Al-Kubra (æl kuːbræ)
The Al-Kubra is a mystical desert located on the island of Saba. It is ringed with high mountains, and there only a few passes that permit access to this strange location. The Malikate of Saba guards these entrances carefully, and attempts to control all access to the Al-Kubra. The best known entrance is through the eldritch city of Al-Tana.
It is one of the Wild Places, where the rules of physical reality are warped by the force of legend. Those who have traveled into the Al-Kubra and returned report that it is much larger than its borders suggest, and is home to a plethora of mysterious and mystical creatures, such as the manticore and the Makhfiir. It is also the dwelling place of the Jinn, who live within Madinat al-Brunz, the City of Brass.
Madinat al-Brunz is believed to be a magnificent metropolis with walls of marble and buildings constructed entirely of brass. Its grand architecture and opulent interior are a sight to behold, but few mortals will ever see it. Entering Madinat al-Brunz without an invitation is punishable by death, and while some adventurers have entered the city, few have ever left it again.
Another place of note in Al-Kubra is Madinat al-Ghul, also known as the Great Necropolis. It is a sprawling graveyard of enormous proportions, rumored to be home to powerful undead beings, the Ghuls. It was once the capital of a great empire who sought to master death, and who fell prey to their own obsessions. Madinat al-Ghul is said to hold the remains of great sorcerers, kings, and warriors from ages past, buried with their most prized possessions. It is also rumored that there are hidden passageways and traps within the Necropolis, designed to protect the treasures of the dead from would-be tomb raiders. It is also filled with Ghuls.
Ghuls are a common sight in Al-Kubra. These grotesque and foul-smelling creatures roam the desert in search of their next meal. They are notorious for their love of human flesh, and travelers who venture into Al-Kubra are advised to keep a keen eye out for their presence. Ghuls are fast, vicious, and highly resilient, making them a challenging foe to defeat.
In addition the Ghuls and Jinn, the Al-Kubra contains many other hazards. Mirages are a frequent occurrence, and following them can leave travelers hopelessly lost. Some people have encountered sandstorms that seem to move with a will of their own, changing direction in impossible ways and engulfing everything in their path. Strange rock formations dot the landscape, many of them taking on bizarre and unnatural shapes, and will relocate themselves when unobserved. Most disturbingly, the stars themselves are different in the sky over the Al-Kubra, and form bizarre and malevolent constellations.
Those who sleep in the Al-Kubra are often plagued with strange and unsettling dreams. The dreams are often populated by strange and otherworldly beings, some of which are benevolent, while others are decidedly malevolent. Many who sleep in the Al-Kubra report feeling as though they have been changed by their dreams, and that they have been granted new ways to see the world. These insights can lead the dreamers to pursue strange paths and alien gods, and many believe that they have been driven mad by their experiences.
Geography
Al-Kubra is a vast desert located in southeastern Saba. The desert is surrounded by the towering mountain range called the Jibal Al-Junun, which makes it difficult to access the interior. Inside, there is a seemingly endless expanse of sandy desert, much larger than the borders of the area should be able to contain. There are few oases to be found in the Al-Kubra, and those who travel there often find it difficult to locate water.
Geographic Details
Location: Southeastern RegionLatitude: 5.72 degrees North
Longitude: 25.76 degrees East
Area: 3,611.12 sq mi
Note: The coordinates and area are calculated from outside the Al-Kubra. Travelers inside the Al-Kubra report that it is much larger on the inside, and that coordinates do not really translate at all.
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