The adventure begins in a private meeting room of the tavern A Pair of Black Antlers, located in the holy city of Elturel. This tavern is the unofficial headquarters of the Judges, a faction of holy warriors sworn to fight against the forces of evil and chaos. Ontharr Frume, a good-natured paladin of Torm and leader of the local Judges, is holding a secret meeting with Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard, leader of the Flaming Fist, and Gideon Lightward, a priest of Lathander. The three leaders are organizing against the Cult of the Dragon. The characters attend this meeting on behalf of one of the following factions: the Judges, the Flaming Fist, or the Hellriders.