The Pagerocene

The Pagerocene- the second geological era on Loki since the arrival of terrestrial life- is marked by the formation of permanent ice on the poles. The general cooling trend since the introduction of grasses has continued and has now plateaued. Ice sheets cover just over a quarter of the planet’s surface.

As a result of the ice the overall climate has become dryer, as water is now locked up in glaciers and snow. Sea levels have also fallen, exposing continental shelves. This loss of habitat has been detrimental to marine life, but beneficial to terrestrial life, which now has new environments to expand into. Continental drift has also seen immense changes to the world and its habitats:

Northern Brandiia has drifted northwards and now partially lies under the North Pole. Most of its mass is covered by ice sheets, with the rest largely being gently rolling tundra and steppe. Temperate grasslands still remain on its most southerly coasts.

Southern Brandiia has finally split away from its northern half and is now a large island, rapidly moving eastwards. Its flat topography and proximity to the southern ice sheets means that the continent is frequently battered by ferocious storms and high winds.

Northern Whiskiia has drifted slowly west and northwards, its extremities colliding with Northern Brandiia under the ice sheets. Towards its southern region it is being steadily pulled apart, creating fertile areas of flat grassland.

Southern Whiskiia is moving away from its neighbour, heading eastwards on a collision course with Southern Brandiia. Its equatorial position and dry climate has created patches of desert and frequent dry seasons.

Bugaria continues to rotate in place with a slightly southern drift, kept pinned in place by the continental plates around it. It has avoided developing an ice bridge to the mainland but frequently experiences severe fluctuations in seasonal temperatures.