Chapter 01 - The Council

Heads turned to regard Paloma as she and her companion Bella strolled down the streets of Unity. 

 

The attention wasn’t due to their race.  Unity was the largest, most cosmopolitan city in Töfraland, so its people were accustomed to seeing and interacting with tabaxi.  The bipedal felines mixed easily with the other races, humans in particular finding them quite charismatic and charming, so while a pair of well-dressed females might catch a wandering, or even leering, eye, their presence was not even remotely unusual.  

 

What was unusual, however, was Paloma.  The majority of tabaxi had features and coloring similar to various breeds of house cats and foxes.  Less common were those resembling cougars.  The most exotic looked like lithe tigers or leopards, their striking stripes or spots giving off an aura of danger usually associated with their wild brethren.  But Paloma was something rarer still.  In fact she turned heads even among her own people.  Paloma was a black panther.

 

It was said that a black puma tabaxi was born only once in a generation, so news of her birth quickly traveled through the tabaxi homeland in the southeast of Töfraland.  It was said she was the only kitten born during the night of an unprecedented aurora storm.  While most believed that to be only a myth, it was in fact true.  Paloma’s mother told her young daughter that the green aurora light reached down from the heavens that night and caressed the newborn.

 

Paloma didn’t like the attention.  Growing up she wished nothing more than to be able to live anonymously, to not feel the sideways glances, to not have random strangers touch her thinking that doing so would impart some kind of blessing upon them.  As she got older, however, she learned to accept it, and even leaned into it, cutting such a striking figure that her outer appearance became like a shield behind which her true self could hide.  

 

While Bella was indeed quite attractive, the reddish fur of her fox-like features deepening in the late morning sun, it was Paloma who everyone looked at, her black leather bodysuit almost indistinguishable from her own coloring, only the silver clasps and the bandolier of throwing stars across her chest offering the slightest contrast.  A cape flowed behind her, the inner lining black as the void but the outer surface infused with sparkles that caught the light.  No one in Unity had ever seen anything quite like Paloma before.

 

The pair arrived at Unity Hall, entered the vestibule, and gazed with wonder at the sight.  From the intricately patterned marble floor with its mosaic of the night sky and constellations, to the five stained glass windows, one devoted to each of the Council races, to the ceiling fresco high above that told the story of the Council’s formation, it was all exquisite.  The room was large, perhaps a hundred feet on each side, and directly across from them a wide staircase carpeted in the deepest blue led to the upper level where the Council held session.  

 

Paloma and Bella stood off to the side along one of the walls and watched the flow of beings moving about the space.  Constables in their neat blue uniforms strode through the room with purpose.  Adepts in robes colored to match the governmental departments they served scurried to and fro.  Wealthy merchants stood in small groups working out the fine points of trade deals.  It was as if all the power and wealth of Töfraland orbited around itself in this one room.

 

An older tabaxi female approached them, gracefully moving through the swirling mass without making even the slightest contact with those around her, the black of her black-and-white coloring showing just the slightest touches of silvery gray hinting at her age.  She wore a burgundy robe with a long slit in the back that allowed her tail to flow behind her. 

 

“They’re ready for you now,” she purred.  “Follow me.”

 

Their guide nodded slightly at one of the human guards at the foot of the staircase.  He clicked his heels and returned the gesture, though much more formally.  She led them slowly up the stairs and Paloma was struck by how quiet it became as they reached the landing at the top.  Looking back she saw the buzzing mass below, but they seemed far away now, as if she were behind a window and looking out at them.  

 

The landing opened into a wide hall, a set of intricately carved wood double-doors at the far end with a human guard stationed at either side.  The blue carpet from the stairs continued down the center of the hall, flanked on either side by white marble.  Near the door along the walls were six benches, three on either side.  As they approached it became apparent that each was in the signature style and size of one of Töfraland’s six primary races, including the dwarves, even though they were not formally part of the Council.

