The main character, Darren Shan , takes part in the Trials of Initiation, a series of tasks that vampires used to have to do to prove themselves to the Princes. Currently, it is only used for vampires who want to become a general, or for those who wish to demonstrate their strength. However, Darren Shan is required to endure the trials because Mr. Crepsley said so, and also because Darren chooses to stand up for his mentor and friend.
To determine which trials he must take part in out of the countless available, Darren must randomly choose five numbered stones from a bag. The first of his five selected trials is the Aquatic Maze, a maze that fills steadily with water for 17 minutes in which the participant must escape while dragging a stone weighing half of the participants body weight. The second trial Darren must complete is The Path of Needles, a barefoot run from one end of a room filled with stalagmites, which splinter badly and are as sharp as knives, to the other side of the room. The third trial is The Hall of Flames, a metal room with various jets that emit flames periodically. Darren must remain in the room for approximately fifteen minutes, trying not to be 'roasted' by the scorching hot flames. The fourth trial is The Blooded Boars, a trial in which the participant must kill two boars infected with vampaneze blood, a substance which makes the boars much more aggressive than normal boars. However, due to Darren's several injuries, he could not move the first boar he killed when it landed on him. The second boar tried to kill Darren, but Harkat, a Little Person and a friend of Darren, killed the second boar before the boar was able to kill Darren. That, unfortunately, was unacceptable due to the rules of the trials; subsequently, Darren had to be punished by going to the Hall of Death, the vampire place of execution. Harkat, however, was not punished because it was Darren's trial, and it was not customary to kill the individuals who interfere with the trials. Gavner and Kurda, allies of Darren, helped Darren escape his imminent execution. However, as they attempted to make their escape, a group of Vampaneze attacked the party and battled Kurda and Gavner. Kurda then betrayed the Vampires and stabbed Gavner, thereby revealing that he was in league with the Vampaneze, the Vampire clan's mortal enemies. Gavner dies due to his injuries, and Darren went near a torrent in the cave. He ends up in the torrent and ends up being dragged away to the falls.