As the Danishmend Beylik falls into crisis, Kılıç Arslan II sets out to conquer Anatolia. But fearful of the growing power of the Sultan of Rum, Nüreddin Zengi, the greatest force in the Muslim world, sets out to oppose him. An alliance is constructed against Konya - an alliance that will stand for so long as Nüreddin lives... And in Constantinople, Emperor Manuel Komnenos watches the events in Anatolia with growing trepidation, and decides to take a gamble on reversing the verdict of Manzikert.

In Anatolia, Kılıç Arslan II rides East to confront Yağıbasan and begin the reconquest of Anatolia. He makes an alliance with the Saltukid Bey İzzeddin, whose beylik has been raiding Georgia since Manzikert. And in Syria, Nureddin Zengi dispatches to Egypt two obscure Kurdish commanders...

Kılıç Arslan II finds him surrounded by enemies on all sides, as the Sultanate of Rum faces an existential war against enemies in the West, the East, the North, and the South. To end the war, the Limping Lion is forced to come to terms with Emperor Manuel Komnenos. And thus, the Sultan of Rum makes a visit to Constantinople.

After the death of Mesud, his son Kılıç Arslan II succeeds him as the next Sultan of Rum. However, the succession of the second Sword Lion to the throne is not bloodless. A series of murders in Konya ultimately kick off a chain of escalating events that spiral further and further out of Kılıç Arslan's control. And the falling dominoes ultimately end with the new sultan facing a truly existential war on all sides...

The aging Mesud organizes his new conquests on the southern marches of Anatolia into a new satrapy run from Elbistan, and sets up his son and favored successor, Kılıç Arslan II, as its ruler. A new power arises in nearby Cilicia as Thoros the Great lays the foundations of the coming Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, prompting the Sultan of Rum and the Roman Emperor to organize joint military campaigns to topple this potential threat. And we say goodbye to Mesud, as the longest-reigning Roman Sultan departs from this world.

Mesud returns to Konya triumphant after mauling the Second Crusade, and a new power arises in Syria as Nüreddin Zengi succeeds his father to take over the Zengid Emirate. After the broken Second Crusade meets its ignoble end in front of the walls of Damascus, Mesud and Nüreddin rip apart the remnants of the County of Edessa. And Mesud abandons the quixotic dreams of his father and grandfather to conquer the center of the Muslim world, and instead completes his consolidation of power in Anatolia.

After destroying the German crusading army of King Conrad III, Mesud turns his forces against the French crusaders led by King Louis VII. After an initial loss to the French in the Meander valley, Mesud regroups his forces and faces the French again on the passes of a mountain named Mount Cadmus. There Mesud hopes to avenge his father and earn a place of honor among the Sultans of Rum and the Muslim heroes of the Crusades...

The fall of Edessa to Imad al-Din Zengi sparks the Second Crusade. Two great crusading armies assemble in Western Europe - a German army led by King Conrad III and a French army led by King Louis VII. As the crusading armies converge on Anatolia, seeking passage to the Holy Land, the Emperor of the Romans and the Sultan of Rum join forces to oppose them. The German army decides to march along the route taken by the First Crusaders, and Sultan Mesud seeks redemption on the plains of Dorylaeum...