Fire Plains

The Fire Plains of Yolpika (sometimes Yolpika for short) are a location on the continent of Kytayur on Ucharpli. They are an area at the base of a chain of volcanoes known as the Yolpika Mountains. The area is mostly devoid of ordinary life and hosts an entirely different ecosystem from the rest of the continent.

Geography

Because of the long chain of volcanoes, the sky is blocked with volcanic ash making it eternally dark lit only by the lava on the surface. The ash also makes the land unsuitable for growing ordinary crops, so this area remains uncolonized by the Vaikan although the native Muruu-fai thrive as a tribal society. The terrain tends to be very rugged and unwelcoming to non-native life forms.

The Fire Plains were formed shortly after tectonic activity started coming to a halt. However, the two intersecting continental plates continued to push from one another, going back and forth forming a chain of active volcanoes which constantly spew volcanic ash into the air.

Ecosystem

Arguably, the native life of the Fire Plains is among the most complex compared to the rest of Ucharpli. Fire Plains natives are a rare case of large, multicellular extremophiles that evolved to adapt to both a lack of sunlight and extreme heat. Plant-life is thermosynthetic, harvesting energy from heat rather than sunlight, while animal life will have evolved rock-like skin to shield them from heat currents. However, they have evolved to rely on this heat and will turn to stone if submerged in water. Thus, to keep their biological systems running, they inhale water vapor and steam. For respiration, the creatures have special mechanisms that filter out volcanic ash.

The most common predator is the Fire Demon, a large bipedal gorilla-like creature with vestigial wings. However, the giant winged reptile known as the Northern Yoltox also resides in these mountains, though some of have been spotted as far as Frostwater Hills. The mountains serve as a base for the Yoltox when they fly out to the countryside to the north to feast on livestock.

The intelligent tribe of Muruu-fai lives here as well who share a common ancestor with both the Vaikan and the Muruu-kai. Ash crop is their main source of food, special plants that can absorb volcanic ash and convert it into nutrients.

Another common creature is the Yol'leo, a feline creature with a mane of fire and as well as a fiery whip-like tail. The creature competes with the Fire Demon for top of the food chain.

A common herbivorous creature is the Yolbenta, fiery elephant-camel creatures. While they are often hunted by Fire Demons and Yol'leo, they are considered sacred by the Muruu-fai, and are used as mounts. Yolbenta have a set of two large tusk which produce flames making them an incredibly dangerous opponent.

List of native life forms

Flora

The native flora primarily derives its energy from the nutrient rich soil, but it has also adapted to taking advantage of the extreme heat of the area. Therefore, these plants are thermosynthetic.

• Ash crop - A fruit bearing plant and a common food source among herbivores.
• Rockbark - While it appears as a dead tree, the rockbark is very much alive and actively undergoing transpiration.
• Bloodflower - A flowering plant that is a deep red hence its name. The heat storms that sweep the area frequently carry seeds across the Fire Plains.

Fauna

• Fire Demon - Sharing a distance common ancestor with the Snow Demon, the fire demons of Ucharpli dwell in the underground areas of the Yolpika Mountains. They are gorilla-like creatures and have similar anatomy as the Muruu-fai with fiery rock-like skin. Fire Demons are the main predator of the Fire Plains and the areas beneath.
• Yol'leo - A lion like creature and common predator.
• Yolbenta - A common herbivore. It is a large elephant-camel creature with firey tusks. They are considered a sacred animal by the Muruu-fai.
• Yolkihh - A flying mammalian creature that constantly secretes a flammable protective oil on its skin. The oil, which frequently catches fire, helps to expend the near-constant heat from its body, while the flames serve as a protective shield against predators.
• Floatrock - A crustacean creature that inhabits floating rocks which levitate via intense magnetism.
• Flareflies - Tiny glowing insects which are common prey for the Yolkihh.

Settlements

There is only one known advanced settlement built by ancient Muruu-fai. It is an underground city known as Karzah-dun. The city itself has many lava canals which are used as forges. Because of convection, Vaikan cannot usually enter let alone live in this city. However, with the invention of the pressure suit, Vaikan have begun researching the Muruu-fai and established their own miniature embassies within the city.

One of the city's main attractions is a skeleton of an unknown beast said to have been slain by a hero known as the Cleanser from Afar, a Vaikan explorer who searched all over Islerfia for a way to defeat the warlord Merukor the Deathless. The skeleton on display is said to be the very same one the Cleanser had fought.

History

The creatures of Yolpika are believed to be the oldest life forms in all of Ucharpli predating even the protists that inhabit the deepest oceans. When oceans formed in Ucharpli, oxygen formed on the surface and the creatures of the Fire Plains were born.

When the world was swept by the Great Flood several thousand years ago, the Fire Plains remained untouched due to their high elevation above sea level. In fact, the Fire Plains expanded as a result to a massive earthquake that set off the volcanoes of the Yolpika mountains. Thus, the creatures of the volcano continue to persist.

After the founding of the Drallan Federal Monarchy, the next heir to the throne would be required to cross these mountains from the east to the west coast to prove strength and perseverance.

Mythology

It is believed that the god known as Rhuuz-tih shaped the world of Ucharpli. However, after getting angry at mortals, he scorched southern Kytayur with flames of rage creating the Yolpika Mountains and the desert to the south. However, he also brought to life a new people and ecosystem from the fires.

These mountains serve as a reminder of the wrath of the gods, one of the reasons why Bevelen did not douse this location with water upon flooding the world.