A glittering future world has vanished... Viriconium, the Pastel City, last of the Afternoon Cultures, is left a wasteland of crumbling ruins. The secrete sparks of discontent between North and South have been fanned to savage flames. The peaceful southern tribes are ready to rebuild their great cities--to begin again. But the barbaric Northmen, driven by their Dark Queen, want only to kill and destroy, to bring everlasting emptiness to the great Pastel City...to annihilate its gentle ruler.