When the foundations of society are shaken, where do you turn? When life deals misfortune, where do you run for shelter? In this Alternative American history, there exists a major paradigm shift from a Constitutional Republic to an Absolute Monarchy governed by the ancient principle of lex talionas or an eye for an eye justice . This new paradigm resonates with individuals driven by an acute sense of justice. But what about Mercy and Grace? This strange new world needs a new kind of hero. What America gets is a man like Hermes Speaks. A man wrestling with his own demons and a lack of empathy in regards to his binary construct of Justice and Mercy. He must learn to balance these opposites if he wants to succeed in the City of Refuge.