Del'Rae Desert
Geography
The desert has many rolling sand dunes. There is some oasis, but they tend to be closer to the shoreline to the east. The west of the desert lies the Pavian Mountains, and on the North, East, and South of the desert lies the East Sea. Even though the desert is barren, it has a mystical beauty. If you try to dig down and find any interesting archaeological finds. You will hit stumps and logs of petrified wood. This wood can be dated back to the time of the great Raesandel Forest.
Ecosystem
The region of Del'Rae is very inhospitable. There isn't much green vegetation. It is hard to grow any plant life in this region. The only surviving plant life is that which can survive hot and dry environments. With one exception, there is a colossal plant in the center of the desert. It is in a crater with ruins all around it. Here stands the Del'Rae Cactus and is one of the Twin Colossal Plants: Life and Death. The colossal plant is rumored to be growing out of the ruins of the city Arpyneaketh. This colossal landmark has been around since the year 160. This cactus also seems to drain all water and nutrients out of the ground around it. Some researchers think this is the cause of the desert itself.
Ecosystem Cycles
During the day, it is too hot to travel or even hunt for food. Those living in the desert learned to hunt and travel at night. There is increased creature activity in the desert at night. That was until just recently, as the night also brings a growth of prairie grass. Some associate that with the wrath of the Goddess Natrine.
Localized Phenomena
There are lots of strange phenomena occurring in the desert. If you are traveling in the heat of the day, you will see multiple mirages. These display extreme illusions to the point people have been found dead after eating the desert sand. Some mirages hide the many sink pits that lead to unknown places. People that adventure into these sink pits have never returned.
Fauna & Flora
The desert has many plant life that can be harvested using herbalist tools. The following tables show the various plants found in this region.
Natural Resources
The desert has many natural resources in the form of Minerals Gems/Ores. The following tables show the various gems and ores found in this region.
History
This desert used to be a dense rainforest. It went by the name of Raesandel Forest by those that lived here. It used to have a thriving city named Arpyneaketh. Both the forest and city got obliterated after the events of the Vow Tangible. After the arcane explosion from that event. The creatures that survived had a hard time fending off any of the aggressive predator creatures. This rose the need for once peaceful Arpynians to pick up arms to defend themselves.
After the loss of the capital city, the Arpynians set out to find a new home. They also believed they did something to anger the first Pharaoh of Arpyneaketh, the great Arpin Raesandel. So, the people left the safety of the ruins around the new cactus they named Del nas Rae Cactus. It seemed like nature around them was reversing. Because of that, they used the reverse of the name from Rae san del to Del nas Rae. But to simplify, they use shortened it to Del'Rae as the name. After a few years wandering the wastelands, they found the Oasis of Life out of Death and made it their new home. They settled in the new city of Arpin. They named the city after the first Pharaoh Arpin Raesandel to try and pay respects and to get back on his good graces.
As the years past Arpin had to be moved many times as the base of the river kept moving. In the first locations of Arpin, the Arpynians created multiple pyramid-like structures and found and relocated the body of the first Pharaoh, Arpin Raesandel. Talks occurred, and the people wanted to move the pyramids but decided not to. So the desert claimed the various pyramid temples built by the Arpynians.
After about 10 moves, Arpin was finally far enough away from the Del'Rae Cactus's influence of desertification. At this time, the Arpynians have already turned into roaming hordes of barbarians.
The desert claimed everything left behind and prevented any hope of the Arpynian peoples. It still crushed the hopes and dreams of the citizens until the desert released the pyramid of the first Pharaoh is now unknown to the people living in the desert.
Tourism
There are many ruins for those willing to adventure the hot sands. Archeologists and Anthropologists could research the ruins of Arpyneaketh, The Temple of Tritherion in Arpin, or even venture to the wastelands that house the Warforged Graveyard. Some could seek out the clues of The Lost Oasis and try and find the Lost Oasis of Raesandel
Type
Desert
Location under
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Related Ethnicities
Characters in Location
Inhabiting Species
Related Myths
Comments