The Snakeghost
The Snakeghost is a desert in central Alerki Ascendency.
Geography
The desert itself seems to emerge from nowhere, or, perhaps it is more accurate to say that the desert has always been there, unconquered.
Situated inland from The Vast, the Snakeghost seldom sees any natural precipitation. There are reports of a gentle salt breeze in the air during the month of Memory, but that is usually regarded as apocrypha.
The dunes themselves seem endless and vary from deep orange to pale yellow in color. Some say that future can be told by examining the shifting colors of the dunes.
Ecosystem
As it is a desert, very little water exists in the biome.
Nevertheless, there are living things here. Mostly of the spiky and stingy variety. Giant scorpions, cacti, lions, jackels, snakes, and more make up the natural world of this locale. Some thrive in this harsh land. Others, in death, serve another purpose.
Localized Phenomena
Sandstorms, known as Haxxira, are known to occur. Some desert travelers view this phenomena as harbingers of ill news.
The western part of the desert contains the Ghostpool--a reservoir of fresh water said to be inhabited by great dragons.
Natural Resources
No great study of the desert's natural resources has ever been fully conducted, but there seem to be vast quantities of gemstone, mineral, and other valuables buried in these sands.
History
Far to the north, long since accessible by any path, is an abandoned temple. Forgotten like the god (or gods) it served.
The middle of the desert features the Ruins of Ixxalomi, a city presumably destroyed sometime during the Unknown Era. Bandits sometimes use the ruins as a base of operations. Sometimes other things use these ruins, too.
There are rumors of a mighty citadel carved into a fossilized dune in the southeast part of the desert, but nobody has ever been able to (or willing to) confirm this.
Tourism
There is one path--the Dune Road--that bisects the endless sand. Travelers of this road report the dunes themselves seeming to shift and change on a whim, making navigating this trail a difficult prospect. As such, there is very little tourism. Most individuals who use this path either do so to trade the desert's riches or to seek their fortunes amongst the ruins.
Alternative Name(s)
Ixxlomia, The Thirst, Ghostdunes,
Type
Desert
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