"Unwelcome Guests"
Unwelcome
Guests
“Aha! This is most welcome news Musa!” Exclaimed Hoka Mansel as he jumped up from his stool and walked over to a bookshelf. He then continued:
“With the tunnel uncovered, and in good shape, we can easily move items, perhaps people onto and off the island with ease!”
Musa nodded slowly as he smirked. He watched Hoka as he took a pouch off of the shelf and returned to his stool. He then tossed the pouch across the table to Musa.
“I do thank you for the payment Hoka. Please do let me know if you need any assistance moving things through the tunnels.” Said Musa as he poured the contents of the pouch onto the table. Hoka looked over at the glistening gemstones and inquired:
“You say there was a mysterious altar down there?”
Musa nodded as he scooped the gemstones back into the pouch and placed it in his satchel.
“It was a bit odd, something I had never seen before; a red marble altar, with a skull, surrounded by many candles. Anything you know about it?” Replied Musa.
“Could have been from ages ago. The tunnels below the island are rather unstable, especially during the rainy seasons. I’d wager that tunnel had collapsed hundreds of years ago.” Said Hoka as he leaved forward and rested his elbows on the table. Musa’s gaze was drawn to the bookshelf where Hoka had gotten the pouch of gemstones from. Noticing the magical lantern was nowhere in sight, he inquired:
“What of the lantern from Moreno? What is your interest with it, Hoka?”
Hoka exhaled a deep sigh as he pondered for a few moments before replying:
“It is out of my hands now.”
“What do you mean it is out of your hands?” Asked Musa with a puzzled look on his face. Hoka looked down at the ring he was wearing on his index finger and continued:
“There are many artifacts in this world, Musa. Some of them are lost, perhaps forgotten in private collections, or resting at the bottom of the ocean. Luckily, this one managed to survive.” Said Hoka as he raised his hand to show Hoka the ring. He then continued:
“The Sultan of Old had this one in his possession. After the palace was sacked and looted many years ago, this happened to find it’s way to me.”
Musa narrowed his eyes as he examined the ring on Hoka’s finger before he set his hand back down on the table. He then looked at Hoka and inquired:
“What exactly does that ring have to do with the magical lantern?”
Hoka chuckled softly as he again stood up from his stool and walked back over to the bookshelf. After scanning the books, scrolls and parchments for a moment, he selected a rather worn book, walked back over to the table and set it down in front of Musa. Musa looked down as Hoka opened it to a marked page and pointed.
“The tales call them the Shadow Fleet. They have been safely exiled from these planes for ages. That shipwreck you and Moreno found, the wreck of the I’Ordre Du Verrat, Captain Luzor Memishh had found the lantern somehow, but I doubt he knew of it’s fabled past.” Said Hoka as he turned a few pages in the book and pointed to an image of a lantern surrounded by ghostly apparitions. Musa looked down and scanned the page as Hoka continued:
“Ages ago, there were several merchant ships, crews, deckhands, all hired to construct a mysterious tomb. However, this was to be no ordinary tomb, no. This tomb was meant to be sealed and forgotten about; to the point that all of these men were murdered after the tomb was constructed, as to remove any word of its existence from history.”
Musa finished reading over the page in the book and glanced over at the next page. On this page, there was an image depicting a black ring, surrounded by runic descriptions. Hoka noticed Musa glancing at the page and promptly closed the book. Musa’s gaze met Hoka’s as he inquired:
“What have you done with the lantern?”
Hoka smiled as he returned the book to the shelf and then sat back down.
“I am rather surprised you and Moreno didn’t break the thing with how reckless you two are. Did you not know of the power of the lantern? Or did you just look at it as another bauble to sell for some coin, like this ring a beggar sold me?” Inquired Hoka as he unrolled a parchment that was on the table and pointed to a spot on the parchment that resembled the island of Moonglow. He then continued:
“There is a blackrock altar in the forests on the island of Moonglow. I am not sure about the connection, but when the lantern is brought close to an altar of that kind, it begins to glow. It glows brighter and brighter the closer it gets to the altar. If placed on the altar, well…”
Musa pondered what Hoka said and remembered his own experimenting with the lantern, and the blackrock altar that was located beneath the streets of Nujel’m where the Family had taken residence. Hoka then continued:
“If the lantern is shattered as it glows it’s brightest, what remains is but the darkest darkness; the Shadow Fleet will be awoken. Can you imagine, Musa? If someone was able to control those cursed sailors from ages ago?”
Musa pondered for a few moments before glancing at Hoka and down to the ring on his finger. He was about to inquire but Hoka continued to speak:
“I have sent Waythe to Moonglow with the lantern, and a second ship with those reagents you and your men recovered for me several weeks ago. Waythe will bring them to the altar and awaken the Shadow Fleet. Just imagine what we can do commanding a fleet of those souls!
Musa’s face turned to a look of wonder and concern.
“A rather intimidating fleet of ships doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all!” Said Musa as he looked back to the bookshelf and pondered the lantern.
“I could not have done it without you and Moreno. You brought me the lantern, you eliminated the Frenzied Scimitar pirates for me, I just have to wait now.” Said Hoka.
Musa sat and observed the look of madness in the eyes of Hoka.
“Just
wait until Moreno hears about this.” Musa thought to himself…
King Blackthorn was abruptly awoken by the sounds of loud knocking on his chamber door.
“Yes? Please come in!” Said the King. One of the King’s jailors entered the room in a hurried manner. After bowing and saluting the King he spoke:
“He is… He speaks oddly, a language I have never heard before. He is yelling and pacing around.”
“Who is acting strange?” Inquired the King.
“Povras Sibrum.” Replied the jailor.