Mors Desert - Biome type: Arid desert with very little flora or fauna.
Vitae Oasis - Biome type: Standard oasis that is arid and humid. Underground spring that feeds an active waterfall.
Elatus Canyon - Biome type: Xeric shrubland, also known as a sagebrush steppe or, more commonly, desert grasslands.
The Day Court - Biome type:
The Mors Desert is the unforgiving half of Solterra, home to little in terms of vegetation or animal life. There are few species that can withstand the relentless heat of the day and the frigid cold of the night. The rolling dunes are almost completely void of life, except for the Sand Vipers, Deathstalker Scorpions, Desert Tortoises, the ever-present Turkey Vultures circling overhead, or the occasional herd of Dorcas Gazelle passing through. However, the closer you get to the Vitae Oasis, the more life can be seen. Not only does the number of animals increase, but Senita Cactus, Octillo shrubs, and Green Ephedra start to speckle the landscape. Date Palms line the edges of the Oasis, providing a little reprieve from the elements. But always be aware: even in the Oasis you are not safe – and the biggest danger, the Sandwyrm, lies directly beneath your feet.
Senita (Pachycereus schottii): A columnar, cluster-forming cactus with olive green flesh and thousands of pale, 4 inch long bristle-like spines near the stem tips, pale pink nocturnal flowers, and bright red edible fruit. The sheer amount of spines on this cactus give it the appearance of being "fuzzy." This cactus can grow to be 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide at the base of the cluster.
Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera): Only found surrounding the Vitae Oasis within the Mors Desert. The Date Palm is a large palm with highly textured tan-brown bark, no additional branches, a furl of stiff palm fronds at the top, and hanging clusters of edible date fruit. Due to the dry climate, the fruit is edible long after it has fallen from the tree - making it an important food source. This palm can grow to be 75 feet tall.
Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera): Only found surrounding the Vitae Oasis within the Mors Desert. The Date Palm is a large palm with highly textured tan-brown bark, no additional branches, a furl of stiff palm fronds at the top, and hanging clusters of edible date fruit. Due to the dry climate, the fruit is edible long after it has fallen from the tree - making it an important food source. This palm can grow to be 75 feet tall.
Green Ephedra (Ephedra viridis): A woody, medium sized shrub with green to yellow twig clusters. It has some herbal qualities, with it working best as a decongestant. It also has some use to relieve headaches, lower fevers, and to alleviate bowel and stomach disorders. In higher doses, it acts as a stimulant and can dangerously increase heart rates - so be careful.
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens): A tall plant with spiny stems, small vibrant ovate leaves, and bright crimson flowers clustered at the tip of mature stems. Ocotillo appears to be a cacti, but it is not. This plant can grow to be 33 feet tall.
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens): A tall plant with spiny stems, small vibrant ovate leaves, and bright crimson flowers clustered at the tip of mature stems. Ocotillo appears to be a cacti, but it is not. This plant can grow to be 33 feet tall.
None.
Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas): A small gazelle with longer than normal ears, strongly curved horns, and pale fawn-colored fur. They form large herds and can grow to be 1 foot tall at the shoulder, and weigh up to 45 pounds.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura): A carnivorous scavenging bird with dark brown to tan feathers, and a bright red, featherless head. They can grow to be 32 inches long, weigh up to 5 pounds, and have a wingspan of up to 72 inches. They have a habit of stalking inhabitants crossing the Mors Desert, in hopes of an easy meal. They will feast upon dying but still living animals that collapse in the desert, effectively eating them alive.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura): A carnivorous scavenging bird with dark brown to tan feathers, and a bright red, featherless head. They can grow to be 32 inches long, weigh up to 5 pounds, and have a wingspan of up to 72 inches. They have a habit of stalking inhabitants crossing the Mors Desert, in hopes of an easy meal. They will feast upon dying but still living animals that collapse in the desert, effectively eating them alive.
Deathstalker Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus): A small venomous scorpion with a distinctive yellow coloration. They are only 1 to 3 inches long, but incredibly venomous for their size. The venom is a mixture of several types of neurotoxins, and is particularly dangerous to foals and the elderly or sick. Rapid muscle necrosis, paralysis, and blood clotting/coagulation occur at the site of the sting.
Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): A medium sized tortoise that spends most of its time in the underground burrows it digs, keeping cool. They grow to be 14 inches long and their shells are a dull brown and tan combination. They can live to be 80 years old.
Sand Viper (Cerastes vipera): A venomous species of viper with speckled tan and brown scales, which make for excellent camouflage in the sands in which they often partially bury themselves. They can grow to be 50 inches long. Their venom is not particularly potent, and generally only fatal to foals and the elderly. In non-fatal common cases, it will cause vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle cramping.
