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Weeks after traversing the frozen tundra, the traveler was in a place that was the polar opposite. Instead of cold temperatures, the man had to contend with an oppressive heat that just wouldn’t go away. It was so hot that even the air felt so dry. He felt the blistering heat from the sun shining on him. The fantasy desert was one of the most brutal places he had ever been.
Being a fantasy environment, the desert biome is the second hottest place with only a volcano hotter than it. It’s found in many places, especially those with heavy dry air. A common feature all deserts share is the endless sea of sand all over. The sand and extreme heat makes it difficult for much vegetation to grow.
Despite the scorching heat that never dies, life’s managed to flourish in such an unforgiving environment. Camels and other animals have adapted to life in the desert biome. Yet animals like sand-worms and leevers call the desert home. That’s because a fantasy desert offers an opportunity to craft unique and interesting denizens only found in such a place.
A fantasy desert plays a great role in the story. It’s one of the most popular environments of the genre — as seen by how often it appears in places like The Legend of Zelda, Star Wars, and many books. Consequently, it’s rich in storyline potential.
The desert biome is a significant step in the hero’s journey. While the frozen tundra tested the hero’s vitality and commitment to his mission, the desert does the same but in a different way.
The high temperature, coupled with the lack of water, leads to the hero being very thirsty, making it easier for him to hallucinate. People he knows and trusts appear in his mind, determined to make him question what he’s doing. The desert is testing his will by making him hallucinate and only by having the fortitude to press on will he overcome this trial.
Many stories take place in the desert where they explore what life is like there. They showcase how difficult it is to survive and how living in such conditions makes them tougher than the average person.
This is the eighth in a series covering fantasy environments. If you haven’t checked out any of the seven before, they’re found on our blog page.
Bring plenty of fluids and wear loose clothing, we’re about to enter the world of the fantasy desert and see what it’s all about!
Where’s the desert biome? It’s usually found in hot, dry places, mostly near the equator. However, in fantasy you can find it just about anywhere.
Let’s use the Hyrule in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom as an example. Found in the southwestern corner of Hyrule, the Gerudo Desert is bordered by the Gerudo Highlands to the north and east, which is bitter cold. Further east is the Faron region, a tropical, lush region with both a forest and jungle.
Location placement doesn’t matter as long as it makes sense. You want the different environments to flow into each other in a logical way that keeps your audience fully immersed in your world. The Hyrule in the previous paragraph works well because the desert is low and flat and the highlands are well, high and mountainous. They mesh well together because they flow smoothly in each other without the risk of the audience not being fully immersed in that world.
No matter where you put it, a fantasy desert contains:
The desert biome is a dangerous place and one mistake may cost someone their life. When going to such a place, be prepared and take what you need to survive!
The dry heat of the desert isn’t the only danger travelers must contend with…
A fantasy desert is prime breeding ground for very dangerous creatures. Growing up in a harsh climate only toughened them and made them killing machines. For in the desert, it’s eat or be eaten.
Scorpions are one of the desert biome’s top monsters. Usually appearing bigger than the average human, their pincers and tail make short work of their prey. Besides the scorpion, many viper snakes like the asp live in the desert and don’t hold back in pursuing their target.
You didn’t think the animals of the desert was the only thing to worry about? Surely you didn’t think only animals lived in an unforgiving environment? What about the plants that call it home?
Examining the flora and fauna of a fantasy desert begins with the one most commonly associated with it: the cactus. Known for being prickly, the cactus comes in many shapes and sizes. Touching one of its thorns makes you bleed, that’s how sharp they are! It stays in the same place throughout its lifetime. Some fantasy worlds even have them move around, attacking everything that passes by!
Besides the cacti, the desert biome also has bushes and other plants. These vegetation are rare, only appearing in a few spots due to having good access to a water source found underground. They exist only to serve the insects that live in the desert.
The quicksand is one of the most dangerous places of a fantasy desert. Besides the potential of trapping and dragging someone under the sand, vile insects inhabit quicksand. They attack all those who come a bit too close for comfort, trying to pull them into the quagmire so they can eat them.
Last and not the least, even the people who live in the desert are not to be trifled with. Many desert-oriented cultures rely on scimitars instead of swords to wage battle with. Battle-hardened warriors fight for personal glory and fame. Living in a tough climate toughened them up, making them the deadliest fighters in the world.
The desert biome offers many possibilities to play an invaluable role in the story. This is due to how often it appears in books, video games, and other media.
In several instances, a fantasy desert plays the part where the hero must conquer his inner demons. During his journey, he usually makes a stop here. As he’s crossing it on foot, whatever doubts he still harbored took on a spiritual shape.
The dry heat, limited access to water, and high temperatures make it easy for the hero to succumb to hallucinations. They could appear as people who he’s wronged in the past, his friends who spew nothing but lies, or the villain who boasts about defeating him. This is a spiritual test, one the hero has no choice but to overcome in order to stand a chance against his true enemy.
The desert biome is a popular environment, appearing in many works. It also takes center stage as the place where everything happens from the beginning to the end like Aladdin. This is because it’s an entirely different setting than the majority of stories that take place in forests and plains and so on. Here, the audience sees a different way of life, how tough of an environment it is to live in.
One important part of this harsh world is the warlike race that practically dominates the land. This race is isolationist, preferring to solve problems without any outsider help. The warlike race becomes important in a specific part of the story, as the hero must approach them to find either a major dungeon or an important treasure that’ll be useful against the villain.
Somehow the hero must win their acceptance in order to accomplish his mission. To complicate things, gaining said acceptance won’t be easy due to their mistrust of outsiders. Against all odds, he manages to win them over and they agree to help him. Little does he know, he’s gained a great ally that will stand with him when he confronts the big bad of the story.
Out of all the environments, the desert biome is one of the most fascinating. Ignoring the high temperatures and dry air, there’s never a dull moment in the desert. There’s always a savage beast milling about or a vicious plant lying in wait to trap its victim. And don’t forget about the insects that live in quicksand!
Living in such conditions imbued animals, plants, and people with fighting spirit that’s quite difficult to break. No matter what the hero’s facing, he must not take it lightly, for doing so may prove fatal.
The fantasy desert is replete with great storyline potential. All you have to do is tap into your imagination to make a tale truly worthy of it.
It’s a no-brainer to have a desert biome in your world. Just let your creative juices flow as you decide where to put it, populate it with exotic animals and plants, and feature people trained in the ways of the warrior.
Before long, you’ll have created a great fantasy desert that your audience will love!
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Sunfire
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