Avik Desert

The desert of the North

The Avik desert is located in the northwestern part of orcerta and includes a somewhat recently formed desert island at its shore. It boasts a huge amount of high-ranking fire Saxum and is, with the other desert, one of the main suppliers of it.

Temperature and Weather

Due to the high concentration of fire saxum, temperatures rarely fall below 45 degrees during the day. At night, when the minerals lost most of their charge, temperatures drastically fall below the freezing point.
Due to the high-pressured air cells, clouds rarely form in the desert. This ensures that there is very little rain and as such, the rainfall only reaches around 80mm per year.

Dunes to behold

Strong winds transport the sands from one end to the other and form gigantic dunes that reach up to 250m. Especially the mountain valleys are plagued by frequent and intense gales which bring devastating swaths of sand with them which push up the hillsides.
Sandstorms regularly race over the desert, flatten the dunes out again, and uncover the fertile although dry ground of the desert valleys.

Population

As expected, not many live in the desert and as such the desert mainly features 3 Vinima settlements that formed around farming spots, but these villages are not the main population of the desert, it is normal for Vinima to form caravans to transport goods around the settlements and into the mainland.
The biggest settlement in the desert is called Lou Aed and it is located at the tip of the northernmost mountain arm. This city is one of the main trading spots of the Avik desert. It is connected by a tunnel to the Fjenima City located in the centre of the mountain.

Rain Maker and the Plants

The grounds are dry yet fertile, especially around the mountains. Luckily this is where the [rain maker] lives, while farmers normally shoo away all kinds of insects to protect their crops, in the desert they are highly regarded and wanted.
These small insects burrow into the soil and release a nutrient-rich liquid that fertilises and moistens it enough for plants to grow.

Jewels of the Desert

While normal jewels gleam in the light as well as have hard and smooth surfaces, the jewels of the desert are rather soft, tasty fruits. These wonderful treats are grown on the fields the Bariswala lives in.
The Vinima have been cultivating the Ehted Palm for generations already, and use its fruit in a plethora of dishes. The fruit´s most important role, however, is as a key part of the provisions the Vinima eat while travelling the desert.

Changing Landscape

The Avik desert has changed in appearance over the years due to changing climate. About one hundred years ago, the water levels rose gradually, and after a steady rise, Avik dessert had changed drastically. Due to the rising water levels, the northernmost parts of the desert got separated from the rest, as the lower terrain between them got flooded with water. This resulted in the creation of Avik island.

Type

Desert

Included Locations

• Lou Aed