camp

The Ivory Talons’ camp is nestled within the hollowed out trunk of an extremely large tree; stairs have been carved into the wood for easier traversal. The forge is located beneath the ground, dug out around the tree’s roots so as to avoid fire risk. The leader’s den is located at the highest point of the tree. The tree is still alive, and is carefully maintained to prevent parasites from eating the bark. Flowers that bloom at night are also carefully cultivated throughout the tree in the hopes of encouraging certain moths – those which are seen as messengers of the Celestial Canopy – to pollinate them. Minimal amounts of gold and silver adorn the den entrances. The Selenian River runs right next to camp, providing an easy water source.

lower lunar cascades

Only one waterfall of the Lunar Cascades lies within the Ivory Talons’ territory, alongside the lowest chasm that flows into the rest of the Selenian. The area is lush with vegetation and, depending on rainfall, may open up some small islands to traverse and fish from. The land around the area is fertile, but begins to thin out as it gets closer to the border at the edge of the Painted Desert.

selenian river

The end of the Selenian flows through the territory and splits into two forks, both of which flow all the way into the ocean. These sections of the river are rather fast moving, but not to the point where they are dangerous to swim in.

rainforest

The rainforest lies to the northwest of camp. It is the easiest area to traverse in the territory, as the ground is very rarely flooded. This area is abundant with prey and flora alike, and several trees within it are carved for ritualistic purposes.

cathedrals

The Cathedrals are a collection of shrines that have been built atop large, hollowed out trees located within the rainforest. The outside of the trees themselves are carved all the way up to their trunks, while the branches have been removed, causing the shrines to form deliberate peaks. Carved wooden tops with stained glass have been placed atop the peaks, and are arranged so that, when light shines through them, specific patterns of stars, constellations, and the moon are cast on the forest floor. They are still carefully maintained by the Clan, with occasional offerings of prey left inside them.

stairways to nowhere

Located around the Cathedrals and the camp, the Stairways To Nowhere are a collection of carved trees that have had their branches removed and trunks sharpened to points. Stairs are carved up them in a spiral pattern. They are carved with the intention of throwing off bats — which are considered messengers of the Infernal Forest by the Ivory Talons — thus preventing them from reaching important locations.

swamp

The swamp lies to the west of the Ivory Talons’ camp, taking up a large portion of the territory. Depending on the respective season’s rainfall, different parts of the swamp may be completely flooded. The Clan navigates the territory by jumping between the branches of trees, which are in abundance in this area. Swimming in the swamp can be dangerous, due to potential predators and the thick vegetation that grows in the water.

kingfisher's roost

The Kingfisher’s Roost is a mangrove forest at the northeast tip of the territory, where it is warmest. The area is habitually flooded, and provides breeding grounds for vast quantities of marine life and birds, making it an excellent hunting location.

serene shores

The Serene Shores are a beachfront near the Kingfisher’s Roost, boasting an idyllic shoreline that is useful for both sunbathing and fishing. It stretches along most of the northern portion of the territory, ending near the Archipelago.

fjords

The fjords are a collection of inlets with steep cliffsides that drop into the water. They are traversed by the Clan via overhanging trees, though navigating them can be dangerous due to the sheer drops. The further south one goes, the more inhospitable and cold the environment becomes. The Ivory Talons’ mines lay on the furthest southern fjord, as its mountainous terrain holds more metallic ore than any other portion of the Clan’s territory.

mines

The Ivory Talons’ mines are located on the farthest southern fjords, tucked away within a small mountainside. There are only a couple of mines clustered near each other on this fjord, due to the lack of mineral-rich areas within their territory. They can be rather treacherous to both travel to and work in due to the cold, rocky environment of the fjord.

ironwoods

The Ironwoods are an island to the east of both territories, containing a small mountain range, a deciduous forest, and an abundance of both terrestrial and marine prey. It has been fought over by both Clans for many cycles, but is currently in the possession of the Ivory Talons. It is rich in minerals, but no large-scale mine has been made on account of the constant fighting over the location.

camp

The Ridge Fangs’ camp is dug into a cenote that is bordered by the Palisades mountain range and the canyon. The top of the cenote is mostly covered by vegetation that has been placed and maintained by the Clan to obscure the camp’s location. A spiral staircase that extends to the bottom of the cenote has been dug into the walls, allowing cats to enter from the top, but most cats access camp through the Gilded Corridors. At the bottom of the cenote is a deep pit of groundwater where most of the Clan gets their water from. Dens are dug into the walls above the rocky shoreline, all of which include various decorations made of ornamental metals like gold and silver. The leader’s den faces north, and the entrance to the Gilded Corridors is south, with the other dens evenly distributed around them.

gilded corridors

The Gilded Corridors are a large system of tunnels and caverns, dug by the Ridge Fangs over several cycles. They originate within the camp, and sprawl all throughout the territory, with exits located in the canyon, the Painted Desert, near the mines, and near the Selenian river. Each exit of the caverns is carefully covered by a “trapdoor” made of rocks and vegetation, allowing for the caves to stay hidden from other animals. All areas within the corridors are carefully maintained, and often decorated with ornamental metals like gold and silver for navigational purposes. The corridors are used for escaping heat and predators, and for ease of access to different parts of the territory.

