Chapter Nine: Meetings
de'Arnise Keep, 20 Nightal, 1369 DR
Nalia knelt in the vault, surrounded by the magical items she had gathered during the months of her adventuring. Weapons racks lined the walls, filled with softly glowing magical swords; chests had been placed alongside them as well, filled with her gold and gems. Cloaks of protection hung on rails, a narrow bookcase with spell books taken from the bodies of different wizards rested alongside the weapons racks.
Staffs of varying magical powers rested alongside the walls, alongside bows, arrows, spears… it was truly a vault of dreams, filled with the power to break kingdoms and tear nations asunder. It was why Nalia had been entrusted with the items by the party members. All had taken the weapons they wielded and a few items. The rest had been given to Nalia.
And now they rested safely in her family vault.
No other House in Amn had such resources, though none in the nation could no of Nalia's hoard. If any did, then adventurers, thieves and rogues would plague her hold incessantly. So it was that she had been forced to keep the amount of weapons secret even from Tomas, fooling him by using ten bags of holding to make the volume of magical artefacts deceptively less.
Nalia breathed in heavily.
With the events of last night, it comforted her to know that she had such power within her walls. But she wasn't sure that even this power would avail her against the gods. Like all people of Faerûn, Nalia had seen the gods clash in the starlit sky, and it had terrified her.
With the coming of dawn, the fighting of the gods had ceased, and Nalia had felt the change in the balance of things. Kathryn had grown stronger. How she knew that she could not say, but the fact remained that it was true. Tomas had stood with her throughout the night, and after all was calm, he had stated simply, "She has grown, Nalia, I can feel it."
So he felt it too.
The six servants of Kathryn had felt it as well, praying with tearful eyes, thanking everyone in sight. Their loyalty was impressive- even more impressive when they started to master prayers that were beyond many servants of higher gods. In shifts, the six servants played their harp, so that the small chapel set aside for Kathryn within the keep was constantly filled with beautiful music.
"Nalia?"
A familiar voice spoke behind her, and Nalia sprang to her feet, twirling around swiftly, grinning automatically. She looked at the archmage who stood before her, wearing robes of shocking pink. Laughing, she flung herself into the other woman's arms, "Immy!"
Imoen grunted, and, giggling slightly, returned the hug. Looking around, she nodded, "You've made yourself at home, it seems. Nicely done." She paused, and the met Nalia's eyes. "I've come about the events of last night. My planar sphere is closer to the godly planes than here, so I have up-to-date news. Milil, Lord of All Song is dead. Kathryn has taken his portfolio, unchallenged, although you might say the clash of gods was the challenge."
Nalia paled, "Milil is dead? By the gods… that explains the feeling of disharmony last night then. I felt it momentarily, and then it was gone. It went when Kathryn took the portfolio, I assume?"
The pink-clad archmage nodded, "Yes. Nalia, we have our work cut out for us. The temples of Milil are without prayers, for they are praying to the wrong god. It falls to us to convert the Church of All Song to the worship of Kathryn. Whether or not they accept it, we must try."
Nalia raised an eyebrow. "Ah yes, just the casual matter of changing the faith of an entire church. We've moved up in the world since the Copper Coronet, haven't we? Back then, we worried who would buy the drinks…"
Imoen laughed, "Well, everything is changing, Nalia. We just have to change with it. And Milil's Church will have to change. I have brought three allies with me- powerful allies, who will be my agents in Amn. I have already spoken to Tomas. He has agreed that we must convert Milil's church, though he has made it clear that we will be the Archpriest of the entire faith, no matter what the churches feel. He was the first servant of Kathryn, apparently…"
Imoen's eyes sparkled with amusement when she said that, and Nalia chuckled. "Well, we are special, aren't we? We are the friends of Kathryn, not her priests. Surely our word supersedes his… though I for one have enough on my plate governing this land, without involving myself in leading the temples. Imoen, I will do my best to help you, but I will be busy with this keep as well."
