The Rift

At the eastern edge of the northern continental span, the Taiga dwindles, and the fault that forms the Heights ascends to the plateau at the base of the Spine. If you follow the Heights south you will find yourself in the Cidelian Jungle. However if you follow the southern edge of the span, past the Heights, you might possibly find the Rift.
The Rift is actually a series of crevasses that cut into the plateau created by the Heights, running roughly two-thirds of the way between the Spine's foothills and the Heights. The most reliable way to locate the Rift is to traverse the Pearl Lakes until you reach the Eternal Falls, which disappear into the Rift. The Eternal Falls feed the Rift Course a river which runs through the Rift, dividing and subdividing, to finally disappear, feeding the aquifer at the terminal ends of the fractal waterway.
The area where the Eternal Falls enter the Rift is known as the Mistlands because of the permanent fog which obscures the upper entrance of the Rift. The fog is a combination of the mist generated by the falls and the rapid cooling of the warmer moist air ascending from the Rift. The constant runoff has carved countless gullies large and small around the perimeter of the Rift's upper mouth. It is only through these gullies that ingress into the Rift is possible by means of a handful of gullies that actually descend to the scree piles at the base of the Eternal Falls.

Geography

The Rift is a land of constant twilight, the crevasses growing very gradually in width as they descend from the surface of the plateau. The upper edges of these canyons, outside the Mistlands, range from 100 - 200 yards apart, indicating the many branches of the Rift were formed concurrently possibly when breach of the lowest Pearl lake created the Eternal Falls. As few Rift species are found outside the Rift, very few even making it to the Mistlands, it is theorized that the creation of the Rift was rapid and cataclysmic with many of the species finding themselves trapped in the rapidly deepening chasms. The floor of the Rift begins at 700 feet below the plateau and descend rapidly to depths of 5,000 feet or more. The final structure of the Rift has been compared to an elongated piece of fan coral.

Fauna & Flora

Much of the flora and fauna of the Rift is unique. Species that have populations in other parts of Eilea, have mutations or subspecies in the Rift that are uniquely adapted to the gloomy environment.
The flora of the Rift have a distinctly consistent appearance. Because of the dim light and mild air currents, the canopy is composed of tall plants and trees with broad dark leaves and spindly trunks. Emergents are firmly rooted in the base of the Rift with smaller light seekers growing from ledges and cracks in the canyon walls. The undergrowth is thick, but lightly colored (except for rotgrass) with a distinct lack of chlorophyll. Most undergrowth finds needed nutrients in the volcanically heated aquifer. The carnivorous rotgrass is an exception. The waist high, black grain forms a plain under the larger leafed flora. It feeds on the clouds of whiteflies by trapping them on sticky seedheads.
Fauna is abundant, with species fighting for every niche. Some notable examples made famous across Eilea are as follows. Vast swarms of whiteflies sacrifice themselves to feed and pollinate the fields of rotgrass. Sootmice are diminutive gliding rodents which have become popular pets around the world. The Midnight Claw is a melanistic Dusk Claw, larger and more deadly than its lighter colored cousins in other parts of the world.
Coloration in the Rift is very much a study in high contrast. Colors tend towards the very dark end of the spectrum with black being prominent, however trunks, stems and decorative markings are almost ubiquitously white.

Natural Resources

The primary natural resources of the Rift are the extensive unique flora and fauna. The fossil record and coal seams exposed in the walls of the Rift are equally extensive, but at this point remain pristine due to Mubari restrictions. A small number of gemstones and minerals have surfaced from the Rift unknown to the Mubari. They are priceless due to their uniqueness as even small scale mining is expressly prohibited even for scientific interests.

History

Revered since prehistory by the Mubari as a sacred land, the Mistlands and the Rift and its singular flora and fauna were a carefully guarded secret. Once trade began with other cultures, and children traded whispered stories of the Twilight Shade, and unique specimens began appearing in world markets, the Mubari were pressured to guide the world into the Rift.
In 1933 CE a Mubari pilgrimage encountered a Lynx expedition as they ascended from the Rift. Of course it was the Silent Scream who obtained the Map of Tears that allowed the Lynx to undertake their fated expedition. The Lynx caravan contained samples and specimens, unfortunately including the pelt of a sacred midnight claw. The Silent Scream stepped in to prevent the advent of a global holy war by the Mubari and negotiated guided access to the Rift exclusively by the Mubari.
The Mubari were gracious when scientific parties requested access, but Mubari hunters were tasked with executing with prejudice any poachers or trespassers. Even with the vast amount of exploration allowed by the Mubari, it is estimated less than a quarter of the labyrinthine Rift has been explored. New species are discovered nearly every expedition.

Tourism

The beauty of the Pearl Lakes, the majesty of the Eternal Falls and the wonder of the Mistlands all draw tourists to the Hrinman, the Mubari capital. Safaris, aerial tours, even select game shows are all allowed and encouraged as long as the Rift is excluded from the itinerary. The occasional Mistland tourism party will get glimpses of the head of the Rift Course at the base of the Eternal Falls, otherwise only approved scientific ventures are permitted to view or enter the Rift.

Alternative Name(s)

Twilight Shade

Type

Canyon

Related Tradition (Primary)

• Nierthado

Inhabiting Species

• Tlinma - Dusk Claw