Fancifully dressed, Prince Draybus, petulant, unsmiling and surrounded by a cold aura came into the room. He was a tall, straight nosed, blonde haired ruffian about whom nothing could be admired. Seated in the room which was of a palatial splendour and set within a fortress of medieval proportions were his acolytes, Rodeon the accountant, a big, corpulent man who looked as if he had eaten one meal too many. He was dressed in a three quarter length calico, monk type habit that fitted only where it touched. His boots, knee length and of rough leather looked as if they had just been fished from a swamp, of which there were many in the immediate vicinity.  Then there was Lenelopy the witch or maybe she just looked like one, true to her archetype with long black hair, a pale, faded skin that had seen better days although with a demeanour many people would envy. She was dressed, appropriately perhaps, in a long black, flowing robe, no shoes and she had an irritable tick above her left eye which worked when she became excited as she was now. Last, but not least, of this worried, seated trio was Punchilin. To say that Punchilin was intelligent, although he thought of himself as the intellectual of the group would be, at the least charitable and at best not true. He did though have a certain native cunning and was known to fly into apoplectic rages at the slightest provocation.  He was perhaps best known for his lack of compassion and sporadic drinking bouts. He also dressed the part in a waist level, leather jerkin over a coarse hemp shirt, cotton trousers and open toed sandals.

            Draybus on the other hand was dressed elegantly in what he considered to be the latest fashion, maybe it had been ten years before. This consisted of a brown coloured, velvet like topcoat with a black fur collar, black top boots and an Astrakhan cap. It looked even more incongruous against the rough dress of the other three. His stride was brisk and self assured.

Draybus seated himself in one of the only two chairs still available. A small group with much to discuss became apparent. The cabal, which is a more appropriate description, formed a rough semi circle with Draybus sitting slightly apart and to the right of the others. From his position of acknowledged superiority he began the discussion they had assembled for. There was only one subject, that of the missing fifth member, the Hermit, as he was always referred to. The Hermit whose given name was Dongbus, was a capable if somewhat muddled personality. His one loyalty was to himself and his family although he had been able to disguise this fact while a member of the group.