Dead Valley

The **Dead Valley** is one of 16 regions in Phytor. The region is located in the centre of the continent and is only partialy inhabited.

## **Dead Valley**

### **Landscape**

The Dead Valley as it's name suggests is not very rich in plants or animals. Most of the region consists of vast desert and empty mountains. Only the Valley of Al Kazar in the west of the region is still habitable. The many small springs and rivers in this part have maintained life in the territory. The Valley of Al Kazar is split from the remainder of the Dead Valley by a large mountain range called the Sand Spine, referring to its sandy structure. East of the mountain range lays an empty desert, with some mountains, commonly referred to as the Blackhorn. To the south the region borders the great Catanago Lake. the Yellow Coast as this territory is called, has some settlements, but is very isolated from the Valley of Al Kazar and the north of Phytor.

The Mesa Grande functions as the western border between the valley and the Great Mesa. Several smaller rivers also run through the more livable areas of this region, such as the Yellow Run in the south and the Kazar Spring. In the southwest of the region originate bot the Mesa Nuovo and Mesa Colado. And lastly, several springs around the desert's edge feed into the Meridian up in the Midlands.

### **Geography**

the Dead Valley borders a total of 4 regions: the Midlands to the north, Acradam to the east, the Tropics to the south and the Great Mesa to the west. The only habitable places can be found to the west and south of the Sand Spine.

In the Valley of Al Kazar, you find the citystate of Al Kazar. One of the largest cities of Phytor and one of the only large city in the Dead Valley. Along the Yellow Coast you find several settlements. Split from Al KAzar by large mountains the area is autonomous, but falls under control of the Catanian Agglomerate, based on Cata. Great city ruins can be found in the desert landscape of the region centre, most notably the abandoned cities of Alghabat and Qurun.

### **Culture**

###### **Language**

Al Kazar is dominated by the Zarian people, most of which will only talk in Zaritsj, a very distant relative of the Vitorian speech. Only merchants and the higher class can speak in the common tongue. Along the yellow coast people from various backgrounds have come to live together, old Zarians, Acradians, Mesoans and Catanians live on the small coast. Most people will speak either Catak, the most common Catanian language or Acradian.

###### **Religion**

In Al Kazar almost everyone beliefs in the Alkhalida. Around the Yellow Coast the Alkhalida religion is very popular as well, but varies on several aspects from the religion in the west of the region.

## **Social Geography:**

### Geography:

Het grootste deel van de Dead Valley is onbewoond. In deze gebieden komen enkel nomadische groepen voor. De afgelegen ligging van de gebieden ten noorden van de Sand Spine is een haard voor roversbendes, die de enkele reizigers in het gebied regelmatig aanvallen. Dit maakt de Dead Valley, behalve om het extreme klimaat, een erg gevaarlijke regio. In de afgelopen eeuwen zijn de bendes gegroeid en steeds vaker vallen zij dorpjes in de zuidelijke Midlands aan. Dit zorgde voor de oprichting van de Valley Compagnie, gesitueerd in Phenatorio.

### Language and Culture:

De Dead Valley valt cultureel gezien op te delen in twee gebieden; de Valley of Alkazara en de Yellow Coast. In het verleden werden meerdere delen van de Dead Valley bewoond, maar die zijn door het vergroten van de woestijn in de loop van de eeuwen verdwenen.

**Valley of Alkazara**

De Valley of Alkazara wordt gedomineerd door het Zaarse volk. Zij stammen af van de oude Oosterlingen en trokken in de vroege eeuwen de Dead Valley binnen. De Zaren spreken Zaritsj, een verre variant op het oude Vitoriaans. De overgrote meerderheid geloofd in de Alkhalida, de onsterfelijke.

**Yellow Coast**

De Yellow Coast wort bevolkt door vele verschillende bevolkingsgroepen. De eerste vestigingen worden gesticht door Catanen, die al snel door Mesanen worden gevolgd. Na de First Valley War wordt de Yellow Coast een vluchtoord voor allen die verbannen zijn uit Acradam. De talen van alle drie volken worden in de regio gesproken. In de regio zijn tevens ook de geloven van deze groepen te vinden.

## **History:**

**TBA**

-Migration

-Age of the Alkhalida

-First Valley War

-Second Valley War

-War of Life

-Black Blood

## **Locations:**

#### **Regions:**

* Blackhorn
* Eastern Dunes
* Sand Spine
* Valley of Alkazara
* Western Dunes
* Yellow Coast

#### **Rivers/Lakes:**

* Catanago Lake
* Mesa Calado
* Mesa Grande
* Mesa Nuovo
* Yellow Run

#### **Cities/Villages/Castles:**

* Alkazara *(City)*
* Sandgate *(Village)*