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The desert glistens in the sun, reflecting the rainbow hues of the varied gemstones that comprise its surface. While a greedy treasure hunter might mistake this region for a limitless treasure trove, his joy is invariably short lived. Gem stone deserts consist of broken shards of crystals and gems, but the individual shards within them are melted, pitted, corroded, and ruined. A fistful of the stuff might make a love- ly decoration, but it is almost utterly worthless. The ready availability of the gem shards and their ruined condition make them useless as spell components or trade goods.

Even worse, these deserts typically form due to a massive backlash of planar energies. When the gap between two worlds decays to a dan- gerous level, the sudden surge in power that reinforces the boundary between planes warps and twists the material world. The gems and crystals are the physical representation of the power of law to bind and contain the universe. For a brief moment, the threatened region of the material world locks into a rigid, unyielding pattern of cosmic law. When the pattern relax- es, it repairs the frayed planar boundaries but causes a tremendous shift in the raw substance of the planes. What was once a forest, a bustling city, or a lake becomes a glittering wasteland of emerald, diamond, and crystal debris.

While the remains might be pleasant to look upon, they can prove deadly to travelers. The sundered crystals serve as a powerful device

CHAPTER THREE: Deserts

CHAPTER THREE: Deserts

that focuses and energizes the natural planar harmonics. Spontaneous explosions, sudden beams of focused power, and waves of psionic energy can cut down an entire expedition. Worst of all, the presence of living creatures seems to exacerbate the natural instability in the area. While natural processes have sealed the planar rift, it can take centuries for the local disturbance to settle down. Monsters and strange beings from across the cosmos are common, as they are attracted by the surge and shift in planar energy. Others fall through the frayed planar structure as it knits shut, trap- ping them in the material world.

Minor gem deserts result

from minor tremors in the planes. They cover an area roughly 50 miles in diameter on average. The ambient energy they contain some- times results in sudden explosions or electrical discharges. Travelers in these regions quickly learn to take cover at the slightest sound of crackling energy. Planar crea- tures sometimes wander this area. While they are more common in these deserts than in other regions, they are still far from a major force. Incursions are limited to elementals, minor demons, and simi- lar creatures.

A minor gem desert also results as a gem desert slowly

shrinks and fades. As the ambient planar ener- gy dissipates, usually as a result of the explo- sions and lighting strikes in the area, it slowly returns to normal. The shattered crystalline pat- terns and structures gradually crumble into dust.

Plants, ruins, and other structures sometimes have a crystalline appearance to them, as the process involved in sealing the rift transformed them along with the rest of the terrain.

Minor Gem Desert (Lightning Blast) (CR 1/2): Reflex save DC 10; 2 hour interval; +0

modifier/interval; 2d4 electricity damage; Special: Characters in metal armor or those who have used a divine or arcane spell in the hour before facing this hazard suffer –4 penal- ties to their saves.

A moderate gem desert has undergone exten-

sive changes. Entire forests of crystal trees replace the once verdant, lush woods. The few stone and wooden buildings that remain stand- ing are similarly transformed into rocky gem or crystal structures. These large formations are always composed of quartz and other worthless materials. In some areas, lifelike, crystalline statues mark where unfortunate victims of the transformation stood at the moment of the desert’s violent birth.

Planar creatures are more common in these deserts, as some of them slipped through the unstable planar binding and oth- ers seek to investi- gate the energy f l u c t u a t i o n s . Wizards, sorcerers, and others who study magic cluster in these areas, as they seek to tap into the ambient magical ener- gy and bend it to their uses. In some of these areas, planar gates spontaneously open as the energy levels rise, allowing demons, devils, elementals, and similar creatures to run rampant.

The energy levels and simmering instability sometimes cause spontaneous combustion of the very air in this region. The thunderous sound of distant explosions echoes through the air every few minutes. These explosions some- times catch travelers in their midst. As the energy and instability in this area fades, it slowly transforms into a minor gem

desert. These deserts usually measure about 100 miles in diameter. They shrink over the course of centuries as their magic dissipates.

Moderate Gem Desert (Fiery Explosion) (CR 1): Reflex save DC 15; 2 hour interval; +0

modifier/interval; 2d8 fire damage; Special: Characters in metal armor or those who have used a divine or arcane spell in the hour before facing this hazard suffer –4 penalties to their saves.

A severe gem desert is marked by violent

weather, monstrous blasts of raw sonic energy, and endless dunes of gem and crystal shards. Demons, devils, elementals, and other crea- tures from distant worlds congregate in the desert in great numbers. The simmering ener- gies draw them to the region, as travel to and from the material world is much easier than in other places. Creatures, trees, and many other objects caught in this area when it changed are transformed into crystal objects, creating a bizarre landscape of rocky outcroppings, stat- ues, and monuments seemingly crafted with inhuman skill.

These deserts result when a massive planar instability resolves or in the first few centuries after a minor disturbance dissipates. Energy swirls and shivers in the area, while gates to other worlds spontaneously appear and disap- pear. Thunderous flashes of energy pockmark the terrain. These deserts usually measure about 500 miles across, though they tend to shrink at a relatively rapid rate. In time, they dwindle into moderate and minor gem deserts. Wizards and other arcane casters flock to these places to capture planar creatures, study the ebb and flow of energy, and craft artifacts and magical items within a rich area of arcane ener- gy. Any item created in this area costs 10% less than the total price normally needed to craft it. Unfortunately, the concussive blasts of energy make this a dangerous place to linger and pro- duce an enchanted object.

Severe Gem Desert (Sonic Blast) (CR 4):

Fortitude save DC 20; 2 hour interval; +0 mod- ifier/interval; 4d6 sonic damage; Special: Characters in metal armor or those who have used a divine or arcane spell in the hour before facing this hazard suffer –4 penalties to their

saves.