In the valley Aglarnen, there is a forest. In this forest there is rumored to be a house in which lives a sorceress, or a spirit, or a giant snake, or a wizard. None of the stories seem to agree on what exactly lives in the house, but they all share the idea that this being is evil and will not let innocent travelers escape alive.

Belegorn, a young man living in the northern town of Nentathar, has his eyes set on the daughter of his town’s religious leader. Not only is she said to be the most beautiful girl for miles (though none have seen her for years), her father Hadhod is the richest man in Nentathar, and, as as the religious leader, the most respected. To win her hand in marriage (and the wealth that would accompany it), Hadhod tells Belegorn he must enter the dark forest, find the house, and kill the resident.

He cannot back out of this gods-appointed duty, but he knows he will probably not make it through alive.