This map here does a good job of showing the relationship between Prax (see the Eiritha Hills) and the Wastes. Prax is much smaller, but also more fertile than the Wastes (the blue-green hatching shows fertile areas). As far as most settled people are concerned, all of the Wastes are basically like Vulture Country – inhospitable to man and beast, with terrible dust storms (worst are those from the Copper Sands), and populated by broo, scorpion men, and other monsters.
But the Praxians know how to survive in the Wastes – Waha shows them the way. It is harsher and more demanding than fertile Prax, but herds can move from grassland to grassland protected by the nomads. Gods and spirits walk the Wastes – it was in the Wastes that Jaldon Goldentooth became a Hero. And it is there in the Wastes that Storm Bull defends the corrupted corpse of his friend and liege Genert.
During the Lunar Occupation, many Praxians exiled themselves to the Wastes. Many joined the White Bull Society, which began in the Wastes. Now they are returning to Prax at Argrath White Bull’s invitation, and they are making preparations for the Final War against Chaos.
“herds can move from grassland to grassland protected by the nomads” This is key to the Waha cult and why his cult grew in importance in the Second Age when the nomads first entered the Wastes.
the movements into the Wastes tended to be in reaction to others occupying Prax. The tribes entered the Wastes after the shameful defeat at the Battle of Necklace Horse. Not all members of course, but many left their ancestral homelands rather than live under the surrender restrictions.This began a great expansion of the Animal Nomads into the Genertelan Wastes, which had been largely uninhabited until that time. An anonymous song called “The Long Lonely Growth without Heroes” describes the Praxian perspective about this phase of their history.
THE NORTHWARD PUSH
After the Dragonkill War and the closing of Dragon Pass, the Animal Nomads entered into a period of comparative calm and growth. Their intertribal warfare continued, often disintegrated into inter-clan fighting in the Genertelan Wastes. Yet they prospered, relieved at last of the troublesome influence of the civilizations in Dragon Pass. Minor adventures in the Holy Country, Kralorela, and Teshnos were viewed with alarm from the inhabitants of those regions, but their retaliatory raids failed to do long-lasting damage to the Animal Nomads. It is probably fortunate for those regions that the ancient ancestral grudge against the Horse Barbarians of Pent was greater than their lust from the luxuries of civilization.
Cut off from other areas of expansion the nomads expanded northward into Pent. This was a gradual process of many generations, yet proved inexorable. Both the Animal Nomads and the Horse Barbarians have stories about the famous battle of No-Feet-on-the-Ground, where even the sun and storm took part so that the earth itself recoiled and withdrew from contact with the battle. Its date is uncertain, and the multitude of conflicting information makes a sensible recollection impossible. Regardless, the battle was a disaster of immense proportions for the Horse Barbarians. They were split into East and West divisions, and reeling into civilized lands in the north. Their arrival in Peloria was during the Lunar Third Wane.
The tapir tribe did not participate at Moonbroth, so they congregated around the Head Acres.
Most Lunars assumed that the defeated nomads were going into the Wastes to die in disgrace. I think Sor-eel knew that the nomads could survive in the Wastes, but kept that knowledge secret outside of his immediate household. His successor likely had no idea.