Description
The air becomes dry and sharp. The wind carries the warmth of the sun and the horizon distorts from reflected heat. Great plateaus of reddish earth, dotted with small cylindrical cacti, occupy the land before you. Absolute silence sets in.
During the day, due to the high temperatures, you will lose 1 point of any Attribute in each hex of the Silent Wastes you explore. To avoid this damage, leave immediately and return at night or use something to protect you from the heat.
Oases
Amidst the arid Silent Wastes, you may find small areas that seem like portals to another world. These places are special and can greatly aid you on your journey. There are two types of oases in the Silent Wastes, and you cannot take heat damage while in either of them:
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Palm Paradise: Rising through the turbulent, heat shimmering sky and surrounding a small lake, enormous palm trees cast cool shade across the ground.
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Cactus Sanctuary: Sturdy, cylindrical cacti, green and yellow, take over the desert in small islands of undergrowth.
Heatbugs
Heatbugs are large, cactus-like insects. They have an exoskeleton of rigid thorns and are covered in a thick layer of hairs that burn when touched without protection. Heatbug thorns are highly sought after for making tools such as heatbug pliers and water cans.
Magic
The magic of this biome must answer the following question:
How can silence support? How can noise protect?
Ambient Music
Encounters
Deep sand makes the path even more tiring. Have a meal or roll a successful Test of Courage to overcome this challenge. Otherwise, choose between losing 1 item or 1 Vigour point. If you return to this hex, the sand will have the same effect.
A ruin appears among the sandy rocks. Turn to page 63 if you want to enter.
You discover an oasis. Learn more on page 36. Draw a card to find out what type of Oasis you have found.
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♥♦ A Palm Paradise.
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♠♣ A Cactus Sanctuary.
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You meet a Kiore. Learn more about them on page 34. Go to page 57 if you want to define the Kiore’s personality. The Kiore will not be here when you return.
You come across a Heatbug. Learn more about them on page 37. Draw a card to find out what type of Heatbug you have encountered.
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♦ A Docile Heatbug.
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♥ A Hostile Heatbug.
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♠♣ A Fallen Heatbug.
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Gathering
To collect resources in any hex of the Silent Wastes, you need to: - Use a Pickaxe. Spend 1 durability point and choose an item from the Gathering Table. - Or roll a Test of Courage and, on a Hit, roll what you find on the Gathering Table. Any item collected in the Silent Wastes can be sold for **10 coins** in any town.
Cartography
You are currently straying into a silent waste.
Scorching winds warp the horizon, carving red plateaus where cacti stand sentinel in absolute, sun-drenched silence. · Explore