Desert of the Saviour
Geography
The Desert of the Saviour is a great expanse of sand, encompassing much of the Empire of Laran's home territory. It is bordered by the mountainous Spine of Laran to the West and the Low Peaks of Zhatar to the Northwest before they curve up. To the Northeast, the Sea of Quon Wo acts as a northern border of what is considered a part of the desert, despite the geography begining to vary. The Deserts' Easternmost border is marked by the River of the Grail, though Larani territory stretches beyond to the Aphes Valley.
To the south is the Deserts' portion of the Shi Osh. Considered to be birthed from the Dead Ones Mesa--more common myth than actual accepted fact considering the geography--the residents of the Deserts refer to it instead as Lavbi Bimuw. In common, the name refers to the god Quetzalcoatl, which the Senpadida Siobkun imported from the Coatl's native practice of pantheon worship. The god binds the two larger cultural grousp together, hence the honorific term given to the river, after the rise of the Imperial Cult and the renewed disdain of cultural imports form the Mesa. Hence the name, very roughly translated from Coatl as the Blood Snake's River. It opens into the Aekan Bay, which defines the rest of the Deserts' southern border. The actual desert itself can be dived into three sections. Western Reaches The Western Reaches is the area of the Deserts bordering the spine, down to the Shi Osh. The internal desert wastes are inhabited only by isolated settlements connected loosely to the trade routes near the Baeaa River and the Spine of Laran, and nomadic tribes even more isolated than those settlements. The coastal south is far more urbanized and tied into Larani and Lati society. Not to say major cities and other urban centers do not exist. They largely appear around the oases that dot the Deserts, as the underground wellsprings that feed temples and tribal meeting posts would never sustain a full city. Oases in general are the primary place to find civilization in the wastes.
Baeaa River The Baeaa River dominates the central part of Laran, copwebed down from the High Peaks of Zhattar into the Aekan Bay. This is the center of Eastern Larani and Lati civilization. While certainly having rivals, the Red City of Otanli is the largest in Laran, housing the traditional Lati Academies and the center of religious worship. Other cities along the banks are filled to bursting with wealth and goods, and as always, all the little lords who rule them ar ein conflict with each other. The Baeaa area is the trendsetter of much of Laran's culture.
Eastern Wastes The Eastern Wastes are generally said to start at the point where Baeaa River culture stops dominating, as such it is a much more political line, for as much as the others mentioned are not. Most of the time this is around where oases become sparse, so population is much less dense, surviving largely in small comunities around underground springs in the sands. The few large urban centers are dominated by tribals, who have largely unseated fuedal Lati in their control of the deserts. The southern and northern coasts still flourish, both financially and in vegetation.
To the south is the Deserts' portion of the Shi Osh. Considered to be birthed from the Dead Ones Mesa--more common myth than actual accepted fact considering the geography--the residents of the Deserts refer to it instead as Lavbi Bimuw. In common, the name refers to the god Quetzalcoatl, which the Senpadida Siobkun imported from the Coatl's native practice of pantheon worship. The god binds the two larger cultural grousp together, hence the honorific term given to the river, after the rise of the Imperial Cult and the renewed disdain of cultural imports form the Mesa. Hence the name, very roughly translated from Coatl as the Blood Snake's River. It opens into the Aekan Bay, which defines the rest of the Deserts' southern border. The actual desert itself can be dived into three sections. Western Reaches The Western Reaches is the area of the Deserts bordering the spine, down to the Shi Osh. The internal desert wastes are inhabited only by isolated settlements connected loosely to the trade routes near the Baeaa River and the Spine of Laran, and nomadic tribes even more isolated than those settlements. The coastal south is far more urbanized and tied into Larani and Lati society. Not to say major cities and other urban centers do not exist. They largely appear around the oases that dot the Deserts, as the underground wellsprings that feed temples and tribal meeting posts would never sustain a full city. Oases in general are the primary place to find civilization in the wastes.
Baeaa River The Baeaa River dominates the central part of Laran, copwebed down from the High Peaks of Zhattar into the Aekan Bay. This is the center of Eastern Larani and Lati civilization. While certainly having rivals, the Red City of Otanli is the largest in Laran, housing the traditional Lati Academies and the center of religious worship. Other cities along the banks are filled to bursting with wealth and goods, and as always, all the little lords who rule them ar ein conflict with each other. The Baeaa area is the trendsetter of much of Laran's culture.
Eastern Wastes The Eastern Wastes are generally said to start at the point where Baeaa River culture stops dominating, as such it is a much more political line, for as much as the others mentioned are not. Most of the time this is around where oases become sparse, so population is much less dense, surviving largely in small comunities around underground springs in the sands. The few large urban centers are dominated by tribals, who have largely unseated fuedal Lati in their control of the deserts. The southern and northern coasts still flourish, both financially and in vegetation.