Imoen waived the comment aside, "I know, Nalia, I know. Really, I just wanted to keep you in the loop. I will take care of the matter, though I would ask for you to do one thing…"
Nalia asked, "What?"
Smiling, Imoen said, "Oh, I just want you to convince the Council to legitimise the Church of All Song, pronouncing it run by Kathryn. I also need to enlist the churches in the Temple District, mainly the Church of Helm. The Watcher will have let his priests know the affairs of heaven, and they will declare your words the truth. Basically, Nalia, I need you to cover the political side of things in Athkatla. I will start converting the Church."
Nalia sighed, "Good luck in that."
Imoen grinned, "And you."
With a flash of pink light, Imoen disappeared.
* * *
The Council of Six, 20 Nightal, 1369 DR
A simple teleportation spell had allowed Nalia to appear in Athkatla within twenty seconds, along with Captain Cernick and four de'Arnise guards, who were wearing full plate armour, lightly enchanted and emblazoned with the blue swan of House de'Arnise. Crafted from the numerous pieces of magical equipment down in the vault, the armour was powerful enough to constitute the earnings of all four of the guards for seven years. And that was just for one suit of the armour.
Nalia, who had created the armour, had given the armour the name, "de'Arnise plate" and was intending to create as many suits of armour like it as she had guards. That was, fifty. After that, she could equip them with swords and shields of equally potent enchantments, and she would have a personal guard that rivalled that of any king or emperor.
However, at this moment in time, all she had was four guards- and Captain Cernick, who wore the Pride of the Legion armour, looking suitably regal and imposing as he walked beside her.
Most of the afternoon, Nalia had travelled round the temples, gathering support for the deity, Kathryn. The Watcher God had indeed declared the events to the priests, and so the followers of Helm had easily been persuaded to send a representative to the Council, to broach the subject.
Nalia had arranged for the priests of other faiths to call on the Council throughout the day, but not once did she visit the Council herself. She knew that her own appearance would have to be the last- and therefore, the most effective.
So it was, that she stood in the Council chamber, standing before the pale red curtains that hid the rulers of Amn from her eyes. Nalia bowed respectfully, and smiled as a soft voice with faintly threatening overtones stated, "And so we meet the instigator of all these priests plaguing us through the afternoon… Nalia de'Arnise. It comes as little surprise…."
Another voice whispered, "What he meant to say, Lady Nalia, was welcome. We have wondered at the purpose of the priests petitioning us today, but now all is made clear. State your petition."
Waiting for a moment, Nalia scanned her surroundings. Just like the last time she had appealed to the Council, only a month ago, a Cowled Wizard stood slightly off to one side. Nalia looked at him once, and then looked away as she spoke to the shadowed members behind the curtain.
"Honoured members of the Council, I come before your shining eminence, to bask in the glory of our nation an-"
A caustic voice slithered, "Cut out the rhetoric, Lady Nalia. It has been a long and trying day for us. You have seen to that, with the numbers you have sent our way. I will tell you what you want from us, and you will answer yes or no, is that clear?"
Nalia nodded, "Yes, honoured Council Member."
A long silence, before another voice, this one a woman's said, "You come to us today for legal recognition to the fact that the goddess called Kathryn has taken over the role of Milil, a now dead god. You want us to declare that the Church of Milil rethink their loyalty to the Lord of All Song, to turn it instead to Kathryn. You have sent us the priests of Helm, the knights of Torm and Tempus, the priests of Lathander and some of Chauntea, even the priests of Talos you have sent to us, and those of Oghma, Mask, Mystra… Cyric… hundreds of priests, so that we can be under no misapprehension about the truth of events in heaven… is all that right, Nalia de'Arnise?"
Again, Nalia nodded. "Yes."
