In the dying years of an empire, an orc clan must decide whether a human can lead them.

Lothar was raised among the Rohwen as one of their own. Trained for war, bound by clan law, and shaped by the will of the ailing chieftain Baldomar. Though Baldomar has put his son forward as successor, the final judgment does not rest with him. It rests with the Witan, the clan council—and they are divided.

To some, Lothar is a proven warrior and the only leader strong enough to guide the Rohwen through the dark times to come. To others, he is an unthinkable breach of tradition. Blood matters. And Lothar has none of the right kind.

As Baldomar’s health fails, rival factions maneuver, old resentments rise, and the Witan’s choice threatens to fracture the clan from within. Outside the clan’s borders, the world grows darker still: demons creep into the heartlands, elven principalities stir with imperial ambition, and other orc clans watch closely, ready to exploit weakness.