As goblin raids continue to disrupt the peace of his village, Parn, the main protagonist, is sent out by the mayor as their representative to Alania in order to find out what is stirring the land. He is joined by a small company of people, each with different reasons for accompanying him. Together, they brave the dangers of Lodoss : a power-hungry king bent on conquering the land; a mysterious black knight; a witch who has lived for thousands of years; a band of dark elves; a sorcerer who has awakened the spirit of Kardis, the Goddess of Destruction; several ancient dragons and a host of goblins, orcs, ogres and kobolds.
Lodoss has heavy role-playing overtones reminiscent of the old Dungeons & Dragons game, and one's initial impression is a very bookish plot centered around role-playing mechanics. However, as the tale progresses, the story develops a more traditional fantasy epic feel and soon begins to focus on the characters, ending in one big climatic battle between the forces of good and evil.