Plains and Drylands

Vareth contains several broad regions of open country, from the fertile river plains of the north and center to the dry grasslands, scrub, barrens, and semi-desert of the south.

These landscapes are not uniform. Rivers, lakes, woodland, low hills, wetlands, exposed rock, and cultivated land break up even the largest plains. The southern dry country likewise contains permanent river corridors, upland margins, seasonal water, and locally fertile basins.

Avereth

Avereth, commonly called the Northern River Country, is the great fertile plain east and southeast of the Northern Crown and Westwall Mountains.

It is crossed by several major river systems, including the Drelar, Averen, Narel, and Ruun, together with numerous tributaries, lakes, and smaller streams.

The landscape consists primarily of open plains, meadows, agricultural land, low rolling country, river valleys, and scattered woodland. Wetlands occur around lakes, flood basins, and river junctions but do not dominate the region.

Avereth is an old Merethi regional name derived from aver, “plain” or “broad open country,” and reth, “road,” “passage,” or “way through.” The name reflects both the region’s physical openness and its long importance as a corridor across northern Vareth.

Ruunmar

Ruunmar lies around the middle and lower Ruun in the eastern part of the northern plains.

It is a broad lowland of river valleys, open grassland, cultivated ground, scattered woodland, and seasonally flooded country, forming a transition between the wider Northern River Country and more wooded or elevated terrain farther east.

The name is Trollish, combining ruun, “great river” or “enduring flow,” with marr, “lowland.”

Central Plains

The Central Plains extend across much of Vareth south and southwest of the Mereth Sea.

They contain the basins of the Ferenel, Ardrel, and Dalenar, together with Lake Norelen and numerous smaller waterways. The terrain is predominantly temperate plain, low hill country, agricultural land, broad river valleys, pasture, and scattered woodland.

No single older proper name is universally applied to the whole region. Its individual river basins, settlements, and local districts carry stronger identities than the Central Plains as a whole.

Stormward Uplands and Basins

Open valleys, elevated basins, grasslands, and drier interior slopes occur throughout the Stormward Highlands / Calvaren.

These are treated as parts of the highland system rather than as a separate plains region. Conditions vary sharply with elevation and exposure: wetter western and elevated slopes can support grassland and woodland, while sheltered interior basins become progressively drier toward Serenar.

Serenar

Serenar, commonly called the Southern Drylands, is the largest continuous dry region in Vareth.

It lies primarily south of the Southern Interior Mountains and stretches across much of the southern interior. Serenar includes dry grassland, thorn scrub, semi-desert, exposed rock, gravel plains, badlands, mesas, saline basins, and areas of severe barrenness. These landscapes grade into one another rather than forming a uniform desert.

The driest country lies toward the central and western interior. Conditions become progressively less severe toward the southeast, where stronger river systems and greater rainfall support more vegetation.

Permanent rivers create narrow corridors of greener and more fertile country through Serenar, while seasonal channels and temporary basins carry water only after substantial rainfall.

Serenar is an old Merethi regional name based on sere, “dry country” or “arid plain,” with the regional formation -nar, used for broad country or extensive territory.

Red Barrens

The Red Barrens, known in Orcish as Azanmar, form a distinctive western subregion of Serenar associated with the Redstone Ranges / Gorazan.

The country is characterized by red and rust-colored stone, exposed earth, gravel plains, broken badlands, sparse scrub, dry channels, and areas shaped by older volcanic activity.

Azanmar combines Orcish azan, “red” or “scorched,” with mar, “plain” or “open country.” The same regional element appears in Gorazan and the Azansor.

Salt Basins

Closed and poorly drained depressions occur throughout parts of Serenar.

Water collects in these basins during wetter periods before evaporating, leaving salt, mineral crusts, mud flats, and shallow seasonal lakes. Lake Zhalmar is the largest important named example and varies greatly in extent between wet and dry periods.

Southeastern Lowlands

The Southeastern Lowlands occupy the wetter country where Serenar gives way to the river-rich southeast.

They contain broad valleys, fertile plains, grassland, woodland, wetlands, and increasingly maritime landscapes toward the Sunward Sea. The Sarenor and Thalren systems are among the principal waterways of the region.

The Southeastern Lowlands do not have a single universally accepted proper name. Their major rivers, forests, lakes, wetlands, and coastal districts provide the stronger geographic identities.