Canyon Of The Golden-Winged Snakes

Within the The Glass Desert lies the Canyon Of The Golden-Winged Snakes, a mysterious pink-tinted canyon that runs into the Mosstein Bay. It connects the rivers from the Desert into the Bay, and provides a shortcut from Saraze to Esteria. Long before the droughts and food shortages, Saraze would station guards along the trade routes in the canyon to protect travelers from the threats within the canyon. However, all that remain of this initiative is scattered campfires and cobbled-together barricades. This returning danger has effectively frozen trade between the two settlements, spare a few groups taking the long routes around the canyon or braving the danger and powering through it. The latter spout stories of swarms of flying snakes, emerging from burrows in the canyon's walls to tear apart anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in the frenzy. A single bridge spans the canyon-- but is not nearly large enough to support anything more than a few humanoids. Beasts of burden and large groups of people are forced to take the long way.

Geography

Made up of pink-tinted, iron-rich sandstone, the Canyon gives the rivers within The Glass Desert a pathway into the Mosstein Bay. Small openings dot the walls of the Canyon, the home of many small beasts both passive and predatory. The river flows straight through before gradually curving towards the bay, right as the Canyon flattens. On the floor of the Canyon, spires of rock uncommonly appear, made of tougher stone uneroded by the river's current. Many of these spires served as guardposts, providing shielding from the hot desert sun and giving natural cover to the guards that used to be.

Ecosystem

Without the presence of trading caravans the Canyon has become a mix of small, plentiful creatures living within cracks in the canyon walls. Most commonly are the tiny, flying snakes that give the Canyon it's name. They not only hunt small animals such as mice and scorpions, but in rare cases will attack travelers if they have large enough numbers. Those moving at the bottom of the Canyon may occasionally see the remains of an unlucky trader or camel.

Type

Canyon

Location under

The Glass Desert