Dinos
“We made it! Barely. I don’t know how we survived the storm and the reef, but we made the shore. Now to just figure out how to get supplies and repair the ship. They say we shouldn't leave the beach, but I don’t think they’ll mind if I do a little exploring now that we are here. I can’t imagine what marvelous things we’ll discover.”Dinos is mostly myth, rumor, and tall tale, what we supposedly know of this lost world comes from a handful of fevered reports, maddened survivors, and a few scraps of paper brought back with dying explores. Most tell of huge trees and plants and equally fantastic and terrible beasts, unlike any that we have ever seen before. What we can speculate about this land is that it is a large and hidden island continent with wild weather and many unusual circumstances. It is said to be located somewhere in the western Vastus Ocean and obscured by dark skies and terrible thunderstorms. Few expeditions have been sent there and fewer survivors have returned. Still, this greatly unknown continent offers unimaginable potential and opportunity for discovery, but as of yet it still remains uncharted and unexplored and ever dangerous.
Geography
This remote and mysterious land is said to conceal itself out in the far recesses of the stormy western Vastus Ocean. While many speculate that it must be on the equator due to its constant heat and humidity, it is actually located farther south, near the 10 to 15 degree parallels.
Combinations of the strong sun and long lasting daylight, mixed with the prevailing wind conditions and the surrounding warm waters, create significant rainfall. This frequent and long lasting moisture provides for the thick tropical jungle and rain forest environment that covers the majority of the region. In addition to the thick vegetation, there are also many smaller microclimates nestled throughout the continent. Rolling hills, soaring mountains, active volcanos, bubbling tar pits, windswept deserts, hot beaches, swampy forests, fertile grasslands, dense fernlands, raging rivers, and large freshwater lakes are all said to be housed in this lost world.
Ecosystem
The varied plants and animals on this island have been isolated here for millennia with very little outside interference. They have all adapted and specialized to their individual environments within the secluded land. Each miniature ecosystem on the continent is self-sustaining and complete with individual flora, fauna, predators and prey. They are all in competition for attaining food, water, and the nourishment that nature provides. The unique species here have escaped outside contamination and extinction, where others of their kind in the outside world have not fared as well.
Ecosystem Cycles
Due to the island continents proximity to the equatorial region and being surrounded by water, this land does not experience any major seasonal changes. Some parts of the year are a little dryer or rainier that others but it is always hot and humid for the majority of the island.
Climate
The climate here is both predictable and varied. The western edge of the island experiences warm ocean currents that bring heat, moisture, and storms. The eastern edge receives cooler water currents that drain some of the heat away and make it cooler and drier. The north and south get a mixing of ocean currents and often produce fog, haze, and rain that tends to obscure the continent from view.
Generally one can expect the overall continent to be swelteringly hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms. However each of the different terrains will have some degree of variation associated with it. Some areas are prone to flash floods and others hardly ever get rain at all. Great moisture permeates the interior regions while the outer edges may be incredibly dry despite the rains. Higher elevations will typically be cooler while sea level will be hotter. Anyone attempting to explore the region should be prepared for any and all climatic condtions.
Localized Phenomena
As if the climate and varied species here wasn’t dangerous enough, any explores must also survive the many hazardous phenomena of the continent. Aside from the expected thunderstorms, flash floods, tornadoes, and hailstorms, many sudden derechos, and waterspouts, spring up from the high winds and mixing of warm and cold ocean currents. This mixing often sends forth huge eddies and whirlpools into the nearby seas, sinking unaware ships quite quickly. The desert areas are frequented by many windstorms, dust devils, and Sandblasters. The active volcanic mountain ranges produce many eruptions, lava flows, ash falls, cinder bomb strikes, volcanic lightning, and earthquakes. Anti-magic Zones are said to be scattered throughout the regions, inhibiting any magical aid or assistance. Furthermore, beware nice and easy flat terrain, as it is quite common to encounter quicksands, lightning sands, and leaf covered tar pits.Fauna & Flora
Plants
Upon entering this new and strange land, one immediately notices the incredibly vast and varied amounts of plant life here. Many of the species here are similar but more primitive than the plants found throughout the rest of the world, and others are completely different. While too many to list all of them here, the best descriptions would be that they are variations of Palms, Willows, Oaks, Pecan, Redwoods, Dogwoods, Cottonwoods, Sycamores, Conifers, and Pines. With many Plum Pines, Screwpines, Alder, Magnolia, Araucaria, Yews, Cycads, Scale Trees, Lycopsids, Sigillaria, Tree Ferns, Glossopteris, and Psaronius. Other more familiar types include Laurels, Sassafras, Ginkgo, Ferns, Horsetails, Cycads, Spikenards, Ficus, Barberries, Liverworts, Mosses, Club Mosses, and Seed Ferns.Animals
The animal life here is just as extraordinary and diverse as the plants that feed and shelter them. Most of these creatures are of incredible size and unique structure. The insects here are enormous and mostly carnivorous, while the birds are small but brightly colored. The mammals are few and far between but are mostly of the rodent and marsupial variety. The fish are either heavily armored or exceptionally quick and the amphibians are also huge and aggressive. While the reptiles are very abundant and differ in size and fill many of the ecological niches, it is a new type that truly dominates the continent. These dinosaurs as they are called have unique properties that are reminiscent of reptiles, birds, and mammals. Most of them are of immense size and proportion and extremely carnivorous, yet others seem to be very slow and tend to graze upon the unique vegetation of the island. Truly mysterious and what a wonder it all would be to see such marvels.Natural Resources
Most of the unique plant and animal species on this island cannot be found anywhere else in the world and this offers an incredible opportunity for explorers, adventurers, and traders. There are extensive natural resources available here for those brave enough and strong enough to survive and harvest them.
