The Shimmering Wilds
West and north of Alven lies the Shimmering Seas, a vast ocean of unknown size and length, home to the Selkes.
Unbeknown to most Alvenish clansmen, this sentient, highly magical species of changelings have lived for millennia on the outskirts of a vast marine plain they named: the Shimmering Wilds.
The Shimmering Wilds is a forever rolling plains of tree-like seaweed or kelp, teeming with life, that expands for hundred of miles in the cool and clear waters of the northern ocean. The Wilds' ecosystem has supported the Selkes' communities since the dawn of their civilization.
The Shimmering Wilds are so vast that they have not yet been mapped successfully. Stretching for hundred of miles in any one directions they are bordered on the western side by the towering dark basalt masses of the Duncrest Mountains and the Barren Heights.
On the north side, the Western Ledge peaks, home to many thriving Selkes' settlements, form another natural barrier. However on the eastern and southern sides the Wilds gradually descend into the dark lands of the Aikern Abyss.
Most Selke scholars agree that the Wilds present at least six different habitats:
Stretching to the south of the Wilds, the Velamor is a scrubby kelp forest that stretches for miles among gentle currents and clear waters. As throughout most of the Wilds, the luminosity here is fairly good especially when swimming above the short kelp.
The kelp in this part of the Wilds is only at a humanoid's height with only very few kelp-trees to be found in its midst. However, it is not without its dangers and travellers should be very wary of its apparent tranquillity and beauty.
Velamor is where the ancient Selke ruined city of Velasir can be found - if you can find your way to it.
The Greenway is a naturally forming gorge that serves as a path through the Shimmering Wilds.
This is the only path through the Wilds that is relatively safe to follow. However there are safer ways to reach the Selkes' cities in the Western Ledge than the Greenway and as such, the gorge is not very well travelled.
The Greenway boasts of the only permanent settlements in the Wilds: a hamlet by the name of Zanfar. In Zanfar, weary travellers and hunters can avail themselves of a bed, food and basic supplies.
the Lightshade kelp forest, as its names suggests, is less dense and thus, lighter than its counterpart the High Kelp.
It stretches from the Greenway in the east to the end of the Wilds in the west - hundreds of miles of gently waving kelp teeming with wildlife. It is by far the Selkes' favourite hunting grounds and the home of their favourite mount: the Bluefin (a small whale-like creature they have domesticated millennia ago.)
A desolate place, yet not without its charm, the Seamors is a place of legend and magical happenings.
The Selkes deem it a sacred land and it is forbidden to hunt among the purple seaweed.
One can still see, hidden among a rocky outcrop, the ruins of an ancient Selke temple. Antiquarians assume that these vestiges are linked to the ruined city of Velasir, much further to the west.
The Shimmersands are an immense bank of sand dunes at the end of the Western Ledge, rising from the floor of the Shimmering Seas.
Some Selke scholars dispute the fact that the Sands are part of the Wilds, but traditionally they have been seen as one and the same as many species that are thriving in the Lightshade kelp forests have also colonised parts of the less hospitable dunes.
Some species of fish like the Ridgeback have even evolved a subspecies specifically adapted to the more sparse conditions of the dunes.
The Shimmering Wilds is only affected by very few things during the year. The Duncrest mountains protect the expanse from the worst of the winter storms.
Sometimes, the train of a ferocious storm can be felt in the kelp forests and the seamors, and the gentle swaying seaweeds start swirling and gyrating with the strength of the conflicted currents.
The Selkes call this type of marine weather: the Churn.
Selkes know that while the Churn is on, there is no point of going hunting as most sea creatures will take refuge while it is on. Happily, Churns usually only last a day or two.
The life of the kelp forest is dictated by the life cycle of the different kelp species it is made of. Many species are dependent on it for their survival.
In general, kelp grows over a 10 year period before it dies and regrows.
The bigger and taller the kelp, the longer its life cycle is. It is rumoured that some giant tree-kelp in the High Forest are centuries old although this has not been verified.
