The Wallowing Barrens

History

  The Wallowing Barrens, Far to the north and centrally located on the continent of Huldath has existed in its current desolated state for at least one living memory, it is difficult to determine, however, how long it has existed in such a state. What most are unaware of is that prior to the barrens, as they are often referred to colloquially, once were a lush landscape. Before the Great splitting of the land, with the rise of the Giant's Belt mountain range bifurcating the continent, it was said that Dhugarain cast down his hammer when the mountains were raised, splitting him from his love Mehelen to the south.  With his hammer striking the ground it turned the ground to powder creating the adamantine-infused "Mirror Slopes". This subsequent strike caused the once fruitful garden of Mehelen or recede, creating the barrens. The only vestige of this garden now lives on in Summers Refuge, a welcoming druidical conclave south of the mirrored slopes. 

Flora, Fauna, Beasts, and Hazards

Flora

Practically nothing save for the hardiest of moss or lichen call the wallowing barrens home. A dry and frigid desert with little soil top cover and dense ragged rock make plant life here almost impossible. People who risk traveling on the barrens will find little to sustain them growing naturally. 

Fauna

Surface Nesting birds occasionally will make homes at the edges of the barrens during the summer months as the open ground offers good all-around sight. Deeper within the barrens however only the smallest of creatures can be found. The occasional insect feeding on moss or lichens that grow there, some have even claimed to see the elusive "Barren Jumper" a mouse that doesn't so much walk as it does jumps. The Barren Jumper, smaller than a typical mouse is said to be able to jump up to 100 ft if they are startled. Many Sage's hours of study have been spent trying to confirm the existence of the elusive beasts. 

Beasts

Many beasts will travel the plains, abyssal creatures who erupt from below, wandering abominations and aberrations, and other far from mundane creatures. Wyverns will often over-fly the barrens but rarely stop here. 

Geology

The Barrens are almost completely flat, gray granite-like rock as far as the eye can see. The rock however is punctuated with fissures, cracks and other deformities that allow the creatures from the world below to enter the surface dweller's realm. Anyone falling into these fissures faces an uncertain death that will at worst be long and filled with agony and at best be quick from the deep falls reported to happen. When one drops something into the fissures it is said you never hear the dropped item reach the bottom. In truth the bottom is non-uniform and falls can range from tens to hundreds of feet.

Type

Wasteland