The good dragons of AvLee have vanished, and Tarnum—who spent twenty years living among them—leaves the orphan Waerjak in Adrienne's care and sets out to find them. His investigation points to Mutare, the Dragon Queen of Nighon, who used the Vial of Dragon's Blood to transform herself and gain dominion over all dragonkind. Tarnum steals the vial to free the ten kidnapped Gold Dragon Mothers, rescuing the ranger Valita from imprisonment in the process. As the campaign pushes deeper into Nighon against Mutare's Rust, Crystal, and Azure Dragon forces, Tarnum uncovers a spy in his own ranks. Courier intercepts reveal the traitor is his supply master Kurbon, who has been feeding intelligence to Nighon and shoots advisor Aspen with a marked arrow before fleeing. In the final push, Kurbon turns on Mutare to free Valita—sacrificing his own life in the process. Mutare retreats into Nighon and is killed in an internal coup, ending the threat. Tarnum departs at the Ancestors' call, leaving AvLee behind as the happiest time of his life.