The Refuge

"The Refuge? Yes i mean i have heard rumors of it but never been there or even gotten in sight of it. I don´t even know anyone that has been there. By the stories they tell it must be an abhorrent place. They say only those go there that are nowhere else accepted. I mean I know a few people from Sy-tarmen and even south of there - gruesome characters mind you - and they seem comfortable enough with their surroundings. I almost dare not consider how bad people would have to be to get banned from there and sent into the desert."

— one merchant to another

The Refuge - as it is called mostly by its inhabitants and peoples of the northern, more civilized regions - is a camp-like settlement in the south-eastern parts of the Great Desert, a few days travel from its borders.
Among the southlanders, be it from the flats of Naydan, the borders of the Belt or the shores of First Haven Bay the Refuge is commonly called different names, of which "Camp halfwit" is only the nicest one.

The Refuge grants home to those ejected and cursed by society; the half-breeds, born of one part demon parent. Thes poor children (sometimes even infants) are brought there in secret by their mothers or born there if the mothers had to flee for their lives already during pregnancy. Some few are also found - left alone to perish in the desret sun- by travellers and brought to the Refuge. But few of these survive as the desert sun in cruel and often the poor creatures have been exposed to it simply for too long.
Even of those that make it to the camp, many die. For half breeds are often born with self-hatred or without a will to live. If they do not find a pupose in life early on they will simply wither away and die. This would cause the Refuge to grow a large burial area over time. But organized raids from the nearest settlements force the Refuge time after time to break down its tents and find a new place to stay. Thus they move from oasis to oasis, rarely ever returning to one. This keeps them safe and hidden from those that wish the inhabitants harm, but also makes it hard for anyone who means well or is in need of help to find the camp.

Those that call the Refuge their permanent home life hard lives. Many of those that grow up there choose to leave. For even those with part demon blood in their veins can often find a more comfortable life elsewhere. Those who stay do so out of the deep desire to help others, believing in every single living being to deserve a chance at life.