The Black Desert
The Black Desert
Type Desert Reputation Perilous
The Black Desert is a vast and dangerous waste on the western edge of Jaknia, its perils enough to threaten any expedition that ventures near. Not unlike The Frigid Straits or the Storm Seas, the Black Desert seemingly maintains its own persistent, unnatural weather detached from the normal cycle of the seasons.
History and Significance
Beneath the shifting, dark sands of the desert lies an ancient burial ground holding significant magical artifacts and secrets from Jaknia’s earliest eras. Chief among the ancient places buried at its margins is a great pyramid long held to be the tomb of Atem, the first pharaoh of Jaknia. The tomb is thick with ancient spells, traps, and mummified guardians.
For centuries, various archaeological groups and grave robbers have attempted to brave the desert to uncover the secrets inside. In a fateful 1526 excavation, the structure barely yielded its entrance before deadly mummified zombies halted the operation.
Then, during a breakthrough return expedition in 1532, researchers collided with the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh. Led by the charismatic cultist James, the cult sought The Golden Skull hidden within the pyramid, an artifact rumored to open gateways to dark planes. Through the courageous intervention of scholar Corian Ballard, the cult’s plans were foiled. It was also during this turbulent unearthing that an earth-shattering realization was made: the supposed tomb of Atem was in fact the resting place of his head magician, Mahad.
Appendix
See Also
Sources & Attribution
- Primary lore: the backstory of the archaeologist Corian Ballard, archived privately.