Curmon Desert

The Curmon Desert sprawls across the western coast of Mar Mabon, a vast and forbidding expanse of golden sands and parched earth. It stretches from the Straits of Charthol in the west, where jagged cliffs drop into treacherous waters, to the foothills of the Burning Peaks in the east, with the more hospitable Jarocan Plain lying to the northeast. The desert is an unforgiving place, known for its endless dunes, searing heat, and scarce water sources. Only the hardiest of creatures and nomadic tribes have managed to survive in this harsh landscape.
The heart of the Curmon Desert is a sea of towering dunes, constantly shifting under the relentless force of the desert winds. Here, the sun beats down mercilessly during the day, and the temperatures drop dramatically at night. It is a place of extremes, where the land seems to come alive with heat, and the horizon shimmers with mirages that tempt unwary travellers. Few settlements exist within the desert itself, and those who venture into its depths often speak of it as a place of danger and mystery.
Among the scattered flora of the desert, several species have adapted to survive the punishing conditions. Thornfane cacti dominate the landscape, their tall, spiny forms a testament to the resilience required to thrive here. The spines of the Thornfane are coated with a potent toxin, deterring even the hardiest of animals from using them as a source of moisture. Curmon Biters, squat, wide succulents with toxic spines of their own, can also be found, and are particularly dangerous to those unfamiliar with their presence. Spireleaf succulents, with their long pointed leaves, offer another source of water, though they are few and far between, clinging to life around rocky outcrops where the wind is slightly less severe.
The Curmon Desert is home to few human inhabitants, but the Nossaman and Gollim tribes, both Human, are known to roam its northern reaches. These nomadic tribes live off the sparse resources of the desert, often traveling great distances in search of water. They know the desert better than any outsider, and their lives are shaped by the rhythms of this desolate place. Their survival depends on their knowledge of the land, passed down through generations, as they guide their herds of livestock across the shifting sands, eking out a living where few others could.
One of the most feared beings in the Curmon Desert is the Lady of Flames, a fiery entity who roams the burning sands. Appearing as a woman wreathed in fire, the Lady of Flames leaves trails of molten glass in her wake, her touch scorching the very ground she walks upon. She is both a destructive force and a figure of tragic beauty, her presence heralded by a shimmering heat that distorts the air around her. The Nossaman and the Gollim see her as a goddess of fire and renewal, offering prayers to placate her wrath. Others believe she guards something precious hidden deep within the desert’s heart. Those who cross her path rarely escape unscathed, for her temper is as volatile as the flames that envelop her, and she does not tolerate trespassers lightly.
Despite the scarcity of life in the Curmon Desert, the land is not without its dangers. Predators, both natural and supernatural, roam the dunes, hunting for the unwary. The Blackshell, a colossal beetle with impenetrable black chitin, roams the desert in search of prey. Other dangers lurk beneath the sands. Giant Scorpions are a constant menace, their venomous stingers and powerful pincers capable of killing even the most cautious travellers. In some of the more remote parts, Cockatrices prowl the rocky outcrops, using their sharp talons and fierce beaks to hunt small creatures that venture into their territory. The desert is also home to the Dutha, massive subterranean beasts that tunnel beneath the surface, creating vast networks of burrows.
At the western edge of the desert, the Straits of Charthol serve as both a natural boundary and a symbol of the dangers that surround Mar Mabon. Tall pinnacles of rock rise from the waters, and the cliffs that line the coast are high and sheer. The waters themselves are fraught with peril, known for their strong currents and the presence of dangerous sea creatures, including the infamous Thrasse, which lurk beneath the waves. This remote and hostile region, where land and sea meet in a deadly dance, is rarely visited by those without a clear purpose.
Though barren and inhospitable, the Curmon Desert holds a strange allure for those willing to face its dangers. The land is ancient, and its windswept dunes hide secrets long forgotten by the people of Mar Mabon. The ruins of ancient Thalissian outposts, now little more than crumbled stone swallowed by the sands, lie scattered across the desert, a reminder that even the mightiest empires were no match for the power of the desert. Adventurers and treasure hunters occasionally venture into these ruins, seeking relics of the past, but few return, and the desert keeps its secrets well.

Type

Desert

Location under

Mar Mabon