| “ | Many of the Wainriders now passed south of Mordor and made alliance with men of Khand and of Near Harad. | ” |
–Appendix A: Annals of the Kings and Rulers, The Lord of the Rings | ||
The Great Desert is the large, barren desert region located south of most of the familiar lands of Middle-earth. Cacti are much more rare here than in the vanilla Minecraft deserts, and surface water is almost non-existent. The desert is home to the nomads, people known to have no permanent dwellings and who travel around with all their belongings in permanent search of vegetation and water for their livestock, and for trade opportunities. Their presence secures the bonding between the peoples of Near Harad as they cater for the trade needs of their kin in the Southron Coasts to their west, Harnennor to their north, and the Gulf of Harad to the south of their barren habitat.
Due to the intense heat of this desert region, the player will periodically take damage, similar to the way the player will take damage in Forodwaith due to the intense cold. The best way to avoid this is to obtain Harad robes or get out from underneath the burning sun, and to only travel at night … but mind the scorpions.
Any traveller crossing this region is recommended to go by ship … the ship of the desert that is. The Camels that spawn here can be ridden by any player after being tamed. And these animals are excellent mounts for long distance travels through this forsaken country.
Upon entering Near Harad you earn the achievement "The Great Desert".
Sub-biomes
Desert Hills
Great ranges of hills covered in sand rise in various parts of the desert.
Red Desert
This sub-biome is located on north-east of Near Harad. Compared to normal desert, it has red sand and sandstone, from which red brick can be made. This gives this sub-biome a very unique look.
Oasis
This sub-biome is quite rare, and can be found across the Half-deserts. Referred to as the Green Jewels by the Southrons, Oases are patches of fertile land that usually generate around small lakes. The Oasis sub-biome is virtually identical to the Desert Riverbank, with sprawling fields of grass, oak, cedar, cypress, and palm trees, and plenty of wild animals. The primary difference between the two sub-biomes is size, as Oases only cover a few chunks each.
Nomads spawn in Oasis sub-biomes more commonly than they do in the Half-deserts proper.
Upon entering an Oasis, the player earns the achievement "Jewel of Harad."
Variants
In the Great Desert, the following biome variants can be found:
- Dunes - small, long hills that are the result of harsh winds blowing the sands.
- Steppe - a version of the great desert that's far flatter than others.
- Red Boulder Fields - a version of the great desert that's dotted with boulders of Red Sandstone.
- Hills - a version of the great desert with more hills.
- Dead forest - a desert forest of dead trees.
- Sandy scrublands - Similar to the normal scrubland but with sandstone instead of stone distributed throughout the surface terrain.
Structures
The Great Desert is mostly devoid of life, but a few scattered settlements of the Nomads can be found here, as can ruins from the distant past.
- Harad Obelisk - Simple sandstone shrines that can be found across various regions of Near Harad. Built by the Southrons in honor of Sauron, they are built around central columns topped with open flames.
- Nomad Outposts - Small camps that can rarely be found in the Great Desert, home to caravans of Harad Nomads. These small settlements contain no more than eight tents all told, all made of white and brown wool supported by wooden fences. Outposts are built around large tents, which feature ornate carpets, seats for groups of Nomads, a double straw bed, a furnace, a cauldron, a vanilla crafting table, and a reed basket with some standard loot. These tents are surrounded by smaller tents, which contain a pair of beds, a vanilla crafting table, a furnace, and a reed basket with loot. Harad Nomads spawn in these tents and in the surrounding area.
- Nomad Encampments - Larger Nomad settlements that can be found in the Great Desert, albeit exceedingly rarely. These are home to much larger caravans, and are built around central wells, a rarity indeed in the desert. Two large tents can be found close to these wells, and form a ring with a chieftain's tent and a bazaar tent. The chieftain's tent is home to a Nomad Chieftain and several Nomad Guards, and features treasure piles, two double lion fur beds, two cauldrons, two reed baskets, a vanilla crafting table, a Haradric crafting table, tables with food and drink, and tethered, pre-tamed camels for players to take. Bazaar tents are the largest structures built by the Nomads, and feature all sorts of miscellaneous goods piles around three wooden stalls, where three of the four Nomad Traders (including armourers, brewers, stonemasons, and miners) can be found. Up to fourteen smaller tents can generate in a ring around these larger structures. Encampments are guarded heavily by the Nomads, who spawn in large numbers in them.
