The player controls a party of between two and six people from numerous fantasy backgrounds, identical to those found in Wizardry VII: the Human, Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, Hobbit, Faerie, Lizardman, Dracon (a half-Human, half-Dragon), Rawulf (anthropomorphic dogs), Felpurr (anthropomorphic cats) and Mook (aliens that resemble Sasquatch, or the Wookiees from Star Wars). They have come upon a castle that has been abandoned for over a hundred years, and which is rumored to contain the Cosmic Forge, a pen said to control the destiny of time and space. It is said that whatever is written with the pen becomes instantly true. Additionally, nobody knows what became of the King, Queen and Wizard who once lived there. Once the party enters the gates of the castle, the gates close behind them, making escape impossible.