There are two great castles in Caliphas, greatest city in all Ustalav and the nominal capital. One is Castle Stryithe, the fortress of Aduard Ordranti, hereditary Prince of Ustalav and monarch-in-name of the kingdom; it stands at the very center of the city, imposing, spire-crowned, a fortress of crimson stone and black basalt and buttresses mounting to cast its shadow over the city, while inside Aduard obsessively trains his faithful soldiers, seeking to one day restore his power; the other is the gentle, pleasant Lethean Manor, in which Carmilla Caliphvaso, countess of Caliphas and true ruler of the city, enjoys her suspiciously unchanging life’s pleasures.
Both of them are taken, simultaneously, in the midst of the night. Razmir does not appear in person, for that is not his part in the night's festivities. That is for his two mightiest priests, the Twins of the Sixteenth Step, so called for their identical masks and dress - though Eike is male and Erna female, there is little difference between their words or their actions, for both are loyal conduits of their master’s will. They appear simultaneously, and with each goes a mighty, masked Inevitable, a Priest of Razmir of lesser degree, and a gray-eyed shackleborn champion, hugely muscled frames covered with black-forged armor with gilded spikes. A moment after follows Koldunya Ognya, Witch of Flame in a thousand languages, and four of her sorcerer-slaves; two wear armor, Agate whose helmet is carved in a snarling leopard’s face to match his vicious grin, Emerald with a ruby on his forehead and a shining rapier in his hand; two more wear Mage Armor. Of the thirteen, all are in midair, all are invisible, and all have already had spells of empowerment cast.
There are a few moments of spellcasting, and then they turn to their destinations.