A Nicostenian merchant briefs his recenty arrived Thyatian cousin on the eve of his first overland caravan.
" First, natives do not refer to this country as "Ylaruam." It is "the Emirates," when speaking specifically of the entire Confederation of Tribes. Ylaruam is simply the capital of a single province, albeit one of great symbolic importance. Natives are more likely to refer to themselves according to their emirate; these provinces are more closely related to the regions that various ethnic and social groups identify with...
"...Makistan, centered in the fertile UstUrt Valley and extending into the Alasiyan basin, peopled by tribesmen akin to the nomads of the Ethengar Khanate...
"...Nithia, a wasteland along the foothills of the northern mountains, and a short strip of fertile coastal plain populated by mixed desert tribes and descendants of Alphatian colonists. ..
"...Dythestenia, a highlands populated by tribal nomads, and in the fertile wadis, by civilised people of Thyatian descent...
"...Nicostenia, where we reside, a former Thyatian colony heavily influenced by contact with the Alasiyan nomad and farming cultures. . .
"...Abbashan, a growing province centered on an interior oasis, but recently expanded to the coast, dominated by Alasiyan nomads intensely hostile to foreigners, certainly no place for you, my sharp-tongued cousin...
" . . . and Alasiya, the largest province, encompassing the Alasiyan desert basin from south to north, east to west, a vast wasteland inhabited by primitive tribes, yet graced in its center by Ylaruam, a small but lovely city, cultured and elegant, and full of rich chiefs, merchants, and scholars eager for your wares, my shrewd cousin, and safe, even for an ignorant foreigner like you."
The Emirates is like a great scoop open to the eastern sea. The northern highlands form one upper rim of the scoop; the southern Altan Tepe range forms the lower rim. The northern spur of the Altan Tepe rises in the west, forming the third rim of the scoop. The Alasiyan desert basin dips down sharply from this northern spur of mountains as it extends east, almost down to sea level in the salt flats west of Ylaruam, then sloping gently upwards again, becoming a high desert plain until it reaches the sea, where it drops several hundred feet in the last few miles before it reaches the coastline.
All precipitation and ground water flows downhill from the north, west, and south, draining into the vast subterranean reservoirs of the Alasiyan basin. Only in the Ust-Urt Valley is there any significant surface water, and all the rivers of that region drain into the basin at the southern end of the valley However, in the wet winter and spring, many seasonal rivers (wadis) run down from the mountains for several months, nourishing the fields and grazing lands; these wadis all dry up in the summer and early fall.
All the significant mountains lie outside the Emirates. The rugged highlands and foothills that slope into the desert basin are quite fertile, though often severely eroded or depleted by centuries of intensive agriculture. Both the northern and southern highlands contain valuable mineral deposits, particularly the high-carbon iron ores used in making the Emirates' famous steel weapons.
The Alasiyan Desert Basin itself is slowly subsiding, while the northern uplands are being uplifted. Scholars have observed that someday this basin may become an inland sea. The northern uplands are subject to periodic, violent earthquakes. Between these earthquakes and the constantly shifting dunes, much of the monumental architecture of the ancient Nithian culture has been reduced to rubble, then buried by hundreds of feet of sand. Small wonder so little is known of the Nithians.
The Desert: Most of the Emirates, the Alasiyan desert basin, receives 10 inches of rainfall yearly or less. Some sections of the desert may receive little or no rain in a year. Temperatures range from the low fifties in the winter to the hundreds in the summer during the day, falling sharply at night by as much as 20 degrees.
Half of this region supports hardy grasses and specially adapted vegetation, while spring and summer rainstorms provide enough moisture for seasonal pasturage the nomads require for their herds. These rainstorms are often quite awesome, with high winds, hail and sleet, violent lightning, and blinding ram.
Another fearsome meteorological phenomenon is the sandstorm. Normal sandstorms last for a few hours, and though eyes and mouth must be protected to avoid blindness or asphyxiation, the desert people cope with them by seeking shelter, even if it is no more than crouching behind a camel with a cloak as a shield from driving sand and dust particles and waiting out the storm.
