The Halocline Pits
The Halocline Pits are a largely isolated area located in the top right corner of the Nightlight Zone. It consists of an enormous underwater river, comprised of gases that are heavier than water. The water is mostly dark teal in large open areas, but pitch black when closer to the river, with the only prominent light in this region being provided by the gases in the river. This biome also occasionally sees a special type of creature called the Cave Stalker.
Geography
This biome's floor is made almost entirely of rock, unlike every other environment in the Nightlight Zone, and it features diverse terrain. The floor features hills of jagged rock that stretch for vast distances beyond what is visible. There are also large rock spires gathering in dense quantities, round pits that sometimes fill with the heavy gases in the river, and enormous archways formed from the stone. This biome is also bordered by an enormous rock wall which separates it from the Abyss beyond. Other biomes have the same type of border, but the one around the Pits is much taller, and features a variety of unique features. Large overhangs jut from the sides of the border, and sometimes serve as homes for certain plant species.
The Pits' main feature, however, is the enormous river taking up the majority of the biome. It is thought to be miles deep, filled to the brim with the teal halocline that seeps from above. The river starts from two vantage points near the top corner of the biome, which then merge into each other and continue further. Near the eastern exit chute located in the Pits is another river, which merges into the first river to make it larger. Finally, it pools into a massive pit-shaped lake located at the end of the biome, which is the deepest point of the entire realm. Inside the gaseous river are several small islands formed from giant slabs of rock, hosting an array of plants, and animals that come to feed on them.
The lake at the end of the Pits is thought to be extremely deep, with rock spires jutting out of the gas, and enormous roots poking out of the ground around it. There have been large holes detected in the rock beneath the gas, which possibly lead somewhere else.
Ecosystem
The Pits are darker and colder than other environments, but a pressing factor unique to the region is the rivers that form everywhere, as any lifeform caught in the gas will sink to the bottom and die of starvation. Various supernatural corals are found across most surfaces in the Pits, and dominate over other sessile creatures. Some of these corals are eaten by carnivorous species, but are largely left to themselves. Barnacles and mussels are most often found on large boulders and plateaus, and only rely on the density of the water to broadcast their gametes to come together and form offspring. These creatures are almost always found in clumps, or at least dense populations among their preferred habitats.
Plants in this region can grow larger than most in other environments, and mostly rely on animal dispersal to ensure their offsprings' survival. Some plants can be found growing inside the ground, only exposing their tips to collect chemicals from the water to feed on. Animal species in the Pits have average diversity, but mostly favor swimming as a method of getting around, as most cannot survive the gaseous rivers and lakes if they get caught inside. Their environment is dense with life, and thus competition is fairly low, with said creatures filling in roles of social groups and being rather defensive with their food.
Though some species interact positively with each other, most will do anything to get the advantage over others. The halocline river serves as a cheap way to get the better of one's opponent, as some creatures will lure predators closer so that they get caught in the gas and sink to the bottom. Certain groups of animals will also avoid the rivers altogether to keep each other safe.
Ecosystem Cycles
The Pits are known to be a static environment, as the currents are not very strong. There are quakes that can reshape the landscape, and disturb residences, but these are few and far between. Sometimes, the gases in the underwater rivers can overfill, and flood the landscape, which cause plants to die by getting crushed from the density. These also cause slight disturbances in the lives of several species, as their food sources can go through mass die-offs.
The Banshee Eels that live in this region can also affect the ecosystem to some extent, given there is only one time where they emerge to breed. Between these breeding periods are windows for the other species to find mates, or find as much food as possible. There is also a type of plant that continuously glows brighter until the end of a year, which can signify the passing of time.
Localized Phenomena
Occasionally, the borders of this biome can create landslides that cause boulders to tumble down onto the seabed. These landslides are normally caused by quakes, and only add to their destruction, however, they can also happen on their own. They are thought to also be caused by whatever causes the halocline to pool into rivers and lakes, and can cause the rivers and streams to occasionally overfill.
When a quake happens in this environment, the purple magma from beneath can shoot from the ground into tall geysers, along with the heat that burns anything alive. This magma settles on the seabed and slowly cools into a type of rock with vague swirl patterns on its surface, forming a rare oddity in the landscape. On top of this, the quakes don't create a tear in the ground, and instead cause the rock to form a large bubble of much smaller rocks, which hardens and stays there until another disturbance occurs.
This biome is also known for experiencing algae blooms in scant occurrences. When herbivores become absent in a given area, the algae that lives in the Pits can spontaneously grow at alarming rates. It attempts to cover every square inch of the ground, and can deprive the surroundings waters of its oxygen, leaving any animals caught inside to die.
Fauna & Flora
Fauna
The fauna of this biome survives by using the underwater river to its advantage, mostly enticing their opponents to sink into it.
The fauna of this biome survives by using the underwater river to its advantage, mostly enticing their opponents to sink into it.
Krill
Barnacles
Mussels
Corals
X-ray Eel
Banshee Eel
Flora
The plants here grow to diverse sizes and shapes, and rely on the fauna to disperse their spores.
Banshee Eel
Flora
The plants here grow to diverse sizes and shapes, and rely on the fauna to disperse their spores.
Plankton
Algae
Deep Fruit
Black Tuber
Spiralwood
Natural Resources
Without sand coating the floor, creatures don't have many options when it comes to disguising themselves, unless they are born with an ability to camouflage. The discarded shells of dead creatures are most often used to create temporary hideouts, along with loose rocks, and thick plant bodies. Some creatures make their hideouts near the edge of the gaseous rivers in order to divert predators from attempting to catch them, such as the Sea Beetles with their hives. Prairiefish use the flat landforms created by Black Tubers to hide in, hollowing out the tubers themselves and waiting for danger to pass them by.
History
The Pits started out as a very different environment to everything else in the realm, mainly due to its distinctive gases forming the rivers. It is known that this distinctive biome formed after the extinction of the Leviathans, and it wasn't long before various smaller species began to form an ecosystem, which included the Cave Stalkers. The Cave Stalkers would soon grow their civilization elsewhere in the realm, though it is thought the ones who stayed in the Pits did not develop as much as other areas. It is likely these groups could've been exploited by more powerful groups of Cave Stalkers, until their civilizations were destroyed by the Watchers. After the fall of the more centralized civilization outside of the Pits, the Cave Stalkers living in the Pits likely became the ancestors of the ones that survive today, with the few surviving members of other cultures assimilating themselves into theirs.
Alternative Name(s)
The Pits
Type
River
Included Locations
Inhabiting Species
Related Myths
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