Badlands of Ishar

The Badlands of Ishar are a desolate and hostile desert with few opportunities for respite. Almost the entirety of the non-Pelorian Ishar inhabitants can be found in just seven ancient cities, all of which date back to the Dawn Era.

Geography

The continent of Ishar is dominated by the expansive badlands. Inland Ishar is known primarily for cracked earth, burning sands and shattered mountain ranges. Some of these have become strategic locations for settlements, and do lend a primal beauty to the landscape. The stark contrasts between sundered pillars of stone and the unerringly flat horizon are often used as points of reference by the wandering giant clans. Those who travel across the plains of Ishar are likely to spot the Everstorm, a perpetually drifting sandstorm of fierce power. Luckily, the flat nature of much of the Badlands allows travellers to see the Everstorm coming and allow them to adjust their course accordingly.
A party that traverses deep enough into the Badlands will eventually reach the Fault, the point where two converging tectonic plates meet. This fault acts as the dividing line between "upper" and "lower" Ishar, as the difference in height between the two is over 3 miles. A difference of such magnitude has several serious impacts on the geography of Ishar. Firstly, the Fault continues to grow taller. It is speculated that if left unchecked, then Upper Ishar would eventually consume Lower, changing the face of the continent forever. Secondly, the Fault presents a logistical nightmare for traders and adventurers alike. The major city of Osir is carved into a ravine formed within the Fault, and acts as a point of either ascent or descent for those with the coin to pay the tolls. For those who cannot afford to pay, there are several "lift stations" across the faultline. These stations can vary from reputable to glorified bandit camps.
Passing into Lower Ishar however is worth the price, as the desert begins to subside and harden into arid scrubland. This change in geography is practically an oasis for "Uppers", who can go much of their life without seeing a single uncultivated plant. Despite this change, the landscape is still too dry and barren to support any sort of farming community, so the inland regions continue to be underpopulated. Journey outwards however, and you soon reach the coastline of Ishar, just as harsh and forbidding as the land itself. Steep cliffsides, hazardous rock formations and bizarre currents make Ishar a ship captains nightmare. Only the Bay of Paxis has been able to support a mercantile coastal city, aided by its magnificent lighthouse and natural harbours.

Fauna & Flora

Only plants that have adapted to extreme water shortages and blistering heat are able to survive in the Badlands, and as a result the animal populations of the region are stunted in both stature and temperament.

Natural Resources

The Fault provides a wealth of easily accessible natural ores, being pushed as they are from the very bowels of the continent. This makes the city of Osir incredibly wealthy, and allows it to import the food supplies it so sorely needs. This in turn funds the other cities of Ishar, which act as either far flung producers or middlemen facilitating passage.

Alternative Name(s)

Ishar

Type

Badlands

Location under

Ishar Continent