The Divides

The Divides is a series of colossal mountains called the Great Peaks and gaping chasms called the Depth Canyons. The Great Peaks, on average, reach altitudes 15 miles high. The Depth Canyons, on average, drop as far as 17 miles on average, with the most extreme known of 24 miles at the Reach. The development of the Divides is almost certainly connected to violent tectonic movements generated by the extremely active Bo-Sera core.

Travel across the Divides is extremely difficult and impossible on foot. Only through Controlled High Orbit Rocket Escape (CHORE) flight can humans traverse through the dangerous terrain. Conventional commercial flight even over the Depth Canyons proves completely unreliable, as navigational instruments fail for unknown reasons, and unpredictable wind and weather patterns develop from the wide and deep ravines.

Unlike most near-habitable planets, Bo-Sera has no oceans between continents, only the Divides. The climate and weather of the Divides are only recently understood by Gretican satellites to be tumultuous. Months-long blizzards, tornadoes the size of hurricanes, wild-fires that stretch entire mountain ranges, volcanic eruptions, regular earthquakes, and hailstorms of apocalyptic scale are the standard for the Divides.

The Seratans, Nilurans, and Thalumians are unaware of any human population in the Divides. However, far to the north of Nilur in the arctic is a native tribe called the Ool'ooma'kalaka, or Oolkala. They are a resilient people and have not changed their ways or been in contact with the greater world for many thousands of years. They rely on traditional hunting methods for whale and have domesticated the Roomfraka polar bear as both a pack and mount animal.

Within a stretch of land between Thalume and Serata, known as the Western Expanse, there is an extremely primitive, ferocious, and terrifying collection of humans. They have no name or known culture, and their existence is completely unknown to any of the three primary continents.

Deep within the Great Peeks, inaccessible by any means, are massive deposits of dirul, gravium, and irilumium, along with an abundance of other precious and hard minerals. Within the Depth Canyons is a unique rock, currently undiscovered. The origins of the mineral are other-worldly.

The mysteries of the Divides are the source of fear and reverence, sometimes resentment and challenge. Tall tales, folklore, legends, myths, adventurer dreams and follies, failed expeditions, and scientific and religious speculation are the result of their power and awe.