Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl has discovered a terrible plot, its roots firmly planted in the very highest levels of Terra. Pursuing it is fraught with risk, but Crowl's sense of duty compels him to persevere. He and his acolyte Spinoza run down their leads in secret, knowing that their every move invites danger, but even as they begin to reveal the truth, a greater peril is unfolding in the skies – the Great Rift is becoming manifest. During the madness that threatens to tear Terra asunder, Crowl's Inquisitorial base of operations comes under attack and is badly ravaged. As his world begins to unravel and a new, bloody age dawns, can Crowl stay true to his course and expose the horror that lies at the heart of the Hollow Mountain?