Sanctuary
is the capital of the empire. It is situated on the northern coast of the Encircled Sea at the mouth of the River Ada. Sanctuary was founded by to protect against the . The official date of its founding is 1 January 1 AF; the Elthosian calendar measures years from the foundation of Sanctuary.
Sanctuary today is still one of the mightiest fortresses in existence, although the sheer scale of the outer walls was meant to provide for a temporary, not permanent, population. Consequently, much of the land within the walls is park or woodland, with the city being divided into districts, one for each of the major constituent members of the empire, as well as the Plaza District, its social hub, and the Port District, among others.
The Tower of Valon is the great fortress of Sanctuary, situated on a promontory that extends hundreds of metres out to sea. Within are situated the Imperial Palace and the , as well as quarters for the .