Rippling Sands

A region without salvation...

Vast mountains of sand, deep red sun beaten canyons, desolate valleys of overwhelming heat, miles and miles of dry baron lake beds. These are just some of the relentless hurdles one must deal with when crossing the Rippling Sands. From the craters of Tremors Edge to the maze way that is the Heartless Canyons, to docks of Deep Harbor across the Fotia Sea or the proud and beautiful palaces of Shurima, the Rippling Sands are home to many fascinating, yet deadly locations. The Rippling Sands gets its name not from the endless hills and ramps of sand, but from the creatures that live beneath the surface calling it home. Much like an ocean and the endless waves you find there, the sands of this desert are alike. Massive worm like desert dragons, gargantuan sand hydras and vile dune scorpions are just some of the beasts that swim in the vastness of the Rippling Sands. These creatures always existed here, living as peacefully as you would expect such creatures to live, but it wasn't until the devastating asteroid strike, later called Tremors Edge, that caused a change in the biology and ecosystem of the Rippling Sands. See, in the year 17,995 T.B. a massive beam from the sky could be seen tearing through the atmosphere and crashing into Prototokos. This strike caused much immediate destruction to the continent known at Parting Lands, but it was the lasting effects over many years' times that was felt more harshly. About 6 months after the strike, many of the continent began to notice a difference, an imbalance of nature and a weakness to the land. It started with the water on the continent and surrounding oceans to be polluted and not consumable without treatment, than the days lasted longer as the sun would linger for hours and hours longer no matter the season. The heat grew more tiresome and violent to those not prepared for such living, quickly killing off most elderly and young. But than the peoples began to notice that magic was dissipating and escaping even the most experienced users. No longer could magic be simply called upon to help aid in any use, no matter the deity you prayed to or the years of training you had. Magic began to fade, and has faded in the Rippling Sands...well not entirely. In the year 17,998 T.B. an unknown substance began to appear all around the dunes and sand mountains, canyons and crevasses of the desert. A crystalline substance with a green hue, cool to touch and partly mirror like in appearance, later labeled as Arcane Stone would become the very foundation of magic in the area. This substance if harvested would be, and is, the only way to perform magic in this water deprived region. The crystals could be picked much like a flower, or mined like a precious gem and provide the owner, user or carrier of the Arcane Stone to cast magic yet again...even increasing the capabilities of their spells and effects. Some claims have been the overall success rate of magic was increased, while others mention that the effects were enhanced as if they had years and years of study in the magical arts. The Arcane Stone also had a withdrawal though, the substance could only be used very sparingly and than become just a gem...losing its green hue and cool touch. The most potent of Arcane Stones begin losing their effects just days after harvest, while lesser blossoms of the stone would only be capable of incredible magic after just one cast. This made the Arcane Stones very valuable, and quickly became what the scavengers and raiders of the desert called "The Gold In the Sand".

But as it turns out, not only were the many races of Prototokos and the Parted Lands inhabitants interested in the Arcane Stone...but so were the monsters and under dwelling creatures of the desert. The Many different species of desert beasts began to eat and use and drain the area of this precious resource. But what it did to them was not as one would expect, it made them more violent, more untamed, more intrusive and larger. Some have said that scorpions grew to the size of horses, while others claim to have seen sand dragons as long as ships swimming through the desert seeking any prey they can to survive. These creatures and beasts hunger for Arcane Stone and sniff out any who carry it. The Rippling Sands is a hostile place, between the heat and desert wastelands, to the lack of water and massive beasts but also the lack of any source of magic to defend yourself. Any who travel these deserts best be ready to live the harshest of ways and keep a mental fortitude to match the dangers.