A bitter, cruel human warlock of middle years, Praetor Darian is a newly appointed templar in charge of the effort to expose and destroy the Veiled Alliance in Balic. Relentless and implacable, he plans to spearhead a crackdown on people and businesses suspected of having ties to the Alliance. First, he needs information, so Praetor Darian is searching for potential Alliance recruits whom he can turn into his own agents before they are contacted by the rebellious group. Visitors—especially those who have magic items or unusual powers—are high on his list. He isn’t above leveling false charges against someone who might be useful and threatening death or enslavement unless that person agrees to serve as his agent.