The Free City of Darujhistan is 2,000 years old. Unlike other cities, Darujhistan is lit by gas lanterns, fed by a system of copper pipes and “great caverns” of gas beneath the city. Under the cover of darkness, 17-year-old Crokus Younghand, a member of the thieving guild in Darujhistan, scopes out his next target: the D’Arle estate. He breaks into the house, stealing jewelry from the bedroom of the youngest daughter, Challice. He sees her sleeping and is taken by her beauty.

Kruppe, a thief and magic-user, has a prophetic dream. Figures in his dream tell him that he should fight to protect Darujhistan and “the youth at whose feet the coin will fall” (136). Although Crokus won’t find the coin until later in the chapter, Kruppe seems to know that the figures are referring to Crokus.

Someone is killing assassins on the rooftops. Members of Darujhistan’s guild of assassins think that the deaths are due to an internal power struggle. Actually, Moon’s Spawn’s Tiste Andii are killing the assassins so that Darujhistan’s assassins can’t be recruited to work for the empire.

After leaving the D’Arle estate, Crokus is on the rooftops when Oponn’s coin lands at his feet.