Shuddersand

Shortly after the mages of Agonis released their experimental ulads into the wild, the lands of Agonas shifted uncontrollably; the earth swallowed settlements on the hillside and the plains, entire parts of the landscape vanished — yet, new mountains and hilltops appeared out of nowhere, too. Whatever was happening, the region was never the same again.

Mom... The neighbouring village is moving... Should we start packing already?

— A teenager at the village outpost

Collapsing Tunnels

Massive behemoths squiggled their way through the grounds of Agonas, carving tunnels throughout the island. However, the sheer size of these ulads also meant that the caves they leave in their wake are enormous. Some reach a diameter of 10 meters. Naturally, these tunnels collapse and their sheer size causes immense damage.
A landslide pulls in new sand to fill what was lost, holding little regard for whatever stood atop. Often, Shuddersand would drag entire buildings, villages, and even people into the depths of the earth ever to be seen again. Because it could hit everywhere on Agonas, and people would see villages literally moving through the land, the locals refer to the phenomenon as the Shifting Pits.

Gaining Control

Naturally, the Agonians living in these haunted areas weren't too happy seeing their settlements and loved ones disappear — and they made sure to let the mages know. After The Great Slappening, they encouraged the mages to work on a roadmap to get Shuddersand under control one way or another.
So far, there is some progress. The accidental discovery of Shudderlung showed the benefits of the Shifting Pits, allowing the mages to turn it into a profitable export product. Furthermore, the introduction of the Sandriders along with the development of the Underground Geolocator controls the direction of the tunneling ulads at least a little bit, preventing as much damage from Shuddersand to villages as possible.

Nickname

Shifting Pits

Affected Region(s)

Agonas

Type

Natural

I saw it with me own eyes. Out of nowhere, the sand shuddered away under my feet, my eyes following the direction it went and before long it was there — a gaping pit, a whirlpool of sand sucking in everything.
I ran the other way as fast as my legs could carry me, but the sand was moving faster. The eye of the storm approached ever closer until all that remained was darkness and the slight glistening of gems and metals.
How I survived.. even I do not understand to this day. It felt like I was sleeping, just breathing as is, darkness all around me just when you're asleep. Until I felt something scathing my leg and suddenly I was dragged along. Before I knew it, there was light and I laid at the port of my village once more.

— Grandpa telling his story to the village kids before bedtime