Why does an asylum have so many patients in zombie-like states? Private Inquisitor Jak Barley means to find out, even though it pits him against the shadowy world of his city's elite. What to do when a swarm of bee's hivemind asks Jak to find its kidnapped queen? Take it, of course. The case takes a threatening turn when hired assassins become involved. Could anything go wrong with a free passage on a cruise ship? Yes ? murder, as well as a conspiracy involving a mythical suit of armor hidden in a lost fortress ruins. A problem arises when vying wizard cabals are dead set on possessing the magical-imbued armor. Jak is not without his own support, including the Witch Morgana and his mysterious friend from an alternate world lacking magic, Lorenzo Spasm.