Kundainian Plains (Koon-DAY-nee-an)
Rippling grass in all directions...
While typically referring to the immediate surroundings of the great city Bainshaebo, the Kundainian Plains region is the single largest biome on Planet Thanged, spanning either side of the Winding White along the equator and lower two-thirds of the northern hemisphere, broken intermittently only by the Eastern Jungle. With its fertile soil, lush grasses, and easy access to the Winding White, the Plains of Kundain hosts not only the advanced Thangien civilization but the vast majority of land animal species. Everything from the tiny sttanavoseni to the towering Grand Cresta roam the seemingly endless sea of grass.
Geography
Kundain is composed of both flat grasslands and shallow rises, enjoying abundant sunlight from the Twin Suns. The Winding White and associated creeks and streams provide the bulk of water with occasional springs welling up from the bedrock. Thangiens use the unit ril to measure land, but the exact size of the plain remains unknown. Even the renowned Deres only mapped the portion immediately lining the Winding White.
Ecosystem
The soft porous soil facilitates rapid plant growth but limits the existence of standing water pools. Root tubers can be found by persistent kirya or Crestas. Wild grains are a favorite snack of roaming herds but not suitable for human consumption. While kirya herds are quite large, the hunting habits of gherfen keep the population at a stable level.
Ecosystem Cycles
The length of a cycle where the Twin Suns are closest together is considered the "flood season" where glacial melt from the Northern Ring will send the Winding White over its banks. Thunderstorms sweep over the plain with increased frequency. The "storm season" occurs when the Twin Suns are farthest apart and results in violent wind storms between the Northern Ring and Eastern Jungle. Most species will avoid either extreme except for the ever-opportunistic gherfen, who will attack pei monkeys if they are confined to their trees for too long.
Localized Phenomena
The corridor ranging between the Northern Ring Glacier and the Eastern Jungles is subject to increased tornadic activity during the "storm season". First observed by Deres in his travels, storm fronts cycle down, raking across the land, flaying soil and uprooting even the strongest of trees. Not only does this provide access to precious hardwoods, this serves as a pollination vector and provides soil aeration. Thunderstorms also frequent the zone bordering the Northern Ring and Winding White, resulting in periodic floods.
Fauna & Flora
Notable Plants
Richtho Bush
Richtho bushes can grow in secluded wallows and animals seem to recognize their properties as they will rub themselves against plants to sooth aches and wounds. The most desperate will eat leaves whole, which is not advisable for a human. Freelanders seeking quick relief will follow herds to such wallows to harvest leaves.Notable Animals
Kirya Cattle
Primary source of meat for both humans and gherfen. Known for their placid nature.Grand Cresta
The wild beast horses famed for their blade-like bone crest adorning their head. Untameable.Gherfen
The infamous "Helmed Hawk". Will execute fast dives to impale hapless prey.Pei Monkey
Simple primates frequenting tree tops. Will scream in alarm if gherfen are sighted.Vitreelas
Flightless avian and carrion feeder. Known as the ugliest animal on the planet.Golden-furred Tree Bear
Plodding omnivore. Spends most of its time foraging and sleeping in shade.Sttanavoseni
Small burrowing mammal. Acts as a soil aerator and seed vector.Natural Resources
Ore
Negligible. While it is possible to pan the banks of the Winding White, no significant veins have ever been discovered on the plain itself. It is possible to find chunks of raw ore occasionally knocked loose from a rock formation, the quality and quantity is generally deemed not worth the effort by city-dwelling artisans. Freelanders might find some use.Minerals
Limited. Salt deposits turn up from time to time in wallows, but these are almost exclusively hoarded by kirya herds. The soil itself is very spongy, able to absorb water quickly. If mineral deposits exist it would be within the bedrock, but Roth's Edict prohibits any form of deep mining, even for the purposes of surveying.Oil
