Apologies for the considerable delay in getting this part out. The writing didn't stall, this particular section just took a lot of reading and re-reading. I'm still not 100% happy with it, but I've never been great at council scenes anyways. There's a lot of politics, arguing, plot-reveal and all of that thrown in with trying to introduce a bucket-load of new and possibly temporary characters whilst keeping it flowing.I'm not 100% happy with it, but I am happy enough with it. Hope you enjoy.
The Temple of Azorius lay on the eastern edge of Castelmaine, where the spires of the colleges and universities dwindled and gave way to the lower buildings that made up the waterfront. Far off to the west, the sun was making its afternoon descent behind the Citadel, the structure cut an imposing silhouette into the sky. The streets were still quite busy, and Gideon had to duck and weave past several wizard merchants and other folk going about their daily business.
Suddenly the streets opened up and he beheld the temple itself. A wide promenade of chalky stone lined with marble pillars led to the sweeping archway of the entrance, which was flanked by two statues of the angelic messenger Goddess Azorius. Each wore flowing robes, clearly stylised, and held satchels and a trumpet, and both looked as if they were mid-leap into flight. He slipped through the thin crowd of students, all in the sky-grey trousers and hooded jerkins of the Agate Towers, and into the temple itself.
The foyer was as light and airy as one would expect, curved walls rising high to a glass dome above through which light streamed into the fountain at the centre of the chamber, simple yet elegant. The fountain was like a strange carved stack of mushrooms over which the water trickled into a wide and shallow rectangular pool. Several archways led off to the sides, through which Agate students appeared and disappeared in a constant stream. One day, he promised himself, he would come here and have a proper look around, but now wasn't the time. With purpose, he strode across the chamber and through an elaborate stone archway and down a small tunnel before emerging into a large amphitheatre.
Like a bowl, it opened up to the sky with row upon row of slate seats separated by small aisles. The top of the amphitheatre was open, a short wall stretched out behind the seats but otherwise there was little covering at all, the audience would be just as open to the elements as those on the central stone stage which rose a few feet from the floor. Thousands could have been seated here, but as it was, this gathering would only be small. He had called for representatives from all the colleges and universities, but had no idea how many would actually turn up.
He could see two elderly bald scholars from Eriad University, neither looked happy to be here. Both wore robes that were split vertically in half so that one side was a deep forest green, the other a dark maroon, and both leant against gnarled wooden staves. He nodded a greeting to them, but one didn't seem to notice, the other just glared back and twisted his lips in a slight snarl.
He could see several other scholars, some old, some young, both male and female, and of various races. To one side stood a female fireborn, her pale yellow scales a stark contrast to the deep purples of her robes. Instead of hair she had a fin-like ridge of crimson spines that ran from the crown of her head to her neck. She smiled at Gideon when he waved to her, or at least he thought she had smiled - it was hard to tell with her reptilian mouth, but he knew her as Mother Giyan of Amlec. She had come and with her she had brought two guard, also both fireborn, but their faces and robes were hidden behind thick shining steel armour that glinted in the sunlight.
Two centaurs stood to another side, entirely separate from the group, talking to themselves, and a few other humans like himself too. There was Owin of the Agate Accord, and a minotaur he recognised from Berican. He smiled, pleasantly surprised with how many had turned up. He stepped forward into the approximate middle clusters and cleared his throat loudly.
"Esteemed brothers and sisters in study, I thank you for making your way out here today to hear me. I thank you for taking the time from your no doubt busy schedules."
As he looked around he estimated about thirty other bodies here, barely enough to fill a single row of seats from one aisle to the next, and they were spreading out into a semi circle around him so that all could see.
"I am Gideon, Head of the Sapphire Tower of Berican." he announced to the crowd, "I have called this council to discuss a pertinent issue and a troubling series of events." He looked around at the assembled group. He had their attention. Good.
"I am sure you all know of what I speak," he continued, "But I would have you all hear it from us each individually. The situation may be direr than we can imagine, and I hope that for this evening inter-scholarly strife can be put aside in the name of truth and for the welfare of this great city. So it is that I shall start." He paused and took a breath, glancing around at those gathered before continuing "Last night within the Orphanage of Berican, a young girl was attacked by a creature almost literally out of her nightmares, though this was no dream. She is well and the creature dispatched, but none can tell where the beast came from."