- Ancient Harad Fortress - Fortresses built by Haradrim of an age past, long since abandoned to the desert. These structures are mostly buried by the shifting desert sands, with the lower floor of the structure usually buried completely, but they are otherwise in remarkably good condition. Buried within them are reed baskets that can contain extremely valuable loot, including uncraftable Black Númenórean armour and equipment.
- Desert Pyramid - Massive pyramids of Haradric brick, which can rarely be found out in the desert. These towering monuments are topped with obelisks bearing the symbol of the Eye of Sauron, with a gold block inset for the Eye's pupil. An entrance, usually clogged with sand, can be found at the base of the pyramid, which leads into a network of tunnels and burial chambers. Two store-rooms with three stone chests each can be found branching off the entrance corridor, beyond which is a set of three burial chambers, featuring another stone chest each alongside the remains of a long-dead Southron lord. The corridor loops around these tombs towards the main vault at the back of the pyramid, which is walled off by bronze bars. This vault contains a desert scorpion spawner and a hidden Ancient Haradric Chest, which contains the pyramid's most valuable loot. In addition, there are three hidden treasure chambers built into the pyramid - one beneath the top of the pyramid and two more located near the store-rooms, all of which players must dig through the pyramid to unearth. Each chamber contains another scorpion spawner and another stone chest. All told, these pyramids contain thirteen chests, all of which can contain extremely valuable loot, such as Black Númenórean gear or Old-Haradric Sacrificial Daggers. Looters should take caution, however, as each chest has the chance to spawn a Harad Pyramid Wraith and some scorpions upon being accessed.
Mobs
The Great Desert is a perilous land, home only to a few hardy Nomads and the camels they depend upon for travel. A few foul creatures are much more common.
- Harad Nomad - Civilian nomads of the Great Desert. In the burning wastes of the Great Desert, they are only found in Nomad settlements. They will not attack enemy NPCs or players unless attacked, but will defend themselves with Haradric daggers if need be.
- Nomad Guards - Warriors from the shifting sands of the Great Desert, Nomad Guards can be found in Nomad settlements. They wear Nomad Armour, occasionally with turbans instead of helmets, and use Haradric equipment, including swords, daggers, spears, and pikes. They can be found mounted on camels.
- Nomad Archers - Nomad Guards that carry Bows of Harad, who can also be found mounted on camels.
- Nomad Traders - Four Nomad traders that can only be found in Nomad Bazaars - the armourer, brewer, stonemason, and miner. Each will buy and sell items relevant to their profession. Unlike the other traders, the armourer will only trade with players above a certain alignment with Near Harad, and they can reforge your weapons for you, for the right price.
- Nomad Chieftain - The leaders of Nomad tribes, who command the guards that keep caravans safe. Nomad Chieftains allow players with sufficient money and alignment to hire Nomad guards, archers, camelry, and banner bearers. They spawn only in their tents in Nomad encampments, and wear Nomad Armour, minus the helmets, and carry Haradric weapons, much like their followers. They can be easily distinguished by their capes, which are red and embroidered with the symbol of the Black Serpent.
- Desert Scorpion - These hostile mobs stalk the deserts at night, and attack on sight with their poisonous stingers. They can be extremely deadly underground, where they spawn in large swarms.
- Harad Pyramid Wraith - Ghosts of ancient Southron kings that inhabit the pyramids found in the desert. They come in two variants - one wearing Gulfing armour and carrying a Haradric dagger, and one wearing Coast Southron armour and carrying an Umbaric dagger. They will spawn with a bolt of lightning when the player attempts to access chests in the pyramids, and are hostile to all.
Mining
All the standard ores can be found beneath the Great Desert, with the addition of Lapis Lazuli. Unlike in vanilla, lapis can only be found in Near Harad, albeit at the same rates and levels.
Vegetation
There is little vegetation in the desert of Near Harad. In some parts forests of dead trees are silent witnesses of the conservational strength of the draught that governs this biotope.
Trivia
- Glflegolas did a regional spotlight on the Near Harad Desert, which can be found here. If you plan on visiting, make sure to check that out.
Gallery
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Coast •
Desert •
Gulf •
Harnennor •
Lostladen •
Umbar |