+- Wolf RPG (https://wolf-rpg.com)
+-- Forum: In Character: Roleplaying (https://wolf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Tuktu Hinterlands (https://wolf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=139)
+--- Thread: Tuktu Hinterlands Tuktu Hinterlands Territories (/showthread.php?tid=14961)
Tuktu Hinterlands Territories - WOLF - May 01, 2016
Alpine Lake
The true breadth of the lake can only be properly enjoyed from a bird's eye view, as it is contained within the soaring heights of a mountain. Unfathomably deep, the cool, clear water feeds into several narrow, tumbling waterfalls that waters the wild back country below.
Barrier Mountains (Unplayable)
The tall reaches of the Barrier Mountains are far too formidable for even the most athletic of wolves to ascend, and bar passage on the eastern edge of the Hinterlands.
Black Morass
Surrounded by tall mountains and covered in dark, thick, trees, the Black Morass is aptly named; there is very little light here. As a result, it is one of the Hinterlands' more dangerous wetlands, for there are few solid paths through the mire. It is not uncommon to find oneself stuck in thick, sucking mud. However, the fertile earth provides a multitude of herbs, berries, roots, and fungi that attract herbivores and herbalists alike.
Boartusk Heights
Although boars only inhabit the alpine zone of this broad mount, it's aptly named for the jagged, curved peaks and their resemblance to tusks. With an abundance of cliffs and plateaus, the heights aren't difficult to scale and they afford a splendid view of the entire Tuktu Hinterlands. Boartusk Heights is shorter than the Barrier Mountains, though, and seeing beyond them is impossible.
Bonesplinter Ravine
Cut into the jagged side of the Barrier Mountains is a deep and secretive ravine. Scattered within its oppressively quiet depths are the shattered skeletons of dozens of unfortunate animals that have fallen from the Barrier Mountains and died on impact. Lizards, bats and carrion creatures especially favour the ravine and the many gold-veined caves that branch off its main body. During heavy rainfall, parts of the ravine can fill with up to four inches of water, sending bones and lighter skulls floating along in a macabre river of death.
Cedar Sweep
Thousands of stately cedars with ramrod straight trunks and broad, sweeping limbs spread for miles due south of the falls. The forest is duly shadowy, yet not in a dreadful way, and there's plenty of life (mostly small game) to keep things bright and interesting. The trees thin slightly along the riverbank, painting quite the picturesque scene.
Cricket Creek Bog
Named for the relentless chirps of crickets, grasshoppers, and other insects, Cricket Creek Bog is one of the Hinterlands' more pleasant wetlands. The pools of water here are typically clear and shallow, and small mounds of loamy earth provide safe passage through the territory. Rivers and creeks cut through the bog, replenishing it with fresh water on a regular basis.
Falls of the Hinterlands
Although not particularly impressive at first glance, the falls are famous for the spectacular visual effects at night; one of the world's few moonbows can be spotted in the mist here. The surrounding river and forests are quite scenic, particularly along the riverbanks, which are comprised primarily of large slabs of stone—broken-up boulders from the slopes above.
Frogspawn Swamp
Certainly the noisiest locale in the hinterlands, Frogspawn Marsh is named for the hundreds of frogs that congregate to spawn among the innumerable reeds and cattails. When summer arrives, the bog veritably crawls with the number of tadpoles that hatch into it and many a tadpole are crushed by unwary feet. Under the weight of winter snow, the bog freezes and resembles a flat, open field.
Ghost Lion Crag
The crag is a series of jagged rock faces and outcrops set in the crook of two prominent mountain slopes. The trees that grow there, clinging to life on the stone, are stout, misshapen spruce that are spiny to the touch. Prey is surprisingly well hidden among the spruce and between the rocks, as are the elusive mountain lions that roam here.
Golden Glade
Sandwiched between soaring slopes on either side, the glade is far from gloomy, particularly in the fall. Comprised primarily of sugar maples, the forest bursts into color late in the year, resembling for all the world a flame flickering in a fire pit.
Grouse Thicket
This young forest, named for the large population of grouse that calls it home, is a near-impenetrable tangle of young hardwoods, most notably apple trees. The dense woodland is only broken by occasional small openings, where the birds will come out of the cover to peck at exposed grit and sun themselves.
