The Geography of Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley is situated high up in a scenic mountain range. The valley is bordered by two grandiose mountains, their peaks covered in snow all year round. Between them runs a mighty river that swells to a small lake to the south of the mountains.

THE OUTER FENCE

The feared Outer Fence encircles the whole valley. It is an electric fence topped with razorwire. The remains of several animal mutants in various states of decay can be found in a few places along the inside of the face. These are the victims of unsuccessful escape attempts. The Outer Fence is guarded around the clock by deadly Drones and automated watchtowers – to approach them is considered suicide by most. This doesn’t stop certain brave animals from trying, and around the campfires in the valley many tales are told of those who actually succeed. Fact or fairytale? No one can say for sure.

Automated Watchtowers:

A large number of robotic watchtowers are part of the surveillance system of the Watchers, placed strategically so that every part of the Outer Fence is covered by at least one tower. The towers are 30 feet high metallic cylinders equipped with searchlights, megaphones and lethal energy weapons. Whoever approaches the towers is issued an escalating succession of warnings: first a metallic voice message from the megaphone, then a warning shot and finally a kill-shot – usually only one hit is required. The searchlights are activated as soon as there is any form of movement along the Outer Fence during the night.

THE INNER FENCES

The inner fences in Paradise Valley, between the different habitats, are nowhere near as well kept as the Outer Fence.

The gates

– usually situated along the roads in the valley – are sometimes manned by Watchers but often left abandoned and open. Even along sections where there are no gates there are many places where the fences have decayed enough for cunning animals to slip through. No one goes near the fences casually though – the risk of running into Watchers is always greater along the fences than elsewhere in Paradise Valley.

THE FORESTS

Stunted and windswept bushes and birch trees grow below the snowline. Further down in the valley there are deep forested areas consisting of dark conifers and a small number of leafy trees. Enormous fernlike plants grow here and there, enjoying a short but very intense life during the summer. Parts of the forest are so dense that it is difficult to move through it. Hunters from the carnivorous tribes of the valley often move through the forest hunting for edible prey. Animal mutants that have been cast out from the tribes can be found here sometimes.

THE SKI RESORT

Paradise valley holds a number of ruins from human civilization. Apart from the fences, more or less intact structures scattered through the valley indicate that the valley once contained a lavish vacation resort. A partly intact ski lift system follows the western mountain ridge. It is bordered by ski centers, cabins and a still intact lodge.

THE PEAK CABIN

A small red worn cabin is located a stone’s throw from the lifts, high up on the western mountain, close to the peak. The cabin is mythical and feared among the animal tribes of the valley. It is said it is haunted by the spirits of humans. Very few animal mutants have dared go up here.

SKI LIFT

The remains of a ski lift stretch between the Peak Cabin and the lodge. The higher parts are in very bad shape, while the lower part are more or less intact.

SKI CENTER

The ski center, a two-storied red wooden house. The house is dilapidated; a significant part of the roof has caved in and most of the windows are smashed. The inside of the house is full of broken furniture, ripped carpeting and other debris.

THE ROAD

The remains of a narrow paved road connect the cabin village and the lodge on the western mountain to the eastern part of the valley. The road is in very poor shape, in places the paving is cracked completely and overgrown with grass and thorny bushes. Rusty car wrecks can be found on the side of the road in some places. The old road leads up to a gate in the Outer Fence and keeps going up out of the valley. From the mountain peaks you can see that the road connects to a large, partly intact highway a few miles out from the valley. The road is sometimes crossed by small game and predators. Now and then packs from the tribes use the road to transport larger objects.

HIKING TRAILS

Narrow trails, most of them from the Old Age, meander through the hilly mountain landscape. Here and there old signs show the way to various cabins and other tourist resorts in the valley. Some trails are high up in the mountains, offering magnificent views of the mountain range when the skies are clear.
Packs from the animal tribes – usually made up of Hunters, Scavengers and Warriors – can be encountered on the trails, on their way to some other part of the valley. Sometimes predators and small game also cross the trails.

THE BRIDGE

A simple wooden bridge from the Old Age allows hikers to cross the river without having to dare the ice cold, wild rapids. A fairly well-preserved car wreck (a Volkswagen bus) is parked on the bridge and serves as a hunting cabin for the Bear Tribe. They can keep watch over the river and the surrounding groves from the bridge. Grumpy hunters from the tribe can often be found here, fishing. They prefer that others don’t use the bridge.

THE RIVER & THE LAKE

A frothing icy-cold river flows down the center of the valley. South of the mountains the river widens and becomes a lake, large enough to hold two small islands (the habitat of the Ape Tribe). Large schools of fat, edible fish pass regularly down the river. Whoever wants to cross the river would be wise to avoid the parts where the rapids are wild – one wrong step can be lethal.

THE FORD

In a wide and shallow part of the river, a number of large rocks make it possible to cross to the other side without swimming. However, it requires crossing 30 yards of slippery rocks. The water here is very rapid. Animal mutants from different tribes sometimes use the ford to cross the river.

THE WATERFALL

From 50 feet up, the water flows down the waterfall and crashes into the river with a powerful roar. During one period in the spring, spawning fish gather here in large numbers. Animal mutants from several tribes, most often the Bear Tribe and the Reptile Tribe, often gather here to fish, using a number of large rocks out in the rapidly rushing water as fishing spots.

THE BOG

The northern shore of the lake fades into a foul bog. Patches of firmer ground are scattered throughout the bog, covered in luminescent shrubs in strong colors – orange, light blue and purple. The bog is dangerous and almost impassable – thus, it offers many hiding places.

THE HELICOPTER

As long as can be remembered, this wrecked flier from the Old Age has been half buried on the outskirts of the forest. The wreck has been stripped of artifacts, but regularly functions as windbreak and overnight shelter for the roaming Hunters and Warriors of the valley. Sometimes, Hunters and Warriors from different tribes stay overnight in the helicopter together.

THE WESTERN FORBIDDEN ZONE

Halfway down the western mountain slope lies a rectangular area, a few hundred yards across, that the animal tribes fear and avoid. The zone is bordered by a 15 feet high electric fence, similar to the Outer Fence but lower. Sometimes large, terrifying creatures can be seen moving inside the fence, only to disappear without a trace moments later.

THE EASTERN FORBIDDEN ZONE

High up on the eastern mountain lies another forbidden zone, also a rectangular area enclosed by an electric fence. The area is above the snow line and almost inaccessible, especially during bad weather. The animal tribes consider the area holy ground, forbidden to enter.