Kylo's Grotto

Nestled Just in the Eastern Foothills of the Stoneshard Peaks is a Large overhang of a cave of Dolmite, and Gypsum. The Cave was carved out thousands of years ago by the flow of the Shalestone River. This Cave is now nearly a mile away from the Great River but Trickling Tributary waters still flow from its mouth down to the Shalestone River.
This Cave is off the Beaten path of Most people but has become a popular Campsite for the Nomadic Halfling Tribes of Arimar. In particular, the Hornwarden Clan was Discovered by the Halfling Kylo Goodway of the Goodway Bloodline around 2033 when he was leading the Hornwarden Clan to safety from a late Spring Torrential Rain. The Clan Sings Tales about Kylo's Discovery that afterward became their Heritage late Spring and Summer Camp and Shelter.
The Cave boasts a wide enough mouth to bring in wagons 2-3 abreast. An abundance of Sunlight pokes through various holes in the Grotto Ceiling allowing fresh Air to enter and enough light to make it very pleasing during the Heat of Summer.

by Bing AI Image Creator

The Halflings make Shelter here because of its remote and protected nature and abundance of Vegetation to Feed their Musk Oxen and safe foraging. Kylo's Grotto entrance is difficult to spot except by a trained eye and the halfling caravans trudge about 2-3 miles up dryer portions of the bumpy rocky creek bed to hide their Trail from Maruading Goblins and Orcs. The Campsite is in a safe and Defendable position deep within the Grotto that is Ideal for the Wagons to be put in circles. This Campsite is Ideal during Late Spring and Summer as it is lush and green but, is under some potential flooding in early spring meaning fewer wagons can fill the campsite. During Fall it is Tollerable but with less light and cooler temperatures, Halflings prefer to move on before the Path in and out is snowed in or becomes Slippery with Ice and the onset of Winter.

During My Travels with the Hornwarden Clan,

it never ceased to amaze me

how the Halflings find the most pleasant locations to make camp.

Especially when one sets Eyes on Kylo's Grotto for the first time.

Excerpt from ~ A Year with the Hornwardens by Adam Graymane. 

Geography

Brillant Rock formations of Dolmite and Gypsum Eroded over thousands of years of Running Water and Time. The Cave Ceiling of Kylo's Grotto is dotted with holes that let in natural Sunlight and some large enough that considerable vegetation and small trees have grown within its chambers.
A clear running brook trickles into the floor of the grotto chambers from a sizable crack at the back of the cave providing clean, clear refreshing water. This Brook brings life to this Grotto creating a Unique Micro Climate within a region known as the foothills of Stoneshard Peaks.
Lush Ivy and other vines drape through the sunlit holes and cling to the walls within the caves. Lush Berry bushes teaming with fruit glistening in the rays of sunlight while the Grottos rocks intermingle with a lush green meadow Grass. Deeper within the Caves it becomes a bit more rocky but with a little foraging you can find cave mushrooms and moss. The brook waters are home to Eels, Crayfish, and the occasional Freshwater clam.

Ecosystem

Kylo's Grotto is a harmonious secluded ecosystem. Birds and Bats make nests along the Grotto's High Ceiling and walls their Droppings bring in seeds, and fertilize the developing Flora and Field Grass, Berry bushes, and Dimnutive trees but never to the point of polluting the clear brook waters or fouling the caves with a Stench or Noxious fumes.
Clear running waters feed all the Flora and Fauna and are inviting to the wild game who seek water and shelter. and the temperature and level of moisture is perfect for the establishment of new growth. Several unexpected finds have become established with the Migrations to this cave

Ecosystem Cycles

The Grotto has mainly three seasons Spring time, Summer, and Fall/Winter.
During the Springtime Winter runoff and rains swell the brook and flood some of the cave floors but by Mid-Spring these runoffs usually subside. Life is abundant and the cave sparks new growth.
The Spring Blends in with the Summer Months and throughout the Summer the Grotto's Temperatures only climb slightly and are much cooler than the hills and Forest outside and above. This is the Ideal time for making Camp within the Grotto when abundant water, forageable food, and wildlife are plentiful.
Fall/Winter Bled together in the Gotto as Light begins to be a bit more scarce much of the forgeable food is now gone and the caves take on frequent cold winds. The brook surface often freezes over in many places, if there is Heavy Snowfall in the Stoneshard Mountain range above the Entrance into the cave becomes dangerously slippery with Ice and the entrance has been known to be covered with banks of snow. The Grotto becomes a more inviting place for dangerous Animals such as Cave Bears. Although the cave chambers don't freeze over the grotto still offers shelter although not the most desirable place to be in the winter.

Localized Phenomena

Kylo's Grotto has a more stable temperature than the lands above typically staying within 60-70 degree range most of the year but dropping into the upper 20s to mid 30s during with Winter above.

Fauna & Flora

Commonly growing Flora:

• Sphagnum Moss
• Forest Ivy
• Lichens
• Blueberries
• Dwarf Crabapple Trees
• Dwarf Yew Trees
• Mulberry Bushes
• Dwarf Fir
• Assorted Cave Fungi
• Mustard Grass
• Meadow Grass

Commonly Encountered Fauna:

• Squirrels
• Weasels & Ferrets
• Raccoons
• Field and Grove Mice
• Spotted Owls
• Cave Swallow
• Doves & Pheasant
• River Eels
• Crawfish
• Small Brook Trout
• Cave bats
• Cave Beetles
• Highland Cougar
• (Fall/Winter) Cave Bears

Natural Resources

In the Back reaches of Kylo's Grotto there is Gypsum Rock Highly prized as a Fertilizer to many Farmers in the Valley and nearby Rootend. The Halflings sometimes mine it and Process it for Trade or personal use before they Migrate to their Winter Campsite.
An Abundance of Varietal berries can be harvested in the Grotto during the Spring and Summer Months. Mushrooms and Moss of Great Medicinal Value can foraged from within the Grotto

History

Kylo's Grotto was discovered by the Halfing Scout Kylo Goodway in 2033 when he was guiding the Hornwarden Clan in search of Shelter during a Torrential Rainstorm. The Halfling Tribe so loved the find they have continued to make the Migration to this location around Mid-Spring for the last 950 years.

by Bing AI image Creator

Type

Cave

Related Articles: