From the introduction: 150 years ago, the great wizard Ornovael came to the region of wilderness north of the Guldspur River. His goal was to find a place of refuge far from the prying eyes of civilization – a place where he could engage in those two categories of magical research that interested him most. Ornovael’s devotion to birds and avian life was viewed by fellow magic-users as a mere eccentricity, but his curious passion for improving on life-forms by blending their attributes aroused disgust and hatred in all too many of his peers.