Netherglade

The Netherglade is a vast region of natural tropical wetlands in the central region of the Cathrican dominion of Skodia.

Geography

The system begins near Bailymena on the South side of the barrier range with the Rat Tail River, which empties into the vast-but-shallow lake called The Harloch. Water leaving the Harloch forms a long (200 mi/320km), broad (60 mi./100km at its widest), slow moving river that flows southwest across the broad limestone shelf which forms the bedrock of the Skodian Plateau, to empty into the Axion Sea on the south end of the Strait of Dyre.

Elemental Associations

Elemental factors influence climate, help to create, maintain, regenerate, or completely replace any of the Netherglade's many ecosystems.

Water

is the dominant force in the Netherglade; this is evident in both the landscape and in the flora and fauna which live in its fine climate and lush, garden-like environment. Fresh water saturates the limestone that underlies most of the island of Skodia, creating springs and sinkholes where the abundance of fresh water allows new vegetation to take root. These species transpire moisture into the atmosphere, causing massive convective thunderstorms and torrential seasonal downpours in the Winter and Summer seasons. These have create a massive wetland ecosystem which is the perfect habitat for aquatic and semiaquatic flora and fauna species seemingly without number.

Earth

The limestone bedrock of the Isle of Skodia which forms the basin of the Netherglade influences how long an area within the region stays flooded throughout the year. The soil of the Netherglade is largely peat; as such, while early farming efforts were successful, they quickly stripped the peaty soil of its nutrients, causing a loss of soil volume. Druidic techniques were applied by the Imperial Army Engineering Corps to restore the damage done to the land; as of the current writing, these are ongoing.

Fire

Fire performs a crucial role in the hygiene and maintenance of the Netherglade. En large, the bulk of fires are the result of lightning strikes from thunderstorms during the wet season; these tend to have a mainly superficial effect, and serve to promote plant growth by burning away dead vegetation.
In the dry season the fire may be fed by organic peat and burn deeply, destroying root systems. Fires are confined by existing water and rainfall, and are credited as the reason for the black colour of Netherglades muck.

Ecosystem

The Netherglade is a true biome; a complex system of interdependent ecosystems. Famously called "a river full of jungle" by early Cathrican settlers, that description fits only a few of the systems represented. Prior to drainage caused by colonization efforts, the Netherglade was a interconnected matrix of marshes, swampland, forest and prairies which dominated the Isle of Skodia outside of the Bailymena Hem. Borders between ecosystems are subtle to the point of imperceptibility and can shift, grow and shrink, die, or reappear within years or decades.

Grass Rivers

One of the primary features of the Netherglade are the wide bands of flooded grassland which constitute much of the central region of the area. These are largely home to sawgrass fields, which are in turn habitat to many species of birds, reptiles and bug life. Channels of water called sloughs form in the low spots between these, as do ponds and pools which teem with fish and other wildlife.

Cypress Swamps & Bayous

The Cypress domes which rise between the big swaths of flooded grassland and hem in the edges of the swamp are often home to colonies of drow elves, who occupy defensible villages in the canopy high above the head of the semi-feral, crocodilian lizardfolk native to the swamps below.

Ecosystem Cycles

Frequent flooding is common during the dry season, and rains anywhere upon the island can cause flash flooding in the otherwise droughtlike conditions of the dry season.

Fauna & Flora

Livestock: Braekel (Chicken) and Abyssian Shorthorn (Cattle) Prey: Warthogs Predators: Alligator, Leopard, PythonAquatic: Basa, Bass, Basa, Clams, Clams, and Catfish Trees: Mandarin Tree, Ebony, and Limba Grass: Leafy Reedgrass, Tufted Hair Grass, Grey Fescue Grass, Blue Fescue Grass, and Tall Fescue Grass Shrubs: Barberry, Blueberry Bush, Black Chokeberry, Lentil Plant, and Hornbeam Maple Moss: Baby Tooth Moss, Haircap Moss, and Catherine's Moss Vines: Bridal Creeper, Cross Vine, and Chocolate Vine.

History

Human habitation in the area dates back several millennia into the Lost Age, but as primary settlers humans are relative latecomers, arriving en masse from 200-500 IR following the Imperial Army's successful pacification of local fey natives.  (for more on this, see: "Skodia")
Initial colonization efforts involved the fortification and restoration of fey installations at Bael Menagh, whose powerful magical Node and supremely defensible location made it a prime location for an Imperial Foothold. (for more on this, see 'Bailymena') Following that, attempts at agriculture around the Harloch were initially successful but quickly depleted the unique peat soil endemic to the region.

Tourism

Niche industries in Bailymena do a boom business in big game hunting, leading expeditions of wealthy city-dwellers into the depths of the swamp in search of dangerous flora and fauna. (More on these below)

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Alternative Name(s)

The Bogland

Type

Wetland / Swamp

Location under

Skodia

Included Locations

• Poisonpool