Anauroch Desert

Population:

The Anauroch Desert is a massive desert in Northern Faerun. It's classified as a rocky desert with high heat in the day and extreme cold at night. The desert is home to many dangerous magical beasts. There's a long black road that runs horizontally through the desert and is the safest route along the desert. It handles trade routes from the Golden Way to the Long Road.

Places in the Anauroch Desert
Azerhat - a tall, spire-like mountain in this desert. It's made of pitch-black stone and is used as a navigation point. An unusual amount of shade comes off this mountain.

Empire of Shadows - a fallen civilization formerly inhabited by Shadvari (followers of Shar). Due to its proximity to the Shadowfell, the whole area is cloaked in darkness. It's easy to accidentally find yourself in another plane anywhere in that valley.

Marsh of Chelimber - A marsh just west of the Anauroch Desert. A lizard-like humanoid named Slavas lives here and trades in magical equipment. The party trades him a +2 Shadow Hound armor for supplies to make it across the desert - 2 barrels of water, a crate of fresh fish, and a basket of greens.

Temple of the Slumbering Pharaoh - A Temple in the desert guarded by a Sphynx named Arakosa the Watcher. The party does some riddle with the sphynx but decides to come back later to the temple. They have been told that the Staff of Origin is loacted within this temple. They are told that if they go into the temple with a greedy heart they will end up cursed or dead. They can speak the intention of getting the staff at the door and if they take anything else they will be penalized. If they wake the pharoah while they are down there, they will be killed. The party promises to return with more riddles and a gift.

Notable Non-Player Characters
Arakosa the Watcher: A Sphynx that guards the Temple of the Slumbering Pharaoh. The party makes up some riddles for the sphynx to get information about the Staff of Origin but say they will come back to go into temple at a later time.

Slavas: An old lizard-like humanoid living in the Marsh of Chelimber. He trades in magical equipment.