Set in the world of Ioga, a grain hanging from a ripe, cosmic ear of wheat afloat in the vast emptiness of the heavens, this is the defining story of an era. The main characters are all people of the Riverlands; a fertile valley filled by three parallel rivers.

Full of blood, battles, feuds and mythic beasts, the tablets of Gitata make up the largest body of literary work by the people of the Riverlands, the Gigi'abid in their own tongue, meaning 'beautiful people'. The tablets tell the story of the boy-king, Gitata and his struggles for power. They also cover the tales of Ninri'a, warrior woman beyond reproach, as well as the priest Pinpirig and his unlucky journey to reclaim the stolen statue of his beloved goddess.

Along the way, a slew of gods are introduced and the the machinations of the distant elemental god of mercury threaten to end the reign of the Riverlanders.