Barrens (range)
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Barrens are expansive dry grasslands interspersed with areas of sand, gravel and bare stone, where soil conditions are too poor to support dense vegetation. These landscapes are shaped by low precipitation, typically receiving less than 18 inches of rain per year, and are commonly found in cold climates, high plateaus and windswept plains where the growing season is too short to sustain trees. While often seen as desolate, barrens support a variety of hardy flora and fauna, making them crucial for both wild ecosystems and nomadic pastoral cultures.
Due to the extreme climate variation of the barrens, where summers can be scorching and dry, followed by bitterly cold winters, few plants can endure such conditions. However, grasses are incredibly resilient, able to thrive in thin, nutrient-poor soil where other plant life cannot. These grasses support large migratory herds, both wild and domesticated, but no part of the barrens can sustain them indefinitely. Grazing animals follow seasonal patterns of movement, sometimes traveling hundreds of miles from lowland plains to high-altitude meadows over ten thousand feet above sea level, seeking fresh forage and milder climates.
Agriculture is nearly nonexistent, as only certain river valleys and deltas provide sufficient moisture for crops. Settlements in barrens tend to be small, widely scattered and temporary, with nomadic herders making up the majority of human inhabitants. The ability to move quickly and efficiently over great distances is essential, as a single year of drought or overgrazing can force entire populations to relocate.
Despite their barren appearance, these lands are rich with hidden life. Rodents and burrowing animals proliferate beneath the surface, forming vast underground warrens that can house tens of thousands of individuals, stretching over hundreds of square miles. These creatures serve as a crucial food source for larger predators, many of whom hunt by burrowing themselves, waiting to ambush passing prey.
For travellers, barrens present unique dangers. Large predators patrol these open spaces, striking from above or below, using flight or burrowing to avoid detection until they attack. The sheer lack of natural cover leaves travellers exposed to threats from every direction, from roving beast packs to sudden dust storms that can strip flesh from bone. Despite this, the barrens remain an important corridor for trade and migration, offering unobstructed routes across vast distances, so long as one can endure the harsh, unforgiving conditions.
Coastal Barrens
Often referred to as "heathlands" or "moors," coastal barrens are windswept, treeless landscapes found along rugged shorelines, where constant wind and salt-laden air prevent the growth of all but the hardiest vegetation. These lands are damp and humid year-round, receiving frequent rain, mist and drizzle, yet their thin, rocky soil and high salt content make them inhospitable to most plant life. Instead, they are dominated by low-lying vegetation, particularly heather, gorse and salt-tolerant grasses, which cling stubbornly to the exposed bedrock and shallow soil pockets.
Despite their bleak, stony appearance, coastal barrens are far from lifeless. They are home to large populations of birds, including gulls, terns, puffins and wading species, which thrive in the open terrain and proximity to the sea. Many of these birds nest in burrows or crevices within the rocky outcrops, while others take advantage of the nutrient-rich tidal pools and abundant marine life found just offshore. During migration seasons, vast flocks may descend upon these barrens, using them as resting grounds before continuing their journey.
Where the drainage is poor, mires and peat bogs may form, though these tend to be small and scattered. Such areas create patches of treacherous footing, where the combination of sodden soil and unstable ground can easily entrap the unwary. In certain regions, these wetlands are home to strange flora, such as carnivorous plants adapted to the nutrient-poor conditions, waiting for insects and small creatures to stray too close.
Coastal barrens present unique challenges for travellers. Relentless winds can make even the simplest journey exhausting, while the lack of natural cover leaves one exposed to the elements. Salt spray carried inland can corrode metal and make firewood difficult to dry, while sudden storms rolling in from the sea can turn the land into a soaking, impassable quagmire. Despite these hardships, some isolated fishing villages and reclusive hermits make their home here, eking out a living from the scarce but resilient bounty of the land and sea.
Major Barrens
Barrens can describe the edges of several major deserts, as they act as a transition zone between deserts and more fertile lands. Additionally, a large barren land may have one or more small deserts within its boundaries, where the soil is at its worst and even grass does not grow. Below is a list of the extensive barrens in the world:
- High Atlas Grassland - juniper highland along the Atlas Mountains
- Outer Mongolia Grassland - north and west of the Gobi Desert
- Persian-Turkestan Grassland - extending from central Persia to the Pamirs
- Sirtica - a transition between the Fezzan and Sahara
- Tibet - high plateau north of the Himalayas
- Western Plateau - undiscovered Australia
Common Features
The following is a list of elements and features common to barren ranges:
- Alkali Grass
- Badlands
- Berry Patch
- Bog
- Briar Patch
- Camp
- Caravansary
- Chalk Grassland
- Cultivation
- Dry Riverbed
- Gulley
- Ferry
- Ford
- Hill Figure
- Mine
- Necropolis
- Quarry
- Pond
- River Rapids
- Rodent Warren
- Ruin
- Salt Lake
- Sand Grass
- Spring
- Stone Grass
- Trading Post
- Treenut Orchard
- Village
- Water Meadow
- Watering Hole
Barrens Creatures
The following monsters are common to barrens ranges:
See also,
Blightlander (sage study)
List of Ranges
