Ayrith Desert
The Ayrith Desert sits to the East of the Anvil mountains. It is a large part of the Theocracy of Formene. Edged with scrublands, salt flats, marshes and mountains initially it appears to be devoid of life. Yet there are settlements, nomads, and even a rooftop market. The priests here govern and rule in the name of Gurun the god of solitude, oasis, heat, and insanity. But their worship has become twisted and distorted in recent times. They have delved into dangerous attempts at creation and the distorted beings that now roam the desert are truly horrific. Magic is also distorted here. Perhaps due to the experimentation and the deities of the continent are concerned the priests have their eyes set higher than worship, and may yet desire to be worshipped? Other dangers abound in this area, not only are sandstorms and heatstroke of grave concern, but any nomads/residents you come across will warn you to stay away from any and all craters you find.
The settlements in the Ayrith desert send their goods to Kairaviel, the city closest to the mountains and is the Eastern end/start point of the Formene-Aswarian Empire trade route. The desert beings trade salt, bloodwood carvings/furniture/sap/medicine/dyes, minerals, metals, and other items. There are many small mining towns that pop up around areas where the minerals are found. And there are many abandoned towns where the mineral sources have been exhausted. There are mining nomads that travel around setting up tents, mining, and then moving on. Unfortunately, they don't always fill in their holes so this is probably why adventurers are warned to avoid craters. Though there have been rumours of strange occurrences of whole groups of miners passing out on/around the mine entrances and waking up almost baked to a crisp. Well, the lucky ones wake up...
The Flatholde Forest (more scrubland than forest really) is a key source of Desert Bloodwood Trees. So much so that the Flatholde Watch was set up to guard the area against tree poachers. A town has slowly started to form around the Watch Tower, but anyone who cuts down a tree without permission... well, let’s just say they get “asked to leave”. Flatholde was once the site of an epic and incredibly violent battle. So violent that the land was soaked in blood. The Watch says that the trees that grew there still drink and shed the blood of those who died to remind them of history's mistakes and never repeat them. Desert Bloodwood Trees are beautiful, tall, and strong with dark reddish/brown bark and umbrella-like foliage crowns that have blood-red flowers that bloom after the rains. The roots retain water so locals occasionally dig up and drain the roots to gather the water.
In Ithlorwis, the most popular attraction is the Flamestrand Markets. The sand becomes untouchable during the day so locals set up an elaborate system of bridges, stairs, shelters, and rooftop stalls so they can navigate the city without frying. They had tried using fabric sunshades over the streets, but they kept being torn down during sandstorms. Although the buildings have gotten taller with time and the city streets below are slowly becoming shadier, the markets remain on the building tops with permanent shade structures. The market is slowly making its way down to the ground as newcomers arrive and set themselves up. But many of the best and longest run stalls are still up the top so the traditional market remains the most frequented part. There is a kind of class system with the best goods being sold at the top and the lower quality goods being sold at the bottom.
It’s believed that the Ayrith Desert was once a bustling, luscious plain with busy, well-populated cities belonging to an ancient civilization ruled by dragons. But many years ago there was an epic battle between the dragons which involved much bloodshed. Reports are mixed as to why the disagreement began. Some say the dragons believed the people had ceased honouring them as was their due, others suggest the dragons were tired of solving issues. Whatever the reason, their fighting caused the citizens to band together to try and negotiate peace or failing that, cease the fighting. Over time the citizens began disagreeing over which dragon was in the right and took up arms against one another. Unfortunately, the dragons decimated the land with their breath weapons and fighting and the citizens fared the worst. Entire populations were burned, frozen, electrocuted, and worse. Finally, the gods saw that the dragons could destroy everything they’d made. After sending warnings to the citizens of the land, they sent a giant sandstorm which buried everything including some of the dragons and separated the others who either submitted to the gods’ new rules or took off to find a new place to dominate. Those citizens who’d listened to the warnings took refuge in neighbouring countries but many perished and are buried under the sands. After the sandstorm cleared, the desert remained. Slowly the areas surrounding the desert turned into scrublands and marshes and salt lands etc. But the desert remained as a reminder of the great battle. The cities, dragons, and people are buried underneath the sands to this day. Some archaeologists have been hunting for the civilizations but very little has been uncovered due to the tenuous conditions.
