Nīwulā Valley
Nīwulā Valley is a river valley, bordered by the World Mountains in the west and the Far Sea in the east, where its namesake current opens up to a wide delta. In the north, tall foothills rippling from the mountains separate the Valley from the Great Plains, and similarly in the south cliffs and drops created a border between the Valley and the densely grown woods of Tahōhya Forest.
Since the Silent Age the Valley has been home to humans, and it was along its river Nīwulā where it was said the first true civilizations of man arose in the early days of the First Age beneath the sun-crested banner of Sun King Soyaewa.
Geography
Nīwulā River slithers down from the World Mountains in the west, carving the wide valley in its wake all the way to the continent's eastern shore. Small streams of water flow down from tall cliffs and foothills from the northern and southern borders of the valley, forming into small rivers of their own before meeting the namesake river of the valley.
Scholars tend to recognize two sub-regions within the Valley: the dry and rocky Upper Valley, and the greener Lower Valley with more precipitation, cool ocean winds and fertile soil more suitable for farming compared to the highlands.
Lake Mīzlaega
Of the two lakes within the bounds of the Valley, Lake Mīzlaega was by far deeper, if smaller by surface area. Its name comes from Old Saehyuwe and could be translated to "the Deep Spring".
Home to a rich ecosystem of fish and various flora, the waters of Mīzlaega have also been historically brimming with rumors and drunken tales of "old, nameless creatures from the deep", and others where it is claimed to be without a lakebed at all, instead connecting with some unseen, unfelt realm far beneath the world itself.
Lake Akao
Wide, yet relatively shallow lake connects many smaller streams from the Upper Valley and is the main source of Nīwulā River. Lake Akao has been the heart of civilization in the Valley since the First Age, particularly after the beginning of the First Age.
Lake Akao is home to two islands, Ēhnuo and Linuo, which were both uninhabited until they were given to Yuiwian Temples by the first Sun King in early First Age.
After the construction of the High Temple of Stars on the larger island it was said the heart of Lake Akao became the heart of the Valley, even more so than the Kings' Keep on the hill beside lakeshore.
Climate
The entire valley generally experiences hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Compared to the coastal regions, the Upper Valley against the mountains has higher temperatures in the summer and cooler in the winter, as well as experiencing less rain overall. The Lower Valley experiences more rainfall throughout the year, though summers remain dry and sunny compared to winter conditions.
Fauna & Flora
River Snake
Large snakes capable of growing as long as the height of two men put together. Patient ambushers who bite into their prey and strangle them beneath the river's surface.
Soyaewa
A brightly coloured bird whose name means 'Morningbird'. Its song is said to bring dawn in its wake. With feathers the colour of sunrise, the bird is holy to those who follow Yuiwian faith.
Ēduha
A hornless subspecies of tuehma who graze for grass and ground plants in the Valley's fields in large herds both wild and domesticated.
Greenwater Perch
A subspecies of perch who thrive in the waters of the Valley. Its shimmering, green-striped scales make for a good disguise, though it nonetheless remains one of the more popular foods among the Valley's inhabitants, man and animal alike.
History
The first mentions of Nīwulā Valley come from the poems and chants telling the story of the first Sō-Thadi Soyaewa, who set out to unite the Valley and put an end to the bloodshed plaguing the land and its people. In the songs the Valley was described a home to gloom and darkness, where sun hadn't been seen until the Sun King's arrival.
/niːwulaː/
Comments