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THE SUNSCORCH STRONGHOLD
Governance:
MILITARISTIC FORTRESS
Level Of Technology:
MEDIUM
Attitude Towards Magic:
NEUTRAL
General Environment:
HARSH DESERT
Fort Igorin, an equally vital outpost situated alongside Fort Cowan, was established by the Second Kingdom to bolster security and ensure the safety of its borders. Operating in tandem with Fort Cowan, Fort Igorin helps maintain control over the northern route through the Mirage Desert, keeping the empire well-guarded from potential threats. Fort Igorin is a testament to strategic cooperation, as its soldiers and residents work closely with their counterparts in Fort Cowan to uphold the region’s safety.
With a strong garrison of elite troops and a well-equipped armory, Fort Igorin is always ready to face challenges head-on.
The fort’s vibrant marketplace showcases a unique blend of local and foreign goods. The dedicated residents of Fort Igorin have also developed their own distinctive style of craftsmanship, excelling in producing desert-adapted weapons and armor.
THE SANDSHIELD BASTION
Governance:
MILITARISTIC FORTRESS
Level Of Technology:
MEDIUM
Attitude Towards Magic:
NEUTRAL
General Environment:
HARSH DESERT
Fort Cowan, a strategic outpost on the border of the Second Kingdom, was established decades ago to secure the empire from potential threats along the southern route of the Mirage Desert. Over time, it has evolved into a thriving community of soldiers, merchants, and settlers, blending culture and military tradition as they adapt to the harsh desert environment.
Within Fort Cowan’s sturdy walls, a bustling marketplace offers exotic goods from the Second and Third Kingdoms, while skilled artisans create weapons and armor designed for desert combat. At the settlement’s heart, a towering watchtower stands, with vigilant sentries scanning the horizon for danger, ever prepared to defend their hard-won bastion in the relentless sands.
THE GOLDEN MIRAGE
Governance:
AUTOCRACY
Level Of Technology:
HIGH
Attitude Towards Magic:
FAVORABLE
General Environment:
HARSH DESERT
At the core of the Mirage Desert lies Tora Kra’ah, the primary settlement of the Mara, humanoid desert-folk descended from ancient Satuslings. Early explorations of this region led to significant advancements in magical knowledge, as the Mara have long harnessed magic to overcome the harsh desert conditions. Welcoming outsiders, the Mara have transformed Tora Kra’ah into a major economic and informational hub.
Innovations from the Mara include magic-infused soil for vegetation growth and thirst-quenching waters that provide extended hydration. Perhaps their most impressive creation is the Dak’kra—magical obelisks scattered throughout the desert. When charged with sufficient mana, the Dak’kra enable instantaneous transportation of living and non-living things.
A unique variation, the Ha’kra, forms a protective circle around Mara territory, creating an invisible barrier that tracks and marks anyone who enters. This allows for monitoring and, if needed, safe transport to another Dak’kra location. Access to this powerful system is limited to trained specialists and high-ranking nobility, ensuring the protection of Tora Kra’ah remains a top priority.
“Tora Kra’ah is a paradise in middle of a nightmare. Although other Mara settlements exist scattered through the region, none have acheived neither the scale nor the security it presents. It is truly a feat of sheer determination and strength.”
RE’N, THE SHIFTING SANDS
Governance:
UNDER KRA'AH'S GUIDANCE
Level Of Technology:
LOW
Attitude Towards Magic:
SPECIALIZATION
General Environment:
HARSH DESERT
In a rather isolated village, a tribe of Mara has perfected highly specialized magic techniques for conjuring weapons made entirely of incredibly dense mana. Over centuries, they’ve honed unique stealth and combat skills that harmonize seamlessly with their magical abilities, making them the ultimate hunters in the Mirage Desert.
While they practice some rudimentary agriculture, agriculture-based magic is rare among them, unlike in most Mara tribes. Instead, they primarily rely on the impressive beasts they’ve expertly learned to hunt for sustenance.
