The Greenfields Hills
For more information about the Selkes, see article The Selkes: General.
Location
West and north of Alven lies The Shimmering Seas, a vast ocean of unknown size and length, home to the Selkes.
Unbeknown to most Alvenish clansmen, this sentient, highly magical species of changelings have lived for millennia in two different sites: in the northern high underwater mountains of the Brechin Ridge and on the outskirts of a vast marine plain The Greenfields Hills.
The Greenfield Hills are forever rolling plains of tree-like seaweed or kelp, teeming with life, that expand for hundreds of miles in the cool and clear waters of the northern ocean. The Hills' ecosystem has supported the Tribe of the New since they left the Brechin Ridge five hundred years ago.
Geography
The Greenfields Hills are so vast that they have not yet been mapped successfully. Stretching for hundreds of miles in any one direction, they are bordered on the western side by the towering dark basalt masses of the Duncrest Mountains and the Barren Heights. On the north side, the Western Ledge peaks, home to many thriving Selkes' settlements, form another natural barrier. However, on the eastern and southern sides, the Wilds gradually descend into the dark lands of the Aikern Abyss.
Ecosystems
Most Selke scholars agree that the Wilds present at least six different habitats:
The Velamor
Stretching to the south of the Wilds, the Velamor is a scrubby kelp forest that stretches for miles among gentle currents and clear waters. As with most of the Wilds, the luminosity here is pretty good, especially when swimming above the short kelp.
The kelp in this part of the Wilds is only at a humanoid's height, with only very few kelp trees in its midst. However, it is not without its dangers, and travellers should be wary of its apparent tranquillity and beauty.
Velamor is where the ancient Selke ruined city of Velasir can be found - if you can find your way to it.
The Greenway
The Greenway is a naturally forming gorge that serves as a path through the Greenfields.
This is the only path through the Wilds that is relatively safe to follow. However, there are safer ways to reach the Selkes' cities in the Western Ledge than the Greenway, and as such, the gorge is not very well travelled.
The Greenway boasts of the only permanent settlements in this part of the Hills: a hamlet by the name of Zanfar. In Zanfar, weary travellers and hunters can avail themselves of a bed, food and basic supplies.
The Lightshade Forest
The Lightshade kelp forest, as its name suggests, is less dense and, thus, lighter than its counterpart, the High Kelp.
It stretches from the Greenway in the east to the end of the Wilds in the west—hundreds of miles of gently waving kelp teeming with wildlife. It is by far the Selkes' favourite hunting grounds and the home of their favourite mount: the Bluefin (a small whale-like creature they domesticated millennia ago).
The Seamors
Tucked away on the southern edge of the Wilds is a vast expanse of short purple seaweed, known as The Seamors.
A desolate place, yet not without its charm, the Seamors is a place of legend and magical happenings.
The Tribe of the New deems it a sacred land, and it is forbidden to hunt among the purple seaweed.
One can still see, hidden among a rocky outcrop, the ruins of an ancient Selke temple. Antiquarians assume these vestiges are linked to the ruined city of Velasir, much further to the west.
The Shimmersands.
The Shimmersands are an immense bank of dunes at the end of the Western Ledge, rising from the floor of the Greenfields.
Some Selke scholars dispute the fact that the Sands are part of the Wilds, but traditionally, they have been seen as one and the same as many species that are thriving in the Lightshade kelp forests have also colonised parts of the less hospitable dunes.
Some species of fish like the Ridgeback have even evolved a subspecies specifically adapted to the more sparse conditions of the dunes.
Ecosystem Cycles
The Geenfields Hills ae only affected by very few things during the year. The Duncrest mountains protect the expanse from the worst of the winter storms.
Sometimes, the train of a ferocious storm can be felt in the kelp forests and the Seamors, and the gentle swaying seaweeds start swirling and gyrating with the strength of the conflicted currents.
The Selkes call this type of marine weather: the Churn.
Selkes know that while the Churn is on, there is no point of going hunting as most sea creatures will take refuge while it is on. Happily, Churns usually only last a day or two.
The life of the kelp forest is dictated by the life cycle of the different kelp species it is made of. Many species are dependent on it for their survival.
In general, kelp grows over a 10 year period before it dies and regrows.
The bigger and taller the kelp, the longer its life cycle is. It is rumoured that some giant tree-kelp in the High Forest are centuries old although this has not been verified.
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