Tiansha

The entirety of Tiansha stands as an eternal monument to one of the oldest traditions on the continent - Spiritual Cultivation and the path of the Jīn Dharma. It is steeped in a rich cultural history that dates beyond the Twilight Era, and is filled with unique foods, art and magic.
Technically, Tiansha is an Empire. In reality, it is a land ruled by a hundred independent localities, each presided over by a different 'Sect', which is essentially a school dedicated toward the pursuit of Spiritual Cultivation. The original Sect is the Resplendent Garden, which is said to have been founded by The Golden Saint herself, and persists to this day. Since that time, a thousand schisms have led to the fractured semi-autonomous Sect system that exists today, each of them insisting that theirs is the true path to immortality, and each vying for control of the magical and mundane resources of the island.
The island itself has a relatively diverse geography. A mountain range known as 'The Fangs' sprawls across the northwestern portion of the island, shielding it from the cold winds of Ausren. The range drops off into a series of towering cliffs and rocky beaches that extend along most of the western and southern coastlines. This gives way to a gradual eastward slope, leading from coniferous foothills in the center of the island, to the floodplains and sandy shores of the east.
In the northeast, just outside of the floodplain region and bordering the Vermillion Sound is the single largest city on Galadria: Xuanwu Cheng, otherwise known as Black Tortoise City. It is the ostensible seat of the Tianshan Imperial Family, which enjoys a small yearly tithe from every Sect on the island, despite its lack of true authoritative control. The city itself is managed by the Emperor and his court, and is more densely populated even than the infamous Seychelles. In addition to managing the city, The Emperor keeps a standing military force. While it lacks the sheer combat power of the many Sects of the region, it is strong enough to topple one or two Great Sects in the event of a power struggle, which allows it to act as a check against any one Sect becoming too powerful.
This status quo is highly appreciated by the most powerful of the regional Sects, known as the Four Great Sects.

Key Locations

Black Tortoise City - The Imperial Capitol, and the single largest city on the continent.
Resplendent Garden - The oldest and most esoteric Sect on the island.
North Wind School - A severe Sect that is nestled in the northern Fangs, its practitioners are said to be masters of weapon combat.
Shadow Blossom Sect - Physical enhancement
Soaring Heaven Sect - Spiritual manifestation combat