An Intriguing Invitation
The Mokers were shocked to realise that the Speaker of Khorl, Milton Drac, was implicated in framing them for murder and carnage. They knew that they could not openly confront such a powerful individual; one who had the forces of Khorl effectively at his command. The giant steward, An-Redachan seemed to have no involvement in the day to day running of the city, leaving that to the speaker and his council. Perhaps some influences of the council could be brought to bear to stop Drac and his plans. The construction of the lighthouse had to come into this somewhere. Mezezar asked Jaralin (who posed as Thuron) if he knew any members of the council. Jaralin was able to remind them, that as High Priest of Vekik the Runegod, he had a seat on that council and he recommended that they seek the assistance of Lady Kavara Lonron, a human who led the council faction opposed to Drac痴 will.
But first rest was called for. The Mokers asked Jaralin for permission to stay in the temple and urged him to continue to take the place of Thuron. These things he agreed to. The Mokers rested that night and were able to avail of the rune priests� assistance in healing their wounds. They awoke refreshed, if apprehensive the next day. As they were planning what to do next, a messenger arrived at the temple with a silver filigree scroll tube for each of the Mokers. Inside each was a fine vellum scroll held closed with a red satin ribbon. Each read:
Milton Drac葉he most honourable Speaker of Khorl幼ordially invites you to be his honored guest at the Grand Lighthouse Ball. You have been awarded the Order of Drac for your bravery in defeating the evil councillor Verlaine. Present this invitation at the gates of the Speaker痴 palace to gain admittance to the festivities. Prepare yourselves for an evening of entertainment you will not soon forget.
This set the Moker痴 thoughts whirling. They now presumed that the Speaker did not know that they knew of his involvement with the Cult and was trying to make the best of a bad situation. They asked Jaralin where they could find Lady Kavara Lonron and set off to meet her.
The meeting was short and courteous. Lady Lonron shared some of her misgivings about the lighthouse project with the party. She also mentioned that there was an opening on the council, as Councillor Verlaine had died. She was lobbying for an artisan to take the position, a sibeccai called Minanay the Sculptor. If she could get Minanay elected, her group on the council would be able to vote down many of the poor policies of Drac. As they were going to the ball, they could help her cause by trying to persuade as many of the councillors to vote for this candidate as possible. Lady Lonron then filled them in on all the council members who were likely to be present and bade them farewell until the ball.
The Mokers had a chance to rest and get ready. They borrowed enough money from Jaralin to buy a great-sword for Ke-Tant, unfortunately it was neither dire nor masterwork. The giant then took the time to bond with this weapon. The others bought what sundry items they required.
When the time for the ball was upon them, the Mokers set forth from the temple clutching their invitations, but without their large weapons or armour. Such things were frowned upon at such important events. The Chamberlain met them and ushered them into the ballroom at the right time, explaining some of the etiquette required for the occasion. Each was presented with the Order of Drac, which turned out to be a golden medallion on a chain with the symbol of a trading ship on the front. Drac praised their deeds in saving the temple folk and helping to root out the cultists and the ballroom erupted in applause. Drac went on to talk about the lighthouse which was due to finish soon, saying how it would be the wonder of the land and would bring glory back to Khorl.
Then the ball started. The Mokers spent their time moving through the crowd looking for the dignitaries that Lady Lonron had told them about. They talked to each of these in turn and built up a picture of strange goings-on at the lighthouse.
Katorn the Chamberlain told them of an incident when a visiting merchant came running out of a third-floor study and jumped out the window. A book left open in the study showed the mark of the yellow sign. Lady Kavara Lonron told them that the two top levels of the lighthouse had been sealed off. The workers from that section can稚 now be found. Captain Ji-Herram, mentioned that two days ago, he had noticed a mysterious ship anchored in the harbour. It left again in the middle of the night, but not before depositing
a couple of passengers in a boat bound for the lighthouse. One of them was
almost certainly a mojh. Gaena Lighttide, a loresong faen said that one night, a priest at sea shrine saw some strange lights from the top of the lighthouse. The next morning, the mutilated bodies of two grotesque monsters were found at the foot of the tower. The monsters had the bodies of large bears, but the hideously distended heads of owls. Captain Regrick Mored stated that another Councillor, Alar Wensen was sent on a very hush-hush mission to Noll a while back. He returned with a crate of specially crafted yellow wax candles engraved with runes and symbols. Minanay the Sculptor couldn稚 believe that after the honest craftsmen of Khorl laid such a beautiful and solid foundation for the lighthouse, Drac then decided they couldn稚 be used to finish the project. Xexedir, a verrik said that Drac had commissioned a giant crystal from the Crystal Fields, southwest of Navael which may have had magical properties.
Captain Vi-Tarob, a giant, also approached the party. He got them into a quiet corner and said that although he had supported Drac in the past, it was now becoming obvious that something had to be done about him. He felt that diplomatic manoeuvrings in the council would not help. He urged the party to hide with him in an ante-room where he was due to meet Drac shortly. There they could slay him and either reveal him as a sinister cultist or escape through the window that gave out into the grounds of the palace directly. The Mokers demurred, but sent Gath to discover if Vi-Tarob did indeed meet with Drac. The faen reported that he had and that Drac was none too pleased with the giant from his manner, although he could not get close enough to overhear the conversation.
The Mokers gathered back in the main ballroom to discuss what they had heard when the music and dancing suddenly stopped as an unshaven man in a brown robe shuffled into the ballroom. The crowd parted for him as he made his way to the middle of the chamber. He spoke with a rasping voice:
滴eed me well! The words of an old man should not be ignored. In the ancient scriptures of Yig, it is written:
When yellow evil stretches out
And trumpets madness in,
From reaching light shall darkness come
And mayhem will begin.
A thousand mirrors of the soul
Shall be salvation痴 call.
And from the murdered children痴 hole
The greatest gift of all
Will cleanse the night with purest green
From snake of jade so bright.
迭emember these verses well, citizens of Khorl. The prophecies of Yig do not lie.�
The old man then transformed into a green serpentine creature with vestigial wings which vanished in a puff of smoke when the nearest guard attempted to skewer it with his spear.