A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Map
Oct 7, 2015 5:15:51 GMT
Post by ♏aple♢ on Oct 7, 2015 5:15:51 GMT
The Basin:
The clans' territories are located in a a basin, surrounded by a beautiful peaking mountain range. Nearly untouched by human hands, this place is a natural wonderland. The lands of the basin are varied and beautiful. From cropping hills to cold marshland, to trees that seem to never end and the deepest of waterfall caverns. But with nature comes danger, and this place is far from peaceful. Fierce predators haunt the wilderness, and plummeting Leaf-Bare temperatures bring snows that reach higher than any cat could dream of touch. The landscape itself, while beautiful at first glance, hides its own number of threats. Steep cliffs. Sinking mud. Collapsible caverns. Any number of things could take life- and any number of things could give it.
With a high altitude, the basin is generally cold. Its temperatures rarely rise beyond 80f at any point- and for many cats born in these lands, such a thing would be unheard of. Leaf-Bares are dangerous, and predators are fierce. This land is most well suited to thickly-coated and sturdily built cats, and yet their frailer counterparts still seem to find their ways to survive. Dozens- perhaps hundreds of miles from any twoleg settlement, many cats raised in these land will never learn what a twoleg is. All they have left to know them by are two bridges, the first spanning the land between the Sunset Plains and the Mountain Marshes, and the second tucked away in a secluded corner of the Southern Forest. The mountain range beyond the basin is rarely explored, but word can only spread about the dangers that inhabit them.
Cedarclan's territory and landmarks: The northern lands are beautiful. Their lands are diverse, partial hills and partial forest. The hills are absolutely breathtaking. Nearly every unforested inch is covered in flowers during New-Leaf, Green-Leaf, and even a bit into Leaf-Fall. They have a wonderful abundance of herbs, and their small plane areas aren't quite as dangerous as the more southern areas which are croppier and less-forested. Their forests trees are absolutely massive- far larger than any cats have ever seen before. Oftentimes they're as thick as a twoleg monster. Both awe-inspiringly beautiful and breath-takingly terrifying.
• Pebble pool - A short ways from the edge of the forest is quite a beautiful little place. Deep in the forest is a shimmering and crystal clear pool filled with beautiful pebbles. They're very reflective and colorful. Its quite a beautiful place. Some say that they can see underwater tunnels when the water is low enough...
• The Twisted Tree - Near the edge of the plains and towards the Stone Peaks are a large but shallow lake and the Twisted Tree. As its name would suggest, it is a huge and very twisted tree. Its bark is rough and light in color, and not a single leaf is upon its branches. Its as if it was twisted by the paws of Starclan themselves. Young cats enjoy playing and climbing here. However, cats must be wary of predators from the stone peaks.
Southern Sunset Plains Territory and Landmarks: The more southern areas of the Sunset Plains are definitely the clearest in the valley. There's barely a tree in sight! Occasionally there are trees or shrubbery,however they are few and far between. Its just about all all steep and rocky hills. They can be quite dangerous for a cat who doesn't know their way around. There are many hidden holes and valleys. If someone doesn't watch their step they could easily be swept into a fast mooing underground stream or pit. There are tall grasses and rocky terrain over just about all of these fields. This can make it particularly hard for someone who doesn't know the land to get around. Cats have to be swift and hard-padded to survive here.
• Tunnels - Beneath all of the Sunset Plains is a maze of tunnels, small caves, burrows and sets. These are incredibly useful for the cats who wander the places without much coverage they need to escape in a pinch. While most of these are natural, some cats also know how to dig. Most don't know of these tunnels, but they can be dangerous if you fall into them.
• Covered Cavern - In one of the few places with coverage in this land, there is a large, bent over tree. Or is it a bush? It lies low to the ground, twisting and curling over top of something. This something is in fact, a cave. The top is actually half open, but covered by the tree very securely. If you venture into this cave, you will find the a large clearing with what remains of small tunnels to dens in the walls.
• Sunning Stones - A short ways away from the Covered Cave is a lovely outcropping of large blocky stones. They're perfect for sunning. Some are small, but most of them are tall. Its close enough to coverage that queens, elders, and kits can come here for a day of relaxing if they so please.
• The Hot Springs - About halfway across the Sunset Plains is something never before seen by many cats. And that is... warm water. There is a large underground hot spring. Its the perfect temperature for swimming and relaxing. No fish swim here and the water is rather murky. It isn't too deep, but at its deepest point the springs are as deep as perhaps three very tall cats. The surrounding areas are marshy and muddy, quite a contrast with the rest of the plains. Still, cats must watch their step even here.
Cedarclan-Marshclan Border The border between Cedarclan and Marshclan is a stark one, and the only known trace of twoleg activity in the basin. An old, rickity bridge hangs far above a roaring waterfall. Wooden and laced with thick rope, despite it's indeterminable age it's held fast for years. The roaring rapids below are filled with sharp rocks, and some say the plummet into it's lowest lake is immeasurable. The river leading up to it is impossibly wide, and would be just as impossible to swim across. Unlike the lakes and rivers dotting Marshclan's territory, it is anything but peaceful.