 

Three of the benches were occupied when they arrived and were seated.  To their right a pair of gnomes sat cross-legged facing one another, laughing and having an animated conversation.  The younger of the two turned and waved at Paloma and Bella as they sat, the tabaxi acknowledging the gesture with a tight-lipped smile.  Her people had always gotten along well with the gnomes, both races sharing a deep love and respect for the nature.  To their left were two tritons, the contrast created by their aquamarine skin showing their lean muscles.  Both sat rigidly as if carved from stone and stared straight ahead, not interacting with others or with each other.  The younger of the two looked to be a monk who wore only a pair of green shorts and a similar colored sheer wrap.

 

Two elves sat directly across from Paloma, and she cocked her head to one side as she tried to make sense of them.  Elves were generally very formal in settings like this, but these two made an interesting pair.  The male sat upright and stared at Paloma in a way that made her uncomfortable, though not in any kind of threatening way.  He was clearly a wizard based on the cut of his red robe, but also carried a short sword, which was a bit unusual.  After a few moments she wasn’t actually sure he was in fact staring at her specifically or if she just happened to sit directly in the path of his gaze.  The other elf was a female sorceress who was trying to position herself as far away from her companion as possible while still being seated on the bench.  In fact she was leaning slightly over the armrest in an attempt to put even a few more inches of distance between her and the male.  The look on her face was a mixture of contempt and disgust.

 

“Modi?  Modi, is that you my friend?!” a human voice shouted from the top of the stairs.  Paloma watched as it took the male elf a few seconds to realize someone had shouted his name.  He then turned to the right and smiled.  “Yes, it’s me.  I am Modi.”

 

Paloma turned back to her left and watched the human bound down the hall excitedly.  She had to admit, he was quite attractive, blond hair framing his angular but friendly face.  He smiled as he rushed toward the elf, his arms outstretched. 

 

The elf stood and smiled, the human clasping him on both shoulders.  “Vim, my friend.  Yes, it is me, Modi.”

 

The human shook his head, his smile widening.  “I know it’s you, Modi, I just said that!”  Paloma found the elf’s mannerisms and speech strange, to say the least, but the one called Vim either didn’t notice or wasn’t bothered by it in the least.  “Modi, please tell me you have your lute with you!”

 

“Vim, I have my lute with me,” Modi replied formally.  Paloma couldn’t tell from Modi’s inflection if he was simply repeating the phrase because Vim asked him to, or if he meant that he did indeed have a lute with him.  She looked back to the bench from across from her, and indeed a fine lute leaned against it.

 

“Yes!” Vim said triumphantly, looking to the ceiling and pumping his fist before returning his eyes back to the elf.  “We can reform Mikael’s Pence!”  

 

Modi nodded in agreement, then his smile grew wide as if he had gained some kind of sudden epiphany.  “If we reform Mikael’s Pence, Vim, does that mean I can dance?”

 

Vim pulled Modi into an embrace, though the elf seemed unsure as to how to respond.  “Of course you can, my friend.  You are the best dancer in the world.”

 

A hand grasped Vim’s shoulder and pulled him back.  A serious looking human warrior spun the young man around.  “Control yourself, man!”  If it was possible to both shout and whisper at the same time, the warrior was doing it.  “You’re about to see the Council.  This is serious.”

 

Vim continued to smile, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.  “Yeah, sure, but this is my friend Modi.  We used to have a band, and he’s the best dancer in Töfraland!”  Modi moved his head to the side so he could look over Vim’s shoulder at the warrior, and he smiled and waved.  On the bench across from her Paloma saw the other elf’s shoulders sag as she put her head in her hands.

 

The warrior smacked Vim upside the head and dragged him over to the human bench, but Vim continued to grin and pointed at Modi, who smiled and pointed back.  Paloma felt the magic in the air shift slightly and suspected the elf was sending a message to his friend, one that only he could pick up.  She couldn’t hear it, but it looked as through Modi was mouthing some kind of roaring sound, which seemed preposterous but caused Vim to clap his hands excitedly.

 

“What idiots,” Bella said softly.  Paloma couldn’t disagree.  But they were interesting.

 

Just as everyone settled back on their benches the double doors swung open and a group of five very serious looking individuals emerged, one of each of the five Council races.  A triton paladin and an elf sorcerer led the way, conversing earnestly about their upcoming course of action.  A gnome druid and a tabaxi ranger followed, and bringing up the rear was a dashing human dressed in the height of Unity fashion, whistling to himself and repeatedly tossing a dagger up in the air and catching it.  He turned and winked as Paloma as he sauntered by.  She hated him on general principle.