Sandwyrm (Draco harenae): The most massive of all the mythicals within Novus, and probably the most fearsome. As adults, these creatures can grow to unrivaled sizes of 20 plus feet long, weigh up to 2,000 pounds, and live for 80 to 100 years. Juveniles average roughly 5 to 10 feet long, but even though they are smaller, they are no less of a threat. Their legless, serpent/lindwurm-like body features smooth scales and a heavily ridged flat-top spine. Their eyes are small, set deep into their skulls, lidded, and have poor vision. A tapered, thin-nosed snout allows them to easily bury themselves into the sand, although their jaws are littered with large, serrated, backwards-facing teeth. In fact, their jaws built like many snakes - with front portion of their lower jaws only connected by a highly flexible tendon. This evolutionary feature gives them the ability to 'split' and expand their jaws to swallow prey bigger than their own head. To assist in this, their throat is deeper than the rest of their body, and features a specialized, expandable pouch. Lining their head, from their temples down to their lower jaw, are several rough-textured spines connected by a durable membrane. These bony protrusions have the ability to flare out, much like a frilled lizard, or fold down to lay flat against their neck while navigating the sands. When underneath the desert, they use an undulating motion to move quickly and effortlessly - meaning that they can outrun (or is it outswim?) most prey species. Hunting prey by infrared sensing, Sandwyrms are highly territorial, hypercarnivorous, and truly the last ones that you want to stumble upon while traversing the desert. And should you have the misfortune of doing so, your only real hope is to keep incredibly still..
Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): A medium sized tortoise that spends most of its time in the underground burrows it digs, keeping cool. They grow to be 14 inches long and their shells are a dull brown and tan combination. They can live to be 80 years old.
Sand Viper (Cerastes vipera): A venomous species of viper with speckled tan and brown scales, which make for excellent camouflage in the sands in which they often partially bury themselves. They can grow to be 50 inches long. Their venom is not particularly potent, and generally only fatal to foals and the elderly. In non-fatal common cases, it will cause vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle cramping.
Sandwyrm (Draco harenae): The most massive of all the mythicals within Novus, and probably the most fearsome. As adults, these creatures can grow to unrivaled sizes of 20 plus feet long, weigh up to 2,000 pounds, and live for 80 to 100 years. Juveniles average roughly 5 to 10 feet long, but even though they are smaller, they are no less of a threat. Their legless, serpent/lindwurm-like body features smooth scales and a heavily ridged flat-top spine. Their eyes are small, set deep into their skulls, lidded, and have poor vision. A tapered, thin-nosed snout allows them to easily bury themselves into the sand, although their jaws are littered with large, serrated, backwards-facing teeth. In fact, their jaws built like many snakes - with front portion of their lower jaws only connected by a highly flexible tendon. This evolutionary feature gives them the ability to 'split' and expand their jaws to swallow prey bigger than their own head. To assist in this, their throat is deeper than the rest of their body, and features a specialized, expandable pouch. Lining their head, from their temples down to their lower jaw, are several rough-textured spines connected by a durable membrane. These bony protrusions have the ability to flare out, much like a frilled lizard, or fold down to lay flat against their neck while navigating the sands. When underneath the desert, they use an undulating motion to move quickly and effortlessly - meaning that they can outrun (or is it outswim?) most prey species. Hunting prey by infrared sensing, Sandwyrms are highly territorial, hypercarnivorous, and truly the last ones that you want to stumble upon while traversing the desert. And should you have the misfortune of doing so, your only real hope is to keep incredibly still..
None.
Vitae Oasis - Biome type: Standard oasis that is arid and humid. Underground spring that feeds an active waterfall.
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Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera): Only found surrounding the Vitae Oasis within the Mors Desert. The Date Palm is a large palm with highly textured tan-brown bark, no additional branches, a furl of stiff palm fronds at the top, and hanging clusters of edible date fruit. Due to the dry climate, the fruit is edible long after it has fallen from the tree - making it an important food source. This palm can grow to be 75 feet tall.
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Elatus Canyon - Biome type: Xeric shrubland, also known as a sagebrush steppe or, more commonly, desert grasslands.
