Burbling Silk Sea

The Burbling Silk Sea is one of the largest (and most dangerous) expanses of silt within the Red Velvet Desert. Churning and murmuring at all hours with bubbles of gas rising up from deep geothermal vents, the Burbling Silk Sea's unique geology make it one of the major inspirations for the local mythology known as the Red Depths Mythos.

Geography

Aside from rocky crests as the edges and vertices of the Cube, as well as eroded rock shelves near the commissure in its center, the Burbling Silk Sea takes up most of Rostral A3.

Localized Phenomena

The Burbling Silk Sea gets its name from the fact that steam and other gasses percolate up from geothermal vents through the silt, causing increased liquifaction. The intensity of this phenomenon varies from region to region, but in the most effected places, these gas bubbles visibly boil to the surface and pop like air bubbles from an underwater volcano. The sand in these places is so loose that it has been known to swallow debris and even unwary travellers.
On hazy, breezy solstice nights, radiation streaming up through the commissure from the Northern-associated adjacent cube causes aurorae that bathe the blood red silt of the Burbling Silk Sea in bizarre pale pinks and blues. These lights are tinted because the radiation creates light emissions by interacting with the iron- and potassium-rich minerals that comprise the Burbling Silk Sea's silt as it whirls through the breeze over the commissure.

Climate

The Burbling Silk Sea is one of the hottest deserts under the Manifold Sky, a state of affairs not helped by the almost complete lack of shade or tree cover save for some eroded rock spires scattered throughout. Stiff winds can kick up huge sandstorms across the surface of the 'sea,' threatening death or stranding by velvet noose to any caught up in them. On the other hand, the strength of the winds over it make the Burbling Silk Sea an ideal environment for travel via sandsail.

Fauna & Flora

It is believed that a whole ecosystem of chemosynthetic life forms reside deep beneath the sand of the Burbling Silk Sea, subsiding on hot spring water and methane in the dark depths and hollows of the 'sea' floor. Obsidian eels - strange lamprey-like burrowers with gem-like black skin - are the only animal known to rise up from these depts to occasionally interact with travelers on the surface. These eels appear to be completely blind and will attempt to eat anything that moves in front of their toothy maws, but are mostly harmless; a rare few massive specimens have, however, been known to attack sandsail crews.

Tourism

Hot, hungry, and unforgiving, the Burbling Silk Sea is not a common destination for visitors save for transient sandsailors plying their way between settlements and the rare Burnheart with more zeal for adventure than wits. The 'sea' does not suffer fools and will consume the unprepared, consigning them to be crushed under mountains of choking silt and gobbled up by little-understood subterranean detritivores. Worse, the area is freqently patrolled by Avarix Corps looking to make a quick buck or dispose of evidence from previous evil deeds. Still, for those looking for the ultimate desert survival challenge or beautiful views of unique geophysical events (see Localized Phenomena), the Burbling Silk Sea is a bold choice for the discerning adventurer.

Type

Desert

Location under

Red Velvet Desert

Contested By

• Avarix Corps
• Red Velvet Association

Inhabiting Species

• Obsidian Eel