Foothills

"The foothills are deceptive. Just standing on one hill and looking out, you'd think you get a good view of the place, but really there could be a whole army hiding between two hills and the only way you'd know it is if they want you to know it." ~Margrave Arronax Skinner, Elector of Cambreath

Geography

The Foothills are higher in the west towards the Barrier Mountains than they are in the east where they taper off, finally giving way to the Great Grass Ocean. The Foothills are split in half by the Grasping River's West Fork. From north to south, the major settlements of the Foothills are: Neklek, Westweald Bridge Visren, Faeling, Alcedene, and Port Terrence.

Fauna & Flora

Most of the hills are covered with short grasses. Brambles of berrythorn and isolated copses of trees interrupt the grass here and there, and a few fallow patches of fungal blooms or lichens can be found. Some hills are covered in noblewhite blossom, giving rise to the myth that these hills are the grave-mounds of ancient heroes. The Foothills are home to normal sized populations of wolves, cougars, and bears; especially as these transition between the mountains and the grasslands. Vewav are a common sight, particularly in the spring and fall, and griffins coming down out of the mountains are not an uncommon sight. All manner of rodent and fowl also enjoy the sense of security afforded by the hilltops. Predator overpopulation and attacks on humans are believed to be the origin of the legends of the Foothills Monster.

Natural Resources

The Foothills yield ample game, meaning meat and furs for the markets. There are also wheatgrasses that grow on some of the hills, and small deposits of tin, iron, or copper are occasionally found. The soil is good for growing crops, and several of the hills have been flattened to make for farmland around certain settlements. More recently, some isolated farms have returned to the practice of terracing the hills to maximize yield.