Empire of Resha
From World of Kralis
| Regional Information | |
| Population: | 800,000 (50% Kaarish, 20% Junde, 10% Dejah, 5% Gnome, 5% Acires, 5% Jakara, 5% other) |
|---|---|
| Capital: | Reshar |
| Government: | Monarchy, Ruled by Caleph Akkabar Zazess |
| Major Religions: | Hadak, Akiri, and Llir |
| Imports/Exports: | Exotic Spices, Slaves, Alchemical supplies, Silk, Weapons |
The Empire of Resha is a vast, arid land of great magic and vast wonder. The arid landscape is not abundant in natural resources and is not particularly well known for its ability to be farmed, thus the people of Resha have come to learn to depend on vast trading routes, fine craftsmanship, theft, tinkering and a great deal of magic.
The Empire of Resha is a coastal nation, bordered on the south, the north, and the west by the Blood Sea and the Sea of Ithangar and is bordered on the north and east by the mountains of Kazhar, Meminak and Kalish.
Most of the culture of Resha is dominated by the arid, desert lands that make up the Empire. The El Baahedehlam Desert, which extends from the Kalish Mountains westward and covers less than 1/3 of the total Empire, ending on the shores of the great Talish River that runs from the Kazhar Mountains south into the Blood Sea. This vast desert forces itself on the very thinking of the people of the Empire. The land west of the Talish River is more hospitable than the El Baahedehlam Desert, however, it is still a very arid and dry place that is filled with great difficulty. What little agriculture does grow, does so around the great oasis' and the grand cities of those oases. Most farmers depend on the vast herds of goats and sheep that they move from one water source to another. Fresh water is as good as gold in the Empire, and many battles have been fought by herders over the right to water their herd. The only green that exists beyond the various oases is the Forest of Thas that borders the foothills of the Meminak Mountains.
Contents |
Life and Society
Life within Empire is dominated by the dry and arid climate. While temperate, it is very warm year around and is often pierced by great monsoon storms that are driven from the Sea of Ithangar and the Blood Sea. The average precipitation during the year is about 25 inches along the lowlands bordering the seas, and 30 plus inches in the mountains far to the north.
Given the combination of heat and humidity from the bordering seas, the summers are very oppressive through out the entire Empire. This heat and humidity has been the driving force for most of the cultural aspects of the Empire, from the customary dress worn by the people to the social class stratification.
Dress and Clothing
Because of the oppressive heat and humidity Rashan clothing tends to be loose and airy, created from soft cotton and silk. This clothing is also heavily influenced by ones wealth and social position. Men and women have very different dress concepts.
Men for the most part wear a traditional headdress called a yaffar, it covers the head and hangs down the neck. It is used to protect the face, head and hair from the harsh desert winds and sun. They range in a variety of patterns and colors and is secured to the head by a set of cotton cords. This is the common man's headdress, the less poor tend to wear a large felt cap, that looks like a upside-down flower pot with a tassel. Men also tend to wear soft cotton or wool pants, a waist sash, low slip on shoes or in some cases calf-length boots of either brown or black leather. In addition, they either wear a simple loose outer sleeveless jacket or vest, other times they can be seen wearing a one piece open cloth or silk shirt.
Women tend to be a little more conservative in their dress, wearing mostly a full length dress of various colors and tend to wear silk veil that covers most of their head and face. Beneath these they wear cotton or silken trousers and blouses. Many women wear anklets made from steel, copper, bone, or stone.
Both men and women of poor or lower classes tend to go barefoot or wear simple supple sandals.
Very few people wear any form of armor, other than studded leather or common leather armor. Heavier armor is rarely worn unless there is an expectation of trouble or battle.
Society and Customs
The people of Resha understand one thing better than above all else, wealth. Not wealth for its own sake but for what it can bring you, the ability to acquire luxuries and amenities. The pursuit of wealth is only acceptable by those in the Empire in order to reach a level of comfort where a person does not have to work hard ever again. Highly prized amongst all people of the Empire is leisure time and anything that can make a job easier or take less time. This thinking has lead to every need to be catered to by slaves and servants. Every person, including slaves and servants, understand that it is best no to waste time, effort or money for no good reason. This is furthered by the presence of the desert and the arid, dry lands that surround the cities and oases.
