Ruins of Smoke

SFINCS 2023 Finalist. The Usharian Empire rules the Known World with an iron fist. Imperials protect their world from the tainted hand of the Deceiver, but he is back with an avatar capable of breaking the Empire and grounding humanity into ash.. JEHA is a sentinel of the Empire, willing to fight and die for kinship and duty.. AGOR is an imperial general. Disgruntled by the darkness he sees seeping into everything he loves, he makes his move.. MATALA is a young smokesmith who sees his courage tested as Ushar burns.. ALAMAKAR is the world’s most powerful man, but even strong blood ties can hold him down and tear him apart.. As the Deceiver threatens the Usharian Empire’s heart, fiends walk the streets of the capital. Men and monsters clash in a battle fit for gods. And the smoke follows them.