Arien Mastraea lies in a magically-induced coma by the Radcallix, or the Council of the Chalice, a group of wizards from ancient times who chose to shed their physical bodies in order to "serve" the Goddess in spirit form. They have given the offer to those gathered at his bedside: surrender the Fifth Rank or watch their loved one slowly deteriorate.

Earth has been abandoned for a City in space, Babel, the monument to Mankind's greatness and ingenuity. Of the remaining occupants of humanity's former home, Daniel Gaal rises every morning to pray to a forgotten God and to dig trenches for water alongside everyone else in his territory. In a raid he, the territory master's daughter, and two young boys are taken to serve in the Viceroy of Babel's court, a world that knows nothing of his God and his customs. Little does he know that his presence in this City will affect the course of history, for himself and everyone he knows.