[風] tab Bahn tab Crystal tab Canyon tab [風]
Glass tab and tab Rock
______________A r e a tab D e s c r i p t i o n ||
tab Some four kilometers to the south of old Sunagakure, in the shadow of that once-powerful military stronghold, is a large canyon. The Bahn Crystal Canyon is one of the few places in the Radiant Wastes where vegetation grows. Its sheer cliff faces are covered in the snaking roots and branches of trees that have adapted to the location. Fresh water flows into the canyon from a spring somewhere in the ruins of Sunagakure, flowing from a waterfall in the northeast into a river that snakes southward. This river gets wider and deeper the farther south it gets, eventually terminating in an enormous lake.
tab This river is considered to be one of the most beautiful spots in the world, though few from outside the Land of Radiance ever get to see it. At its bottom glitter all sorts of gems and stones, causing it to shine in rainbow hues whenever the sun is overhead. These rocks are likely the remains of a large-scale mining operation, the collapse of which is largely considered to be the reason this canyon was formed in the first place.
tab Due to its beauty, natural water supply, shelter from the wind and sandstorms, and vegetation, this land is viewed as sacred by the Azhura, many of whom have set up permanent residence here. Their city--named Bahn, meaning "belly"--is mostly built into the cliff faces, carved from the earth so they can benefit from the support and cover provided by the plants that coat them. The areas along the river are reserved for farming and other similarly crucial functions. The entrance to this city is a steep slope on the southeastern side of the canyon, where many Azhura guards spend their days with their slaves. While not openly hostile to outsiders, the Azhura here are used to attempted raids by nomads and scavengers and will not hesitate to eject any ne'er-do-wells.
tab There are two seasons in the Bahn Crystal Canyon: Dry and Wet. In the Wet Season, the melting snow and ice from the mountains to the south trickles down the southern faces, leading to much lower temperatures, flourishing plant life (including many succulents unique to the region), and the emergence of animals seeking respite from the heat of the desert. At times the plants will shed some of their accumulated water, causing something similar to rainfall. The Dry Season begins when this water stops flowing, and is characterized by slightly lower flow rates in the river, diminishing overhead cover from the flora, and fewer animals. During the Dry Season, the only meat in the city is owned by wealthy traders, meaning practically everyone is forced into a vegetarian diet for several months out of the year.
tab Most of the Azhura who call this area home are known as the Talimad. The Talimad are known for the lightness of their skin, their small stature (being about human-sized), and their solidly colored eyes, but less known is their thirst for discovery. Many outsiders view them as ignorant shut-ins with no curiosity for the wider world, but in reality, they are constantly researching their surroundings, from the peculiar abundance of the land they live in, to the ruins of Sunagakure, to the bizarre vistas of the Infernal Wastes in the west. A tip for travelers: In the Bahn Crystal Canyon, the country is only referred to as the Land of Radiance; calling it the "Radiant Wastes" is highly offensive to the Talimad, for whom this land is holy.
______________P o i n t s tab O f tab I n t e r e s t ||
tab • River Tubahn - A winding river that snakes through the canyon. Often named the most beautiful river in the world, it is a great source of pride for the people who live in the Bahn Crystal Canyon. At its bottom are countless glittering jewels, all perfectly visible through the clear water. Colorful fish and shellfish flit through its depths, each one just as colorful as the river floor. The river ultimately collects in Lake Rabahn at the southwestern corner of the canyon.
tab • Cliffside Residences - Houses built directly into the cliff faces. Higher residences are harder to reach and are thus owned by the wealthy, who don't need to leave as often. It is not customary to have doors or windows, and having either marks one as a foreigner to be shunned.
tab • Farmlands - The lands immediately around River Tubahn are used for farming a variety of crops, most of which were originally imported. Crops are owned by the city, though farmers are free to take what they need before handing over any of their yield.
tab • Overlook Temple - When the Azhura first arrived in this area, they built a tower at the westernmost edge of the canyon so they could keep an eye on the horizon. Over the years, the tower was painted different colors to commemorate the passing of important religious figures, and in time became a symbol of the Azhura's religion itself. Now it is viewed as the Talimad's most sacred temple, a place for scholarly pursuits and worship. Every day, scholars will flock to it and observe the storm swirling overhead and the roiling seas of the Infernal Wastes.
______________N e a r b y tab L o c a t i o n s ||
tab • Ancient Ruins
tab • Nomad Lands
tab • The Infernal Wastes
______________D e f e n s e s // D a n g e r s ||
tab • Gatehouses - Official ports of entry are marked by multiple gatehouses. The outermost one always has spikes along its bottom and around the gate itself to prevent attempts to topple it. The inner gates serve mostly to filter out undesirables through repeated inspections and aren’t quite as sturdy. Boiling oil is dumped on those who pick fights, after which they’re either tossed into the desert or shoved off the road so they fall to their death. People who have houses beneath these inspection points will sometimes complain about falling ne’er-do-wells as if they were a standard part of the weather. “It’s raining men,” indeed.
tab • Holy Archers - Law enforcement in the city is light. The main punitive force is the fanatical group known as the Holy Archers. As it’s composed entirely of Ashura, this group’s inner workings and methods of selection are unknown to outsiders. There’s no clear command structure within the group, though it answers to the clergy. Members don’t seem to undergo any sort of special training; they just “awaken” to divine prowess with the bow and arrow. The ultimate show of their faith is their “Luminous String”, an attack that imbues an arrow with divine radiance (read: radioactivity) in exchange for snapping their bowstring.
tab • Jewel Shrimp - Colorful prawn that live among the gems at the bottom of River Tubahn. They’re skittish and not very tasty, but will attack anyone who picks one up on accident. However, as they’re not very big, they don’t pack much of a wallop.
______________R u l e s ||
tab • There are no rules worth noting at this time.
______________R e s o u r c e s ||
tab • Radiant Gems - Beautiful gems that exist at the bottom of the River Tubahn. It is highly frowned upon for anyone to take a gem, but not explicitly criminal. They make whatever they’re worked into radioactive as well, so they’re not very popular outside the country.
”Royal Taorito”
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