CAUTION

While the Jurkoon Desert is renowned as a dangerous region, folk will occasionally risk a journey across the dunes if absolutely necessary—or if utter desperation takes hold. The Jetta Deep, on the other hand, is to be avoided entirely. The neighbouring territory has a foreboding reputation thanks to the menacing creatures lurking beneath the surface—the Massuki. These huge, subterranean beasts are widely feared and deter potential travellers. Their very presence makes the idea of crossing the red waste a reckless, almost unthinkable notion. Any attempt would quickly become a one-way trip.

APPEARANCE

Hemmed between the rugged slopes of the Moritano Mountains and the scorching sands of the Jurkoon Desert, the Jetta Deep covers a vast area. Every inch is perilous. The sun beats down continually onto a dusty, red clay surface. Cracks and ancient riverbeds criss-cross the land, while a few rocky regions and expansive ridges break up the scenery. Rainfall here is a rare sight, and the air is permeated with a metallic tang produced by the rich iron deposits found in the earth. It is the iron that gives the clay a unique, reddish tone, although many would whisper a more gruesome, bloody tale of how the land gained its distinctive, scarlet shade.

INHABITANTS

Despite the harsh environment and lack of vegetation, a few creatures still manage to flourish here. Cherry Voles are perhaps the ultimate example of how to survive the Jetta Deep. These slender, durable rodents dig deep burrows to escape the heat of the day. They emerge at night to feast on beetles and moths. Cushioned paws allow the voles to roam and forage without producing any sound. This evolutionary masterstroke makes them almost undetectable to the Massuki—the apex predator of the region.

ROBUST

Granite Ants are another success story. While colonies can reach unimaginable numbers, individually, the ants are too small to be of any interest to the Massuki and are entirely overlooked. To other creatures, however, Granite Ants are a deadly menace. Soldier ants can grow two inches in length and possess powerful jaws. They spray potent acid from their abdomens, capable of dissolving even the toughest body armour. Their bodies are extraordinarily resilient too. The ants can comfortably survive a firm boot or hoof—granite by name, granite by nature.

Nests house up to eight queens and can extend for a quarter mile beneath the sprawling Jetta Deep. The soaring red towers of the Granite Ants are truly breathtaking. Each colony creates a thirty-foot tower from clay. The structure sets as hard as stone, with innovative vents carved into the exterior to draw heat from within. Colonies are fiercely protective, leading to frequent skirmishes between rival nests. During these hostilities, the surface can appear to shift and ripple due to the sheer number of Granite Ants battling for dominance.