The Barren Wastes

The Barren Wastes is a desolate region in the North of the continent of Elvara. The area is a wasteland, stretching for miles upon miles upon miles of ashy, largely infertile sand. However, several specially adapted creatures have evolved to live in the vast expanse.
The wastes have a mysterious history and bloody, dog-eat-dog existence. Historically home to tribes of Eljin, a people once banished from southern Elvaran Settlements — the area is now home to wanderers and the banished, with one major trading hub, a city known as Zelgrod which lies upon the shores of the Bitter River.

Geography

The Barren Wastes lie on the northern side of the Jagged Mountains.

Astaeria 1405 AE

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Astaeria Post-Vanguard Revolution

History

The Barren Wastes has existed as an ashy desert since ancient times. The Eljin (Orcish) clans were forced back north of the mountains during the time of the Revaelorians, where they have stayed ever since, fighting over a meagre existence.

"Orcish clans who had settled in the northern regions [of Elvara] began raiding farmsteads looking for food. This prompted military action from the Duchy, and eventually the Orcs were pushed back towards the Northern Barren Wastes. The Stronghold Fortress was later built to keep them there."

Eldeth Cordell, 1355, The Common Man's Guide to Astaeria

Nobody rules or owns the Barren Wastes, in fact no one would wish to. The ground is largely infertile with very little to survive on. However, several plants and animals thrive in the wastes, which are found nowhere else in Elvara.

Species of the Wastes

The Globoid Fish

Interestingly, the Globoid fish is not actually a fish at all, but a enormous amphibious creature, known to hunt on the shores of the Barren Wastes. Known to envelop its prey with it's jelly like body, its inner teeth soon devour creatures within seconds.

Infant Globoids like the one pictured on the right are harmless to sentients (namely humans, elves, dwarves, halflings and eljin) however, the larger of the species have been known to eat sentients

Jelly Fish Sea Life Close Up by marisaloves

The Ash Draknel

A relative of the The Luminous Draknel, the Ash Draknel is an arachnid known to bury itself in the ashy sand of the wastes, waiting for prey to scuttle by before striking out with its venom. The venom takes a long time to kill the creature, so the Draknel, also known as the Scuttle Vulture, stalks it, watching it's meal die slowly and painfully before eating it.

The Draknel is somewhat of a delicacy around the wastes, where food is scarce.

Scorpio Poisonous Black Animal by Foto-Rabe

Cinderweed

Cinderweed is a foul, bitter tasting plant which crumbles into ash when it senses danger. Only the desperate choose to eat the leaves of this plant, as it contains very little nutritional value, however, paste made from the ashes can be used to treat various skin conditions.

Thistle Iced Frost Rime Winter by Maky_Orel

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Type

Wasteland

Inhabiting Species

• Cinderweed