Red Plains

The red plains is known for the various lava lakes which dot its surface, around which many of the rarer species congregate. Its deep and rich magical reserves create dust devils and waft wildfires across the lands.

The red plains are a hot desert climate with very minimal rain. The region has a brief wet season which usually lasts a few months, during which it transforms into a much more lush region before being consumed by brief but deadly fires during the summer and eventually cooling back down and starting the wet season once more.

The red plains are known for their endemic species. Many of these are exotic creatures, while others are simply common species which adapted to the region over time. Of these species, most are fauna, leaving just a few species of plants to cover the vast landscape. The most iconic of these species is the Black Ruby Oak with dark black wood and bright red leaves for 9 months out of the year. The Black Ruby Oak reproduces via use of fire, and when a tree burns its seeds are scattered, giving rise to the nexst generation. Despite this, they are actually quite fire-resistant, so they can last a very long time in isolated locations, though the trees near fire lakes tend to have shorter lifespans. Besides these iconic trees, which are by far the largest flora in the region, there are several smaller species. Most of the remaining species are Ember Annuals, a collection of small, folowering plants which burst into life during the short rainy seasons of the plains, before eventually drying in the sun, being caught in a wildfire, or eaten by the herbivores of the biome. Their fire-resistant seeds are then scattered, ensuring the growth of the next generation of plants. The colors of these flowers range across the entire color spectrum, and are excellent at attracting pollinators for their short lifespan. Another fire-resistant plant within the red plains are Grenadines, a shurb which grows seedpods that explode when set on fire, scattering them everywhere. Though much of the plant besides the pods will also burn, their woody roots, in which they store most of their water, often survive and, leading to regrowth after the fire passes. The seed pods themselves can wait years for the right conditions to grow, allowing the species to flourish in even the driest parts of the desert. Finally, the red plains is filled with several species of cacti, most of which are endemic. The cacti are of course excellent at surviving in arid conditions, but their fire-resistence is lacking compared to many other species. This has resulted in cacti developing thicker skins and deeper roots in order to ensure survival, as well as trending towards a small size to further reduce resource use.

The fauna of the red plains is much more diverse than the flora, with representatives of a number of different families of species, though none are more widespread than the Drakes. Wingless draconic species, the drakes are excellent burrowers and have a number of subspecies ranging from the size of a dog to that of a wyvern. There are a number of tame or semi-tame species which are used as beasts of burden and even mounts by the inhabitants of the plains and surrounding regions. These drakes are joined by the aforementioned Wyverns as well as Mortal/Earthborn Dragons, and a few species of Wyrms for the draconic class. as well as a number of reptilian species such as snakes and lizards. One such species is the Flying Lizard, a species that doesn't really fly but does glide from tree to tree, drinking the sap of the Black Ruby Oaks and eating flowers and fruits from the various smaller species. This gliding ability allows them to quickly escape trees if they catch on fire, and allow them to strike out towards a patch of dirt where the fire is less likely to strike. Another iconic lizard species is the illusosaur, a small species of lizard which projects an illusion of themselves to absorb hea, keep their surroundings cool, and is also used to trick predators. Another odd species is the fire moth, a species of moth which coccoon themselves in lava to grow to adulthood before bursting out of the surface and seeking nectar during the spring, before returning to their lava pools to lay new larvae. These are preyed upon by the Red Lungfish, a goldfish-like species which live in the fire pools. It is unclear how exactly these fish evolved to live in fire and breathe air, but they have. The ubiquitous salamanders are also present in these fire pools, which are some of their favorite places to be besides hot springs. The final totally unique species are the Sunsails, a species that is seemingly retilian and absorbs copious amounts of sunlight into energy through symbiotic bacteria which grow along their sail. This allows them to do essentially nothing except when escaping from predators, minimizing water use until they find a new oasis or aquifer. There are also several more regular species which call the red plains home. Antelope are often found on the outskirts of the plains, grazing on the tough shrubbery. There are also several species of Roadrunners that call the plains home, primarily hunting snakes. Then, too, there are a number of reflective ant species, who prevent the sun from harming them via extra-shiny carapaces. Additionally, praire dogs have found their way into the outskirts, and the endemic Deep Dogs are known to dig exceptionally deep for water, allowing them to hide almost anywhere.

The red plains, though sparse in actual cultivable crops, which limits population, do have a number of valuable resources. Various species, from the giant wyverns to the small Deep Dogs, are able to be hunted and eaten (with varying levels of difficulty). Additionally, the red plains is rich in several minerals, most commonly iron, which is a large part of why the soil is so red (though much of this is due to magic). It has some deposits of Vayridium, though these are rarely exploited due to the metal's resistance to heat. Then, there is the wood, sap, seeds, and leaves of the Black Ruby Oak, all of which are valuable goods for export. A few species of beans and herbs are also cultivated by people, but none are drought or fire-resistant enough to remain on their own without irrigation.

The red plains have been inhabited by the Pogodorn since time immemorium, and they hold a strong demographic domiance over the plains. However, during the height of the Ynertal civilization, various tribes would migrate into and through the region, leading to a brief period of intense conflict before they established their homes further northwest. Later, these tribes would begin ranging back west, culminating in a new migration of many of their numbers into the south. Since then, the plains have largely been in status quo, with various Yneratl tribes living there seasonally, but otherwise being dominated once more by Pogodorn.