Saltwind Basin

Saltwind Basin is a stark, shimmering expanse where desert sands meet sprawling salt flats, creating a landscape of blinding white plains under an endless sky. Small rivers snake through the region, their mineral-rich waters evaporating into vast salt basins that glitter like frozen seas. To the west, the ocean crashes against jagged cliffs, sending salty winds inland—giving the basin its name. 

This region is harsh yet strangely beautiful, with mirages dancing across the salt flats and occasional wind-carved rock formations breaking the monotony. The rivers form seasonal channels, creating temporary oases before vanishing into the salt beds.

The basin serves as a resource hub for rare salts and minerals, fueling trade and alchemical industries. To the south, there is no direct path into the Sandstone Spires, reinforcing its isolation and the main route from Saltwind Basin leads west into the Northern Desert, making it a critical junction for desert trade routes.

Points of Interest

• Neutral Salt Camps: Scattered across the basin, these camps are home to independent gatherers and traders who harvest salt and minerals for commerce. They are not aligned with the Covenant or Dominion, making them hubs for smuggling, barter, and espionage. Camps often feature makeshift wind shelters, salt-drying racks, and guarded caravans ready to move goods toward Dustreach Divide or the Northern Desert.
• Salt Flats of Lirath: Endless crystalline plains that reflect sunlight like molten glass, disorienting travelers. 
• Windscar Cliffs: Ocean-facing cliffs where salt storms rise during high tides, coating the land in white frost. 
• Mineral Veins: Beneath the salt crust lie rare minerals prized by alchemists and artisans.
  

Karbuncle

Karbuncle is a thriving coastal settlement situated on the flat salt plains at the eastern edge of Saltwind Basin, just steps from the ocean’s waves. Its sprawling docks and sandy streets form a vital trade hub where caravans from the basin meet ships bound for distant shores. Built from sun-baked sandstone and reinforced with timber from inland forests, Karbuncle is known for its Salt Markets, bustling with merchants trading minerals, spices, and rare contraband. Neutral by necessity, the settlement attracts traders, mercenaries, and smugglers alike, making it both a lifeline for commerce and a hotspot for intrigue along the western ocean routes.