Reshan society is divided into classes. It is an unconscious knowledge that is learned from birth, that one's place is one's business. it is the use of this social class that allow most Reshans to live out their lives in the manner that is propelled and expected by society itself. This class stratification is well adhered to by all Reshans upon fear of either enslavement, death or worse, the loss of all of one's wealth.
Slaves
Slaves are the lowest class in Reshan society. They have no rights and are given no respect except for has been agreed upon between slaves themselves. Slaves are treated worse than cattle, sheep, oxen, or pigs, simply for the fact that farm animals can be sold at a higher price than a slave can be. Within this class there are four separate classes as well: House Slaves, Harem Slaves, Personal Slaves and Labor Slaves. The lowest of these is the labor slaves, it is this group of people that are the working force that keep the Empire moving forward. They are given the lowest, menial tasks. Above labor slaves are personal slaves. These are servants that attend the caring for the upper-class: keeping them clean, groomed and well dressed. House slaves are more respected than either labor or personal slaves and are equal in value to harem slaves. House slaves are personally responsible for keeping the house of their owner clean, running well and well maintained. They tend to be cooks, gardeners, maids, and other general service. Harem slaves include both male and female workers. While predominately serviced by women, men are used to protect the chambers of harems.
Labor Class
The next highest on the social scale just above slaves are the labor or working class which is made up of the destitute and the poor. This class is made up of freed slaves, paid servants, concubines, low guardsman, and the variety of people that help keep the cities running. The distinction between this class and the slave class is that this class of people are free. At the lower end of this class are those that sweep the streets and keep them free from dung, waste and other unwanted things or persons. On the upper end of this class are those that make up overseers in an upper-class home. This class is the one class that works for the gaining of money for money's sake. It is this point that they steadfastly hold on to as a matter of pride, even though many slaves have better lives despite the lack of freedom. Those of higher classes profit from the toil and labor that this class does. Many thieves arise from this class.
Skilled Workers
Above the labor and slave classes are the skilled workers. These people tend to be wealthier than the labor class, but are still relatively poor compared to the upper classes. These are the artisans, craftsmen, scribes, apothecaries, and other skilled laborers. Most all in this class, unless they have impressed those in the upper classes, are treated no better than the labor class beneath them. This often causes many disputes and bitter rivalries, between the labor and the skilled workers. Most pirates and corsairs come from this class.
Merchant Class
The fourth highest and largest class is the merchant class. It is this class that creates the middle region of classes from low middle class to upper middle class. They tend to come from the skilled labor class whose skill has been recognized by the ruling and upper classes and have seized on the opportunities that this gives them. The majority of members in this class are merchants, shopkeepers, guildmasters, and pashas. They also include landowners, medical practitioners, priests, low ranking spellcasters, and hired mercenaries. Unusually, a great number of assassins and master thieves are known to come from this class.
Military Class
Only slightly higher than the merchant class are those that are in the service of the military for the Empire. These free men and women are afforded a great deal of regard than does the merchant class, as the ruling class understands the role that the support of the military in their regimes. Only military officers come from upper class families. This is done to keep lower classes from controlling the military, which may lead to a disruption of the status quo.
Ruling Upper Class
Highest above all the classes are the upper classes of rulers, advisors, and military officers. It is comprised of the true rulers of the Empire, including the Caleph (King), Sultans (Princes), Assayr (Dukes), Yishar (Counts), and Massadin (Barons).
While the various classes help define some of the culture in Resha, it barely scratches the whole culture of this southern realm. The true distinctiveness of Rashan culture is in its varied customs and traditions which have been developed over the ages.
Pride
While luxury holds a great amount of power over the people of the Empire, the saving of face and one's pride is of great importance as well. Rashans treat each other as their title and social status demands and as their public face deserves. The cruelest, most despicable individual that deals in assassination, poisons or drugs maybe treated as an honest businessman so long as this is how they present themselves.
Personal pride and pride in one's family are the main reasons that Rashans maintain a public face. Many times all that a person has is his or her pride, and should one lose face they will also lose status. This could cause the person to be persecuted and regulated to a lower social class than they current hold.
Losing one's pride is a harsh reality that every Rashan faces. When it is lost or challenged it is expected that the one losing face or pride will attempt to seek revenge or meet that challenge. Often times this ends with a duel that ends the life of either the one that lost the pride or the accuser/challenger.
