Mesa
Thick red sands, dominated by Bulettes.
Heading a week north from the town of Wetroot, the terrain transitions to valleys and hills that herald the nature of the Mesa. As one tops the final hills, or weaves through the penultimate valleys, the air takes on the salty smell of the sea. The sight of the wide and long barrier that holds back the sands of the mesa causes many to turn back, realizing that the lands ahead were not made for man. The southern edge of the mesa is cut off in the majority by the Crimson Basin, a vast basin filled with thick brackish saltwater stained red by the sands it borders. Few creatures live in these waters, the majority of life being fierce crocodiles and some sea life that has transitioned to this realm with the aid of travelers. However, the transit to the lands beyond the water has the most radical shift. The dips and heights of the preceding valleys and hills barely comparing to the maze like sands, dunes and steep cliffs that dominate the region. The sands of the mesa rumble and shift without the influence of the notable tremors in the Feng Mountains just north of the region. For under the sands, carving new paths and canyons into the region are fearsome Bulettes which are extremely common in the area. Wetroot and Kannak are the cities closest to the region, both open massive bounties on the Bulettes in the summer months to help in the collection of creatures for the production of Bulette Powder. Following the opening of these bounties in the early months of summer, large hordes of adventurers and warriors flood over the gore-remniscent waterway and make a pilgrimage across the shifting sands, carrying goods and slaying Bulettes to as they make their way to Kannak where they redeem their bounties. Many choose to return in the same manner to redeem a second set of bounties at Wetroot. However, outside of the city of Kannak, the region is not populated in any real sense beyond a number of wandering tribes. Any larger groups are often scattered and destroyed by Bulettes defending their territories or newly surfaced Bulette carving out their own.
Geography
The Mesa is a maze of hills and cliffs that dig through the sands and change with the many valleys and paths carved into the region by Bulettes.Flora and Fauna
Hobgoblins and other goblinoids are common to the region, as are the massive, fearsome creatures that are Bulettes, beyond these, there are species of cacti and many birds of prey that favor the region.Natural Resources
The biggest resource of the Mesa is the export of Bulette Powder The hunting of Bulettes and strict control of their population is a massive industry in the region. However, other Bulette related resources such as Bulette Eggs and Bulette Wine are also common as are the engines of Airships and Modern Trains.
Alternative Name(s)
Blood Plains, Sands of Terror
Type
Badlands
Location under
Included Locations
Related Professions
Related Materials
Interesting. Good visual imagery, and the setting itself is nicely done. Although I have a few questions: if there are massive beasts roaming under the sands, how are the areas around the mesa kept safe? Are there alarms if an underground creature attacks a nearby city, are there any forms of defenses built to keep the beasts of the sand in an enclosed area? Overall, good worldbuilding.
Very few people live near the Mesa, the nearest large town that isn't Kannak, is Wetroot and is a weeks journey from the area. Simply put, people stay away from it because of the massive beasts. That does come into the question of why bulettes remain there, that's mostly attributed to the intense territorial nature of the species. They rarely expand from the area because the rock and area is favorable and when they surface, they feel the land they surface in is to be their territory. The fact that other things live there doesn't really matter to them, kill or be killed! Kannak is protected by vigilant guards and being built atop an extremely thick, hard variety of rock that Bulettes don't seem to be able to burrow through! Thanks for the comment! :D