Private Tales The Guiding Stars to Gild

[Reize Faysal]

Without House Faysal, the arts would not have had a chance to grow and bloom into the District of Lights. Each night since the early days of Gild's beginnings, the arts had always found it's way into Gildan hearts. In fact, it was brilliant and illustrative mind of Maral Faysal that educated so many and encouraged those curious to explore artistic pursuits. Oft remembered in history as the Matriarch of the Arts, she was appointed Sainthood in the years after her legacy. Saint Maral Faysal's light still lives on in the Ampitheatre, where the moldings above the stage had been sculpted by Maral herself, and preserved after all these years.

But tonight's festivities was to be held in the Faysal Theatre. A grand building, and among the oldest in Gild, was known for it's welcoming reception area that lead audiences towards their seats before the stage. What was intended to be lush rooms to start a school of the arts, it was then dedicated to the artisans, to the architects, and to the muses of Gild some time after when a proper school had been built in the expansion of the District of Lights. House Faysal poured time and money to make it one of the most prestigious stages performers could grace in this city.

* * *​

Reize Faysal waited atop the stairs, trying her best not to look as if she were searching the crowd, but that had been her first failure when she held two gilded tickets in hand and searched every face that looked her way as the theatre goers ascended. She gave polite smiles and hurried greetings to those that remarked upon her.

She had been hoping her sister would be in attendance, for Liya promised to be there for Reize's most important night, but the younger Faysal daughter often made herself scarce and avoided large crowds... only Reize had not expected this evening to turn out to be a sold out evening. The tickets in her hand were to be preserved in a glass case after this eve, for this night was Reize's first theatrical feat.

For such a night, there were many mementos to keep to remember this electric night. There were pamphlets being handed out to every attendee that would say:

The Tale of the Guiding Stars
Directed by Fahnn Tasal
Written by Reize Faysal
Music by the Gildan Orchestra and Choir
​

Gildan history to be retold in a tragedy of a play. A story told to every generation, and the subject of many drunken debates, the story of the Guiding Stars to Gild left many divided. Reize had spent near two years writing and perfecting the script, until the end product was as witty and whimsical, and had entrusted her dear friend on making it all come to life on the stage. It felt quite prestigious for a Faysal original to make a debut in their very Theatre, and for that, Reize wanted to share that moment in prized seats with her sister.

But Liya was late. Or not joining at all.

Reize sighed, descending the stairs without another thought. If her sister could not join her this evening, then she needed to pluck a friend from the crowd. The advantage of being a Faysal was all the parties and the societies they graced, and the sheer fact that Reize herself made a point of befriending many. Surely if not someone in this building, than someone she knew would be enjoying the entertainment and dining opportunities of the District of Lights.

This was a special night, and she would be sat alone in her box seats.

 

[Praetor Boesarius Terral]

Balian and Boesarius Terral as brothers could not have been more different from one another.

Balian was the elder by several years, and for his trade he became a historian, having only in recent times completed his grand work, A History of Gild, after a decade of dedication. He liked to travel abroad and engage in scholarly discussions with leading minds of other nations and he had an active interest in the world outside of the Kingdom and outside of Campania. There existed no violent bone in his body. He was agreeable and mild-mannered, curious and gentle.

As his opposite and younger brother, Boesarius Terral, a Regulator among Regulators and sometimes known amongst his fellows as the "Fae Killer". He lived for the hunt, and he cared not a whit for the jin, the Curite, or the kujar. He asserted the superiority of Gild without apology or reservation, and his judgmental eye scorched the foreigner. His heart grew cold for those who crossed Gild, and against such transgressions all was permissible on the culprits. The dungeon cells in the Sanctum he frequented contained many a scream that never escaped.

And now the two brothers walked into the Faysal Theatre, each dressed for the occasion in sharp Gildan kaftans.

"...but I do fear you work yourself too much," said Balian.

"Don't," said Boesarius. "I never tire of it."

Balian held up his hands. "I'm merely saying that nights like this...well, they're good for you. Far more good than you might think."

"I occasion leisure when it suits me."

"What was that one festival you told me about? When you had gone out in search of your apprentice?"

"The Valenntenian Masquerade."

"Ahhh, yes! Valenntenia, that's right. I ought to visit one day." Balian rubbed his beard. "Hmmm, surely you enjoyed it though, did you not?"

"It reeked of magic and deluded arrogance." And furthermore he had been annoyed that he, unknowingly, danced with a vampire there. The very same vampire that would find her way to Gild, and to his dungeon, and onto his team of Devils—but all that he wouldn't say.

