TIJONARA REGION (DESERT SIDE)

The Tijonara Region, located on the Desert Side of VOI 700 D, is an arid and sun-scorched expanse characterized by vast steppes, towering rock formations, and deep canyon networks. The region is covering approximately 28,000 square kilometers — an area roughly the size of Albania on Earth. Unlike the Habitual Belt, where the landscape is cast in eternal twilight, the sun never sets over the Desert Side, resulting in extreme temperatures and a scarcity of surface water sources.

The region takes its name from the Tijonara Mountains, a rugged mountain range marking its western border, which serves as a natural barrier between the Tijonara Region and the Asari Region in the Equatorial Section of the Habitual Belt. Though these mountains provide some shade and shelter, their eastern slopes are harsh and rocky, supporting only sparse vegetation and resilient desert fauna.

Amidst the arid landscape, Lake Arla stands as a rare and crucial oasis, marking the region’s southeastern boundary. Though its waters provide temporary relief, the lake’s fluctuating water levels and the encroaching desert make it an unpredictable lifeline for creatures in the area.

To the west, the region transitions into the even more extreme regions of the Desert Side, an uncharted wasteland where few creatures survive, making the Tijonara Region the last known habitable zone before the true extremes of the Desert Side take hold.

The Tijonara Region experiences extreme arid heat and solar exposure. Temperatures often range between 50°C and 65°C, with minimal nighttime relief. Annual precipitation is virtually nonexistent. Despite the region's uniform hostility, certain zones exhibit distinct microclimates that influence their habitability.

The western border of the Tijonara Region meets the Tijonara Mountains, which separate it from the Asari Region of the Eastern Equatorial Section of the Habitual Belt. While Asari experiences twilight conditions, Tijonara lies under unrelenting sunlight. The transition zone creates harsh yet distinct microclimatic features:

• Intense solar radiation reflected off rocky slopes raises ambient temperatures.
• Dry air currents from the desert reduce humidity but generate localized wind systems.
• Shadowed mountain alcoves allow for minimal temperature drops and brief water retention, creating micro-habitats for niche flora and fauna.

• Lake Arla: Located on the southeastern edge of the region, Lake Arla spans approximately 10,000 square kilometers and serves as a vital oasis between the Tijonara Region and the Asari Region of the Habitual Belt. Despite its importance as a water source, the lake experiences seasonal evaporation cycles, periodically reducing its size.

• The dominant landscape of Tijonara consists of vast, arid steppes and wind-swept plateaus, forming open expanses of exposed rock and sparse vegetation. These high-altitude formations provide vantage points for aerial predators like the Borr, which scan the desert floor for prey.
• Vegetation is scarce, with only drought-resistant shrubs and buried root systems.

• Deep, winding canyons and rock crevasses are scattered throughout the Tijonara Region, formed by ancient, now-vanished rivers.
• These narrow gorges provide essential shade and cooler temperatures.
• The steep walls of the canyons make them treacherous passageways, often trapping creatures that fail to navigate their hazardous paths.

• Tijonara Mountains (Western Border with Asari Region): The Tijonara Mountains rise along the western boundary, separating the Tijonara Region from the Asari Region of the Habitual Belt. Unlike the lush valleys found on the Asari side, the eastern slopes of the mountains are dry and rocky, with scattered caves providing temporary shelter from the sun.

• “Lea Gha Elashe” (Forest of the Dead): The only exceptions to this barren environment are found in the transitional zones near the Habitual Belt. Here, temperatures are lower, and remnants of ancient forests — now completely petrified — still stand. These “fossilized forests” formed when plant material was rapidly mineralized under extreme conditions, preserving them as stone replicas of their original form. The most well-known of these is the “Lea Gha Elashe” (Forest of the Dead), located in the Region Tijonara, south of the boundary line, on the eastern shore of Lake Arla. The Native Tribes of the bordering region Asari consider this forest sacred, believing it to be the resting place of their ancestors' spirits, where they can seek wisdom and guidance. This forest transitions into the “Gha Sol Shaol” (Gate of the Gods) mountain range, a towering formation that extends over 100 kilometers, serving as a natural barrier between the Habitual Belt and the Desert Side.

The extreme heat and arid conditions of the Tijonara Region have led to the evolution of highly specialized plant life, capable of withstanding intense sunlight, scarce rainfall, and nutrient-poor soils. Unlike the lush ecosystems of the Habitual Belt, vegetation in Tijonara is sparse and highly resilient, often relying on deep root systems, water retention mechanisms, or nocturnal metabolic cycles to survive. The primary biomes influencing the region’s plant life include:

• Desert Shrublands – Dominated by drought-resistant shrubs with waxy leaves and thorns, minimizing water loss.
• Canyon Vegetation – Small-leafed trees and parasitic vines grow in shaded rock crevasses, extracting moisture from deep cracks.
• Mountain Slopes – High-altitude plants store water in thick stems, while deep-rooted trees rely on fog condensation.

