In which a motley company of seekers assembles beneath a mountain fire, each drawn by their own desire for the elusive and radiant Great Carbuncle, weaving their hopes and schemes amid tales of mystery and legend. Amidst the formidable wilderness and the gathering mists, a simple young couple ventures onward with tender affection and quiet resolve, drawn by the jewel's light and the promise it holds beyond the reach of ambition and scepticism.