The shadow master

15th century Italy - In a land riven with plague, in the infamous Walled City, two families vie for control the Medicis with their genius inventor Leonardo; the Lorraines with Galileo, the most brilliant alchemist of his generation. And when two star-crossed lovers, one from each house, threaten the status quo, a third, shadowy power one that forever seems a step ahead of all of the familial warring plots and schemes, and bides its time, ready for the moment to attack. Assassinations, ancient, impossible machines; torture and infamy just another typical day in paradise.