Petty ruling prince Gundolf decides to abdicate and promises his crown to the son among his three who can bring him the land's finest carpet, following the wind blowing for each a feather from a stuffed hunting trophy. The ambitious eldest, Gerhard, and the lazy second-born glutton Gebhard, who struck a deal to help him and be allowed to continue his parasitical lifestyle, cheat and bring home mediocre carpets, trusting the generally-mocked Gustav, a kind and helpful animal lover, won't find anything as his feather drifts into the forest. But a magic wood cave dweller, which he once saved as a frog, gives him a champion carpet. The trusted court marshal Julius, who considers naive, simple Gustav childishly unfit, convinces the monarch to disqualify the results and set a new quest, but the pattern is repeated.