THE BARTHAVOS DESERT
INTRODUCTION - DESCRIPTION - DIFFERENT PARTS - CLIMATE - FLORA - FAUNA - RESOURCES
Lying in the southernmost part of the Gaian continent, this great desert occupies most of the land. Though there are some wetter places in the south like the Cloud Forest, the peninsula and the plains, the desert is the main and dominating feature of the south of the continent. To the east and south are the coastlines of the sea, and on the west the Gambino Sea.
It is unknown whether or not there are settlements in this region of land.
The most prominent features are the volcano, the mountains, containing the famous Oasis, the Great Sand Dunes in the east, and the Salt Pans in the middle near the mountains.
Though in most parts very arid, the desert has an abundant wildlife and is by no means lifeless. Both animals and plants are adapted very well to the conditions there.
Other races are not known yet to live there.
- Introduction:
Unforgiving heat over vast sands rises in ripples against a pale, cloudless sky. The desert birds, using the ascending hot air, circles with motionless wings over a land which stretches for ever, coloured with light yellows and soft browns. There is no visible water to reflect the eggshell blue sky and bring a sparkle to the landscape. At this height the wilderness is frightenly flat, though a white peak is visible in the misty distance as well as the promise of an abundance of water in the other direction. The bird is soaring higher, lonely in the emptiness of an endless sky over the Barthavos...
Deep down in the sands yellow lidless eyes are waiting patiently, hour for hour in the heat of the day; covered with hot sand the serpent is waiting for a passing prey. Then suddenly there is a movement the surprised eye can barely follow. White fangs blink in the light of the sand and death has come to a careless animal. - There is a scampering - high pitched noises can be heard - maybe the eye catches a glimpse of brown fur. The mice have witnessed the death of the bird and are striving for their safe burrows.
Grey storm clouds race overhead and the hot winds swirl beneath the darkening sky. Sand grains are whirled around, lightning flashes and thunder rumbles in the approaching black heart of the clouds. In the distance the rain is white. Birds are tossed around like leaves from a far shore. Suddenly it is quiet and calm and the rain falls. As the clouds move on a rainbow appears, the storm has passed and it is soon hot again.
Description:
The desert covers most lands south of the plains, except the wetter regions and the cultivated plains, the cloud forests and a small piece of coast. The whole region is arid to a varying extent and rainfalls occur in most places only occasionally. All types of deserts can be found here; the half arid lands with perennial rainfalls and open water availably the whole year in some places, to truly arid regions with nearly no rainfall at all.
All life in the Barthavos has to be adapted to the arid conditions. So the animals have either developed a complicated migration system if dependent on a open water source or can survive without water at all. Aestivation or dormancy is a common means to survive longer drier periods. The plants usually meet the needs of the animals and often a single individual provides a whole ecosystem for several different animals.
Different Parts. The Barthavos consists of the following different parts, which are listed below:
The Mountains
This mountain range covers the whole north and reflects the diversity of this province. Not only are the mystic and enchanted Cloud Forests part of it, it also encompasses the harsh beauty of the volcano with its special climate and the nearby parched region. Apart from the volcano, it also has the highest mountain tops of southern Gaia in it's central region, which change over to lovely hills. Between the Cloud Forest and the central mountain stock the grounds surprise with a diversity of plant and animal life. But nothing matches the famous Oasis, the lush waterfalls there, the wild river which cascades down in the swamp, an inland delta of which the myths say that this is the place where the gods let their dreams of plenitude came true.
The Grounds
The Grounds represent a central highland valley north of the mountain stock. It is a half arid region with low-moisture adapted plant and animal life, most can only be found here due to the special climate conditions of very hot days and extremely cold nights, the occasional abundance of water and the persistent dryness.
This region is also the main mating ground of animals. There is also rumour of a secret route to the south, only possible from the north through a hidden canyon. Gets drier and more hostile the more southerly one travels.
The Central Mountain Stock
Highest elevation after the volcano on the southern Gaian Continent. It is the barrier for most of the clouds coming in from the Sea. Most of the rains fall there, creating a huge water reservoir for the dry desert on both of its sides. Thanks to the height some of the precipitation is stored as snow or ice and so available over a longer time span.
