The Staff and the Stone: Wizard of Earth's End (Volume 1)

Wizard-in-training Albaric Corwen pays for his temerity when he uses his master's staff to summon Urzoth. The Lord of Demons steals Albaric's astral body, which will house his soul after physical death, ensuring the sorcerer's damnation. Albaric's master Rantarl dies in a futile attempt to force Urzoth to release the apprentice's stolen astral. Albaric must cross the badlands, in which the fearsome creatures of darkness hungrily prowl, to find a new master. Reaching civilization, he immediately becomes embroiled in rivalries between two master magicians, Melvale and Sharid, and two beautiful sword-women, Rutha Khan and Tierny. Melvale, the city's former protector, nurses a deadly enmity for his supplanter Sharid, whom he suspects of being secretly in league with the powers of darkness. Rutha Khan harbors an especial resentment of Tierny, for unlike Rutha, Tierny is one of the mysterious and immortal Starborn race. Both desire the sorcerer's apprentice, and neither will yield an inch to her rival. Sharid kidnaps Albaric and reveals that in the ruined corpse-city of Snerankhu, the legendary Philosopher's Stone waits for anyone daring enough to retrieve it. Once in possession of the Stone, the shadowy and enigmatic Sharid promises to help Albaric regain his astral body. Accompanied by Tierny and Rutha, each of whom is watching out for what she considers to be her property, Albaric sets out for Snerankhu, fallen capital of the demon-worshipping empire of Weir. Albaric must find the Temple of the Eidolon of Night and steal the Stone from the very lap of the Dark Goddess herself.