When representatives from the besieged world of Laromendis arrive, claiming that Midkemia is the lost home world of the elves, the magician Pug and the Conclave of Shadows receive the elves as potential allies in the hopes of conquering a demonic common enemy.
When Pug and Tomas stumble across the shipwreck of a vessel bearing an army from another world, they must warn Midkemia that war is brewing and take part in protecting the kingdom.