Introduction to the Tarvan Waste

[DM B]

The Tarvan Waste lies east of Irbouda, stretching from the Tarvanian Hills all the way north to the forests of Rheulgard and Innishiere. It is bordered in the east by the Zhaïnge River. The Tarvan Wast is the most arid region in Cerilia. Here the steppes of Binsada and Irbouda turn ever less hospitable, until there is preciously little left of water or vegetation. It is not quite a desert climate, but the central parts of the Waste are not far of. In the north the land becomes more fertile, until eventually one reaches the Asarwe Basin with its forests and woods. In the east, along the Zhaïnge, the land is more fertile, but nevertheless ill suited for habitation, for the actual riverlands are dominated by marshes and swamps.

It is in this inhospitable land that the hardiest and most backward of Khinasi nomads eke out a living. Save for the city-state of Sefra, which ruled over the northwestern steppe and the woodlands beyond it (including some provinces now counted as part of Rheulgard), the land has never felt the touch of civilization. Not even el-Arrasi’s attempts to harness the marshlands of the middle Zhaïnge amounted to much in the long run, and Sefra was destroyed by Vos raiders in 1075 HC. Today three primary groups eke out a living here. To the south the gnolls of the Yezdaga inhabit the Tarvanian Hills, just like they do in Irbouda. To the east the Uigher tribes make up the largest human population of the Waste. The Uigher’s are traditional Khinasi nomads, fierce, hardy, and devoted to Avani. To the north and west the Kharnegui tribes still linger, including some bloodlines that are more Vos than Khinasi.

[DM B]

Rashid min Uighera, Ur-Sheik of the Uighers: Male Khinasi; Ranger 6; Basaïa, minor, 21; CG. Rashid is the stern, but just, leader of the Uigher coalition. His primary concerns are preserving the Uigher way of life and protecting his people.

Kharnegui: The Kharnegui tribes are a mix of Khinasi and Vos bloodlines. The Khinasi are the descendants of the city-state of Sefra and its dependent tribes. The Vos are the descendant of the warriors that destroyed Sefra. Both were eventually driven out of the Zhaïnge Valley by the Uigher coalition, and eventually settled in the northwestern Waste.

Iuri Ilyich: See Irbouda. In the Tarvan Waste Iuri is seen as a protector and champion for the Kharnegui Tribes.

Teira min Uighera, High Priestess of the Raging Heart of Avani: Female Khinasi; Fighter 1/Cleric 5/Rogue 1; Avani; Basaïa, minor, 19; LE. Rashids cousin. This fiery priestess intends to lead the Uigher tribesmen to greatness. Only fist she must get rid of their current leader and become Ur-Sheik herself. That is the path set before her by the Goddess of the Raging Sun.

Ghuydaka: Male Gnoll; Cleric 4; Yeenoghu; Azrai, weak, 11; CE. Yezd’s priest lieutenant is often found wandering the Waste, keeping an eye on the tribes and trying to strengthen both Yezd’s rule and the hold that Yeenoghu has over the gnoll tribes. Unsurprisingly he dreams of usurping power and turning the Tarvanian Hills into some sort of holy land for gnolls, from which they will raid and pillage all Khhinasi lands.

Barouya: Male Khinasi, Sorcerer 9; Vorynn, minor, 17, LG. Barouya is an old and wise man, skilled in the arcane arts. He aids the Uigher tribes when he can, but spends most of his time and energy trying to keep foreign mages at bay.