SEGMENT 25
“Celebration”
The flying coaches slowly rise from the Central Bridge region of Sharn and rise towards Skyway a large floating island where the rich of the rich live to look down on the rest of Sharn. People shout for joy and appreciation as the parade progresses. Within the several cars are politicians, city workers, nobles and Dragonhouse members looking to bask in the glory of victory. Within decorated cars are the royal coaches surrounded by law enforcing Sky Mages (63) Also are cars with Donnerson and some of his men and finally the six adventurers that have been played up as the heroes of the city.
From down below, a seventh figure watches them. Still shaken from giving into his baser needs, Mania waves and smiles along with the crowd. His thoughts are his and his alone.
They spiral around Morgrave University going under some bridges and over others. Magical lights and effects are given off in signs of gratitude. Then finally the parade shoots up to Skyway. They level out over the southern section referred to as Azur and travel north to the section referred to as Brilliant. The Tain Manor is the final destination. Royalty and the rich of several nations have already arrived to greet the heroes and watch the spectacle. Some hope to enter the “Heroes Ball” even though it is an invite only dance and celebration.
Hovering above the world, the hero’s car awaits its turn to disembark. From here, they can see all of Sharn’s tower tops and the Dagger river. Sail ships are anchored off shore in the Hilt. It seems like the entire world is celebrating. So why are the heroes so glum?
Vander watches the griffin hover with a guard on its back. He wonders if the creature understands any of this. Bora looks out and sees a flying mage whom smiles at her and waves. He tries to mouth something to her. I…. Love….. then some of the Sky Mages arrive to pull him aside and back to the mainland below. She smiles and thinks how this is nothing like her home within the narrow valleys of the Demon Wastes. Leeya is smiling ear to ear. She enjoys the attention, the glamour and the regalness the events. But those close to her know she is in deep thought. Aura is aware of it and knows what troubles her. Her husband returned from a mission for the state. He was not happy with her actions. She is uncertain what to do or even if she is expected to do anything. But anything is better than this display she is expected to go along with. Both she and Vander refused to give up their armor. They merely had it cleaned and shined. Dura absent-mindedly waves to the ground as the air coach begins to lower itself. Her grandfather has never been so…. Open to her. What prodded him into talking to her? Why was it so important for him to speak to her. Why go home? And Incarnum.… No discernable emotion can be seen behind his glass eyes and metal face. He watches and absorbs it all. The whole time wondering how mankind has made it so far in life.
They finally reach the red carpet where the ships are disembarking. The Tain Manor is large with shifting images of past events magically portrayed on stain glass. Everything here speaks of power and wealth. Even the earth for the potted plants was rumored to have been flown in from the Talenta Plains. The pots are from primitive tribesmen of dark skin (64) that live in Xen’drik. As rehearsed, each person waits until the elf calls out a name with a quick and wondrous depiction of his or her role in the Undead Epidemic. Mania is left out.
The six of them slowly walk down the carpet to a gauntlet of people. Each hold out their hands to shake and give a quick word of thanks. The people are ambassadors, Dragonmarked house leaders and politicians that were not invited to the party.
As they enter the main building they walk down a hallway with portraits of past Tain family leaders. Each of the half-elves looks regal and all-powerful and confident. Incarnum wishes to study each painting and read the blurb below giving the proper name and notable deeds. After his third one Vander and Bora take him by each arm and lead him down to double doors. Leeya takes a deep breath and forces a smile on her face. The others try but can not pull it off. None of them consider themselves to be heroes. They went about the sewers like children and nearly got themselves killed. Mania saved them. He and Kim Elderich’s money and influence.
They can just hear a caller on the other side giving new descriptions of the heroes and their deeds. Then the doors creak open and a thunderous roar of approval and cheers come rushing out. The caller motions for them to step into the ballroom. Hundreds of people, all the most respected and richest within Sharn and Breland are there wearing their best dresses and suits. A live band of elven musicians play a marching tune. Halflings from Ghallanda prepare food and drinks with little notice. A large table has been set up where the Tain family would normally sit. Instead, they are standing and also applauding the arrival of the heroes.
The heroes arrive at the table and turn and wait for the final guests. Royalty.
The King has not come but his son has as well as some wards. He is applauded also but nearly as much as the six adventurers.
Discreetly, Celyria ir’Tain places a magical leaf into her mouth. After letting it dissolve into her mouth and onto her tongue she waves for silence. It comes slowly. Then with a magically boosted and commanding voice she welcomes one and all. Most will forget what she had to say by the next day but will remember how charmingly wonderful and poetic it was. Then she herself sits and all begin to murmur amongst themselves. Vander nearly backhands a halfling that thought he could move his helmet from the table. He doesn’t even ask Aura for her helmet that she still insists on wearing. The halflings are especially uncertain at what to do for the warforged. He doesn’t eat nor drink. He has no concept of comfort beyond not taking damage. They decide to merely smile at him and concentrate on the others.
