Alysin's Opera House (previously Alysin's Auction House) is refurbished by Avi Kromo (Kujaku patron of the arts) to house a party and an operatic performance of "The Avatar of Necropolis", a Sylvanian play. In attendance are several personalities from Sylvania, Gallis and Rephidim City, including Zoltan, Countess Ophelia (of the Northern Shore of Sylvania), and Inquisitrix Turtle.

Ophelia and Turtle meet each other, while Zoltan seeks out the Champion of Roses, and meets Count Karstein, finding himself referred to as the "Baron of Paradys". He also meets Czarevich Justinian VIII, and is alarmed to find out, while asking the multi-lingual heir about Aeztepa, that he actually UNDERSTANDS this long-dead tongue. Justinian invites Zoltan, the Champion, Ophelia and Turtle to his box to watch the play. During the play, Justinian is offended by the contents of the play (which suggest that one of his ancestors was, in fact, the "Necromancer King"), and leaves.

After the curtain call is made, a cry goes out – as one of the actors, an Eeee named Abednego bar Abbas, is found dead! Accusations are made against Ophelia and Turtle, while Zoltan tries in vain to locate Justinian…