More dangerous are the severe sandstorm of longer duration. Winds reach gale velocities, often accompanied by tornadoes, and may last for two or three days. Travel stranded in the desert in such circumstand are in desperate straits. The screaming winds and driving sand may drive a traveller insane and entire caravans are sometimes lost in the conditions.
Water holes and wells provide enough water for small settlements and limited agriculture The visions of Al-Kalim have encourage many technological and magical ventures producing water for new settlements, some which have been quite successful; the settle population of this region has tripled in the I century.
The other half of this region is a desert sand dunes, salt flats, and barren rock, aim' completely without any vegetation or group water. The large salt basin to the west of Ylaruam; and the deep deserts along the southern margin of the Nithian highlands are particularly forbidding. Even here, however, wet may be found 10 or 15 feet beneath the surface face; the desert people have of necessi become skilled at locating these water source
The Semi-Arid Highlands: The highland, that surround the Alasiyan basin receive more rainfall, a consistent 10 to 15 inches in to winter and spring, and they also benefit fro: seasonal runoff from the surrounding mountains ranges. These wadis are like part-time rivers ; in winter and spring there is enough wet' for some irrigation and in the summer and fall they are dry washes. This water is only bare adequate to support agriculture, but is quite enough to provide good pastures for the nomads. As in the desert, the rainfall often comes in the form of violent storms, and flash flooding is a risk for the unwary traveller. The temperatures here range from the thirties i the winter to the nineties in the summer during the day, falling 10 to 20 degrees in the evening
The Sub-Humid Coastal Plain: Along the eastern coast is a narrow strip of coastal plain varying from one to five miles wide. To the west it is bounded by an escarpment of 200 to 500 feet in elevation. This region receives up to 30 inches of rain yearly which is enough for prosperous agriculture, and the springs an< streams that rise along the escarpment flows' down to the sea, providing surface water for irrigation. Winter and spring are the rain' seasons which are traditionally poor times for: warfare, since communications and supply are slowed greatly on muddy roads and the speed and effectiveness of cavalry is greatly reduced: the peasantry is also more profitably employed in agriculture at these times, so military campaigns in this region generally must wait for the summer and fall. Temperatures range from the high fifties in the winter to the eighties in the summer during the day, with a moderate drop of 10 degrees or less in the evening
The Coastal Winds: The winds blow from the south along the coast in the winter and spring, and from the north in the summer and fall. This primarily affects the seagoing merchant traders, who must arrange their voyages to take advantage of favourable winds. It also means that land transportation of valuable or perishable goods can be competitive for caravanners who travel to northern lands in the winter and spring and return in the summer and fall.
Desert (wilderness): Arid terrain. Receives less than 10 inches of rainfall yearly Exposed rock, sands dunes, and barren plains with sparse vegetation, clustered mostly around oases, water holes, and wadis. Populated by nomadic tribes which travel from pasture to pasture according to the seasons. Agricultural settlements near permanent and seasonal water sources. Population: one person or fewer per square mile. (All emirates around border of Alasiyan Basin, though Alasiyani and Abbashani emirates are predominantly of this terrain type.)
Desert (borderlands): Arid, with major permanent water sources (i.e., oases and water holes). Less than 10 inches of rainfall yearly. Substantial intensive agriculture with careful water management and irrigation supports modest urban settlements. Population density: 30 to 60 persons per square mile; higher in large towns and cities. (Parse in Makistan; Ylaruam in Alasiya; and the city of Abbashan in Abbashan Emirate; and other minor agricultural and urban settlements in these emirates. )
Coastal Plain (settled): Semi-arid, with substantial seasonal precipitation. About 20 to 30 inches of rain yearly. Hardy native grasses, shrubs, and trees, good pastures, and fertile intensive agriculture. Supports larger urban populations (10% to 20% of population in urban settlements). Population density: 40 to 70 per square mile; higher in large towns and cities. (Nithian, Abbashan, and Nicostenic coasts.)