One's enemies are always busy attempting to destroy one's pride, digging out secrets behind facades (public face) and exposing them through untraceable agents so that backlash is not publicly possible. This is done because if the information is tracked back to its origin, Rashan law dictates that equal ruin be brought upon those that gathered and used the information. Many times, this leads to the accuser committing suicide.
Family
Second to pride is the home and family of a person. Rahsans adhere to strict male and female roles when it comes to family and home. At the very head of the family is the father who is responsible for the upkeep, funding and maintenance of the standard of living for his wife, and children. This is done through his very public face and businesses. As heads of the household, father's are given a wide berth when it comes to opulence for himself, for if one's business or businesses were to take a downturn, he must keep up a healthy appearance within his social circles so that he may create new deals and arrangements to keep his family up to their standard of living.
The wife is absolutely responsible for everything that transpires within the house, this applies from the upper classes to the lower classes. She is charged with maintaining an opulent home that is clean shows off the families wealth and luxuries, she raises the heirs of the house, and manages the financial state of the household, including her husband's affairs.
Children are seen in two distinct lights: heirs and alliances. Sons are seen has heirs, as an estate can only pass from father to son, while daughters are seen as valuable links to alliances with other houses or businesses through marriage. Until the coming of age (16 years) Reshan children are expected to obey every command and request of their parents, though social more weight is given to the father than it is to the mother.
All children are home educated until age of 16 when they are then allowed to chose to attend one of several schools for further education, begin learning the transactions of the family business or to leave the house in an attempt to make their own way in the Empire.
Hospitality
Despite a near xenophobic attitude, Reshan's are a very hospitable people, particularly to those of a higher class. There is a strong believe that honorable people are good hosts, which feeds into their need for a strong public face and pride. However, in practice most city-dwellers feel more of a sense of duty to guests they know than complete strangers, where as the tribes that live within the deserts feel a much deeper and greater sense of duty towards strangers.
Strangers that have been invited into the city, are not likely to see the same "hospitably" from a single individual within the city. Those that approach someone in the city seeking to be invited into their homes, will likely be meet with a swift reproach and quick directions to the nearest Holy Church or hospice.
Guests that have been invited into a home receive the same treatment and respect as an honored guest from within the city. Typically, this involves a great feast in their honor, where the traveler or guest recounts his or her journey's and adventures. The guest is expected to leave by the morning of the third day, it is tradition and honorable for the guest to leave some sort of small gift, while traditional, no insult will be taken if the guest does not leave such a gift.
Tolerance
Much of what occurs within the Empire tends to rely on the people's tolerance, not only of foreigners, but also of local governments, policies and other social requirements. This tolerance allows for various people to believe in a wide variety of things. This tolerance, despite xenophobia, extends beyond the northern traditional views including those of race. The people of the Empire accepting and tolerant of every race, so long as they do not overstep the social boundaries that the people of the Empire have established.
However, this tolerance has its limits. Those within the Empire all have some sort of believe, individuals who do not believe in some higher divinity is viewed with suspicion and even outright hostility. To the people of the Empire, a lack of belief is an indication of a lack of moral anchor that separates the civilized man from the lower barbarian.
Magic
Spellcasting magic and jinhu use are very predominate in Resha, to the point that even the lowliest of slaves is unimpressed with "parlor tricks and cantrips". Reshan's appear to be jaded when it comes to the use either jinhu or spellcasting since it seems to take a great spectacular or unique magic to get them excited.
This ho-hum attitude towards magic stems from the fact that Reshan's use magic to make everyday life a bit easier and lower magic has become mundane as it is so often used to perform common activities.
However, this does not mean that magic and jinhu are not important to the people of the Empire, but the deal with the use of magic or jinhu like another skill of a artisan or skilled laborer.
Those that use magic are treated more as a sage, scribe or even mercenary using their magic skill to garner money, or increase their social standing.
Magical items of minor worth are often sold in the various shops within the cities, while greater or more powerful magical items are only purchasable from either the various magic guilds or powerful spellcasters themselves.
Religion
While there is no mandated state religion within the Empire there are, however, a number of deities that are well regarded and worshiped within the Empire. Each of these religions, including a number of the evil gods, are accepted and worshiped openly. In a land where the biggest, best and most civilized is the goal of the various cities of the Empire, Resha is well known for having the most temples, and a number of major temples, anywhere else in Ta Los.
