The Mortis Ocean

Despite the name, the Mortis Ocean has no water. It is actually a gigantic "ocean" full of sand dunes. Unlike much of the planet which has a thriving but arid climate, this part of the desert can only be described as a wasteland, and no civilizations can survive the harsh heat of the suns. The Mortis Ocean is littered with the wrecks of airships unfortunate enough to get stranded on the oceans and crash, or they could be the victims of highspeed pirates who prowl the skies looking for unsuspecting vessels. The ocean is actually lower than most of the livable landmasses on Ulaan, creating a sort of "sea level" for the ocean. Most people believe that the sand of the Mortis Ocean is actually the bottom of an ancient ocean of water that existed before The War That Burned.   The reason why the ocean is so important is because the solar magic reflects the strongest on the sand. This means that you can fly faster and higher over the Mortis Ocean than other biomes. The only catch is that the currents that the ships are sailing on are much more unpredictable and powerful. Most ships have a magician on board whose only job is to sense the invisible sea of magic and plot the best course for the ship.   Much like an ocean of water, the ocean has swells of magic that can create sand storms, which can mean death for inexperienced sailors. The deeper into the ocean you go, the more powerful the sandstorms.   The Mortis Ocean stretches the width of the entire planet. It divides the biomes that define many of the nation-states that control the planet. Many people will never be able to cross the great oceans of sand and view even a single journey as a major life event.   For those who sail the skies, the ocean is viewed as a dangerous means to an end, but the feeling of freedom is undeniable.