelers he broached.

“Would your party object to a Sembling? We typically wouldn’t even ask, but you are a special case. However, to be perfectly frank, deities are dangerous things. Often more so than they themselves realise. And your envoy are not the only souls whose safety is in my care, so the more we know the better we are able to prepare. We can continue our discourse as we were, and the Assessors will be about their unobtrusive work as we continue.”

[Kala Leukos]

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The envoy had been briefed as to how they would have to act on foreign soil, but Phocion would no doubt notice Ceran and Indric relax incrementally when they realized that they would be allowed to keep their own eyes upon the twins at all times. The twins themselves took it in stride.

"...a shared feast better sates the soul," Kala repeated, then smiled. "I will remind you of that when I hope you will join us for some repast. I should like to read the Radiant Chronicle. And then I can take any questions you might have to them for clarification if you like." Kala didn't know how often Phocion spoke to Varvara or her twin, nor how in depth those conversations went. She could see the Lady of Chains treating her followers as useful tools, though she could also have missed hidden tenderness. Her own time with the Divine Twins hadn't been long.

But perhaps she would have to speak with less levity about the elf's gods. She didn't want to offend him, nor did she want to threaten the good working relationship they had developed during his time in Kalzasi. She didn't know if they were friends. His life was quite strange to her, in many ways more rarefied even than that of Kalzasern royalty, and she was only the secondborn of a minor noble House. She would inherit nothing. If Aquilios were to die childless, it would fall to Kaus to maintain the family as she would not as a demigod. She could not, though she would try to bless her homeland all the same.

Kaus was certainly considering this Noctis Æternae, whatever it was, although he was somewhat miffed that Phocion likely wouldn't join him. Perhaps he would be able to charm someone into taking him—and he supposed Ceran or Indric might join him. Perhaps Asallon. Then again, he wondered if Aværys might not show his radiant face and invite him to some Lux Æterna.

"A Sembling?" Kala asked. "Do you mean you wish to have your Assessors peer into my aura, or to aid me in inverting it to protect what I am hiding?"

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[Pharaoh]

Phocion sniggered faintly at Kala’s teasing retort.

“We shall dine together tonight and I am expected at tomorrow’s banquet in my role as Phædryn prince, rather than simple Sentinel.” Though his tone suggested he was more comfortable in the latter role.

At her interest in their holy text, he would glance to a servus, then back to Kala.

“One copy of the scripturam integram edition will be waiting at your bedside.” The servus nodded and departed to see to it.

“But I shall not ask you to play intermediary between my Gods and myself. This is not a path I would tread, though I thank you for the offer. It speaks well that you recognise the immense privilege of your position and would lend aid to we mere mortals who do not rate dinner invitations from deities.” He inclined his head.

He looked to Kaus.

“If my Avialæ half-brother is not attending to his duties with the Deus Imperator, I expect he will attend the morrow’s banquet. He is a splendid tour guide when it comes to Solunarian decadence. Far better than an Argent Ascetic like myself.” His mild expression spoke to the veracity of this designation as he turned his attention to Kala.

“Indeed. It is customary for foreign mages to be assessed upon entering our realm. We have not hosted many diplomatic visitors in my lifetime, so the rules have been bent a bit for you, but we would consider it a display of good will on your part if you would consent. We assess Solunarian children for arcane promise after the same fashion when they come of age. I am certain we could additionally lend support to strengthen your veils against the sort of scrutiny you may undergo in the capital.”