Dust Background

Dust is a dry land, the majority of which is desert. Those that are lucky enough to dwell alongside the oases and the river courses work hard with animals to make those regions fertile. Even in the deep desert, the occasional monsoon storms that sweep in from the mountains can coax life from the sands. Toward the coast there are even some areas of jungle where the humidity of the sea has not yet been blasted away by the relentless sun. The land mass is large but lightly populated, even in the fertile regions.

Recent events have led to the discovery of many lost lands. Where once there was only the oasis of the Thousand Tears of Nia, now there are many more regions to explore and discover.

In the centre of the continent lies the Oasis of the Caliph once known as the Thousand Tears of Nia. South of this lies the lands of Juanogre, home of the Ogres and further south still lies the Valley of Nia. To the north are the lands of the Serpents known as Apep and to the South west the newly discovered lands of the Anunna and to the northeast across a mountain range are the Lost Valleys.

To far west lies Thieneland. Once part of the main continent but damaged by events in AU19, this is now a separate land mass with its very northern edge a walled off region known as the home of the Architects of Iron.

Only the hardiest or most desperate would attempt to survive in the deepest deserts, where the sands, djinn and efreet combine to make travel extremely hazardous hampering any exploration effort.

The region called Dust was part of the Shards world for 15 years before explorers found the coast over the mountains, the Caliph building the Khal tunnel to connect the first port of Dust.

The first and largest settlement is located at the very heart of Dust. The culture here is very similar to that of the Middle East (Arabian) and gathers itself around the many small oases that exist here. The oases are collectively known as the Oasis of the Caliph, or to some still as the Thousand Tears of Nia, each oasis being ruled by a specific household. Collectively it is ruled by the Caliph, the Caliphate encompassing all settlements in the Oasis.

Just to the south west of the Oasis of the Caliph are the haunted ruins of Hieraconpolis.

To the south is the smallest of Dust’s settlements known as Shibin el Kom that translates as Last Water. The culture here is similar to that of ancient Egypt, while a third culture lies to the north at the feet of the Mountains of the Moon, it is know as Vindhyachala. Here the culture has a far eastern/Indian feel.

Minor Settlements and Other Places of Note

Hieraconpolis

Once a mighty city of an empire now known as Shibin el Kom.  A haunted ruin that travellers take a wide route to avoid is all that remains.  Legends of the desert attest to great treasures hidden there and many a bold tomb robber has disappeared searching them.

The Sands of Time surrounding the Hieraconpolis have mostly flowed away but pockets still exist, unseen and constantly moving, travel through this region is just as dangerous as it ever was.

The Nest of Vipers

If this area has a real name the local nomads do not know it.  The eastern ranges of the mountains of Geb have become a no-mans-land as the serpent men have claimed this area for themselves.  Excavations and building prospects can be seen from the foothills, but nothing is known of the higher valleys.  No travellers return from the Nest of Vipers.

Megiddo

Deep in the heart of the burning sands of Arak lies a small collection of standing stones. This is all that remains of an ancient city destroyed in a siege a thousand years before the Rage of Arak. The only beings to survive in this burning hellhole are the Djinns who gather around the stones and whisper secrets to the wind. As the only current information about this ruin is gained from the Djinn themselves it is liable to be grossly inaccurate.

Lake of Tiamaz

A huge salt-water lake. Supposedly a great serpent or dragon died here and its body poisoned the water for all time.

Hyksos

Far to the south of Shibin el Kom lie the ruins of Hyksos rule. Within a single year of the start of the Rage of Arak it became apparent to the Hyksos that their lands would no longer support them. After several years of military build up which included arming the general populous, the Hyksos invaded Shibin el Kom. Due to the wars against the M’Mubians, Shibin el Kom was unable to repel its borders. The Hydsos subsequently occupied an area known as Lower Kemet. It was not until 880 years later that the Hydsos were finally driven out of Shibin el Kom. The remains of the Hyksos are said to wander the great deserts, still looking for a homeland.

M'Mubians

The descendants of this ancient race live a subsistent life on the upper banks of Iteru (The river of Shibin el Kom). During the Rage of Arak the armies of M’Mubia swept into Shibin el Kom. Their forces were eventually crushed but at great cost to Shibin el Kom. In retribution, many M’Mubians were put to the sword. The survivors scratch a living and are mostly ignored by their neighbours.

Babili

The Rage of Arak destroyed many great civilizations. Among them, Babili stands alone as a testimony to stubbornness, when all the other nations went to war in a massive land grab during the first stages of the Rage of Arak, Babili refused to give up its homelands. Ultimately when their lands could no longer support them, most of the available land was occupied. The only remains of these civilizations, apart from sand covered ruins, are a small handful of oases. Their history and all culture was absorbed into the melting pot that is the Thousand Tears of Nia.