31.3 Bonro Sands, the Red Quarter

On the distant edges of the Drakkenmont Empire stretches out the Red Quarter, a vast region so named for its rolling expanses of ruddy sands. Once tightly held in the grip of House Galthor - the Dreikathi Great House led by the indomitable Polemarch Axander, known also as Andalso - Bonro was long-regarded as little more than a desolate and destitute province of the Empire, rarely worthy of notice or consideration at all.

It was the siege of Dramlai Watch, the mighty fortress that once guarded passage into the region, that signalled a shift. Liberated from Drakkenmont by the Resistance and with Axander executed by Sapient adventurers, the Red Quarter now stands open to any daring enough to pursue the ancient region's many secrets.

The Bonro Sands dominate the Red Quarter, a formidable desert running from the Dramedo Crags in the south up to the more aspiring elevations of the Cloud Peaks in the north. Amid this inhospitable terrain, the Oases Valley emerges in the north, a beacon of life. Here, beneath the Cloud Peaks' shade, verdant oases provide sanctuary and sustenance, making it home to the lion's share of the Red Quarter's populace despite being a relatively small portion of the vast expanse of the sands.

Those of the Red Quarter hold a deep-seated reverence for Kaj, the Child. Local folklore tells that the bounteous oases are a direct result of His blessings upon this arid land. There was also once worship of Dejaani, the First Flame in the region, and where one finds worship of Light, there is always Shadow to be found to counter it.

Despite its inhospitable climate, the region is home to a wide array of diverse and unique wildlife and flora. Among these, none is more well-known nor easily recognisable than the haatun; these giant lizard-like creatures fulfill roles as pack animals and mounts. Not all haatun are domesticated however, and the wild beasts of the Red Quarter are challenging sport and deadly adversary alike for the brave - or the foolish.

While a mosaic of races calls the Red Quarter home, with some even tracing back to ancestors taken from the Sapience continent centuries ago, the Caentoi are the predominant people. The Aslinn, too, mark a notable presence. Many live as nomads, wandering the desert in close-knit clans. These clans often trek far from the Oases Valley, relying on secluded oases that are closely guarded clan secrets. Amidst this vast landscape, Hatshero remains a rare outpost of civilisation within the valley.

However, the desert isn't just home to these wandering clans. Bandits, such as the notorious Underbelly's Red Hand with origins in these sands, pose constant threats to those journeying through the Red Quarter. Tourists - of which there are now many following Dramlai's liberation - are strongly advised to travel by caravan and keep their wits about them.