Ecosystem
The desert itself gets very little rain, maybe a centimeter every year. As such, the flora and fauna have adapted to these conditions. Cacti are plentiful in the Eastern Wastes, feeding the herbivorous mammals, who in turn are preyed upon by the second level of the food chain, the carnivorous reptiles, and birds. Some species stray from these roles on the food chain, but they are few and far between. The Western Reaches are more sparse in terms of life, but all the above listed are still present.
The rivers and oases see more variety, with larger animals such as Rhinoserouses, Crocodiles, and Hippopotomouses dotting the environs. They are vastly outnumbered by the variety in prey and plantlife, with aquatic flora blooming in the river and oases, and even some large lush palm trees flourishing. Marine life is in vast supply, and more common animals such as rats and mice can be found near settlements. They are still vastly different from their subspecies in the deep desert, however.
The rivers and oases see more variety, with larger animals such as Rhinoserouses, Crocodiles, and Hippopotomouses dotting the environs. They are vastly outnumbered by the variety in prey and plantlife, with aquatic flora blooming in the river and oases, and even some large lush palm trees flourishing. Marine life is in vast supply, and more common animals such as rats and mice can be found near settlements. They are still vastly different from their subspecies in the deep desert, however.
Ecosystem Cycles
The Baeaa instead experiences two large floods twice a year, at consistent times. The first flood has come to be known as the Silt Bringer, as it restored nutrients to the river and crop fields connected to it via irrigation. It always came on the 4th day of Cijanto, in the Gui Biaozhun Calendar, and ended on the 14th day. The second of the floods, known as the Harvester, was powerful and rough, sweeping away most planted crops. It is used as a quick and effective way to harvest the produce of the farmers living along the river.
The Eastern Wastes see powerful monsoons going north from the Aekan Bay to the Sea of Quon Wo. A particular region will likely endure one every five years, though that can range form as little as a year between them to a century and a half. Different monsoons affect different areas, they are large storms but they blanket about fifteen percent of the region at most when passing over.
The Western Reaches see some snowstorms from the Spine of Laran, usually of the enchanted variety. Otherwise the weather is largely constant, hot days and cool nights.
The Eastern Wastes see powerful monsoons going north from the Aekan Bay to the Sea of Quon Wo. A particular region will likely endure one every five years, though that can range form as little as a year between them to a century and a half. Different monsoons affect different areas, they are large storms but they blanket about fifteen percent of the region at most when passing over.
The Western Reaches see some snowstorms from the Spine of Laran, usually of the enchanted variety. Otherwise the weather is largely constant, hot days and cool nights.
Localized Phenomena
A phenomenon that plagues all Larani territory is cursed ground. While many of the more destructive secrets have been lost to history, Lati can and still do enact rituals that curse the ground it is conducted on. Sometimes this is just the ritual circles, other times it affects a wider area. Most of the cursed sites were caused in Larani pre-history. A significant minority of the settlements in both the Westenr Reaches and the Eastern Wastes are built atop extremely large stretches of cursed ground. Other areas, particularly near cliffs and such, are taken by quarries. Cursed Larani Sandstone is a prized commodity all over the empire, and many Lati will pay through the nose to have it exported to them, as a show of wealth and status. The exact effects fo the cursed ground vary with each site, depending on the ritual cast. THe only constant is that any mages, but especially Lati, are invigorated by its usage, and they in turn cause it to react more feircly.
Another feature of the landscape are the Deep Deserts. The proper noun form are large reaches of magically affected areas. The nature is extremely puzzling as they follow seemingly no rules. Once a person outside the desert breaks line of sight with someone within, even be this a meter from one another, the person within is trapped. Most die, but survival is common. Lati and imported mages who have studied it compare it to the fae realms in central Akronis or the Dryad Lands in the Everlasting Jungle, seemingly existing on a seperate layer of reality, only occassionally openning a door to the other side.
Some go in willingly treasure hunting, but those who come back describe it as little else than an endless desert. Sometimes creatures are encountered, which no survivor could even describe. Survival is said to be a gift from the Saviour, the one time they would ever grace their faithful with a benevolent act rather than demanding they take what they wish for themself.
Another feature of the landscape are the Deep Deserts. The proper noun form are large reaches of magically affected areas. The nature is extremely puzzling as they follow seemingly no rules. Once a person outside the desert breaks line of sight with someone within, even be this a meter from one another, the person within is trapped. Most die, but survival is common. Lati and imported mages who have studied it compare it to the fae realms in central Akronis or the Dryad Lands in the Everlasting Jungle, seemingly existing on a seperate layer of reality, only occassionally openning a door to the other side.
