The Vampire Coast of Lustria is ruled by the undead Arch-Commodore Luthor Harkon — insane, ancient, and obsessed with the sea. He is not the only unliving pirate lord operating out of these waters. Other captains command their own dreadfleets — crewed by zombies press-ganged into eternal service, vampiric depth guard, syreens, and mournguls — raiding the coasts and pursuing their own agendas. As the vortex of Ulthuan weakens, those agendas converge on a single prize: the Star-Metal Harpoon, a weapon said to be capable of bringing the greatest Merwyrm in existence to heel. The race for it is on.