A captive of the Ghauwffhwa at the same time as Greiz and Lukas Cale, Ssarissuss did not not suffer imprisonment at the gnolls' hands for as long as some others. However, though he endured well thanks to his reptilian fortitude and calm demeanor, most of his magic was still stolen by the sorcerer Wrorgk "One-Eye," leaving him unable to escape. Despite this setback, Ssarissus retained his most valuable asset: His wits. Highly intelligent, especially for a lizard-man, the wizard schemed to find a way out of his predicament, though he had too few resources until Councilor Lysander Arkaine and his team came from Freehold to kill Kejujuhwa.

Recognizing the gravity of the slaves' situation, the practical mage was more than willing to aid these unexpected allies in an escape attempt, acting as go-between and de facto leader for the unfortunate slaves. When Wrorgk was slain soon after by Trendal Kingshand and Shedim Kun, Ssarissuss fortuitously recovered much of his power along with the possessions he reclaimed from the vile old warlock. It was his stolen scroll that enabled the Freeholders to conceal their final confrontation with Kejujuhwa, using a zone of silence to keep from alerting other gnolls with the sounds of battle.

Afterward, the self-titled hydromancer was invited by Councilor Shara Graye to remain in Freehold as a member of the budding Cynosure, following his recovery at the Kingshand Clinic and Infirmary. He accepted, but it was only a short time thereafter that he found himself caught up in the poisoned water crisis. Recruited for the expedition due to his skill with water magic, Ssarissuss accompanied Lysander, Holy Moon, and the others into the newly-discovered subterranean ruins beneath Freehold, there to engage in a life-or-death struggle against the kobolds who had set up a mining operation under the Liontongue River. Turning the interlopers' magic against them, it was Ssarissuss who hurriedly translated many of the kobolds' research documents, enabling Abae Khon to facilitate the party's escape.