The Oasis
In the very heart of the Mountains an oasis of unexpected, overwhelming beauty can be found. The water of a circular lake with unknown depth supports a fauna and flora which is restricted however to a small space only. Steep mountain slopes falling directly into the lake don't allow much room for plants to grow. But the limited space is countered by the plenitude and beauty of the flowering vegetation. It is here that a old temple in the middle of the lake can be found, which can only be seen fully when the water level falls to its deepest point in winter. It is rumoured that also here the rare mineral can be found which is coveted by many weapon smiths . The water of the Oasis escapes through a narrow outlet and forms the River which cascades down in the swamp.
The Swamp and the Flood Plains
The Swamp is an inland delta formed by the river, which expands periodically covering the sands of the Barthavos and bringing life to the central desert and the Salt Pans. While the delta always retains a certain amount of water and never falls dry, the floodplains are dry the greater part of the year.Only after the spring rainfalls they fill up gradually with water. A grassland evolves till the water is fully evaporated and the landscape falls dry again.
The Volcano
At eleven thousand feet the highest and dominating elevation on the southern part of the Gaian continent. It is active most of the year and a permanent threat to the region. Its altitude and its eruptions are the reasons for special climatic conditions and natural phenomena like the saline terraces, the hot springs, the lava tubes and other such uncommon features. Fauna and flora is as exceptional as the mountain itself. It is home for a species of drakes only found there.
The Lands of Pain
The Lands of Pain are the most hostile part of the Barthavos. Here rainfalls are extremely rare, the heat rises to its maximum. Nevertheless it is a fascinating landscape. The lesser volcanoes next to the main Volcano are part of it, as well as the high, steep rocky red pillars with the endless sandy plains between them. Despite the hostile environement, a few animals and plants can be found here, but it is a hard life, even for the the giant rock snake.
The Hills
A small area of lovely hill, at the foot of the Mountains and at the edge of the desert. The special sand/clay mixture called Aerth which is used for pottery can be found here.
The Open Woodlands
The Open Woodlands are located south of the plains, stretching nearly to the east coast, is a unique forest. It is denser near the mountains due to more rainfalls, with widely spread trees farer east. To the west the fine clay soil supports the denser forests, which are the most widespread and important. Farer east, they give way to the trees and other which grow in deep sand. Because of their clay soils, the woodlands have pans which hold water well into the dry seasons when the rainwater of sandy regions has long disappeared.
The Great Sand Dunes
Region stretching from the rim of the Mountains to the Sea in the east, covering the whole east of the Barthavos , down to the Salt Pans and even further. This is desert in its purest form, hot sands, merciless sun - and blue-green jewels of desert lakes in the very midst.
The Dunes
Here the desert sands build up into huge dunes, up to five hundred feet high over which the wind blows constantly, driving them forward so that they migrate like slowly-moving waves. But even this seeming barrenness will surprise the traveller: Where rainfalls occur sometimes, they are partly covered with shrub trees, whereas the valleys between may only have a cover of seasonal grass, giving evidence to occasional flooding.
The Dry River Beds
The valleys between the big sand dunes show often some vegetation, grass at certain times of the year, some trees with deep reaching roots which show that there has to be some water flowing in the soil buried deep under the sands. These features are mostly found in the northern parts of the Great Sand dunes, and are probably due to water coming from the plains and running underground.
The Seven Jewels
The so-called Seven Jewels are a miracle in the midst of the hot desert: Lakes with relatively fresh water, with a very small rim of green around. This water is usually rather brackish, although drinkable, but at some times of the year quite salty due to the permanent evaporation, so only few salt resistant plants can survive at the borders of these lakes.
The Salt Pans
With one edge lying close to the Swamp, the Salt pans are regularly flooded. Run-off from the River or occasional rainfalls will fill them up considerably. The evaporating water leaves behind spectacular crystals and cakes of salt, creating (when dry) a nearly lifeless region in the middle of the Barthavos. Flooded however they are exploding with life, being a feeding ground for the abundant wildlife, and thus to the wildlife's predators.
