Geography of Zanarak

The Geography of Zanarak is defined by **ever-changing landscapes**, where **towering dunes, razor-sharp glass formations, and relentless sandstorms** shape the terrain. Located between the Terasil Heartlands to the north and the **volcanic wastelands of Tahr’Zul** to the southeast, Zanarak is a land of **both illusion and survival**, where only the most skilled can navigate its treacherous expanse.

Major Landforms

Zanarak’s geography is shaped by **elemental forces**, particularly the interplay of **wind and heat**, which continuously reshape the land.

The Sea of Dunes

A vast, **shifting expanse of towering sand dunes**, stretching across most of central Zanarak.

The dunes are **unstable**, moving with the desert winds, making navigation nearly impossible without a skilled guide.
Hidden within the dunes are **ancient ruins, buried cities, and lost caravans**, swallowed by the sands over centuries.
Some regions of the dunes are **infused with illusionary magic**, creating **mirages** and **phantom landmarks** that mislead travelers.

The Glass Fields of Zanarak

Where the **heat of Tahr’Zul** met the **sands of Zanarak**, an **unearthly landscape of jagged glass formations** was forged.

**Towering glass spires** rise from the sand, refracting sunlight into **brilliant colors**.
The ground is **littered with razor-sharp shards**, making it dangerous to traverse without **specialized footwear** or magical protection.
The glass formations **trap heat**, creating areas where temperatures **can melt unprepared travelers' gear**.
Some glass holds **latent magic**, sought by **Sunshifters and alchemists** for crafting enchanted objects.

The Canyonlands (Unnamed)

A **maze of deep, shadowed canyons** marking the **eastern border** of Zanarak.

Created by **millennia of wind erosion**, these canyons provide **rare shade and hidden water sources**.
**Smugglers, outcasts, and exiles** use these canyons to avoid major trade routes.
Some canyons contain **ancient carvings and forgotten shrines**, hinting at civilizations lost to the sands.

The Borderlands of Ash

Where **Zanarak meets the volcanic lands of Tahr’Zul**, the desert takes on a **scorched, blackened appearance**.

The sands here are **streaked with obsidian** from past eruptions.
**Geysers of superheated steam** occasionally erupt from the ground.
The **air is thick with ash**, making travel difficult without protective coverings.

Climate & Weather

Zanarak experiences **extreme and unpredictable weather** conditions.

**Daytime temperatures** can soar to **deadly levels**, while **nighttime temperatures** drop to near freezing.
**Sandstorms** can appear without warning, reducing visibility to **nothing** and stripping unprotected travelers to the bone.
Some regions experience **Glassstorms**, where **windborne shards of glass** tear through the land.
**Rare rainfalls** create **temporary oases**, which become gathering points for nomadic travelers and desert wildlife.

Travel & Navigation

Due to **Zanarak’s unstable terrain**, **only the most skilled travelers** can cross it safely.

**The Sunshifter's Path** – A **series of hidden waypoints** known only to the **Sunshifters**, guiding those deemed worthy across the desert.
**The Duneveil Route** – A shifting **trade road** linking **Orundahl and Mirajhar**, often buried by sandstorms.
**The Glassway** – A dangerous path through the **Glass Fields**, used by **miners and glass traders** despite its hazards.
**The Ember Trail** – The only known **safe route** leading from **Zanarak into Tahr’Zul**, though few dare to take it.

Notable Settlements

Zanarak is home to a handful of **permanent settlements**, each adapted to the desert’s unforgiving nature.

Mirajhar – The City of Shifting Sands

A mystical settlement that **appears and disappears** like a mirage, serving as the **cultural and spiritual heart** of the desert.

Orundahl – The Last Bastion Before the Sands

A **fortified trade town** north of the dunes, serving as the **final waypoint** before travelers enter the deep desert.

Azirith – The Shattered Port of Glass

A port city surrounded by **towering shards of translucent glass**, where **sea trade meets desert commerce**.

Arenam’s Quarry – The Heart of the Glass Trade

A **rugged mining settlement**, where **Gilaari and Sunshifters** extract **raw mirage glass and obsidian** from the land.

Dangers of Zanarak

Zanarak is **one of the deadliest regions of Adaris**, with **natural and supernatural hazards** awaiting the unprepared.

**Glassstorms** – Gale-force winds that send **razor-sharp glass fragments** flying through the air.
**Mirage Fields** – Areas where the **very fabric of reality seems to shift**, leading travelers in endless circles.
**Dune Beasts** – Predators adapted to the **ever-changing sands**, often striking from below.
**Lost Ruins** – Some **ancient structures** are said to be cursed, filled with **illusions, forgotten magic, or spectral guardians**.

"The Desert Gives Nothing Freely"

A common saying in Zanarak, reminding all who enter that **the sands will test them, and only the strong—or the wise—will survive.**