Frontier Regions
Dangerous and exotic, the biomes bordering the Softlands are filled with difficult terrain, tough wildlife, and deadly predators. Only scraps of information regarding these frontier regions are known to the Travelers at this time, gathered in the days prior to the Joining. The frontier is only scantly populated by the Kif, who live in fortified outposts and industrial villages. The roads running throughout the borderlands are infrequently patrolled by the Kif guard, making a journey through the frontier a risky ventures in the best of times.
The Sea of Grass: Dominated by its namesake flora, the Sea of Grass is home to a variety of grasses and brush that blanket the landscape, ranging between knee-high to well over the Travelers’ heads. Grass wolves, Brogan packs, and small mammals live beneath and between the towering growth, as well as numerous insects and lesser monsters.
Pandemonium: Deep within the Sea of Grass lies the colossal pit that marks the entrance to Pandemonium, the inter-dimensional prison of demons. Almost nothing is known regarding this mysterious domain, although the Kif have stressed that even passing too close to its periphery can be deadly.
The Deepmist Jungle: Hot, humid, and verdant, the Deepmist Jungle lies a week’s ride south of the Softlands. Populated by giant insects and reptiles, as well as more iconic flora and fauna, the Deepmist Jungle is nearly impenetrable when traveling beyond a handful of cleared roads and trails. Adding to the beauty and danger of the region is a magical weather phenomenon known as the deepmists. These kaleidoscopic, ever-shifting banks of fog are capable of utterly disorienting those unfortunate enough to be caught inside, leaving them vulnerable to the lethal predators that hunt within the mists.
Brightdune Beech: To the west of the Softlands lies the stretch of coastline known as Brightdune Beech. Less hostile than the other frontier regions, Brightdune Beech was a popular spot for adventuring Travelers prior to the Joining. The dunes become highly reflective when struck by light at just the right angle, flashing for brief moments with enough intensity to temporarily blind the unprepared. This coastal region is inhabited by monstrous birds and crabs, as well as deadly aquatic beasts that prowl the shallow waters.
The Northlands: Universally considered to be the most dangerous of the frontier regions, the vast and inhospitable Northlands stretch out all the way to the northern border of the continent. Entrance to the Northlands is barred by the incredibly massive Wyvern’s Jaw mountains, with only a handful of passes connecting the Northlands its southern neighbors.