South of the southernmost edge of the Esparian Empire, past the furthest reaches that the Lotus Throne lays claim to, is the Zierengan desert. Most maps don't bother even trying to chart it, fading off shortly before it with the notice "Here Be Monsters" as though the cartographers simply gave up and tried to scare people away from it.

But in this case that notice is very true. The Zierengan is thickly infested with creatures out of nightmare - though in truth, the terrain itself is nightmare enough to serve as deterrent to most. The sands stretch on seemingly forever beneath the cruel gaze of a burning sun. There are snakes, scorpions, and assorted other menaces. There are few plants, and little water.

They say, those few explorers who dare venture deep into the desert, that on the other side are other lands, places of wonder where mages are shackled and the emperor of the land rules with an iron fist and godlike power. They bring back some few trinkets to show for it, and it's generally agreed that they are probably not lying. But beyond this little is known about that land, the desert a barrier too great to surmount for either side.