The Barrens

Unbent,Unbowed,Unbroken.

The Barrens are one of the four constituent regions of Eidos. It is the southernmost part of the continent, located hundreds of miles from The North, and has a harsh desert climate. The Barrens are the only region in Eidos where humans are not predominant, as a result, the orcs who migrated there in large numbers hundreds of years ago and the yuan-ti (the original inhabitants), have very different customs and traditions compared to the other regions of the continent .

Geography

The Barrens are separated by the rest of the regions by a lengthy mountain chain, which provides a natural border to the north. The southern coast of The Barrens is rocky and mostly consists of towering cliffs. Once mighty empire resided in these lands but now it has been reduced to ruin beneath the sands, its only remnants being those of ancient golden towers poking out of the dry earth. Stretching out for hundreds of miles from the mountain range, the Barrens is a desolate wasteland that has claimed countless lives over the centuries. Few who attempt to cross it are ever seen again—if the relentless, burning heat and lack of water doesn't kill them, the predators and savage raiders that emerge under the cover of darkness likely will.

Fauna & Flora

The flora in the Barrens is rather lacking if not missing entirely. They few plants that grow are around the rare oasis here and there and consist of citrus trees and various shrubbery. There are also vineyards tended to by the few remaining yuan-ti over in the far south, near the coast-line.

On the other end of the spectrum, the wildlife of the region is both plentiful and dangerous. From gigantic scarabs that roam in swarms, looking for unfortunate travelers to feed on, to camels and Sandswimmers; massive quadrupedal creatures that traverse the desert in cyclical patterns. Their narrow bodies and webbed feet being perfectly designed for swimming under the sand. Unique to the area are also the Skallashi, large quadrupedal herbivores. These hardy beasts of burden are ideally suited to the harsh desert environment. Their key body feature being their long legs. Notoriously bad-tempered, they are nevertheless treated with great reverence by the orcs. Their brown hides are often painted with sacred symbols of protection, and their horns hung with totems and charms. While these creatures are mostly used for travel and carrying heavy loads, on some larger skallashi people are able to built miniature rooms for more comfortable travel. To own one is often considered a sign of considerable prosperity.

Natural Resources

The Barrens contain the only desert on the entire continent of Eidos, and due to its arid climate it has one of the smallest overall populations. It is the only part of Eidos where citrus fruits and spices grow. Barren wine is also highly prized throughout all of the continent, and considered to be among the best imports available. The certain breed of goat that lives in the area is also prized for its wool and the insulation proprieties it provides.

History

The Barrens once housed a powerful yuan-ti empire that spanned the farthest reaches of the southern continent. After an era of expansion and prosperity, its last emperor was betrayed by his closest friend; a mage wielding one of the Runes, and the empire fell to ruin during the Great War. Its gleaming capital was all but destroyed in the earth-shaking cataclysm and the empire was left in ruins, its people scattered and its mighty cities devoured by the sand. Hundreds of years later the Orc Exodus took place and new life was brought into the wastes as the settlers made their home on top of the ruins of the old capital and renamed it to Xnarull. Now, the unforgiving desert is a place where only the strongest survive, its people clinging to the few remaining oases in-land and to the strips of fertile land around the coast.

Type

Region

Included Organizations