A quarter of a century has passed since Sarantium, the City of Emperors and Emperor of Cities, fell under the onslaught of the Ottoman conquerors. Now his name is Asharias, and in his temples dedicated to the solar Jad, the stars of Ashar are glorified, and from his gates flow the countless armies of the Great Caliph Gurchu, nicknamed the Destroyer. A woman warrior driven by vengeance. An artist driven by art. A merchant driven by a thirst for adventure. A spy driven by necessity. A young warrior driven by duty. Their destinies, and the destinies of so many more people - politicians and soldiers, pirates and traders, rulers and commoners - are closely intertwined, and lives are at stake in the great confrontation between empires and faiths. After all, they are all children of earth and sky.