David Cray suffers a trauma which ends the life he's known on Earth. An unknown uncle shows up to convince him to travel to his father's planet where he begins a life journey that starts as a quest to the dark fortress of Mortus. He gathers a group of friends who share his trials, tribulations, and his hopes. Dave begins to transform as his buried heritage from his father develops and that includes magic and power. Dave comes to Faenum unprepared in virtually every way. He's constantly surprised by what he encounters, he performs miraculous acts he can't explain, he doubts his decisions and feels overwhelmed by events and people in his new world. Dave becomes the de facto leader of the quest, but leads them into a trap and galling captivity. They escape from Mortus eventually but they're much changed people, never to be the same again.