Lore:Vitiation

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The Vitiation is a seemingly infinite expanse of arid desert climate on the western edge of the known Weirlands.

Geography

While the eastern edge is well defined, the western edge is as of yet unfound. Given the inhospitable climate, exploration is infrequent and often results in death for the explorers. A small amount of run-off from the Crestfall travels west of the Crest, resulting in pockets of moisture and small oases around which life can be found. However, these quickly disappear as one travels westwards.

Regions

The Sunslope

The Sunslope is a large build-up of sand resting against the entire western face of the Crest, which can change dramatically with the seasons. It develops as a result of the constant winds that blow towards the mountain chain from deeper in the desert. During colder months, the higher winds blow large quantities of this sand upwards along the Crest, preventing the formation of large snow-caps on the western side of the mountains. While uncomfortable, this is often the safest time to travel into the Vitiation. In late spring and early autumn, the hot winds coming from the Vitiation can result in significant numbers of tornados and sandstorms that can be incredibly damaging and erosive to anything unfortunate enough to be in their path. During the summer, the sand builds up again, becoming a severe slip and avalanche hazard and burying any useful footpaths. Combined with the arid, hot environment, the Sunslope can easily be deadly during hotter months.

The Malachite Pools

 Main article: The Malachite Pools

The Malachite Pools are a series of interlinked karst sinholes characterised by deposits of malachite, found at the Equator. There are over a dozen of these sinkholes at the surface, ranging from 2ft to 50ft in diameter, and travelling upwards of a mile into the bedrock. Most of the year, the water level of the pools is incredibly low; the heat of the Vitiation does not allow large bodies of water to linger for long. However, as the Polar Cleft channels Crestfall runoff westwards into the pool system, the water level slowly rises and overflows to the surrounding area, causing a rapid, if short-lived, burst of vegetative and insect life. This can only be sustained for a month, at most, before the lack of replenishment causes the water level to recede beyond usable levels.

The walls of the pools are lined and dotted with malachite and cuprorivaite deposits, worn smooth and slightly reflective by the pools' water. When the sun is directly overhead and the pools are relatively full, the deposits reflect light, creating intense patterns in the surface of the water. These are considered, by some, to be usable as sources of divination.

Ur-Morh

 Main article: Ur-Morh

Ur-Morh was a dwarvern settlement located in the #Dune Valley, which has laid abandoned and ruined for over 200 years. An incredibly expensive venture, the extensive internal cave system was designed to draw water via a series of underground aqueducts from the eastern side of the Crest. While the venture was originally successful, a particularly windy year caused the Sunslope to grow larger than expected, causing a number of cave-ins, a cutting off of their water supply, and trapping the inhabitants. Rescue was not quick enough to save the inhabitants, and the colony was abandoned.

Demographics

There is evidence of previous civilisation close to the Crest. Ruins have been found clustered around the larger oases, but there are not any current permanent inhabitants within the Vitiation proper.