Western Golden Desert

  Within the center of the Golden Dunes, its western desert resides. This is a massive landmass covered by rolling hills, slithering mountain ranges and rivers that stretch on for miles.   Despite being a desert, this place is far more than the rolling dunes found within the flat pockets of land. A lot of it consists of smaller mountains covered by hills, as well as oases, which support the rich diversity of life that flourishes here.   From the dark mountains in the northwest, to the shorelines and cliffs in the southeast. The Western Golden Desert is a maze of elevations that makes no subregion within alike the other.     The Western parts of the Golden Desert are surprisingly temperate. The scorching heat of the dunes are mostly regulated to the sand flats that also turn deadly cold at night. Though, the areas around the mountains and especially rivers and oases are not as affected by extreme weather conditions.   Here, plenty of vegetation still grows and casts shades on the ground, reflecting the sun's beams. The many rivers also help with reflecting away warmth. This has a direct counter effect against the icy nights as well, as nature stores the heat to combat the cold.   This has made the desert hospitable and even has downpours that can last for hours up to a shy amount longer than a full day. Though these rainfalls do not happen more often than once every month.     The Western Golden Desert does not only derive its name from the deep yellow dunes, but also the colour of the grass that grows everywhere there is water or shade. This region is anything but dry and barren. Large cacti groves and acacia woods dominate around oases and a large variety of trees and shrubbery can be found all around the shorelines and hilltops.   Due to the extreme changes in conditions between subregions, a lot of microbiomes exist within the larger landscape. This has caused evolution to go wild and produce a plethora of different blossoms and herbs with different medicinal properties. Turning the desert into a hotspot for herbalists and the students of the healing arts.     Life here is abundant. From the smallest critters to gigantic creatures such as the Elephax herds or the Direfangs that fight over the dominion of the deserts rolling hills. Their migrations and battles often cause movements within the animal kingdom as many creatures gather around the Elephax for protection against predators, while others need to search for new pastures to feed.   The region is also home to a quantity of large birds, such as several breeds of Royalgryphons. These noble creatures still serve the Golden Empire as avian steeds, even though they are swiftly being replaced by airships for transport and combat. Especially so, as less of these rare beasts need to die. Something which in the past caused a dangerous rise in the Basilisk population, without their natural enemy to keep them in check.   While deserts are not famous for waterbodies, this one still has a large diversity of amphibians and reptiles that reside within the rivers, serving as perfect sustenance for the birds. Although a couple of them have learned how to fight back, such as the Wheelmouth Toad and the Wingcobra. Both, which are menaces for people and yet served as delicacies in nomadic cuisine.   The title of deadliest creature of the western desert, however, does not go to any of these creatures. The apex here is not among the largest creatures, but one of the smallest. The Yellowback Badger, which knows no fear and has a hide hard enough to deflect bullets. Unlike ordinary honey badgers, this one has special glands within its claws - allowing them to produce a powerful paralysing toxin that spares no creatures. No matter the size.