 

A few moments later a man in a blue robe with gold trim emerged.  “The Council will see you now.”  When he noticed Modi his head jerked back involuntarily.  With that he turned and went back through the doors.

 

They all stood, and Bella embraced Paloma.  “Good luck,” she whispered.

 

Paloma pulled back slightly.  “You’re not coming?”

 

“No,” said Bella.  “The Council asked for you specifically.”

 

Paloma thought back to when the village elder and her retinue knocked on her parents’ door.  When she saw them all, she was sure they had discovered her secret and were coming to imprison her, or possibly even burn her at the stake.  But thankfully they had a different agenda.  Instead the elder brought tidings from none other than Brother Toby Quickfoot, the tabaxi monk who represented their people on the Council.  Toby’s letter said the Council had an important task for Paloma and she was to come to Unity with all haste.  Bella accompanied her on the journey, but it never occurred to Paloma that her companion would not remain by her side.

 

Paloma turned to the doors and walked into the Council’s chamber.  The room itself was circular with a domed ceiling.  In front of her were five chairs, and like the benches outside these were made and sized for each race.  The others were already seated.  The chairs faced a semi-circular table around which sat the current members of the Council.  One guard of each race stood along the walls, with a pair of humans flanking the door through which they entered.  Behind the Council members large windows looked out upon the city of Unity and the Barrier Sea.  

 

At the center of the table sat Lord Gideon Lightsword, the human warrior who served as the current Council leader.  He was coming to the end of the 10-year term of human leadership and would soon be handing over his authority to the high elf wizard who sat to his right, Princess Tavren Eldwhile.  To her left and rounding out that side of the table was Brother Toby Quickfoot.  The right side of the table was occupied by Priestess Shoshana Skimmer, a triton cleric, and Archdruid Sindeep Glidewalker, a female gnome.  Glidewalker waved and smiled supportively at the gnome who had entered as part of Paloma’s group.

 

“Now that everyone is finally here we can begin,” Lightsword said as Paloma seated herself.  She ignored the obvious annoyance in his tone and took her time seating herself.  He looked to Eldwhile.  “Wait, why is this group here again?”

 

“The Codex,” she replied encouragingly.  “This is the group that will seek the Codex.”

 

“Oh, that,” Lightsword said flatly.  Paloma didn’t know what the Codex was, but Lightsword’s tone indicated he didn’t think it was that important.  What had Toby gotten her into?

 

Lightsword stood and clasped his hands behind his back as he began to pace in front of the windows.  “I’m sure you’ve all heard that goblins and hobgoblins appear to be banding together again,” he started.  “There have been raids on outlying villages and rumors that the brutes are forming larger warbands.  These of course will be dealt with they way we always have dealt with this menace, with steel.”  Lightsword brought his hands forward and smacked a fist into an open palm to emphasize the point.  “But there is more.  Tales of strange creatures emerging from the mountains, forests, and seas.  Creatures that haven’t been seen in centuries, even those thought to be nothing more than myth.  There is concern in some quarters that there may be some… force… behind all these occurrences.”

 

Paloma let her eyes dart about the room.  It didn’t appear that any of those who arrived with her had any idea what Lightsword was talking about.  

 

“Teams are being formed to search out information and artifacts that may be helpful in understanding and combating what is happening,” Lightsword continued.  He stopped moving and turned to them.  “You are one such group.  An old book called the… the… oh what is the damn book called again?”

 

“The Codex Andlegt Skriðdýr, my lord,” a tall human woman in all black standing behind him said.

 

“Ah, yes, yes, the Codex.  It was housed in the special collections room at the Unity Library.  One of the researchers helping us, Professor Vindeep Balstrop, believed it might shed some light on recent events and went to examine it only to discover it was missing.  The librarian Gilden Bookbinder will be available at the library to assist you.  Your job is simple.  Find the book and return it to us.”

