Hal Varti
The Hal Varti desert is a volcanic desert cast in eternal darkness from smog. The volcanoes of the Dorin Mountain Range within the Kindom of Fordgiar rain ash and volcanic debris on a regular basis. Most days of the week ash rains from the sky and smog fills the air. While considered a desolate wasteland for centuries, it has become a thriving nation with the efforts of the grey orcs. surfacing from the Karst Vault, they built the capital of Valla in the middle of the desert.
Geography
Hal Varti desert is a desert of sand and ash with a sky scorched by volcanic clouds in perpetuity. Despite being in shade and clouds, the Hal Varti is a hot desert with its own set of dangers. Wind and ash shape the desert which consists of ergs, sand dunes, and stone plateaus making up for most of the landmass.
To the north, the Hal Varti dissects into Drac Lichdom from the western wing before rolling into the planation surfaces of Paradise Plains and Loch boglands within Dour. Salt Flats are quite prevalent in the transitionary lands.
To the south, the Hal Varti borders the Savanna grasslands, Mediterranean forest, woodland, and scrub eco-regions of Vak Savva. Portions of the Dorin mountain range from the east roll into the southern edge as well.
Underneath the Hal Varti, The Doukutsu runs a wide network of caverns and kingdoms. It is a unique stem of wet and dry caverns, caves, dungeons, and shafts
To the north, the Hal Varti dissects into Drac Lichdom from the western wing before rolling into the planation surfaces of Paradise Plains and Loch boglands within Dour. Salt Flats are quite prevalent in the transitionary lands.
To the south, the Hal Varti borders the Savanna grasslands, Mediterranean forest, woodland, and scrub eco-regions of Vak Savva. Portions of the Dorin mountain range from the east roll into the southern edge as well.
Underneath the Hal Varti, The Doukutsu runs a wide network of caverns and kingdoms. It is a unique stem of wet and dry caverns, caves, dungeons, and shafts
Ecosystem
The environment of the Hal Varti changes on a near-weekly basis. with not many rooted plants to hold loose sand and ash in place, hills can become valleys if the wind keeps up for a week or two. So too, must the creatures of the Hal Varti change and adjust. Plantlife grows rapidly in areas of the newly surfaced valley. deep-rooted plants and grasses unravel to the world, creatures find these temporary oases, the food is consumed or covered by sand and ash, and the cycle continues.
Ecosystem Cycles
30% Sandstorm
50% Windy
98% cloudy
20% Ashy
5% Pyroclasm
3% Volcanic Rain
50% Windy
98% cloudy
20% Ashy
5% Pyroclasm
3% Volcanic Rain
Localized Phenomena
Most of the Hal Varti is covered by Pyroclastic Clouds. As such, darkness is almost permanent. Ash rains from the sky regularly, smog will create a poisonous miasma, and on occasion, the pyroclast may lower, scalding and melting all in its haze. The areas closer to the Dorin mountain range will experience chunks of pyroclasts and other earthy materials occasionally falling from the sky. Lava pools also become more common with thick layers of pumice and basalt climbing up the mountain.
Fauna & Flora
There are only a few animals without magical ties that can live in the Hal Varti. Beetles, lizards, insects, and serpents primarily. The largest creatures are the Kozillas, or livestock lizards, who will roam free in the desert crawling to their next food source. Wome creatures have adapted to the harsh terrain. The camels and foxes of the area have adapted to the inhospitable terrain, though cannot live outside the desert. Mystical Creatures like Salamanders, Wurms, Kobolds, and Goblins have found their own means of surviving within the desert. Many mystical creatures with a pension or reliance on either darkness or fire can show up if one travels off the king's road.
There is some flora that can only thrive because of the Hal Varti despite its inhospitality. Ash Palms grow nearby water sources. Useful for identifying where water is that may be buried. Ember Grass is a red grass that emits heat and feeds off magma instead of burns. The Alumari is a beautiful golden flower that is seen as a rare beauty of the desert. Sand Lions thrive just underneath the surface, funneling ants and insects into their sand traps like something akin to an ant lion or pitcher plant.
There is some flora that can only thrive because of the Hal Varti despite its inhospitality. Ash Palms grow nearby water sources. Useful for identifying where water is that may be buried. Ember Grass is a red grass that emits heat and feeds off magma instead of burns. The Alumari is a beautiful golden flower that is seen as a rare beauty of the desert. Sand Lions thrive just underneath the surface, funneling ants and insects into their sand traps like something akin to an ant lion or pitcher plant.
Natural Resources
Sand:
The very sand of the Hal Varti holds amazing power. Sand is primarily useful for modern construction purposes. kiln-drying clay and sand can make bricks. sand is additionally crucial in some blends of cement.
The deeper "cleaner" sands can be used for water filtration and when heated and processed can be used to make formed glass. More than one glass can be formed from the various layers of sediment in the desert. The deepest sand is quartz-based and is known to make traditional glass panes. The volcanic black sands on top can be used to form Kagglas and when mixed with the salts and volcanic rock, one could form Steel Sand.
Silk: Hal Varti hosts the Viikan Death Beetle, whose silk makes for excellent breathing apparatuses.
Oil and Minerals: Oils from underneath the desert have been found and have become a new and useful trade. Highly coveted in machine crafts, these oils can be distilled and purified. Petroleum has become most popular with its versatility as being used as a fuel, an acid, a lubricant, or even a diarrhetic.
Volcanic residuals: Sulfer, stone, salt, and pumice are constantly being made from the volcanic eruptions near the Dorin Mountains.
Hardened volcanic ash (called tuff) makes an especially strong, lightweight building material. When combined with lime from the Kingdoms of Dour and Frdgiar, tuff creates a concrete substance that is quite regular in grey orc buildings.
The deeper "cleaner" sands can be used for water filtration and when heated and processed can be used to make formed glass. More than one glass can be formed from the various layers of sediment in the desert. The deepest sand is quartz-based and is known to make traditional glass panes. The volcanic black sands on top can be used to form Kagglas and when mixed with the salts and volcanic rock, one could form Steel Sand.
Silk: Hal Varti hosts the Viikan Death Beetle, whose silk makes for excellent breathing apparatuses.
Oil and Minerals: Oils from underneath the desert have been found and have become a new and useful trade. Highly coveted in machine crafts, these oils can be distilled and purified. Petroleum has become most popular with its versatility as being used as a fuel, an acid, a lubricant, or even a diarrhetic.
Volcanic residuals: Sulfer, stone, salt, and pumice are constantly being made from the volcanic eruptions near the Dorin Mountains.
Hardened volcanic ash (called tuff) makes an especially strong, lightweight building material. When combined with lime from the Kingdoms of Dour and Frdgiar, tuff creates a concrete substance that is quite regular in grey orc buildings.
History
The Hal Varti was created in the shadow of the Dorin Mountains. As long as Steel Point and the other mountains have been active, ash and smog have covered the desert and made it consistently a scorched wasteland. With the capability of melting civilizations, not many dared to explore the Hal Varti, less to create a civilization within it. Bizarrely enough this is one of the only places the grey orcs could build a civilization on the surface.
Tourism
Despite the dangers of traveling the volcanic lands, there is some tourism in the hot springs and geysers near the mountain range.
Alternative Name(s)
The Black Sands, Scorched Desert, Land of Ash
Type
Desert
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Inhabiting Species
