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Geography of Zanarak

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.

Zanarak’s geography is shaped by elemental forces, particularly the interplay of wind and heat, which continuously reshape the land.

The Sea of Dunes[edit source]

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[edit source]

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)[edit source]

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[edit source]

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.

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.

Zanarak is one of the deadliest regions of 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.

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 Gilaari and Sunshifters extract raw mirage glass and obsidian from the land.