Serpent River Falls

Serpent River Falls

Geography

The falls are a huge cliff where the various streams that feed into the Serpent River Basin meet into one larger stream. There they drain into the basin, creating the Serpent River Swamp. The falls are natural limestone formations and the pool directly below the falls is incredibly deep. 

Ecosystem

The Falls are teeming with life, snakes, birds, lizards, fish, snakes, bugs and did we mention snakes? The Serpent River Basin gets it name from the wide variety of serpentine life that inhabits the basin, and the falls are where a large number of them are found. The Ecosystem is surprisingly balanced for so heavily favoring a specific animal, but that is due in large part to the efforts of the Reptillian and Amphiious inhabitants of the Basin. 
Lizard people and Grippli make up the largest demographic of sentient life in the area and the falls are a natural point of contact between the two distinct ethnic groups. The reverence that the falls inspire seems to extend to all life and it is considered a neutral point for every culture that's come into contact with them.

Ecosystem Cycles

Because of it's location and weather it is almost always a muggy summer weather in the basin, creating a rainforest from the Mangrove swamps. There is a rainy season once a year that fills the basin and waterlogs almost every space in it. during that time the falls swell and become a truly awesome sight.

Localized Phenomena

The falls exude a sense of peace and calm for all that come to them. It is as if reality itself is in awe of the miracle of water, rock and plantlife that the falls represent. This balance extends to all creatures in the falls area of effect and violence is not carried out in the pool or near the falls.

Fauna & Flora

All manner of sub-tropical plant can be found around the falls, but it is particularly a Mangrove swamp, with large twisting root systems plunging into crystal clear water and thick canopies of leaves and vines that act as home to the many variety of snakes and birds that make thier homes there. 
Other than serpents and Birds, the falls area provides respite for the various intelligent species that make the swamp their home, from the Froglike Grippli to the agile and long tailed monkey-goblins.

Natural Resources

The primary resource of the falls is clean water, because of the porous rock that makes up most of the valley and the magic of the Basin the waters that cascade down the falls are supernaturally pure and clean. |
It's theorized that the Basin contains several other important resources such as rare alchemical plants and a variety of wildlife to get component parts for

History

Many thousands of years ago the falls were, like most other places, wild and untamed, but the Paragon of Life the Orc known as Gaia is said to have ventured to the falls to save the life of a travelling companion of hers and when she did she made a pact with the spirits there that extended to all life on the planet due to her paragon status. Thus an immutable truth, reinforced magically, was laid into effect. 

This has led to the falls being a place of nature and reverence since that day and the cultures and creatures that make the swamp their home often spend time at the falls peacefully interacting before heading back into the wilds of the swamp, where all bets are off.

Tourism

There is a very small tourist town at the top of the falls, run by Grippli villiagers and the occasional Lizard person vendor.

Alternative Name(s)

The Snakepit Falls

Type

Waterfall

Location under

Serpent River Basin

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