City of Guilds

It was a bright and calm morning, Ulyana and Sunflower were dealing with the aftermath of the previous night. The party was rather austere, but that did not mean it was not wild, bottles and empty plates littered the floor, and furniture was moved from its usual place. Sunflower turned out to be the only one to offer Ulyana her help, the elven lady would usually push the other tenants to help her with clearing their mess, but this time she was content with having only the mare's help, mostly because the other tenants would sometimes leave tracks on the floor.

After putting everything in order the ladies heard a knock on the door. Ulyana opened the door and found an Orzhov courier with a scroll. The courier was a young man who probably was either a slave or a new recruit from the guild, dressed in white clothes with black accents and holding a bag with a small amount of missives in the form of scrolls. The young man spoke in a surprisingly meek tone. “I come with a message for... What was her name? Um... Babs Seed, on behalf of house Morozova.”

“She's asleep right now, but I will give it to her.” Ulyana responded kindly.

“I am afraid I was ordered to give this missive to no one but Babs Seed. I would rather not defy my superior's orders.”

“It's for me right? Wait. I'm coming.” Babs Seed spoke through a window in one of the upper floors. The filly walked down the stairs, still drowsy and with her mane looking rather unkempt. The filly stood in front of the courier and spoke. “So, you have a letter for me right? What's with the funny look.”

The young man looked at Babs Seed, he did not expect to see such an alien creature, in his shock he whispered trying to remain unheard. “What the fuck are you?”

“Did you say something? Come on, give me that letter. It's from Sveta, so it must be important. I bet she wouldn't like to find out you froze and I didn't get her letter.” The filly actually heard his words but pretended she only heard a whisper. She knew the locals were not used to see ponies of her kind around, but never saw anyone as shocked as that young man.

“Oh... Sorry... I need some proof of your identity, a signature or something.” The courier took a scroll and a small record book with a primitive pencil attached to it. Babs Seed signed the book holding the pencil with her mouth and then took the scroll. The young courier was not sure she was the recipient of the letter, but he was not experienced enough to seek any further proof. “Well. It is done. I will inform Lady Morozova you got her missive.” The young courier left quickly, without even asking for a tip as it was expected from Orzhov couriers. Compared to other couriers of his guild, this one was rather sub par.

“So. What is it?” Sunflower spoke in anticipation, wondering why Sveta would send a letter instead of speaking directly to Babs Seed as she usually preferred to do.

“Dunno. I can't read it. It's not written in Equestrian.” The filly passed the scroll to Ulyana, assuming she could read it. “Could you lend me a hoof... I man, hand?”

“Let's see.” Ulyana took the scroll and began to read. “My friend. Through this missive I invite you, and your friends as well, to a soiree at my residence. At sunset transportation shall arrive at your current location to take you and no more than seven companions to my residence, where you will enjoy a delightful and pleasant experience with those you have chosen.” The elf stopped and then left the letter on the table. “I don't like the look of this.”

“Why not? She's our friend.” Babs Seed responded wondering the cause of Ulyana's concern.

“The Orzhov are dangerous. We don't know what will happen if we go there.”

“She IS our friend. She won't hurt us. I heard Orzhov vampires respect contracts. And friendship is like a contract.”

“I hope you are right.”

“Good, because I'm taking you with me.” The filly smiled and rushed up the stairs as she spoke. “Gotta tell Midnight! And I'll need a dress!”

...

The group arrived at the Morozova residence on gilded carriages pulled by enormous thrull beasts. Babs Seed brought with her those she was fond of, Midnight Edge, Sunflower, and Riv arrived with her in the first carriage, in the second were The Necromancer, Ulyana, and Yevgeny, who were convinced to join by Babs Seed and Midnight edge.

The group stood before an enormous palace guarded by gilded knights, its garden decorated with decadent statues. The whole building looked like a mix between a residence and a cathedral. As they approached the guards obstructed the entrance.

“Halt! You are not dressed properly!” The guard looked at the group. Babs Seed and Sunflower were clad in semi formal dresses they packed in case they went to any form of event, Babs Seed wearing a green dress and Sunflower wearing a blue one. Midnight Edge wore a black cape with red lining and a matching high hat. Riv wore his usual noble attire.

The ones who seemed to be the offending parties were The Necromancer, who wore a dark purple overcoat, black suit, gloves and hat of the same hue as his suit, and a mask resembling a white avian face; Ulyana, who wore Selesnya ceremonial clothes and a matching head dress; and Yevgeny who could not care less about dress codes and decided to put on the most filthy, ragged, mold covered clothes Ulyana allowed him to wear just to spite their host.

“Let them in! They are my honored guests.” Sveta stood before the crowd, wearing a long tight fitting black dress with long sleeves. Her dress was decorated with golden sun shaped symbols and white accents.

