Summary

Chapter One opens as Archibald Portendorf climbs stairs overlooking pyramids in Egypt. However, he wants to return to England and mentions the supernatural Djinn. Archibald meets Wesley Dalton and Moustafa. They meet the Hermetic Brotherhood of Al-Jahiz and Archibald finds Alistair Worthington who founded the Brotherhood to search for the wisdom of al-Jahiz. They have retrieved many artifacts, but have not found any divine secrets and Archibald is losing his faith. A few members talk about war but Worthington believes society’s advancements in weaponry are too dangerous. Worthington says that the Brotherhood must find the sacred wisdom and reveals the sword of al-Jahiz. A man bursts through the door and creates copies of himself before announcing that he is al-Jahiz. Dalton is furious as he believes al-Jahiz is Caucasian royalty, but the man kills Dalton. Archibald promises to help al-Jahiz, but he...