1903. Don Lorenzo approaches Arnold Neville to lead an expedition into the South American interior. Neville refuses, so Lorenzo kidnaps his fianc and her mother, challenging Neville to follow. Arnold and his friend, Gordon Leslie, take up the chase. They encounter a scientist and his daughter. Manzoni as he was called had once lived in a city not far away, where Lorenzo is the leader, being called Lyostrah. Manzoni was actually the hereditary king, but was exiled. Lyostrah wants Neville to become his second in command, but Arnold refuses. All the while, weird events are occurring. Ogres from a huge fortress in the center of the land are killing and eating people in the night. Alloyah, the arch-priestess, becomes jealous of Lyostrah's attention being centered on Neville's fianc, so she uses her power to raise the dead. Will Manzoni prevail and be restored as the rightful heir to the throne?