Sir Ahlan and his companions reach the town of Dasca after a long and difficult journey. Taking the opportunity to rest and relax, the wizard Brashani goes to a local tavern. While there, he hears a tale about a magic gem that's too incredible to believe. According to the patron telling the story, a magic gem spoke to him while he was walking along the shoreline north of town. Intrigued by the story, they all decide to explore the northern shoreline to see if the story is true. Upon arriving, they find the gem is set in a wooden idol that's buried in the sand, but the jewel cannot be removed without unleashing a great evil. Puzzling through this, James, the bard, accidentally solves the riddle and releases the evil monster, forcing them all into a battle with the creature for their very lives.