Amongst all the religions, there is a single standard that has been accepted among the churches within the Empire, the act of prayer. It is the most important law for individual discipline. This is said to take place at very specific times, despite what other orders of the same church follow in other parts of Ta Los. Every day at morning, noon, and evening, all Reshans partake in prayer, only guards, and military personal are excused from this.
Nearly ever deity in the Ominverse, is paid lip service. Most are invoked without much fanfare or ceremony, other reverence if often performed in much the same way as living up to the letter of a contract, not necessarily the spirit.
Harem
Certainly among the more strangest and oddest arrangements within Resha is the harem. This is a collection of male or female slaves that are dedicated to only two purposes: the pleasure of guests and family and the guaranteed succession of male heirs for the house. This group, while made up of slaves, is the most well regarded social structure within any household. The harem slaves are well versed in social, music, dance, art, acupuncture, and the art of massage, as well as other duties.
Law and Order
Law and Order within the Empire is something of a paradox: while everyone in the empire recognize the ultimate authority of the Caliph, every city has a great independence from the rest of the Empire. This gives the various cities a great sense of superiority. Much of this attitude comes from the distance that the cities have between them and the vast desert land between them.
While each city is a state unto itself, the laws of the Empire are stilled upheld by the Caliph's Army, known as El Ghal and its guard force. However, the laws of each city are varied, and while in most cities through out the rest of Ta Los, order and law tend to be forces towards good or neutral believes, many cities tend to be cesspool of corruption, and greed. In many of the cities the laws and order are structured to support this. The laws, including many Imperial laws, are structured to sustain the status quo and slavery.
While this does not mean that these cities are unfair, immoral or tyrannical, the various laws and those who enforce them are harsh and very unforgiving. In the state of affairs of each city, those with any influence in the city tend to have a huge number of folk that help defend them from each other, as well as defending them from foreign and unseen enemies.
In the wild, law and order, comes at a mush harsher price. There is little tolerance for theft or murder within a sand tribe, as these are seen as attacks against the whole tribe. Many tribal wars have been started from simple thefts of a goat, sheep or even a prized possession.
The Shedbahyt
The desert, while harsh and unforgiving, is home to a number of desert dwelling tribes known as the Shedbahyt. These tribes are highly mobile, often following the paths of the rain storms from oasis to oasis. They are herders of sheep, Sarith (desert yaks), goats, as well as camels. The various tribes are based on hierarchy of loyalties beginning with close family (brothers, sisters, mother, father) and ending with strangers. This closeness of kinship from the nuclear family through the lineage, the tribe, and then to the whole of the ethnic group that makes up the tribes themselves.
The tribes themselves are very aggressive towards each other. In such an unforgiving environment, any violation of territorial rights is viewed with severe disfavor. It is a hallmark of the shedbahyt culture that such trespasses are not easily forgiven or quickly forgotten. Yet, the shared respect for the dangers of the desert have imbued the culture with a profound and justly celebrated sense of hospitality. In the solitude and silence of the deserts a new face is cause for great interest, generosity, and careful etiquette, as well as for civility and tolerance.
As a migratory people, the tribes live in large tents, which is divided into two sections by a wool woven curtain. One section is reserved for the men of the family and for the reception of guests. The other half is reserved for the women, cooking and other domestic chores. Guests that are welcomed into the tent of a shedbahyt family are honored guests, given respect, food and drink, and copious amounts of a cinnamon spiced coffee.
The shedbahyt people follow a very strict code of honor. Along with the customary principles of hospitality and bravery, it is one of the most important aspects of the culture of the desert people. There are two leading concepts within the honor code for the shedbahyt: shahalun and shahun. Shahalun is code of honor established for men of the tribes and requires that men of the tribes be hospitable to those that come into their tribes insuring that they are treated as honored guests, and in some situations give shelter and food to even an enemy for some days. In this generosity plays a large aspect of the code. In many of the tribes gifts must be offered and cannot be declined. The second concept of shahalun is the showing of bravery and courage. This is the willingness of the men to defend one's tribe for the purpose of tribal solidarity and is closely associated with manliness or masculinity. Bravery often entails the ability to withstand pain. This type of honor can be acquired, augmented, lost and regained. It further involves the protection of the shahun of women within the family, protection of property, maintenance of tribal honor.
