Broken Plains

The Broken Plains is subarctic region north of The Pale Mountains, named after the plentiful cracks found in its crust. What was once a region with arable farmland and varied societies of farmers and hunter-gatherers is now a cold broken land with limited vegetation where only a few races have been able to survive.

It is said that a powerful magician whose name has been lost to time once enacted a grand ritual to enslave the entire continent, but he failed. During this even, later simply called the Catastrophe, magical energy roiled like a spectral wave across the land, tearing it apart and spreading through the cracks. Those close to the impact had their flesh stripped from their bones, but worse was that all across the region all those buried in decades past rose from the cracks and stalked the land. The then-existing Valleian Empire crumbled overnight and only those who were strong enough to defend themselves from this initial wave of undead were able to survive. Soon after the Gnolls started actively roaming the land to hunt down the undead as commanded by Cinarus in an eternal cycle of battle and reanimation.

Currently The Broken Plains are split into two major powers and several smaller factions. The most powerful currently, is the Magvar Empire of the Hobgoblins in the western part of The Broken Plains. They have enslaved and absorbed many of the nearby valleian tribes as a labor force for their booming industry.
The major balancing counterforce in the region are the Gnoll tribes known as the Cinaran Hounds who mostly reside in the east near Mount Cinarus. While they are split in many different tribes and not all of them are aligned, their number and ferocity means they are a threatening force nonetheless. If the Gnolls were ever truly unified under a single banner they would pose a significant threat to the empire. Admittedly they are rather busy dealing with the constantly replenishing undead, and especially the Valleian Fiefdoms, who are particularly tenacious.
Meanwhile there is trouble stirring in the north, where none dare go for the Wulfen roam about. These desolate lands are also the perfect home for the Duskwald Clanholds who practice their vile magics here, longing for the day they are finally rid of the weaknesses that come with their superior forms.

Fauna & Flora

There is relatively little natural vegetation left in the plains, the majority of crops were carefully cultivated and replanted by the tribes and the empire. There are however plenty of animals, tough animals, who have learned to survive the ever-present undead threat. No men should venture alone in these lands, for he will soon no longer be alone, or alive for that matter.

Natural Resources

Coal, minerals and wildlife.

Type

Plain

Included Organizations

• Duskwald Clanholds
• Magvar Empire
• Valleian Fiefdoms
• Valleian Remnants

Related Ethnicities

• Valleians

Inhabiting Species

• Bog Horror
• Magma Bear
• Mègatjá
• Staukata
• Winter Sprite
• Wulfen