The food consists of the best from the countries of Breland, Aundair and Karrnath. The Dragonmarked house of entertainment- House Phiarlan (65) provides a show that even brings a smile to Vander. This show ends and there is time for mingling and dancing while the next show prepares to give its performance. As expected, many are drawn to the table of Tain to speak with the family and the heroes. Guards allow some but few to approach the table.
When they do they are introduced. A tall woman of possible elven blood and a tall elf approach the table. They are introduced as Mistress Muy (66) and Major Tunnard Gray (67). They are polite and gracious to the heroes but Aura is still bothered by them. She senses something is incorrect, unnatural about them. Risking insult, she speaks up.
“Major. For an elf you seem to have a very Karrnathian name. It is most unusual.”
The elf turns slowly in a way that is intimidating. “I was found as a baby by a Karrnathi adventurer within the jungles of Xen’drik. I take no offense at taking his name when I knew not what my birth name was.” He explains how he should be going, there are others to see and excuses himself. The woman he travels with also excuses herself.
“Who was THAT?!?” Dura also laughs out loud at their ridiculous manner.
“If I may, that was Major Tunnard Gray. He is very rich and well set from his sales of dragonshards from Xen’drik. The woman I have seen a few times. I hear she is… promiscuous.” A halfling server meekly adds.
“Good thing Mania did not come then.” Adds Bora thinking on how she had seen him eyeing the young women at the tavern several nights ago when their lives were much simpler.
Another few persons of nobility introduce themselves to the heroes including Vurry d’Cannith (68) whom is quite curious about the crystal nodes that protrude from Incarnum’s outer shell. He asks more questions than the warforged feels comfortable with. He himself is uncertain at how he came to be. Finally the music stops and the dancers and various people return to their seats. Celyria once more speaks up magically. She introduces the next entertainment. There is a hushed excitement throughout the crowd. The heroes look at each other in bewilderment. They have never heard of the Muse of Moonshadow (69). Hearing also the word Valenar (70) they expect an elf to arrive. They could not be any more wrong.
The doors open and out comes a brightly colored woman. She appears to be part snake, part bird and part elf. The scales and feathers have a blue-green glitter or sheen to them. Her skin has an exotic copper tone color to it, which also seems to shine or glow gently. She wears little to cover her chest and body but carries a golden harp. Her large wings gently flap keeping most of her body off of the marbled floor as her tail topped off with feathers hypnotically slithers to and fro. Magical balls of light follow her across the floor as the rest of the lights dim within the ballroom. She stops about thirty feet from the table of the Tain and honored guests. Then she begins to sing.
The song is magical. Celyria has a tear fall from her smiling face. The song comes to an end and she bows. There is an applause that may rival the one given the heroes then it becomes quiet once. The Lillend bard clears her throat quietly and begins to strum the harp once more as she begins her new song. I can not ever capture its magic, some say there is magic intertwined within the song that makes it this way; this is roughly what it had to say.
Six heroes and one came to Sharn, each with their own mysteries and riddles to be solved. These seven came together to enjoy the things the great city of Sharn has to offer. When the great city was threatened they answered the call. They battled the unnatural ones and stopped the False one from victory. These seven saved all, they saved nobility, they saved the poor, they saved the innocent and they saved the less than innocent. They saved the Great City.
Who are these seven. A mage with a fascination for things terrible. A barbarian seeking the evil of her home outside of her home. A cleric seeking truth of her god and her family. A warrior whom is noble but never far from evil and the danger it brings, a paladin whom outshines all other paladins and seeks the past, present and future, a creature not dead nor alive that lives life rather than succumb to it, a warforged that brings the outside world to the inside.
Who are these heroes? Who are these seven? They are the Siberys Seven.
She finishes and seems to sag a bit. There is little doubt that magic was at work here. She did more than sing praise to the adventurers. She came to touch and know each of them, including the secret and hidden member. She seemed to hint at knowing things about each of them. Things unknown or denied by each of them. The things that are either missing or broken within each of them.
It is a full five seconds from when she finishes the song before there is a weak clap of hands then as if awakening everyone, a thunderous roar begins that ultimately could be heard outside of the great hall.
And this folks and readers, is how the Siberys Seven were formed, not in tavern after all, but through a song that shown a kindred between them, and may have begone a bond.
It is now after midnight and the ball is beginning to breakup. The older people are first to go. Then certain political leaders and ambassadors. Eventually the heroes begin to leave. They discuss much and try to decide where to go next. Dura mentions her need to return home. All but Leeya agree. Her husband has returned from work afar and she wishes to spend time with him. There are soft giggles at the interpretation of these words.
She is dropped off first. She waves goodbye then faces the ground for a long 5 seconds then turns to enter the tower where her apartment is. From a balcony two towers away a lone figure clad in black watches. His thoughts deep and secret.
The others arrive at the Elderich penthouse and they go inside. They too are watched. The man dressed in crimson and silver clings to wall under a bridge. Crimson Silver watches. The guardian of Sharn has renewed hope for the city. He then seemly drops out of sight, gone.
