Thantian Sand Sea

The Thantian Sand Sea is a desert located in the southern region of Vestria known for its instability and rather unusual volcanic activity.

Geography

On its surface, the Thantian Sand Sea is a vast desert dotted with rock outcroppings, cliffs, and canyons providing solid ground for people to settle on.

Localized Phenomena

What gives the Sand Sea its name is how the desert sands shift in much more than the sun-warmed wind.
Due to the region's volcanic activity, air is constantly being pumped up through the sands, lowering its density and creating a fluidized bed across the desert. This phenomenon makes travel across the desert difficult and exceedingly dangerous with travelers having to rely on ships and other bouyant crafts to stay about the unstable sands.
The 'islands' found within the region offer stable ground to set up camp or even establish settlements, but they are still not without their trade offs. The same volcanic activity that allows one to drown in sand makes earthquakes a common occurance for those on solid ground.

Climate

The region's climate is quite hot and dry as befitting a desert. Rain showers are infrequent with the main sources of water being the Hyral river and the odd oasis found on one of the region's isalnds.

Natural Resources

The region is believed to be rich with Mana Crystals as well as other precious stones and minerals.

History

Accounts tell of the regions once being part of the domain of dwarves, whose Ore Magic enabled them to tame the lands for its resources.
Their rule of the region supposedly came to an end with the volcanic eruption that buried the city of Taneth and crippled their main trade routes in the region.
Today, the region is only lightly populated with the majority being archeologists seeking to stdy the recently unearthed Taneth Ruins or hopeful miners seeking to find a way to pick up where the dwarves left off.

Alternative Name(s)

The Dry Sea

Type

Desert