Introduction

In Book I Prince Prospero, Keoland’s military governor of the town of Westkeep, learned that the Malarat tribe of lizardfolk were on the verge of declaring war against the citizens of Westkeep if their fishermen continued to overfish and block the bayous with their nets. Through the work of his mistress of spies, Lady Sedara, he also learned that two young men named Reece (son of the alchemist Parwyn) and Relikez (an artist)  had gone into the marshes some years before hunting for the ruins of an ancient city named Thracia in order to rouse the Thracian death god named Thanatos against the Scarlet Brotherhood who had invaded the Hold of the Sea Princes including Westkeep.  

Prince Prospero had already requested that Fingol, one of the King’s Rangers, and Gar, a Flan priest of Obad-Hai, help to negotiate a settlement with the Malarat. To help them, he summoned Fingol’s father Ragnbjorn, a senior ranger and friend of Chief Rhodophylax (aka Rahk) of the Malarat, and the Marinus brothers. The Marinus brothers are two half-elves from the Dreadwood. The senior, Indranil, is a member of the King’s Rangers. The junior, Lorindel, is a member of the Scout Corp. Prince Propsero also intended to order a squadron of the Guard to go with them and provide security. Among the brave members of the Guard is Aramek, a young half-elf sorcerer from Keoland; Rain, a young woman of Westkeep who had been secretly recruited and trained as a spy by Lady Sedara and then assigned to work with the Guard; and Noch, a mysterious mercenary who rouses the supicions of Gar and Fingol when he displays a skill and ruthelessness surpassing all the other Guard members but then seems to throw a fight to Rain during a practice bout.

Before the mission could even be properly planned and organized, however, Scarlet Brotherhood assassins attacked the palace and attempted to kidnap Prince Prospero. Their plan is foiled by Ragnbjorn, Rain, and Sedara, though Aramek, Noch, Fingol, Gar, and the Marinus brothers were also involved in fighting off the assassins.

Taking Aramek back to the home of Master Parwyn the alchemist where he is staying, the new fellowship of heroes discovered that the Olman refugees led by the evil shaman Nauyotl have left the abandoned Heironean Mission where they had been squatting. In doing so, they desecrated the statue of Heironeous. A giant bat is also seen flying away from the abandoned mission. One thing is certain, Nauyotl’s cult is is certain to be planning something against the forces of Keoland who currently rule the city.

It is at this point that book two begins.