From the introduction: One year ago, the great dragon Visandred the Horse-Eater dropped from the sky and burned the once-famous Stannasgard shipyards and docks to ash. Many lost their fortunes that day, but one of the most crucial blows was suffered by the noble dwarf Wulfstan vom Meer whose fleet of merchant ships were nearly all docked at Stannasgard that day. Vom Meer lost every vessel save for one ship mercifully under sail at the time, and the once proud owner of a grand fleet now teeters on the brink of financial ruin.