Menechtarun or the Menechtarun, also called the Menechtarun Desert, is a desert in Xen'drik. It is huge, over 1,000 mi (Expression error: Unexpected < operator. kmm) wide,[1] and covers much of the western portion of the continent.[4][5]
Geography[]
Menechtarun is an enormous desert that covers the entire western spur of Xen'drik.[6] The desert Menechtarun is surrounded by the towering peaks of three mountain ranges: the Fangs of Argarak, the Scimitar Spires, and the Skyraker Claws.[5]
Inhabitants[]
The desert is home to a number of races: the armands,[2][3] the bhuka, the asherati, and the thri-kreen.[3] Sun giants and sand giants dwell in the desert as well.[3]
Ashterati tell tales of scorponfolk dwelling in the deepest parts of the desert.[3]
The armand tribes usually erect caravans at or near desert oases and welcome travelers, traders, and adventurers. They have peaceful relations with the sand giants of the Golden Sargasso, trading regularly with them, and also trade with orc and goatfolk tribes in the neighboring Fangs of Argarak.[2]
The blue dragon exile and rogue dragon Shendroa stalks the Menechtarun desert. She was exiled for stealing and devouring the eggs of other dragons.[7]
The brass dragon Yulgrin was abandoned by his mother as a wyrmling after she was driven mad by the altar of blood, and slaughtered her mate. He now defends his parents' remaining five eggs from predators, including Shendroa.[7]
Flora & Fauna[]
Due to shifting climate and terrain, dire apes can be found amidst the dunes.[8] Redspawn firebelchers roam both the Menechtarun and the neighboring Skyraker Claws mountain range; it's theorized they were bred as guards or beasts of burden by fire giants at the height of giant civilization.[9]
History[]
There is archaeological evidence of a vermin lord creating a kingdom among the thri-kreen nomads some twelve thousand years ago. This kingdom conquered small city-states and desert tribes for a time before they suddenly disappeared.[3]
Notable Locations[]
In the interior of the desert, there is a fabled Oasis of Blood, where blood flows in the place of water. The nearby ziggurat is said to be where the giant deity Ouralon Lawbringer shared the secrets of magic with select giants, and it persists as a cursed ruin due to the blood magic used by the titans.[10] The surrounding area for miles around is ringed by red sand, and beset by haunted undead.[10]
Discovered by the Morgrave University scholar and expert on the history of Xen'drik Janik Martell, Mel-Aqat is said to reside within the Menechtarun Desert.[3][11]
Rumors & Legends[]
Within the desert sands is said to lie a ziggurat where the giant deity Ouralon Lawbringer first appeared to the giants and handed down the secrets of magic to their titan forebears.[12][10]
There is a legend of a region of bitter cold within the blistering sands of the desert.[5]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 23–24. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Chris Perkins (August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 77, 111, 154. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 22, 23, 24. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 153. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ Logan Bonner and Chris Sims (2008). An Adventurer's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 53. ISBN 0-7869-4855-8.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Nicolas Logue, & Amber Scott (2007). Dragons of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-4154-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ (July 2006). Monster Manual IV. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 0-7869-3920-6.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Nicolas Logue, & Amber Scott (2007). Dragons of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-4154-5.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 127. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Nicolas Logue, & Amber Scott (2007). Dragons of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 133. ISBN 0-7869-4154-5.