Rumors race around Cormyr regarding the mythical "lost spell", a powerful enchantment designed centuries ago by the presumed dead god of spells - a spell long thought lost to the ages. Found by some magicless merchant, rumor has it the lost spell is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

It is a powerful lure, and archwizards of every stripe descend upon the merchant, only to be trapped with him inside his manor by a vicious spellstorm - escape impossible, and their magic useless with the interference from the storm.

Moreover, they find themselves faced with the infamous Elminster of Shadowdale, who claims he's just there to decide who gets the lost spell. Yet he clearly has an agenda of his own.

But before Elimster can put whatever plan he has in motion, archwizards start dying.