For women of the tribe the shahun is a very sacred, spiritual concept. All women are born with their shahun in tact. While, this is conceptually virginity, it is much more than a physical identity, it is a spiritual and emotional concept that once taken away can never be regained.
Major Cities
Reshar, The Jeweled City
The Jeweled City of the South, as it is commonly referred to, is a city filled with squalor and splendor on an equal scale with that of Dardura Sheva far to the north. Considered to be the first city of humans, it is an ancient place filled with many hidden secrets, dark magic, corrupt officials and bright colors that do not seem to ever diminish in their vibrancy under the blazing sun and the dry desert. It sits on the coast of the Blood Sea where the Talish River forms the Baladhir which surrounds the city.
The city, unlike many other Resha cities, is not a walled. Its mass of humanity, the physical size of the city and the surrounding Baladhir make it nearly impossible to attack or take. It is also comprised of a number of walled neighborhoods known as Amach which each have official designations assigned by the Calip, but which are rarely used by commoners of the city. Each sector of the city is walled individually. Each of these walls are 10 feet wide, 12 feet high and are made from a mud-brick construction with a single 15' wide tunnel, that can be gated shut if necessary.
Most of the city is built from this mud-brick which are inlaid with various patterns to give a decorative look. The city is alive with color with glints of metals and bright splashes found along roofs, walls, fountains and the detailed mosaics found through out the city. The city is architecturally dominated by domes, arches and the minaret. While the city has its dark areas filled with poverty and filth, little is mentioned of them as the glory of and beauty of the city tends overwhelm these places.
Many of the cities buildings are domed, many with round, smooth domes made of metal, or metal-plated bricks or wood, others are classic faceted domes of bricks. Most buildings, however, are built with flat roofs. The minaret, with its slim, round towers of several stories and fitted with numerous balconies and rooftop parapet or dome are a staple of Resha architecture.
Despite the fact that it is surround by the Baladhir, the city is a well known port of the south. Its port is built from gigantic stones that extend for hundreds of yards into the waters of the Blood Sea. Sitting nearly a half mile out are gigantic sea walls that insure a defense against pirates and corsairs, as well as sea storms, and provides a deep harbor of calm water. The sea walls were magically created and extend some 150 feet below the surface of the water with a top wall of nearly 20 feet above the water.
The buildings of Resha are countless. With a population of nearly 200,000, the city is extremely packed in its construction. There are five types of buildings in the city proper.
Opulent buildings: these are the type of buildings that make people stop and stare, they are enormous unique landmarks that are made so by their stature, cost and detail. These would include the Palace of the Caleph, the Grand Hall of Sages, the Festhall of the Eternal Sun and the Juuhamod.
Elaborate Buildings: Dominating most of the skyline, these buildings generally run from three to eight floors in height with two or three cellars beneath them. These buildings tend be governmental buildings or the mansions of a Pasha, a guildhall, temples, crypts, or a large warehouse.
Common buildings: The vast majority of buildings of Reash are broad, mud-brick row houses that line the avenues, streets and allies. they tend to be from two to four stories in height. Most of the space within these buildings is split between homes and shops or offices, with living dwellings either above them or below them. There is very little that distinguishes them from each other. These buildings are reinforced with ironwood beams. These buildings include festhalls, taverns, inns, entertainment houses, less extravagant tombs for wealthier common freepeople.
Lesser Buildings: These one or two story buildings tend to be built from mud-brick and wooden construction with wooden or thatch roofs. They tend to be used for small warehouses, storage, and individual homes for the poor of the city. These building types range from guild warehouses, to slaver pens, to animal pens.
Poor Buildings: Poorer buildings are small wooden or canvas tents that are barely eight feet in height. They do not have cellars. They are ramshackle buildings often built from the left over remains of building materials from the more common and elaborate buildings. They serve as homes for the very poor and downtrodden.
There are a number of markets and bazaars that can be found in Resha. These range from northern goods, to deep desert trades, to animal markets, to slaver markets, as well as a black market where very illegal items can be found.
Curanthia (Grand Sea Port)
Situated on the shores of where the Blood Sea becomes the Sea of Ithangar on the Horn of Kashpah the great grand sea port of Curanthia rises mightly over the seas, overlooking the best natural harbor for thousands of miles on the coast. Because of its position the city serves as the gateway for trade with the realms of Mashrapur, Haarn Empire and others further north. It also serves as the last for caravans coming from the interior of the Empire, and the first port of call that traders and merchants begin with as they take caravans into the interior of the Empire.
