Mount Woshan

The Eternal Woshan provides; the Eternal Woshan destroys.
We praise Woshan for the gift of the soil; we endure Woshan's fire in turn.
We thank Woshan for the gift of iron and gold; we accept Woshan's breath of smoke and ash.
We pray that Woshan will remain quiet; we prepare for when Woshan awakens.

— Prayer of the Woshani Extinct nomadic tribe of Eastern Helion

Geography

Mount Woshan is an active stratovolcano in Vorax's Wall, about 200 miles from the eastern end of the range. It is the third-highest mountain in the range at 12,360, with the largest basal circumference at 90 miles. The main crater is about a mile wide and contains a lava lake, currently at 9,760 feet. It has two distinct lava benches above the lake, the lower one at 10,840' and the higher at 11,128'.

The most recent eruption (887 Af.) created a secondary crater on the western side of the mountain, 500' above the lake. The southwestern side of the mountain is now rife with fissures and crevices, opening new pathways for lava flows.

The cone consists of pyroclastic stones and lava flows. Both benches have fertile soil, and the upper bench has significant vegetation that is adapted to the alkaline atmosphere. Woshan's lava flows are low-silica, alkali-rich, and high in iron and aluminum oxides. The lack of silica lends to the fast-flowing lava, which can race downhill at speeds over 90 feet/second.

Ecosystem

The exterior of the mountain has little in the way of vegetation. In some nooks, some hardy plants have latched on, providing limited nesting for birds. These birds are unique to Vorax's Wall, being able to live in the heat and toxic air. The volcanic crater contains significant vegetation on the upper lava bench and limited vegetation on the lower. The upper bench has been above the lava lake for decades, allowing the fertile soil to flourish. The plants are mostly forms of cactus and other drought-tolerant plants. Birds and some lizards live on the upper bench, although none live on the lower bench. Insect life can be found on both benches. The lava flows constantly bring new minerals to the surface which eventually flows to the plateaus below the mountain. The ash ejected by the volcano is high in nitrogen compounds, creating fertile soil both on the benches and the lower slopes and plateaus.

Ecosystem Cycles

Seasonal changes are almost non-existent - the heat from the volcano keeps the temperature and humidity similar throughout the year. The ecosystem is generally stable between eruptions, while an eruption will bring a year or more of fluctuations.

Climate

The average temperature on the southern slopes is over 130^o during the day and 110^o at night, with relative humidity generally below 30%. Little rain falls on the southern slopes, averaging less than an inch of precipitation a year.

The temperature on the northern slopes is lower, averaging over 100^o during the day near the top and dropping to 70^o when the Risen Valley begins and temperatures plunge. Humidity on the northern slope is high, usually exceeding 70% near the top and 80% closer to the Valley. Rainfall on the northern slopes can reach as high as 200" a year.

The upper bench of the crater is similar to the northern slopes, although with significantly less rain. The lower bench is dry and hot, with temperatures high enough to be deadly to most species and relative humidity in single digits.

Fauna & Flora

The northern slopes have a wide variety of ferns, bushes, and trees, while the upper bench has similar trees along with the Woshan silversword and goldswords, single-stem rosette shrubs with dagger-like leaves. These plants are prized by mystics, their flowers being used in components to many rituals. The plants bloom once in their lives, after growing for over 20 years. Many plants never reach maturity due to the eruptions destroying them, but the upper bench has been spared for long enough that a large number are approaching maturity.

Natural Resources

The lava from the volcano carries significant iron oxide compounds which are deposited as extrusive rocks from the flows. Some precious metals, primarily gold, are deposited in the same way. The constant fast-flowing lava results in ore deposits easily accessible on the surface, although permanent mines are not possible. Temporary mines are built to exploit former lakes that have frozen when the flows redirect.

Type

Volcano

Location under

Vorax's Wall