Deadlands
As far as homelands claimed by the seven elder races go, the Deadlands are undeniably the newest. Formerly, they were parts of both the Great Jungle of Gerule and the Lindral Forest. The Devnar, disciples of Nekrutan, built their temple in this area. At the resolution of the Nekrutan Crisis, the lands infected by the Nekrutan worm, as well as about 50 miles beyond that on average, were collapsed into the Deadlands by the new goddess Chenravo. This new area was quickly claimed and stripped of life by the forces of Templum Nekrutan.
The Devnar are the main denizens of the Deadlands, but many have since flocked to them, to Nekrutan's stronghold. While Nekrutan does have temples, churches and other locations out of these badlands, the truly devoted know that they only way to progress further in the heirarchy and to show their devotion is to make it to Mount Arrecci. Many genasi have worked to prevent these pilgrimages, but there are always those that manage to outwit or outspeed the elemental individuals. As a result, Mount Arrecci and the other Nekrutan strongholds in the Deadlands have a diverse and powerful clergy. The Devnar welcome them all, happy to build a stranger arm with which to enact and enforce Nekrutan's will.
Geography
The Deadlands are surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs, hundreds of feet tall. The ground here gently slopes towards the center, where a single mountain, mount Arrecci rises from the desolation. It houses the first Temple to Nekrutan, Moriban. Throughout the collapsed area, a brave soul could find towns, buildings, and structures largely intact. Chenravo did not destroy the land, but resculpted it so that all that was above simply sunk down below.
Its borders with other regions are largely defined by the steep cliffs that ring the Deadlands. However, where the Deadlands come close to Scalebrigth Lake, there is water that seeps down the cliffside and into the ruined lands. Each year, the amount of water that enters this way slowly decreases as the Genasi work to shore up the edge of the lake to prevent a flood where the worms might escape.
Ecosystem
This is a desolate place, where even the most tenacious life has difficulty securing a toehold. Templum Nekrutan has worked hard to make this area anathema to life. They salted the fields, poisoned the water, and decayed most of the existing organic matter. All that is left behind is gray ground and death.
Some of Nekrutan's devout have been working on ways to grant unlife to even the plants. While their efforts are best showcased on the slopes of Mount Arrecci, patches of sickly plants have begun to appear across the Deadlands. Their efforts have not been wholly successful thus far, they have been making progress. Most food consumed by the clergy that still have need for nutrition is imported, or cleaved from undead beasts. These undead plants have yet to produce nutritious fruit.
Localized Phenomena
Due to the concentration of necromancy here, as well as the large collection of former test subjects, sometimes things here can get a bit strange. Spontaneous necromantic magic is not unheard of, though individuals reanimated by such magic are often much stronger than comparable types of undead. This effect can even occur on bodies that were previously undead. The fact that this sudden necromancy does happen and that the undead are more powerful makes the work of Genasi patrols that much more dangerous and difficult. Long term Genasi plans to clear the Deadlands and make them safe for people again often involve measures to remove all possible corpses from the Deadlands in order to safeguard against this phenomena.
Also, due to the large amount of undead simply roaming aimlessly in the deadlands, it can be difficult to avoid them. The more mindless undead can and will assault anyone they feel is intruding. Strangely, however, it has been noted that even living members of the Templum Nekrutan can move through their ranks without fear. This phenomena bears further research, though there are few willing to go to the required lengths to do so.
Climate
Even if there are no living plants, and a handful of undead vegetal varieties, the rains do still come. When they do, it often reduces much of the Deadlands to an intermitible gray swamp. This has led to many of the buildings in the area, in as good of condition as they are in, getting slowly swallowed by the muck. When it is dry, each step causes dust to rise up. These two extremes just make the area all the more hostile to life.
Natural Resources
Some desperate scavengers or followers of Nekrutan search the cliffs for valuable resources. The sheer cliffs occasionally have exposed metal or mineral deposits that can be sold for large sums. Scavengers have to risk the undead, and frequently only get away with as much as they can carry. Members of the Templum, however, are able to harness undead labor, and make a great profit.
History
When Nekrutan and Quetminook collaborated to create the Nekrutan worm, it would spell doom for many people. It was released, and quickly became a problem, as those who were sent to fight the menace became victims themselves. Eventually, across Chenravo, people prayed for a god that would protect them. With all the divine power in their unified vision, the goddess Chenravo was born. She sunk the Deadlands and created a race that would be immune to the worm to act as sentinels of life.
Since the descent, it seems that the Nekrutan Worm has been adapted into a defensive measure. The Templum seems to have little desire to reweaponize the worm. It appears that despite the havok and effectiveness of the Worm, that it did not have the desired effect on those who were subjected to it.
Tourism
It is exceptionally dangerous for anyone other than Genasi to enter the Deadlands. The Genasi are the only ones immune to the Nekrutan Worm that still infects thouusands of walking corpses on the Deadlands floor. While there are pilgrims that come here, their goal is often far more permanent than tourism.
Surrounding Areas
Lindral ForestGreat Jungle of Gerule
Scalebright Lake
Mlilm Riverlands
Type
Badlands
Included Organizations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
