A world at peace for eight hundred years due to the influence of an ancient philosopher is threatened by the army of a religious cult dedicated to his legend. Extra-terrestrial observers watch the activities of the seven races which occupy two continents, guided by an organization called the Guild of Mystics. The observers are never seen by the occupants of the world, but have agents placed on the planet called Auslandren, who are directed to keep advanced technology from affecting the natural development of the pre-industrial culture. An object, the Intervoid Communication Device was left on the world by an Auslander, the philosopher now called the Visionary. Once on the world, the object cannot be removed, and is kept by the Visionary's remnant believers, winged beings who treat it as a sacred relic, keeping it hidden. The Visionary brought peace to the world after a millenium of war between the races. The various countries are not prepared for the return of conquest, having no standing defense forces. A rogue Auslander, claiming to be the returned Visionary has raised an army over a decade from a religious cult he developed on the Southland continent. A young psychic talent encounters an old printer of historical books, saving him from an apparent kidnapping by mercenaries. She and the printer join with a diplomat who is assigned to escort them by her mother, the Prime Minister. They begin a mission to prevent a war by the cult leader, who seeks the mythical religious relic of power called the Alphastone. He believes that the young psychic and the old man she saved are the only ones can locate the Alphastone.