The Hold of Belkzen is changing, with orc overlord Ardax the White-Hair violently repelling an allegiance by the Whispering Tyrant. Words of these developments and letters seeking diplomatic contact have reached Envoy's Alliance leader Fola Barun, who has realized that the Pathfinder Society already has a perfect intermediary in the Burning Sun orc faction after they helped recover important artifacts from a ruined cathedral a few years ago. As the Pathfinders head to meet the Burning Sun's leader, though, they soon find that not all orcs in Belkzen share Ardax's inclinations for peace.