The year is 3954 P.R. (Post Rupture) and King Parzival the Seventh lies dead in The Hall of Kings. You and your band of adventurers have decided to take on the open contract for the king slayer, Jaxson Shadowstring; once a renowned virtuoso, now an enemy of the state on the lam.

You are hot on his trail, sitting around the campfire on the shores of Sapphire Lake sharing stories and ale, when a stranger approaches. It is none other than your quarry.

He begs a minute and tells you a story as he absently plucks at his lute strings. He admits that he is indeed a master of spycraft and assassination, but he is not the regicide he is being framed as.

"The King had tasked me to eliminate The Moonlit Council, a shadow organization that pulls at strings from the lowliest thugs to some of the highest-ranking politicians across the world. I had just removed the first name from my list, one Vayana Silverhand, and was closing in on a second name when the king was murdered."

He continues, and though you found his tale outlandish at first, his sincerity begins to speak to you, and you find yourself believing him. "Meet me behind the Crystal Ship in New Anima. I have a plan to find the rest of the council, avenge the king, and clear my name. But I will need your help. You are the first to get so close to me, and I believe the only ones who can help me save this kingdom."

With a flash of light, he is gone. At first, you and your group scoff at the idea of helping this madman. But, as the night progresses, you find yourself drawn to him and the idea of untold glory and gold should he be right. Besides, what's the worst that could happen? Other than being killed for abetting the assassin of a well-loved king, of course.

So, you turn back for New Anima and meet the aging bard behind the tavern he spoke of.

"Here's the plan," he tells you with a small smile. "The real owner of this bar is none other than The Starfall himself, leader of the continent-spanning thieves guild and until recently an old friend. If there was anyone who could frame me for the King's murder with such finesse, it's him. Why he betrayed me, I can not say... but that doesn't matter now. Luckily, the Starfall is a firm believer in mutually assured destruction and keeps hidden records on all jobs he completes."

"The guild owns several warehouses across the city. I've arranged for a, uh, disaster in the most important one. It'll be all hands on deck, and for at least 90 minutes, the bar and its hidden guild house will be empty. Get inside, find the names of the other Moonlit Council members, and get out."

Jaxson gives you one last smile as he turns to head across for the warehouse. "Don't look so glum," he laughs, "for all great adventures begin in the tavern."