The Tribelands of Uru

Home of the Western Tribes

Lands of Sand and Glass

The region to the far north of Kharza, east of the mountains, is often just called The Scrublands or the Tribelands- it is slightly less deserted than the Luxumu plateau to the south, but still very arid and without any permanent rivers. Some sand dunes can be found in the northern regions, hugging the mountains which curve to the east. There is one oasis- the massive lake of Uruza Nurr, which gives the region its name - Uru. A couple times a year massive rainfall west of the the Spire and Ayanga Mountains (the northern end of the Sunset Mountain Range) will create temporary rivers which drain down into and refresh this basin. The locals call this the Genet'Gol, and as welcome as these fresh streams are, the flash flooding can kill. Then again, much in this region can kill. Uru is home to many dangerous beasts (bulettes being particularly notorious) and many myths and rumors speak of a dragon that feeds in the northern Shuurga Hills. Though mostly flat, there are occasional ancient plateaus and buttes that have been heavily worn down to more resemble flat hills. Many threats stalk the tops of these, waiting to ambush those who travel the canyons below.
One thing that really differentiates this region from the Sehirizan desert south of the Great Divide, is that this region is infamous for its lightning storms. Both deserts experience sandstorms on occasion, but this region commonly experiences sudden massive dry lightning storms. No rain- just the lightning. It strikes the sands and creates regions dotted with veiny silica glass which stand like strange graveyards. These regions are called "The Shils" and are avoided because bad things seem to happen around them. No one knows the cause of these storms though they have been commonplace for many hundreds of years. Many think it has a magical origin- perhaps something to do with the arcane leyline that runs through the sunset mountains. A few times a year at night one can also see strange colorful curtains of lights in the night sky- a phenomenon usually only seen to the far south of the continent of Vaskir. Many of the local tribes attribute these lights to the mysterious workings of their gods.

The Tribes of Uru

The regions biggest settlements are perched on the banks of Uruza Nurr, facilitating trade and places for the local tribes and nomads to rest up, eat, and drink between hunts or while traveling through. Most consider this long and winding chain of tents and shacks that surround the lake one big city called Uruzhara. Others call the different segments of it by different names and consider them separate villages. The majority of people in Uru are nomadic tribes (sometimes called The Western Tribes to differentiate them from the tribes of Dakoro to the east in Arna) and these groups have lived and subsisted here for thousands of years. Few are better adapted to this harsh terrain. These tribes consist of orcs, minotaur, humans, hill dwarves, and occasionally a stray dragonborn, tabaxi, tiefling, or goblinoid. They speak a myriad of languages, but most tribes have at least one speaker of Zuddi- the mother language most of these tribal languages originally stemmed from. It is said to be the tongue of their very distant ancestors, the tribes of Naizuud. The tribes of Uru as well as those in Dakoro and Sehirizan share this very distant common ancestor. Few of the tribes speak Common, though those who trade around Lake Uruza may. Some tribes live more in the Ayanga Ridge mountains and occasionally trek north down into the Senja Coast region and many of them also have speakers of Tulenni as a result of their contact with the Tulen Darah. Though some of these tribes can be hostile to traveling caravans if given the right opportunity, they typically keep to themselves, following herds of their quarry. Some tribes are a bit more barbarous- especially further to the south where picking off Luxumian traders is a favored pastime. Falconing is especially popular in Uru and many tribes consider falcons to be sacred. Though these tribes aren't as zealous about their gods as the southern tribes can be, they still play a central role in the local culture. The strange regional lightning storms are attributed to their gods, and the strange occurrence of tribe members born with storm-like powers are also ingrained in their beliefs. Those born with powers are called the chosen or Chukhal and great things are expected of them, often including tribe leadership.

Townships in the Tribelands

Uruzhara, the central trading hub of the region, is considered neutral territory by all tribes and groups in the region as it is the only true source of water- a divine right to the people who live here. Though this is the largest thing the region has to a city, there are some other small villages and outposts in Uru. The hills near the base of the mountains known as the Spires and Ayanga Mountains are home to a number of independent mines which double as permanent settlements. The residents of these mines are generally a mixture of orc, dwarf, and dworg with a handful of humans thrown in and they gladly trade their metals with the tribes in exchange for meat, pelts, and other goods scarce in the mines. The largest of these are Khongil Mine, Uurkhai, and Ironcove. Some smaller operations also exist in the Tömör Highlands which border The Spires. Uurkhai is connected to mines below Mt. Bulan which belongs to a group of humans from the Senja Coast. Though the two groups can get territorial about which mining tunnel is whose, they keep the main tunnel (The Dalam Tunnel) connecting them open for folks traveling between Uru and the large trade port of Tua Nilam. Some consider the port town of Port Shula to also be within the territory of Uru, though it exists somewhat on the border between Uru and the Senja Coast territory proper. The line between the Tribelands and the territory of Luxumu is vague and shifting as the sands but it said to be a line roughly between the Luxumian city of Kalima stretching west to the mining settlement known as The Tumble, just north of Godspear Mountain.

Trails of Terror
There are only three well known and traveled roads in this region- though to do so takes serious nerve. These roads are often buried by the sand resulting in newcomers getting lost and often dying of thirst. The roads are also the perfect spot to be waylayed by groups of bandits and hostile barbarians, not to mention predators who have learned to hunt along them. Following the roads is a dangerous gamble- but so is trying to trek through the wilderness unless one is experienced with this terrain. Along the eastern coast is a large road that mostly facilitates trade between Luxumu to the south and the northern Senja Coast. It goes by a few names but the locals call it the Ergiin Road. The Nurr'mör Trail branches from this road, passes through Uruzhara and on to Khongil Mine before winding its way towards Dorjii Pass, the only easy path through the mountains and into the jungles of the west coast. The Khongil Mine is connected to the mining settlement of Uurkhai by way of a mountainous path called the Uulyn Trail. From within the well protected mines of Uurkhai one can take the Dalam Tunnel through the mountains and into the coastal plains of the north. The Uulyn Trail continues north into the Shuurga Hills and on to the mining town of Ironcove, partially inhabited by those whose ancestry hails from the Uru Tribes as well as folks from the Senja Coast. This long trail finally ends at Port Shula on the northeastern coast. Some consider this road the official border between the Uru and Senja territories.

Largest Populations:
Orcs, Humans, Hill Dwarves, Dworgs, Minotaur, Centaur

Governments:
This region is home to hundreds of tribes led in a plethora of different ways. Traditionally most tribes have both a political leader and a religious leader who share equal power.


Major Settlements:
Uruzhara, Khongil Mine, Uurkhai, Ironcove, Port Shula

Common Languages:
Zuddi, Orcish, Common, Dwarvish, Tulenni, and many tribal combinations of multiple languages