Blackflame Empire

The Blackflame Empire is a relatively small nation on the northwestern edge of the vast Ashwind continent, and the stage for much of Lindon's early adventures after he leaves home. It takes its name from the black dragons who once ruled these lands along the destructive Path of Black Flame.

In ages past those dragons dug too greedily into the buried Labyrinth in search of soulsmithed weapons, drawing the Dreadgod known as the Wandering Titan and its brethren and igniting the apocalyptic Dread War, which left only two Monarchs alive on Cradle and reduced much of the continent to ruin. The empire that remains is a shadow of that former domain.

Now ruled by the young emperor Naru Huan, the Blackflame Empire survives as a vassal of the Akura clan, protected by the distant Monarch Akura Malice far to the south. Its cities, sects and politics form the backdrop against which Lindon, Yerin and Eithan first begin their rise.