The Forbidden Plains
History
The Raging Heavens
It was the year 874 when territorial disputes between Doma and Nekonia reached their peak, the conflict finally escalating into full out warfare between the two nations. Doma and Nekonia warred, oblivious to their neighbors and their responses, in a bloody battle which lasted for almost three years. The territory in question was the expanse of land today known as 'The Forbidden Plains.'
In the year 876, in the fourth month, and on the twenty-third day, the dragons intervened. Draconic beings, flames and and teeth flashing, were sick and ill at ease as a result of all the warring over what was long considered THEIR territory by a large portion of the resident elders and others. Setting aside their differences and, in a very un-draconic fashion, banding together, the dragons ripped the battlefield apart, forcing the Domans and the Nekonians to call a cease in the fighting. The dragons, urged on by their victory, pushed outwards, attempting to expand their domains further. The boundaries of both Doma and Nekonia were shattered, penetrated by the intruding dragons.
Meanwhile, a very disturbed body of celestials observed this feuding. The Archangel Christopher organized, against the will of the celestial council, a group to further intervene. The angelic forces, shimmering and burning with the lights of judgment, roared out of the Holy Planes and confronted the dragons. The current 'leader' of the draconic forces, the prismatic dragon R'hel, openly opposed the celestial forces, and the war known as 'The Battle of the Raging Heavens' began.
The Calm
In the year 893, the war between the dragons and the celestials had finally subsided. The aftermath left a territory consisting of a scarred, ravaged wasteland, and the blood of humans, nekojin, and dragons alike stained the earth. Neither side flew their banners of victory -- instead, the dragons meekly and distastefully crawled back to their territories, satisfied with what they had...and that they still were in possession of their lives. The survivors among the humans and others that still remained abandoned the territory, fearing it was cursed by the spirits of the deceased. Far too many had died there.
However, for a relatively long period of time, no major war ensued between Nekonia and Doma -- the celestials had gone, and the dragons were content.
Today
In modern times, most travelers pass through the Forbidden Plains mostly out of necessity. Few, if any, people choose to settle there, as the ghosts of the dead are still rumored to haunt the lands, and very few beings wish to stir up the wrath of deceased dragons.
MUSH description
Forbidden Plains <FP>(#38Rn):
Ravaged some 400 years ago during what began as a territorial dispute between Doma and Nekonia, the Forbidden Plains are known as a blood soaked and haunted land even today. And, in fact, there are some peculiarities to the land. It certainly has more than its fair share of ghosts, for starters, which has attracted a small number of philanthropist exorcists. Also, it is not just a rumor that there are large and small patches of ground where no plants will grow--the corresponding story being that the land has been rendered unable to bear fruit from the salt of the shed blood (or tears, depending on the storyteller).
Nevertheless, while most travelers still pass through the plains mostly out of necessity, some of the taboo is fading. Over time, the reality of the "Battle of the Raging Heavens" has become less real--or, at the least, very far away. Some merchants are finding it very much in their interests to go through the plains rather than over the sea or through the mountains, particularly when dealing as middlemen for less historically-oriented and more numbers-oriented retailers--and others of the ilk. Some consider the possible disappearance on the plain as a necessary business risk, nothing more than a possible bandit ambush in the mountains or pirate attack on sea. The more savvy generally will plot out their routes carefully according to pre-exorcized land...and perhaps include a mercenary or two with the right abilities as insurance.
Obvious exits: <D>oma <In>ustan <K>alshana <Ne>konia Shumans Spine South <shS>
Map
See the map of Igala.
