Zalk
Long Frozen Continent
DESCRIPTION - LOCATION - PEOPLE - CLIMATE - FLORA - FAUNA
Description
Zalk was, at one point, a man-made island created for the Most Powerful Man in Gaia, Johnny K. Gambino. The island apart from Gambino was a utopia designed for that one man, and him alone. However, a large storm that rolled past Isle De Gambino some seven years ago brushed the island away and sent it sailing out into the north ocean. It lost radio transmission within three hours, traveling into the north ring of the planet. When it was finally rediscovered six months ago, it had completely fused with the Ice caps, and was not salvagable. So, Gambino's son decided that it was not worth worrying over and left it.
The whole area, both mech-island and ice caps alike, have been regarded by map makers as Zalk, in name of the original project. Further exploration by a dedicated team discovered quite a bit, including an entire group of people who had apparently taken to the harsh climate, new kinds of plants and animals, and something that could not be described for the explorer's own mortalities.
Location
Zalk is located far to the North, it's exact coordinates being difficult to determine, due to the fact that it drifts in the north ring of Gaia. No one can say for sure it's exact location. What can be said, however, is that at most times it is northwest of Gambino island, so long as the currents have not pushed it far from it's current home.
People
The people who live on this island, a Metahuman race of yeti-like creatures who appear to refer to themselves as the Gwoa. Though they appear barbaric and pre-evolved humans, they appear to have, at one point, been the same as humans or apes. because they do, infact, speak human. Their actual arrival on the ice caps or how they had come to be the way they are today is something that no one knows. They just simply know they are the way they are.
Their culture is an unusual one in that it is actually being forged in recent times. Before the arrival of Zalk and the "food making machines", the Gwoa spent all their time hunting and scavaging meat from the other ice caps off the larger animals. Before Zalk, they didn't practice many civilities, and due to the weather, they were totally incapable of progressing scientifically. They could make fire, and they had basic weapons. Now, however, they are able to more comfortably live, as they now have access to shelter, where things are often being worked at.
The Gwoa are fluent in Human and Drow and speak weak Elf. Apparently, a small few know a very strangled version of Water Spirit. They can read Human and Drow.
Climate
The climate is an extreme tundra, recieving very little snow, but is constantly covered in ice with it's location on the planet. The waves of the ocean tend to freeze to it to a point, which has caused some cliffs to form around the northern edges.
Flora
The plantlife on this tunderous area is astounding in a number of ways and for a variety of unusual properties. The most common is known among the Gwoa as "Frost Flowers". And all it is is simply a flower that comes up on the roughest part of the year - late summer - and blooms. It's appearance is a very pretty series of seven red petals which stem from a pale yellow center, almost white. It's bright color makes it a becon for all scavangers, and it presents a wonderful taste. It's taste is very sweet without being overpower, and makes a wonderful seasoning on pasteries.
Another unusual fauna rises from the tropical mechanics of Zalk put into an overly harsh frosted environment. That is the GoDo Sola, as described by a scientist. This particular tree is tall and skinny, not particularly strong, but flourishes during the calmer months. This odd tree appears to actually be some kind of mutation of the tree's natural genetics, the arctic weather, and a strain of the G-virus. This tree has a natural and effective nerotoxin in it's sap, and can be used to lace weapons, specifically ones that cut.
Last note worthy plant is a kind of weed that has sealed much of the doors to Zalk's insides. It is much like ivy, except much stronger. It has no particular name.
Fauna
The Fauna is much more mundane, outside of the Gwoa and one other creature. Frost Grunnies.
Frost Grunnies are grunnies that multiplied in the frozen tundra of Zalk, and have wandered the deeper halls of Zalk facility. They spent most of their time nibbling on the food that was stored in the various food generators.
The Frost Grunny is twice as strong as the original Grunny and has double speed in snow. Note, at this time, they can only be found in the sealed off part of Zalk. Their bite invokes Zombie Poison, and the poison is permanent until Green Solution is taken or poured into open wound. Zombies will die if they enter the snow, and can not swim. Grunnies are incapable of swimming, and have a very low health. However, they have an outstanding reproductive rate.
Grunny bites that take place in a specific chamber in Zalk invoke Grunny Spawn. Grunny Spawn move insanely fast, but die under any head damage. After three hours, Grunny Spawn creates ears, after five a Grunny sprouts. At seven, the body dies and creates a strong Grunny. They are double strength of Frost Grunnies, but die in snow.
Only Frost Grunnies currently exist.
Regions
North Cap - Barren wasted land. No inhabitents. Only point of interest is the Ice Bridge.
East Cap - Tundratic Forest - Here, the whole cap is covered with various tundra life, especially GoDo Sola. This expands to the southern and part of the west cap.
West Cap - Gwoa Salome - This area is where the Gwoa have made a small home. The villiage consists of seven huts surrounding a massive bonfire. The huts are, in clock wise order from the north...
1.) This hut belongs to the Leader of the tribe, whom is switched off every few months.
2.) The second hut is where the oldest of the Gwoa, the Medicine Lord mixes various plants for many various injuries.
3.) This building is gigantic, and is home to seven family units. There are eighteen inhabitants.
4.) This building is identicle to the previous, but with five family units. There are fourteen living here.
5.) This building is where any guests are allowed to stay. Being that this is the only building not made of crude material, it manages to stand up to a great bit more. They have furnished the building with things from Zalk.
6.) This building is generally used for pregnant mothers to give birth.
7.) This building is empty except for the tunnel. This tunnel leads into Zalk, so it is generally sealed off except for special occasions.
South Cap - Zalk Facility - On the surface, It looks like a once tropical but now frozen solid paradise. There is very little life here, aside from GoDo.
On the inside, however, there is a giant steel facility. There is no apparent experimentation here, simply an abundance of mechinary. The lay out is simple, actually. What can be accessed includes some kind of lobby and a security room. The security room has a small food production machine, which can make one pound of food every ten minutes, and adjust it's ability accourdingly.
What can not be accessed is a series of halls, lined with machines that had various productive uses, one of which included a series of life supports, which is what maintains the Grunnies. One room is the Production Chamber, where Grunnies were at one point produced. In the center, on a monitor in the security hall, one would see a larger mass. Green and furry, just like all the others. But what... what could it be? The other monitors are offline.
Northern Ice Bridge - This bridge is rediculous a size. The length is several miles long, where as the actual length appears to only be a few yards across. The other side is too foggy to determine.
"OMFG-WTF?," he said softly, "What in God's name happened here? " The room was the site of a massacre, preserved by the ice. The walls were painted with dried blood. broken lab equipment was mixed with human remains. Mostly bones. Pyro stood in the doorway, paralyzed with shock. He bent down and picked up a human femur. It had been gnawed at by teeth that were much too large to be human. Pyro looked around and found a skull that had been smashed open like a melon. Brown stained rags were all the remained of the scientist's clothing. ((I am assuming that you only get.....'turned' if you are not killed by the monsters, and that most, if not all people were eaten)) Pyro was startled out of his trance by a noise. Heart pounding, he looked up. The noise, which was growing louder, sounded like.....scratching....the sound of claws on metal. It was coming from outside.......