Balian downplayed his brother's distaste. "Oh, it can't have been too bad. But in any case, tonight I'm sure will be a treat. I'm rather much a fan of the many works of House Faysal, and I couldn't help quoting their plays and poems in my History. This new work is certain to be a delight."

"Well," Boesarius said, nodding his head then toward the base of the grand stair, "then we'll talk with the playwright herself."

He had indeed spied Reize Faysal there, peering out over the crowd as though looking for someone. A small chat wouldn't be unwelcome. Balian nearly had to be led, as his brother, even with his own eminence as a renowned historian, seemed starstruck.

Boesarius, now before her, brought his hand to his heart and tipped his head in slow and deliberate motion. "Salt and silver, Reize-bayan."

Reize Faysal

 

[Reize Faysal]

She did not need to make it far before someone recognisable stepped into her line of sight. "Salt and silver, Boesarius-gazi." And her eyes flicked to the male beside him. There were some similarities in appearance, but Reize smiled and placed her right hand over her heart and stood back on her that was popular among the noble women. "I did not expect to see you here tonight."

All in all, she had many friends and acquaintances, but not many she thought would come to a play written by her. Not that she had gone out of her way to invite them to the opening night for nerves had been wrecking her for weeks now.

"But, never mind that. Allow me to invite you to sit in the Faysal Box with me. You and your... madi." Reize made to half turn, a smile still poised on her expression, her hand holding the tickets pointing up the stairs for both of them to join her. "You may very well refuse me, but may I remind you this is my family's theatre we are in." The threat was made in jest. Anyone that knew her would know she was not capable of harm in physical wounds or scathing words. It simply was not in her nature.

Praetor Boesarius Terral

 

[Praetor Boesarius Terral]

Allow me to invite you to sit in the Faysal Box with me.

"A kind gesture. We'll take it," said Boesarius.

But Balian paled with anxiety, even as Reize made her jest, and held up his hands. It seemed that even in his own mind he was diminished, made small before the occasion and the locale and the noblewoman and the offer. "Oh, oh, goodness, I could never. It would be presumptuous! So very presumptuous!"

"Relax," Boesarius said to his brother, though keeping his gaze steadily on Reize, "and accept the invitation."

"I'm...well, I'm just a bit nervous is all—"

Boesarius flicked his eyes over, and echoed his brother's own words, "It'll be good for you. Far more good than you might think."

And when he saw in Balian's shifting features the slow but sure process of relenting and conceding and accepting, Boesarius looked again to Reize and said, "My brother Balian enjoys the works of your House. Very much."

Too much, if he became like a boy on the cusp of manhood shivering at the thought of talking to the girl he fancied.

Reize Faysal

 

[Reize Faysal]

Ah! She had been right to think of the two to be related!

Reize smiled widely, looking between the two brothers even when other attendees paused to wish her well and greetings of salt and silver. The acceptance by the Praetor on both of their behalf put Reize at ease, completely forgetting it was her sister that left her stranded on this night.

"You do?" Her smile was now directed to Balian. "Some think it old and boring for any Faysals to still be so heavily involved with the arts after many, many generations, but I will not listen to such naysaying!" She laughed. The eldest Faysal daughter ascended two steps of the stairs. "I think it necessary. Without those faithful and serving the Church of Jura, we would have forgotten the importance of our religion. Just as a Faysal should keep the entertainment and expression of artists alive when it was our ancestor who brought all of this to us. And we are all the much richer because of it."

"Now, now. Come along. We must go to our box before we are far too late!"

Reize could barely contain the smile from her face. Her heart was pounding, proud and relishing in the fact that this night was all her own. It was the start to her own patronage to the arts, to put her soul and thoughts on display was nerve wracking, but it was a story told to every Gildan.

Were the stars that helped guide Andreas Gildal and the early settlers of Gild because of magic, or the guiding light of Jura? For the constellation of the Bear was claimed to be blessed by Jura, but the Fawn constellation was riddled with inconsistency throughout historic texts across Campania. Some observations claimed the Fawn was not present at that time, that it was to signal a bad omen for it was a requirement of magic.

What Reize hoped to share in her perspective of the known tale of the Fawn and the Bear was to strike conversation. Not all magic was outlawed, if it were a blessing to aide in dispelling it, then the presence of the Fawn in the sky should not be seen with such ill thought.

Praetor Boesarius Terral