When the Harpers judged The Nameless Bard responsible for the death of his apprentices, they sentenced him to exile and obscurity. Now the Harpers are reconsidering their decision, but with the arrival of the monster Grypht, Nameless' new trial dissolves in a string of disappearances and murder. It is up to the bard's friends, Alias the swords-woman, Akabar the mage, Dragonbait the paladin, and Olive Ruskettle the thief, to prove one enemy is behind all the chaos—the ancient evil god, Moander the Darkbringer. Unless Alias and her companions can find Nameless and convince him to sacrifice some of his precious power, Moander will return to claim the Realms.