The Parchedlands

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The Parchedlands are a long, narrow region south of the Hewn City and north of the Shifting Expanse. Their undesirable location and lack of resources, combined with a forgiving clime and arable land, once made them a haven for beast and dragon clans unaffiliated with any Flight. They are currently mostly abandoned.
== History ==
=== Pre-BotE ===
There is no single official history of the Parchedlands, nor a single official name prior to the surge in elemental energies that devastated them. Local names included "Stone-farm", "the Rolling Plains", and "the borderlands". They lacked any resources to attract the attention of most neighbouring dragons (namely metals and relics), though they were occasionally subjected to raids or partially settled by Flight-affiliated clans. Their location also made them susceptible to collateral damage during skirmishes between Light and Lightning, though this was considered preferable to the dangers associated with settling in a potentially-hostile Flight. Due to their reliance on remaining beneath the attention of nearby Flights, denizens collectively agreed to a non-aggression pact, as well as an alliance against potential threats. An unofficial "it's none of my business" policy was also in effect, with the general consensus being that, so long as you weren't causing trouble, it didn't matter who you'd been prior to arriving. Most settlers were subsistence farmers, though rustic crafts, tinkering, and scholarly pursuits were also common.
=== BotE ===
The elemental surges proved devastating to the region. The intensified power of Light contributed to longer, hotter days that overwhelmed local flora, existing as it already did in a drier region than much of the Sunbeam Ruins. The storms of the Shifting Expanse spread further and faster, sparking massive wildfires. The Hewn City's influence was also strengthened, and its shadow fell over areas that might've otherwise survived the fires and drought. The region fell into chaos; peaceful clans were driven to conflict over dwindling supplies, while others fled as refugees to shelter with sympathetic dragon clans. Whether by death or expatriation, much of the land was abandoned.
=== Post-BotE ===
After its abandonment, the region gained its modern name, as well as a reputation as a destination for treasure-hunters and raiders. Stories of gold and artifacts buried in farmhouses circulate into the current day, resting on the assumption that the "eccentric" dragon population must have had secrets worth burying; of lesser value but greater quantity are the durable goods abandoned during the elemental surge. In addition to this, structures matching the design of the Hewn City have been spotted dotting the region. It's unclear how they went unnoticed until now; the assertion that they are somehow "newly arrived" is obvious nonsense. While some clans have proposed (and even attempted) anti-desertification strategies, and some regions (namely those claimed by Flight-aligned dragons) have remained relatively untouched, for now much of the Parchlands seem consigned to despoilment and decay.
== Notable Areas ==
=== The Old Road ===
Local name for a long, winding road from the Hewn City down towards the Shifting Expanse. This road, as well as its much shorter counterpart (which runs straight south into the Expanse), saw a good deal of use and settlement by local clans. Much of the original road was lost, with restorations and upkeep performed by the community; the elemental surge destroyed these repairs, but also uncovered new patches of the original bone-white tiles. Still, these areas remain scattered, so most evidence of the road is relegated to the burned-out husks of the farms and inns built alongside it. The Old Road is travelled mostly by spectres and raiders these days, and should be avoided.
=== Coward's Crossing ===
Local name for a large permanent settlement in the region. The name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to their stance towards the Flights, it but betrays the size and scale of the settlement, which might be better described as a low-built rustic city. This area was protected from the wildfires thanks to a series of firebreaks, so its abandonment remains something of a mystery; investigation of Coward's Crossing has indicated that it was abandoned almost overnight, but no survivor has come forward with an explanation. Coward's Crossing is a popular target for scavengers.
=== The White Cradle ===
One of the newly-discovered Hewn City ruins, the White Cradle is located south of Coward's Crossing. It's in better repair than most other such ruins, and its intact sections have been described as a "nonsense maze". Its namesake structure is a massive marble sculpture of unknown significance. When a storms hits and rain accumulates in the "cradle", it seems to contribute to local tremors, the intensity of which increase as the water level rises, though storms are so rare and unpredictable that this effect (which may well be pure hearsay) has not been studied. The arrangement of the ruin indicates that the cradle is not the focal point of the "maze".
Category:Communal Locations
Category:Light