Blasted Desert
The Blasted Desert or Blazing Desert[1] is a massive "natural barrier" desert in Western Oerik between the Southlands[2] and the region occupied by Drazen's Horde.
Note that the Sundered Empire map in Chainmail Core Rulebook (2002) does not accurately reflect the size of the desert as described in official Chainmail sourcebook texts.[note 1]
Geographical obstacles and factions bound the Blasted Desert. Drazen's Horde occupies the northern edge of the desert. To the northeast and northwest respectively are Ahmut's Legion and the Free States. Due east and due west are unnamed mountain ranges. To the south lay the Southlands.
The region now called the Blasted Desert includes the lands of the Tribes of the Enllaves, which has a "desert" and "a high plateau that escapes the worst heat of the sand sea."[7]
"The region below the Blasted Desert, [is] known in Ravilla simply as 'the Southlands'".[2] There are cultures or inhabitants beyond the desert in the Southlands—namely the homeland of the hobgoblins[6]—but they were never investigated by Ravillan scouts other than peripherally,[2] though some bands of adventurers did venture south.[2]
Little is known of the geography farther south, only that it was thoroughly ignored by Ravilla. However, the regions has plateaus in the Southlands,[1] and "primeval forests" in the Barbarian Seameast.[7]
Inhabitants
The Tribes of the Enllaves were once found in the area known as the Blasted Desert, though little is known of them or if they continue to inhabit the area.
Eventually, as Drazen's power grew and he marched north toward the lands of Ravilla, other humanoids rallied to his banner and eventually also included half-ogres, goblins, hobgoblins, ettins, and creatures used as combatants like owlbears, war apes, and dire boars.
Notable individuals
- Drazen—Hobgoblin warlord of Drazen's Horde.
- Voja—Hobgoblin adept, second in command to Drazen.
- Izrock—Voja's primary lieutenant.
- Galtai—cleric of Nomog-Geaya, cult leader of the Soldiers of the Last Order.
Flora and fauna
Settlements and features
History
When Drazen began gathering tribes in "the southlands, beyond the Blasted Desert"[8], the land was teeming with savage humanoids.[9][10] The faction was originally composed of "orcs, bugbears, ogres, and other murderous riffraff".[11]
However, even after taking an enormous army of thousands upon thousands of humanoids north, the hobgoblin homeland in the Southlands was still populated by the tribes.[6]
References
Notes
- ↑ The map of Western Oerik[3] from the Chainmail Miniatures Game does not accurately reflect the information contained in the text of the game. It shows the entire region south of Drazen's Horde illustrated in the same color, seeming to make it one large, continuous desert, though it is not labelled the "Blasted Desert" on that map. Only the Southlands are labelled in that region. However, the Blasted Desert and Southlands are two separate locations. The Blasted Desert is north from the Southlands,[4] Drazen came "out of the lands of the south"[1] in the "region below the Blasted Desert, known in Ravilla simply as 'the Southlands',"[4] and the Horde "crossed the Blasted Desert".[5][4][6]
Therefore, the region called the "Blasted Desert" must be between the Southlands and Drazen's Horde locations illustrated on that map, and not the entire area, even though it does not quite appear that way in the illustration, and is not labelled.
Citations
- ↑ a b c Chainmail Miniatures Game Core Rulebook (2002), p.6.
- ↑ a b c d "Drazen's Horde". Dragon #292 (Feb 2002), p.102.
- ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Core Rulebook (2002), p.19.
- ↑ a b c Dragon #292 (Feb 2002), p.102-103.
- ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Starter Set (2001), p.6, Model Description Booklet.
- ↑ a b c "Soldiers of the Last Order". Dragon #315 (Jan 2004), p.104.
- ↑ a b Dragon #A1 (Annual #1 1996), p.72.
- ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Starter Set (2001), (insert) "Build a Better Warband" .
- ↑ "Drazen's Horde". Dragon #292 (Feb 2002), p.103.
- ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Starter Set (2001), p.6, Model Description Booklet.
- ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Starter Set (2001), p.8, Rulebook.
Bibliography
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.
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