Sandgales

Cool air pools in pockets within the icy Prethos mountains. Further inland, temperatures soar in the sandy deserts of the Nul. When desert temperatures increase enough, the air of the Nul rises, and the cold winds of the mountain region surge down from the peaks. As these winds gain speed, they lift debris - namely, sand. The resulting gales, tinted orange by the particles, are known as sandgales: walls of wind that tear across the deserts at speeds of 70mph (112 km/h) minimum. They commonly stretch upwards of 100 feet (30.5 meters) and can be up to a mile (1609 meters) deep. They blow with enough force to rearrange the towering dunes of the Nul, completely altering the already formidable landscape. Local tribes say that getting caught within a gale means death; the sand particles can tear the skin from an unprotected person, and the resettling of dunes can leave a victim buried 50 feet (15 meters) below. Locals are adept at predicting the storms and remaining sheltered, but during gale season, they often wear thick cloaks that are designed to cover and protect the flesh.
Gale season begins around the time of the Lesser Moon, which marks the end of the warming weather and the beginning of the hot season. The Deep Desert, the most central stretches of the Nul, see the worst of this weather pattern; the storms blow from southwest to northeast, funneling upward across the Deep's flatlands. This is the point where they contain the most power. After crossing into the dunes of the east, gales gradually lose speed and dissipate. Most Nul tribes live in the dunelands toward the eastern border.
Due to the severity of sandgales, it is considered impossible for expeditions to cross the Nul by non-magical means during gale season. The territories bordering the Nul often close entry points, forbidding access until the season ends at the time of the Lost Moon.

Type

Natural