From the introduction: This series of encounters take place in and around a sporting dueling tournament sponsored by an exiled Llaelese noble. The noble is sponsoring the tournament as a recruitment tool, as he lost all his most capable retainers in the fall of Llael. He is most eager to fill a bodyguard position since he has recently learned that there may be a contract out on his life. The event has drawn many duelists, one of whom is an assassin.