The Scarred Sands

Taking up a large portion of south-west Orlanthea lies the lawless desert of the Scarred Sands. Legend has it that when the immortals roamed, the scarred sands was once filled with lush plant-life, but after mortals dared to kill the daughter of the sun, she decided to burn away almost all plant life.

## Climate

The Scarred Sands is a barren desert wasteland with little precipitation and lots of sunlight. Though, sprinkled across the dessert are small oasis' and mountain ranges at line the coast and borders of the

## Population

The Scarred Sands is a mix of a variety of races, most travelling into the country illegally or hiding out there. Its diversity makes it hard to get a specific percentage of what lives there, but a majority of its population is made up of Lizardfolk, Yuan-Ti Purebloods and Tieflings. Originally, only these three races inhabited this area because of the intense climate and wildlife. However, through the advances of technology and terrible border control, many people have slipped into the country unknown.

## Major Cities

### Malkovia

Home of the biggest and most well-known casinos in Orlanthea-the Oasis- Malkovia is one of the flourishing cities of the Scarred Sands. A mostly neutral city, crime is nearly non-existant due to the ever-watchful eye of the Goddess who resides there, Blackjack. Outside of casino, the lives of the people there are blessed with ever-running streams of water that weave through its city and rich soil. The city itself is small but has a plentiful population of mostly retired criminals, people in hiding and the yuan-ti who have been on Malkovia's ground for generations. This is considered one of the neutral zones in not only the sands, but Orlanthea as the Goddess who resides there wishes to keep the city safe and her casino free from outside concerns.

Within the Oasis, it's a chaos filled area where time is meaningless. It's a place open to anyone, as long as Blackjack permits you to be in there. To most, it's known as a turbulent mess of drugs, alcohol and gambling, but to some it's where they call home. Many who fear for their lives or have no other place to go come under the protection of Blackjack and are taken care of. Her only wish, is that you abide by the deal you create upon taking her protection.

### Khauling City

Beneath the surface of the Scarred sands are tunnels and caves that are filled with all sorts of dangers and hostile wildlife. In one of these caves is Khauling City, otherwise known as the Home of the Sand Wyrm Raiders. A criminal hub in the Scarred sands, the people who live here have learned to become one with the beasts that burrow throughout the desert.

The people who live here have adapted to life underground and are born with markings that glow to help them navigate through the dark. The more detailed the designs, the more beautiful you are considered to be, regardless of race or gender. These markings come in a variety of colours, blue being the most common and yellow being the rarest. Most children start with one or two tattoos and as you get older and experience more with your life, more markings will appear. When outsiders wish to join their city permanently, they must undergo the trial of the sands, where they must prove themselves worthy or earning the wyrm's respect. Once successful in their feat, the wyrm will brand them and stay loyal to its master and said outsider will slowly gain their tattoos. Aside from the tattoos, another way to distinguish the locals from visitors is the strange accessories and fashion they wear. Clothes are made from animal hide and bones, usually the more extravagant the better.

Currently, the city doesn't have a main deity or any real laws, more like guidelines people heavily abide by. However, like most of the people in the Scarred sands, they acknowledge Blackjack as one of the main people worshipped.

### Delphone City

What is now one of the biggest slave cities in the Scarred Sands, use to be one of its most holy areas. Legends said that the sliced up mountain the surrounding ravines Delphone exist in was the result of two gods who fought over the land many many years ago. Because of this, many priests, clerics, paladins and other holy people took to make this place their home, this once being the main religious hub in Orlanthea. However, after being raided and pillaged multiple times, it has turned into a city with the heaviest of feudal systems. The rich living on the mountain and the land above it and the poor living in the ravines. The system there is heavily reinforced and the situation for the poor keeps becoming more and more difficult. Most live their entire lives never seeing the sum. Though, one of the areas down in the ravines provides solace to many. This area is called 'Home for Hoes/The Grand Madam’s Emporium of Fine Delicacies, Treats and the Exotic'.

A huge brothel that exists in the red light district of the ravines, no other district existing above the ravines exists because they usually end up in the slave area anyways. The Red light district is like many others, but the Grand Madam's Emporium is where many go. Run by Bingo, she protects those who come into her care as long as they work for her. The people who work in the Emporium are usually given better living conditions and livable wages off of what they do. This is possible because of Bingo's connections to Blackjack, along with a secret she hides within the alls of the brothel.

## Religion

Due to the mass amount of people, many religions have existed in the Scarred sands, one of the most notable ones being the Temple of Venisha, AKA the Cult of the Sun God. However, there is one that stands out in the lawless desert. One that most if not all acknowledge. One, that I am over-dramatizing because she herself is a dramatic bitch. It's the one, the only, Sovereign of the Dice, Blackjack.

### BlackJack

Blackjack is the God/Goddess of Trickery, Deception, Gambling, Secrets, Luck/Divination, Portals, Wishes, Gorgans and Illusions. Though their clerics and paladins exist, they mostly get their worship through the deals they make throughout all of Orlanthea. Known as the God who hears, as long as you make a deal with them they seem fit, you can get whatever you want. Aside from that, no one really knows about the Gorgan deity. They do have two main worshippers, which is Barracat and Bingo, who are also her siblings. Most don't question her existence, but it's rumoured that she's been here since the first smidge of luck was rolled. Though she isn't heavily prevalent in the world, many turn to her to change their odds, their destiny, their fate.

To contact the deity, you just need to hum this jingle: *"If you got a steal, I'll make you a deal and we'll get you on your way."*