Rhitosia
Rhitosia is the southernmost continent of Alathra. To its east is Verokuna and to its north are the continents of Almuren and Erylos, which are separated from it by the Rhitosian Strait. Past the seas to its east, south, and west are massive clouds of blue fog that disorient travelers and prevent passage. Rhitosia is largely arid, with a higher average temperature (besides Verokuna) and less precipitation than the rest of Alathra.
History
Nations
Abendara
Al-Qutarra
Geography
Rhitosia is made up of three major biomes: desert, savannah, and mesa. The desert and savannah are separated by a mesa range, while the western third of the continent consists of one large plateau.
Swallowing Wastes
The Swallowing Wastes is the name of the desert biome on the west of Rhitosia.
"It is the largest biome on the continent. It lays in the rain shadow of the Bronzed Mesas; harsh winds brought on by surrounding sea currents leave the dunes ever changing and prevent much precipitation. However, in the many valleys of the Wastes, what little water there is gathers, creating small, muddy oases."
"The odd mesa dots the Wastes. They add a spot of color with their beautiful reds (and oranges. Wind erosion bites away at them and mixes the minerals with the sand; this creates the distinct reddish sand surrounding them."
"The primary makeup of the hills and mesas of the Wastes is granite, terracotta, sandstone, tuff, and limestone. Most unique are the rare deposits of an as of yet unidentified mineral. It ranks very low on the hardness scale, is warm to the touch, is extremely flammable, and is conducive to the growth of an undocumented crimson fungus."
- excerpts from Cartographer's Guide: Rhitosia Vol. 1
The harsh conditions prevent unadapted life from surviving for long. Cacti, armadillos, rabbits, and camels are among the few living things. At night, when the temperatures drop below freezing, the undead and other monsters emerge, including the husk (a dried out zombie).
Aemethyl Oasis
"The Aemethyl Oasis is a deep, bowl shaped valley in the center of the Swallowing Wastes, where any water in the region eventually flows. The influx of water, and the minerals from eroded sediment all over the Wastes, and the protection from the harsh winds makes it an incredibly fertile location. The canopy soaks up the sun and protects the inhabitants; the lake and plant growth holds heat much better than the sands which keeps the Oasis balmy even at night."
- excerpt from Cartographer's Guide: Rhitosia Vol. 1
The ecosystem within the bowl of the oasis is much more diverse than the desert surrounding it. Many rare plants grow, including jungle trees, cocoa, melons, and colorful flowers. Pigs, cows, sheep, and chickens graze and forage. Rarest of all upon the continent are parrots and pandas which are common within the basin.
Bronzed Mesas
The Bronzed Mesas separate the desert in the west from the central savannah. The Brass Canyons between the buttes are maze-like, which combined with the dry heat, make travel difficult. Unique to all mesas across Rhitosia are the verdant caverns. The impermeable terracotta that makes up the mesas prevents water from entering besides through small cracks; it also prevents the water from escaping. Over millions of years the water carved out caves and tunnels within the mesas. Seeds and spores that entered through the same cracks sprouted and an ecosystem formed entirely beneath the surface.
Savannah
The middle of Rhitosia is a savannah covered by tall grass and split by hilly mountain ranges. It receives more precipitation than the rest of the continent but has very little access to the sea; most of the coastline is made up of sheer cliffs. Wild horses along with the usual farm animals populate the savannah. The most unique organisms of the ecosystem are the massive acacia trees which stretch stories into the sky.
The Aben Bluff is a peninsula jutting from the northern coastline. To its west are Cape Callico and the Copper Bay. To its east is the Golden Bay, one of the few locations in central Rhitosia with sea access. There is a single mesa standing alone in the southeast of the savannah, named Al-Tifwahid. The mountains are blunted by time and consist mainly of stone, tuff, and andesite; most are topped by soil and grass. The ranges, from north to south are the Northern Range, the Karakulak Mountains, the Chitra Mountains, and the Southern Range.
Emerald Plateau
The Emerald Plateau is the massive mesa making up the eastern third of Rhitosia. It has a similar geological makeup and ecology to the Bronzed Mesas. It lacks major canyons, but there is a large flood valley carved out in the center. All precipitation in the region eventually makes it way there, with eroded sediment, making it an incredibly fertile area.