“Yes mistress.” The guard moved aside, allowing passage to the group.

“Forgive my guards. They tend to expect guests to dress formally.”

“I must inform you this is a formal necromancer attire. I even filled the beak with scented materials.” The Necromancer spoke, his voice muffled by the strange mask.

“No matter how much you insist on pretending to look like a plague doctor, I am not calling you Doctor!” Riv spoke to his friend in a mocking tone.

“I am glad you arrived. I feared you might not read my missive, even worse, that it never arrived.” The Orzhov vampire smiled at Babs Seed, attempting to conceal her sharp fangs with her lips to not look menacing.

“I couldn't read it. I asked Ulyana to read it for me.” Babs Seed spoke with a sincere tone. “Your delivery boy is kind of a jerk by the way.”

“That courier is one of our new members. He is lacking in experience. Did charge you for the delivery?.”

“He didn't”

“He was meant to if I am not mistaken.” Midnight Edge spoke looking at Sveta.

“I am afraid it is so. But he will live without one less meal per day for a few weeks “ Lady Morozova confirmed the stallion's assumption.

“Couldn't you give him a chance or something? You said he was new.” Babs Seed asked, hoping her friend would show mercy.

“For you I would. I could pay him on your behalf. But I am afraid that won't make much difference. He forgets to charge the recipient on every single delivery he makes. He will have to live with only half of his pay until he learns his lesson.”

“Come on. Just help him a bit.”

“All I can do is to train him personally. Become his mentor. But I will be strict.”

“Sounds better than let him starve.”

The group entered a large hall. Many other guests from Orzhov lineage sat on a large table, a there were free seats for eight guests next to a large golden throne. Two creatures guarded the entrance. One was a slim winged creature with long snout and most of its face covered by a golden mask, a long leathery tail went down its spine ending in a sharp bone structure at the tip, making it look like a deformed bat. The other monster was a bulky quadruped with a flat face partially covered by a golden plate, it had wings large enough to allow flight, yet looking mismatched with the rest of its body, golden chains adorned it's body and served also as bindings when required.

Febah walked in front of his mistress and sounded a trumpet. “Stand to welcome Lady Morozova's most honored guests!” The Orzhov guests stood following the creature's command. Normally they would not obey such a lowly servant, but this time he spoke on behalf of his mistress, whose authority remained unquestioned.

“Let's take our seats shall we?” Sveta walked toward her golden throne and sat. “Little one, you may sit next to me, the rest shall sit wherever they see fit.”

After their host's prompt each guest took a seat. Babs Seed sat to the right of the Orzhov noble, Midnight Edge and Sunflower settled who would sit next to Babs Seed by flipping a coin, in the end Sunflower sat next to Babs Seed, with Midnight Edge sitting to the left of Sveta, Yevgeny sat next to sunflower and Ulyana next to him, both Sunflower and Ulyana acted as buffer zone keeping the animosity between Yevgeny and the Orzhov at bay. Next to Midnight Edge sat Riv and The Necromancer.

“Wait. There's a free seat.” Babs Seed spoke to her friend.

“I will handle that. Febah, I would like you to join us.” Most Orzhov guests were shocked, but they felt compelled to respect their host's behavior to avoid her wrath, or even worse, the shame carried by it.

“But Mistress! Who will serve our guests if I sit there?” The servant spoke surprised by his mistress' request. He noticed she began to treat him less like a servant, instead treating him like some sort of pet.

“Let Let Hephit and Mephit handle that. Hephit, Mephit, could you please serve our guests? There is enough decoration already.”

“As you wish” A feminine voice came out of the thin creature.

“Consider it done.” The bulky creature replied with a deep voice.

“Now, with that settled, everyone may sit.” Sveta commanded and the remaining guests returned to their seats, still astonished by their host's behavior.

Allowing a Golgari into the palace, ordering a thrull servant to take a seat and pretend to be another guest, and welcoming such strange creatures. It was unheard. but even the Obzedat approved. They heard rumors of her friends, and every single Orzhov expected to see them bring doom to house Morozova and reap the benefits. The Obzedat on the other hand expected to prove the benefits of loyalty, and therefore enforce it upon the rest of the guild.

“I prepared a banquet in your honor, then after the banquet we shall dance. I understand you do not feed on meat so I prepared different dishes for those of you who will not enjoy it. Tree of you if I am not mistaken.” The vampire spoke as her servants brought trays with food to the table.

“You are not mistaken, but it is not the three you expect. I in fact enjoy meat, it is Ulyana who is not that fond of it. Not that she will never eat it, but prefers not to.” Midnight Edge responded, seeking both his benefit and that of Ulyana.

