Ten days after the end of the Crow's Foot turf war, the Duskwall Ravens are rested, resupplied, recuperated, and ready for action. With an ultimatum issued by the Sashes to either pay tribute or leave, the Ravens are hungry for a pay day to keep the new ward bosses off their backs. Fortunately, Amancio sends word: there's somebody looking for help, and they're just the people for it.
Meeting the contact at Amancio's offices, the Ravens are introduced to Alastair Prichard, a clerk from Charterhall with a chronic case of dust-lung and a problem with debt. Prichard explains that his work has given him a comfortable life and good savings, but treatment for his illness has forced him to see more immediate sources of funding: loans from unscrupulous sources. With usurious interests racking up his debt payments beyond all possibility of paying, he offers a chunk of his savings to the Ravens if they can persuade the creditor, one Cedric Morcombe in Six Towers, to forgive the loan.
Agreeing to the contract, the Ravens split up to begin their initial investigations: Skannon and Drav make for Six Towers to stake out Morcombe's pawn shop, while Caaro makes inquiries around Charterhall regarding the man's lending business. Meanwhile, Arlyn prepares rituals to investigate the man from the ghost field, to ascertain the presence and nature of any occult connections.