Dorden Tops
Dorden Tops is a series of elevated scrub and grasslands with several levels of altitudes and reliefs that drop down into valleys of sparse vegetation. The reliefs of the hills affect the climate of this region because they stand in the path of wind systems and force air to rise over them. As the air rises it cools, leading to higher precipitation on windward hill slopes. As it descends leeward slopes it becomes warmer and relative humidity falls, reducing the likelihood of precipitation and creating areas of drier climate (rain shadows). The massive hills lay fairly barren from the high winds that permeate from the northeast. Spindly crawling vine bearing plants have predominately grown over the vegetated regions. The soil remains rocky and poor while frost covers the grounds in the mornings but is quickly turned to visible vapor from the rising early morning sun. This biome still houses a variety of flora and fauna, more so in the reliefs and small valleys than atop the steep slopes.
The rain shadow side of the hills are the most barren of the region, swatches of rock and clay cover the arid and dry area.
Localized Phenomena
Many of the hills are actually believed to be dense in magnetic materials. Others have speculation that the hill giants stomping runes into the land is the culprit. Whatever the cause of this phenomenon, it makes traveling in this region that much more dangerous. Rocks and boulders will at times ignore the slopes and hills of the land and will tumble upwards. This oddity will begin at the base or side of the slopes, sometimes the soil being disrupted from a long settled rock. During lightning storms, this phenomenon is more active as large patches of the hills will appear to have migrating boulders rolling in unison. The reasoning behind this is still speculation but travelers are to remain wary.
Fauna & Flora
Flora of the area are consists of conifer thin tree lines that dot the lower slopes and drops. Broad-leaved deciduous trees will shelter some smaller plants and they grow out and around the base of the shade, especially in any moist areas. Some loose renditions of meadows between the mud or dirt landscape will have maiden grasses, daisies, and other wildflowers. Regarding fauna, various large mammals travel this region to include deer, black bears, snakes, giant-kin, ogres, large spiders, weasels, stirges, large cats, and wild boars. The larger beasts and fauna can be found a higher elevations predominantly but it is not uncommon for some of the predatorial monsters to walk down into the relief in order to hunt prey.
Hill giants tribes sit on various hilltops and overlook the valleys and reliefs. Fattest members lord over the others and lead the filthy dens of squalor and stench. The foul smell of these sites roll down with the wind and sometimes can cause a literal poisonous vapor to kill off plant and animal life of an area which the bulky monsters happily wander down to indulge in. While not in anyway domesticated, oozes have appeared in the region at times to feast on the remains of the giant's feasts. While hill giants are considered slow-witted, a few of the tribes contain "skiltgravr" (rune cutters) that will stomp out enormous marks into the rain shadow of their hillsides. It is unknown what these runes do but many steer clear of the voracious gluttons all together and don't have an urge to ask. Hill giant tribes have been seen competing with one another, throwing rocks at one another to knock each other down or throwing rocks at smaller creatures below to see who has the best aim. These games are short lived as the hill giants will quickly stumble down the hills to collect whatever is flattened in a hurry to eat.
Just as gluttonous and gruesome as their neighbors up the hills, ogres roam these lands, albeit primarily in the lower areas. Ogres love nothing more than dwarf, halfing, and elf flesh. The monsters take great care in collecting "treasures" from their victims. While mostly this amounts to junk, ogres will fight over shiny coins. Primitive wanders mostly, ogres would love nothing more than to settle near the outskirts of a rural community to steal livestock and later raid the farmhouse.
Whether it be traveling on the low roads or the high ones, an unwary traveling group is most likely to run into one of these giant tribes. Depending on which will determine just how quickly they will end up inside a monster's guts.
Hill giants tribes sit on various hilltops and overlook the valleys and reliefs. Fattest members lord over the others and lead the filthy dens of squalor and stench. The foul smell of these sites roll down with the wind and sometimes can cause a literal poisonous vapor to kill off plant and animal life of an area which the bulky monsters happily wander down to indulge in. While not in anyway domesticated, oozes have appeared in the region at times to feast on the remains of the giant's feasts. While hill giants are considered slow-witted, a few of the tribes contain "skiltgravr" (rune cutters) that will stomp out enormous marks into the rain shadow of their hillsides. It is unknown what these runes do but many steer clear of the voracious gluttons all together and don't have an urge to ask. Hill giant tribes have been seen competing with one another, throwing rocks at one another to knock each other down or throwing rocks at smaller creatures below to see who has the best aim. These games are short lived as the hill giants will quickly stumble down the hills to collect whatever is flattened in a hurry to eat.
Just as gluttonous and gruesome as their neighbors up the hills, ogres roam these lands, albeit primarily in the lower areas. Ogres love nothing more than dwarf, halfing, and elf flesh. The monsters take great care in collecting "treasures" from their victims. While mostly this amounts to junk, ogres will fight over shiny coins. Primitive wanders mostly, ogres would love nothing more than to settle near the outskirts of a rural community to steal livestock and later raid the farmhouse.
Whether it be traveling on the low roads or the high ones, an unwary traveling group is most likely to run into one of these giant tribes. Depending on which will determine just how quickly they will end up inside a monster's guts.
"I'm not sure what's worse...the stench or the sight of those bloated bastards. If I have to climb up one more of these hills to see one scratching himself again, I'm going to scream."
-Willos Thornbrush, halfling scout, deceased
-Willos Thornbrush, halfling scout, deceased
