The Green Bone Saga takes place in a world in which the island of Kekon is the sole source of bioenergetic jade. For those who can wield it, who must be Kekonese, it is a source of immense power, offering increased strength, perception, defenses, and the ability to channel energy. Kekonese jade wielders, known as Green Bones, are trained to both use jade and withstand its drastic effects on their bodies. For others, a drug called shine (SN1) has been developed, which offers the ability to wield jade but also causes addiction, mental illness, and health issues. Jade has long been controlled by the Kekonese jade clans; currently, there are only two: Mountain clan and No Peak clan. These clans have been warring to establish dominance over Kekon and the jade trade, but recently, other countries have come into play, seeking to acquire jade for their own uses.

The night before Kaul Seningtun’s funeral, Bero and Mudt rob a grave in Heaven Awaiting Cemetery. Groundskeeper Nuno meets them with disguises and leads them to the Kaul family memorial, where Kaul Sen will be buried next to his murdered grandson, Kaul Lanshinwan, former Pillar of No Peak.