Coarse Sea

The **Coarse Sea** (**Grusal Rama** in Gnarlish) is an enormous desert behind the Sand Shield Mountains which spreads across most of the southern continent. Most of it is uninhabitable and barren, but between the dunes there are small areas of hospitable land, which look islands in a sea. In the centre of the coarse sea stands a giant magnetised rock formation known as the Stone of Anthem, which dune-shippers use to navigate the treacherous waves with.

Life in the Coarse Sea is sparse, and mostly lives of each other. The coasts are covered in small Sandberry bushes. Father from the coast circle Sand Sharks looking for adventures that try to walk it. And in the depths of the desert gigantic Death Worms can be found, some of which are used by Chupacabras as transport and housing.

## Transportation

Scorching hot and barren, only a fool would think about travelling across the Coarse Sea bare footed and most folks use the harsh winds to cross the sandy waves on dune-ships instead. Small parties might cross the desert with help Sand-Botters, while larger cooperation use huge Tri-fan Galleons to transport their goods between the settlements on the coasts and inside the Coarse Sea. One of the most sprawling and booming of these settlements is the sandport city of Scorch Gate.

## Climate

Sandstorm in the Coarse Sea

The Coarse Sea is a hot, dry desert where temperatures during the day can reach up to 50 °C. During the night temperatures drop to 10 °C. The weather is overall sunny with some times a cloud in the sky. Rainfall is barely available in the Coarse Sea due to the Sandshield Mountain blocking most rain clouds from entering.

The winds are harsh and sharp, these winds can sometimes expand so fast that they create huge sandstorms.

## Geographical features

Despite being a large sandy desert the Coarse Sea has some variety in its landscape. There are large rocky formations with stick out above the sand. These islands are of primary interested for travellers, because there usually is a small amount of water to be found here with small plant growth and some animal life.

Furthermore the Coarse Sea contains some underground aquifers dotted around it's landscape. A good way to find underground aquifers is to search for oases. The oases are usually found in lower lying areas where rain from long ago can be found. Often when dug deeper an aquifer can be found.

Another important landscape feature found are the salt flats. The salt flats are rich in many metallic and non-metallic resources. Consisting of rich salt deposits and many metallic ores, for example: iron, copper and onyx. These valuable ores are mined and shipped towards Scorch Gate, where they either get manufactured into jewellery or the minerals get transported further into Sahul proper.

### Regions

The Coarse Sea is divided in different geographical regions.

* Desolate Stretch
	+ A large flat rocky area located in the east of the Coarse Sea. Considered by many to be one of the most dangerous areas of the Coarse Sea. There are barely any large rocky hills to navigate with, making it easy to get turned around and lost in the desert.

### Geographical Landmarks

* Soseti Rocks
	+ The Soseti Rocks are a series of recognisable rocks located in the western part of the Coarse Sea between Chaman and Scorch Gate.
* Stone of Anthem
	+ A stone formation located in the rough centre of the Coarse Sea. Creates a magnetic influence which the Anthem Compass can detect.

## Settlements

Few settlements can be found in the Coarse Sea, if you could even call them that. Nonetheless these are to be considered the most civilised places in the desolate lands of the Coarse Sea. Most places are located near the Sandshield Mountains but few are found deeper inwards.

* Awis
	+ Awis lies deep within the Coarse Sea and is the primary route stop for any traveller seeking out the stone of Anthem.
* Camp Araq
	+ A place one does not want to find. Camp Araq is considered by many to be the most well guarded prison in Sahul.
* Chaman
	+ The main entry for many pirates into the Coarse Sea. Located in a pass of the Sandshield Mountains in Koiturland.
* Forts of Scorch Gate
	+ A series of forts guarding the city of Scorch Gate. The forts of Scorch Gate are mostly welcoming to weary travellers and are the first sign of either reaching or leaving civilisation.
* Hazar Monastery
	+ The Hazar Monastery is a reclusive monastery located deep within the Coarse Sea. Hiding between rocks this place is dedicated to the worship of the sun Wuriun.
* Scorch Gate
	+ The gateway to the Coarse Sea, while technically not lying in this hostile desert it is still part of its daily life. Most trade flows from and to here and so do many travellers seeking out the Stone of Anthem or adventure.
* Temple of the Anubites
	+ The Temple of the Anubites is a ruin of a once dedicated to the goddess Jaci, it lies abandoned for 1000 years and its location is lost with time.