Midland Steppe
When most outsiders think of Arrboth, the regions that comprise the Midland Steppe are what they think of. A dry, unforgiving land of dust storms, snakes, and horseback raiders, the steppes are the birthplace of the Golden Empire, even if The Varulosph is its heart. However, even those native to the steppe avoid many of its deserts, leaving many areas with secrets few eyes have seen.
Geography
The midland region starts with a stretch of desert to the north of The Varulosph, dividing it from The Endless North and from the soot-covered grasslands in the north of The Ashlands to the west. From there, the region spreads to the east and southeast, becoming shrublands and salt flats closer to the south. The steppes and dry grasslands continue towards the east, though the east is also blocked off by the Desert of Agonies, a region of what seem to be natural glass stepping stones and sharp protrusions of the same that blend into the white sands. To the northeast, the area is bordered by the Beios Mountains, where treacherous paths of oases and steppe grassland lead to the Godscar Canyon that cuts through them.
Within the deserts just north of some of the narrower passages east begin the lands of Sen'ssinai, a series of towns and grasslands built around magically-induced springs and rivers. North of these, in the northernmost desert of the region, is Deceiver's Promise, a great lake of so much salt that none, mortal or beast, can drink of its waters. Standing between the Sen'ssinai area and the mountains is Spines' Reach, a desert full of unnatural thunderstorms resulting in fulgurite monuments some say are as common as trees in a forest. Here lies a pit of colossal skeletons, those of dragons that some say will travel across the world to make their final rest there.
Fauna & Flora
Apart from cacti and shrubs, there is relatively little plant life in the region, and the wildlife is similarly scarce. As stated in the main article, cats, hyenas, snakes, and lizards roam the wastes. Sandworms burrow through the deserts, but avoid anywhere with roots, from forests to grasslands. Vultures and other birds of prey also hunt in the region, and some swamp species from The Rusgan have started to migrate upriver to Sen'ssinai, providing much-desired life to the area.
Natural Resources
Where it lacks wildlife, the Midland Steppe makes up for it in mineral resources. Apart from ample sand to make glass and salt for drying and food preservation, rocky areas commonly have gold, and unlike The Varulosph much of it remains untapped due to the sheer breadth and inhospitable nature of the region. Some entire settlements are formed and funded around their mining pits. Other minerals in the region include silver, lead, and some tin deposits, along with a variety of gemstones prized for their beauty within the empire.
Where the steppes don't lack wildlife, much of it has been traditionally hunted by the various nomadic tribes of the region, who still know how to use it to live off the land. Birds, longhorn sheep, foxes, antelope, and even chipmunks or weasels are hunted for meat during travel and furs to wear and build tents with. Their bones and sinews have also found use in traditional weapons such as bows.
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