The Shadow
Near the western edge of The Great Desert, a small floating island chain hovers. Beneath these islands is an oasis known as The Shadow.
The Shadow has a small permanent population governed by a Confederacy of the Shadow. It acts as a pitstop for traders crossing the desert. It also serves as a haven for criminals, vagabonds, or others seeking to escape more than just the suns.
Geography
The chain of floating islands above The Shadow has four notable islands, but The Shadow is only known as the area underneath the largest island. It is approximately 100 miles long and hovers quite low, only about 4,000 feet from the ground. The Shadow's outer edge still sees the suns for a portion of the day, but the center is always in darkness.
With so little sunlight, the Shadow is drastically cooler than the surrounding desert. Water condenses on the underside of the island and drips below. The result is the Dark Oasis: a shadowy world that couldn't be more different from the desert that surrounds it.
The Gloom Forest
A forest unlike any other flourishes at the center of the Shadow, where the suns never reach. The trees here draw their energy from elsewhere, and have no need for photosynthesis.
Known as the Gloom Forest, the cluster of flora and fungi light up the darkness with an eerie greenish glow. The centermost Province of the Confederacy has its capital hidden in the forest, in a location that is carefully hidden from outsiders.
History
It is unclear who first settled in the Shadow. While it is known that those in the Central Province have lived there the longest, nobody knows where their ancestors came from.
Respite grew slowly as more and more traders used the edge of the oasis to rest during their journeys. More attention required more organization, and the three tribes inhabiting the Shadow formed a Confederacy to better manage the influx of foreigners.
No one is sure what will happen to the Shadow next. Its population keeps growing--and it isn't showing signs of slowing down. But nothing can last forever.
Tourism
The Shadow is a must-see location for brave tourists that want to explore the Great Desert. Respite is thrilled to entertain tourists, so long as they have enough cash.
Not everyone in the Shadow is pleased to see strangers, though. Tourists have to be mindful to keep a close eye on their belongings, and to avoid travelling alone when it's dark. The law doesn't work the same in the Shadow as it does elsewhere...
Tourists aren't permitted past the borders of the West Province. Those that attempt to find the Gloom Forest don't tend to return.
Maps
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The Shadow of Auzera
A simple map of the Shadow. Reliefs are not to scale.
Ooo a shadow oasis underneath a floating island is a lovely idea! Would gladly visit.