After foiling the plot of Rayton and Lady Hannah of the Great House of Seden to assassinate the Council of the Knights of Rinder and conspire with the Baron General Wade III of Caerloon, Rinder's Six headed back to the Raimead Mountains to investigate the cause of, and hopefully bring an end to, The Dwarven Blockade. En route they are met by Karelth, the uncle of Crayne (the party's mage). According to Karelth, he had been attacked in his home by wizards of the Red Dragon School. They were searching for a ring he carries, which he suspects must have great magical value to attract such attention from the School.

After allowing themselves to be captured by the dwarves of the Warhammer Brigade, Rinder's Six meets the dwarven General Korg. He explains the roots of the conflict: With the discovery of valuable adamantine ore in the Raimead Mine, the Dwarven Clans believed that they should receive a proportionally greater payment for each delivery of ore to Parton. To secure such a price, the Great Dwarven Pact, an old treaty ensuring the Dwarven Clans authority over the mountains, a fair price for metal ores, and a mutual defense agreement, would have to be renegotiated. But the keeper of the ducal treaties appointed by Sir Bryant of the Great House of Raimead, and Duke of the Raimead Duchy, Paros, refuses to renegotiate.

So instead of selling the ore to the humans, the dwarves erect a blockade. In addition, they agree to sell their adamantine ore to a new buyer, represented by Bernigan, the slippery diplomat from Marlond. After promising General Korg that they will convince the Duke to oversee the renegotiations, Rinder's Six crosses the mountains and sets off for Parton, serving as escorts for Bernigan and Captain Delk, the dwarven negotiator. Cy, Storm, and Karelth stay behind with the dwarves in good faith. After a tense and stormy meeting with his father and a short tour with a dwarven patrol, Storm manages to secure their release, and they follow on to Parton.

Once in Parton, the party alerts the Duke's men to the situation with some help from Naeron's connections in the castle. They are then sent to collect the necessary proof to warrant the Dukes special attention to the issue. Matters are complicated with the news that a Knight of Rinder has been killed near the blockade. After doing some exploring of the city, the party manages to uncover a plot involving the local cell of the Blood Clan (which Bernigan appears to have connections with), Emerson (Paros's apprentice), and a minor Drow house. After trailing some Blood Clan members to a tavern, the party manages to capture a few Clan locals. Then they set off for the wilderness, where they are to intercept a shipment of ore transported by Bernigan and the Clan to the Drow at Spiked Peak.

They locate the caravan and attack, eventually succeeding in capturing the valuable ore as well as some of the Clansmen. They soon discover that the plot runs deeper: The ore is actually payment for deeds not yet done, the assassination of Sir Bryant upon his coronation by the Drow. In addition, it was the Blood Clan that was paying Paros, via Emerson, to stall the renegotiation of the Great Dwarven Pact.

Upon presenting the Duke with this new evidence, as well as the captured Clansmen and ore, the Duke promises to investigate personally, and hopes are high that the Dwarven Blockade will soon come to an end. But the road to success has been long and trying. In the process Rinder's Six has lost Cyveiliog McKinely, who has been appointed by Bryant to reestablish the Cavaliers of Anhur. Additionally, Naeron Thess has been promoted to a high post in the Duke's administration in Parton in preparation for the Dukes move to the Kingdom's capitol, Merriam, upon his coronation. But they have also made some gains: Karelth, Crayne's uncle, and his powerful magic ring; Elloharin the Dimmed, a dark and mysterious elf; Alara, a half-elven fighter; and Skandor, a Sword Bearer of Anhur assigned by the High Priest Towers to protect and watch over Emma.