View source for Geography of Zanarak

{{Geography Sections
|Introduction=The '''Geography of [[Zanarak]]''' is defined by ever-changing landscapes, where towering dunes, razor-sharp glass formations, and relentless sandstorms shape the terrain. Located between the [[Terasil]] Heartlands to the north and the volcanic wastelands of Tahr’Zul to the southeast, Zanarak is a land of both illusion and survival, where only the most skilled can navigate its treacherous expanse.
|Topography=Zanarak’s geography is shaped by elemental forces, particularly the interplay of wind and heat, which continuously reshape the land.

=== The Sea of Dunes ===
A vast, shifting expanse of towering sand dunes, stretching across most of central Zanarak.

* The dunes are unstable, moving with the desert winds, making navigation nearly impossible without a skilled guide.
* Hidden within the dunes are ancient ruins, buried cities, and lost caravans, swallowed by the sands over centuries.
* Some regions of the dunes are infused with illusionary magic, creating mirages and phantom landmarks that mislead travelers.

=== The Glass Fields of Zanarak ===
Where the heat of Tahr’Zul met the sands of Zanarak, an unearthly landscape of jagged glass formations was forged.

* Towering glass spires rise from the sand, refracting sunlight into brilliant colors.
* The ground is littered with razor-sharp shards, making it dangerous to traverse without specialized footwear or magical protection.
* The glass formations trap heat, creating areas where temperatures can melt unprepared travelers' gear.
* Some glass holds latent magic, sought by [[Sunshifters]] and alchemists for crafting enchanted objects.

=== The Canyonlands (Unnamed) ===
A maze of deep, shadowed canyons marking the eastern border of Zanarak.

* Created by millennia of wind erosion, these canyons provide rare shade and hidden water sources.
* Smugglers, outcasts, and exiles use these canyons to avoid major trade routes.
* Some canyons contain ancient carvings and forgotten shrines, hinting at civilizations lost to the sands.

=== The Borderlands of Ash ===
Where Zanarak meets the volcanic lands of Tahr’Zul, the desert takes on a scorched, blackened appearance.

* The sands here are streaked with obsidian from past eruptions.
* Geysers of superheated steam occasionally erupt from the ground.
* The air is thick with ash, making travel difficult without protective coverings.
|Climate=Zanarak experiences extreme and unpredictable weather conditions.

* Daytime temperatures can soar to deadly levels, while nighttime temperatures drop to near freezing.
* Sandstorms can appear without warning, reducing visibility to nothing and stripping unprotected travelers to the bone.
* Some regions experience Glassstorms, where windborne shards of glass tear through the land.
* Rare rainfalls create temporary oases, which become gathering points for nomadic travelers and desert wildlife.
|Environment=Zanarak is one of the deadliest regions of [https://casaorestes.com/Adaris Adaris], with natural and supernatural hazards awaiting the unprepared.

* Glassstorms – Gale-force winds that send razor-sharp glass fragments flying through the air.
* Mirage Fields – Areas where the very fabric of reality seems to shift, leading travelers in endless circles.
* Dune Beasts – Predators adapted to the ever-changing sands, often striking from below.
* Lost Ruins – Some ancient structures are said to be cursed, filled with illusions, forgotten magic, or spectral guardians.
|Settlement=Zanarak is home to a handful of permanent settlements, each adapted to the desert’s unforgiving nature.

* '''Mirajhar – The City of Shifting Sands'''

A mystical settlement that appears and disappears like a mirage, serving as the cultural and spiritual heart of the desert.

* '''Orundahl – The Last Bastion Before the Sands'''

A fortified trade town north of the dunes, serving as the final waypoint before travelers enter the deep desert.

* '''[[Azirith]] – The Shattered Port of Glass'''

A port city surrounded by towering shards of translucent glass, where sea trade meets desert commerce.

* '''Arenam’s Quarry – The Heart of the Glass Trade'''

A rugged mining settlement, where [https://casaorestes.com/Gilaari Gilaari] and Sunshifters extract raw mirage glass and obsidian from the land.
}}
[[Category:Zanarak]]