Cham Marches

The Cham Marches, once a neutral buffer zone between the Empire of Drakkar and the Empire of Bamasuj, now lie in ruins, claimed by a zombie apocalypse that has reduced the once-proud land to a desolate wasteland. Long ago, this region was contested by empires and known for its sprawling grasslands, rugged mountains, and ancient cities, but today, the undead rule what was once the heart of Rakshasa ambition. The zombie plague that swept across the Marches decimated the population, leaving abandoned towns, crumbling fortresses, and haunted ruins where the living rarely tread.

Geography of the Cham Wastes:

• The Grasping Plains: These once-rolling grasslands have turned into a nightmarish expanse of withered vegetation, littered with the remains of the dead. Once a vital thoroughfare for caravans and herdsmen, now hordes of zombies wander aimlessly across the wasteland, their groans echoing across the empty plains. The once-flourishing oases are now stagnant pools of disease, and the dry riverbeds have become deathtraps for unwary travelers.

• The Ashar Mountains: Still rising snow-capped and imposing to the north, the Ashar Mountains remain a stronghold, though much of the population has fled. Refugees and survivors from the lower lands have taken shelter in the remote and difficult-to-reach mountain fortresses, but even these bastions are not entirely safe from the plague. The undead sometimes shamble up the slopes, drawn by unknown forces, while the once-thriving mining industry has collapsed, leaving its tunnels haunted by the undead.

• The Golden Sands: The Golden Sands desert, once a place of mystery and opportunity, is now a graveyard. The sandstorms that once threatened travelers now hide the movement of zombie swarms. The ruins of the ancient rakshasa and serpentmen lie buried beneath the dunes, along with countless corpses, both human and beast. Few dare to cross this wasteland, as it has become a place where undead horrors and unseen dangers thrive.

Ruined Cities of the Cham Wastes:

1. Maj Keili (Capital, Ruined): Once the capital of the Cham Marches, Maj Keili is now a haunted ruin, its once-vibrant streets filled with decaying corpses and shambling undead. The city's grand palaces and temples are broken, their walls blackened with ash and disease. The Monastery of Po Hokuur stands as a tragic reminder of the monks' failed efforts to delay the apocalypse. Though the ivory walls still stand, the monks have perished, their once-pure halls now overrun with the very undead they sought to prevent. Maj Keili, once a beacon of diplomacy, is now a center of death and decay.

2. Dushangur (Ruined Port City): The once-thriving port city of Dushangur, which sat proudly on the Ravaged Sea, is now an eerie ghost town. The white sandstone walls crumble into the sea, while the once-bustling markets are deserted, save for the wandering zombie fishermen who aimlessly return to their former homes. Rotting ships lie half-submerged in the harbor, their crews long dead, but some dark magic keeps them sailing. The once-wealthy merchants and nobles now linger as mindless undead, endlessly repeating the tasks of their former lives.

3. Saraya (Desolate Fortress): Saraya, the great fortress-city in the foothills of the Ashar Mountains, is the last remnant of civilization clinging to life in the Cham Wastes. Survivors, mostly military and remnants of Drakkar and Bamasuj forces, have fortified the city against the encroaching undead. The walls are scarred from countless attacks, but the city remains a critical stronghold, keeping the armies of the undead at bay—at least for now. However, supplies are running low, and hope is dwindling, as fewer refugees arrive and more soldiers fall victim to the plague.

4. Karak Duul (Ruined Frontier): Karak Duul, once a city of treasure hunters and adventurers, has been consumed by the Golden Sands and the relentless march of the undead. The city’s oases have dried up, and the mud-brick buildings have been overrun. Treasure hunters who came seeking ancient rakshasa artifacts now lie rotting in the streets, their undead forms still seeking the riches they died for. The ruins of rakshasa tunnels beneath the city are now infested with undead horrors, waiting for foolish adventurers to disturb their eternal slumber.

5. The White Columns (Ruined Fortress): The once impenetrable fortress of the rakshasas, the White Columns, now lies shattered and broken. After the final battle between the rakshasas and the combined forces of Drakkar and Bamasuj, the dungeon beneath the fortress was sealed to contain the monsters and dark magic within. However, the zombie plague has infiltrated even these depths, reawakening the horrors that slumbered there. The underground dungeon is a labyrinth of undead abominations, and the fortress above serves as a lair for powerful undead lords who command their minions from within.

Climate of the Cham Wastes:

The climate of the Cham Wastes is as unforgiving as the undead that now roam it. The once cold, dry winters have turned into harsh, freezing nights, while the scorching summers bake the land, hastening the decay of the dead. Dust storms and sandstorms ravage the region, obscuring vision and hiding the zombie hordes that prowl the land. The rains that once nourished the grasslands now bring disease and rot, filling the riverbeds with toxic waters that carry the infection further. Survivors cling to life in isolated pockets, knowing that the weather is the least of their worries.

The Cham Marches, now known as the Cham Wastes, are a desolate and cursed land, once home to the final ambitions of the rakshasa empire and now claimed by an endless tide of undead. The land is scarred by the zombie apocalypse, its cities overrun, and its population decimated. Though the immortals and armies of old may have left, the undead horrors remain, and only the bravest or most foolhardy dare to explore what has become of the White Columns and the other forgotten cities of this forsaken land.