Natural history

Ako created Domhan to welcome and house companions for it; the Emberi. Thus, despite its long existence, the world did not change much; for Ako created Domhan, its skies, its animals, and its people so that they could live together.
Or, at least, that was Ako's intended goal. While this means that natural evolution of species is essentially nonexistent, as no such thing was judged necessary by Ako, it does mean that the world is greatly influenced by its children - the Veikas. The Veikas are able to manipulate the Expanse in powerful and strange ways, and this includes influencing the very genetic makeup of animals and monsters. Unfortunately, this influence has proven mostly war-oriented, especially in Vengeance. Many otherwise normal animals have been twisted into monstrous beasts by the Veikas.
Animals are not the only ones who have fallen victim to the warmongering of the Veikas, however. The land has suffered much, and wastelands and deserts have been created where there was lush vegetation before; entire genuses, eradicated due to careless battles and the claiming of resources for the war effort.
Not only that, but the Veikas can sometimes feel that they must modify the continents themselves in order to better protect themselves. The most famous example is Gestrini; previously, this island was attached to the Vast, but when Meloch decided to keep her neutrality, she broke out a piece of the land for herself and, with the help of the then-alive Vannos, moved that piece away from the Vast. Then, she created the Embrace, to deter any would-be attackers from coming.
The Crossway was also famously created by Zakon and Trokair, in order to cause problems for northern and southern invaders.