It is known: in the southeast, in the sands of the Great Desert of El-Jalad, the treasure of an ancient king is hidden. It is also known: gnomes love to dig. And so Napa Leone Few from the Cordsdale clan, under the guidance of the greatest alchemist-sapienologist of our time, goes to El-Jalad to find the Golden City of King Tiglath-palassar. To begin with, travelers face a road full of dangers. The only question is: whose share will the dangers fall, and where will the road lead? Simultaneously with the expedition of alchemists setting off in search of the Golden City, competitions of various magical creatures begin in Ilsiyar - Fate must decide which of them will become the Patron of the Year. Fate is an insidious thing, and therefore some magicians try hard to help it by imposing their own choices.