The Ash Wastes
The Ashland Wastes together constitute a vast region of desolate ash desert that comprise up to 60% of all landmasses following the ecological and environmental devastation of the Great Cataclysm. The wastes are immense, flat expanses in which virtually all topography, geologic features, and man-made remnants of the former human civilization have been buried beneath the dense ash blanket. Within these regions, huge ash storms are frequent occurrances, consequently blowing the ash fields clear from time to time and exposing that which is buried just below the surface. Ash lice are very common in these regions, as well as some of the few surviving species of plants left on Ashrain. Along the fringes of the wastes, in the regions between biomes, human survivors are often found making camp or erecting ramshackle settlements. The edges of the wastes are often the most hospitable areas to establish such settlements, in the calmer areas between habitats. Within the wastes, very little can survive due to the scarcity of available food and water over such large areas. However, it is also one of the few environments in which buried aquifers and sources of water can be unearthed when the ash blanket is blown thin. It is an ever-changing environment that is also constantly expanding as the ashfall renders more and more of the planet's surface desolate ashland desert.
Geography
The ashland wastes are defined by huge, flat expanses of ash that contain virtually no topography or identifying geographical features. They are best described as an ash desert. In these regions, the ash blanket is thick enough to entirely bury everything in sight, resulting in a totally level plateau of ash as far as the horizon. Ash wastes can also be formed in former desert regions, such as in the North American Midwest and South, where the ground was already very level and flat before the ashfall covered it. Frequent ash storms often blow entire regions of the ash blanket clear, exposing some structures beneath if the ash has not fully settled or solidified. This is most common in formerly arid regions, where the frequent storms and high winds keep the ash blanket disturbed and unsettled.
Ecosystem
The ash wastes are a vacant ecosystem with very little flora and fauna for the majority of the region's area. However, small oases where buried water sources seep to the surface may occur, resulting in small areas of life concentrated around the precious resource. Ash serpents and ash lice are seen commonly throughout the wastes, living in burrows beneath the surface. Plants are also found in the wastes, usually in areas where buried water sources may be found. These plants form huge root structures that burrow down through the ash blanket to the water and begin to draw it up towards the surface, leading to the growth of other plants in the area and the formation of a micro-ecosystem amidst the wastes.
Localized Phenomena
The ash wastes are known for enormous ash storms which may reach areas of up to one thousand square miles in size and displace hundreds of thousands of tons of ash from the ground surface. These storms occur due to the high winds which sweep across the wastes unchecked by restrictive topographic features. Ash devils are also common, with some cells reaching enormous sizes and clocking wind speeds of over 400 miles per hour. These ash-heavy tornados carve devastating paths across the landscape often reaching for hundreds of miles before dissipating. Consequently, such storms and tornados may expose buried regions of the wastes where valuable resources, water, or human artifacts may be found. Storm chasers such as the Well Dippers often follow large cells from a safe distance, searching their paths for such resources.
Type
Wasteland
Location under
Included Locations
Inhabiting Species
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