Despite its harsh conditions, the Tijonara Region supports highly specialized wildlife, adapted to extreme heat, scarce water, and open landscapes. Many species rely on nocturnal behavior, burrowing, or water conservation to survive.

• Desert Scavengers – Opportunistic feeders that rely on detecting carrion over vast distances.
• Burrowing Predators – Small but efficient hunters that use ambush tactics and venomous stings.
• Herd-Dwelling Herbivores – Social creatures that rely on group behavior to navigate and survive the arid landscape.
• Apex Aerial Hunters – Large avians that use thermal updrafts to remain airborne while searching for prey.

For a detailed list of creatures, see Known Wildlife of the Tijonara Region.

The Tijonara Region, like most of the Desert Side, is largely uninhabited due to its relentless heat, lack of water, and unforgiving conditions. Even the Native Tribes of VOI 700 D, known for their ability to adapt to extreme environments, do not maintain permanent settlements here. The sun never sets, making prolonged habitation nearly impossible without artificial shelter and advanced survival techniques.

However, in the Gamma Age, a small group of Exohumans, known as the Desert People, have managed to carve out an existence in this harsh environment. Unlike the structured societies of the Habitual Belt, the Desert People reject centralized governance and live in secrecy, navigating the arid wastelands through survivalist ingenuity.

• DESERT PEOPLE (Nomads):
• Population: Estimated to be fewer than 1,000 scattered individuals.
• Short Description: The Desert People are a renegade group of Exohumans who have rejected civilization and chosen to survive in the most extreme regions of VOI 700 D. They are scattered across the Tijonara Region, living in hidden enclaves, underground burrows, or deep within canyon networks. Unlike Exohuman settlers in the Habitual Belt, the Desert People rely on a combination of scavenging, rudimentary farming, and deep knowledge of desert survival tactics.
• More Information: Desert People

Tijonara is one of the most narratively rich regions of the Desert Side. Its harsh, hostile environment, combined with rare pockets of shelter and mystery, makes it ideal for survival-driven adventures, hidden lore discovery, and encounters with outcasts living on the fringes of civilization. Unlike regions in the Habitual Belt, where society and structure dominate, Tijonara thrives on isolation, scarcity, and resilience. It offers Dungeon Masters the perfect setting for tales of endurance, confrontation with nature, and interactions with factions that have rejected the norms of both Native and Exohuman society.

• Endless Sun and Heat Exposure – The sun never sets over the Tijonara Region, creating a punishing environment where heat exhaustion, dehydration, and sunburn are constant threats. Players must manage water supplies, seek shade, and adjust their travel schedules to survive.
• Navigating Canyon Networks – The deep crevasses and winding canyons of Tijonara provide excellent natural barriers but also serve as potential death traps. Players can use them for shade, ambush tactics, or hidden passageways—but getting lost or falling into an uncharted chasm can be deadly.
• Dune and Plateau Traversal – The rocky plateaus and shifting sand dunes make travel difficult, reducing visibility and increasing fatigue. Sudden sandstorms can disorient parties, forcing them to find cover or risk getting buried.
• Resource Scarcity – Unlike the Habitual Belt, food and water are difficult to find. Scavenging, hunting small prey, or raiding lost convoys may become necessary for survival.

• The Lost Convoys of the Desert – The remains of Exohuman trading convoys can be found scattered throughout the desert, buried beneath the dunes or wedged between canyon walls. These remnants may contain valuable supplies, lost technology, or crucial information — if players can retrieve them before scavengers do.
• Desert People Enclaves – Encounters with the Desert People in the Gamma Age can add layers of intrigue and danger. Are they willing to trade, or do they see the players as a threat?
• Buried Relics – Ancient ruins, long buried beneath the sands, may still exist, hidden away in the deepest canyons or beneath the rock formations of the Tijonara Mountains. Uncovering these remnants could reveal lost history or forgotten technologies.
• The Western Border – The western edges of Tijonara lead into the Zanakra Region, a land where even the most resilient creatures struggle to survive. Crossing into this uncharted wasteland could be a one-way trip.

• VOI 700 D
• Desert Side
• Wildlife of the Tijonara Region

Neighboring Regions (Perspective Tijonara to north):

• Asari Region (Eastern, Habitual Belt)