Heron Lake Plateau
A large lake spans the surface of a tall plateau, attracting herons and other waterbirds en masse. Very few trees stand tall from the earth here, but the flatland is lush with areas of wetland, tangled brush, and small rock formations. It is a popular spot for migrating herds to rest and drink their fill of water.
Hibernation Point
The hinterland's southernmost peak is unremarkable at first glance, neither the tallest nor the widest mountain of them all. Yet upon closer inspection, there's much more than meets the eye—literally. The crag might as well be hollow for all the caves and passageways buried beneath the rugged, rocky terrain. It's no surprise that bears frequently gather here during the colder months to sleep the winter away.
Hideaway Strath
West of the Bonesplinter Ravine and east of Black Morass lies a surprising paradise; Hideaway Strath. A small valley divided by a river and partially sheltered by forest, the territory is akin to an oasis in the difficult terrain that makes up the Hinterlands. However, as much as it protects and provides for its inhabitants, the strath can easily become a prison. Except for a narrow entry to the north, the valley is blocked by mountains and unforgiving earth on all sides.
King Elk Forest
Rumor has it that this sprawling tract of massive old trees is home to at least one equally stately elk, the king, with monstrous antlers and more tines than a wolf can count. Rumor also has it that the elk is a wolf-killer, and cannot be hunted. If nothing else, there are plenty of other normal sized elks roaming about this lush forest to feed a hungry predator.
Mount Everfall
The longest and narrowest mountain in the region, Mount Everfall lives up to its reputation: to fall from on high is to fall for an eternity. Winding towpaths cut their way up the slim mountain face, but the climb is steep and treacherous. Near the peak, several pencil-thin waterfalls run from the snow melt and fall away into open air, eventually collecting in the river of Verdant Basin.
Nimbus Summit
Nimbus Summit seems to be forever swathed in clouds, even on the clearest of days, thanks to the little-known steam vents broiling beneath the surface and hissing out into the atmosphere now and again.
Shadewood
Aptly named for the sprawling oaks and towering elms that cast it entirely into shadow, Shadewood is a popular location for predator and prey alike in the muggy heat of summer, and the canopy catches much of the snow of winter.
Silver Creek
A stately woodland of cedar, fir, oak and silver maple with a lush carpet of moss hides the territory's namesake: its splendid forked creek. The constant motion of the roiling surface gives an impression of flowing silver and a large population of fish lends the water a glimmering aspect. With deep pools, tumbling rapids, short waterfalls and shallow fords a-plenty, the creek is an ideal spot for both fishers and swimmers alike.
Sun Mote Copse
Whether due to the prevalence of ragweed and flowers or by some other unspoken natural wonder, Sun Mote Copse is known for always having particles of something, usually pollen, floating through the air. The trees grow high and sparse, with sprawling canopies that filter in the sunlight, making Sun Mote Copse the brightest of all forests in the area, and the drifting particles practically glow with the sunlight.
The Floodlands
When the rains of spring and early summer drown the hinterlands, the many lakes and rivers swell and break their banks, spilling out into the adjacent valley and setting the whole valley alight with the glimmer of excess water. A frequent location for dragonflies.
Tuktu Weir
Called "Beaver City" by the locals, the weir is an immense dam built into a roughly circular shape. The blockade caused the water to rise into a small lake which literally teems with several generations of beavers. These are prime hunting grounds for those skilled enough to nab these large aquatic rodents.
Twisted Slough
The mouth of the hinterlands is foul-breathed and daunting to behold. Thick vines choke ancient black willows and strangle cottongums in vast quantity, and the close press of trees and heaving roots in the thick of the swamp are enough to cause claustrophobia in even the hardiest of travelers.
Two Rivers Isle
Although not an island in the truest sense, the Two Rivers Isle is a territory bordered by rivers on all sides. Much of the area is made up of flowing hills, filled with lush foliage and teeming with wildlife. A mixed forest lays at its southern edge, creating a safe haven for any that would make their home here.
Verdant Basin (The Watering Hole)
Gently rolling slopes stretch for miles on either side of a remarkably blue lagoon (some call it an inland sea). Fortunately, the water is as fresh as it is clear, making its banks quite the gathering place for local wildlife, particularly large game. It doesn't hurt that the surrounding hillsides are dotted with rich green grass, lichen and leafy trees as far as the eye can see.