The Dust Barrens

Location

The Dust Barrens are located in the northern portion of the country of Maressea on the continent of Mysandros.

Biome

As the name suggests, the Dust Barrens are a large swath of land that is defined by its flatness and dryness - though not necessarily the level of heat that the other deserts in Axora are subjected to. As a result, the Barrens are home to some of the hardiest creatures in the world. It is the de facto birthplace of the sub-species of Elf known as Dust Elves, who would then go on to populate the southern continent of Thrabad and thrive in the deserts there also.

Notable Flora and Fauna

Plants and creatures that exist in the Dust Barrens often share a common trait - the ability to not need lots of water to survive. As a result, the animals native to the Barrens tend to be on the smaller side, and holds a relatively low proportion of mammals compared to other regions. That said, as ever, there are anomalously large mammals that have evolved to store water in unique ways such as camels and Dust Ox. However, the largest mammalian predators include jackals and the barrens fox, the biggest threats to the residents of the barrens otherwise come from above or from the venom/poison of smaller critters.
Naturally, scavengers do particularly well in this region and the Dust Barrens is home to the Maressean Brown Vulture, which will often sit still on the branches of the leafless trees of the Barrens, pretending to be a part of the tree before taking advantage of any easy meal it can find.
Anyone who attempts to cross the Barrens must be aware of the plethora of venomous and poisonous creatures that slither and skitter amongst the cracked dirt. The Barrens are home to multiple venomous snakes and scorpions, as well as poisonous lizards - so be warned if you feel like they might be a snack.
As for flora, the trees that can survive in the Barrens tend to have spines rather than leaves, and plenty of species of cacti call the Barrens their home.

Location under

Maressea