In Blitzheim, capitol of Chronotopia, the Kaizer, a Cervani stag named Heinrich, lies ill by unknown causes, watched over by a Korv monk of the Celestial Order and a Cervani life mage. They believe that the Kaizer's personal physicians are doing him no good, having reached their positions by political measures rather than performance, and decide to take drastic (and illegal) action to save the Kaizer's life. The mage makes a ritual to try to divine the cause of the Kaizer's illness, but something goes wrong, and some of the components begin swirling strangely about the room. The Kaizer goes into seizures, clasping the mage's arm and not letting go, screaming about spirits and assassins. The physicians burst in, have the crow expelled, and try vainly to save the Kaizer