Keeper's Valley
"Many people come to this area when they're down and grey. You know, when it's less a bad day and goes into a bad decade. They find peace here, you can see it on their faces, and we only hope that it brings them some inner healing as well."
Geography
This was a hidden little valley between two mountains. There's a river coming in from the north that creates a small lake before everything runs out the south. At the lake part, there are flowers from both sides of the mountains, and two trees in the middle that are reaching out to touch one another with their branches.
Ecosystem
The area is under protection from the heavy snow that drops on the mountains and the nasty winds that they get. Because of this, there are flowers and animals that live in the little valley and who cannot stray from the area. This is nature's example of a self-contained biopshere.
Ecosystem Cycles
For the most part, the ecosystem doesn't really change throughout the seasons. If a person is patient and keen-eyed, they'll see that the lake level does change (grows deeper, shallower, etc.) during specific times of the year, but for the most part things stay the same. It's only in the dead of winter that the trees lose a little of the leaves they grew in spring (but the leaves are still soft and green) and that the flowers might lose a bit of their luster.
There's not much migration to and from this spot as the animals around the area are winter ones that wouldn't enjoy this nestled warm place and the warmth-loving animals are those who wouldn't enjoy the cold snow around them.
Localized Phenomena
The localized phenomenon here is that the whole biosphere is different from the surrounding area, and that it keeps itself continuing. There are just enough fish that the lake doesn't die out, there are just enough birds that the fish can continue to breed, and all the way up the evolutionary chain.
If anything, the weather itself (by being too "perfect summer day") is the stranger part of this. Only the few people that live there and take care of the area see that it can rain [for others it remains such an impossible thought that if a person does see rain on the day that they visit, they're supposed to have good luck for the next year.]
Fauna & Flora
There are too many types of flowers and animals to name them all, but below is a small list.
Flora:
- Mountain Caps: a flower that looks as if it's always going to blossom since the soft white petals never fall from the "bud."
- Blue Kisses: a flower that grows leaves that surround the bud in the center. The leaves are a bluish-green and look like a pair of lips.
- Oak tree: closer to the lake there are several old oak trees.
- Valley deer: a smaller than normal size from the more rugged deer that roam the frozen landscape, these deer are about the size of a large dog. They eat flowers and grass, and love to be petted by tourists.
- Rodents: in the Valley are mice, rabbits, shrews, and voles. While they nest all over the Valley, they've never been found in the food storage units.
- Silverfish: scales glittering, these fish are about the size of an average human arm and make for good eating.
Natural Resources
Because there is a control on the influx of people coming to the area and living there, there is a ban on the taking of natural resources. However, there are resources that are given out and which don't deplete the area (such as the "inner healing" that the Valley is famous for), but while that is a natural resource, it's not one that can be depleted. [Although the Keepers do warn that if the area is ruined, then the inner healing will also be depleted].
History
The history of this place is that two wanderers, one from each mountain, became lost in a snowstorm. The two of them were separated from their groups, but luck was with them since they were able to stumble into this area. They stayed here, got to know each other, and fell in love with the warm summer days.
Finally, each of their groups found the area as well, and when they came they asked their companions to come back with them. Both of them said no, and that they would like to stay in the hidden valley for longer. They tried to explain that something was calling them to continue being in the area.
Everyone said their goodbyes, and the two beings that stayed became known as the Keepers of the Valley.
Tourism
Tourism is very high for this area and that's why the Keepers of the Valley (now more than two people) keep the place from being overwhelmed. They allow only 50 beings in, no more and (with how popular the place is) no less. In addition to that, they also place a priority on those who need "inner healing."
What happens is that people line up in a waiting area off to the side, in a place that's part of the Valley since it's not cold and windy, but which also really isn't since people can't move around much. There, one of the Keepers comes over and begins to look over the visitors. The ones that are picked out are welcomed inside first, and those that haven't been picked will need to wait a bit longer.
When beings complained about this and said it was unfair, the Keepers reply was "We can close the Valley to everyone, and everyone will be harmed by that. Or, we will help this magical place benefit as many people as possible."
Worried about the loss as a whole, the complaints died down and the Keepers made a few adjustments to make things run a bit smoother. There is a place where people can teleport in (which makes it easier to stand in line) or leave if the time will be too long. In addition, there are new tickets that allow people to see how much of their wait time is remaining.
Because this wouldn't work well if a person is trying to take a vacation during a work week, it's known to set aside at least 3 days (4 if possible) and apply for a ticket early. That way a being doesn't have to give up their spot due to their job.
Type
Valley
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