Ewige Vuur (Eh-wee-gay Voo-er)

Written by Mels

Geography

A low valley ringed in a semi-circle of hills and mountains of moderate height; a collection of streams gather in the center of the valley to form a casually flowing river that passes out of Ewige Vuur. The valley itself is relatively arid and barren with jagged cracks across the surface of the ground, contributing to the lifeless atmosphere.

Ecosystem

Due to the consistent stream of smoke that flows up from the mines, visible toxic gas looms on the surface of the ground. As a result of the poisonous nature of the smoke, and the quick death that results from its inhalation, the ground is dotted with the corpses of numerous creatures in various states of decay. The water in the river that runs through Ewige Vuur is also toxic due to sediment deposits, with all this considered, the valley houses little to no life.

Ecosystem Cycles

In the winter months, the valley accumulates snow which, depending on the temperature, helps to reduce the breadth of the smoke. The height of the poisonous nature of the The Valley of Eternal Smoke is in the summer months when the heat fans the ever burning flames of the mine to temperatures high enough that the ground becomes hot to the touch.

Localized Phenomena

As a result of the continuous burning of the mine as the flames spread along the vein of coal, the sturdiness of the ground has become compromised in some areas. Should one accidentally misstep within the valley, it is possible that the crust could fracture and the helpless victim would tumble into the impossible heat of the bowels of the mines. Likewise, the reverse is also possible, as pockets of gas are trapped and build up beneath the surface of the land, with the right amount of pressure, the gas has been known to erupt in a deadly geyser of smoke and heat.

Fauna & Flora

Plant life of the valley is remarkably hardy and able to withstand the toxic air through internal filtering systems; a majority of the flora is shrub-like and woody with few leaves. Similarly, very few creatures are able to survive in the harsh environment of Ewige Vuur, however some have been able to adapt and utilize the landscape as a natural safeguard from predators. The most prevalent of creatures that have evolved to withstand the acrid climate are known as the Mammoth Shrew.

Natural Resources

The subterranean coal mines are presumed to, despite the damage from the fires, run deep underground and still be teeming with resources, however most have given up on attempting to access the deposit.

History

Founded and settled long before the Formation, Ewige Vuur was once a prosperous and lively area of the continent of Ankroth. Despite it's location in what is now known as the Northern Wastes, the positioning of a cluster of moderately sized mountains fostered the formation of a lavish valley, the name of which has been lost to time. Due to the mountainous setting and the rapid discovery of a generous deposit of coal and other valuable natural material below the surface, a company of Mountain Dwarves quickly settled in the area. Over time, as the valley continued to prove fruitful, the dwarf company grew into a village and then a large settlement with equal presence of structures above ground as below. Ewige Vuur continued on in this way for generations before disaster struck in the early years after the Formation. Historians struggle to come to an agreement about what exactly lead to the present state of the valley but in one way or another the subterranean coal mine was ignited and fire quickly spread throughout the many interconnected tunnels of the mine. The aftereffects of the burning mine led to many individuals fleeing the valley to settle elsewhere while many others remained and died from the noxious fumes belched out of the mine, earning the nickname of The Valley of Eternal Smoke. At present, the remaining structures above ground are skeletons of their original forms, shrouded in the smog that continues to billow from the cracks in the ground; the entire valley has appeared to be abandoned.

Music:

Alternative Name(s)

The Valley of Eternal Smoke

Type

Badlands

Location under

Northern Wastes

Related Ethnicities

• Shale Dwarf

Inhabiting Species

• Mammoth Shrew