Having returned to Magepoint, the archmage Manzorian reveals what he, Celeste, Agath, and Eligos had been researching about the Ebon Triad. Several scrolls and books about the Ebon Triad in Manzorian’s library had notes written by Balakarde in their margins. The main theme of this marginalia was his suspicion that the Ebon Triad just a front for a cult of Kyuss. Many of the Ebon Triad leaders were from the port town of Alhaster in the Bandit Kingdom of Redhand. One old book, an outdated text called The History of Alhaster by a cleric of St. Cuthbert named Rhorsk just before the kingdom was taken over by Prince Zeech. The history recounts how heretics from Hextor tried to establish an underground cult in the city, and used something call “the Writhing Dead”. The cult was defeated by an elven noble spellcaster named Lashonna, but the leaders of the cult escaped. Balakarde left a note of questions pinned to this text.
The party hires a ship and travels over the Lake of Unknown Depths largely uneventfully to Alhaster. Upon arrival it is clear that a festival is being prepared for. The temple of Hextor is supporting the upcoming gala for Zeech, celebrating 20 years of the joy of his leadership.
After a brief encounter with the city guard – some tough looking hobgoblins that are poart of what keep the peace in the place, the party learns of the Blessed Angels who seem to have their eyes and ears everywhere, and are very much Zeech’s powerful enforcers in this place.
Asking around about the upcoming gala, the party learns that there will be a Grand Banquet in about a week, where all of the most esteemed circle of the city and a few nobles from beyond will be attending – including rumour has it — Zeech’s most trusted advisor Lashonna.
The party ends up in the Church of Kord, which is a run down of the past. Lanthis Chax, the aging warrior high priest, realizes the group’s non-alliance with Zeech and allows them to bunk down secretly on the premises.
The party cases out Lashonna’s manor, but sensibly decides not to break in. Later that night, Armhin Loratio, the owner of one of the Deluxury (the upscale tavern the group decided to drink in) had heard that there was a hero from the Champion Games in town. Maeron, does an amazing bardic performance and manages to score invitations for the whole group to the Grand Banquet. Armhin takes Maeron aside and tells her that he think really only she has the class to fit in with the nobles. He is giving the tickets to her, and if the behaviour of the others doesn’t fit, she will be on the one to pay the price. Talking around the tavern that night (and several others overheard the impressive performance and there is a bit of a buzz about the group), the party learns that fine dress is expected and that weapons are generally not allowed. They also learn that Zeech often expects gifts.