Negligible. Springs are generally found closer to the Southern Salt than out on the plain. Occasionally a traveller will spot a sickly looking tree. It is thought such trees indicate the presence of crude pockets, but this has never been investigated.Sulfur
Negligible. Small deposits might turn up in rock formations but larger nodes are found farther south.Precious and Semiprecious Gems
Negligible. Gems are primarily found along the Winding White and Gual de Phu Aclu. A raw stone may turn up kicked loose during a heated duel between Crestas, but these are far and few in between.Biomass
Very Abundant. The plains sustains the largest concentration of wildlife and plant life on the planet with the exception of the Eastern Jungle. The waist-high grasses primarily serve as fodder for local herds but it takes a keen eye to discern plants and flowers with practical uses.Hardwoods
Limited. The trees dotting the plain are not suitable for firewood or construction being rather spongy but the roots wind deep and keep the soil rich. They also provide habitats for a variety of insects and serve as perches for pei monkeys and dining destinations for tree bears.Stone
Limited. Stone can be found in scattered formations, usually exposed as a result of caevas storms.Water
Very Abundant. The Winding White provides the majority of fresh water but small ponds formed from rainwater can be found scattered throughout the plain. The recent discovery of vast aquifers beneath the bedrock debunked the old myth about the lack of oceans, but water from these aquifers exists only in isolated springs, creating small oases. The aquifers can be tapped with artesean wells, but few Thangiens are willing to risk Roth's ire with the exception of a handful of lonesteaders and Freelanders.History
Named for Kundai-one of the co-designers of the great city of Bainshaebo- the plains provided food and supplies for the earliest aboriginal humans displaced via rift over ten thousand years ago. Nomadic tribes ranged throughout the green belt until the discovery of the Winding White and the mysterious structure later called Peirolyth, around which Bainshaebo would be built. After the completion of the city walls, Roth decreed the populace, now dubbed Thangiens, live solely within the walls. Vast crops are maintained in the immediate area to support the populace, and a handful of families known as lonesteaders dwell further out from the city.
Kundain3.gif
Kundain #3
by
Mardrena
Made with Flowscape
Tourism
Kundain can refer to the expanse of farms surrounding the city of Bainshaebo itself, but the plain covers a huge swath of the planet. Thangien youths undergo the practice of freelanding in order to cut their teeth on the world at large. Freelanders-Thangiens who eschew life behind city walls in favor of the nomadic life of their ancestors-primarily avoid Bainshaebo and keep to the opposite side of the planet, ranging along the southern hemisphere and the border between the plain and the Southern Salt while giving the Eastern Jungle a wide berth.
A crisp breeze rifled through the long stalks of a coarse grass that covered a wide plain dotted with gnarled trees. The grass began swaying violently and rippled outward in a circle from an area on the ground. A bright blue light erupted from the center of the disturbed grass and within seconds a large group of beings materialized on the plain.
Kundain2.gif
by
Mardrena
Made in Flowscape
“Whats so special about Kundain?” Kento asked absently. “Most of Bainshaebo’s produce comes from the plantations just outside the city walls, but their chief source of meat, grains, and roots is the Kundainian Plains region. Think of it as the breadbasket of Bainshaebo,” Rowen explained. “Yeah, so if that gets wiped out that means no more Thangien cuisine for you,” Cale taunted. “Those bastards!!” Kento growled and clenched his fist.
Alternative Name(s)
Plains of Kundain
Type
Plain
Location under
Included Locations
Related Ethnicities
Related Traditions
Inhabiting Species
Related Myths
Kundain4.gif
by
Mardrena
Made in Flowscape
Yulie flew over the Plains of Kundain astride White Wind. He wanted to find a special present for his mother to take home, and what better than an exotic plant from Thanged. He spotted what looked like a well-tended garden far out on the plain. Wind came in for a landing and Yulie hopped out of the saddle. Most of Thanged’s farmers preferred to remain close to the city, and yet here stood a simple cottage far from any other habitation.
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