Dry Steppes: Difference between revisions

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The vast stretches of prairie north of the Sulhaut Mountains and west of the Crystalmist Mountains. Rivers and oases here are scarcer even than the meager rainfall. Once the area was a fertile, well-watered grainbasket, the home of Baklunish Padishahs and Sultans, but the Invoked Devastation utterly ruined this fecundity. It is said that the central part of these steppes is still pleasant and rich and many Balkunish nomads roam there still. The so-called Horse Barbarians who roam the northern Dry Steppes are fine riders and warriors, employing composite bows, light lances, and a variety of scimitarlike weapons.
[[Image:Dry Steppes01.jpg|right]]
The '''Dry Steppes''' are seemingly endless prairie west of the [[Crystalmist Mountains]] and north of the [[Sea of Dust]].


There are, of course, many legends of ruins and buried cities which have great wealth and wonders that survived the Devastation, but the nature of this terrain is such that few seek them. Most noted are the tales of the Stone Circles on the shore of Lake Udrukankar, reputedly sacred to the people of the lands and said to hold powerful magic and deep latent evil within.
== Inhabitants ==
The Dry Steppes are home of the [[Plains of the Ulakandar|Ulakandar]]. Many are dervishes. The most powerful of their leaders is the warrior-prophet known as the [[Mahdi of the Steppes]]. Tribes of [[centaur]]s roam the plains as well. There are possibly a few scattered packs of [[thri-kreen]], though they are more common to the south.
 
== Flora and fauna ==
Large herd animals provide game for the Ulakandar, centaurs, and other large predators of the steppes,{{cn}} migrating north in [[summer]] and south in [[winter]]. Migratory birds have brought the [[vampire cactus]] to the margins of the steppes.
 
== Settlements and features ==
*[[Tovag Baragu]]
*[[Lake Udrukankar]]
 
== History ==
Before the [[Twin Cataclysms]] the Dry Steppes were the wet and fertile [[Baklunish Empire]]. The [[Invoked Devastation]] transformed it into the barren steppeland it is today. Most of the great cities of the [[Baklunish]] vanished without a trace.
 
== Dry Steppes in other sources ==
The Dry Steppes feature in the ''[[Gord the Rogue]]'' novel ''[[Sea of Death]]'' by [[Gary Gygax]] (New Infinities, 1987). Here the steppes are home to both the [[Baklunish]] [[Plains of the Ulakandar|Ulakandar]] (referred to as "Bayomen") and an [[Oeridian]] people called the [[Arroden]].
 
== References ==
=== Notes ===
<references group="note" />
=== Citations ===
<references />
=== Bibliography ===
*Beach, Tim, and Dori Hein. ''Thri-Kreen of Athas''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
*[[Gygax, Gary]]. ''The World of Greyhawk''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
:———. ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
:———. ''[[Sea of Death]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: New Infinities Productions, 1987.
*[[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
* [[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[Ivid the Undying]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. [https://greyhawkonline.com/download/16370/?tmstv=1727302323 PDF by William Allman with maps].  Original RTF archived:[http://web.archive.org/web/20081218001449/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads Wizards.com]. WGR7 or WGRx
*[[James M. Ward|Ward, James M.]] ''[[Greyhawk Adventures]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.
{{index}}
 
 
[[Category:Wastelands]]

Latest revision as of 16:19, 9 March 2025

The Dry Steppes are seemingly endless prairie west of the Crystalmist Mountains and north of the Sea of Dust.

Inhabitants

The Dry Steppes are home of the Ulakandar. Many are dervishes. The most powerful of their leaders is the warrior-prophet known as the Mahdi of the Steppes. Tribes of centaurs roam the plains as well. There are possibly a few scattered packs of thri-kreen, though they are more common to the south.

Flora and fauna

Large herd animals provide game for the Ulakandar, centaurs, and other large predators of the steppes,[citation needed] migrating north in summer and south in winter. Migratory birds have brought the vampire cactus to the margins of the steppes.

Settlements and features

History

Before the Twin Cataclysms the Dry Steppes were the wet and fertile Baklunish Empire. The Invoked Devastation transformed it into the barren steppeland it is today. Most of the great cities of the Baklunish vanished without a trace.

Dry Steppes in other sources

The Dry Steppes feature in the Gord the Rogue novel Sea of Death by Gary Gygax (New Infinities, 1987). Here the steppes are home to both the Baklunish Ulakandar (referred to as "Bayomen") and an Oeridian people called the Arroden.

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

  • Beach, Tim, and Dori Hein. Thri-Kreen of Athas. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
  • Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
———. Sea of Death. Lake Geneva, WI: New Infinities Productions, 1987.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff 4
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Dragon magazine #057 13
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Dragon magazine #209 14
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Dragon magazine #233 92
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Dragon magazine #253 44
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Dragon magazine #256 46
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 33, 56, 61, 62, 67
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), From the Ashes: References Card #12
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Greyhawk Adventures 22, 47, 48, 83, 99
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 13, 83, 85, 122, 143, 150, 154
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Living Greyhawk Journal #5 10
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Player's Guide to Greyhawk 6, 13, 40, 46
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Polyhedron magazine #018 21
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Return of the Eight 62
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), S1-4 Realms of Horror, Adventure Booklet 43
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), Expedition to the Barrier Peaks: Original Adventures Reincarnated #03, D&D 5e 24, 100, 174
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, Adventure Booklet 2
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), The Adventure Begins 16, 17, 21, 37, 38
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), WGA4 Vecna Lives! 48, 49, 56, 58
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) 14, 21, 24
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 31, 52, 53, 60
Dry Steppes Region (591 pop: Unknown), World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 15
Scarf of the Dry Steppes Item Greyhawk Adventures 83
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