[center] [h2][sub]V E R D A N T A P O C A L Y P S E[/sub][/h2][/center][center][sup][b]The Ferloonian Sun[/b][/sup][/center][hr] Ages come and go, but always in cycles. It is a time of verdant apocalypse-wild growth in nature, in magic and the world. Old cities fall and new ones rise on the scattered ruins of an ancient baroque civilization. Time is death. Death is ephemeral. Ishtar Plain In a great cataclysmic of seismic activity, twin mountain ranges skewered the Ishtar Plain and destroyed the major cities of a once thriving civilization. A valley formed between the ranges (called Ish & Tar in a later age) and flood waters stormed in to drown the lingering survivors of the cataclysm. A few centuries passed and people began to explore the ruined valley floor. Yawning ruins, have submerged in the murky waters greeted them. From these tunnels and sunken halls came dangerous wildlife- chittering things with claws and spines, boar-fish, gnarl crabs, half-dragons (size, not race), merligronts, spiderhawks (flying spider thing), etc. [b]The City of Phaengraff[/b] (Grafth - City , Phaen - The name of the Valley) City of the Phaen Valley Over a century ago the first settlements began popping up along the spiny carcass of a fallen Tortugant, a gigantic Tortoise. The creature died from old age, as attested by the twenty-thousand rings carefully counted by semi-scientific historical Society of Krelal. (Tortugants live between 18-22,000 years). The settlements were established over time, as hunters came to the shell to kill Gnarl-Crabs. The crabs infested the still-fleshy insides of the Tortugant's carcass. The shell of a Gnarl-Crab can be fashioned into armor, clothes, jewelry, or ground to a dust for certain alchemical purposes-hardening, laquer, and used in a process of swordsmithing localized in the Fringe. These properties made the business highly lucrative-for a time. Eventually the crabs moved on or were wiped out. But the settlements remained. Over time, the crab harvests dwindled, but explorers and adventurers in the area had catalogued a treasure trove of unexplored caverns, dungeons and sunken cities. The Flooded Valley of Phaen harbors secrets and treasure for the taking. TRAVEL Travel is difficult too and from the city of Phaengraff as it is essentially a series of islands built atop shaky foundations. The streams and tributaries that feed the sunken valley are rife with dangerous wildlife and poisonous vegetation. Only a few 'canals' have been cleared for the larger barges and paddle boats to carry goods to the cities of the Fringe, and even these are dependant on seasonal weather. The terrain around Phaengraff is notorious for changing from season to season. From rising tides, as much as ten feet in some places, to rampant vegetation taking over entire islands in a matter of days. Travel is facilitated in a variety of ways. More affluent travelers and explorers (like the Wealthy Wix City Merchants) use a kind of primitive dirigible, although these are slow and prime targest for roving flocks of Hawkspiders. The domesticated Lurmegoyff, (a sort of domesticated and hybridized lammasu) can carry single passengers and small quantities of goods. In addition, paddle boats powered by volcan embers occassionally pull into the harbors. There is also a long causeway that meanders through the swampy bushlands around Phaengraff, with a few scattered way-stations (sometimes stocked with food and supplies) that are sometimes manned by outcasts or the banished. SIGHTS FOOD The waters and brushland supply ample food if one knows how to hunt. Fish and small mammalian creatures-like rats, possum, etc. Reptiles like lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles are all on the menu. The culinarians of Phaengraff have established a solid reputation for using incredibly hot spices and herbs in their cooking, harvested from the multitude of plants available in the swamps. These are always less quality ingredients as most of the things produced in Phaengraff are shipped to the cities on the Fringe for a higher price. TRADE Phaengraff exists because of trade. The sunken valley is incredibly dangerous, but also very profitable. Small guilds of merchants have established themselves in ORDER Alchemy Tortugant Gnarl-Crabs Fringe Cities Swords of the Fringe