The City of Chains rests in the nooks and crannies of a spine-like escarpment in the blasted wastes of the Shadow. Ancient beyond reckoning, its caverns and keeps have at various points hosted dozens of residents, or hundreds of thousands.

Shadowcasters are particularly interested in visiting this blighted place, to walk in the benighted footsteps of some of their most skilled peers. Many of these are said to have reached divinity, or simply merged with the Shadow.

Qarafa is ruled by the shade of a mighty dracolich, and each of the inhabited neighborhoods is ruled by a lich, demilich, or shadowcaster archmage. Visitors are not welcome but, if they bring suitable gifts and pass any trials presented, they may be allowed to parley. Visiting shadowcasters receive a warmer greeting, if only by degree.

Aside from shadow magic, one might visit the City of Chains to find long-lost necromantic lore, or the secrets of long-dead archmages and the servants of ancient death gods. Most visitors are prospective students of shadow magic, and even those are rare.