The mighty Empire Navy of Resha calls Curanthia home and are used to stand against the corsairs and pirates of the Blood Sea and the Sea of Ithangar. It is governed by mamluqs, soldier slaves of the Caliph of Resha. The city presents a very grim and strong exterior to the world it is a mixture of strong military presence and cosmopolitan mercantile sophistication.
The most immediate features of the city is its massive white granite walls and the vast navy that sits in its harbor. The wall is comprised of two walls: an outer and inner. The outer wall is 30 feet high and 35 feet high and is pierced by only three tunnels at strategic points to allow for caravans to move in and out of the city. The inner wall is 30' away from the out wall and rises to 50 feet and is 40 feet thick and is pierced by several tunnels that allow soldiers to move around the perimeter without having to go through the crowded city.
The Harbor of Curanthia is a deep water, sheltered bay that is divided into several sections and a large naval section. There is a large civilian area that holds the moorings for city's fishing boats and private vessels. A half mile out from the harbor are a number of watchtowers, built upon grey stone and are connected by several large chains, that are used to protect the bay from unwanted ships. Once past these great chains incoming ships are guided in by harbor patrol to a specific destination. Not abiding by these patrols a ship will be warned once, then attacked by spellcasters that are always on duty in the towers.
Khabarid
Located ten miles south of the Forest of Thas on the Talish River, Khabarid is the furthest north city in the Realm. The city is perched on a bluff over looking the river. It is a bustling city serving as the chief trading post between the elves of Kahdysasor and the Empire. Both elves and Rashans mingle on the streets. It is ruled by the Sultan Hadi al-Galih, a well meaning but insulated ruler that is more concerned with scribing his memoirs than actually ruling, which happens to fall to his chancellor Faarih al-Aban.
There is great amount permissiveness within the city, allowing nearly any activity that does not bring disgrace upon the city. There is a thriving underground slave trade. Adventurers use the city as a starting point to entering the Kazhar Mountains, as well as the minotaur nation of Kaz-Nakiur.
Kohinuur
About 500 miles north of Reshar on the Talish River sits the city of Kohinuur. It is an industrious city that is cloaked in a grey smoke from the various foundries, kilns and blacksmiths. This shroud of grey smoke has created a dark blanket over the city which has darkened the backstreets and alleys of the city giving way to backroom deals with assassins, thieves and any number of unscrupulous people.
Those of the city have a reputation for being untrustworthy, duplicitous and very sharp in their business dealings, for the most part this is untrue, but such a reputation has attracted the less-than-honest which has fueled the the reputation. It is a haven for illegal activities from slave trading, drug smuggling, and other very nefarious items and deeds. The city is also known for its major products of coal, iron, steel, weaponry, armor, and metalwork.
Shanjahan
Located where the rivers Talish and Tal Ir merge. Despite its location, Shanjahan is not a bustling, crowded city as many of the other cities in the Empire, despite its location as a major stopping point for ships moving up and down the Talish. It is a quaint way-station for both ships and caravans. Most of the cities wealth stems from the various merchants, caravans and ships that stop here briefly before moving on. This city is awash with glistening white buildings, bleached white by the sun.
Major Features
Forest of Thas
The Forest of Thas sits along the southern edge of the Meminak Mountains. It is a large coniferous forest, that is very dense, and filled with monsters, natural dangers, not to mention the elven kingdom of Kahdysasor. It is a very thick forest with dense stands of pine and other evergreens.
Talish River
The main river that runs from the Forest of Thas to the Blood Sea is the largest river in the Empire, and the only river that holds back the El Baahedehlam. It is a very wide, low river that at times can be over 500 feet across and 10 feet deep. Along its edges scattered here and there the river creates deep pools of clear water where a great deal of wildlife comes to drink as well as to be used for irrigation.
The river is a main source of travel north and south from Reshar to Khabarid on the edge of the Forest of Thas and the elven kingdom of Kahdysasor.
