Chapter Four: Fated Reunions
A homecoming. Old flames and old foes. Unexpected allies and expected enemies. A companion stolen.
The companions arrive at Masadum, city of Eladrin Bale's youth and home to the grand Caliph Usar. 'Drin is nervous about returning to the city for reasons he refuses to explain. After a much more pleasant docking experience than they had in Gildenport, the companions venture out into the city: Elec and Eladrin to the market and park, to stretch the ranger's sea-weary legs; Sari and Bronwyn to the cloisters of the Scarlet Sisterhood, to seek the wisdom of the oracles; and Reanna to the Great Library.
Their errands have numerous unexpected consequences.
First, Elec and Eladrin encounter an elven bladesinger who, with some deep surprise, greets Elec not as Elec Mourngrym, but as Elec Minayathallon. She is Alanha Sudahrah, the love of Elec's youth and a sudden reminder of a past he thought he'd left behind.
Sari and Bronwyn, escorting Reanna to the library, encounter there an avariel. After polite greetings, they leave the halfling to her studies and push on to the Scarlet Sisters' temple.
Touts scream that the Minstral himself will perform in Masadum. The legendary bard's presence is a pleasant surprise to all.
Eladrin and Elec, after a detour discuss the latter's romantic quandary, go to the museum to see the Minstral's violin. Eladrin gets a chance to play it. The Minstral reveals himself--as Lans. Standing in sunlight, it's increasingly clear the being is no ordinary vampire. He tells them to seek the Enambilis, along with his usual fatalistic warnings.
Bronwyn and Sari receive no immediate answers at the Sisterhood, but do receive a promise of aid. As they leave, an elder warns them that there is a great danger growing in Masadum, and that six balls of light would be threatened by three scimitars.
At the park, a small part of that danger makes itself known: Paffa, assassin to the crime lord Pasha Hadib, attacks Elec and Eladrin in the park. Magic irons holds the elf as Paffa effortlessly subdues Eladrin and vanishes with him, pausing only to taunt Elec.
What follows is a rush to collect allies and discover the whereabouts of this "Hadib." Elec goes to Alanha, who secures him and audience with Usar himself.
Lans puts in several appearances as Hadib and Paffa begin to torture Eladrin--their long-escaped slave and tool.
At length, the companions reconvene at the Wraith, and eventually set off into the city in search of clues. Lans reappears, briefly, to point them toward Rashad, a recently-arrived mage who may be able to help. While Reanna explores the Black District, Elec and Bronwyn seek out Alanha.
Eventually, their collective investigations reveal that Hadib has been hunting Eladrin for a very long time, and that he has also pushed around many people. They are too frightened of him to act on their own, but the companions begin the effort of rallying them and giving them hope of victory.