Deepbranch

Although the Deepbranch is home to several unique species of note, the overabundance of insects and the decided lack of civilized life leads this author to recommend that all but the most foolhardy of travelers avoid it. 2 Stars.

— Erakz' Guide to Sevaria, 3rd Edition Revised

Near the southern edges of the Silver Vale lies a wide coastal basin known as the Deepbranch. Inundated by water from a number of rivers that meet and overflow their banks here, the Deepbranch is a year-round wetland - while the temperature in the air often reaches below freezing in the deep of winter, the ground itself never truly freezes. These conditions, found nowhere else in Sevaria, have created a unique ecosystem that is home to life found nowhere else in the nation; indeed, some of it is found nowhere else on the continent at all.
Navigating the Deepbranch is especially difficult; because the landscape is constantly reshaped by erosion and redepositing of sediments and muds, few longterm roads exist through the swamp. Additionally, due to the lack of any meaningful Sevarian settlement in the region, little to no effort has been made to maintain those few that do exist. What little effort is made is done by the Order of the Ethereal Gate, who maintain their primary monastery deep within the heart of the swamp. Those attempting to travel off the main roads are suggested to do their best to track down one of the hyper-curious ratlings of the Deepbranch.

Geography

The Deepbranch covers an area just shy of 500 square kilometers on the western coast of the Silver Vale. The land slopes down very gently from east to west, barely noticeable at any given location in the swamp. As one reaches the northeastern reaches of the Deepbranch, the ground begins to rise as the swamp gives way to the barren Cretan Hills ; along the transition, the ground begins to become more solid and rocky.

Fauna & Flora

The Ratlings of Deepbranch

^{See Primary Article: Ratling}
As far as anyone is aware, the ratlings found within Deepbranch are found nowhere else in Sevaria, let alone the continent. A rather unique species of what appears to be oversized sapient rodents, the ratlings (so called because of their diminuitive stature and similarity in appearance to the common rats which plague cities across the world) have thrived for an unknown number of years within the damp confines of the Deepbranch in small communities hidden away within the overgrowth. The largest such community, Big Damp, is believed to hold several thousand of the creatures though an exact census is considered to be impossible.

Type

Wetland / Swamp

Location under

The Silver Vale

Included Locations

• Big Damp

Included Organizations

• Order of the Ethereal Gate

Owning Organization

Sevaria

Inhabiting Species

• Ratling