The Mesas
Strange rock formations, up to 500 feet high, consisting out of white and yellow granite, stretching nearly vertical to any path leading from the northern part of the desert and forming a kind of labyrinth. Hence everybody needs a guide to find through, because these rocks proceed into the sea forming there dangerous shallows which make it impossible to simply take a boat to get around them. At the southern rim water is found which vanishes soon in the desert sands.
Climate:
All the rain, all the precious water, which enables life in the Barthavos, comes from the northeast with the winds from the Sea, be it with the yearly rains, or as an occasional heavy thunderstorm drenching a region which haven't seen water for years.
Most of the clouds coming in release their water at the tops of the Mountains or the Volcano. Rains fall gently over the hills and the plains during the winter months, but some clouds drift farther on over the open woodlands, building up into threatening heights, and may release their rain over the Salt Pans or the Jewels in the east or just pass on and leave the thirsty soil unrelieved.
According to the availability of the rain the regions in the desert differ in their dryness:
Semi-arid regions are the Grounds and the Mountains with perennial rainfalls, but these regions stay dry half of the year.
Arid regions with perennial rainfalls are the Open Woodlands south of the plain and the Volcano region: The volcano itself is partly wet due to the special weather conditions.
Arid regions with no or only occasional rainfalls: Salt Pans, the Lands of Pain west of the Salt Pans, the south with the Mesas, the east with the "Jewels", the desert lakes of the desert and the whole region of the great sand dunes east and south of the Salt Pan. Part of these regions however benefit from water transported in the underground from wetter regions where former riverbeds may have existed.
Permanent water is found in smaller oasis throughout the desert at special hidden places. Best known is the Oasis with the adjacent Swamp. The only permanent flowing water system is the River rushing down from the Oasis to the Swamps building an inland delta there.
The desert conditions - the changing availability of open water and food - force both, animals and human alike, to move forward to use the sometimes scarce resources wisely and avoiding their exploitation to destruction.
So migration paths have developed; the desert beasts, which depend on open water have to look for the remaining water holes in a seasonal wandering, the others not dependent on open water have to change grazing grounds nevertheless to find new unused pastures. Thus the grazers follow the growth of grass from one place to the next, and with them their hunters.
Flora:
There are many familiar trees and plants in the wetter regions of the desert mentioned above, though the Cloud Forest might still hide some surprises. But the true plants of the desert are those adapted to the aridness of the landscape. They have all one thing in common; they have developed something which enables them to keep their water or prevent the loss of it or both. So they either can store it for several years - or they have reduced their surface area to prevent water loss and thus have nearly no leaves. Where water isn't this scarce or the roots are reaching deep, leaves with sun protection of different kind are seen as well.
Fauna:
Despite appearances and expectations, the fauna of the desert is plentiful. There are first the big deer-like beasts, which mostly wander around following the seasonal pattern of available food and water. Following their prey are the big hunters. Other, smaller mammals which are independent of open water sources may move around as well for the search of new food sources - some, however, stay at the same place all year round.
But these animals are only the most prominent ones. The smaller may be even more abundant, like the striped mole living near forests or the whole family of the rodents with all its relatives, the mice, the lizards, the snakes and other odd desert creatures.
Then the birds: There are thousands of them, either permanent guests or just visitors on their way to the colder north, resting in the water filled salt pans and fishing for food. The greatest number of individuals, though, are the insects, the base of the food chain.
The desert animals have different means to cope with the lack of water. Most beasts hunt or graze only at dawn or by night and rest during the heat of the day. The big predators get most of the needed fluid over their prey; the grazing animals who depend often of dry grass are able to concentrate their urine so as not to lose much fluid. So the sand mouse, for excample, doesn't urinate at all but eliminates just a few damp drops. The most adapted beasts go into aestivation during the hottest and driest weeks, reducing so their need for food and water by slowing down their body functions.
Resources:
Talking about resources depends always on the special perspective of who asks and what that individual considers valuable. So the plants, for example are very interested in the resource water, but not interested in the jewels lying under their roots. There might be a rare mineral lying buried in the mountains, that would be valuable for the Northern dwarves for hardening their weaponry, but not for the nomads with their armour made out of the skin of the giant rock snake.
