Name: Burning Sands Desert
Location: North Central Mainlands
Climate: Hot and arid, nights cold
Physical Features: Totally surrounded by mountains, the Burning Sands is a hostile environment with scorching temperatures by day, which plummet with the setting sun. Great storms in the spring and summer produce little if any precipitation but create dangerous sand storms with vicious winds. Unprotected beings caught in these storms not only receive scouring by the abrasive winds but also run the risk of suffocating on the sand-filled air. Bleached bones of both beast and humanoid poke through the shifting sands tell the tale of these unfortunately beings.
The western half is considered the most arid part of the Burning Sands. Moisture is almost totally absent and few oases exist. Sandy wastes and large dunes of sand 400 ft or more in height characterize the land.
The eastern and northern regions of the desert give way to rock-strewn plains and canyons. Underground rivers that flow from the Dragon Spine Mountains occasionally will find their way to the surface, in these naturally irrigated oasis, plants grow freely. This is a more common occurrence in the southern sister desert, the Mica Dunes.
Flora and Fauna: Sparse vegetation, scrub trees and cacti are found in the eastern portion of the Burning Sands, no vegetation is found in the sand dune regions of the west outside of the very rare oasis. Many species of reptiles and arachnids dwell in the Burning Sands, including the giant scorpion. An important staple, the giant scorpion is hunted by various tribes both for the meat and poison gland.
Known Dangers: Besides the hostile climate, territorial tribes and bandits, the western dunes contain nightmare known as Thunderherders. Traveling under the sands at a depth of several feet, these 10 foot long worms live in herds of 10-100 and feed on whatever creatures they can find, prefering to swallow man-sized and smaller creatures whole by ejecting out of the sand under their prey.
Ethnicity/Race: Sparsely populated by various nomadic races, mainly human although flinds have been seen in the south and east, firenewts are rumored to live in the very heart of the sand dunes of the west.
Language: Various tribal dialects, smattering of common
Resources: Minerals including gold and large deposits of iron ore have lured many adventures to the eastern desert. Rare native plants, including the leaves of the dwarf rehsik shrub are gathered and used for trade among the nomadic tribes.
Special Facts: Largest desert on the Mainlands.
Location: North Central Mainlands
Climate: Hot and arid, nights cold
Physical Features: Totally surrounded by mountains, the Burning Sands is a hostile environment with scorching temperatures by day, which plummet with the setting sun. Great storms in the spring and summer produce little if any precipitation but create dangerous sand storms with vicious winds. Unprotected beings caught in these storms not only receive scouring by the abrasive winds but also run the risk of suffocating on the sand-filled air. Bleached bones of both beast and humanoid poke through the shifting sands tell the tale of these unfortunately beings.
The western half is considered the most arid part of the Burning Sands. Moisture is almost totally absent and few oases exist. Sandy wastes and large dunes of sand 400 ft or more in height characterize the land.
The eastern and northern regions of the desert give way to rock-strewn plains and canyons. Underground rivers that flow from the Dragon Spine Mountains occasionally will find their way to the surface, in these naturally irrigated oasis, plants grow freely. This is a more common occurrence in the southern sister desert, the Mica Dunes.
Flora and Fauna: Sparse vegetation, scrub trees and cacti are found in the eastern portion of the Burning Sands, no vegetation is found in the sand dune regions of the west outside of the very rare oasis. Many species of reptiles and arachnids dwell in the Burning Sands, including the giant scorpion. An important staple, the giant scorpion is hunted by various tribes both for the meat and poison gland.
Known Dangers: Besides the hostile climate, territorial tribes and bandits, the western dunes contain nightmare known as Thunderherders. Traveling under the sands at a depth of several feet, these 10 foot long worms live in herds of 10-100 and feed on whatever creatures they can find, prefering to swallow man-sized and smaller creatures whole by ejecting out of the sand under their prey.
Ethnicity/Race: Sparsely populated by various nomadic races, mainly human although flinds have been seen in the south and east, firenewts are rumored to live in the very heart of the sand dunes of the west.
Language: Various tribal dialects, smattering of common
Resources: Minerals including gold and large deposits of iron ore have lured many adventures to the eastern desert. Rare native plants, including the leaves of the dwarf rehsik shrub are gathered and used for trade among the nomadic tribes.
Special Facts: Largest desert on the Mainlands.
