People of the Tablelands

Most of the Tablelands are bleak and savage, but they are far from deserted. When you travel in these areas, you'll meet representatives of all races, including nomads, raiders, hermits, and hunters. Each group tends to be found in the type of terrain best suited to its lifestyle. Nomadic herders are more common in the scrub lands. Raiders tend to hide in the labyrinths of the badlands, and hermits prefer to live at out-of-the-way oases. Hunters are found wherever there is prey: stony barrens, sandy wastes, rocky badlands, and the scrub plains. Of course, these guidelines are not hard or fast; to sur- vive, the races of the desert must be flexible and mobile, so you shouldn't be surprised to find any group in any terrain. When you meet a group of natives, the responses you receive will depend on their nature and your own attitude. If you appear frightened, most natives will try to take advantage of you; if you seem hostile, they'll want to fight; if you're arrogant, they won't do anything to help you. In general, I have found that it is best to appear confident and courteous. This implies that you have the strength to defend yourself, yet have no harmful intentions. Each of the groups mentioned above is described more fully in Athasian Society.

Animals of the Tablelands

A wide variety of creatures inhabit the Tablelands. All are dangerous, for Athas is a harsh place with one natural law that prevails over all others: kill or be killed. Even animals which subsist entirely on plants have deadly defenses, for they must fight off vicious predators almost daily. My advice to the hungry traveler thinking to make an easy meal of any innocuous-looking beast is this: be as prepared to fight for your life as the animal you are hunting will be to fight for its own. If the herbivores are dangerous, the carnivores are a truly nightmarish. Intelligent races receive no special consideration in the deserts of Athas. In fact, many predators consider them a special delicacy and lurk near places where human and demi-human races conglomerate - i.e., near villages, roads, oases, etc. When you travel outside any city, always assume that you're being stalked by something as large as a mekillot, as quiet as a halfling, as fast as an elf, and as vicious as a mul - chances are that you will be correct. Most of the creatures described in the Wildlife section can be found in the Tablelands.