Climate of Zanarak

Name	Zanarak Desert
Type	Extreme Desert Climate
Primary Weather Patterns	Scorching heat, freezing nights, sandstorms, glassstorms, droughts
Unique Phenomena	Mirage Season, Sunveil Effect, Fire Rains, Lightning Dunes

The Climate of Zanarak is one of **unforgiving extremes**, where **scorching days, freezing nights, and violent storms** shape the lives of those who call the desert home. Unlike many realms of Adaris, Zanarak does not experience **traditional seasons**—instead, it endures cycles of **drought, shifting sands, and unpredictable mirages**.

Temperature Extremes

{| class="wikitable" |+ '''Climate Data for Zanarak''' |- ! Condition !! Daytime !! Nighttime !! Frequency |- | Average Temperature || 50°C (122°F) || -5°C (23°F) || Daily|}

Zanarak’s vast dunes and **glass-laden landscapes** absorb heat rapidly during the day, but with no moisture to trap warmth, the desert becomes **bitterly cold at night**.

Daytime Heat

- The **average midday temperature** in the heart of Zanarak **exceeds survivable levels**, forcing most creatures to **seek shelter underground or within shaded structures**. - The **Glass Fields** and **Borderlands of Ash** are even **hotter**, where exposed metal or stone **can burn flesh within seconds**. - Travelers move **only at dawn or dusk**, and settlements rely on **thick walls, subterranean dwellings, and heat-reflecting architecture** to survive.

Freezing Nights

- As soon as the sun sets, the **heat rapidly escapes**, and the temperature **can plummet below freezing** in some regions. - **Cold-resistant plants and creatures** have adapted to the extreme shift, while desert dwellers rely on **layered clothing and heat-retaining structures** to endure the cold.

Weather & Atmospheric Conditions

Zanarak’s storms are **as deadly as its heat**, bringing **blinding winds, razor-sharp glass, and sudden burial beneath the dunes**.

Sandstorms

- **Unpredictable and frequent**, these storms can **reduce visibility to nothing** and **strip flesh from bone** in the worst cases. - Some storms last **only minutes**, while others can **rage for days**, reshaping the landscape entirely. - **Nomads and caravans** rely on **storm-sensing rituals and old paths** to predict when it is safe to travel.

Glassstorms

- A rare but **lethal phenomenon** unique to the **Glass Fields of Zanarak**. - Wind carries **fragments of razor-sharp glass**, turning the air into a **whirling deathtrap**. - Even seasoned **Gilaari miners** refuse to work during a **glassstorm**, retreating into **shelters carved into stone or sand dunes**.

Drought Cycles

- **Rain is extremely rare** in Zanarak, often not falling for **years at a time**. - When rain does come, it is often **violent and brief**, forming **temporary oases** that quickly vanish. - Some settlements, like Mirajhar, are rumored to have **hidden wells** or knowledge of **underground water sources**.

Unique Weather Phenomena

Beyond its **deadly heat and storms**, Zanarak experiences **rare, mysterious atmospheric events**, shaping both **myth and survival strategies** among its inhabitants.

Mirage Season

- Occurring at **the peak of Zanarak’s heat cycle**, when **air distortions become strongest**. - Entire **phantom cities, illusory lakes, and shifting landmarks** appear, luring travelers to **their doom or to hidden truths.** - Some **Sunshifters** claim that during this season, one can **see visions of the past and future** in the shimmering dunes.

The Sunveil Effect

- A **phenomenon near the Glass Fields**, occurring when the **sun strikes the translucent spires at the perfect angle**. - The desert **glows like liquid gold**, turning the entire region into **a blinding, dreamlike expanse of endless light**. - Travelers caught in this **suffer extreme disorientation**, and some believe it to be **a divine test from Arenam**.

Fire Rains (Rare Ashfall)

- When the **volcanoes of Tahr’Zul erupt**, **fine volcanic ash drifts** over Zanarak, coating the dunes in a **thin layer of black dust**. - This **chokes the air**, making breathing difficult, but also **fertilizes rare desert plant life** that blooms briefly before dying.

Lightning Dunes

- During certain **charged sandstorms**, the **friction of the winds** generates **static discharges**. - This causes **blue-white arcs of lightning** to **dance across the dunes**, creating an eerie and **beautifully dangerous sight**. - Some Sunshifters believe these storms **charge mirage glass with latent power**, making these storms highly sought after by **desert alchemists**.

Impact on Settlements & Survival

To endure **Zanarak’s climate**, settlements and travelers must adapt in **clever and resourceful ways**.

Architecture & Shelter

- **Buildings are often half-buried** in the sand to **retain cool air** and **provide insulation against freezing nights**. - **Glass and obsidian reinforcements** protect structures from **sandstorms and glassstorms**. - **Mirrored rooftops and white stone walls** help **deflect heat away from dwellings**.

Travel & Survival Strategies

- **Movement is timed**—caravans travel **only at dawn or dusk** to **avoid heatstroke**. - **Water is life**—traders value **fresh water above gold**, and settlements **closely guard their wells**. - **Protective clothing**—travelers wear **loose, layered fabrics** to **trap cool air and block the sun**.

"The Desert Burns, the Desert Freezes, the Desert Remains"

A saying among the desert dwellers of Zanarak, symbolizing the **unyielding nature of the sands**—to survive here, one must be **as adaptable as the shifting dunes themselves**.