From the introduction: Jerusalem is in an uproar, buildings burn and the temple is being attacked by Roman soldiers who, learning of a loss of pay from Rome upon the new Emperor’s ascension decide to compensate themselves with treasures from the Temple of the Hebrews. Amidst the uproar, every faction of Jewish faith and followers of competing religions take the chance to settle their debts with enemies in the streets of the Holy City. But beneath the city, in one of the many crypts where heretics, zealots and sub-sects of faith meet in secret, a group of Rabbinic mystics hold a regular meeting to practice the Jewish art of Merkava – the meditation on the Wheel of Ezekial. Four old men open their eyes from the state of contemplation, as the ceiling of the crypt shakes. Each has had a vision of the angel Raziel. Into each of your ears he has whispered a secret of things that are to come, revelations, and the hint of what you must each do if you are to fulfill your tikkun, your destiny.