Daraman Rainforest
Situated along the coast of northern Felora to the west of Dothara and to the north of Daramar is the Daraman Rainforest. Believed to be the homeland of the Daraman people, the Daraman is densely forested, and is nigh impossible to traverse on land. The local tortle and tabaxi populations rely on the River Darna, which leads through the forest into the interior of Daramar, for most long-distance travel, otherwise using a network of passageways, ladders, and rope between the canopy layers.
Geography
The rainforest is situated along the low-laying regions north of the Tealest hills and south of the Tealastrian Sea. It is split into western and eastern portions by the River Darna, which flows north out of the Kingdom of Daramar. Daramar is a lush, tropical paradise full of vibrant plant and animal life. The indigenous Daraman People have formed a symbiotic relationship with the plants and animals around them, using their natural medicinal knowledge to heal and protect their communities. The Daramans of the rainforest live in settlements consisting of a series of interconnected huts built into the trees. These huts are made from a variety of materials including bamboo, palm fronds, and mud.
Ecosystem
The Daraman ecoregion is under the direct influence of the Tealastrian oceanic trade winds, which maintain a warm, humid climate. At the base of the Daraman ecosystem are its plants, such as tall trees, shrubs, and smaller plants such as ferns and mosses. The canopy of the rainforest, which is made up of the leaves and branches of the tallest trees, provides shelter and food for a variety of animals. The forest floor underneath the canopy is made up of the decomposing leaves, branches, and other organic matter that have fallen from the plants above.
Ecosystem Cycles
There is no discernable dry or rainy season in most of the Daraman, with consistent rainfalls throughout the year. Daraman weather is characterized by high temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rainfall. Although there is no change in the season, other cycles are going on in the Daraman throughout the year. The milieu of flora and fauna serve for a robust decomposition cycle, while the various layers of the forest canopy interact with the water cycle to regulate the climate.
The rainforest is also home to a wide range of animals, many of which play important roles in the cycles of the ecosystem. For example, pollinators such as insects and birds help to fertilize flowers and ensure the reproduction of plants. Predatory animals, such as lemurs and fossa, help to control the populations of smaller animals and maintain balance in the ecosystem. Various fungi and insects at certain stages of their lives help decompose the dead plant and animal material that builds up on the forest floor.
Fauna & Flora
Daraman is home to a wide variety of plant life, thanks to the different layers of its canopy, understory, and floor. The canopy, which can exceed 30 meters, of the rainforest is made up of several layers, each home to a unique array of flora, including towering Otosua trees that reach up to 60 meters in height. The upper canopy receives the most sunlight, and is home to many species of epiphytes, such as bromeliads and orchids, which grow on the branches and trunks of the Otosua and other trees that reach above the canopy. The lower canopy of the Daraman is made up of smaller trees, such as palms and orchids. The lower canopy receives less sunlight, but it is still relatively well-lit. The understory layer is made up of smaller trees and shrubs, including the native kafe darama bean, commonly known as coffee, while ferns, grasses, and other low-lying plants dominate the forest floor. This layer receives very little direct sunlight and is often quite dim.
The Daraman's many layers support a diverse range of animal life, including lemurs, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. In the upper canopy of the Daraman, one can find chameleons, snakes, and various species of birds, such as the Daraman fish eagle and the Tealest crested ibis. In the lower canopy are many lemurs and Many of these species are found nowhere else in the Known World. The forest floor is often dark and humid, and it is home to many species of insects, fungi, and other decomposers that break down the organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. Despite the low light levels, the understory is home to a diverse array of animal life, including small rodents and amphibians.
Natural Resources
Daraman tropical wood is a prized commodity, and many of the coastal regions of the forest are home to logging operations from Dotharan, Aeillan, and Hadar traders. The other coveted resource is the coffee bean, which has been spread across the Tealastrian trade for hundreds of years, with attempts to cultivate it in Galisea and elsewhere in Felora only starting in earnest after the Closing of the Kingdom of Daramar. The rainforest is also rumoured to be home to a great many deposits of gems and ores, however, it has proven nearly impossible to establish any long-term operations. It is not very fertile, as much of the soil is too wet year-round for any staple crops to grow.
History
The rainforest is littered with the stone ruins of some ancient civilization, believed to be ancient tortles of thousands of years ago. These are the oldest mortal-made structures known to exist in the area, and they have been slowly reclaimed by the forest. Most are overgrown and in some cases, are literally buried in underbrush, dirt, and tree growth. Orcs and tabaxi peoples began settling the edges of the coast, using them as fishing villages and ports for their vessels. After an initial period of exploration by tabaxi explorers, in which the Darna was charted up to the Cliffs of Gever, knowledge of the Daraman remained limited until Feloran rule came to the coast.
The provincial magistrates of Tealastria brought imperial resources and money into the tabaxi communities present, hiring them and organizing long-term expeditions in an attempt to find a way past the Cliffs of Gever. After Feloran expeditions finally scaled the Cliffs of Gever, and trade was established with the Daraman people further inland, exploration of the forest began in earnest. Feloran cartographers were hired by merchants and numerous Feloran noble houses to search for other routes into Daramar through the jungle, whose inland mountains proved markedly difficult to traverse. Concurrently, archaeological expeditions sought more ruins, growing more zealous in their pursuit of ever-greater riches and discoveries.
After the collapse of the Feloran Empire, tortles and tabaxi began settling regions of the forest easily accessible from the Darna. The arrival of Galisean refugees and the destabilization of the old imperial core to the east in Inner Felora drove out the remaining tabaxi settlements near the coast, and numerous fortifications were built along the Darna in the intervening years. Presently, travel into the forest is difficult, as the Daraman Kingdom has closed its borders to all but the most rarest of occasions, while the tabaxi still living in the jungle have become secluded and hard to find. Control of the coast is also in the hands of xenophobic orc tribes or untrustworthy pirates.
Type
Forest, Jungle (Tropical)
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Related Ethnicities
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