The Black Desert

South of Dytika there was a city called Praeteria. It was the center of a great human empire ruling half the world. But 300 years ago, by a cause unknown, the empire was destroyed in an instant. Where Praeteria and many other cities and countries once stood there is now only the Black Desert - 2000 miles from East to West and 500 miles from North to South, nothing exists but black sand and rubble.