Emperica

Overview
Emperica is the furthest of the Spiral Isles, to the southeast of the island chain. Inhabitants are strange and eclectic, and reclusive to the extent that their intentions remain a mystery, much like the island itself. The only thing known is that the old world landmass that was Emperica lost much to the Divide, possibly being the reason why many know nothing about it.

Emperica is a mixture of mountainous and forest terrain, with a wide range of elevations. Much of woodlands are shrouded in a dense fog at almost all times of the year, except during the winter. Many trees rarely ever see any foliage, lending the appearance of very muted and drab landscapes with minimal color.

There are only two major settlements in Emperica, both as strange as the other. The hamlet of Dunwitch rests on the southwestern cape of the island, hosting a band of exceptionally unusual villagers who have managed the town for centuries. Further to the north, the gothic spires of Limbo City can be seen; black towers barely silhouette the night sky, providing an ominous image on the horizon. Even further north, nested in the Heron Mountains, is the Tower of the Empress; a structure built in service to forgotten gods.

Limbo City
As the unofficial capital of Emperica, Limbo City is a place often shrouded in darkness. Towering skyscrapers dot the cityscape in a nigh-labyrinthine pattern, evoking a sense of claustrophobia for those who wander at street level. Some sections of the city see no light at all because of this. Lacking any form of government, anarchy and lawlessness reigns supreme here.

Dunwitch
The tiny hamlet of Dunwitch is a cozy village far removed from the uninviting and oppressive atmosphere of Limbo City. Old colonial houses and taverns offer a sense of hearth and home to strangers, but many cannot doubt the sense of paranoia that being in Dunwitch provides. Uncommon theories suggest that the friendly surface obscures a sinister heart.

Tower of the Empress
No one truly knows the origins of this mysterious tower, but many believe that it was once used in sacrificial rituals for a long forgotten sun goddess. Tapestries found inside the tower depict pictures of post-Divide individuals preforming cult-like activities in service to a higher power. The Tower of the Empress has been abandoned, with most scholars agreeing that whatever cult power that once resided here has long since vacated the premise. Some theories paint a much darker fate for the proto-Avashesh people; skeletons were found within the tower, scorched black from some kind of heat source.