This was Tartarus, the capital city of the Infernal Empire of the West.
And the colossal obsidian citadel at the heart of Tartarus was Emperor Adventus's Palace.
The entire city seemed alive with dark infernal qi.
Bridges of black iron and bone connected the countless towers in the city across dizzying heights, forming streets and passageways that were suspended above a labyrinth of lower districts drowned in mist and ash.
Tartarus was built on the ruins of an ancient volcano.
Rivers of molten fire flowed through channels that were carved on the stone around the city, feeding colossal braziers that burned with unnatural emerald flames that illuminated the city at night.
The fires never die; they are said to be fragments of the eternal inferno of Hell that was subjugated and wielded by the ruler of the city, Emperor Adventus, the Flame Sovereign.
This was a city of Mages and scholars who studied and worked on creating forbidden Mage spells all year round.
