Once more unto the breach! (Kams, Jae, Sasin)

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin sighed inwardly as Kamalia answered him. She was going to be so much trouble, he just knew it. If he hadn't known better, he'd have said she was the goddess of dramatic speeches. Why rip someone's soul apart when a good knife or poison would do?

Or a well placed fire. He felt a twinge of sympathy for the blind man, and privately wished him luck, where ever he was. Stitch was, to date, the kindest and gentlest person he had met. Very naive, and innocent, almost annoyingly so, but still.

He stayed quiet as Jilitse told her story, growing more and more confused. A golem, Sagallius's champion? That was almost beyond absurd. How could a piece of metal work for a god? He wasn't even going to think about this book that supposedly had "life of it's own".

This entire business hurt his brain, and he rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. There was very little he could contribute to this discussion. He had barely thought of Sagallius since the Game, and now he was involved in a movement against him.

"So what do we know about Sagallius? He was a Benshira, a powerful mage, had a bunch of magical staffs, took the heart of a god, is now the god of manipulation and is trying to be the god of magic, somehow." He said, pausing for a moment so they could make additions or revisions to his list. "We have that," he indicated Jilitse's mark "this," he touched his dagger "and Pathfinder." He nodded at the staff. "I'm surprised you only have this one. Didn't the mask say something about it helping you locate others?"

[Kamalia Timandre]

Kamalia leaned back in her chair, watching her guests appraisingly over steepled fingers. When it was her turn to give her own answers, the sorceress addressed the Dhani’s question first. “What I do know is that Sagallius and I were similar in that our magic sought to consume us,” she said softly. “Sagahl Hrinn, when he was mortal, had also spent most of his life struggling against his sentient magic, until the time came when he had to battle Wolkirk, the Slayer from Suva. A terrible combat ensued, and Sagallius overgave for channeling too much djed, resulting in his “Other One” to take over his humanity. On the eve of the Valterrian, when he cast down his mortal heart in exchange for the heart of Aquiras, Sagallius’ human soul merged with the Gug’darak and a woman named Lalilah.”' Her eyes turned to Jilitse, wondering if those names rang a bell to her. There was ancient wisdom behind those undead eyes, even as her visage appeared young.

“What we know about Lalilah is that she was once a highborn Eypharian, and the Champion of Gnora. Sagallius suggested that she was a turncloak to the Pressor’s family, and had a hand in the fall of Rupert Pycon. Lalilah claimed that Sagahl Hrinn’s ascension upset the “balance”—whatever it might be—and the balance must be restored, but she was inevitably slain in the battle between Dira and the newborn God of Manipulation. Perhaps her role here is more important than it seems. If Sagallius upset the balance when he stole the Voyager’s heart, would Gnora be interested if she learns that Sagallius engineers a scheme to enthrone himself in the pantheon as the new God of Magic? What would become of magic and its wielders if an insane god snatches that crown? What new designs would he amend upon the laws of djed? And that brings us to my plan.”

“I propose that we found an order—a fellowship, if you will— of mortals and gods alike, who would seek the end of Sagallius' evil, and prevent his machinations from coming into fruition. You cannot play the game without the pieces, after all.” Yes, they were all pieces in a game. Even she.

“And since I am of a mind to believe we have Priskil and Aquiras on our side,” she fastened her gaze upon Jilitse again, “we may have to seek out their followers. That, aside from delving into Lalilah’s past and ultimately gaining Gnora’s allegiance could be our first step. First baby step. Easier said than done. We may be further behind than ever, but we need to begin somewhere.”

“For my part, bear in mind that the Heart accorded me two gifts: the Pathfinder, and the lore of initiation into Unity. Suffice to say I have learned a lot in the course of my travel. I have already taken steps. I cannot tell you much of it. Trust me when I say it is safer this way." There was honesty in those words. “Finally, we may also need to seek out Stitch. Stitch is the one who can find the Heart of Sagallius when the time comes. Jaeden told me that he journeyed towards the frozen north.”

“This golem, this Drainira, what was her main directive?” The question was directed to Jilitse. “Why was Marie Suzanne so important to her?”