Ress a commoner falls in love with prince Tarquin of New Parthia and during a double wedding with their close friends the wood elves Eldahir and Morganna the wedding party is attacked. Morganna's dark elf mother and father who are also vampires.
This pivotable moment propels the wood and high elves' minds to war with their cousins the dark elves or illanni. The elves of light gather their troops and venture into the caverns of the underworld to wage war with their cousins the elves of darkness.
Meanwhile Tarquin leads a small group of adventures in hopes of killing the illanni leader Tibersu before battle can be joined. Their hopes lay in gaining support of Morganna's brother a vampire himself to stop the war.