The Sands of Shuna

The Sands of Shuna is one of, if not the, most inhospitable places on The Ribbon; a vast parched desert that spans so much of the continent of Shuna that the two are now deemed to be one and the same. Thousands and thousands of square kilometers of undulating sand dunes, blistering temperatures unbearable for most people and creatures by day and freezing sub-zero temperatures by night.
A seemingly barren wasteland devoid of water and nourishment; yet life still exists here amongst the patches of straggly thorny shrubs, occasional oases fed by a deep spring and often only containing fetid salty water, the fringing bleak dehydrated forest, the rocky outcroppings and their cave systems. Most of the inhabitants of the desert are small creatures, insects, snakes, lizards and the like, but there is much more to the desert than flies and scorpions.
Of the many many dangers faced by those foolhardy enough to trek into the depths of the desert, the brutal raging sand storms are the most deadly. Seasons are almost imperceptible here and nobody has even managed to start to predict when the winds from Crownward rise into the ferocious Breath of Edaris. An hour maybe two of this ferocious wind is as much forewarning as anyone gets of an impending sand storm, with little or no shelter to be found surviving a sand storm in the open is unlikely; even slight exposure will fly skin and cause blindness.

Geography

Ever-shifting sands make navigation here almost impossible and only those who have grown up in the confines of the desert truly understand its geography. There are no roads, no pathways and very few landmarks; only those who know the secrets of navigating by moon and star bearings can truly journey with relative safety. Astral navigation is a closely guarded secret known only amongst the tribe of orcish nomads that range around the desert.
Many maps exist of the 'fixed' locations in The Sands of Shuna but without a local guide, there is very little chance of finding the way to them.
There are no settlements of any significance past a few meager mining outposts on the desert's edge.

Fauna & Flora

The Sands of Shuna is home to many more creatures than would be expected but only the more significant are listed here;

• The tribe of nomadic orcs called the Skravulkh

• A handful of Thri-Keen colonies are scattered through the desert; their nests similar to those of the common termite other than their massive scale. Thri-Keen do not habitually mingle with other the other peoples of the land, but if left alone they will do likewise in return.

• There are two known Fire Giant strongholds in The Sands of Shuna both are complexes of unknown size built into and below extrusions of volcanic rock. Both Fire Giant clans are extremely territorial and will attack anyone sighted in the vicinity of their domain.

• Efreeti and other elementals of air and fire are known to roam the most desolate and remote areas.

Natural Resources

• Sand (for glass production)

• Minerals

• Rock Salt

• Oil

Alternative Name(s)

The Veil's Solitude, Dunes of Desolation, Ri's Lament (ancient)

Type

Desert