Biomes & Locations

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Biomes & Locations General ➥ Caves Hot ➥ Desert ➥ Tropical Forest Moderate ➥ Prairie/Savanna ➥ Swamp ➥ Chaparral Cool ➥ Deciduous Forest ➥ Conifer Forest Cold ➥ Alpine ➥ Tundra ➥ Arctic Exploration and you... While the village of Blackway is the center of casual activity, exploration and research are still the two most important trades to maintaining the livelihoods of the citizens there. The planet has many biomes to be searched and only a fraction of the terrain has been thoroughly recorded. Many archeological sites are overgrown, damaged, rotted away if they were wooden, and some were even build underground. New discoveries are constantly being made, both in general exploration and excavating sites that have already been discovered. The terrain has been a good place to hide illegal merchandise, too, the dangers discouraging common researchers from treading into certain areas that would have been "uninhabitable" or too harsh for the old civilization to build homes in. This page will be updated as new areas and locations are mentioned in plots and news reports. For creature locations, see the fauna page. Caves The whole planet is riddled with an extensive cave system. Some are natural caves, but others were clearly artificially constructed tunnels dug out by the lost alien inhabitants. The caves often hold many valuable artifacts, but also attract criminals and smugglers to serve as clandestine hideouts. Spawners Spawner #001 Spawner #002 Structures Subterranean Library #012 Desert There are many deserts on the continents of Quadratus. The very hottest of the hot deserts can see temperatures as high as 134F (57C), although temperatures that hot are fairly rare. In the summer temperatures average between 116F (46C) to 88F(31C). In the winter, the temperature range is 70F (19C) to 40F (4C). There is very little water, so explorers should remember to pack plenty to drink for their expedition and/or bring a guide adept in desert survival. The main dangers of desert exploration are heat, water scarcity, dust storms, flash floods. Sunset Canyon Sunset Canyon was once a secluded place for the ancient priests. No remnants of villages can be found in the sandstone area, but the red rock walls house many temples. They’ve been difficult to discover due to their reclusive locations, but their beautiful and elaborate contents are a joy to behold- and they’re coveted as well. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. The Desolation This giant salt flat was once an inland sea before time and heat evaporated away all the water over millions of years. The fossils of giant sea monsters can sometimes be found in the flats and the high winds in the region sometimes push rocks across the ground, leaving tracks in the salt in their wake. Little to be found in the way of civilization or even flora here. Somehow the spiders even find this part of the world, and at night aggressors roam freely across the landscape. Which can be a little entertaining when they run into one of the painful and dangerous cacti. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Old Ghost Road This natural pass through a mountain range is said to be haunted by the spirits of the first team of explorers in the area, who contacted base one morning and reported in saying that all was well and they were going to cross the pass and were never heard from again. As the team was comprised primarily of conservation biologists and geologists, the tales say that the ghosts are particularly aggressive towards those who litter, disturb the ecosystem, or try to steal any of the valuable minerals in the area, and at least one will steal your glasses. There are old “ghost towns” here, with cactus forests that are difficult and dangerous to navigate in some places. Caution is encouraged. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Tropical Forest The tropical rain forests are lush, wet, and hot in the summer, warm in the winter. Average temperatures are high of 93F (34C) and a low of 74F (23C) in the summer months. In the winter the high temperatures are 76F (24C) and a low of 53F (12C). The underbrush is thick and dense, so exploration teams should expect to have to cut their way through. The main dangers of tropical explorations are heat, floods, occasional cyclones. The Tower of the Sun The beautiful and alluring golden pillar has been lusted after by explorers for some time. This tall, impressive monument thrusts boldly towards the sky, making all those that look upon it flush and swoon. Or so legend says- one or two people claim to have seen it, but lost track of it. It is known to exist from records, but no solid, hard evidence of it’s magnificence has ever been positively identified. Note: Can not be modded and assumptions made of it. Prairie/Savanna This biome exists in a broad range of latitudes. Temperatures are extremely variable and can be quite hot in the summer up to 100F (38C) and well below freezing in the winter. The main dangers of grassland exploration are high winds, thunderstorms/lightning strikes, wildfire, tornadoes. Southerland A rare flower grows here, which, when eaten, gives the person who ate it a temporary, random, and largely useless (sometimes inconvenient and embarrassing) power, like the ability to guide beasts like the pied piper or to see through wood and only wood. The effect wears off between 1-3 days after ingestion. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Swamp The primary dangers of swamp exploration are drowning and, more rarely, suffocation from methane gas if one chooses a campsite poorly. A very very rare hazard is the spontaneous combustion of methane swamp gas trapped below the surface. The Witches’ Den Rumors that people of great power once lived here. There are more old villages than temples, most of the houses tarnished, their contents gone. Large metal cauldrons can be found at odd locations, far from any place where actual people would have lived, and odd lights can be seen at night. If you’re out in the swamp and hear a wet, slapping noise, you should run. