Mount Kimali and the Calderus Sea

Along the eastern coast of Mahador, between the deep jungles of the Xejukan Wilds wilds and the Hydrask Isles, lies a formidable mountain, surrounded on all sides by a sea filling the remnants of the largest volcano the world had ever seen.

Geography

Mount Kimali is a tall, dormant volcano, located dead centre of what is called the Calderus sea. This sea is particaly contained by a ring of broken, rocky islands, called the Rim, which has long been reclamed by the jungle. This rim was created by the old mount Kimali exploding at the start of the Long Winter. Both the new mountain and the sea around it are located between the continental mainland to the west, and the Hydrask Isles to the east. This archipelago also contains numerous active and dormant volcanoes, though none that reached Kimali's present or past size.

Localized Phenomena

A stationary storm covers most of the calderus sea, spining around themselves and around the top of Mount Kimali in a similar matter to a typical hurricane. However, unlike a typical Hurricane, there is no eye in its centre, but instead the spining clouds seems to either be pulled down towards the mountain's peak, or they are coming out of it; The few testimonies we have conflict with each other. Blue lightning can be seen from the rim islands as bands of the hurricane-like storm passes over them. Deeper into the storm, the lighting turns purple, and flashes constantly, illuminating the rain, waves and clouds in their bright lights.

Climate

the sun never shines on mount kimali or the surrounding waters. Instead, intense winds, heavy rains and choppy seas are the usual weather. Despite this, being so close to the equator means that the temperature remains hot and humid all year round.

Fauna & Flora

Because of the severe weather near permanently affecting the region, very little fauna, or flore, can be found. The mountain itself has been stripped of most large vegetation, like trees and other large brushes, by the winds. Only a few small plants, like grasses and ferns survive, anchored in crevasses along its flanks. The rim islands around the volcano and the sea are a bit more populated in both fauna and flora. They have palm trees, as well as small mammals, amphibians and reptiles, who managed to survive the regular storms wipping the island. The calderus sea is also largely empty of life, especialy around the volcano, but the water further out and near the rim islands do support a bit of life, though most species tend to be smaller in size and in numbers compared to other nearby regions unnafected by the storm.

Natural Resources

The rim islands, and especialy mount Kimali, are chock full of precious gems and ores. Diamonds, emeralds, and lycanite crystals are commonly found here, even on the surface. Many adventurers and/or pirates brave the storms to collect these ressources. The vast majority of them do not come back, but the ones that do have become the richest and most famous of The Pirates of the Hydrask Isles.

History

First Age

Old Asderi sources mention Mount Kimali as being the largest, but quietest volcano in the Hydrask Isles, and describes the island it sat on as lush, covered in jungles and inhabited by all kinds of animals. The top fo the mountain was covered in shrubs, indicating that the volcano had been dormant for some time. There is no mention of a rim of islands around it, or of a perpertual storm hanging overhead. 

Long Winter and Second Age

In the year 2212, the volcano erupted, along with many others in the region and around the world. The explosion completly detroyed the mountain, leaving a vast crater behind. Most of it, was filled with water, and formed what is now called the Calderus sea, leaving only the rim of the crater as islands scattered in a circle. A nearby Asderi city, Doderan, was wiped out by tsunami waves and massive earthquakes produced by the esplosion, which also released a lot of ash and sooth into the atmosphere, contributing tothe prolongling of the The Long Winter. Very soon after, the storm appeared, and grew to its current size in the following centuries. It hasn't dissapeared since.

Present time

A new volcano, also named mount Kimali, has since formed on the site of the former mountain. According to Asderi estimations, this new mountain is about a quarter to a third of the size of the old one. It erupts every decade or so, slighly adding to its size every time. It's last eruption was 16 years ago, and it was a particulary large one.

Map of Mahador

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A map of the continents of Mahador and Samara, as of the year 370 AC.

Alternative Name(s)

The mountain of Storms/The Lighting Mountain

Type

Volcano, Underwater

Location under

Continent of Mahador

Dragon sightings

While the perpetual storms have long been the main subject of attention in regards to Mount Kimali, another subject is quickly gaining traction: Sightings of a dragon. Indeed the first of these sightings occured 16 years ago, just a few weeks after the volcano's last eruption. Since then, the same dragon, which appears to be a light elemental type, has been sighted at least 12 times. It has been described as curious and playful, observing ships from afar, flying over head, or swooping down towards them. I can also be seen dancing amongst the lightning, seemingly unafected by them. Many in the region, and further beyond say that the presence of such a rare dragon in a place like this is an omen warning about great changes coming in the near future.