 

Vim stood with a bit of a flourish.  “Ah, the Codex Andlegt Skriðdýr.  I know of this book, having performed parts of it on stage.  Something about lizard people and creatures from space or something.”  He hooked his thumbs in the armholes of his vest as he stuck his chest out slightly, impressed with his own knowledge.  As he did so, however, a metal clicking sound preceded something small flying out of his left sleeve with great velocity.  The triton guard moved his head to the side rapidly just before the object struck the wall, chipping away a piece of stone.  Everyone turned to look as he reached down and picked up the object.  It was a copper piece.  The guard turned back to Vim with an angry look and reached for his sword.

 

“Rest your hand, my son,” said Priestess Skimmer quietly.  

 

The guard turned to the triton cleric, all the anger leving his face as he bowed his head.  “My apologies, Priestess.  I forget myself.”

 

“Sorry, sorry,” Vim said as he waved to the triton and sat back in his chair.  Everyone looked at him quizzically.  “What?  Oh, that’s just a little party trick I like to use when I perform.  I’m a bard, you know!”  He turned back to the Council.  “Hey, are there any taverns in town that play live music?  Modi and I have a band called Mikael’s Pence.”  Modi leaned over and whispered in Vim’s ear, the human nodding in agreement, a thoughtful look on his face.  “And of course Modi here is an amazing dancer.”  Modi smiled and leaned back in his chair.

Everyone stared at Vim for what felt like an eternity.

 

“Are you for real?”  Lightsword asked, staring directly at Vim.  He turned to Princess Eldwhile.  “Are we seriously sending this group out there to do something important?”

 

Eldwhile’s smile was crafted by hundreds of years of political experience.  “Gideon, if you’ll recall our special associate specifically requested these five,” her arm gracefully extended to indicate all of them in their chairs, “be the ones tasked with finding the Codex.”

 

Lightsword sighed.  “Indeed he did, and he has never steered us wrong.”  He turned and waved forward a woman standing behind him.  “This is Judge Jane Dredd.  She leads the constable force here in Unity and will be your point of contact.”  Dredd stepped forward.  She wore the blue uniform of the constables as well as a chain mail shirt.  A mace hung from a loop on her belt.  Lightsword then motioned the woman in black forward.  In her hands was an ornate case.  Inside were five vials of orange liquid.  “We have one healing potion for each of you.  Not that I expect you should need them, but better safe than sorry. Dredd will give you some additional details.  Now, if there are no further questions…” Lightsword began to sit in his chair.

 

Vim stood again and Paloma rolled her eyes.  This one was going to be a handful.  “My lords and ladies,” Vim began as if he were addressing the audience at the opening of a play.  “It is an honor to be entrusted with such an important task, and I look forward to composing a verse about it once we successfully retrieve the Codex.”  Modi tugged on Vim’s sleeve and he leaned down so the elf could whisper to him.  He then stood upright and continued.  “And of course an interpretive dance as well.”  Modi smiled.  “I shall ensure you are all well represented in the final piece.”  With that the bard bowed.

 

Paloma sighed to herself as she stood.  She walked over to the table and took a potion from the box as the others followed suit.  Lightsword continued to stare at Vim.  When Modi grabbed his potion he looked at Princess Eldwhile and waved.  Despite her centuries of practice in controlling her reactions, the elf crinkled her nose and leaned back slightly in her chair.  

 

“Come with me,” Dredd said as she headed toward the doors.  The group had to rush in order to catch up with the constable and her purposeful stride. 

 

As they left the room they saw another group sitting on the benches awaiting their turn with the Council.  Like those who exited before they were invited in, these individuals looked experienced and serious.

 

They followed Dredd down the hall.  “There are rooms booked for you all at the Silver Dragon, courtesy of the Council.  You are to keep me abreast of your progress.”  She stopped short and turned to face them.  Vim, who was preoccupied talking to Modi, walked into the back of the triton.  Dredd regarded them with a mild look of disdain. “Listen, and listen closely.  You will not turn my city into a battlefield.  This is a safe and calm city, and I intend to keep it that way.  So no killing.  Do I make myself clear?”

 

The triton spoke before Vim could respond.  “Of course, judge.  Violence should always be a last resort, and killing only when absolutely necessary.  We will retrieve the book and there will be no bloodshed.”

 

“Good, I’m glad we have an understanding then.”  With that she walked back toward the Council chamber.

 

“A bit mean, that one,” said Vim.  Modi nodded in agreement.  Paloma just sighed.