River Lisson (LEE-sawn)

"There's somethin' downright maternal about that river, sais? Since ancient times it been givin' life all down the slope of them mountains way out there and through the valley below the falls 'ere. There's love for this water. Them bends in her path and all the little cricks that find their way to her. Steamboaters call her "Lizzie" now, but they got the love of the Lisson, sais? The music they play on down to Crescent City, it's full of that old amour. There's new life on the river, she's still a maman to all us poor ferrymen and fishers, but to them she's a lover. The lights, the sound - all that showin' off - all for Lizzie. Oh, she's a lover to them, sure. Here's hopin' they treat her right." - Mars Doucet, quay-master of Paraneau Village

Geography

Like a vein of deep green and crystal blue amid the red rocks and gray sand of the Dearth, the gently sloping floodplains to either side of the River Lisson are alive. The rainy season each year raises the water level and deposits minerals from the Scowling Peak mountains into the soil. Fertile ground has given rise to lush riparian habitat and allowed the indigenous Urunathi halflings to settle along the river since ancient times. Characteristically Urunathi earthworks are frequent along the path of the river, as are partial dams, redirections, and weirs for catching fish constructed from boulders and slabs transported from quarries miles away in the foothills.
Unaltered portions of the river where these works are not to be found and villages have not been founded are dominated either by thick vegetation, or have only sparse grass where the rocky ground is inhospitable. The path of the Lisson is broken into two by a massive cataract which incorporates Lunula Falls, the thirteenth highest waterfall on record the world over - a source of pride and chagrin depending on which superstitions one buys into. Perched precariously atop and across the mouth of the falls is Lunula City, a thriving metropolis built on the brink of a thousand foot drop.
The lower Lisson is more turbulent. Rapids are common. As the gradient of the land becomes more gentle the floodplains become broader. Near the delta, water is too shallow for the steamboat keels of the main river, but the sea which the delta drains into boasts many busy port cities that accommodate these and other seagoing vessels.

Ecosystem Cycles

Excerpt from the Journals of Jagger Redding:
"From what I gathered in my conversation with Taiud, there are two main seasons that halt the Urunathi's use of the river; the flooding season, when the floodplains receive depositions of nutrient-rich minerals from the highlands, and something which translates closest to "fish moon". During the flood, the waters rise and all boats are moored carefully so as not to lose them. Use of the river pauses until the waters subside. This hiatus lasts only two weeks or so each year, and the Urunathi always capably stockpile to prepare themselves for it, much the same as Padryan farmers would prepare for winter. 
Fish Moon sounds like another matter. This season comes only once every three to five years and is regarded with a certain amount of awe and fear by the tribespeople all along the river. Taiud would not say exactly what happens, but it was apparent that during the eponymous lunar event the monstrous catfish emerge from their hiding places along the bottom of the river. All Urunathi quit the river, some tribes going so far as to move their boats out of line of sight from the water and moving their families to dwellings much further from the banks than their permanent villages. I infer that this is the time when the fish mate and that either out of reverence or revulsion the tribespeople do not wish to witness it. But I suppose until someone tells me more, I will know only this much... It doesn't sound like something I want to witness, or that I would advise anyone else to bear witness to either..."

Fauna & Flora

The Lisson supports a lush riparian ecosystem with a diversity of species that have in turn supported life for countless generations of Urunathi, Padryan immigrants, and now the free city of Lunula. Some of the keystone species of the ecosystem include:

• Spiny Pawpaw = The pale purple flowers of this fruit-bearing tree grow several human handwidths across and develop into thorny melon-like fruits at least double in size. The deep red flesh of this fruit is sweet, tart, and juicy. The spiny pawpaw is an essential part of the diet of many native fauna and a cultivated crop prized by the people of the Lisson.
• Chufa (aka Blade Sedge) = With blades sharp enough to cut through human flesh, chufa growing on the banks of the river can be dangerous to harvest. The seeds of this plants are ground as flour or used for medicine and perfume by mashing them into a paste with cactus juices. Tubers which grow on the roots can be roasted or used as Jagger's catfish bait.
• Oartails = These shaggy water-loving herbivores bear a resemblance to otters but prefer rill-scum, sharp chufa blades and waterweeds to fish or other animals. Their strong shredding teeth and leathery mouth allow them to tear through any ruffage. They are confident around sapient creatures and can be trained to clear patches of vegetation, climb trees to harvest fruit, or dive for river clams, which they enjoy playing with even if they do not eat them.
• Jagger's catfish = Usually just called "jags", these monstrous fish are named for Zarion explorer Jagger Redding, whose chronicle of his time spent with the Rillrock Urunathi tribe, especially his account of a successful catch of a 30-foot river beast by the tribe for a solstice celebration, captivated the colonists of New Padrya. These lethargic bottom-feeders are the apex predators of the Lisson, only dislodging from their holes along the riverbed to mate every few years, and are relied on for the disposal of carrion into their murky waters. Attempts by colonists to fish them regularly meet with splintered hulls and dead crews.

History

Since time immemorial, the Lisson has been inhabited by tribes originating from the Urunad, the halfling civilization indigenous to the marshlands north of the Dearth. Tribes immigrated into the bordering mountains from the marshes, likely as exiles or refugees from their conflict with the fen-dwelling ogres, then spread south into the desert, but especially along the Lisson and Bladevane river systems.
The civilization built by these Urunathi was reliant on the river and many religious practices revolved around the annual flooding of the Lisson and renewal of the soil for the growing season that was to follow. Modifications to the river and Urunathi mounds were prolific, though some of their import has been lost to time and recent modernization of the region.
Colonization of the lands east of the Dearth (dubbed New Padrya) by the Zarion Celestial Empire led to the encroachment on lands governed by the reunified Urunad. Critics of the Urunad claim that the federation of tribes should have resisted these efforts more, but most historians account that the Zarion military's overwhelming presence in the region rendered any resistance futile. Lunula City was the only colony founded within the boundaries of the Dearth.
More colonial settlements would be constructed a century later with the advent of the civil war between the Zarion Empire and the fledgling Free Guilds of New Padrya (The Guild). These trade barons established a network of frontier forts on the edge of the Dearth and wrested military control of Lunula City from its Zarion garrison. Leaders within the Guild then brokered a shared power structure within the city and along the Lisson's now extensive trade network of farming villages and townships between Guild officials and representatives of the Lisson Urunathi.
Today, the city is a thriving metropolis and trading hub of strategic importance in the Zarion-Guild war for dominance of New Padrya, though the Urunathi interests in the city do their best to maintain neutrality within city limits. Black market dealings, Zarion terrorist attacks, and anti-war protests are all common in most districts of the city. Despite this, tourism thrives in the city and it remains a popular destination for music, cuisine, and gambling.

Alternative Name(s)

The Lizzie

Type

River

Location under

The Dearth

Contested By

• The Guild
• The Urunad
• Zarion Empire

Inhabiting Species

• Halflings
• Oartails