From the introduction:
Act I: The Jitters (Levels 1 through 4) Under typical circumstances, the murder of four people makes little stir in the city of Tiarazan. In this case, however, the deaths threaten the city’s political and social status quo and represent a much deeper threat long-term. The characters investigate the reasons and circumstances as to the targeting of the eldest son of the noble family of Kommein and the eldest daughter of the merchant family Tzekes. As the PCs explore the clues, they stumble upon a mob driven by collective madness, and shortly thereafter receive a cryptic warning from an unknown source (perhaps a future ally or benefactor). The fact that someone disapproves of their investigation becomes all too apparent when a group of assassins, led by a bard whom they recently heard play, attempts to kill them. After the attack, the characters learn the bard belonged to The Mummers, a cult of musicians, poets, and artists devoted to a mesmerizing leader, Molleus the Eye. This cult was involved in the murders that sparked the investigation. The PCs investigate the original crime scene, collect evidence, and find an eyewitness account, all of which point to an occult or supernatural ritual. They encounter an ambush from more of Molleus’s followers, prompting them to confront the cult. At the end of the act, however, the PCs realize the original murders represent merely the opening gambit of a larger scheme threatening the city.