The Crystal City of Dal Shang, a port on the southwestern coast of the Trier Sea, was the first city outside of the Alastarian region to have a gladiatorial arena affiliated with Sheila Greywand and the Isle of the Eye.

This beautiful city, named for the delicate blue quartz that is widely used to accent its architecture (Dal Shang literally translates as "Blue Ice") is the farthest northeastern outpost of the Empire of Lirith Kai. Dal Shang is built at the mouth of the Bell River, named for an ancient set of holy bells in a temple at its source. The city stands on the bluffs above a sheltered harbor; the Bell River passes through it and enters the harbor by a waterfall. Its walls of glittering blue granite stand high beyond the top of the cliff, arch over the river, and sweep down to the harbor on each side, stretching out more than half a mile into the water, protecting the harbor; the walls have passages and troop stations within them. Outside the walls are a few inns, stables, poorer dwellings, and two roads that snake up from the beach to the top of the bluff on either side of the river to where the great farms begin. Inside the walls are the magnificent spires, bridges, and fountains of the ancient city.

Dal Shang is the primary point of entry for Alastarian goods into Lirith Kai, as the shipping route across the Trier Sea is much easier than the land route which must run the gauntlet of the Rirorni--a hazard even in "peaceful" times, the desert, and the Twisted Lands. In addition, the city is surrounded by rich farmland which enjoys a longer growing season than that of Alastari. Famed for its orchards and greenhouses, the region produces a wide variety of exotic fruits, including the succulent safirals, the bitter lilaleorn (claimed by some to promote longevity), the rare golden bell-fruit which is said to bring visions to those with strong hiu, rhoanises which cure many illnesses, and crimsarines (rumored to have aphrodisiac qualities). Preserved forms of these and other fruits are a major export. Dal Shang is extremely prosperous, and, for the world of Ghea, a very large city, boasting some twenty-five thousand souls. Even the least of its laborers earns an annual income of roughly forty silver calindis, which is the equivalent of seventy-five Delarquan bashari. (Of course, it costs more to live here, too...)

The population is mostly Adantri--that is, natives of the Empire of Lirith Kai--but because of the shipping and caravan trade and the occasional strange visitor from the Twisted Lands to the south, Dal Shang has a mixed and colorful population and is more open-minded toward strange folk than most places in the Empire.

As rich in culture, prosperity, and pride as Dal Shang is, it is not without problems. The Twisted Lands are a constant source of small armies of hostile and mutated life forms which prey upon the farms of the southern part of the province. The Rirorni Empire has more than once attempted to attack along the coast or through the Twisted Lands, as well. The Trier Sea is increasingly plagued by pirates. The bluffs for many miles along the seacoast are riddled with caves which are said to be hideouts for pirates, bandits, and perhaps even a secret temple to the bloodstained Rirorni god, Mytori. And closer to home, the Clawmoon Clan is said to be awakening once again, under a new leader. Lord Governor Segan tel Jehsian has offered a reward of twelve dove's-eye rubies to anyone who can bring him the name of the new Master of the Clawmoon.

For the glory of battle and the prospect of immortal Lord Protectors to defend the land, the Emperor gave permission for an arena to be opened in Dal Shang. Because the Adantri colony on the island of Illis is part of the Osksi Empire, the Emperor agreed that the Dal Shang arena should feed into the Delarquan regional arena on the Isle of the Eye until Lirith Kai had a regional arena of its own (the arena now feeds into Lirin Kiv, the Adantri regional arena on the Isle). The beautiful structure of blue granite and shimmering quartz stands on top of the cliff to the south of the city, overlooking the beach. Its sparkling white sands are often stained with the courageous blood of the finest warriors in Ghea. May their blood bring glory to the Empire!

Dal Shang is noted for its Summer Fair, which has been held every year for longer than anyone can remember. It draws people from all over Lirith Kai and along the shores of the Trier Sea. It is held on the wide beach below and to the north of Dal Shang--the beach is usually covered with tents and lattice-work booths a week before the Fair officially starts. There are parades, feasts, and dancing, races and other contests, jugglers and storytellers, besides the sellers of nearly every sort of wares.