The Ghoro Marshlands

Located near the geographical centre of the Arrosian Continent, the Ghoro marshlands are an inhospitable area of wet lowlands that surround Lake Ghoro, the largest lake on the continent. The area is home to various tribes of Shapeshifters who, combined with the harsh terrain and unplaisant climate, makes most potential visitors avoid it.

Geography

Overview

Occupying an extensive area north of the flat Torren marches, the Ghoro marshlands are an area of low-lying land prone to occasional flooding from rains which can flood parts of the area and swell the waters of the lake and sanat river, as well as from seasonal flooding from the meltwater of the Dorroman mountains to its north. Thick fog regulary covers the marshlands and has a distinct foul smell.

The northern and western regions

While being flat, this area does have patches of land that remain dryer than usual, and these act as islands with a distinct ecosystem, and also as refuges for the inhabitants of the region, as most of their villages are built here. The Dorroman mountains quickly raise the terrain just north of the marsh, and has been described as a sheer wall in some areas. Because water is less abundant here, the region is more heavely forested, which makes it darker and more difficult to traverse.

The southern and eastern regions

This section is much flatter than the other, and is thus more frequently and extensively flooded. Because of this, It resemble more a swamp than a marsh at time, particulary in mid-spring, when the waters are at their highest. The Savern river takes its source in the region, before flowing south and into the Royn river. Many explorers from the Hazian city states have traveled up river during the early second age and ended up in the marshlands. The characteristic fog of the marshes is more common here, and more foul smelling.

Localized Phenomena

The Fog

A well known characteristic of the Ghoro marshlands is the thick fog that regulary blankets the region. This is caused by air in the Dorroman mountains to the north quickly cooling down after sunset, and descending down into the low-lands where it passes over the warm waters of Lake Ghoro, becomes saturated with humidity, and forms fog. Thanks to the thick forest cover, the local topography, and the general lack of winds in the region, it takes a long time to disspate after sunrise, if it does at all. The region's cloudy climate also helps the fog's survival.

Climate

The ghoro marshland is a largely temperate region of the continent. The summers there are warm and humid with infrequent thunderstorms, while the winters are much cooler, with freezing temperatures possible, especialy in the more elevated north. Rain is common throughout the year, as are cloudy days, but most rain actualy fall during spring and autumn.

Fauna & Flora

Flora

The marshland is home to many species of trees, with forests composed of both dedidcious and evergreen trees. Black ash and red maple are the most populous species, but there is also a lot of black spruce and dog wood trees, the later of which produces small fruits in the summer and fall that the abundant wildlife of the region feeds on. They are however toxic to humans when consumed in great quantities. The south has more variety of plants, such as shrubs, grasses and many species of flowers.

Animals

Common animals in the region include moose, deer, wolf, bear, otters, various species of snakes, salamanders and types of frog. The waters of the marshland and swamps are full many types of fish, like Trout, salmond and carp, which are also found in lake Ghoro and the Sanat and Savern river.

Local populations

Most of the relatively small population of the marchland are wolf, bear, caribou and even otter Shapeshifters. There is also a large population of Necromancers, which seem to be the leaders of their respective tribes. They speak a language most similar to shoranian, which is spoken just to the west, along the Lharn river valley, but both tongues aren't mutualy inteligible. The vast majority of the population practices paigan beliefs, with similar beliefs to the rumalians to the north of the mountains.

Natural Resources

The region is largely devoid of rare of strategic ressources. It does contains abundant timber, especialy in the northern part, most of which are hardwood trees, ideal for a wet enviroment such as this one. There is also a substantial copper deposit to the east and bog iron is readely available in most parts of the region, which the locals use to make iron tools and weapons.

Map of Arros

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A map of the continent of Arros, as of the year 370 AC.

Type

Wetland / Swamp

History

It is believed by most scholars that the region was first settled by the Shelocians, the largest ethnic group in Arros, during The Long Winter, after they were pushed west by incoming groups of Oromians who sailed across the sea and settled in western Arros.

Once settled there, they stayed isolated and went through massive demographic changes thanks to a Etherial Proliferation event. In the early Second Age, the inhabitants, who were known as "Ghorochi" to outsiders, frequently launched raids into the nearby kingdoms. Torrenia, a now dead kingdom, as well as Gysia and Kingdom of North-Shorai were particulary targeted by them.

Once The Essanian Empire. took over the area half-way into the Second Age, raids continued and became more frequent. The Empire launched numerous punitive invasions into the region, and even tried conquering parts of it and annex it as a province of the empire. However, due to the harsh environment and the strong local resistance, they were unable too. The Ghorochi remained a permanent torn on the empire's side as it expanded further east in the following centuries.

After the collapse of the Empire at the start of the Third Age, the region was thrown into chaos, and the Ghorachi began raiding into the new, weaker kingdoms that replaced the empire in the region. Eventualy, these states came together to conquer and partition the southern half of the region. However, with exception to the formidable Imperial fortress of Lerast, in gysia, their control remains nominal. To prevent further invasions, the Ghorochi tribes united under an alliance that is known as the United clans of Alandia to outsiders. They continue to launch raids into southern kingdoms to this day.