Aside from the mysterious plants and animals that can be used for food, hides, ingredients, and specimens, there is also a tremendous opportunity for lumber from various new tree-like species each with unique new properties. Moreover, there is unlimited potential in possible new spices, herbs, remedies, drugs, potions, and spell ingredients being discovered.
Additionally, several varieties of rocks, minerals, gemstones, and even Nullstone is thought to available for harvesting. However, the tales of rivers overflowing with gold nuggets and mountains covered in glinting silver have really whet the appetite of many explorers. Rumors of fist sized diamonds littered across the volcanic slopes has only heightened the desire of adventurers to journey to this lost world.
History
Little is known of the history of this land. It cannot be found in any records, charts, or world maps. While several attempts to find the island have been launched, few have made it there and seemingly only those who found it by accident have been able to return home. Most of what we think of this strange continent comes from the disheveled journals of Torten Paleos, the fantastical writings of Mika Criten, and the drunken ramblings of Llan Granite. They say that Lily Salter captained her ship there twice, but no one can find her or the ship, and as for the chaos wizard Malco Lanim, his theoretical works are crazy enough to keep people away by themselves. Interestingly, a fierce completion has been rekindled once again between Jomond Hamahn, Jenin Woodlock, and Nimos Samarni to see whose expedition can finally find the lost world and stake a claim for its resources.
Tourism
This remote and dangerous land has been the death of most explorers and people do not come here to visit. There are no cities, strongholds, or bases present and surviving the day is a challenge for even the most experienced adventurer. Only the bravest or most foolish risk traveling here to try and take advantage of the varied and strange plants, animals, and natural resources. Fame, fortune, and glory are the most common epithets of the unmarked graves.
by from pixabay
“Ferns, Ferns, Ferns. This place should be called the island of ferns. Tall ferns, short ferns, seed ferns, tree ferns. And if it isn’t a fern, it’s a relative of a fern.”
Alternative Name(s)
The Lost World
Type
Subcontinent
Location under
Inhabiting Species
Dangers:
While this unknown and vastly unexplored region contains many wonders and rare species, it also holds many dangers, especially for the unprepared or overconfident. Often it is the discounted and mundane conditions or features that bring a rapid end to a visitor’s adventures or even life. Several preventable deaths here have been attributed to raging rivers, quicksand, tar pits, earthquakes, gale force winds, flooding camps, falling trees, heat, dehydration, and sunstroke, parasites in water and improperly prepared food, insect bites, infectious diseases, fetid waters, poisonous plants and animals, giant carnivores, and various tribes of savage humanoids.Diseases:
The constant high heat and humidity, combined with the immersive dank and swampy areas of this continent are ideal conditions to harbor many of the worlds overlooked diseases. Those traveling through this land should be ever vigilant for contagion and debilitating illness. Several strains include Black Wash, Desmodeus, Dracunculus, Eyevitis, and Swamp Fever amongst others.
by by me from Midjourney
“The big ones with the small arms and big teeth will definitely eat you if you run across them. But the smaller, fast ones, they are much smarter than we ever thought. It seems like they were actually hunting us. We lost four men before we even knew they were here.”
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