The great Empire of Ice
- Chung Kuo
- has finally been shaken after more than two centuries of peace enforced by brutal tyranny The Minister of the Edict has been assassinated & the seven ruling T'ang struggle to maintain Stasis even as their mile-high continent-spanning cities descend into chaos But the assassination was orchestrated by men close to the ruling powers; powerful merchants
- Dispersionists
- intent on Change whose betrayal will lead them into the world-shattering War of the Two Directions