As time passes the refugees who fled for their lives have returned and established the settlements or wandering tribes that the land is famous for today.
The settlements in the Ayrith desert send their goods to Kairaviel, the city closest to the mountains and is the Eastern end/start point of the Formene-Aswarian Empire trade route. The desert beings trade salt, bloodwood carvings/furniture/sap/medicine/dyes, minerals, metals, and other items. There are many small mining towns that pop up around areas where the minerals are found. And there are many abandoned towns where the mineral sources have been exhausted. There are mining nomads that travel around setting up tents, mining, and then moving on. Unfortunately, they don't always fill in their holes so this is probably why adventurers are warned to avoid craters. Though there have been rumours of strange occurrences of whole groups of miners passing out on/around the mine entrances and waking up almost baked to a crisp. Well, the lucky ones wake up...
The Flatholde Forest (more scrubland than forest really) is a key source of Desert Bloodwood Trees. So much so that the Flatholde Watch was set up to guard the area against tree poachers. A town has slowly started to form around the Watch Tower, but anyone who cuts down a tree without permission... well, let’s just say they get “asked to leave”. Flatholde was once the site of an epic and incredibly violent battle. So violent that the land was soaked in blood. The Watch says that the trees that grew there still drink and shed the blood of those who died to remind them of history's mistakes and never repeat them. Desert Bloodwood Trees are beautiful, tall, and strong with dark reddish/brown bark and umbrella-like foliage crowns that have blood-red flowers that bloom after the rains. The roots retain water so locals occasionally dig up and drain the roots to gather the water.
In Ithlorwis, the most popular attraction is the Flamestrand Markets. The sand becomes untouchable during the day so locals set up an elaborate system of bridges, stairs, shelters, and rooftop stalls so they can navigate the city without frying. They had tried using fabric sunshades over the streets, but they kept being torn down during sandstorms. Although the buildings have gotten taller with time and the city streets below are slowly becoming shadier, the markets remain on the building tops with permanent shade structures. The market is slowly making its way down to the ground as newcomers arrive and set themselves up. But many of the best and longest run stalls are still up the top so the traditional market remains the most frequented part. There is a kind of class system with the best goods being sold at the top and the lower quality goods being sold at the bottom.
It’s believed that the Ayrith Desert was once a bustling, luscious plain with busy, well-populated cities belonging to an ancient civilization ruled by dragons. But many years ago there was an epic battle between the dragons which involved much bloodshed. Reports are mixed as to why the disagreement began. Some say the dragons believed the people had ceased honouring them as was their due, others suggest the dragons were tired of solving issues. Whatever the reason, their fighting caused the citizens to band together to try and negotiate peace or failing that, cease the fighting. Over time the citizens began disagreeing over which dragon was in the right and took up arms against one another. Unfortunately, the dragons decimated the land with their breath weapons and fighting and the citizens fared the worst. Entire populations were burned, frozen, electrocuted, and worse. Finally, the gods saw that the dragons could destroy everything they’d made. After sending warnings to the citizens of the land, they sent a giant sandstorm which buried everything including some of the dragons and separated the others who either submitted to the gods’ new rules or took off to find a new place to dominate. Those citizens who’d listened to the warnings took refuge in neighbouring countries but many perished and are buried under the sands. After the sandstorm cleared, the desert remained. Slowly the areas surrounding the desert turned into scrublands and marshes and salt lands etc. But the desert remained as a reminder of the great battle. The cities, dragons, and people are buried underneath the sands to this day. Some archaeologists have been hunting for the civilizations but very little has been uncovered due to the tenuous conditions.
As time passes the refugees who fled for their lives have returned and established the settlements or wandering tribes that the land is famous for today.
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Desert
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