Gabriel, a sorcerer of some considerable power, lives in modern day Earth while involved in the existence of an entire underground society of magic-users. However, in this society, sorcerers are considered second-class citizens and wizards control all the power. The power struggle between wizards and sorcerers has gone back millennia, as the first sorcerers were the Nepherlim (offspring of Humans and Angels) and derived their power from their natural being, whereas the wizards were those of exceptional intelligence who studied with the Angels and learnt some of the secrets of their power. Very few had both the bloodlines and learning capacity of magic. These people were called Mages and originated the Mages Council. Eventually, the wizards came to replace the Mages on the council because the bloodlines had become more dilute and there were fewer sorcerers than wizards.
Now Gabriel, who could be thought to be the most powerful sorcerer in decades or centuries even, is chafing under the controlling thumb of the Mages Council. After watching a movie involving the use of magic with his familiar and companion Harag, Gabriel has an angry outburst, and the first true thoughts of revolution begin to cross his mind.
After a bit of conversation and practice with another friend, Teresa, Gabriel goes to a magician-style sporting event where a wizard who is currently ranked as a High Wizard (as the ranks go Apprenctice-High-3rd Order-2nd Order-1st Order) is attempting to become a 3rd Order Wizard by means of a trial by combat. After getting into an argument while at this event, Gabriel storms off, only to find a mysterious message for him back at his home.
From this message, Gabriel meets with Rasputin, the former Mystic who is now an Undead creature, and Nahia Puljaba, a much weaker sorcerer who is the leader of an Anti-Wizard underground movement. Led by Nahia, Gabriel falls further into a violent, aggressive stance against wizards. To learn about secrets of the past and get some help, Nahia brings Gabriel to meet with Nagharot, the spirit of a Dragon who has been dead for 3000 years. Nagharot holds a grudge against the Mages Council, as it was them who condemned him to death and their leader, Aemonar Hapotet, who killed him, so he is willing to give any information to help bring down the Council.
After leaving Nagharot, the Ius (the police force of the Mages Council) ambush Nahia and Gabriel. They capture Nahia, but Gabriel is able to evade the Ius. While attempting to find a way back to his home, Gabriel crosses paths with Catherine, an exiled wizard, and her Devil consort. Catherine, banished from the wizarding society because of her delving into necromancy, does not care about the Councils will, but wishes to spread her knowledge to any willing student. Gabriel, while hiding out for a short time, learns some skills, but then finally gets back to his home.
Once back, he tells his friend Teresa about what happened, only to be arrested by the Ius shortly after. Gabriel is brought to a hearing about his activities. While at this hearing, Gabriel meets with Mayr, the Elvish ambassador to the Mages Council. Mayr is a big supporter of lessening the Councils power and increasing the rights of sorcerers. But at the end of the hearing, Gabriel is sentenced to two days in Acerbitas (The prison system is a series of stasis cells in which only negative feelings are accepted. 1 minute in real life=10 hours in the cell. Acerbitas means Anguish in Latin, and is the highest of the three levels of holding cell.)
That night, Gabriel, using his as of yet unknown power capacity, breaks out of the prison, slaughtering most of the guards there and escaping into the night. While on the run, the youngest and most impulsive of the Council members, Xao Meyong, tracks down and attempts to kill Gabriel. In self-defense, Gabriel kills her instead. In response to this, Savid Gray, the leader of the Council, orders assassins after Gabriel. Gabriel dispatches the assassins easily, but is infuriated that the council would attempt to assassinate him.
In response to the assassins, Gabriel goes after the council. Attacking their stronghold, Gabriel defeats Jean Dorriare, kills Manuel Cortez and Amir alBezzar, and fights to a stalemate against Robert Apland. The last remaining member of the Council, Membwae Puljaba (sister of Nahia) doesnt fight, but declines to help Gabriel any.
Apland, once he regains his energies, goes after Gabriel in an attempt to kill him before he can destroy the Council. However, Gabriel is able to defeat him. He would kill Apland, but for the appearance of Savid. The 70-year old Head of the Council battles Gabriel in a desperate attempt to defeat the other. Savid needs to kill Gabriel to save the Council and retain power. Gabriel needs to kill Savid to destroy the Council and weaken the power base of wizards. After an intense battle, Savid falls.
Gabriel, after destroying the Council, declares all the Councils edicts to be null and void, and that a new ruling body will be formed, with him as head, and that sorcerers and wizards will live side by side.
