In a baroque world populated by power-hungry nobles and bloodthirsty clergy, clashing armies of enslaved monsters lay waste to towns and cities, while architect-magicians known as stonemages compete for the fame and glory of building outlandish towers and castles from the rubble. Yreth is determined to prove that he is the greatest stonemage of his (or any) time. His unusual talent for offending others forces him to flee across kingdoms and continents. Yreth is as confident in his literary talent as he is in his magical powers, and offers a picaresque account of his adventures, interspersed with prophecies, poetry, and dramatic dialogues. He shares his expertise on magic, gambling, the surprising dangers of mice, chess, and how to capture the mythical Pulsiter-a shape-changing creature looking suspiciously like a cow. This egotistical antihero considers himself a supreme builder, but wherever he goes, he leaves a trail of mayhem and destruction.