The Idirans sought to capture a young Culture Mind taking refuge on Schar's World, a Dra'Azon Planet of the Dead. The Mind had escaped from a Culture factory ship destroyed by the Idirans. After an armed Idiran expedition to Schar's World was destroyed, they decided to use Horza to undertake a mission to the planet instead. Horza had once worked as a caretaker on Schar's World, and it was believed the Dra'Azon overseer would permit his entry.