A dark, arid, volcanic country inhabited mostly by humans, orcs, and monsters. The soil is fertile in areas where plants grow, but much of the nation is rocky, hot wasteland as well. It is ruled by a cruel witch king dictator who keeps his thumb on magic use and eradicates anyone with too much strength or talent, and enslaves the rest with enough to be of use to him.

Fairly thin in most areas. The bulk of larger cities are in the centralmost fertile region where most of the food is produced. Orcs and Humans are the most populous races, but there are some trolls, goblins and other hardy races living in the country. The capital is located in a particularly volcanic area.

Iron and Obsidian carved coins. much of the rest of the world relies on a gilded paper money and copper coin system referred to as gilts. For simplicity, one hundred gilts is a US dollar. One obsidian is fifty gilts, and four irons are equal to one obsidian.

Strict and Cruel, particularly concerning magic use. A yearly litmus test is given to all registered citizens from ages five to eighteen to gauge potential for magic ability. They are ranked from D to A and then S. D and C are considered "acceptable" proficiency levels. B level potential leads to enslavement or military conscription. Most A and S users are jailed and sentenced to execution unless they are found to be useful enough to enslave.

This reality is because the witch king ruling Ignotera is vulnerable only to strong magic, and desires to keep the populace culled and cowed so that he will not be overthrown.