Qal’Jarra Desert, forests of bones [lowres] (Patreon)

“The Caliphate’s Desert is…not so desertic, at times. Most of it is, but big chunks of it are kjjaroūds - forests of bones, pulsating with life. Still covered in sand, filled with shatals and far from any water source, caravan companies and méharistes avoid these like the Void. 

Not thaumaturges and their retinues, though. The forests are rich in bone marrow, and vital for our buildings and overall infrastructure. We can’t expect them to build cities out of nothing, now, can we ? I mean we can still sacrifice people, but the bones and marrows of the forests yield far better, sturdier results, for a higher price of course.”

• Albe Ombrelune, Al-Katib al-Awwal