Bun'Tami Wilds
Across southern Nioba, where the arid plains give way to a tangled, emerald vastness, are the Bun’Tami Wilds—a realm of ancient forests, sprawling savannas, hidden rivers, and unknowable depths. Though once untamed and unconquered, the Wilds now exist under the dominion of Hephsut the Immortal, like all of Nioba. His forces patrol the outer edges, his necromancers seek to unravel its mysteries, and his Risen carve roads through the jungle and grasslands, pressing their influence deeper into the wild.
Yet, for all his might, Hephsut has not fully subdued the Wilds. Pockets of resistance persist—hidden enclaves of rebels, exiles, and those who refuse to bow to the undead tyrant. To Hephsut, they are an annoyance to be crushed, an imperfection in his otherwise absolute rule. For years, his enforcers have hunted them, their sanctuaries burned, their numbers dwindled. Yet still, they endure.
To some of Nioba’s mortal populace, these rebels are dangerous radicals, reckless fools who defy the inevitable. To others, they are a symbol of hope, proof that Hephsut’s grasp is not yet absolute. Many harbor quiet sympathies, whispering their support only in hushed voices, too afraid to act, too aware of what happens to those who challenge the undead sovereign openly.
The Bun’Tami Wilds are unlike anything else in Nioba—a place where the jungle climbs like an endless wall, vast savannas stretch beneath golden skies, and the rivers run deep and black, their currents slow and unknowable. The air here is humid and thick in the jungle, dry and sunbaked in the open plains, alive with the whispers of unseen things that stir among the vines and grasses.
The land is ancient, its roots twisting through the bones of a forgotten empire, its canopy and plains woven over ruins long lost to time. What once stood here, who once ruled these lands, is unknown. The Prophet-Kings never spoke of the Wilds, nor did the scribes of Kitesh record its history.
The only certainty is that something came before, and its remnants still breathe beneath the soil.
Geography & Climate
The Bun’Tami Wilds stretch across Nioba’s southernmost reaches, forming a natural barrier between Hephsut’s dominion and the lands beyond. Though smaller in scale compared to the vast Gold Expanse or the looming Bonewall Peaks, the Wilds defy exploration, their terrain a maze of thick jungle, rolling grasslands, hidden waterways, and treacherous highlands.The Green Abyss
At the heart of the Wilds, the jungle is impenetrable, the trees so tall and vast that they create their own sky, their branches intertwined in a cathedral of green. Here, the air is wet and heavy, the ground a living thing, shifting beneath the weight of roots, fallen leaves, and creatures that have never seen the outside world. The darkness is near absolute, with only thin spears of sunlight breaking through the canopy, illuminating glowing fungi, unseen rivers, and ancient ruins reclaimed by nature.The Golden Plains
Surrounding the jungle are vast savannas, where tall golden grasses sway in the wind, stretching endlessly toward the horizon. These plains are home to herds of great horned beasts, prides of shadow-striped lions, and hidden hunters that stalk the open fields by night. During the wet season, the grasslands bloom with wildflowers, and the rivers swell, creating a temporary paradise before the dry heat returns.The River Veins
The Bun’Tami rivers run deep and slow, winding through the jungle and savanna like veins in a sleeping beast. These waters are black and still, their depths unfathomable, filled with creatures that should not exist. Some say the rivers are bottomless, that they lead into forgotten tunnels, into the heart of the jungle’s oldest secrets. During the monsoon season, these rivers rise, flooding vast sections of the jungle and savanna, creating floating landscapes where trees stand half-submerged, their roots reaching into the dark.The Stone Teeth
In the far southeastern Wilds, the jungle and savanna give way to a series of towering cliffs and highlands, where mist-shrouded plateaus rise above the canopy. These cliffs, known as the Stone Teeth, are ancient rock formations, their surfaces carved with patterns and sigils so old that no living scholar can decipher them. Some believe this was once a temple city, a place older than Nioba itself, swallowed by time and the jungle alike.
The Resistance in the Wilds
Though Hephsut claims dominion over Nioba, the Bun’Tami Wilds remain his most stubborn challenge. While his undead forces control much of the jungle’s borders, the heart of the Wilds remains a place of guerrilla warfare, hidden insurgents, and defiant holdouts. These rebels are not a unified force. They are scattered, secretive, and desperate, but they refuse to surrender. Some are the descendants of sun worshippers who narrowly escaped capture by Risen forces, others are escaped slaves, deserters, or survivors of Nioba’s fallen noble houses. Their numbers are few, and their victories never permanent, but their presence is a thorn in Hephsut’s side. For now, they remain an irritation, a minor defiance, but Hephsut is patient. He does not forget. And he will not tolerate rebellion forever.
Type
Forest, Jungle (Tropical)
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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