Diengad Grassland Plateau

Place

Place Name:

Diengad Grassland Plateau

Biome:

Grassland Plateau

Size:

3500 km2

Continent:

Unknown

Subcontinent

Unknown

Geography

Diengad Grassland Plateau is mostly flat but does contain some slight hills. It rises above the land and the beach on either side of it. If viewed from the surrounding territories, it appears to just be a line of menacing cliffs. Diengad's higher altitude means that the air is thinner, and large plant life is not sustainable. This is why most of the plateau is covered in grey grass. There are patches where the grass does not grow, and these small clearings are known as 'Kutien' by the local Ustther kin'toni. These small clearings are common camping spots for the main kin'toni travelling group.

They are also used by lone scouts when they need a place to settle. Most predators in Diengad are afraid to stray outside of the grass that keeps them hidden and safe, making the Kutien perfect places to avoid them. The Kutien are hard to discern from the surrounding environment, but the Ustther cairns often show those who can read their signs, where to find one nearby. While most Kutien are known to the local Ustther kin’toni there are still that remain undiscovered. Many new Kutien are also created, usually due to fires made by kin’toni or travellers.

In the centre of the grassland lies Lake Tamiwar. Lake Tamiwar is considered the key to all life on the plateau, as it is the main water source. The lake is extremely deep due to the raised level of Diengad and stretches to unknown depths. Its water is believed to come from an underwater aquifer, deep beneath the earth. At Tamiwar many trees and other plants are able to grow, their leaves and branches create shade from the sun, and prevent any grass from growing beneath them by hogging the sunlight. This means that any creature that wants to get a drink has to trek across several metres of exposed soil to reach the water's edge.

This is common ground for kin'toni hunting parties or ambush predators to lie in wait in search of easy prey. Travelling zu’aan also need to stop by the lake to get water, and any travellers who have no paid the tax are likely to be attacked by any kin’toni hiding nearby. To cross the plateau there are only a certain amount of commonly known entrances from the surrounding lowlands. Each of these is spied upon by the local Ustther kin'toni. Some desperate travellers, or enemy raiders, have scaled the cliff walls to enter Diengrad unseen.

Some of the entrances are natural and consist of more gradual slopes, or just tunnels that lead to the surface of the grassland. The Ustther have almost made some entrances of their own. It is these they travellers can come through if they can afford to pay the toll. These entrances are well guarded and much easier to traverse than the natural ones. The Ustther also have their own secret entrances, which are generally small and out of sight. These are used to smuggle spies in and out of enemy territory and back into Diengad, unseen by enemy spies.

Plants

Diengad Grassland Plateau plant life is mostly concentrated around lake Tamiwar, however there are some species that have adapted to live out in the grasslands. Plants do not grow particularly large on the plateau, but some of the lake species can. Recently, the plants in the plateau have been hit with a disease called Shakire, this disease causes the plants to slowly rot from the inside. Shakire is causing most of the natural plant life in the grassland to die.

Diengad Grey Grass

Diengad grey grass can be found basically anywhere on the surface of Diengad. It grows in singular stalks, meaning that each blade of grass is its own plant. The grass is coloured a dull grey and can reach heights of up to 2 metres. Diengad grey grass is very hardy and can live in extreme cold or heat for long periods of time without being affected. They do not need much oxygen to survive, making the thin air of the plateau perfect for them. The grey grass covering the plateau is the reason Diengad got its name. Since the grass grows so densely it provides perfect cover for kin'toni and animals that live beneath it.

The grass provides little nutrition and only specific types of animals can gain any benefit from consuming it. This lack of predators means that the grass can grow freely and live for long periods of time.

Kima Lakeside Trees

Kima lakeside trees are a species of tree native and unique to Diengad. They grow specifically in the damp soil next to Tamiwar Lake. Kima trees were originally a different species of tree, their seeds were brought through Diengad by a travelling kin'toni. Some of the seeds spilled when the traveller came for water at the lake and proceeded to grow. The tree then adapted slowly over time to its current form. Kima lakeside trees have thick brown trunks and roots that sprawl over a large area around the trunk. Their leaves are a bright green to contrast the grey of their surroundings.

These trees are not particularly tall, the tallest stands at a little over 2 metres. These trees are commonly used as shelter from the heavy rains or are climbed to escape predators waiting for prey to come to the lake.