Elatus Canyon is a xeric shrubland, populated by sand and intermittent patches of vegetation. Unlike how the Mors Desert is devoid of most life, the canyon is teeming with it. Utah Juniper, Velvet Mesquite, Whitethorn Acacia, and Fan Palm trees litter the landscape. Smaller plant life – such as Desert Lavender and Octillo shrubs, Indigo Bushes, and the Sacret Datura flowers – decorate the sand alongside Nightdew Agave, Mohave Yucca, Prickly Pear, and Beavertail cacti. The canyon inhabitants – Desert Bighorn Sheep, Dorcas Gazelle, Rüppell's fox, and the Northern Ground Hornbill – are well equipped to survive the harsh, arid climate. However, despite the Canyon being slightly more sustainable than its neighboring desert, it is not without its risk. Particularly fearless packs of African Wild Dogs roam the sands, the massive Elder Teryr soars the skies, and hiding within plain sight are Gila Monsters and Great Basin Rattlesnakes. Tread carefully.
Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris): A small cactus with numerous relatively small pads/nopales, which has bright pink flowers atop them and are covered in glochids (small barbed bristles) instead of spines.
Chenille Prickly Pear (Opuntia aciculata): A medium-sized, clustered cactus covered in multitudes of clustered spines and glochids (small barbed bristles), with red-orange flowers at the tip of each stem. Aside from the spines, the fruit and soft pads/nopales are edible.
Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera): A palm tree with gray-tan highly textured bark, no branches diverging from the main trunk, large fronds (which can grow to be 13 feet long), and a skirt of dead fronds underneath living ones. This tree can grow to be 60 feet tall.
Mohave Yucca (Yucca schidigera): A small tree with gray-brown bark, a dense crown of spiraling bayonet-like leaves (with brown dead leaves underneath), white bell-shaped flowers atop the stem, and cylindrical edible berries. This tree grows to be 16 feet tall.
Nightdew Agave (Agave candentis): A large succulent within the Agave family, the base of this plant resembles the spiny bushel of the Agave Ovatifolia. It has barbed, acuminate shaped leaves - oval at the base, tapering to a long, thin point that is as sharp as it is long. Out of the center of this is the exceptionally tall inflorescence. All along the inflorescence's stalk, are small little pockets within the stem itself. When the Nightdew begins to produce flower buds, they are nestled into these little pockets - dormant throughout the day, and blooming only at night. The peach-colored flowers themselves are as magnificent as they are useful, and unique in the sense that they feature two different types of petals on the same flower. The inner circle of the flower resembles the tiger daylily, with linear curved petals and prominent stamens and carpels. Cradling the base of the inner circle is a ring of pink petals that look strikingly similar to a carnation's petals. What is most amazing about these flowers is not only their looks, but their beneficial properties - they act as a stimulant when eaten, and can provide extra stamina boosts to those who are ailing, ill, or plan on traversing across the Mors Desert. Additionally, the flowers seem to produce a decent bit of nectar that has a mild bioluminescent property.
Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma): A relatively small shrub-like tree with iconic twisting trunks, gnarled bark, and olive green, scale-like leaves. It can grow to be 20 feet tall.
Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina): A medium sized, deciduous perennial legume tree with widely diverging branches, brown bark with a shredded texture, yellow branch thorns, bipinnately compound leaves that fold up at dark, yellow catkin flowers and edible seedpods. This tree can grow to be 30 feet tall.
Whitethorn Acacia (Vachellia constricta): A shrub-like tree with thin mahogany-gray stems/trunk, even-pinnate leaves, seed pods, and yellow ball-like flowers. This tree can grow to be 6.5 feet tall.
Chenille Prickly Pear (Opuntia aciculata): A medium-sized, clustered cactus covered in multitudes of clustered spines and glochids (small barbed bristles), with red-orange flowers at the tip of each stem. Aside from the spines, the fruit and soft pads/nopales are edible.
Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera): A palm tree with gray-tan highly textured bark, no branches diverging from the main trunk, large fronds (which can grow to be 13 feet long), and a skirt of dead fronds underneath living ones. This tree can grow to be 60 feet tall.
Mohave Yucca (Yucca schidigera): A small tree with gray-brown bark, a dense crown of spiraling bayonet-like leaves (with brown dead leaves underneath), white bell-shaped flowers atop the stem, and cylindrical edible berries. This tree grows to be 16 feet tall.
Nightdew Agave (Agave candentis): A large succulent within the Agave family, the base of this plant resembles the spiny bushel of the Agave Ovatifolia. It has barbed, acuminate shaped leaves - oval at the base, tapering to a long, thin point that is as sharp as it is long. Out of the center of this is the exceptionally tall inflorescence. All along the inflorescence's stalk, are small little pockets within the stem itself. When the Nightdew begins to produce flower buds, they are nestled into these little pockets - dormant throughout the day, and blooming only at night. The peach-colored flowers themselves are as magnificent as they are useful, and unique in the sense that they feature two different types of petals on the same flower. The inner circle of the flower resembles the tiger daylily, with linear curved petals and prominent stamens and carpels. Cradling the base of the inner circle is a ring of pink petals that look strikingly similar to a carnation's petals. What is most amazing about these flowers is not only their looks, but their beneficial properties - they act as a stimulant when eaten, and can provide extra stamina boosts to those who are ailing, ill, or plan on traversing across the Mors Desert. Additionally, the flowers seem to produce a decent bit of nectar that has a mild bioluminescent property.
Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma): A relatively small shrub-like tree with iconic twisting trunks, gnarled bark, and olive green, scale-like leaves. It can grow to be 20 feet tall.
Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina): A medium sized, deciduous perennial legume tree with widely diverging branches, brown bark with a shredded texture, yellow branch thorns, bipinnately compound leaves that fold up at dark, yellow catkin flowers and edible seedpods. This tree can grow to be 30 feet tall.
Whitethorn Acacia (Vachellia constricta): A shrub-like tree with thin mahogany-gray stems/trunk, even-pinnate leaves, seed pods, and yellow ball-like flowers. This tree can grow to be 6.5 feet tall.
Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi): A perennial shrub with multiple stems, hairy white-gray-green oval leaves, and petite lavender flowers. It is incredibly fragrant, and a favorite of honeybees. This plant can grow to be 18 feet tall.
Indigo Bush (Psorothamnus fremontii): A perennial shrub with thin branches exhibiting spiny tips, vivid purple flowers, hairy gray-green leaves, and legume seedpods. This plant can grow to be 5 feet tall.
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens): A tall plant with spiny stems, small vibrant ovate leaves, and bright crimson flowers clustered at the tip of mature stems. Ocotillo appears to be a cacti, but it is not. This plant can grow to be 33 feet tall.
Indigo Bush (Psorothamnus fremontii): A perennial shrub with thin branches exhibiting spiny tips, vivid purple flowers, hairy gray-green leaves, and legume seedpods. This plant can grow to be 5 feet tall.
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens): A tall plant with spiny stems, small vibrant ovate leaves, and bright crimson flowers clustered at the tip of mature stems. Ocotillo appears to be a cacti, but it is not. This plant can grow to be 33 feet tall.
Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii): A medium sized, low to the ground perennial flowering plant with dark green tapered leaves, globular seed pods that are small and spiny, and sweetly fragrant white trumpet-style flowers. The leaves, seed pods, flower, and roots - all parts of this plant - are considered extremely toxic, and can be fatal if ingested. It can cause seizures, visual and auditory hallucinations (which can last for days), severe disorientation, and trouble breathing, speaking, or seeing.
African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus): A medium to large sized hypercarnivorous canine, unmistakable due to its signature brown, tan, and white splotched coat with outsized ears. They can grow to be 30 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh up to 65 pounds. Initially, these dogs don't seem like a particular threat - but when you evaluate how they work as a large pack, running prey to exhaustion, you might be tempted to change your opinion on them. Despite their not so imposing size, they do pose a significant risk to the inhabitants of Novus. Their packs consist of 10 individuals on average, but can be as large as 30. They are beyond fearless, and will take on prey much larger than they are.
Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni): A stocky, heavy-bodied sheep with signature curving horns on both sexes. They are adept at climbing up steep, rocky terrain and cliff sides. They are similar in size to a mule deer, and can weigh as much as 280 pounds. They pose no massive threat to the inhabitants of Novus, but will charge if threatened, protecting young, or rutting. They regularly feast on the local cacti and form herds of 10 plus individuals.
Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas): A small gazelle with longer than normal ears, strongly curved horns, and pale fawn-colored fur. They form large herds and can grow to be 1 foot tall at the shoulder, and weigh up to 45 pounds.
Elder Teryr (Quetzalcoatlus aquila): A massive beast second only to the Sandwyrm, Solterra truly does seem to have it out for its inhabitants. The Elder Teryr can grow to be 15 feet tall and weigh 300 pounds. A relative of the Quetzalcoatlus, this long-necked predator can traverse both the ground or skies. Their wing pollex has a well-developed, talon-bearing foot which takes the place of front legs for when they take to land. Their body's feathers closely match that of a Philippine Eagle, with white-and-brown barred and a distinctive underbelly of white-golden feathers. All along their expansive necks, they have a crest of white-and-brown barred feathers that has the ability to be raised or lowered, depending on mood and communication needs. The beaks of this massive predator are long, blue in hue, and feature a grand casque closest to the eyes. The edges of this impressive casque is jagged, and will flush with vibrant blues and reds during mating season. This dinosaur-bird predator is highly carnivorous, and isn't afraid to try and pick off large prey from the land.
