Silver Desert
The most famous region of Cilvarth is the Silver Desert. Named after the streaks and patches of chrome silver sand flowing throughout the desert, it is home to some of the largest cities, including Aricos, the second most populated settlement on the planet.
The Silver Desert is filled with thousands of years of illustrious mythology. Wondrous ancient buildings fill the lands, laced with traps to keep out amateur explorers and looters.
Geography, Location & Climate
Woahhh. This is the coolest desert I've ever seen, and I visited a Soul Desert last year.
The Silver Desert takes up the entire southern half of Aurea. The majority of the region is a vast expanse of practically lifeless terrain, tall rocky hills and mountains cutting through stretches of flat sand, with rivers of silvery sand flowing through.
At night, moonlight from Cilvarth's only moon lights up these silver rivers, creating faint apparitions in the atmosphere. These visions are much more present around the moonlit lakes of the Silver Desert. They feature heavily in the desert's mythology and superstitious culture, many people believing the apparitions bring about good or bad luck.
The Krien Islands, to the south-east of the mainland, is also considered part of the Silver Desert. It shares a similar climate, geology, geography, and many native lifeforms. These islands are more tropical than the mainland, receiving more rainfall annually, enough to supply small forests.
Towards the east of the Silver Desert and around Lake Kettle are more forested regions. Rainfall is more frequent and the atmosphere is humid.
Fauna & Flora
Watch out for that herd of roundhorns just down the hill. They probably won't attack. I mean, not if we keep our distance. The horn on their head will rip us into two before you can say the word "teapot".
Most animals in the Silver Desert are exceptionally well-adapted to the tough climates. Few creatures have to tolerate such high temperatures, and such an arid atmosphere.
The desert's apex predator is the howl horse. They have convergently evolved with other animals of the same name, except howl horses are exclusive carnivores. Using their speed and stamina, howl horses can chase prey for miles, even during harsh daytime tempatures.
Once they catch up to the prey they inject a fast-acting neurotoxic venom, paralysing prey in just ten minutes. The horse will then drag the prey back to its burrow, consuming it whole with its elastic jaws and throat.
An important animal within the desert's ecosystem is the roundhorn. These grazing herbivores use the thick horn on its skull to pierce rocky cliffs, the hollow rock storing water inside. Once broken, the water in these cliffs can create entire temporary oases, attracting wildlife from miles away.
Roundhorns and other herbivores feed on what few plants are available. Bloodhorn trees are the most common tree species in the desert, seeping blood from its petals. While they aren't the most nutritious, often they are the only option for food. In more lush areas of the desert, short desert grasses grow. Trees with giant trunks store as much water as possible, their roots reaching deep underground into the water table.
Every so often, one will come across a flambela rose. These giant flowers reach up to ten metres in height, and they dominate the Silver Desert. Their roots can extend over a hundred metres underground, tearing up the ground in search of as much water as possible. They out-compete every other plant in the area and are becoming more common, while other plants are becoming much more scarce.
History
The first cilvarthians arrived in Aurea around fifteen years ago, after crossing the Middle Mountains. This near-impossible task left these groups unable to return to the other continent, and so people had to build colonies in the Silver Desert and neighbouring regions. The Eochian Empire took control of the desert, its armies of sorcerer guards protecting vulnerable towns and cities from hazardous weather phenomena.
This empire lasted around two thousand years, disbanding after its oppressive rulers were killed in battle. The Eochian Empire was fractured, and all of its encompassing settlements and regions became independent states with their own authorities. Eochians left behind many abandoned temples, altars, and other monuments, most of which have been lost to the writhing sands. Archeologists are determined to uncover every last landmark, giving them a better understanding of the people that came long before them.
Major Landmarks & Settlements
Aricos is the Silver Desert's largest city, by both population and scale. It sprawls across a flat, rocky plateau, surrounded by an impenetrable guarded wall. It has suffered countless invasions over the last couple thousand years, especially in its infancy. It now stands as the capital of its continent, and a prime landing place for interplanetary travel and tourism.
The city is famous for its market festivals, where artisans of all skills sell their handmade works. Unique tools, weapons, and ornaments, as well as cuisine and apparel, are all readily available at these year-round markets.
Corykos was once a rural village with just a few hundred denizens. It saw an influx of new residents after the town's mayor was supposedly blessed by a magical teapot, a tiny portion of his power transferring to the townspeople.
The town is one of the oldest in the Silver Desert, founded almost three thousand years ago. It remained under a thousand inhabitants until three hundred years ago, when its mayor brought about masses of new folk.
This is indeed a fancy desert with fancy animals. Very cool read.
Thank you so much!