Plains of Kataru

The Plains of Kataru is a region within the Beyond. It lies east of the Black Riage, south of Dessanedi, west of the Clock of Kala, and north of the Ba-Adenu Forest.

Background
A large, sprawling region, the Plains of Kataru stretch from the southern end of the Caecilian Jungle to the northern edge of the Ba-Adenu Forest. The northernmost part of the plains is somewhat arid, but the rolling flatlands farther south are fertile and temperate.

Wild herds of swift espron and plodding reptilian camethosaurs roam the plains, preyed upon by callerail and ithsyn. Espron are large, antelope-like creatures (level 2) that have long movement. Camethosaurs are herbivorous quadrapeds (level 3, health 24), 30 ft. long from head to tail.

There aren't any cities on the plains, but small towns and aldeia, mostly farming communities, dot the landscape. The farmers grow wheat, beans, and vegetables of all kinds. Most of these small communities are self-sufficient, but occasionally trade with caravans from the Steadfast that travel across the Black Riage on their way to Augur-Kala. But these are rare.

There are also nomadic tribes of human hunters that erect temporary villages of hide tents and yurts on the plains. These tribes tame the espron and ride them as mounts. Some of the nomads have turned to raiding more settled communities or even other tribes.

Terrible storms sometimes cross the Plains of Kataru, particularly in the spring. Cyclones, fierce hail, flash floods, and lightning strikes are serious dangers.

Points of Interest
• Empty Machine

• Ausren Woods

• Beanstalk

• Orgorek

Dark riders:
A group of aneen-riding bandits plagues the countryside, raiding villages and waylaying travelers on the road. Their leader is a woman named Milaconi, who has the power to heal or harm with a touch. Her chief rival is a woman named Ghabhail, who's begun to raise forces to oppose the raiders. Ghabhail, a tall woman with braided red hair and a long polearm, is recruiting help and offering payment for weapons, armor, or other devices (with which she has some skill).

The Black Sphere:
A sphere of unknown black material rolls across the plains, seemingly of its own accord. Some reports say that it's 12 ft. in diameter, and others put it closer to 30 ft., which might suggest that the sphere changes size, or that there's more than one of them.

The Discordant Blooms:
Although rare, a yellow flower grows in certain locations on the plains. If brewed for 3 days, it forms a concoction that will make the imbiber aroused past the point of clear thinking for up to a day.

Miscellaneous
Along a road in the Beyond, raindrops never fall. They remain suspended in the air, eventually turning to glowing embers.

Travelers tell of a Nonhuman city in the northern reaches of the Plains of Kataru, inhabited solely by insect-like creatures.