Hakat

This is the journal of Javiden of Incaras  of Incaras, Knight of the Griffin Rider order of Incaras and registered Hunter of the Hunter's guild. These are my notes of the mystery region which the inhabitants call Hakat.

The land I have set out to explore is a region known only by rumors and legends. It is said that a desert region lies past the Red (or sometimes called the Blood) mountains on the east of the wide plains past the gap of Chentor, and north of the poison and fire of the Dread mountains north of the Sea of Sands. It is rumored that a lost and ancient tower of great antiquity stands in the deserts of this region. The area is said to be inhabited by strange creatures that use boats to travel the sandy wastes of their lands. These rumors are true. - Journal of Javiden of Incaras

Geography

Hakat (the land) is bounded by the mountains called the Deathly Lands of Fire and Poison to the south, The deadly cold and ice capped glacial Red Mountains to the west. The Red Mountains curve around to the north and east over several hundreds of miles to join the Razorclaw. The Eastern side is closed by the Razorclaw mountains. These mountains are precipitous shards rising as broken columns with narrow slot canyons. They are not navigable and have no passes. They are as if cut in half by a giant axe and fall away immediately into the sea.

The whole of the central plain is an undulating region of sandy desert. The sand is a fine grain and greenish hue. It is very fine grain olivine or periodot stone. A few oasis may be found. In the center rises an ancient tower, called "The Spike" by the locals. This tower is hundreds of feet tall, seemingly made of obsidian. It is smooth and glassy, reflecting the sun and images. No known entry, window or portal exists upon it. It is clearly a made thing - being five sided with sharp corners. It shows not sign of wear or decay and has an aura of fear and cold about it.

The sands present hazards of sinkholes, quicksands, hives of devils and great sand wyrms. Insectoid Swarmlords nest in the canyons and caves of the Razorclaws. The furred ones, Ghenid raid from the Red mountains. @Bug exist here. And there are said to be other fell creatures in the Deathly land.
Along the bases of the mountains, where there is vegetation and rivers or waterfalls are the towns and settlements of the inhabitants. These creatures are short, only half the height of a human and of insect appearance. Armored joined bodies with 4 arms and 4 legs and a short rounded hind part. Bulbous facetted eyes and beaked faces. They shed the outer body cover as they grow and use these to make protective armors that they supplement with bronze plates and weapons.

Localized Phenomena

Haboob dust storms are common along with whirlwinds. Rains fall rarely in the central region but are common on the eastern Razorclaws. The Razorclaw rains cause heavy flooding within just minutes. These change the slot canyons to raging rivers that toss and drown anything caught in them and hurls the detritus out into the sands of the plain.
To the south, the Deathly Lands will drop clouds of poison air and flaming rains of burning rock from the volcanic mountains.

Natural Resources

Various mineral and salt flats may be found across the Hakat.  Sulfur springs occur and metal ores may be found in the south.  The sands west of the Razorclaws contain gemstones which may be found with digging and sifting. May have been polished by the winds and sand or tumbling down the canyons in the flash floods.
There are no proper fish, but rather a reptilian SandFish. Tiger stripped black and yellow Hammer headed worms are also found both in the fertile soils at the mountain bases, as well as the sands and around oasis. Trees like great scaled towers topped by ferns produce clusters of fruits wherever there is good water. There are low plants with berries and cactus like spiked barrel plants with fruits of differing colors and flavors. Birds occur along the mountains with a few found soaring across the blazing plain in the day. Great Roc and Thunderbirds nest in the cliffs of the Razorclaws and the Red Mountains. The Hakaskaziu youth prove their mettle by finding and taking of an egg, that must be returned to the village for a feast. Theft of a Sand Dragon egg is also a cause of great celebration