“That will be no problem. Hephit, Mephit, the stallion next to me will have meat instead of the vegetable dish we prepared for his folk, and it seems the Selesnya healer would prefer vegetables over meat, make the necessary changes to the servings.” Sveta smiled at both Babs Seed and Midnight Edge. “Some of the guests from my guild will also refrain from eating meat as penitence, so it will be no problem if an elf eats them. I just hope you won't find them bland.”

After serving the lavish delicacies prepared by experienced Orzhov cooks, the servants began to serve drinks. Most of the guests were served wine, except for the penitent Orzhov and those who requested otherwise, which were served kompot instead. To Sveta's surprise Yevgeny, Midnight Edge, and The Necromancer refused to consume wine.

Babs Seed, who was expected to drink non alcoholic beverages due to her age looked at the cup filled with berry kompot and then at those drinking wine. “Is it good? I mean... Can I taste it?”

“I would have no objections, but I understand you are not allowed to.” Sveta responded taking a sip from her cup, the bright red wine almost looking like blood on her lips. She remembered the first time she tasted wine, probably she was the same age as her young friend, her parents were still there and taught her to be careful when drinking spirits, for they clouded the mind in excess.

“I guess you could try it.” Sunflower passed her cup to Babs Seed, who took a sip from the red drink almost immediately in order to calm her curiosity.

“It's the train thing all over again.” Midnight Edge spoke remembering the time Babs Seed convinced him to let her taste meat, resulting in her reacting with disgust to the taste.

“Not bad. But this berry drink tastes better.” The filly spoke eliciting surprise on most of her friends who expected her to find the taste of wine rather unpleasant due to her young age.

“I knew it! She's a keeper bro! She can handle her drink better than you! Welcome to the club little one!” Riv spoke in his particularly uncouth manner, at odds with his clothes as usual.

“I assume I shall pass this lesson to you, little one, thread carefully when drinking spirits. One cup is pleasant, two cups bring bliss, three cups bring decadence, more than that and your mind rots.” Sveta recited the words of her father with incredible accuracy.

“I guess a cup would be a bit too much for me.” The green eyed filly spoke, aware enough of the effects of alcohol on the mind.

“It is good to know that. Drunkards waste their hearts and minds, and waste is the opposite from joy.”

“That was another lesson from your parents right? They sound smart. Where are they?” Babs Seed asked something most of Sveta's guild knew well, but the fate of the previous heads of the house was a mystery to the young filly.

“They still watch over us. Even now they guide me, but now I am the head of this house. Just the way they wanted.”

“You mean they... Died?”

“Not exactly. They left their bodies, because they wanted to. They became spirits when they decided I was ready to lead. Hephit and Mephit were their parting gifts to me.”

“The winged things? What are they?”

“Thrull servants, like Febah. But they were made with what my parents left behind. I hope that won't make you feel upset. It is the Orzhov way, when we become spirits, our bodies are used to make thrull.”

“An insult to the natural order of things!” Yevgeny spoke, he saw the thrull as an example of Orzhov decadence.

“We refuse to waste such a valuable thing. I hope you will understand.”

“It's not big deal. But doesn't it make you sad? I mean, seeing the bodies of your dead parents all the time... It's kind of sad.” Babs Seed spoke, she was not upset about how the thrull were made, instead it made her feel concerned about her friend.

“Why would I. They love me. They love me so much they wanted me to take care of their bodies. These thrull servants, just like Febah, are not just servants, they are my family.” Sveta's words made something clear, even her cousins and the rest of her relatives were less valuable to her than the bond she had with her parents, those of her bloodline at the table were not so pleased with that. “And so are you, well, most of you.” Sveta's words welcomed Babs Seed as her friends into her family, with the exception of Yevgeny who would reject such invitation. This reminded her relatives of how much they disrespected her parents in the past and how much they failed her.

The party went on without much issue, everyone enjoyed it to some extent, even Yevgeny who at first refused to join the celebration was convinced by his wife to give Sveta a chance and try to enjoy her displays of generosity.

...

Sveta ended the celebration by giving a present to her friend, a present gold could not buy for it was her own creation. Her life style allowed her to have spare time to dedicate to the fine arts. And so she made a painting, a portrait depicting Babs Seed, Midnight Edge, and Sunflower, together, as a family. Sveta's well trained memory allowed her to depict them without the need of their presence as models. And with that present the celebration came to an end.

Every guest returned to their respective residences to rest. Meanwhile behind dark shadows rumors flowed, rumors about the strange foreigners, their ties to house Morozova, the presence of a mysterious group of men who shouldn't be there, and even of the interactions between the foreign creature. Their caution and silence were nothing to the web of information flowing in the undercity, the Dimir laid their eyes on them the moment they arrived, and would sell that information for a fair sum.