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Chaparral The chaparral biome is a coastal scrub brush ecosystem on the western edges of continents. Summers are hot, with temperatures at 100F (37.5C) and winters are mild at 50F (10C). Most of the rain comes in the winter, so during the hot and dry summer months there is a high risk of wildfire. When a wildfire comes to a chaparral biome, it is particularly intense. So explorers, be very careful with your campfires. Deciduous Forest Deciduous forests, if not moderated by a west coast marine wind, have warm summers and chilly winters. The summers can get to 95F (35C) and sometimes humid besides, with winters below freezing. In the winter icestorms, snow and sleet are common. The greatest dangers of deciduous forest exploration are hailstorms and blizzards in the colder season and occasional cyclones or thunderstorms in the warmer season. Hounds Hollow Stories say that an unusually aggressive pack of hounds lives in a hollow, lead by a mated pair of pure white Hounds. The legend says that they’re guarding something, but what they’re guarding and where it’s located is a mystery. Some people say it’s a treasure hoard, and conspiracy theorists claim it’s a deadly spawner which, if activated, would spawn destruction upon the world. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it in regards to the hounds and the location, but not what the guarded object is. Conifer Forest Conifer forests are somewhat colder than deciduous forests, occurring at either higher elevations or higher latitudes. Summers are pleasant, rarely getting above 85F (29.5C), but winters are often extremely snowy with temperatures usually below freezing. The dangers of conifer forest exploration are forest fires in the hotter and drier months, and cold temperatures in the winter months. The Fingers The Fingers is a giant granite cliff face, eroded on the top into a series of finger-like turrets. Some people say that from a certain angle, it looks like it’s giving people the finger. This might be nature giving a statement to anyone who wants to attempt to climb this sheer rock face. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Forest of Forgotten Shadows This dark section of forest causes complete memory loss of the history and identity of whomever ventures in (people suspect an abundance of cave spiders far beneath the terrain that manage to make it above land more frequently than in most areas). The effects are temporary, fortunately, and wear off quickly once you leave the forest. But sometimes getting out is difficult when you can’t remember how you got in. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Alpine The alpine biome is the cold, high altitude ecosystem of mountain tops. In the summer average temperatures range from 60F to 40F (15.5C to 4.5C). In the winter the temperature remains well below freezing day and night. Glaciers can be found at the highest elevations. The main dangers are hypothermia from the cold and altitude sickness. Species with lungs are advised not to teleport directly from a low elevation location to an Alpine biome, but rather teleport to the foothills and hike up gradually to allow time to accommodate for the reduced oxygen and lower atmospheric pressure. In winter, avalanches are also a danger. The White Guardian Otherwise crudely known as "Frigid Bitch Peak", this mountain has caused the deaths of a number of explorers. The caves under it are one of the favorite meeting places of the Blood Pack, because the climate is so inhospitable that invaders are discouraged (though only members of the Blood Pack itself know this. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Valley of Shrouds High in the mountains, in the crevasses of the misty peaks is a particular valley where the fog possesses a peculiar property. All who enter its white veil lose all inhibition and act raucously, deliriously drunk. The effect and duration is the same regardless of species, or even whether the person is alive, undead, biological, or artificial. It is not something inhaled, and gasmasks or holding your breath (or being a species that doesn’t need to breath) does not stop its intoxicating properties. So far no one has determined what causes it, but there are people in the Black Sun Syndicate who would dearly like to know so that they can bottle it and sell it. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Tundra Summer daytime temperatures are around 50F (10C) and winter temperatures can reach a brutal -50F (-45.5C). Because of the high latitude of tundra biomes, in summer the days are very long, and in winter the days are practically non-existent. The aurora glow in the sky is very impressive, though. The greatest dangers of tundra exploration are cold temperatures. Northerland In this area, explorers have reported hearing singing. There are no inhabitants in the region and no one has yet determined where the singing comes from, or indeed whether it is real at all or merely a trick of the wind that the explorers’ minds interpret as song. Note: Can be modded and assumptions made of it. Arctic At its warmest, this region might see temperatures as high as 50F (10C). Winter temperatures can get as low as −90F (-68C). It is strongly advised that explores not travel to the polar regions in winter, unless the team is comprised of native ice planet dwellers. The greatest dangers here are cold temperature and ice breaking underfoot. The Badlands DON’T GO THERE IT’S REAL COLD Navigation