PLACE: The Dragon Lands, the scroll-filled lair of Baalsilisque, the
Dragon Lord of Forbidden Words.

BAALSILISQUE: My hoard grows larger with each passing day. My
servants throng about Me in abject obedience. None dare challenge My
Dominion! Now that the Twenty-Sided Starlot Tomes are in every
village, it is only a matter of time before the Shadows rise and
EverNight falls! Even the LightRaiders have faded from existence!

KURM, DRAGONGUARD: Actually, M'Lord, my scouts report that the
LightRaiders are still out there. Possibly in greater numbers than
before! They are constructing a Second Academy even as we speak.

BAALSILISQUE: (roars, spewing sulfurous fire across the already soot-
encrusted cavern ceiling) WHAAAT? How can this be? There has been no
sign of them in My lands for years! No one even whispers of their
dreaded order among My villages! How can they still be? HOW! (lowers
head to glare into the face of quaking DragonGuard. Plumes of smoke
curl from nostrils like living question marks.)

KURM, DRAGONGUARD: ...M'lord! They travel in secret, by hidden paths.
They do not mingle with our minions, so no word of them has been
heard among the Brethren. For all we know, they might even be living
among us, hidden or undercover.

BAALSILISQUE: This must not be! I have underestimated these
LightRaiders once. I shall NOT do so again! (snarls and grimaces,
tapping claws on the rocks, shuffling scrolls with twitching tail)

after some time...

BAALSILISQUE: YOU! (points at Kurm with four-foot long claw) You will
go out among these infernal LightRaiders! You will discover what they
are planning!

KURM, DRAGONGUARD: Me? But...

BAALSILISQUE: SILENCE! You were Twiceborn before returning to My
legions! You know how they think. You know their language. YOU will
be My Eyes in the Land of Light! GO!

KURM, DRAGONGUARD: As you command! (scampers out of cavern, sweating
profusely).