Dis has made landfall on all four Territories. Infernals stalk humans with impunity, devouring men, women, and children body and soul.
Rhigh Ardrassis has been taken deep into Dis by her grandmother, the Diaboli Domini Asrath. Asrath plans on using the Disian influence, and Rhigh's own Infernal heritage, to transform her into the Queen of Woe to help Asrath in her bid to wrest the Tenebraic Throne from the missing Son of the Morning. And growing within Asrath, created with the seed of the Apollyon and soon to be born, is a creature of such power it will allow her to challenge the deistic realms themselves.
Kyu Ardrassis is torn between his responsibilities as an Odigos to his world and his desire to enter Dis to rescue his daughter Rhigh. To his surprise, the Kidemur, Raelin, tells him it is more important for him to go after his daughter before Asrath's plans for her come to fruition. Once in Dis, Kyu meets an odd, strangely amiable guide who calls himself "Smilin' Stan". Although Stan has excellent knowledge of Dis and is skilled at fighting off its myriad creatures, can he be trusted?
Erenia Sanna, her husband Norn, along with High Priestess Shalyse Goranna and High Priest Gord Penka must find a way to convince the peoples of the Four Territories to put aside their ingrained nationalistic and racial animosities and embrace the One Faith and each other, for only in that way will they be able to drive back the depravations and terrors of Dis. Even with the unexpected assistance of the Kidemur Raelin, how can this be done?
Dahne Sanna, her heart torn asunder at the loss of her love, Rhigh, vows to find her, even if she has to enter Dis to do so.
Two children, one in Ormnia and the other in Shaeldor, are invested with slivers of the Parents. Nature itself and humanity respond to them, and the march on Dis begins.
But will it be enough? Because hovering over, released by the loss of balance in the universe, is the Abyss, a state of absolute nothingness that threatens to engulf the human and Infernal worlds both. And nothing, it seems, can stop it.
