The Wastes of Yasdzah (pronounced YAHZ-dzah) is a barren wasteland north of the Sianasa Mountains. Exceptionally few live in the Wastes, as in this parched and withered landscape rain never falls and invisible death is said to lurk in the air.
Geography
The Wastes of Yasdzah is located north of the Sianasa Mountains beginning at the coast of the Invelaust Ocean and stretching quite far inland. It is sometimes considered part of the Sangora Desolation, yet is geographically and climatically quite distinct.
No rain ever falls in the Wastes. Passing clouds appear to divert or dissipate as they approach, even those that form in the mountains to the south. As a result the ground is exceptionally dry and devoid of life. Evidence of better times remains, notably the mud-cracked soil in some parts of the Wastes and the rare dead tree, yet any greenery has been gone for as long as records have been kept - even the elves of Eita wrote about the dangers of the Wastes many thousands of years ago.
Harsh, scouring winds are common in the Wastes. It is said that these winds bring unseen dangers, as those who are exposed to them for too long invariably collapse and die soon after. The source of this is believed to be magical, but the persistent hazards of merely being in the Wastes means it is barely studied.
The regions of the Wastes along the coast are somewhat more beneficial to life, but only just. Even in the waters of the nearby ocean the otherwise plentiful fish, sharks, and corals vanish, leaving behind only heavily armored and aggressive bony fish and the equally armored urchins upon which they feed.
Inhabitants
Despite its overwhelmingly inhospitable conditions, small communities continue to hold on in the Wastes. The largest within the interior are believed to be Axius and Zumludrenos, but their extreme isolation makes it difficult to know for sure. On the coast several small cities have grown, most notably Thiurdos, Ragged Rocks, and Uzukkhin, where the presence of the ocean allows for a significantly easier life.