Marshclan's territory and landmarks:
Marshclan's territory is as their name would suggest, marshy and full of streams. It's the most highly elevated land in the basin beside the Stone Peaks and the Northern Sunset Plains, as the three are closest to the largest mountains. This land may be forested, but it isn't a thick forest by any means. Maybe slightly underwhelming, but the birch covering is a comfortable one. The same can be said of their undergrowth. There isn't much of it, but what is there is tolerable. Its a generally easy to traverse land, so long as you don't mind getting your paws a bit wet. The nearby lakes provide great opportunities to fishing, and are deep enough to hold quite large creatures. Some rumor that there are even ones bigger than cats.
• Streams - As previously mentioned, this land is crisscrossed with many streams.
• Waterfall - Between the Sunset Plains and the Mountain Marshes is a massive waterfall. It stretches down farther than two trees stacked upon eachother, and at its bottom there are sharp stones. It is a very dangerous place. Connecting the two areas is a hanging rope and wood bridge.
• Mossy Hollow - The mossy hollow is a place located on a small hill between two streams. Its completely covered in moss, not a patch of dirt or grass to be seen. Its quite large and very comfortable. The perfect spot for collecting herbs, relaxing, playing, or even training.
Southern Forest Lands and Landmarks: The Southern Forest is incredibly thick and dense. Unlike the sparser areas of the Stone Peaks, The Sunset Plains, and The Mountain Marshes, there are barely any open spaces here at all. The northern and southern areas of the Southern forest still have their differences however.
In the northern area, The trees are thick and closely packed, moss draping off of the branches and bark. But it isn't only the trees that are covered in moss. No, the entire land is. Nearly every part of the northern southern forest is coated in moss. What isn't has shrubbery or thick undergrowth. Its a very soft territory. Plenty of coverage and foliage, Cats used to sparser lands would have a hard time getting around. It's a dark land, though not as dark as the far southern forest.
The far southern forest is by far the darkest out of all of the lands in the mountains. Its trees are far, far more thickly packed than those of the northern southern forest. In fact, the tall pines and firs actually create a sort of roof over the forest. Barely any light is able to seep through to touch the ground. Their territory is the flattest of all of the territories save for their back, which is a steep stone cliff. Undergrowth is equally thick and sparse, though it all depends on the place. Oftentimes it will seem more like evening than morning in this darkly forested territory.
• The Tangled Trees - The tangled trees are one of the higher area's most useful landmarks. It is an enclosed hollow full of trees who's branches have been tangled together, forming a sort of hanging maze. Around the hollow is a curtain of moss and lichen, muffling sounds. Upon the floor is thick, soft moss. It is the perfect place for all kinds of training, and it is also a perfect and safe place to rest.
• Sunny Hollow - Surprisingly enough, there is one place in the northern area that is as open as can be. Its about the size of a camp despite not being one, and covered flat warm stones heated by the sun. Its perfect for relaxing after a long day or chatting with friends.
• The Hidden Grotto - Past a large stream and over a mossy twoleg bridge, its a bit of a walk to get to this beautiful landmark. But its certainly worth the walk. The hidden grotto is a beautiful little clearing. Mossy and round stones surround a perfectly blue spring. Its very deep in color and is the cleanest water source around. Herbs grow abundantly here.
• Brackish Pond - About halfway the lower southern forest is a very brackish and shallow pond. It's a bit on the dirty side. No fish live here and it comes up to the height of a deer at its deepest point. For the most part it is quite shallow however. Its not recommended to drink from it.
• Cliffs - The entirety of the lower Southern Forest's back border is an extremely large and steep cliff-face. The cliffs are a very high and dangerous place. But at the very top there is a huge stone which overlooks all of the valley.
• The Waterfall - Above the cliffs is a large river. It is fast flowing and fierce, rapids frothing white as snow. But it doesn't end above the cliffs. No, it ends in it. The river comes crashing down in a loud and impossibly loud waterfall. Its sound can be heard halfway across the forest. It drops into a large and very deep pool. Cats can't even see the bottom of it. Behind the waterfall is a massive cave, dark and holding the remains of what used to be a camp. There are small scoops in the earth filled with sand which used to be nests. It is difficult to get back there if you don't know its there, however.
Stone Peaks Lands and Landmarks: The Stone Peaks are a very bleak land. Above them seems to hover a constant cloud coverage, and the lands themselves seem to radiate a sort of... darkness. This alone already wards cats away. And if that doesn't, the plentiful predators and tough will. Many of the larger predators make their home in these lands, and what prey lives there is large and dangerous to catch. There is no grass, only hard stone and rocky gravel. This leads to any cats walking here having to have very tough pads. The peaks from which they gain their namesake stretch high into the sky, dark and intimidating. Few cats dare to venture here.
• Shadow Cave - Halfway up the highest peak is a large, gaping cave. It is extremely difficult to get up this high if you don't know the path there. Its very easy to slip and fall to your death. However if you do make it to the cave, it is quite rewarding. Instead of hard gravel, this open-faced cave is lined with soft sand. In the back of the cave is an underground spring, bubbling with clean water- something hard to find in this land. It is an oasis in the desert, so to speak. From this cave, you can see across all of the Stone Peaks.
Aurora Hill In the center of the valley is steep incline, stretching above the surrounding areas though not quite to the height of the mountains. In the center is a beautiful grove of weeping willows and moon flowers. The grove is a very sacred place to the cats of the mountains. During certain times of the year, this place provides the most beautiful view of the aurora to be found. To the south of the hill is a beautiful crystal clear lake, considered to be sacred by some as well. This entire place is neutral territory and shall be treated as such.
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