To the far West lay the Barbarian Lands, to the North of us lies the Northmen of the Scandinavian Empire, and to the East lays the Qing Dynasty of El-Sin. On all sides we are bombarded by enemies and within, rebellion threatens. My brother has been named heir, but he is one who has never known war and prefers the company of youths to women and squanders this Empire’s wealth for his own pleasure. Yet because I am younger and my mother a mere concubine of questionable birth, they say I cannot vie for power. They say that it was Allah’s will that I should stand back and allow my brother to be sultan.

And yet, my talent is greater than his.

My strength is more powerful than his.

My wit is quicker than his.

And my blood is the same noble one of our father’s.

My name is Altan, I am a prince to the great Ottoman Empire, and this is my story.