Kharl is the best cooper in Brysta, and his lifestyle continues to be while snug and regular while his barrels. However in the span of just a few days, it’s all staved in. When a youthful blackstaffer from Recluce can be mysteriously murdered in his cooperage, Kharl is certainly summarily jailed. After that, in a surprising turnaround in the trial, his innocent consort is usually blamed for the killing and quickly carried out. Kharl eventually ends up destitute and on the run, but he will consider the slain woman’s dark staff as well as the book The Basis of Order, which clarifies the principles of its power.

Kharl discovers that he may use the black staff to fight chaos magic which he needs to just because a white wizard is stalking and murdering youthful women-and looking for Kharl.