Tal Ir River
The second largest river in the Empire, the Tal Ir River is much deeper than the Talish, but runs a shorter distance. It is created and fed by a number of springs deep within the desert. These springs are said to be protected by Gishra against the wasting sands of El Baahedehlam
The El Baahedehlam Desert (The Burning Sands)
The El Baahedehlam Desert, like the great Nazrafu Desert to the east, was at one time a lush fertile valley that was filled with life and was home to several ancient cities of kaarish and future Reshan people. It is a desert of two types. In many parts it is a vast, sand covered strip of earth whose dunes can rise several hundred feet in the air only to swallow up an oasis, or a merchant caravan. In other parts it is a dry, arid place devoid of large amounts of vegetation with dust filled canyons that flood once per year. Both deserts are incredibly hot during the days, and bone shilling cold during the evenings out in the deep desert, nearer to oasis the temperatures are more stable.
Most of what people know of the desert itself comes from a lack of firsthand knowledge by proper sages, bards, taletellers, or authors of various books. This is further fueled by the various rumors, hearsay and lies that the tribes of the desert (Shedbayt) have groomed over the thousands of years of the history of the desert.
One a day to day basis, the desert is constantly shifting, ground breaking up, dunes swallowing up regions, it is dominated by elemental magic and the seething hatred of the sun. Despite the lack of cool winds, fresh water and the relentless sun, there is a wide range of wildlife that lives not only in the deep parts of the desert but along the fringes. Most are small rodents and reptiles that have adapted to the desert, while there are a type of yak called the Sarith that are much like camels and are able to store sustainable water in their bodies for many weeks. These herds often can been found near an oasis during the wet seasons, and deep in the desert during the dry seasons. The Shedbayt travel with these herds, often feeding hem grain when the seasons are drier than normal.
In addition, to a supply of wildlife, a great number of monsters claim the desert as their home, the most dangerous of these are the desert variety of holuthi that are known to move through the sand preying on Sarith and the occasional merchant caravan. Many earth dragons are also known to call this desert home.
The greatest threats, other than the heat of the sun and the arid air, is the Burning Sand, the Demon's Breath and Tears of Elal. The whole of the desert is something of a WildLand in the making, though it has not be cursed, the land itself acts as if it were awakened. The evidence for this comes from the two threats that seem to come from the land itself.
The Burning Sand causes an area from 10' in diameter to 100' in diameter to suddenly become intensely hot, raising the temperature of the air by +10 to +100 degrees within a few moments. This is followed by the sand becoming red from heat as the ground begins to heat up the same amount. Those that are caught within the area begin to suffer from advanced heat stroke (causing 10 points of Fatigue Loss per phase) unless the travelers can escape the area. The area of burning sand can remain like this for several hours.
The Demon's Breath are powerful gust's of wind that stir up the loose sand into whirlwind funnels. These funnels are huge and often can be seen for many miles across the desert. These funnels are from 10' to 100' in diameter and varies from 100' to 500' feet in height. The generally last only a few minutes, but they act as though they were a very powerful tornado (F-3 to F-4 tornado in Legends of Kralis).
The Tears of Elal, as they are referred to in reverence, are actually microbursts of rain that produce intense downpours that are known to cause flooding through out much of the desert.
Baladhir (The Great Swamp)
Located where the Talish River meets the Blood Sea the Baladhir Swamp encompasses nearly 100 miles and surrounds the great jeweled city of Resha. It is a densely packed forested swamp that has hundreds of small streams that slowly move from the Talish river. In many places, a dry hillock rises from the swamp giving animals and monsters to call home. On the coast the water is mostly made up of seawater, as one travels further inland the water becomes brackish and finely fresh water. Within the swamp itself there are number of fresh water springs that help keep the water level high.
The swamp is thick with sprawling moss covered cedars, willows, cypress and other trees. Because of its very southern location the swamp is a hot and humid place, occasionally the swamp is blessed with a cool breeze but this only effects the a few miles inland from the sea. The swamp is often hit with heavy down pours of rain, this is particularly true during the winter and spring seasons.
Most of the swamp is dark and haunting a place where evil creatures stir as the high canopy of trees blocks a great deal of sun from reaching the swamp floor below. The most dominate monster in the swamp are giant spiders, but there are a number of other monsters that stalk the swamp including hiisi, a small group of aatxe, a large tribe of alb, numerous tribes of lizard-kn, and numerous undead creatures. Hidden deep within the swamp is the lost tower of Alasuqua, an ancient tower once used by a powerful spellcaster.
Important Sites
Ruins of Telhar
Ruins of Abdash
Ruins of Bedarud
Ruins of Fath Shahid
