Suscoln Desert Steppe
"I've seen my fair share of the world, and I can tell you nothing beats the Suscoln. And I mean that in both senses of the word: It's the most beautiful, bountiful place if you heed its spirits, and the most unforgiving place to those who think they can conquer it."
Part of the series of deserts referred to as a group as the Dry Between. This cold and windy grassland steppe is nestled up against the Luhorn Mountain range. The Suscoln is a temporary home to a few nomadic groups of Halfling and Human herders and merchants, but none have lived here permanently since the Lost Lakes were--- well, lost.
Geography
In most places the grasslands stretch flat to the horizon. Near the glacial mountains, a stretch of hills is often painted with wildflowers. The constant melt of the distant glaciers and seasonal snowfall feed the few, small rivers that run through the grassland from the West and into the salty bed of the Lost Lakes in the East.
Ecosystem
Living things here have to contend with cold temperatures and dry conditions. The flora mostly consists of drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs.
Localized Phenomena
Although all the old rivers still flow like they did in ancient days, the water doesn't stick around like it once did. Thanks to a regional curse by ancient spirits, it disappears, and faster than evaporation would allow. Even water inside a sealed vessel vanishes, meaning that without magical means of producing water, people can't survive in the sacred saltpan for long.
History
In ancient days, this region was part of a heavily-used trade network. Routes through here have been re-established for the past couple decades now, but there was a long stretch of time where it was abandoned, following the incident that cursed the lakes.
A merchant's guild once had its headquarters set up in a settlement by a river mouth. The region's spirits were content with their presence until corruption seeded, and the guild began to defile the lake. Eventually, the spirits destroyed the outpost and took away their gift of the lake, leaving the saltpan behind.
That outpost was an important pit-stop along the trade route, so caravans went by other routes until means were discovered that let passers-through get by for longer lengths of travel.
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