These skilled hunters possess unparalleled knowledge of the desert’s topography, its underground landscape, and the patterns, weaknesses, and behaviors of its native creatures. They trade rare resources gathered from their hunts for food and other necessities with neighboring settlements. The warriors of this tribe are known as the Re’n, a force to be reckoned with in the desert.
SANDRIFT BEHEMOTH
General Environment:
DESERT DUNES
The colossal desert dune worm is a formidable creature that rules the vast, arid landscape. These massive worms can grow up to several hundred feet in length, with a diameter that rivals even the largest of ancient trees. Their segmented, cylindrical bodies are covered in a rough, leathery, durable and well-adapted hide to the harsh desert environment.
The dune worm’s enormous maw is lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, which allow the creature to tunnel through the sand with remarkable speed and agility. As it moves beneath the surface, it displaces the sand, causing treacherous vibrations that can be felt from miles away.
The desert dune worm plays a crucial role in the desert ecosystem. Its tunnels create subterranean passages that allow nutrients and water circulation throughout the sandy terrain. Magical Crystals deep within the desert’s core can be displaced, giving rise to the Maran Sandreavers to explore these passages.
KORA’AH’S ARCANUM
General Environment:
HARSH DESERT
The Tower of Kora’ah, a remarkable circular structure rising toward the sky, is the home of the Mir’kan. These Maran Mages have spent decades specializing in studying and experimenting with magical creatures and alchemical beasts.
With a history tracing only a few decades, the Tower of Kora’ah is shrouded in intrigue. Built by a secretive order of sorcerers, it has since become a center of knowledge and innovation, attracting only a chosen few scholars.
Comprised of one hundred floors, each level is dedicated to a specific type of magical creature or alchemical beast, fostering collaboration and focused study. The tower’s upper floors, housing the most powerful specimens, are accessible only to the most experienced Mir’kan.
THE DESERT JEWEL
Governance:
UNDER KRA'AH'S GUIDANCE
Level Of Technology:
LOW-MEDIUM
Attitude Towards Magic:
SPECIALIZATION
General Environment:
HARSH DESERT
In the thick of the Mirage Desert, Ket’al is a small village supported by Tora Kra’ah as its acquisitioned agricultural satellite, home some hundred Mara. Supported by innovations from the capital, the agricultural magic natural to the Mara of Ket’al allows the minor settlement to output a significant amount of produce.
With the formation of the third kingdom and the establishment of trade routes between it and the second kingdom, Ket’al has experienced some growth over the years from increased traffic, but as the primary trade routes pass through either Ay’ Mara or Xalal, it remains a humble village in the vast desert.
OASIS OF RENEWAL
Governance:
UNDER KRA'AH'S GUIDANCE
Level Of Technology:
LOW
Attitude Towards Magic:
HOSPITABLE
General Environment:
DESERT OASIS
In the unforgiving sands of the Mirage Desert, Ira Ser’ra is a vital oasis along the southern route through this perilous terrain. For centuries, weary travelers have sought refuge here, seeking shelter from the relentless desert sun and rejuvenating their spirits before continuing their journeys.
Ira Ser’ra has transcended its role as a simple rest stop, evolving into a popular tourist destination for those drawn to the extraordinary healing properties of the lake at its heart. Local legends tell of a celestial being whose tears, shed upon the sands, formed the lake and endowed its waters with mystical qualities.
The crystal-clear waters now serve as a source of healing and revitalization, beckoning warriors and tourists to bathe in its restorative embrace.
“Long ago, our ancestors wandered these sands, desperate and parched. But then, a celestial being wept for their plight, and Ira Ser’ra was born. The healing waters transformed our lives, and now we share their blessings with all who seek respite from the desert’s fury.” – Elder Mira of Ira Ser’ra
Authors
Vi Mai, Adam Jaskuloski
