Eloen Falls

"Go through the forest to where the bruberries grow, walk past the large oak, the one with a low hanging branch that we used to climb. Now, be quiet and listen for the sound of water. Follow that sound and soon you'll find Shadow Falls."
Such instructions are often given by teenagers to a younger sibling who is about to embark on the rite of passage for the children of Durnatel; making their way down the treacherous path to Eloen Falls all by themselves. The falls, nicknamed Shadow Falls, is a favorite meeting place of teenagers and young adults, who like to swim in the lake and picnic in the grass next to it. The climb down the rocky cliff that is required to get to the lake is too treacherous for younger children, and has been the cause of many a bruised knee and even the occasional broken leg. As such, it is a forbidden place that children are warned about, but as soon as they're old enough, they seek out, following whispered instructions from their older siblings or friends. As a rite of passage, their first trip to the falls has to be alone or it doesn't count.

Geography

Eloen Falls is a waterfall that is formed where the path of the Eloen River takes it over a rocky outcropping and then drops 60ft down into a canyon creating a waterfall with a small lake underneath. The rocky outcropping is a collapsed cave ceiling made of limestone. The small grotto behind the waterfall has stalagmites jutting out of the ceiling and extends about 30 ft behind the falls.
The pool that forms beneath the waterfall is about 25 ft. deep and appears jade green thanks to the lush vegetation that surrounds it.

Fauna & Flora

Flora

Deciduous trees such as ash, birch, aspen and oak grow in the forest around the falls. In the undergrowth one can find plentiful hazelnut bushes and burberry shrubs as well as many types of ferns and wildflowers.

Fauna

The forest around Eloen Falls is home to a variety of birds, insects and small mammals. Red squirrels can be found climbing in the nearby trees while voles, hares, hedgehogs and the occasional red fox can be found scurrying along the ground.
Birds such as grebes can be seen diving into the lake to catch minnows. One can also spot a robin, wren or a nuthatch and hear the hooting of a tawny owl or the tapping of a woodpecker. The small lake has several varieties of freshwater fish such as carp, bass and bluegill.

Natural Resources

Burberry bushes are abundant in the forest around the falls and despite the decline of this fruit in other parts of Amberjack Bay, the ones near here still have plenty of fruit in the summer. Their berries can be eaten as picked, made into jam, or baked into tarts, cakes, muffins and other sweets.
The water itself is clean and several varieties of freshwater fish such as carp, bass and bluegill, that can be caught in the lake.
In the fall, hazelnut bushes drop their nuts all over the forest floor to be picked up not just by squirrels and birds, but also as snacks by the visitors to the lake. The nuts can be ground into a flour that's used for baking, or chopped and baked into cakes and pastries.

When the Shadows Fall

"Run! Don't walk or crawl, get away before the shadows fall"
Despite the bravado and rebellious nature of the teens and young adults that visit Eloen Falls despite the warnings of their elders, they all know without question that they must head for home before the evening gets long and the shadows cover the lake. They whisper to each other the reasons why. "The green hag likes to dance here by moonlight." "The ghosts of drowned children come out of the pool at night." "The Beast hunts near the lake at night." "The shadows come alive after dark." Everyone has a theory, but few are brave enough to stay and find out. In fact, of the current generation of kids that go there, none know anyone in person that has stayed the night. No one that is, except Ol' Hayworth who lives at the edge of town and mostly keeps to himself. Rumor has it he visited when he was their age. And as everyone knows, "he ain't been right in the head since!"

Alternative Name(s)

Shadow Falls

Type

Waterfall

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