Unbeknown to most Alvenish clansmen, this sentient, highly magical species of changelings have lived for millennia on the outskirts of a vast marine plain they named: the Shimmering Wilds.
The Shimmering Wilds is a forever rolling plains of tree-like seaweed or kelp, teeming with life, that expands for hundred of miles in the cool and clear waters of the northern ocean. The Wilds' ecosystem has supported the Selkes' communities since the dawn of their civilization.
Geography
The Shimmering Wilds are so vast that they have not yet been mapped successfully. Stretching for hundred of miles in any one directions they are bordered on the western side by the towering dark basalt masses of the Duncrest Mountains and the Barren Heights.
On the north side, the Western Ledge peaks, home to many thriving Selkes' settlements, form another natural barrier. However on the eastern and southern sides the Wilds gradually descend into the dark lands of the Aikern Abyss.
Ecosystems
Most Selke scholars agree that the Wilds present at least six different habitats:
The Velamor
Stretching to the south of the Wilds, the Velamor is a scrubby kelp forest that stretches for miles among gentle currents and clear waters. As throughout most of the Wilds, the luminosity here is fairly good especially when swimming above the short kelp.
The kelp in this part of the Wilds is only at a humanoid's height with only very few kelp-trees to be found in its midst. However, it is not without its dangers and travellers should be very wary of its apparent tranquillity and beauty.
Velamor is where the ancient Selke ruined city of Velasir can be found - if you can find your way to it.
The High Kelp
The Greenway is a naturally forming gorge that serves as a path through the Shimmering Wilds.
This is the only path through the Wilds that is relatively safe to follow. However there are safer ways to reach the Selkes' cities in the Western Ledge than the Greenway and as such, the gorge is not very well travelled.
The Greenway boasts of the only permanent settlements in the Wilds: a hamlet by the name of Zanfar. In Zanfar, weary travellers and hunters can avail themselves of a bed, food and basic supplies.
The Lightshade Forest
the Lightshade kelp forest, as its names suggests, is less dense and thus, lighter than its counterpart the High Kelp.
It stretches from the Greenway in the east to the end of the Wilds in the west - hundreds of miles of gently waving kelp teeming with wildlife. It is by far the Selkes' favourite hunting grounds and the home of their favourite mount: the Bluefin (a small whale-like creature they have domesticated millennia ago.)
The Seamors
Tucked away on the southern edge of the Wilds is a wide expanse of short purple seaweed, known as The Seamors.A desolate place, yet not without its charm, the Seamors is a place of legend and magical happenings.
The Selkes deem it a sacred land and it is forbidden to hunt among the purple seaweed.
One can still see, hidden among a rocky outcrop, the ruins of an ancient Selke temple. Antiquarians assume that these vestiges are linked to the ruined city of Velasir, much further to the west.
The Shimmersands.
The Shimmersands are an immense bank of sand dunes at the end of the Western Ledge, rising from the floor of the Shimmering Seas.
Some Selke scholars dispute the fact that the Sands are part of the Wilds, but traditionally they have been seen as one and the same as many species that are thriving in the Lightshade kelp forests have also colonised parts of the less hospitable dunes.
Some species of fish like the Ridgeback have even evolved a subspecies specifically adapted to the more sparse conditions of the dunes.
Ecosystem Cycles
The Shimmering Wilds is only affected by very few things during the year. The Duncrest mountains protect the expanse from the worst of the winter storms.
Sometimes, the train of a ferocious storm can be felt in the kelp forests and the seamors, and the gentle swaying seaweeds start swirling and gyrating with the strength of the conflicted currents.
The Selkes call this type of marine weather: the Churn.
Selkes know that while the Churn is on, there is no point of going hunting as most sea creatures will take refuge while it is on. Happily, Churns usually only last a day or two.
The life of the kelp forest is dictated by the life cycle of the different kelp species it is made of. Many species are dependent on it for their survival.
In general, kelp grows over a 10 year period before it dies and regrows.
The bigger and taller the kelp, the longer its life cycle is. It is rumoured that some giant tree-kelp in the High Forest are centuries old although this has not been verified.
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