Taran is the Chief of his tribe, the Skulks. All his life, he's wanted to venture north across the sea to visit the closed-off island at the top of the world. Even though his tribe has been decimated by foreign disease, he can't resist the opportunity to visit the mythical island.

Lunate is the Crusader of his nation, Astria. It doesn't matter to him that Astria has become the joke and punching bag of its neighbors. On his travels with Taran, he is desperate to find anything that could give Astria an advantage, no matter what.

Both travelers hope to change the world, albeit in different, sometimes conflicting ways.