Desert of Whispers

“During the day it is a beautiful sight to behold. But do not remain, for though the sands sparkle and shine like glass, something lurks beneath, something from which many have met their end.”

The Desert of Whispers, also called the Whispering Sands, is a geographical phenomenon located south of Whispermill in Alloyus. Those who live beside the desert often site the unusual phenomena that occur, always in view but out of reach. Such phenomena include: whispers from deceased loved ones, unusual beasts and creatures lurking about the sand, arcane phenomena that leaves as quickly as it goes, and namely an unusual disruption of some magical spellcastings.

Information Gathering in Whispermill

During their time in Whispermill, the party learned the Desert is not a natural phenomenal. What would otherwise be plains and grassland has instead become an arcane wasteland of strange phenomena, created by a magical superstructure from a bygone age. The magical superstructure, according to Wel'Vorgot, Goddess of Stars, is broken Astral Mining device that created an Aperture to the Astral Plane, causing magic to run wild and unchecked for centuries.
The party has also learned, that some others who have had a Tower Dream have also felt called to approach the desert in search of something.

While in the Desert

The Desert Threshold

The party entered the desert on Harvestus 5th, 130 FE at 11:15 AM. They spent their first few hours traversing the Desert's Threshold, where they encountered Tumbleweed Aberants floating in the wind. The Party was able to overcome the Tumbleweed Aberants' psychic murmurings and physical grasps, crossing into the desert proper.

Whispering Sands Environment

It is difficult to tell time in the desert, for there is no discernible sky or timed phenomena. The temperature remains at 75 Fahrenheit regardless of if the party remains in the shade or not. There is no rain or wind, or other weather in the sands.

Geography

Located south of Whispermill, the Whispering Desert can be seen from the center of town. It is a desert in the middle of the plains, and is unusual in that no other area around it makes sense.
The locals call it the Whispering Desert. There are glassy spires that jut out of the sand like crystal pillars. These reflect the light and on a clear day the glassy spires reflect the ground and make the sand take on a rainbow like appearance. On a windy day, the hollow spires shake with a quiet, eerie sound that gives off the impression they are humming. Local superstitions say that if one has recently experienced a lost loved one, they can hear their last words to them among the sandy spires.

Ecosystem

All life within the Whispering Desert is the result of the Astral Plane affecting the region over hundreds of years.
All manner of aberrations exist as flora or fauna, though there is no rhyme or reason as to how they come to exist in this place.
A being called "Branch" exists as a living tree made of obsidian. They do not know why they exist, or how, but they seem willing to share information to kind passers by.

Localized Phenomena

Whispering Winds -
Illusions of Loved Ones Lost -
Arcane Dreams -

History

During the Voyager exploration of the southern lands, some split off from the group to explore the Arrena’Suranta. Some returned, telling of the great spires and strange shapes, as well as took some sand that was said to be magical (it wasn’t).
There were a few however, who did not return. Upon sending out a search party, the ones who disappeared seemingly vanished without a trace.

Tourism

Some explorers come to study the spires and see the sights, but on the whole its not a very interesting locale. In addition dangerous creatures of light and sand tend to attack those who wander too deep in. Many are simply content to view the sands from the safety of Whispermill.

Alternative Name(s)

The Glass Desert

Type

Badlands

Location under

Whispermill

Contested By

• Alloyus - The New Frontier
• Te'Otel Sharo

Characters in Location

• Branch
• Gate Watcher
• Omec Akacheta