He stepped backwards, and turned slowly, hoping another would pick up his lead. It was Mother Giyan who took it. She stepped forwards into the space where Gideon had stood and spoke clearly and loudly, her tongue caught and hissed often, adding a serpentine sibilance to her speach.
"I am Mother Giyan of Amlec, and this story disturbs me," she said, "For this day we awoke to discover that the Obsidian Tower of Amlec College was missing. Not a rock was left of it, and neither a hole nor any other sign save memory showed that the tower had ever stood." She paused for a moment, then rejoined the semi-circle.
There was another lengthy silence, before a middle aged woman dressed entirely in black robes, her face hidden in the shadow of a dark hood stepped into the centre and turned to the group.
"I am Fion of The University Of The Four." Her accent was foreign, and Gideon caught several glimpses as she spoke of a great black serpentine tongue. He was pleasantly surprised that two rival universities had stepped forth so openly. He had feared it would take much more. "Our events too were in our Orphanage. Our children woke screaming to a building where the walls were leering faces and the floor ran red with blood."
A murmur arose from the crowd and Gideon had to check himself from gasping. No wonder The Four had not given Kala a message to respond with. News of such a horrific event was not something one of the Universities wanted getting out, especially towards the summer, when the new children would pick their University of choice. Such news could kill a Universities recruitment for the year utterly. Gideon gave Fion a nod of gratitude. If she saw it, she gave no sign as she too returned to the semi circle.
A good many moments passed in awkward silence and no other took the stand.
"Will no other show the courage to share their news?" Mother Giyan called across the circle.
"Courage?" Spat the old man from Eriad who had glowered at Gideon, "It is foolishness, lizard-woman, nothing more. What you would have us speak of would ruin a College or University if news hit the streets. Don't think we of Eriad haven't noticed the Agate Messenger stood yonder."
Owin bowed and took that as his cue to step forward, "Indeed, I am Owin of the Agate Accord. I am stepping in for Praeceptor Princeps Kala as she is away on duty with the Huszari. I am here to report what I know, and to return information back to the Agate Tower for storage."
"You would steal our secrets and sell them!" Growled one of the centaur.
Owin shook his head with a nonchalant chuckle, "The Agate Tower is the only Tower that is beholden to no University or College and we intend to keep it that way. We will not risk bias by siding with any of you. We side with all of you and none of you. What I collate and return will be stored merely for Agate Tower use and can only be accessed by myself, Praeceptor Princeps Kala and yourselves."
Perfectly done, thought Gideon. By the book, the answer Gideon had prepared him with prior. Now to hope that the other establishments took the bait.
"Then let it not be said that Dramor stood in the way of progress!" a middle aged man with shocking orange hair stepped forth, dressed head to toe in dark green, almost black, robes.
Gideon smiled to himself, Kamar had hit his cue perfectly, all was going to plan. Gideon and Kamar had been old friends, and Kamar had answered the summons personally.
"You'll need a plan." He had warned, "You'll need to be smart if you want to get some of the tougher nuts out of their shell."
Thus, speaking with Owin, the two had devised their ploy, and Gideon was watching it unfold currently. In turn, one by one, each of the representatives from the Colleges and Universities came to the centre of the group, each story was becoming more and more detailed than the last. It seemed that the rivalry had shifted from a closed and wary privacy to a story telling competition, and soon each telling was taking quite a bit of time, padded as they were with all kinds of elaborate descriptions and detail, often entirely unnecessary, but it was progress, and to hurry them up would likely snap several of those yet to speak right back into paranoid silence.
When all had spoken it came to Owin to speak his part again.
"Your tales are all known to the Agate Tower and in confidence shall we hold your secrets. You must know, however, that these events are not isolated to the Colleges and Universities of Castelmaine. Spirits and strange events have been noticed across our great city and now Gideon of Berican has called this council to discuss the implications, and what action can be taken. I hope all present can appreciate the need for discretion. A recess of thirty minutes is hereby called before we begin discussion. Please note however that none may leave the temple or attempt to make contact with any outside of this council. Be back here in half an hour."
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