The Blasted Weald

Geography

The Blasted Weald comprises the upper highland regions of the Eltintha River, north-east of Tarminas. Once lush forest, the region has become more of a heat scorched badlands. The valleys of the weild are generally wide and flat, with occasional hills, and are surrounded by mountains of the Wester Spine.
Geological activity in the region is the highest know on the continent of Thea, with volcanic fissures and vents dotting the charred landscape.

Ecosystem

Not much is known of the current ecosystem of the weald due to the general lack of information coming out of the area. The edges are similar to the surrounding terrain with the normal selection of woodland flora and fauna. The few explorers to reach deeper in and return have noted that plant life becomes increasingly dry as you approach the center, and the charred remains of the forest that once blanketed the region become more apparent. Standard fauna is nearly completely absent, however there is a larger than average population of animals and monsters capable of withstanding higher temperatures.

Ecosystem Cycles

The changing of the seasons has very little effect on the weald as the forces maintaining it keep its weather almost completely separate from the surrounding systems. Year round, summer like temperatures are to be expected, and even higher temperatures reported in the interior.
Outside observers have noticed that there is some sort of weather cycle that occurs over the span of about five year. For the majority of this cycle, the ecosystem stays mostly constant, except for a period of about two months where the weald experiences massive, non-uniform temperature spikes. This tend to force some of the denizens of the weald into the surrounding lands, and temperature extremes have been known to spontaneously start forest fires near the edges. A few researchers has theorized that this time frame coincides with periods where Grauligorn is awake and hunting.

Localized Phenomena

The entire area of the Blasted Weald is under the sway of some magical effect generated at its center, thought to be directly caused by Grauligorn. The general symptoms are higher than normal temperatures and a general lack of any water moisture, with the severity increasing as you approach the center of the weald.

History

In the first age, the area that would become the Blasted Weald was part of the then Principality of Tarminas, a part of the greater Empire of Thrain. Though the specifics are likely lost to time, some time near the end of the first era, directly preceding the start of the Dragon Wars, a calamity of some form befell the region, scouring it almost completely clean of life. It was either during this time, or just after that the elder drake Grauligorn claimed the land as his nest, a claim that was never successfully countered by Tarminas, despite several failed attempts.

Tourism

Tourism to the region is highly discouraged by the governments of both Tarminas and Thrain. There are, however, rumors that a merchant caravan sometimes exits the weald to trade with nearby settlements in Tarminas before returning. The identities of the merchants are unknown.

Alternative Name(s)

The First Crater

Type

Plateau

Location under

Tarminas