In an alternate Victorian Age of the 19th century, the race of the Eldarions, once the rulers of mankind and the other races before their overthrow, are slowly dying out due to poisoning by Terramagica magical energies. In desperation, a group of cultists seek to fulfill the dark prophecy of the Destroyer King, who will bring down the old gods from the heavens and shatter the nations of mankind, enslaving all the races under Eldarion rule once more.

Jonathan Goldspear, descendant of the Nubian kings who are now English industrialists, has the black birthmark which has been fortold. His feet are set on a path even darker than that of the 'Destroyer King', and Jon will spend all of this book and the ones following, fighting that future as best he can.