Since the 'time before times,' the ancient kingdom of Urbania has been locked in a sinister struggle with the corrupting forces of darkness and decay. Its capital, Urbanus, once a glorious citadel of hope and virtue, is in the vile grip of mysterious powers bent on its subjugation and destruction. Urbanus's once proud and thriving population has been seduced by its feckless leaders to a helpless herd of sheep ripe for slaughter. Daylin Hanner, an unlikely lad from the forgotten village of Brantford on the Rill, has been entrusted by King Sa'lem, the mighty ruler of the legendary Northern Kingdom, with an urgent task: he must safely deliver the sacred Jasper Stone, an ancient crystal of great power, to the City of Urbanus. Daylin's peerless guide is Abner the Seer, in the company of Wain of Lair and his loyal band of valiant warriors and skilled woodsmen, the legendary Northern Rangers. Together, they set out on a perilous journey fraught with danger, mystery and adventure ... A journey that will seal forever the fate of the great Kingdom and her glorious capital, Urbanus. URBANUS - The Kingdom Chronicles - Volume I is an epic parable recounting the historic struggle between unseen universal forces that perpetually contend for the hearts and minds of all men. As the sages say, "Those who cannot rule themselves, will be ruled by tyrants..."