Wastelands of the Flanaess

BARREN WASTES

Often simply called the Wastes, this bleak expanse stretches along the southern shores of the Icy Sea, extending over a hundred miles inland. Few creatures endure its rocky, wind-swept terrain, where only moss, lichen, and sparse grasses cling to life. The cold winds here are ceaseless, howling through the land, making it one of the most inhospitable places in the Flanaess. Legends speak of a magical catastrophe that once ravaged the region, though its true origins remain unknown.

BRIGHT DESERT

The Bright Desert is an extremely hostile land, where temperatures soar by day and plunge to near freezing by night. Hostile Suel tribesmen make travel treacherous, yet rumors of rich deposits of copper, gold, silver, and gems lure many foolhardy prospectors. Few return. The western desert is home to Ul-Bakak, a neutral trading village—the only stable point of contact between the desert’s natives and the rest of the Flanaess. Even reaching it is perilous, as the nearby Tareg people are known for their fierce suspicion of outsiders. Military expeditions into the desert have met disastrous ends, discouraging further attempts.

DRY STEPPES

Once a fertile expanse, the Dry Steppes were transformed into a sunbaked wasteland by the Invoked Devastation. Little rain falls here, but the central region remains more hospitable, attracting Baklunish nomads who roam the steppes in migratory cycles. These nomads are divided into tribes ruled by khans, keeping alive ancient traditions. The enigmatic stone circle of Tovag Baragu stands near Lake Udrukankar, a site known for mystical properties tied to scrying and weather magic, yet its full purpose remains unknown. Many scholars and adventurers have attempted to unlock its secrets, but few succeed.

LAND OF BLACK ICE

At the very northern edge of the Flanaess lies the Land of Black Ice, a chilling mystery of the world. Unlike normal polar ice, this expanse is deep blue-black, its origin unknown. Weird arctic monsters stalk the frozen landscape, and the few nearby human settlements fear to tread there. Legends tell of another land beyond, where warmth and sunlight defy the cold, and where strange creatures and lush jungles exist beyond the frozen void.

RIFTCANYON

A massive, mile-deep chasm scars the land, its walls and depths riddled with tunnels and caves teeming with monsters. Efforts to purge the canyon of its denizens have met with limited success; the tunnels seemingly replenish their monstrous inhabitants as quickly as they are cleared. The western end remains utterly untamed, shunned by both bandits and Knights of Holy Shielding alike. The Plar of the Rift, a bandit lord, commands a host of humanoid warriors and monsters, securing his stronghold against all challengers. Just south of Riftcanyon stands the infamous White Plume Mountain, a place of deadly renown, avoided even by the most hardened adventurers.

SEA OF DUST

Once the heart of the Suel Imperium, the Sea of Dust is a vast, inhospitable wasteland, reduced to fine powder and gray ash by the cataclysmic Rain of Colorless Fire. The landscape appears deceptively calm, resembling an ocean of dust with rolling waves, but fierce desert winds often transform it into a deadly storm capable of stripping flesh from bone. The Hellfurnaces continue to feed this lifeless expanse with volcanic ash, ensuring that no civilization can take root. Despite the perils, explorers and treasure hunters occasionally brave its depths in search of ancient Suel ruins, including the legendary Forgotten City. Many expeditions, such as one from the Sea Princes, have vanished without a trace, while others, like a small group from the Yeomanry, returned with arcane relics—though at a great cost in lives.