Grassland (settled): Semi-arid, with year round surface water. About 10 to 20 inches of rainfall yearly. Excellent pasture and adequate agriculture to support nomadic tribes and modest urban settlements. Population density: 10 to 20 persons per square mile. (Ust-Urt Valley in Makistan.)
Upland Plateau (settled): Semi-arid, with seasonal surface water. About 10 to 20 inches of rainfall yearly Adequate pasturage, poor agriculture. Modest settlements only along trade routes and in mining regions. Population density: five to ten persons per square mile. (Dythestenian and Nithian emirates, primarily along caravan routes. )
Upland Plateau (borderlands): Semi-arid, with seasonal surface water. About 10 to 20 inches of rain fall yearly Adequate pasturage, poor agriculture. Nomadic tribes and sparse agricultural settlements along seasonal watercourses. Population density: five or fewer persons per square mile. (Nithian and Dythestenian highlands.)
Upland Plateau (wilderness): Arid. Ten or fewer inches of rainfall yearly. High deserts and badlands. Almost no vegetation. No permanent population. Population density: Fewer than one person per square mile. (Southwest highlands of Alasiya, central highlands of Nithia. )
Plant Life: Except for the minor stands of conifers in the southern highlands of Nicostenia and the scrub junipers and wild olives of the Nicostenian and Dythestenian, there are no forests in the Emirates.
In the arid and semi-arid deserts and highlands, short drought-adapted shrubs and flowering plants, like the salt bush, the yellow-flowered acacia, the desert camomile, and the scarlet-fruited abal, dot the landscape. The ground between the shrubs is green for a few months of the year, or after a major rainfall. Even in the deep deserts, areas that are barren for years will flower and bloom after a rare rainfall. Only the salt flats and rock-floored deserts will not support any life.
The coastal plain, where it is not under cultivation, supports hardy scrub conifers and shrubs, and wild grasses suitable for pasturage grow in abundance. In the Ust-Urt Valley, the plains are covered with tall grasses similar to those of the American Midwest, with small shrubs growing along the water courses.
Mammals: Apart from the domestic herds of camel, horse, goat, sheep, and mule, there are few large mammals in the Emirates. Wild antelope and gazelles are common in the upland wilderness, but elsewhere they cannot compete with the nomads' herds for the scarce forage. In the upland wilderness the cheetah, lion, wolf, and jackal prey on the wild herds, and occasionally on nomad herds; hunting these creatures is a popular sport for chiefs and emirs. Baboons are common in the Nicostenian highlands and coastal plain, where they occasionally raid crop lands.
Birds: Varied species of water birds live along the coastal plain, and many colourful song birds migrate seasonally along the coast. The ostrich may be found in less populous southern coastal regions.
Birds are more restricted in number and species in the interior and highlands, including the sand grouse and the sweet- longed dunes whippoorwill. Quail and doves are popular game birds, and tribal nomads train eagles and hawks to catch hares and other game birds. The giant roc is rarely sighted in the highlands or desert; it makes its home in the high peaks of the Altan Tepe and fortunately seldom ventures into the lowlands.
Reptiles: Large lizards and several varieties of serpents are common in the highlands and considered delicacies by the nomads. The deadly dunes viper and black cobra are found in the highlands and deserts. Monstrous forms are reported in the southwestern upland wilderness; giant bones of these creatures may be viewed at the Eternal University Museum in Ylaruam. Blue dragons have been sighted throughout the Emirates, but seldom at close range; these creatures are solitary, they fly at great altitudes, and little is known of their lairs or habits.
Marine Life: Coastal inhabitants eat a variety of fish netted in local waters. Sharks, dolphins, and whales (called "dendan" by the Ylari) are common, and monstrous serpents and sea-going reptiles occasionally attack fishermen and trade vessels.
Insects: Stinging insects and locusts occasionally swarm in wet, warm weather. The scorpion and desert spider are found in the desert basin and highlands, and giant forms of these creatures are hunted in the southwestern deserts. Other giant insects are occasionally reported here, and the dreaded sand worm, a seldom-sighted terror of the western salt basin, is a popular feature of heroic legend.