An acquaintance of mine, a small time housebreaker called Halyard, was approached by a nervous
character who turned out to be a high-ranking wizard at the Academy of the Trefoil Serpent,
a secretive and pretentious college for wizards perched high in the mountains.

This wizard, Kethmar, wants to usurp the Archmage Volthazar, and apparently is one of a number of
malcontents among the Academy's faculty who wish to bring about change in the institution. Yet none
will dare to openly defy the Archmage while he holds the Mehrgarh Stele, a stone tablet of abstruse
prophesies. On paper, the job is simple - Kethmar wants a skilled outsider to infiltrate the Academy
and smash the Stele into pieces. This accomplished, Kethmar and those allied to him can seize power
and forge a new destiny for the Academy.

After hearing the particulars of the job that he had rashly agreed to, Halyard realised it would be
beyond his abilities to complete alone, and so he wants my help. Under normal circumstances,
I wouldn't tangle with these wizards, but money's tight, and the wizard already paid Halyard
a sizeable advance. Even half of it is enough to keep me in business for a while longer, and with
the promise of more to come upon completion of the job, I reluctantly agreed to help.