Badlands

Badlands are a geological formation characterised by distinctive eroded terrain featuring steep slopes, deep gullies and sharp ridges. They're typically composed of soft sedimentary rock and clay-rich soil, which is susceptible to rapid erosion by water and wind. This creates intricate patterns and shapes, often revealing layers of different-coloured rock and sediment.

Areas of badlands can be fairly large, creating sub-ranges within steppelands and barrens. Due to the colour of rocks, with differently coloured layers, badlands can show a breathtaking array of colours, with the sun throughout the day reflecting a play of light upon the eroded surfaces.

Little rain falls in such places, however, so the gullies are dry with ephemeral streams occurring during rain storms. Water quickly runs off the hard surfaces, creating ephemeral streams that can disappear within a day. The absence of protective vegetation excerbates the erosion, creating cliffs and pillars that stretch over the landscape. Physical features include hoodoos, sculpted rock formations, exposed rock and overall an unpredictable terrain of sudden drop-offs and sand pits.

Creatures

Due to their harsh and unique environment, they're impractical for agriculture and are almost entirely unpopulated. As such, they're often the home for monsters such as leucrotta, basilisk or gorgon, and giants such as hill giants or ettin. Various giant forms of giant bugs or spiders may be found here, and very rarely, a dragonis oxychalkos (copper dragon).

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