Another long silence. Nalia could hear faint whispers and mutters behind the curtain. A man broke the whispering silence, by saying, "Very well. Legal recognition shall be given. The Church of Kathryn is recognised as the Church of All Song, within Amn at least. Letters will be sent to all temples of Milil, and the criers throughout the nation shall spread the word. Milil is dead. Kathryn is the new Goddess of Song."
Nalia bowed, "My thanks, Council Members."
"A moment, Nalia."
She froze as she waited for whoever it was to speak to her. She did not wait long. "This day has been long, and trying. If you try to manipulate us in this way again, we will be most displeased. Things are not done on such a grand scale normally in Athkatla. Perhaps you would not understand that, coming from the country, and only recently returned from frying giants for Tethyr. We also wish to make another decree. From this moment forward, Nalia de'Arnise will have with her a Cowled Wizard, to aid her in any moves she makes against evil. Let is be known that she has nothing to fear from any magic-users when the wizard resides with her. Let is also be known that this wizard is our own servant, and that any attack against him, or any refusal to obey him will be met with our severest anger."
Several low mutters. Nalia reddened with anger, and before she could stop herself, she called out, "I thank the Council for their noble gift. As noble a gift as a treacherous serpent can ever be! The Cowled Wizards left my ally rotting in incarceration. They use men as tools, they barter souls like food. If these kind of men are representatives of the Council, then I shudder to think what the Council is. My thanks once again, honoured Members."
And she looked directly at the Cowled Wizard, before turning her back on the red silk curtains in a flurry of swirling robes. Her staff and boots thudding against the marble floor, Nalia left the Council building, in a rage.
* * *
Playhouse, 20 Nightal, 1369 DR
It looked completely different. Next to the Five Flagons, a new building had sprung up out of nowhere. A curved building that had not been there a month before now stood, crafted from pure marble. Vines traced their way along the walls of the building, and outside, on the street, two statues of Kathryn stood, facing each other in the acts of playing harps of pure gold.
On the steps just before the entrance, a priest of Milil stood, tearing off his silver harp insignia in sorrow as he cried, "Milil is dead! Mercy on his soul, but he is dead! I feel his absence in my heart, I feel his tune fading in my soul! Mercy on me! I turn to you, Kathryn, Lady of Harps to take me as one of your faithful!"
Standing beside the Cowled Wizard who had remained silent throughout their travels through the Bridge District, Nalia watched as a soft pink glow appeared around the priest. His robes, once torn, knitted themselves together, and changed colour into a delicate pink. The insignia of the silver harp re-attached itself to his breast, but now the silver had turned to gold.
He stood, and cried out: "Kathryn has heard my prayer! The Lady of All Song has taken her throne! Long live the Goddess of Song! Praise be to Kathryn!"
And saying that, he marched underneath the arched doorway, entering the building, which Nalia realised, must be a temple to Kathryn. In awe, she approached one of the random citizens, asking them how this temple came to be here.
The citizen, an aging woman, cackled at her, "Milady, Samuel Thunderburp awoke last night, to a blinding pink glow suffusing his tavern. He saw the glow originating from his basement, and when he went to investigate, he saw the playhouse beneath the inn disappearing. They say that the playhouse is part of this new temple here, home to Kathryn, Lady of All Song. Beautiful, isn't it? I might pay my respects later to this new goddess… she sounds my type, all cheeky and flirtatious…"
Nalia laughed good-naturedly. The Cowled Wizard faced her, and asked. "Maybe the stories are true…"
"What stories, wizard?"
The Cowled Wizard shrugged, "The ones that say your friend, the Bhaalspawn, ascended as a new deity…"
"Oh yes, they are all true wizard. Maybe this will put things into perspective. You are allied to the Council. I am allied to a god who counts me as a friend. Try an manipulate me, wizard, and you will live to regret it."
And so saying, Nalia uttered a transportation spell, which leaped her, Cernick and the four guards into the air, where they started hurtling, miles every second, back towards the keep, and the safety and peace that came with it.