Valley of Provision

A river cuts through the center of the fertile valley, feeding into an estuary that in turn feeds into Falmidlen Bas, or "Harbor Pass," which is the only major port in the Square Ranges.   The lowlands beside this river and around the estuary are extremely productive, with the entire northern half of the valley dedicated to farming and fishing. While these lands extend south of the river, a lot of the south is dominated by the Spinterkant, or "Five-City," a metropolitan area of five major cities which grew up along the harbor and later the spaceport.

The valley was filled with many native plants both good for food and pleasing to the eye well before the original immigrants settled the land.   At the edges of the valley and in the south, the trees grow much thicker, and this is where most of the wildlife can be found, particularly the usrown bor tucidorog ("deer of the mountain").   The river that runs through the valley is carefully managed upstream, while still within the mountains, to prevent flooding during the spring thaw while also ensuring that water levels aren't too depleted by winter.

By winter, the Shurnovisk River is significantly depleted and flows much more slowly. Most parts freeze for at least two months out of the year—most of the winter season. When the spring thaw comes, the river swells dramatically.   In eons past, the Khettadine would store up food for the winter, then retreat indoors and rarely go out except to hunt, gather firewood, or take care of farm animals, but with the rise of modern conveniences this is no longer necessary and they are able to live comfortably year-round, making no significant changes to their usual behaviors or routines to accomodate the changing seasons.

As the cradle of the Mountain Khettadine civlization, its history is inextricably entwined with that of the Ice-Khetts.   It was uninhabited until exploratory expeditions were dispatched by Cent-Khetts displeased with their government. These reported back on the wonderful sights they saw, and soon a settlement was formed by Cent-Khett immigrants ferried by Shoreborne merchant ships.   These settlers would govern the fate of the valley and tis surrounding mountain lands, turning them into a powerhouse of industry and trade that rivaled the prosperity of the Shoreborne's Scoresti League.

Tourism is a thriving industry in no small part because of the conservatism of the Mountain Khettadine, who preserve not only their classic architecture and traditions, but also their environment, taking great pains to keep their air clean, their water pure, and their plants healthy.   Many jobs exist specifically for the tourism industry, with entire districts of some cities set aside for historical displays, and any holiday or festival is an excuse for reenactments and displays of traditional apparel or practices.   Guided tours through the mountains are also quite popular, with certain national or state parks being kept in as "original" a condition as possible to give a snapshot of what the settlers first saw when coming to the new land. The natural beauty of the mountains are broadly touted as unparalleled, and while that may be an overstatement, the Mountain Khettadine culture serves to give them an extra air of mystique and enchantment.