The Southern Desert
Last updated
Last updated
The Southern Desert is an unquestionably unforgiving territory, even though many whiskers now call it their home. Due to the arid climate of the area, many of the whiskers have developed callused, thicker skin and must often wear the scales of Sandsharks fastened to robes to protect them from the heat. Sandshark scales have the astonishing ability to hold moisture on their undersides for long periods of time, creating a cooler climate for the wearer of any scale-based articles of clothing. Whiskers need only to douse their Sandshark cloaks with water once a day to create a comfortable inner environment temperature, making these cloaks nearly essential for whiskers living in the Southern Desert.
Inhospitable as it may seem, the desert is a prime spot for archeologists to discover hidden treasures and secrets buried beneath the endless sand. Whiskers of the region have built walls around their cities with the ever-growing threat of Swaridon Troll attacks. This, however, has not stopped tourists from flocking to locations like the Oasis City, Amalhasu and the seaside town, Mahkotta. Both of these areas are thriving, exotic tourism locations for wealthy whiskers traveling across the southern seas.
Sheoland is a barren wasteland of dunes and skeletal remains. Hidden amongst the troll and whisker skeletons, the astute observer may even be able to excavate dragon bones. While no one knows the true history of Sheoland, or why it's littered with so much death, it is widely suspected that the trolls and whiskers were working together at some point to cull a herd of Sunbreathing Dragons that made their home in the heart of the desert.
Now an endangered species, the Sunbreathing Dragons' more manageable numbers provide benefits to the land and whiskers live in relative peace with them. The Sunbreathers are great at finding treasure under the sands and a few whiskers have even formed pacts with them to excavate difficult areas. Interestingly, many locations where treasures were found also had water wells nearby. Though no water is to be found under Sheoland, word has it that the last herd of Sunbreathing Dragons nest in the area.
The city of Amalhasu is the thriving flower of the Southern Desert, a place of serene beauty and one of the largest merchant cities on the continent. The "Oasis City," built around the flower oasis of the south, holds what seems like an infinite source of water. The city is full of taverns, saloons, and what an upstart resort for travelers with means. It's been a hot spot for whiskers looking for a get-away or for the underground trade of goods smuggled in through its ports and that of the neighboring city of Mahkotta. The convening of so much culture and wealth has inevitably led to a rise in thievery and other criminal behavior. Regardless, many whiskers come from all across The Great Pond to enjoy time away from the everyday hustle.
A small village located just about the Lighthouse, this western settlement is far from the threat of trolls and dragons. The desert isn't as violent in the west. Many desert whiskers who've had generations of their family live in the desert reside here. It is where the authentic rough-scale whiskers live. They've adapted to the lack of water, so they have a smaller oasis than Amalhasu. They don't exploit it as the others do.
The largest Lighthouse in the Great Pond serves the desert as a beacon of hope and guidance. The lighthouse serves a dual-purpose: to steer ships to Amalhasu and Mahkotta and to give direction to any poor whiskers caught out during the treacherous sandstorms of the desert. It was erected in the last century, meant to serve as a beacon of peace to usher in the new era.
The red-colored sands are a sight to be seen. While untrue, there’s an old myth that’s made its way around The Great Pond… The story goes that, long ago, Sunbreathing Dragons covered the sands with flames so hot it turned the sand to glass and whiskers making their way across the desert would cut their fins, staining it red with their blood. Now it’s commonly known that the real reason the sand has its crimson coloring is because it contains a large amount of iron in its composition. There also exists a peculiar cave system underneath the Crimson Sands, that is apparently different every time you enter it.
The Deserter's Caves is a location that's left for the damned. Windrose City uses the Deserter's Caves as a de facto prison and place of exile for traitorous whiskers who committed atrocities. A place for the worst of the worst. The cave system is a maze of ever-changing hallways accompanied by the beast, Emberlon, an enormous flightless bird that roams the caves, feeding off any prisoners unfortunate enough to become lost in the maze.