(According to The Dictionary of Mu the Khan-of-Khans begins the story crucified in the ghastly Red Wastes: a royal initiation ceremony and challenge to see if he deserves to ascend to mastery over the People.)

While crucified in the Red Wastes, waiting to die or receive the Lady's boon, the Khan is approached by his faithful younger brother Bai, who wants to save him from certain death. If even the steadfast, unwavering Bai has doubts that he is the Khan-of-Khans, can he truly be the One?

The Khan will never give up on his destiny. Through a single, meaningful gaze, the Khan convinces his brother to leave him to fate. And this confidence helps him bind the mystical Lady of the Silt to his cause. She arises from the sands and cuts his bonds with a sacred blade.

Returning to camp--days, perhaps weeks later--he sees that all the other khans and their tribes are there, to see the outcome of this rite. The Khan confidently takes his place in the throne of the Khan-of-Khans (an enormous hollowed-out beetle shell), thus breaking centuries of taboo.

This angers Jiao Ji Khan, a ferocious general who may have left the Khan-of-Khan's father to die in a war against Lemuria many years ago. Jiao Ji challenges this upstart's worthiness to rule the People. In response, the Khan-of-Khans commands a flock of sarcor-crows to descend on Jiao Ji and pluck out his eyes, thereby branding him as an infidel. Even the beasts of the wastes obey the Lady's servant.

Gong Fei Khan, a decadent merchant-prince, squirms: he's brought an ape-men slave trader to this sacred site, and one has a tribesman slave named Feng Lin. This is a grievous sin against the old ways, but Gong Fei suggests that the times are changing. But the Khan-of-Khans out-argues Gong Fei on the matter of tradition, and Feng Lin is set free. The slave-trader, named N'Goro, is sent off alone.

Then Liu Khan, the soothsayer and kingmaker, asks the Khan-of-Khans who shall be his war leader? Jiao Ji, though blind, has by far the most experience, but loyal Bai desperately hopes to be given a crack at winning glory for the People. (This is Liu Khan's test: the tribes have long been given to vendettas and favoritism: will the Khan have enough sense to pick the right man, or give in to nepotism?) The Khan-of-Khans eschews either choice, chooses his adopted uncle, who is a known for his skill with internal politics, and who was too humble to step forward.

Liu Khan, observing the the candidate's true character, bows down and swears allegiance to the Khan-of-Khans. The other khans follow his example.