The Numinous Constraint Agency is an extra-dimensional, multi-dimensional bureau tasked with maintaining a balance in the multi-verse in the spirit of a grand bargain called 'The Trinity'. It is headed by a dream-creature called 'Arteus the Faun' and it is staffed by various talented Agent recruits. These are through the annals of The Agency Tales revealed to the author with dream-sendings.

The staff of the Numinous Constraint Agency are drawn from the ranks of forgotten gods, demi-gods, mythical creatures of various types, also mortal Human beings who uniquely possess a 'tongue of flame', whom are thus called 'torches'. Stone and Flute tells of the mission of the giant Argus Panoptes and the mortal ex-CIA agent Vernon Duke to retrieve a precious object from a Bank in Durban in 1856AD. They also battle an impundulu to rescue a candidate torch; stop an AmaPondo invasion and stir up trouble with the Olympian Gods.