The Steppes
Endless seas of pale grass
A wide stretch of grass, far as the eye can see. This windy land used to be as far as the elves dared settle and as far as the Caleian Empire bothered to defend, at least until Hallownite was discovered in the Latis Mountains. But even after the great mining rushes of the middle Imperial Age, the steppes have not been civilized. For thousands of years, they've been home to the Rotsavan horse lords, untold numbers of nomadic wanderers and recently, Kobold raiders. Long ago, the Rotsavans carved mighty empires within and beyond this land but now, little remains save for wind and nomad huts.
Rotsavan cities aren't cities in the traditional sense, but rather large gatherings of huts and campsites, built to be as lightweight as possible for when they require moving with the herds or away from threats. As a result of this constant motion, there's no such thing as an accurate map of the steppes, something which has infuriated Imperial bureaucrats for centuries now. They've tried to build neat, orderly roads like those in the East, but out west, these Caleian roads go unused save for by outsiders traveling by.
Rotsavans are far from the only people who inhabit these seas of grass, and they know it. Their religion places heavy emphasis on a flow with nature and their gods take the forms of buffalo, antelopes, deer and many more. As for sapient life, Kobolds have taken a recent liking to these grasslands, but among the reclusive Rotsavans live a variety of other species, from half-elf refugees who have long-since adapted to the steppes to pacifist goblins to distant cousins of the Jothun. A few decades ago, they'd have been home to Imperials as well, but ever since the collapse of the empire, they've all but abandoned the steppes.
Rotsavan cities aren't cities in the traditional sense, but rather large gatherings of huts and campsites, built to be as lightweight as possible for when they require moving with the herds or away from threats. As a result of this constant motion, there's no such thing as an accurate map of the steppes, something which has infuriated Imperial bureaucrats for centuries now. They've tried to build neat, orderly roads like those in the East, but out west, these Caleian roads go unused save for by outsiders traveling by.
Rotsavans are far from the only people who inhabit these seas of grass, and they know it. Their religion places heavy emphasis on a flow with nature and their gods take the forms of buffalo, antelopes, deer and many more. As for sapient life, Kobolds have taken a recent liking to these grasslands, but among the reclusive Rotsavans live a variety of other species, from half-elf refugees who have long-since adapted to the steppes to pacifist goblins to distant cousins of the Jothun. A few decades ago, they'd have been home to Imperials as well, but ever since the collapse of the empire, they've all but abandoned the steppes.
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