The Broken Lands

The Broken Lands are a stretch of hostile wastelands in the center of the continent of Emeren, reaching from coast to coast. The Broken Lands were created by the Cataclysm spell used by an unknown cabal of wizards that singlehandedly ended the Great War of Emeren. The consequence was a magically irradiated nigh impassible wasteland cutting off the east and west sides of the continent.

While most who venture into the Broken Lands do not return, those that do bring back curious tales. Strange creatures have been seen roaming around the central Moonscar Mountains, like mutated wolves the size of horses, and orc-like creatures of small stature with long ears.

Most scholars consider the greatest loss caused by the Cataclysm spell is the lost of the great Dwarven strongholds of the Moonscar mountains. Originally the home of the god Maukal, these strongholds were a central place of trade and magnificent craftsmanship, all wiped out by the Cataclysm spell.

Geography

The wastelands of the Broken Lands are bleak and dry, almost inhospitable. The central portions are deserts, with no rain or bodies of water to be found. On the coast, waves crash against rocky shores riddled with bones, as the magical density off the coast of the Broken Lands is the highest in the world, and is toxic to most life. Running down the middle of the Broken Lands is the Moonscar Mountains, the largest mountain range in Emeren. Massive glaciers still exist on the peaks, though they are far smaller than they once were. Rumor has it, some of the dwarves survived in Hallowed Peak, the old capitol... though no one who has investigated has returned alive.

Ecosystem

As previously mentioned, the Broken Lands is a place hostile to life. However, in some places, small pockets of life thrive. Everything that has managed to survive here has been heavily mutated by the dense magical energies, hardly recognizable to their previous forms. Small patches of plant life are able to survive near small streams and underground reservoirs, and small animals can eke out a living among the rocks.

Ecosystem Cycles

The Broken Lands have two seasons. In the spring and autumn, the wastelands are relatively calm, even getting small rainstorms on the edges. During the summer and winter, however, the Broken Lands become exceptionally dangerous, as the equinoxes thin the veil between the planes. Strange magical phenomena strike all over the wasteland, with the same event rarely happening twice.