The Serpent Folk are an ancient people, predating humankind by millions of years. In the set of shadows that comprise the Human Realm, they never arose, or either died out long before humankind arose, or were wiped out during wars and conflict with humans.

In the shadows that comprise the Realm of the Serpent Folk, they thrive. Their sorcerers are powerful, their gods are ancient, and their warriors are ruthless. Their sorcerers are capable of traveling between the shadows.

In the regions where the Human Realm intersects with the Serpent Folk Realm, sorcerers lead their warriors into the human shadows in a ruthless attempt at conquest. Sometimes they purge humankind from the shadow, and add it to the Realm of the Serpent Folk. More often they lose, utterly destroyed by humankind and their helpers.

The helpers are Powers, and representatives of Powers, who protect the Human Realm from those who seek to conquer it.

Danny, Nalini and Paula, three humans from different human shadows, carry artifacts from the Powers that protect the Human Realm. This story tells of their encounter with the Serpent Folk in one of the human shadows, and their struggle to save humankind.