Some go in willingly treasure hunting, but those who come back describe it as little else than an endless desert. Sometimes creatures are encountered, which no survivor could even describe. Survival is said to be a gift from the Saviour, the one time they would ever grace their faithful with a benevolent act rather than demanding they take what they wish for themself.
Natural Resources
The sand isn't of much use, but cursed sand is often used as an ingredient in potions, recipes, or rituals. Sandstone itself is a status symbol, especially for Lati who make their homes far from the Desert. Rare furs and pelts can also be found, owing to the ecosystem of the land, and minerals of all sorts can be found under the Oases.
Recently, a sort of viscous black fluid has been found, and aside from a few ritual purposes, no one in Laran has known what to use it for. However, spies from beyond in the Akroni Confederacy have reported that the Arkonaut Corporation has seemed very inclined to get their hands on it, prompting some investigations.
Recently, a sort of viscous black fluid has been found, and aside from a few ritual purposes, no one in Laran has known what to use it for. However, spies from beyond in the Akroni Confederacy have reported that the Arkonaut Corporation has seemed very inclined to get their hands on it, prompting some investigations.
History
The Desert of the Saviour was home to the first Makassi civilization, as well as their constant wars to follow. It has consistently been the seat of power for the Empire of Laran, at least until the current Imperator took power. Now the Desert is home to the Otanli, the holy city of the Lati. The Red City is the largest settlement in the desert, and quite possibly in the world, rivalling even the great city of Jeung. Certainly none of the Dead Empire's grand bastions can challenge it anymore.
Due to the materials available for war, as well as the blasted environment making heavy armour difficult and impractical, the Desert forced a rise in the use of wicker shields and barricades, when Laran or the Makassi conducted war. Spears were never developed past a basic barricade either, as the desert provided no form of cavalry, and they were ineffective against the large shields carried by most infantry. As such, the weapon fo choice for the average soldier was the hatchet. The Lati, or even just a rich soldier, could also afford to arm themselves with a stabbing sword, to be used once an opponent's shield had been damaged with the hatchet. Eventually, they were combined into the khopesh, a weapon that is now traditional of the Lati. The khopesh fell out of fashion with the common soldiery after Larani expanded past the borders of the desert, as it was simply ineffective against most enemies. This was until the desert culture began following the conquerors, so new vassals in places such as the Atelan Foothills or the various regions of the Soteran would emulate their new lords, importing sandstone and adopting wicker shields to accompany the armour. The khopesh is now found in the hands of those fighting in the jungle, those who fight in the Desert of the Saviour, or the Lati, as the last of the three are the only ones who can afford to add enchantments to the khopesh to make it all around effective.
Due to the materials available for war, as well as the blasted environment making heavy armour difficult and impractical, the Desert forced a rise in the use of wicker shields and barricades, when Laran or the Makassi conducted war. Spears were never developed past a basic barricade either, as the desert provided no form of cavalry, and they were ineffective against the large shields carried by most infantry. As such, the weapon fo choice for the average soldier was the hatchet. The Lati, or even just a rich soldier, could also afford to arm themselves with a stabbing sword, to be used once an opponent's shield had been damaged with the hatchet. Eventually, they were combined into the khopesh, a weapon that is now traditional of the Lati. The khopesh fell out of fashion with the common soldiery after Larani expanded past the borders of the desert, as it was simply ineffective against most enemies. This was until the desert culture began following the conquerors, so new vassals in places such as the Atelan Foothills or the various regions of the Soteran would emulate their new lords, importing sandstone and adopting wicker shields to accompany the armour. The khopesh is now found in the hands of those fighting in the jungle, those who fight in the Desert of the Saviour, or the Lati, as the last of the three are the only ones who can afford to add enchantments to the khopesh to make it all around effective.
Notable Locations
Otanli, the Red City located along the Baeaa, is the largest city in the empire, rivalled only by Boqek. It is the center of Lati and Larani shcolarship and wealth. it houses the ancient palaces of many of the old lords, some left undesecrated, some resided in by the new. It is the center of religious worship and the home of arguably the most powerful institution in the empire. It also houses the Lati Academy, the old tradition house of the Lati. It used to be a Lati required a crowning from the instructors, but the practice has faded.The Thousand Tombs is the capital city of the Thronehold known as the Eastern Tomblands, for the abundance of tombs in one large part of the Deserts. The entire area is encompassed by the De-Jure kingdom of the Ten Thousand Tombs. It is in the center of the Western Reaches, north of the river kingdoms and south of the Realm of the Old Gods.
Alternative Name(s)
Kush Be Qur (First Life Desert)
Type
Desert
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Related Ethnicities
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