The Enterprise journeys to Lorca, a beautiful world with feudal culture where the inhabitants wear amsks to show their rank and station. There, Captain Picard and an away team don masks of their own to begin a quest for the planet's ruler and the great Wisdom Mask that the leader traditionally wears. Their mission: to establish diplomatic relations

But shortly after transporting, Picard and his party lose contact with the ship, and Commander Riker leads a search party down to the planet to find them.

Both men, however, are unaware that their searches- indeed, the ship's entire mission- are part of a madman's plan. A madman who is setting the stage for a trap that will ensnare both Enterprise landing parties, and leave him poised to seize sontrol of the awesome Wisdom Mask...

And the planet Lorca itself.