Orden

Orden is a continent located just north of the equator in the eastern Hemisphere of Cultivo. Measuring in at approximately 3.5 million square miles, its geography is dominated by a large flat basin which stretches from the flat western seaboard to mountain range which stretches across the east coast.   The basin is dominated by flat, rocky terrain. Arid shrublands near the coast give way to rocky and then sandy deserts. Narrow faults and fissures in the bedrock provide ample drainage of any water in the soil to the massive subterranean aquifers located beneath Orden. This, coupled with the equatorial proximity causes any rainwater to evaporate or drain quickly.   The western coast region consists of flat, arid shrubland with inconsistent rains which is capable of sustaining agriculture.   The shrubland near the coast gradually becomes more and more dry, with the flat plains becoming dotted with rocky mesas, bluffs, and canyons.   A single artesian lake in the southwestern area of Orden feeds the only true forest on the continent.   Near the center of the continent lies the most significant landmark on the continent, Skycut mesa.   The eastern coast consists of high steep cliffs which soar into the high, hollow peaks of the shield mountains.   The Siltwash is a huge region of dry quicksand directly leeward of the shield mountains. It is comprised of extremely fine silt particles, saturated with air blown through a series of natural caves from the windward side of the mountain range which act as a kind of bellows.

Native flora include hardy shrubs and cacti across most of the continent, with wheat and other farming staples being grown on the more fertile coast. The ancient lake is surrounded by a large forest of massive deciduous trees.   Native fauna include herds of grazing animals, such as buffalo and antelope, as well as carnivores such as jackals which feed on them. The rocky desert houses many kinds of lizards and snakes, with the siltwash being the only natural habitat for the Orden Basilisk. The high mesas are the only natural roosting place for the Bluebolt Raptors.   Perhaps most notably, Orden is Cultivo's only natural habitat for Elementals.