The Great Sabkha

When desert caravans travel across the north of al-Tahat, the never-ending seas of sand seem to suddenly give way to an unexpected river of dried mud and salt. This is the Great Sabkha, a mudflat running from the sea to the north, towards the center of the desert, the remnants of a great river.

Geography

Running nearly half the distance into al-Tahat from the sea, the Great Sabkha, the remnants of an ancient body of water, now resembles a leopard skin and offers a surprising break from the depressing repetitions of the desert. However, looks can be deceiving, and while this break from the normal may seem to warrant investigation, travelers must beware. This husk of a long-dead river is treacherous to walk upon, with the salty crust forming a surface as fragile as ice, and quicksand lurking below. The danger crossing this area poses to caravans necessitates that the northern half of the sabkha be circumvented, while more southerly portions are stable enough to support careful travelers.

Legend

However, legends say this was not always the case. Rather than full of danger, the region used to be plentiful, and blessed with waters around which sprung a great city. This city allegedly earned the ire of Tahat, ruler god over the deserts, for growing so powerful as to rival his own capital's region, The Mawan. Great sands came from the east, rolling over the river until it was entirely buried, and leaving the city in ruins. While the accuracy of this story may be questioned, there are indeed extensive ruins to the south of the Great Sabkha, indicating the region was once prosperous and could support settlement. However, the local desert tribes avoid them out of both respect for their now-departed god, and fear of the spectres said to still roam the area.