Poušť Korath lies far to the south and east of the Severní království, beyond Tir Tochair, between the Nilfgaardian Empire and Zerrikánie and Haakland. Ciri wandered through this desert after her escape from the Thanedd Island during pokus o puč through the portal in Tor Lara.
Because the portal was unstable, the girl was simply ejected in mid-air over the desert. When she finally regained consciousness, Ciri had no idea where she was, nor how to get out of the desert. She has not food nor water with her and her only defenses were one small dagger and her wits.