From the introduction: The sky rains ash. The king is a god. There is always another secret. Welcome to the world of Scadrial. Even amongst the Cosmere, Scadrial is unique; a scalding hot planet baking under a red sun, only liveable due to the ash that clouds the sky. The people here live under the Lord Ruler, an immortal king that presides over all known lands. Long ago, the Lord Ruler defeated a great evil and ascended to godhood, becoming the Sliver of Infinity. He remade the world as he saw fit, elevating those who supported him while casting out those who opposed him. From the many cultures of Scadrial he formed a hierarchy that persists to this day, crushing all efforts of rebellion or dissent under his incredible might.