200 years after Alanna the Lioness became the first female knight and King Jonathan, along with his Queen, Thayet changed Tortall forever, chaos is stirring once more. The Immortals are no longer caged in the prison the Divine Realms provide, and are slowly leaking through the veil into the human world. Though Tortall is stronger than ever with its many allies, it also has Carthak once more thirsting for revenge. Though Emperor Kaddar signed a peace treaty with Tortall many years ago after Veralidaine, the Wild Mage killed his uncle and he took the throne, the new emperor has no regard for things of the past. Now that Carthak is once more strong and mighty, no longer suffering from droughts, he is taking up his many times great-uncle's ambitions to conquer Tortall. With Tyra, Scanra, Sarain, who he promised grain and gold to, and many of the invading Immortals at his back, he prepares his country for war.

The Great Gods, not interested in seeing mortals clash once again decided to do something before hand this time, and not leave it all up to Carthak's patron, the Graveyard Hag. After a large debate, it was decided that The Great Mother Goddess, Mithros, and The Black God would create three beings that were mortals, but with the power of their 'parent' god at their command. They taught their creations the best that they could, and then sent them deep into the wilderness of a great desert where none dared to tread, to live until the day arrived that their services were needed. Now, 20 years later, with Tortall on the brink of war, Carthak's allies all around and a few reluctant one of their own, the three God's creations answer their parent's callings and enter the world.