Shipwrecked on the far side of the "crack in the world," Eric's companions find themselves trapped on the roots of Yggdrasil, the Great Norse Tree of Life. Lost and bereft of supplies, the companions wander blindly and soon find themselves in the worst land of Norse Mythology: Niflhiem, the realm of the unfortunate dead. Facing starvation, the companions have no choice; they must seek and beg for assistance from Loki's daughter, Hel, the Norse Goddess of Death.

Hel turns out to be a much nicer goddess than expected, but she's lonely and desperate for companionship. She befriends them and offers them everything they could ever want, even immortality, but they must remain trapped in her Land of Death forever, and surrender Eric to a miserable, agonizing doom.

Forced to betray either Hel or Eric, the companions choose Eric. Stealing Eric, they escape Hel's kingdom. Outraged, Hel calls upon her father, Loki, and together they chase the companions through Nidvallir, Svartalfhiem, Jotunhiem, and every other realm of Norse mythology, facing trolls, dark elves, and illusion-casting giants on a hopeless quest to rightfully inter Eric's spirit into fabled Valhalla.