Skatchen Land
The wind howls across Skatchen Land like it owns the place, and in many respects it does. Vast grasslands stretch from horizon to horizon, punctuated by a low whistling that never stops. A person can walk for days without encountering another soul, and the flat, featureless terrain offers no landmarks to confirm you are making progress in any direction. Getting lost here is not difficult. Getting found is.
A major roadway runs through the region, used by Diesel Jock caravans that bring metal, farm tools, and supplies during the warmer months. A fast-paced river runs through the area, pooling into Moon Lake to the south. Skatown, the only real settlement, sits along the main road with houses laid out on a narrow street. The western portion transitions into the arid Tinderlands, a semi-desert of scrubby grass and nomadic hunters.
The culture is strongly Nuclear Family, revolving around grain farming and seasonal cycles. Communities are tight-knit and insular. Harsh winter storms blow down from the north, making the region frigid and travel nearly impossible during the cold months. But the real seasonal terror comes in autumn, when Thrill Kill disease sweeps through the population. Skatown handles its infected differently than most settlements: rather than executing the afflicted, they confine them in the Home of the Mad, reflecting a deeply held Nuclear Family belief about preserving family bonds at all costs. The harvest brings grain and madness in equal measure, and the town locks up its own rather than put them down.
A major roadway runs through the region, used by Diesel Jock caravans that bring metal, farm tools, and supplies during the warmer months. A fast-paced river runs through the area, pooling into Moon Lake to the south. Skatown, the only real settlement, sits along the main road with houses laid out on a narrow street. The western portion transitions into the arid Tinderlands, a semi-desert of scrubby grass and nomadic hunters.
The culture is strongly Nuclear Family, revolving around grain farming and seasonal cycles. Communities are tight-knit and insular. Harsh winter storms blow down from the north, making the region frigid and travel nearly impossible during the cold months. But the real seasonal terror comes in autumn, when Thrill Kill disease sweeps through the population. Skatown handles its infected differently than most settlements: rather than executing the afflicted, they confine them in the Home of the Mad, reflecting a deeply held Nuclear Family belief about preserving family bonds at all costs. The harvest brings grain and madness in equal measure, and the town locks up its own rather than put them down.
Geography
Flat grasslands stretching from horizon to horizon define Skatchen Land, located north of Mountaina. The terrain is mostly featureless open plains with very few landmarks, punctuated by a low whistling wind. A major roadway runs through the region, used by Diesel Jock caravans. A fast-paced river runs through the area, pooling into Moon Lake to the south. The western portion transitions into the arid Tinderlands, which eventually give way to the rolling Poisoned Hills in the far reaches. Harsh winter storms blow down from the north, making the region frigid and travel nearly impossible during cold months. Summers are milder but the open terrain offers no shelter from wind.
