Melocazh Barrens

What once was lush grassland now resembles arid desert barrens, with no sign of improvement

We stood at the edge of the rise, gazing out to the lands below. A sea of tilled lands and autumn-touched forests stretched out before us, all the way to the shores where the ocean met the golden sands.
I can't help but to feel uneasy, however, as I see these golden sands creeping up further to meet our greenest fields as each moon passes us by. I pray each day that they do not swallow them all — or us — in time.

— Journal entry from a Northlands farmer visiting Aurel

The Melocazh Barrens are a region within the Kingdom of Arsavela, known primarily for becoming progressively more arid and harsh as the years go by.

The Encroaching Threat

Residents of the Savelan Northlands feel uncomfortably aware of the fact that the growing desert landscape is, exactly that: growing. This is a belief shared by practically all who reside within the southern Harvest Belt, but those who do not regularly see what the Barrens should normally look like will ever claim that it's an overreaction to say such a thing.
Traveling from the Barrens' north, the dead and drying grasslands make way for progressively rockier, sandier barrens as one draws farther and farther south, until the landscape is swallowed by dunes of sand.

"Respecting" the Queen's Legacy

The region was renamed by the Alabaster Hand following the deposition of the monarchy. Prior to this name change, these lands were known as Danicasus, named for Queen Danica Melor Arsaces. When the Queen took to the throne, these barrens were a beautiful, lush region comparable to the present day Harvest Belt of the Savelan Northlands.
While none could confirm what exactly brought on the change in climate or geography, the Alabaster Hand was not interested in getting to the bottom of it. They saw an opportunity in changing the name of the region and did so. In their public statement, they claimed that having such a barren, dry land be named for a much-beloved queen in spite of what she had done simply would not do. Instead they would change the name to Melocazh Barrens — which, instead of being named for Danica herself, would now be named for the entire Melor family.
Only some did notice that this was the case, but most were smart enough to not speak up in the late queen's defense.

Once lovingly named for a beloved queen, now spitefully so named now that she is gone

by Strixxline via Midjourney

Continent

Northeastern Nefyran

Region

Kingdom of Arsavela

Bordering

Savelan Northlands
Brineveil Forest

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