Världens sista hjälte, Choen Barbaren, har bestämt sig för att lämna tillbaka det som den förste hjälten stal. Så med sin hord beger han sig iväg för att lämna gudarnas eld i gudarnas hem Dunmanifestin som ligger högst upp på berget Cori Celesti som är på mitten av skivvärlden som är en platt skiva på ryggen av 4 elefanter som står på sköldpaddan Store A'tuins skal. Men om elden lämnas tillbaka kommer det innebära att världen går under, därför försöker Leonard da Quirm, Captain Carrot från stadsvakten och den värdelösa trollkarlen Rincewind stoppa dem.
Utdrag ur boken:
'... on being the first people to leave the Disc with the resolute intention of returning to it,' [Lord Vetinari] went on. 'Your ... mission is to land on or near Cori Celesti, locate Cohen the Barbarian and his men, and by whatever means feasible stop this ridiculous scheme of theirs. There must be some misunderstanding. Even barbarian heroes generally draw the line at blowing up the world.' He sighed. 'They're usually not civilised enough for that,' he added. 'Anyway ... we implore him to listen to reason, et cetera. Barbarians are generally sentimentalists. Tell him about all the dear little puppies that will be killed, or something. Beyond that, I can't advise you further. I suspect classical force is out of the question. If Cohen was easy to kill, people would have done it a long time ago.'
Captain Carrot saluted. 'Force is always the last resort, sir,' he said.
'I believe that for Cohen it's the first choice,' said Lord Vetinari.
'He's not too bad if you don't come up behind him suddenly,' said Rincewind.
'Ah, there is the voice of our mission specialist,' said the Patrician. 'I just hope– What is that on you badge, Captain Carrot?'
'Mission motto, sir,' said Carrot cheerfully. 'Morituri Nolumus Mori. Rincewind suggested it.'
'I imagine he did,' said Lord Vetinari, observing the wizard coldly. 'And would you care to give us a colloquial translation, Mr Rincewind?'
'Er ...' Rincewind hesitated, but there really was no escape. 'Er ... roughly speaking, it means, ''We who are about to die don't want to'', sir.'