The lands between the rivers — Amu Darya and Syr Darya — that form the western extension of the Silk Road network. This is the frontier zone beyond the Central Asian Hubs, where the road dissolves into the steppe and the familiar grammar of oasis-city politics gives way to something more fluid.
Currently underpopulated in the campaign's active geography, but several active routes pass through it. Future location development will address the riverine cities and the steppe-interface settlements.
Character
A liminal zone between the settled world of the Central Asian Hubs and the Steppe Confederations. Governance is loose, trade relationships are personal, and the old maps are not reliable guides to the current political situation.
Key Tensions
- Steppe Confederation raiding versus trade route maintenance
- The river crossings as choke points — who controls the ferries controls the route
- Lingering Khwarazmian-era infrastructure being repurposed by new occupants