Red Desert

"If you can weather the sandstorms each day, you'll find a paradise waiting at the end."

— Lady Irana, leader of Naskaya

One of the largest regions on Dankar, the Red Desert is a vast expanse covering the east of the New World. Known for its multiple disasters and barren wastes, the Desert tests many travellers and residents each day.
Despite its size, there aren't many habitable areas in the Desert. Numerous ruins tell tales of larger and richer civilisations that ultimately died out during the Ice Age. Although it is poor in terms of resources, it is rich in history, culture and treasures, calling many aspiring adventurers to its sands each day.

Geography

Eshon's Desert

by Christophe Rascle

Large swathes of the Desert are simply sand and are quite barren at the best of times. This vast, sanded area is known to locals as Eshon's Desert, a reference to the powerful empire that once existed in the region. Eshon's Desert is known for its shifting sands, which have great importance in the Red Desert. The sands often reveal what the climate will be like in a few hours or a day in advance, allowing observant travellers to plan ahead. Usually, they tell the observer how strong an incoming sandstorm will be.

However, Eshon's sands are also known to house hidden disasters. Being close to the centre of the Desert, Eshon's Desert gets its fair share of natural disasters. Depending on where a person stands, they can experience anything from quicksand pits to small earthquakes. Often, there isn't a way of telling whether there'll be an earthquake, but there are some small signs that show if an area has quicksand. The closer a person gets to the centre, the more natural disasters they will experience.

The Outskirts

There are also mountainous and rocky areas in the south and west of the Desert. These areas are the most populated and are richer in resources, flora and fauna. Many resources can be found in the nearby canyons and caverns, while animals travel near water sources. Many cities and villages are built around oases found nearby, and are often named after these oases. Most countries are on the outskirts of the Desert, with many being close to the neighbouring region, the Jade Rainforest.

The Centre

The most dangerous area in the Red Desert is the centre, which is known for its powerful sandstorms. These storms are caused by the Aero Dragon, who has made the centre her home. As she has the power of air, and seems to be permanently angry, she creates frequent gusts of wind that send powerful storms across the Desert. Even her shrieks and cries can cause earthquakes many miles away.
Very few humanoids live in the centre, but two species are adapted to survive the windy climate. The most well-known of these are the Alopari, but even they have begun to move towards the outskirts of the Desert because of the Dragon.

Alternative Name(s)

The Desert

Type

Desert

Legends

No-one really knows where the Red Desert got its name from, but there is one myth circulating the region. Around the beginning of the Age of Triumph, there was a lot of war in the region, with blood spilling all over the sands. People say that the Sentinel who looked over the area was so upset with the amount of bloodshed that she soaked the sands of the desert with the blood of the dead.