The Shards

The Shards are an region of green, glassy monoliths in the north of the Markesian Desert, extending from the Boulderpeak range. The Shards are primarily composed of glass and traversing the area is more like walking through a deserted forest than a mountain range. Many fine gems and metals pockmark the Shards and litter the sandy ground. The Shards are home to the training grounds of the Stained Guard. Ancient legend holds that the Shards were created by a Magma Great-Snail from deep within the Boulderpeaks, but a snail of the necessary size has not been seen and is unrecorded in dwarven record. Life in the Shards is harsh. Glass storms are frequent and the abundance of rare minerals attracts traffickers. Refuge can be found in wind carved pockets within the cliff-like faces of the Shards and many unsavory groups have established safehouses and mining operations in the area. Despite this high risk, the close presence of the Stained Guard allows the Markesian Empire to harvest high quantities of minerals, which provide the majority of the global trade supply, since the dwarves do not trade raw minerals.