The world of Blasphemer is ruled over by the Othergods, evanescent beings who leech sustenance from the souls of humans, leaving them to live out pale, aimless shadow-lives. The previous leaders, the supernaturally gifted High Magni, have retreated to magically defended bastions. Ancois, a typically arrogant young Magni, realizes that the defences of his bastion are failing. For the sake of his people and particularly his love Ellegene, he risks the hazardous traverse magic to find the one man who may be able to help. The Blasphemer is the last of his people-travellers who possessed an older, more earthy folk-magic than the Magni. The Blasphemer grudgingly agrees to take Ancois back to his bastion and give his aid...but will it be enough to overcome the Othergods?