North of the mountains at the edge of the Elsir Vale lies a vast, windblown sea of dry grass and steppe. The Endless Plains stretch for hundreds of miles: west to the borders of The West and the Sunken Lands, north to Shentulka and east where they are bordered by mountains and badlands, beyond which lie the Gyrian City States and Arkhosia Eastern.
COMMON KNOWLEDGE
Whilst there are many small towns and outposts along the trade routes the criss-cross the plains, much of the wilds here serves as a battleground for warring, nomadic elf tribes and their gnoll enemies. Though kobolds live in burrows, the Endless Plains are known for the many tepee villages, dotted across its landscape. Nearly all tribes rely upon bison (and other large game) for meat, milk and of course, their great hides to craft the unique shelters.
REGIONAL FEATURES
The Plains aren't truly featureless; the land has a fair amount of rise and fall, and low-lying creek beds choked with undergrowth and briars cut deep gullies through the grassland. Lonely stands of tall, hardy trees dot the savanna.
There are a series of lakes located centrally in the plains too. Although several rivers terminate here, the water is not salty. Many believe the water funnels down to an underground realm.
There are also many ruined castles, towers, statues and outposts from the once mighty Kingdom of Nerath that once dominated much of the Endless Plains.
Sturnheim (Small Town)
Once a thriving trade town, it was central to trade heading towards Arkhosia Eastern. It has found itself in another period of decline after important shipments did not make it past the hills to the north and east. For around four decades the town has dwindled down to around 2,000 residents and the road eastwards is rarely used.
Grogough Highlands (Hills)
These are the rugged foothills east of the town of Strunheim. Vintners from the town grow vineyards on their western slopes and several desperate miners still perospect for the gold and pink gem deposits (rhodochrosite) that first brought settlers to the area.
PEOPLE OF THE ENDLESS PLAINS
Nomadic elves, that are master horsemen, are the most populous of the races encountered on the steppes and even they are scarce.
Some tribal humans that live life similarly to the elves still wander the plains, but most have left for surrounding lands, especially Shentulka (their spiritual homeland). Eking an existence in the steppes has become so much harder with the arrival of orcs, the growth of gnoll tribes and the constant menace of kobolds. The Shentulkan humans trade with the elves and others passing through, but mostly keep to themselves, following the herds of bison and antelope.
Nerathan humans, dwarves, and others that may keep company with such folk, live in isolated outposts and towns along the major trade routes that link the surrounding lands of Elsir Vale, Shentulka, and The West. Trade routes crossing to the east are rare now.
Centaur tribes are also found in the western half of the Plains and they tend to work with the elves and humans (if paid sufficiently). In any case, they regard the enemies of the elves as their own enemies.
The most common enemies of the plains are the roving gnoll tribes found in isolated pockets throughout the region. In fact, the gnoll tribes keep their distance from each other, as the fiercest battles on the plains are when two gnoll tribes come together. The gnolls regard all intelligent life as enemies (and food).
Kobolds are a constant menace in the scrub-covered gulches and hillier regions of the plains. They steal and scavenge from, and in desperate circumstances, openly attack elves and their allies. They prefer to try and work with other races, especially the ??? (SW race), but no one co-operates with gnolls.
The first tribes of orcs appeared in the Endless Plains around 60 years ago. They resemble the boar-riding orcs of the Thornwaste, whom they split from. There is no known reason for tribes relocating to the Endless Plains; no big war, no schism or genocide. They simply traveled north and found flat lands similar to their homeland. If anything, the orcs have had a positive effect on the more friendly races of the plains. Whilst orcs are warlike, they are not evil and even trade with other tribes from time to time, and they have become another target for the gnolls, lessening their impact on the other races.
A group if xenophobic fish folk (referred to as locathah by locals) inhabit the central lakes. They allow others to drink from the lake waters, but attack any permanent settlements being established. Rumours speak of a division of these people and that there are other fish folk dwelling in the water-filled caverns of the under world. The two groups are supposedly enemies.
ADVENTURES
GROUPS & ORGANISATIONS
Sylvan Conclave
This is a widely spread philosophy more than actual organisation. It operates in enclaves (often just separate tribes) known as vernadi. Tribes that are part of the Enclave typically have members of a variety of races. Centaur, elf and shentulka tribes are all commonly members of the Sylvan Conclave. Although shifters are rare here, they are sought after as members.
The Sylvan Enclave is most active in the land of Shentulka where they seek harmony between civilization and nature. In the Endless Plains, the members focus more on the Enclave's other ideal, that of a peaceful collective, in which individual desires are subordinate to the good of the whole group.