These things happend...he guessed. He'd just have to apologise later.
She did feel better, and now she remembered that Sun had used heat and sunlight to help her heal on several occasions... she was like him in that way, and she often forgot about that
he really is still alive?
she made a little show of spinning around randomly pointing her finger out in the air but with her eyes closed she concentrated on the dancing flame in the center of her heart.. it was always surrounded by a swirling wind but out here the fire was huge, and strangely calm... so when to her inner sight the flames swayed to the west she stopped in her tracks pointing the way that the flames were strangely swaying towards... It could be totally wrong, but then again this was metaphysic, not a science and so she let her heart lead her towards an old friend We go that'a way 
oops....
the little red head looked at Tellus out of the corner of her eye never taking her attention off the monster as she smiled I did always want a fancy pair of snake skin boots 
she closed her eyes again and in her mind she could see the ties that bound her to certain people... she called them links most of the time, but when she visualized them like this they were more threads, silk strands that crossed through the darkness in her mind. As always a tie to Munin was violet, and there were ties to Hugin here too, and they were a dark purple that almost looked blue. She "touched" a strand of violet and could tell where it led... or at least who it led to, and was a tad surprised when this one showed her it was tied to Night Hunter....
she laughed at herself a bit and started mentaly hitting the link that she had found... if it really was Sunstrike he might get the feeling like someone was tapping on his shoulder or calling his name from far away
ppshh... Sun is always in danger... or taking a nap 
She spun around slowly smiling with her hands out to her sides and her face turned up to the sky happily soaking in more of the heat I can understand why he would want to take a nice little vacation here... in fact I think I shall look into a nice winter home if we ever find a town or city 
))
))
shouted out in responce to Ruuvan's offer, and after a slight kick off the safer portion of the wall he snugly grabbed Ruuvan around the neck with his feet gripping on the elven warriors belt. It was a pretty solid grip, if this was a fight the pose be seen as similar to sort of extremely weak Headlock.
Sand Pirate Hideout - The Mesas
No prob... where did Sun get off too? 
Raven literally groaned looking at Vahn in utter disappointment... it wasn't as if she had intended to take the shiney stuff back to her nest... well at least not once she realized they were just a bunch of bottles. XP... Clasping her hands behind her back to show she had no intention of actually touching anything she peered closer at the vials, curiosity almost making the little elemental twitch to figure out what was inside
Her body contorted, even as she was flung backwards. Vahn stood there, the devil's visage reflected off his shattered blade, his chest heaving with breath. D-Damn... YOU!
... Rave didn't want to look, the hairs on the back of her neck were already standing on end and she just knew that this was going to be bad... very bad if everything else this place had thrown at them was on an escalating scale! She shoved the statue hard to topple it over the edge with another crash, focusing on getting enough weight off the elevator thing to get them away from whatever it was that was about to try and eat them now I'll take care of the statues... Sun, Vahn.. buy us a little time, if possible... 
Ryugi listened quietly as he watched and heard the two individuals speak to one another. They spoke about him being too soft, or not strong enough for the job. About how he was a martyr, not a killer. This girl... That must be it. Her true name. She called him childish back in the cave, now offered him the chance to fight as her servant, promising that he'd learn to accept whatever it was that he might be doing. Ryugi wasn't some sort of Grim Reaper. We was not some Angel of Death. This animosity towards her coming from Joshua was warranted it would seem. Ryugi had not lost everything, he still had something to fight for, and it appeared that Joshua, and perhaps this "Uriel" had lost everything, and chosen to be Death's messenger rather than simply to live without a reason, a purpose.
Ryugi looked at Joshua questioningly for a moment. "She woke it up." What exactly was he talking about? But when Joshua pointed over his shoulder at something behind him, Ryugi turned and came face to face with something so amazing, so glorious, so unbelievable that all he could do was gaze up at the massive shining creature with awe. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Silvery scales seemed to glow with an otherworldly radiance, and golden talons and eyes glinted in the celestial light that radiated through the cavern.
))
This desert heat was ridiculous. Maybe she was just too much a city girl.
