In a realm of magic and myth, an evil queen fears the prophecy that a newborn child with a special mark will lead to her downfall. She commands her forces to find and destroy the child. However, the baby is smuggled out and discovered by the Nelwyn (dwarf-like people) in their village. One aspiring Nelwyn sorcerer, Willow Ufgood, finds the baby by the river and, after a village council meeting, is chosen to lead a party that will return the child to the Daikini (human) world in hopes of finding her a safe refuge.

As they venture into the Daikini crossroads, Willow's party encounters Madmartigan, a brash and skilled swordsman locked in a crow's cage. Eventually, the Nelwyn party entrusts the child to Madmartigan, hoping he'll protect her. Evading the queen's forces and various monstrous creatures, the group embarks on an arduous quest. Along their journey, they meet allies including a sorceress who's been turned into an animal and a duo of tiny, mischievous brownies. The unlikely heroes must learn to work together as they face daunting challenges in their quest to keep the child safe from the clutches of darkness.