Ramidor, a planet beset by three suns, one of which - the renegade Ratarse - rises and sets when it feels like it, was once a prison planet, although its origins have been forgotten by its inhabitants. Long cut off from galactic civilisation it has been thrown back onto its own resources and has sunk into barbarism, from which it is just re-emerging. Now in a medieval era, complete with 'wizards' and all the trappings of a medieval society, each species of the former prison planet has more or less kept to its own devices over the centuries, although a composite civilisation of sorts has arisen. Crucible, a third rate journeyman sorceror, too fond of the bottle, and his assistant, Grundle, are thrown into a race against time (and various pursuing forces) to restore a magic wand belonging to the Chief sorceror, Calparthia, that Crucible has unwittingly broken. Thrown together with a travelling troubador and an androgynous 'woman', both of whom are similarly fleeing justice, their journey takes them on an hilarious trip right across Ramidor to find the fabled 'Tree of Life' from which all magic wands are said to emanate. Assisted by Mulkhi, a mountain dweller who is just discovering the secret of flying machines, the journey culminates in the discovery of the planet's origins and puts in train a potential change of direction for the planet, once the principal protagonists have begun to assimilate the knowledge gained on the journey.