Colirin Dunes

Capital: The City of Silk
Population: Goliath (Desert variant), Humans, Genasi, Desert Dwarves
Description: The southern desert of the Colirin Dunes is where Scaez was born as a mortal. The nomadic tribes were united under His guidance and rose to conquer the heat of the eternal sun. Since His ascension, they have become a trading Mecca for the area. The sun never sets completely on the Dunes, keeping the area uncomfortably hot all year round. The natives to this land have grown hardy and accustomed to the heat. There is a small population of dwarves that are native to the Dunes who have become almost their own race entirely, not linking any of their heritage to those born in the frigid Juspia Plains.
Tales of Scaez’s deeds are still told to the children here, and the people strive to live up to His name. The most widely known is the legend of His ascension. The nomads had traveled for weeks without water, each oasis they arrived at had been dried up. Scaez never seemed to falter as he urged them on over each dune until they finally found a seemingly endless oasis surrounded by lush trees. The nomads grew excited and rushed to have a drink, but as they did, it became clear to Scaez that this oasis wasn’t natural. As His people rushed to drink, he bounded forward to the water to test it. As He dipped his hand in the water, the surface of the water erupted as a giant, 30ft tall toad lept to defend the water it had collected. The toad grabbed the unarmed Scaez with its tongue and attempted to swallow him. Scaez’s nomads stood in awe as He instead grabbed the tongue and pulled the toad clear out of the water before running off with it. Free from the danger, the nomads began to fill their waterskins before a shadow flew over them. The toad and Scaez were locked in a battle, splashing down into the water. They looked on in awe as the water began to boil and the toad was thrown from the oasis, ripped in half. A moment later Scaez emerged as well. Declaring them safe and this as their new home, which became known as the City of Silk. Cities and towns move as needed, the only permanent city is the City of Silk where the Vizier lives and oversees the massive bazaar. The city itself is on the shore of a 2 mile wide oasis and grows larger or smaller depending on how many nomads are currently staying there.
The wildlife here is much more deadly than their cousins elsewhere. Large insects are a majority of the wildlife and knowledge of how to avoid them is a must if you want to travel through the sands. Large hives are hidden in the desert and the scattered mesas are common shelters for nomads and creatures alike.

Geography

A vast desert dotted by rocky outcroppings and scarce oasis. The Colirin Dunes are true to their name, mountainous dunes create shifting mounatin ranges and the sun bleaches everything that cannot find shelter.
Within the dunes are rocky outcroppings that are covered and uncovered as the dunes shift. While being a source of shelter for travelers, they are also shelter for the incredibly dangerous creatures that call the Dunes home. Taking shelter in the exposed rock may be more dangerous than braving the sun bleached sands.
Oasis are few and far between, the Nomads know how to find them, but shifting dunes and mirages keep them concealed from untrained eyes. They are commonly lorded over by a family who keeps the peace around the oasis. Desperate travelers have been known to cause trouble.

Ecosystem

The arid landscape breeds a fragile, but fierce, ecosystem. Massive insects crawl beneath the sands. Scarathids venture from their hives to expand their subterranian empire. Large wasps, called Chimaerids, raid and evolve daily to become the apex predators of the Dunes.
Oasis are closely guarded by Nomads in order to keep the threats at bay, but one small change could cascade the entire system and wipe out even the most well prepared Nomad families. This is why they are nomads, always moving. Any city that was brick and mortar upset the local wildlife and in turn was eradicated. Some of these ruins are now nests for the large insects that call the Dunes home.

Localized Phenomena

Mirages are frequent in the Dunes. The cause of them can be widely varied, however. Local mages may use them to protect their skiffs or an oasis, creatures may use them as traps, magical energies can become visible and display things from onlookers' memories, or they may be just a trick of a traveler's mind.
Its because they are caused by such a wide array of things that Nomads steer clear of any mirages they do not know. Vagrants and travellers may risk it, even if they do know what could be lurking inside the illusion. Desperate travellers are part of what keeps the Dunes' ecosystem in balance.

Climate

The sun almost never sets in the Colirin Dunes. Scorching heat is every present and the winds only serve to irritate exposed skin with sand. Without proper protection and shelter, the heat will kill any creature before many days pass.

Fauna & Flora

Plants are almost nonexistant in most of the Colirin Dunes. Oasis do have scarce amounts and Nomads have learned to farm around them as well as on specialized skiffs.
The creatures of the Dunes are mostly large insects. Camels are used for short distance transportation and husbandry, but even they aren't hardy enough to survive long in the desert.

Natural Resources

The City of Silk serves as a trading Mecca for the south eastern part of the realm. A massive tent city surrounding the largest oasis in the Colirin Dunes, all sorts of goods and services are exchanged here.
The Nomads scavenge the desert and retrieve whatever they find. The Dunes provide a never ending supply due to how much they shift.
Beneath the sands, the Scarathids and Chimaerids have medicinal properties in their toxin and blood. Their bodies can be fashioned to make armor and weapons that are more suited for the heat than metal. 
Precious minerals can be mined from exposed caves as well, although that is arguably more dangerous than hunting scarathids and chimaerids.

Alternative Name(s)

The Dunes

Included Locations

• The City of Silk

Included Organizations

• The Nomads

Ruling/Owning Rank

Silk King

Owning Organization

The Nomads

Inhabiting Species

• Breydwid
• Halfling
• Human