Tassis is broken, her surface gouged by an asteroid impact centuries ago, and her people are scattered. Old Earthers cling to the surface, eking out an existence with their civilisation thrown back to mud huts and stone tools. Off-Worlders, those who chose to abandon their homes before the Shattering, have returned in their fancy space-fairing vessels; the Commensurate, eager to rebuild and reunite the fragmented tribes; and the Missionaries, who dazzle the Old Earthers with promises of returned technology. The threat of war looms greatly as these two opposing forces struggle for dominance - and when a mysterious resource is discovered that will tip the hands of battle for whoever controls it, the fate of Tassis hangs in the balance now more than ever.