Amaratharr Valley
The Gateway of Aelinor Oaks
A shadow washes over the valley as the sun dips behind the clouds, bathing the canopy of trees in momentary darkness. The forest goes silent for a moment, the lack of sunlight marking a transition from a chittering landscape to one poised on the edge of night. As soon as the sun peaks out again, the forest glows with warmth, its noise returning, and the valley comes alive once again. Here, among the trunks of the Aelinor Oaks, the sun creates a cycle, one of predator and prey, day and night, the chase and the capture. Here, the valley is the heart of the Outlands and her people, a place that defines those who live with the land instead of just on it.
This valley, while on the fringes of the forest, is the center of us. It is where our ancestors hunted and lived, thrived and passed on as the seasons passed. For us Outlanders, this valley is a part of us that cannot be forgotten.The Amaratharr Valley is often called the gateway to the Elven Forest, as almost all who enter the forest on its eastern border will pass through this valley during their travels. Bordered by the Gweyr and Lake Idryl, the valley marks the farthest eastern point of the Elven Forest and the entrance into the area known as the Outlands. Shrouded by Aelinor Oaks and teeming with life, this valley is welcoming when other parts of the ancient forest are not. Passing through the Amaratharr Valley and treating the forest and its inhabitants with respect will keep one out of the sights of the Outlanders, whose duty is the conservation of their sacred land. Considered one of the most documented areas of the Elven Forest, the Amaratharr Valley is considered a place of research and knowledge for Scholars from the Unending Scroll and elsewhere in the world. While the flora and fauna may not be particularly unique, it is possible to study the life cycle and magical properties of the Aelinor Oaks, many of which are little more than saplings around the edges of the valley. Stewarded by the Outlanders and studied by the Unending Scroll, this valley allows for a kinship that helps the entire forest thrive.
Geography
The Amaratharr Valley is a large valley in the eastern part of the Elven Forest. Often called the Gateway to the Outlands, this valley is bordered on the south by the Gweyr River, while the northern and western sides of the valley open into the greater forest. Those who travel into the Elven Kingdom from the Great Plains and Cradle of Clay most frequently enter through this valley.
A mostly shallow valley with rolling hills, much of the Amaratharr Valley is shaded by the leaves of Aelinor Oaks, trees that make up a large majority of the temperate deciduous forest known as the Elven Forest. The southern end of the valley is only a short distance from where the Gweyr flows into Lake Idryl.
Much like the rest of the Elven Forest, the climate in the valley is rather temperate, but it may experience periods of snow and cold during the winter months. This is fairly rare, especially in the southern areas of the valley, but some parts where the forest is thinner may see snow fall, often during Winter's Morning and Noon. For the most part, there is little wind and the flora and fauna of the area thrive in the warmth.
Amaratharr Valley
Amarantharr Valley
by
Landscape via Artbreeder, created by RiverFang
The Amaratharr Valley acts as a gateway to the Elven Forest from the banks of the Gweyr. This land is home to the Outlanders, a group that serves as hunters and stewards of the Aelinor Oaks.
Localized Phenomena
The magic of the Elven Forest links all trees together in a network of intertwined roots that help the various trees grow and thrive, even in the years when drought or other maladies would harm the great forest. While this magic is lessened on the outskirts of the forest, including the area known as the Amaratharr Valley, it is still strong and helps the fledgling trees replenish quickly in a location frequently used for logging.
This magic is known for sprouting trees in areas that have been thinned due to harvesting and causing the trees to grow at an increased rate. Much of the forest is rarely harvested for materials except for fallen logs, so the outskirts of the forest have learned to channel its magic into protecting the areas that are most frequently used for this.
Fauna & Flora
Aelinor Elk
Aelinor Elk are known for their intricate horns that often grow and twist in various patterns over the course of the creature's life. Their horns set them apart from the other animals of the Elven Forest and often grant them great reverence as an oddity of the forest.
The Amaratharr Valley is home to many flora and fauna that are found elsewhere throughout the Elven Forest, but nowhere else in the world. Creatures such as Juniper Wolves and Aelinor Elk are the most common unique creatures here, but Raccoons, Wolves, Coaldust Bears, and a variety of other common fauna wander the area. Predators are often found in the northwestern areas of the valley that are shrouded by larger trees, but the smaller creatures are found in the more open areas of the southern and eastern expanses of the valley.
The Aelinor Oaks mostly dominate the flora in the area, but patches of mushrooms, vines, and moss are common in areas where the trees are a bit larger. Underbrush is much thinner in the regions of the valley that border the Gweyr and towards Lake Idryl, but in those places, the greenery of the forest is slowly replaced by plants that thrive in wetter climates.
Because of the proximity to water, a majority of the Amaratharr Valley is subject to a variety of insects. Cipcicadas are the most unique, but Dragonflies, Striders, and water bugs are common in the southern and eastern areas of the valley. Other insects, such as Butterflies, may be more common in areas where they can feed off the various underbrush of the larger and older trees.
Other animals may wander into the area as the warmer climate provides more plentiful habitats and homes for those creatures that do not hibernate. No matter the time of year, the Amaratharr Valley is one of the most lively areas of the Elven Forest.
Alternative Name(s)
Outlander Valley
Type
Valley
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
I really like that the magic of the forest helps to regenerate the areas that are used for logging. Sounds like a beautiful area.
Explore Etrea | Summer Camp 2025