The Gnomish ambassadors in the predominantly human city of Karesh are horrified by the alarmingly high number of gnomish deaths in the city over the last several weeks. Numerous tinkers, gadgeteers, and inventors have been found dead in their workshops. Eye witnesses tell conflicting stories on what they saw or heard, and very little evidence can be found at the crime scenes. The city council turns to the adventurers to investigate these grisly murders and stop the culprit before the gnomish community abandons Karesh, taking valuable merchant business with them!