Northern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus): A large, mostly terrestrial hornbill with black body feathers, white primary feathers, long black bill with a similarly-colored casque on top of it, blue headskin, and a red inflatable patch of skin on their throats. They can grow to be 43 inches long, 39 inches tall, and weigh up to 9 pounds. They feed on insects, reptiles, small vertebrates, seeds, fruit, and carrion. They walk mostly everywhere, and only take to the skies when startled or in danger.
Rüppell's Fox (Vulpes rueppellii): A small, large-eared fox species that is reddish along the spine and around their eyes, with the color fading down their sides into gray and then eventually to a sandy color on their underbody. They can grow to be 30 inches long and weigh on average 4 pounds. Their fur is not particularly long, but their tail is plush and almost as long as the rest of their body.
Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni): A stocky, heavy-bodied sheep with signature curving horns on both sexes. They are adept at climbing up steep, rocky terrain and cliff sides. They are similar in size to a mule deer, and can weigh as much as 280 pounds. They pose no massive threat to the inhabitants of Novus, but will charge if threatened, protecting young, or rutting. They regularly feast on the local cacti and form herds of 10 plus individuals.
Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas): A small gazelle with longer than normal ears, strongly curved horns, and pale fawn-colored fur. They form large herds and can grow to be 1 foot tall at the shoulder, and weigh up to 45 pounds.
Elder Teryr (Quetzalcoatlus aquila): A massive beast second only to the Sandwyrm, Solterra truly does seem to have it out for its inhabitants. The Elder Teryr can grow to be 15 feet tall and weigh 300 pounds. A relative of the Quetzalcoatlus, this long-necked predator can traverse both the ground or skies. Their wing pollex has a well-developed, talon-bearing foot which takes the place of front legs for when they take to land. Their body's feathers closely match that of a Philippine Eagle, with white-and-brown barred and a distinctive underbelly of white-golden feathers. All along their expansive necks, they have a crest of white-and-brown barred feathers that has the ability to be raised or lowered, depending on mood and communication needs. The beaks of this massive predator are long, blue in hue, and feature a grand casque closest to the eyes. The edges of this impressive casque is jagged, and will flush with vibrant blues and reds during mating season. This dinosaur-bird predator is highly carnivorous, and isn't afraid to try and pick off large prey from the land.
Northern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus): A large, mostly terrestrial hornbill with black body feathers, white primary feathers, long black bill with a similarly-colored casque on top of it, blue headskin, and a red inflatable patch of skin on their throats. They can grow to be 43 inches long, 39 inches tall, and weigh up to 9 pounds. They feed on insects, reptiles, small vertebrates, seeds, fruit, and carrion. They walk mostly everywhere, and only take to the skies when startled or in danger.
Rüppell's Fox (Vulpes rueppellii): A small, large-eared fox species that is reddish along the spine and around their eyes, with the color fading down their sides into gray and then eventually to a sandy color on their underbody. They can grow to be 30 inches long and weigh on average 4 pounds. Their fur is not particularly long, but their tail is plush and almost as long as the rest of their body.
Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum): A venomous (albeit sluggish) species of lizard, easily identified by its distinctive reticulated black and orange-/red-tan pattern and bead-like scales. They can grow to be 2 feet long and weigh up to 2 pounds. Its body is thick and stout, with a heavy head and tail. They can be mostly found in burrows, or under rocks and other shelter, but will often venture out to immerse themselves in puddles after rain. They are carnivorous, but not adept hunters - they will eat small birds, mammals, lizards, eggs, and insects, in addition to carrion. The mildly neurotoxic venom is produced in their lower jaw's salivary glands. They have no fangs to inject said venom, but rather "chew" it into the victim's wounds. Most bites are not fatal to healthy adults. However, victims will experience excruciating pain and edema at the bite, and general weakness.
Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus): A venomous rattlesnake with a distinctive color: on their topside, dark brown with intermittent tan bands; on their underside, heavy tan and brown banding. They can grow to be 40 to 65 inches long and weigh up to 1.5 pounds. Their venom is neurotoxic, causing rapid muscle necrosis, paralysis, and severe blood clotting/coagulation.
Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus): A venomous rattlesnake with a distinctive color: on their topside, dark brown with intermittent tan bands; on their underside, heavy tan and brown banding. They can grow to be 40 to 65 inches long and weigh up to 1.5 pounds. Their venom is neurotoxic, causing rapid muscle necrosis, paralysis, and severe blood clotting/coagulation.
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The Day Court - Biome type:
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