The Cursed Barrens are a stretch of land between Izgrev and the Kingdom of Koritan. Almost 350 miles long, the Barrens vary in width but are generally 30 to 40 miles wide. The entire stretch of the Barrens are highly incompatible with life.
History
The Barrens are the culmination of the many wars between Izgrev and Koritan - in Y9735*, Koritanite battlemages cursed the entire border region between the two kingdoms, leaving it incredibly hostile to life. The magical forces they harnessed then spiraled out of control, and the Barrens have continued to mutate and warp on their own.
Some magical creatures have grown accustomed to the changed landscape and many hazards in the centuries since, but the area remains a no man’s land with no inhabitants.
Dangers
The Barrens are highly unpredictable. The exact perils one may face in a given stretch of the landscape are not fixed, and may vary from day to day. Chaotic and rapidly shifting weather is one of the most obvious distinguishing characteristics of the region. Lightning storms, flash floods, and tornadoes all appear without warning or obvious sources. Warped plants and fungus thrive in the region, many of which are known to attack (and sometimes consume) hapless travelers. Magically altered creatures pose dangers as well. In some parts of the Barrens, fires from Hell occasionally erupt from the ground, forming massive walls of flame that can burn even those standing at a great distance away. Perhaps the worst of the effects are the fog clouds. Not only do these make it quite easy to lose one’s direction, they also slowly kill and then reanimate any who remain in them for too long. The fog clouds also often bring rains of gore and plagues of vermin along with them, which only compounds the highly unsettling and dangerous environment.
The Rekan River lies primarily within the Barrens. Magically warped and mutated creatures dwell within, sometimes making their way into the Byala River and out into the Phiora Sea.
Current status
The inhabitants of Izgrev and Koritan both avoid the Barrens as much as possible. Travelers are advised to stay out of the region unless absolutely necessary, and despite the ruins and possible treasures within, few adventurers dare to venture too deep into the Barrens.
The remains of villages, towns, and cities can be found within the Barrens, at least those that have not been melted by acid rains, burned by the fires of Hell, or completely overgrown by aggressive plants.
Since it was created, the Cursed Barrens have served as an effective buffer between Izgrev and Koritan - there have been no major conflicts since. While the people of Izgrev have suffered far worse, as there were multiple border cities that were completely destroyed and rendered unlivable, the Barrens have also stymied Koritanite attempts at further expansion into their neighbor.