Dizzera

Dizzera is a name sometimes given to a narrow stretch of dry plain along the northeastern edge of The Rift and along the upper Lerthon River, though the term is rarely used today. It consists of a narrow stretch of grass and shrubs that is no more than a couple miles wide at its largest, and often much thinner. Despite its small size, the vegetation and small amounts of water draining down from The Dragonpeaks supports a suprising array of life, both desert creatures and those from the more temperate areas to the north. Dizzera is most known, however, for the large number of ruins found in and arround it, some quite ancient, suggesting a larger population at an earlier time.   Though once its own province in the Aurean Empire, Dizzera today is populated mostly by goblinoids, especially hobgoblins, except around the towns of Thern and South Pass at its western and eastern ends. Some of the areas ruins are found a good ways into the desert itself, and the remains of large ancient cities can be found far from sufficient water sources, suggesting the area was much wetter in the distant past.  

History

  Early accounts of the region suggest that it was once far more lush than today, possibly with forests and a dense network of large city states. By the time any detailed records of it emerged, in the mid 2000s AY, it was already reduced to dry plain, if one much larger than today, and most large cities had been abandoned. The people there were known as Dizzerans, and were known for their unusual concentration of magical abilities.   The region was the first area to be conquered during the Aurean invasion of the Rift starting 3215 AY. It would become its own province in the Aurean empire from 3215 AY to 4292 AY when it was disbanded by the lich emperor Vollinan the Undying. During this time, the areas population and arrable land continued to shrink toward what it is today. During the empire's collapse, Dizzera was invaded by a large number of hobgoblins from the Dragonpeaks in 4835 AY, possibly with some connection to The Mountain War. Most of the areas remaining settlements were destroyed, and the population killed or driven away.