The Kar'sirrath

The Kar'sirrath stretches across the southeastern Crescent, encompassing diverse landscapes from badlands in the west to Mediterranean coastlines in the east. This region serves as home to the majority of the Crescent's drak'hai population, primal orc tribes, and contains the realm's most populous city. The Old King's Road makes its only major fork here at Thar'kash, splitting to serve both coastal settlements and the western reaches.

Recent devastation from the Tyrangor War scarred the southeastern coastal areas, where ruins of burned settlements and abandoned farms serve as stark reminders of the conflict's cost.

The Marrow Lands

The Marrow Lands occupy the western reaches of The Kar'sirrath, bordering the Drelspire Bridge and extending toward Ecleptara. This desolate badland region features tar pits, weathered mesas, and great cracked craters that reveal extensive cavern systems beneath. Massive reptilian bones, bleached white by the desert sun, emerge from the dry earth throughout the area.

The landscape consists primarily of arid shrublands and eroded rock formations. Travel through the Marrow Lands requires careful planning due to unstable ground, toxic tar pits, and the region's tendency toward extreme temperature swings between day and night.

The Bloodsun Savannah

The Bloodsun Savannah encompasses the southeastern portion of The Kar'sirrath, extending to the desert wastes beyond the Crescent's borders. This region features rolling grasslands dotted with distinctive trees - massive baobabs and spreading acacias that provide shade across the golden plains.

The savannah supports numerous primal orc tribes and contains Ruk'thal, the largest orcish settlement in the Crescent. The climate remains semi-tropical and arid, with seasonal rains that bring temporary abundance followed by long dry periods. Wildlife includes various herd animals, predators adapted to grassland hunting, and the occasional exotic creature from the southern wastes.

Geographic Features

Stormward Teeth

The Stormward Teeth form a short mountain range running diagonally northwest to southeast along the coast. These peaks cradle portions of the Old King's Road and provide natural protection for coastal settlements. The mountains contain several passes that serve as strategic chokepoints, most notably Stonemarch Pass.

Stonemarch Pass

This crucial mountain pass gained historical significance during the Tyrangor War, where Iron Pact mercenaries held a small fortification against overwhelming odds. The heroic six-day defense likely decided the war's outcome. The pass remains fortified and serves as one of the few safe routes through the Stormward Teeth.

Sorrow's Reach

Once a thriving coastal settlement, Sorrow's Reach now stands as ruins along the shoreline. Warlord Grimjaw Kazrath's forces razed the settlement during the Tyrangor War, using it as defensive ground to pin down the Five Councils' main army. The site remains abandoned.

Settlements

Major Cities: Cairune

Towns: Thar'kash serves as the crucial three-way junction where the Old King's Road forks, featuring Mediterranean architecture with strong dragonborn influences. Dath Selvir operates as the last major stop before the dangerous western lands, known for its underground cisterns and desert guides.

Notable Settlements: Ruk'thal represents the largest orcish settlement in the Crescent, located deep in the Bloodsun Savannah. This community maintains traditional tribal structures while engaging in limited trade with other settlements.

Regional Characteristics

The Kar'sirrath exhibits the greatest diversity of any region in the Crescent, both geographically and culturally. The drak'hai population concentrates primarily in the northern and eastern areas, particularly around Cairune, while orcish tribes occupy the southern savannahs.

The region's economy relies heavily on coastal trade, agricultural production in the temperate zones, and limited mining operations in the mountains. War damage disrupted traditional farming and fishing activities in the southeast, creating ongoing economic challenges that affect the entire region.

Cultural tensions occasionally arise between the honor-based drak'hai communities and the more territorial orc tribes, though both groups generally maintain peaceful coexistence. The recent war brought these communities together against common threats, strengthening regional unity.

Climate varies dramatically across the region, from Mediterranean conditions along the coast to arid desert conditions in the west and southwest. This diversity supports different agricultural practices and lifestyle adaptations, making The Kar'sirrath crucial for the Crescent's food security and trade networks.