Kusao

Kusao is the land of the Phax, a scorpion-like species of person seen rarely by the remainder of society due to their strange methods of communication.

Kusao is a region of massive canyon networks dug into Kyenel’s face. Kusao remains a desert but often gets harsh showers during somewhat predictable stormy periods. Mothdao

Geography

Kusao’s canyons make the rock layers of Kusao and Kyenel very readable. There sits from 400-800km of uniform softer sandstone on top of a more traditional geological layout.

The primary geological feature in Kusao is the pediment, not the canyon. These pediments are formed by several, highly pure and nutrient-rich water sources throughout Kusao. These sources appear somewhat miraculously at Kusao’s edges, and are unexplained.

The pediment valleys are usually named after the river running through them. These valleys are the cradle of Kusao’s life. Phax irrigation structure captures and distributes water across the entire pediment valley, sustaining massive Phax cities and Kusao civilisation.

The limited land use means Phax farms need to be highly productive rice and soy. The Phax, although evolved more carnivorous, have adapted to the high-population vegan lifestyle.

The canyon plateaus are rocky and somewhat tall. The plateaus vary from about 300m to 800m tall. These plateaus are completely dry, with any of the storm rain that hits them falling down the canyon, forming the pediments. A few plants manage to live on the plateau. The only real settlements that exist up on the plateau are temporary encampments and some cultural sites, as well as fringe Phax groups

Scattered across Kusao underground caverns. These caverns are often large enough to fit small settlements on their floor, which they do. These caverns are the homes to the often never seen Gofophax, who cultivate their society based on the several luscious species of subterranean plant

Geologically, it is understood that these caves were formed by tectonic activity and a bit of water phenomena. The ceilings are often the sandstone seen as the main rock layer all over Kusao, while the floor has a thin layer of shale and other hard rocks. There are sometimes ancient cities in the caverns. #

The rivers that flow into Kusao come from “source caves”. They are decorated cliff faces like Petra in Jordan. There are small areas inside of the caves, but following the river up only leads to an un-navigable sprawl of water tunnels. These water tunnels are dangerous to traverse and have a constant flow of water that’s been running for as long as society can remember.

Valley of Life

The Valley of Life is a wide and shallow area at the end of the rest of the canyon valleys, It is an accumulation of all the water, and a changing of the water’s direction to the east towards Rahoamor. Geographically and bioculturally, it is identical to a rich valley on its inside, and a dry valley closer to the canyon walls. Its only distinguishing feature is its width. It is a massive agricultural centre.

Fauna

Character Animal: Dytwels Cat

The Dytwels Cat is an ancient and domesticated species of cat that have been around for a very long time. They can live in the wild pretty much anywhere across both Kusao and Cronar, but find the most comfortable homes in the populated canyon valleys where they enjoy a rodent-hunting role and the attention of the people.

Name Origin

Kusao, like many regions of Barogate’s Wastes, doesn’t exist in Xeiat. Instead, it is a normal desert with a vague sandy dirt and little rain. For the fantasy of Wastelife, Daklyn took the name of Kusao from the name of the land to its south, Cronar, which is based on a land called ‘Hakuhasahako’. This name was morphed into Kusao.