the world and its formation
The world of Dueling Sands occupies a fictional territory inspired by Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Glen Canyon. Though immersion is our goal, hyper-realism is not. There are various elements of the setting that are not accurate and are included simply for fun.Â
A cave with two openings from the sandstone that were once used by twolegs for uranium mining. The openings are blocked with shutters that the cats can slip through.
A small brush area located just nearby the Forefather's eyes, shaded by brush and a few trees that miraculously grow.
The hamburger, or toadstool rocks are a natural formation by the camps that are believed to have been the droppings of the forefathers. The toadstool hoodoos by GrottoClan offer comfortable places to sunbathe, but not for long unless you'd like to be grilled to ash!
The hoodoos are a natural formation by the camps that are believed to have been the hackles of the forefathers. A common site for festivities to be held.Â
Unlike how Archclan will bury its dead, Grottoclan will instead leave them out for the vultures to eat. This cactus garden is a sacred site, and to dishonor it is a crime worthy of an intense punishment.Â
Two colossal arches that watch over Archclan camp. It's said the forefather that died to create this arch is the same one who made the great claw as well as whisker arch.Â
Several large slabs of stone that have been eroded over time by glaciers and wind into what looks to be the forefathers sleeping happily with their tails upwards.
A large thin sandstone structure in a structure similar to a kitten's upright tail.
A tall caprock where hawks can be seen sometimes. It's said that they nest up there.
An arch hidden by several sandstone mountains and shrubbery. Apprentices like to come out here to practice battle, though when not in use by younglings it makes for a frequent date spot between older cats.
A sandstone formation in the shape of a very large egg. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to contain any yolk!
A large set of two arches that almost look like two forefathers fighting each other. It seems as though they never could escape their feud.
A deep, horrifying plummet if any cat should have the misfortune of missing their step. While descending from here isn't impossible, as the river below contains a decent amount of fish and small animals, it is something done very carefully.
A very delicate arch, being relatively thin compared to the rest. It's reminiscent of a bent whisker of the forefathers.
A dense patch of prickly thornbush and cacti that nevertheless harbors an abundant amount of prey. Though food may be plentiful, so are the injuries. Owch!Â
A large plateau structure that almost looks like an extended paw, bearing a dewclaw as well.Â
A small arch on the edge of the canyon's side that resembles a winking expression. It's believed it was the last wink of a forefather's kitten, though it likely is just crumbling due to the passage of time.
A lush field of greenery full of plants and herbs, though it's a good distance from camp. A hunter's preferred place to visit.Â
A slot canyon that connects to the Great Canyon, the echoing crevice while not frequented by animals often is still a dangerous place. It's not a place to travel alone, that's for sure.
A long, towering arch stands as the last connection between half of the mesa and the other side. A canyon lies below, filled with buttes of varying heights. Some cats believe this arch to be the remains of a forefather's ribs.
With a more than 100 tail-length drop, the great canyon is not a sight to be missed. It is, however, one to express immense caution in. Cats cannot visit the canyon alone- it is a death sentence without a doubt. Instead, cats travel in groups to climb up and down the steep incline, carrying bounties of prey and water for the camp to drink.
A man-made structure that serves as the meeting place for Sunset Roundups. Couriers in particular recognize this as their halfway mark to the next clan.
An arch across the blackwater bay, named after the large white long sandstone arch that stands upright. There are ancient scratch carvings across the pillar, but it's written in dialects long lost to time. Deciphering it now is impossible.
These areas are undisputed solely because both clans generally do not wish to lay claim to them. They offer very little, and are instead shared with little regard for one another.
A saltflat nearby the saltwater lake. Known for its incredible reflections when flooded with water, some cats claim they've spoken with the forefathers here. It's unclear how true those claims are.
A saltwater lake with an incredibly high salinity that barely anything can live in it. It's generally avoided for the fact it harbors no useful prey.
The border of where the clan cat's worlds end and the twolegs world starts. It lays beside the large saltwater lake, with monsters bustling in and out across the busy large thunderpaths.
An abandoned ghost town far older than the clans own origins. It was originally built to mine salt at the local saltflat, but now stands decrepit and left to rot. Clan cats tend to frequent here solely for fun.
An RV park where the RVS- a breed of monster - will rest and live out their lives. Twolegs live in symbiosis with these monsters.
A visitor center to the park the clan cats live in - unbeknowst to the cats, who believe it to be a small twoleg camp. It features a brick exterior, of which many clan cats wager they could build a prettier looking one.
The outer shell of an RV- a breed of twoleg monster - left to decay to time. It smells odd, and has glass and other twoleg garbage scattered about its exoskeletal remains.
A large caldera with a pool of clear blue water at the bottom that happens to be a natural hot spring. Helpful for those with chronic pain.
The second tallest peak along the mountain range- this mountain is named for its shape resembling that of a fang. It's believed that if seeking Poet will not answer your questions, then arriving here and asking the forefathers themselves will prompt them to speak to you.
A smaller bridge that leads to the other side of the strong river that feeds into the canyon. It's less frequented, but still can be a threat due to the aforementioned monsters that cross it.
A cave high in the mountains that will sometimes receive the rare snow. Deep within lies Poet, a mountain lion who interprets messages from the forefathers to clan cats.