From the introduction:
Krondar the Mighty is dying, and this time it looks like it’s going to stick. Years ago, in the deepest chamber of the Tomb of Terrors, the defeated lich blasted him with a final fell curse and... nothing happened, or so you thought. You all shared many more heroic adventures, but the evil magic lurked in Krondar, working insidiously on his spirit until one morning last week you couldn’t rouse him from slumber. At first, you thought he’d just had more ale than usual, but then you noticed his open eyes roving sightlessly and the cold rigidity of his limbs. You rushed him to the local healer, who tried the usual spells and potions in vain—nothing could break your companion out of his comatose state. Gold being no object to successful dungeoneers like yourselves, you had him teleported to St. Winifred’s in Avalonia, where the greatest diviners in the realm could discover what was ailing your friend and how it could be remedied.