The young assassin known as Hound stalks the grimy streets of the city of Rain, exchanging blood for gold in a land ruled by steel, a place that even most of the gods have abandoned. Orphaned at birth due to a disfiguring "blessing" from the god of death, Charon, the young assassin has clawed his way to infamy in a city that would rather have seen him killed at birth.

Hound is surprised to be contacted by a young noblewoman with a most unusual contract: the rescue of a young girl named Elise, who has been mysteriously abducted from the city. Even more surprising, the girl has also been marked by Charon. This contract would see the young killer pursuing Elise into the cursed land of Almaleun. Accompanied by unexpected companions and opposed by powers he can hardly fathom, Hound has never taken on a contract quite like this.