Ellanin is a 5'7", 130 lb Greek hero who was orphaned as a child and had to learn to survive on his own with his younger brother. To save his dying brother, Ellanin must retrieve the Golden Cup, which requires overcoming many trials, including a gate guardian, door of sorrow, twin tigers, spirits of the cup, and a maze of death. Along the way, Ellanin learns skills like sword fighting and archery. He also learns to trust others after being betrayed by his companion Sholan, a former 7-foot, 190-pound Egyptian slave who was friends with Ellanin but ultimately tries to steal the Golden Cup.