Arhan Flowers

Arhan flowers are small grey plants that grow out in the grasslands of Diengad. They have become very common over the years due to the unintentional spreading of their seeds by the local animals. Arhan flowers are a luminous red and attract many species of insect. When they are pollinating the flowers become very sticky. Any animal or kin'toni that passes by the plant is likely to have one or more of the flowers stuck to the afterwards. The host will the carry the flowers around with them, spreading the seeds inside to new areas. This technique has allowed the arhan flowers to be found in almost all corners of the plateau.

These flowers are also edible and serve as great gifts for the local Ustther kin'toni to give to their lovers on special occasions.

Animals

Diengad Grassland Plateau is home to many unique forms of wildlife. Most of these native creatures have adapted to live inside the lush grasses that make up the majority of the plateau. The animals of the plateau use the grass as a method of hiding, to ambush prey as well as food. Lake Tamiwar is essential to the survival of most of the wildlife in Diengad, and almost all of the animal species can be found there at one point in time.

Shichada

Shichada are a species of flightless insect that is native and unique to Diengad Grassland Plateau. These insects feed solely on Diengad Grey Grass. They a thin tendril-like mouthpiece that extends from their head that is able to slowly digest the rough grass stems. Shichada have a nearly limitless supply of food and no natural predators due to their poisonous blood. They are generally the size of a kin'toni hand, and brown in colour. Females have light blue heads, and their blood is less poisonous. The local Ustther kin'toni clan use the shichada blood as poison for their arrows.

Since the bow is the main weapon of the Ustther, poisonous arrows are incredibly deadly. Shichada do have stingers built into their abdomen that they can use in self-defence, and this makes extracting their blood all the more difficult. The local kin'toni counteract this by using the insects are target practice and killing them at a safe distance.

Atamoi

Atamoi are a species of predatory mammal that reside by Tamiwar Lake in Diengad Grassland Plateau. They have grey fur that they use to blend in with the Diengad Grey Grass that surrounds the lake on all sides. They catch their prey by lying in wait in the dense patches of grass around the lake for prey to walk in to get water. They then pounce using their powerful hind legs and attack with the sharp claws on their front paws. Atamoi are also capable runners and can chase down prey if they need to. their teeth are designed to tear flesh from bone, although they have trouble cutting through hard material.

This means that they cannot piece bone, or armour with their teeth. Atamoi generally do not prey on kin'toni, but starving ones have been known to attack lone kin'toni at the water's edge. Atamoi are can grow up to 2 metres long and the larger ones are often hunted by the local Ustther kin'toni for their coats and meat. Many Ustther wear their pelts as trophies of their success.

Alithukan

Alithukan are a species of pack hunting predators that are native and unique to Diengad Grassland Plateau. Alithukan have one extra-long claw on each front arm that is mostly used to latch onto their prey. They usually run on all fours but are able to stand solely on their hind legs so they can be tall enough look over the tops of the grass. They are covered from head to toe in white fur, that is dotted with black spots. Alithukan have long jaws lined with serrated teeth that angle backwards. They can latch onto prey with incredible jaw strength and their jaws cannot be prised off due to the angled teeth. Alithukan packs generally consist of 10-20 individuals.

The senior members of the pack are ones who lead the hunts and are the ones to identify potential targets. Alithukan traditionally hunt at night and have been known to raid local kin'toni villages. Kin'toni do not scare them and they have no problem destroying entire villages. The local Ustther kin'toni have tried to lessen the population of alithukan by attacking their young during the day. They succeeded originally, but quickly discovered the attacking them would result in the rest of the pack tracking the attacker back to whichever Ustther camp they came from. Now the alithukan packs run rampant over the plateau. The largest pack is known by the locals as The Bloodied.

Historical Timeline of Ages

Age Name	Dates	Controller
Stone Age	Before 1E 0	Unknown
Copper Age	1E 1–1E 2200	Unknown
Bronze Age	1E 2200–1E 4400	Unknown
Iron Age	2E 0–2E 700	Unknown
Ancient Age	2E 700–2E 2200	Unknown
Middle Age	3E 0–3E 2050	Unknown
Early Modern Age	3E 2050–3E 2600	Unknown
Industrial Age	3E 2600–3E 2700	Unknown
Machine Age	3E 2700–3E 2800	Unknown
Atomic Age	3E 2800–3E 2850	Unknown
Space Age	3E 2850–3E 2875	Unknown
Information Age	3E 2875–3E 2900	Unknown
Genetic Age	3E 2950–3E 3000	Unknown
Awakening Age	3E 3000–3E 3415	Unknown
Twilight Age	4E 0–4E 500	Ustther Kin'toni Clan

Place

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Diengad Grassland Plateau

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This article is written by tytarys. Copyright 2026 tytarys. All rights reserved.