Coal Desert

The coal desert is a vast expanse of black desert, the largest lava field on all of Somer. The air there is poisonous, a poison that permeates the whole desert and even those that have managed to survive in the punishing landscape.

History

The Coal Desert was formed over a milennia ago, its appearance a mystery to most. In legends it's said that it was caused by a battle between dragons and fire giants, while its history has closely been recorded by the Kotreshi Order of Scholar Knights serving Kotresh the Insatiable, deity of knowledge.
In the Order's archives, it is claimed that the Coal Desert was formed after the human lich-mage Otaruja Ittorem summoned an army of fire elementals and demons there, to attack his old home kingdom Giute. The elementals and demons scorched the whole, massive city-kingdom to the ground with their fire, bound to Otaruja by contract, leaving nothing and no-one behind that were there at the time. This left the land burnt, the ashes of the buildings and people turning to the sand that now is the Coal Desert. There are no recorded ruins known to those outside the desert, though the Order is presuming that if there are any remnants left from the once sprawling city, only the Coal Elves know of them, if even they.
The Coal Desert has become a refuge for those that can't live in normal society, mages, anarchists, and the like. As as result, this desert has become seen as a place filled with revolutionaries plotting the downfall of civilized society. Centuries past, many forts were built to protect the commonfolk from these suspected plotters, though it's a suspicion that thus far has proven unfounded. According to the Order, it is unlikely that the people of the desert have any intention of attacking those beyond its borders, as, though suspicious, they are generally friendly and are simply doing what they can within the confines of their own lands.

Type

Desert