Shurrock

Shurrock is the second layer of the Outer Plane of Bytopia.

Geography

Unlike the mild weather and clear skies of the first layer, Dothion, the weather on Shurrock is harsh and unpredictable. Storms constantly ravage the landscape, strong winds are almost constant and clear skies are very rare. The landscape is very mountainous, and the abundant creeks and rivers flow fast throughout the layer. Shurrock has an abundance of raw materials. As in Dothion, Shurrock is a place of hard work and satisfaction from a job well done, but instead of taming the land, work on Shurrock focuses on the extraction of natural resources. The wild landscape of the layer is peppered with mines, mills, and quarries. Due to the layer's harsh weather and rocky, irregular terrain, most dwellings and active work sites are underground.
Most of the raw materials used in construction and the industries of Dothion come from Shurrock. In order to transport them there, traders brave the harsh weather of the layer to either reach a portal to Dothion, which is usually controlled by guilds that charged high tariffs, or to transport them directly there using a floating gnomish contraption. Taking advantage of the unique configuration of Bytopia, traders put their goods into protected baskets and sew together large pieces of tarp into bags, which they fill with hot air. After attaching enough of these bags to the basket, it begins to float until it reaches the divide between the layers. By the time the load crosses the divide and starts falling toward Dothion, the cooling air loses enough of its buoyancy for the cargo to descend gently onto Dothion.

Locations

Centerspire, an enormous mountain that physically connects Dothion and Shurrock, is (as its name suggests) located in the direct center of the plane. It is a common route between the two layers.

Inhabitants

Among other creatures native to both layers of Bytopia, Shurrock is inhabited by a race known as air sentinels, gentle and benevolent beings similar to djinn who guide visitors and traders to shelter against the perilous wheather in the layer's abundant caves. Shurrock is also the home to the adamantine dragon Mercialla. She considers herself the guardian of all good things that exist in Shurrock, and works together with the air sentinels.

Type

Planar Sphere/Grouping

Location under

Bytopia