DDO Stormreach: The Sands of Menechtarun

Across the western reaches of Xen’drik lies Menechtarun, a vast desert that was once lorded over by a tyrannical Wizard-King and his demonic servants. Today, Menechtarun is home to settlers, gnoll tribes, and the Vulkoorim (aka the “Chosen of Vulkoor”), a sect of fanatical drow and sorrow. The Wizard-King is dead, but his servants are still very much alive and kicking, giving a new name to to Menechtarun and changing it to Demon Sands.

Over at the Dungeons and Dragons Online site, they have posted information about the interest areas found in Demon Sands, namely: Zawabi’s Refuge, Scavenger Wastes, Windlasher Canyon, Valley of the False Tombs, Burning Mountain, Serpent’s Pass, The Scar, and Vulkoor Spiral. Let us briefly go through them one by one:

Zawabi’s Refuge – located to the north of Scavenger Wastes, refugees go here to seek djinni’s protection, ruler of the oasis. Adventurers, traders, outcasts and other questionable characters from far-off lands go here as well. Zawabi’s Refuge is a bastion against gnoll and scorrow raiders that prey on lost travelers and ill-protected caravans. The realm is bound to the oasis by a powerful spell and cannot leave his circle, but within the Refuge, his power is supreme.

Valley of the False Tombs – rumored to be the final resting place of Raiyum the Wizard-King and his servants – Kourush and Rahmat. The Wizard-King’s tomb is rumored to have traps and decoy tombs to conceal the real burial chamber of the tyrant.

The Scavenger Wastes – hyena and gnoll-infested lands where the magically-guarded entrance to Zawabi’s Refuge lies.

Burning Mountain – dominates the territory of Firebrand gnolls with dangerous ledges and twisting trails. Also has guarded gates but those who are able to survive and enter report the existence of a fortress-like city within its volcanic interior, where dozens of slaves toil without hope of release.

Windlasher Canyon – carved out by the desert winds of Menechtarun, this canyon now serves as home for the Windlasher gnolls who are less aggressive than the Firebrands but just as deadly in combat.

Serpent’s Pass – a valley that lies deep in Firebrand territory which Firebrand gnolls often use as a staging area for raids against the Vulkoorim. There are very few who manage to leave this place alive.

The Scar – a bulwark that separates the gnoll tribes from the Vulkoorim scorrow and their drow worshippers. There are treacherous paths and a pair of stone bridges which are supposedly the only ways to cross the Scar. However, the scorrow keeps a close watch on these entry points so if you’re not careful, you’ll end up as ‘guests’ in Vulkoor Spiral’s bloody rituals.

The Vulkoor Spiral – a holy shrine for the Vulkoorim and their worshippers, the Spiral is an underground network of caverns where prayers and bloody sacrifices are offered to all three aspects of the scorpion god Vulkoor, although Vulkoor the Wrathful is the form most revered by this dark and violent cult.

Via DDO

Across the western reaches of Xen’drik lies Menechtarun, a vast desert that was once lorded over by a tyrannical Wizard-King and his demonic servants. Today, Menechtarun is home to settlers, gnoll tribes, and the Vulkoorim (aka the “Chosen of Vulkoor”), a sect of fanatical drow and sorrow. The Wizard-King is dead, but his servants are still very much alive and kicking, giving a new name to to Menechtarun and changing it to Demon Sands.

Over at the Dungeons and Dragons Online site, they have posted information about the interest areas found in Demon Sands, namely: Zawabi’s Refuge, Scavenger Wastes, Windlasher Canyon, Valley of the False Tombs, Burning Mountain, Serpent’s Pass, The Scar, and Vulkoor Spiral. Let us briefly go through them one by one:

Zawabi’s Refuge – located to the north of Scavenger Wastes, refugees go here to seek djinni’s protection, ruler of the oasis. Adventurers, traders, outcasts and other questionable characters from far-off lands go here as well. Zawabi’s Refuge is a bastion against gnoll and scorrow raiders that prey on lost travelers and ill-protected caravans. The realm is bound to the oasis by a powerful spell and cannot leave his circle, but within the Refuge, his power is supreme.

Valley of the False Tombs – rumored to be the final resting place of Raiyum the Wizard-King and his servants – Kourush and Rahmat. The Wizard-King’s tomb is rumored to have traps and decoy tombs to conceal the real burial chamber of the tyrant.

The Scavenger Wastes – hyena and gnoll-infested lands where the magically-guarded entrance to Zawabi’s Refuge lies.

Burning Mountain – dominates the territory of Firebrand gnolls with dangerous ledges and twisting trails. Also has guarded gates but those who are able to survive and enter report the existence of a fortress-like city within its volcanic interior, where dozens of slaves toil without hope of release.

Windlasher Canyon – carved out by the desert winds of Menechtarun, this canyon now serves as home for the Windlasher gnolls who are less aggressive than the Firebrands but just as deadly in combat.

Serpent’s Pass – a valley that lies deep in Firebrand territory which Firebrand gnolls often use as a staging area for raids against the Vulkoorim. There are very few who manage to leave this place alive.

The Scar – a bulwark that separates the gnoll tribes from the Vulkoorim scorrow and their drow worshippers. There are treacherous paths and a pair of stone bridges which are supposedly the only ways to cross the Scar. However, the scorrow keeps a close watch on these entry points so if you’re not careful, you’ll end up as ‘guests’ in Vulkoor Spiral’s bloody rituals.

The Vulkoor Spiral – a holy shrine for the Vulkoorim and their worshippers, the Spiral is an underground network of caverns where prayers and bloody sacrifices are offered to all three aspects of the scorpion god Vulkoor, although Vulkoor the Wrathful is the form most revered by this dark and violent cult.

Via DDO