Sam, Yoder and Mike nicknamed the Archeos are entering their freshman year at Northern Coast University. It's the university where their grandfather Dr. James Michaels holds a professorship in archeology.
Things go very well until they learn the Duke of Bathbottom, a notorious collector of stolen ancient artifacts has escaped from prison. Even more alarming is the escape of Black Eddy, the cleverest ancient artifact thief the world has ever known.
The 2 of them have vowed vengeance on Professor Michaels. They blame him for their arrest by Interpol. They both made it known while they were in prison they would kill the professor if they ever got free.
Nothing is heard from either of the 2 escapees for several weeks and the Archeos are starting to breathe easy believing they've gone into hiding permanently. Then The Scepter disappears from the Black Museum. The Scepter is the greatest evil tool of black sorcery ever created. It opens the gateway to the dark force and gives it's master unbelievable powers.
The Scepter was given to Mordreda who was Merlyn's apprentice. Merlyn was the Wizard of Camelot and King Arthur's most trusted companion. Mordreda used The Scepter to bring down the king and destroy Camelot. Her last act on earth was to destroy Merlyn which she failed to do although she did put him into a permanent total paralysis except for his mind.
The Scepter was found many years after Mordreda's disappearance and placed in the Black Museum in London where it was thought to be safe from anyone ever using it again. It's disappearance was ominous and the Archeos immediately suspected it was now in the hands of the Duke.
When the rest of Black Eddy's gang of artifact thieves mysteriously escape prison, and several of the worlds most valuable ancient artifacts disappear the Archeos worst fears become a reality. The Duke has The Scepter.
Follow them as they battle wits with the Duke and the dark powers he calls forth with The Scepter.