Mithril Hall awaits its new ruler, but King Bruenor Battleaxe is in no hurry to take the throne. He takes an overly long and winding path to an ancient dwarven stronghold in order to experience as many adventures as possible before the burden of rule falls on him, requiring him to give up his free life, travel and hunt for bandits and monsters. On this journey, the warlike king is accompanied by his faithful friends - the dark elf Drizzt, the halfling Regis, Bruenor's adopted children - the beautiful warrior Catti-brie and the barbarian Wulfgar. But the path, which promised to be a pleasure walk, turns into a deadly dangerous enterprise, for in the dark tracts of the Spine of the World forces are accumulating, more destructive and ruthless than which the Forgotten Realms have never seen.