Ballister Boldheart, along with his confidant and lover Ambrosius Goldenloin, a descendant of Gloreth, are both about to be knighted; with Ballister slated to be the first commoner to achieve knighthood, as Queen Valerin is trying to change tradition so that "anyone can be a hero". During the ceremony, Valerin is murdered by a mysterious laser shot from Ballister's sword, who is framed for the crime and hunted by the Institute and its Director, after Ambrosius is forced to cut off Ballister's right arm.
