At first, when Nicholaus Sterling VII discovers a devourer alien species is about to crash land on our planet, being a passive observer seems like a fair plan. But when seven people from around the world manage to escape the carnage of the visitors' landing, he grasps on the opportunity to enlist them to seek out a long lost artifact that perhaps is the only way to get rid of the voracious intruders. It's a give-give situation, as they need the artifact themselves to recover from the affliction they contracted from getting into contact with the alien species... Little does he know that their quest will lead the little group into the domain of the Lychgate...