The Great Desert—known also as the Land of Forgotten Horizons or the Blighted Maw—stretches endlessly under a scorching sun, yet amidst its cursed sands lie a few fixed landmarks: places that defy the desert’s restless, shifting nature. These steadfast sites are revered as near-mythical by the hardy few who know them, for they offer rare glimpses into the desert’s complex past and mysterious energies.
Key Features of the Great Desert
- The Last Oasis Inn– A small outpost with tent city out in the unforgiving wastes of the desert. It stands a bastion for those in need, and a home base for many adventures.
- Sandcrest Encampment– Nestled at the base of the cliff that holds the high-perched Last Oasis Inn, the Sandcrest Encampment is a sprawling and ever-changing tent city
- Village of Ashen Well– A tenacious settlement carved from the unforgiving wastes, a day’s travel down the parched riverbed road from the Last Oasis.
- The Greenhold
Deep within the heart of the desert, hidden atop a towering plateau, lies the Greenhold. This elevated oasis is a marvel of life amidst desolation, bursting with vibrant flora and clear pools that seem untouched by time. Despite the cursed nature of the desert, the Greenhold remains lush and teeming with rare plants and animals, attracting scholars, adventurers, and even the desert’s halfling tribes, who defend it fiercely. The ascent to the Rise is treacherous, and only those skilled in survival or well-versed in local lore can find the paths leading to its hidden heights. Legends say the magic that fuels the oasis dates back to the Old Kingdom, where forgotten enchantments keep it perpetually nourished, as though preserved for some ancient purpose.
- The Godfang
To the east stands The Godfang, an immense mountain that juts sharply into the sky, dwarfing the surrounding dunes. The Godfang is one of the few fixed points in the desert, a dark and looming sentinel that offers no mercy to those who attempt to scale its steep slopes. The mountain’s base is littered with debris and the ruins of failed expeditions, while its caves hold a mixture of natural treasures and eerie remnants of the desert’s magic. Some say the Godfang was once the heart of an ancient fortress or tower, toppled and reshaped in the cataclysm that created the desert. Rare herbs and valuable minerals are rumored to be hidden in its rock faces, but the Godfang is a perilous place, frequented by stone-burrowing creatures and rumored guardians of unknown origin.
- The Dryvein River
Cutting a jagged path from north to south is the Dryvein River, a wide, dried-up riverbed that serves as a silent reminder of a time when water flowed through this land. The Dryvein’s banks are cracked and white with ancient salts, and some explorers claim they can see traces of aquatic fossils embedded within its bedrock, hinting at a rich and verdant past. Despite its desolate appearance, the Dryvein remains a reliable guide through the shifting sands, as it remains unchanged, stretching like a scar across the desert. The riverbed is often used by caravans and nomadic tribes as a stable route across the sands, though travelers must still contend with desert creatures and remnants of past battles scattered along its path.
- The Black Glass Fields
Fields of jagged, dark glass mark a desolate stretch west of the Godfang. This shimmering, treacherous expanse is thought to be the site of the Old Kingdom’s most powerful magical explosion. The glass fields are razor-sharp and dangerous to cross, with jagged reflections said to cast haunting visions of the past and sometimes glimpses of distant places. Few who dare enter emerge unscathed, and it is considered one of the most cursed places in the desert.
- The Shifting Labyrinths
Beneath the desert’s sands lies a hidden network of caverns, only briefly exposed when fierce winds clear the dunes. These tunnels, known as the Shifting Labyrinths, are believed to be remains of an ancient underground infrastructure or burial complex from the Old Kingdom. Inside, explorers encounter relics of forgotten times, often guarded by long-dormant, arcane wards or even magical constructs. The sands can shift unexpectedly, collapsing parts of the caverns or sealing explorers inside—a constant danger that has claimed many lives.
- The Bone Dunes
In certain stretches of the desert, skeletons of gargantuan beasts lie half-buried, mingling with the bones of those who dared enter the desert and never returned. These dunes are notorious for being haunted by desert spirits, strange wraiths, and echoes of battles fought long ago.
- The Sunken Cities
Hidden far within the desert are rumored to be the ruined cities of the Old Kingdom, places of splendor now swallowed by sand. Their remnants hold relics, inscriptions, and arcane constructs, but those who seek them must first pass countless perils. It is whispered that some of these ruins are guarded by automatons still active and programmed to defend their lost civilization.
- Mirage Lakes
Scattered throughout are areas where magic and reality blur. These mirage-like oases appear to be clear lakes surrounded by verdant greenery. Those who try to drink from them find only burning sand, but those skilled in illusionary magic claim they can glimpse fragments of the Old Kingdom in these visions.
Mystical Properties
The Great Desert pulses with chaotic magic, warping the lands and skies with mirages and illusions that can lead even the most skilled wanderer astray. Those with magical inclinations find their abilities amplified but dangerously erratic within its bounds. These energies are thought to stem from the ancient calamity that tore apart the Old Kingdom, mingling with the curse of the False One to create an atmosphere both alluring and deadly. The unique, unchanging landmarks—like the Verdant Rise, Godfang, and Dryvein River—draw countless seekers hoping to find stability and secrets among the desert’s turmoil, yet all too often, they find only peril.
The desert itself is alive with strange creatures adapted to its magical aura: spectral apparitions, sand-dwelling wyrms, and even constructs and automatons from the Old Kingdom that still roam, programmed to guard secrets long since forgotten. Many believe the Great Desert is a timeless graveyard, a silent reminder of the dangers of unchecked magic and ambition. To those who dare, it offers countless wonders and riches—if they can survive its harsh embrace.