[[Chandra]], [[Liliana]], [[Ral]] and [[Dr. Orren Vel]] are sent by [[The Academy of Burning Light]] to investigate a missing research vessel: [[The Ardent]]. leaving [[Grey Hall]] they board [[The Numinon]] and head south west into [[The South Atic Ocean]]. Also aboard [[The Numinon]] is the crew: [[Captain Bellweather]], first officer [[Ursla]], navigator [[Pattern]], helmsman [[Jabar]], surgeon [[Squib]], lookout [[Yee]], rigger [[Sergei]] and the ships cook [[Pickle]].