canyon

The canyon is a steep gorge close to the Ridge Fang camp, with towering tent rocks along its sides. A river flows at the very bottom, extending towards the Selenian and into the Lunar Cascades. Shrubs, grasses, and sparse conifer trees can be found growing alongside the river. The Mausoleum is located within the canyon.

mausoleum

The Mausoleum is a large pit shrine that has been dug into the wall near where the canyon begins to level out into the river. Its bottom is a sharp point, where offerings were once left for the founder of the Clan. A spiral staircase is carved into the rock, making it easy to reach the base of the shrine. Now abandoned, the Mausoleum was once a structure for venerating important ancestors in the Ridge Fangs’ history. The construction of the pit took centuries, and was extremely dangerous; cats who died during the construction were buried within its walls as a symbol of respect. It was abandoned once the Celestial Canopy disappeared.

painted desert

The Painted Desert makes up the vast majority of the Ridge Fangs’ territory. It is a large stretch of badlands, characterised by stratified layers of rock of various colours: mainly deep reds, but also oranges, whites, purples, and pinks. The area is full of steep, rocky slopes and buttes, and is mostly lacking in vegetation. Unlike much of the Ridge Fangs’ territory, this area receives sparse but heavy rainfall. The vegetation found here includes shrubs, grasses, and herbaceous plants. Trees are almost entirely lacking, only making sparse appearances where the badlands bleed into the forest that lies to the south.

petrified forest

The Petrified Forest is a large stretch of land that is brimming with petrified wood and fossils. It is located within the Painted Desert, and leads into the Sanguinary. Fossilised plants, preserved tracks, and animal fossils can be found throughout the area. Vegetation is only sparsely found throughout it, usually in the form of grasses and shrubs. There are no trees in this forest; it is only named after the commonly found petrified wood logs.

sanguinary

The Sanguinary is a large, salty alkaline lake by the mountains that lies tucked against the volcano, Heliosis. The lake is always deep red in colour, a phenomenon that is caused by the constant algae blooms that occur. It is extremely hot, making it very dangerous. Any animal that dies within the lake becomes calcified due to its chemical makeup. In the warmer months, as the water recedes and creates evaporite islands, thousands of flamingos flock to the lake to breed within it. Two fish species can be found within it, near the edges of the lake, but it is not safe for predators to fish them up without risking chemical burns.

mines

The Ridge Fangs’ mines are a collection of several mines built into the side of the mountain, where the Painted Desert begins to bleed into a more forested environment. They are rich in ores such as copper, gold, silver, and iron. They are spaced carefully apart to ensure safety. A small river runs beside the cluster of mines.

selenian river

A long river that flows from the Palisades, into the canyon, then out into the Lunar Cascades. Vegetation tends to grow around it in greater concentrations than anywhere else in the territory, especially as it draws closer to the Lunar Cascades. It is one of the only sources of water to be found within the majority of the Ridge Fangs’ territory.

upper lunar cascades

The Upper Lunar Cascades form the primary level of a tiered waterfall that flows off of a steep drop from the rocky canyon. It flows into a chasm that is filled with moss, trees, and other herbaceous plants. This area is the only part of the Ridge Fangs’ territory that is lush with flora. The fast moving water from the falls flows into a lower chasm where it then becomes the Lower Lunar Cascades.

lower lunar cascades

The Lower Lunar Cascades form the secondary level of the tiered waterfall that flows out of the canyon. Similar to the Upper Lunar Cascades, this section of the falls is lush with flora. This area can be difficult to get to due to the fast flowing waters. Several other mountain rivers empty into this area, amounting to a total of four falls within the Ridge Fangs’ territory. It flows into another water-filled chasm that runs into the river in Ivory Talon’s territory. This lowest chasm of this structure is impossible to get to, as it is always completely flooded.

archipelago

The archipelago is an island to the west of the territories. It is semi-mountainous, and has a small bamboo forest within it. Gatherings are held in front of a large meteorite, which acts as the speaking stone; it is said to be the first meteorite that fell into the territories. The other islands in the Archipelago are unreachable and mostly mountainous.

saturn hollow

The Saturn Hollow is a small cave behind a waterfall in the Lunar Cascades, closest to the Ivory Talons’ territory. A small staircase was carved into the side of the rock to make it easier for oracles to reach it. Within the cave is another small waterfall that leads to an area where a rare plant grows. Celestial moths, seen as a messenger of the Celestial Canopy, once bred only within this cave. Oracles drink from the waterfall before communing with the Celestial Canopy.

crystalline sands

The Crystalline Sands are a hot, sandy desert to the north of the Ridge Fangs’ territory. White crystals seem to “grow” in the sands, creating a crystal “hill”. Due to its lack of water and extreme heat, most cats do not venture too far within it.

quarry

The quarry is a deep, dangerous pit lake on the edge of the Ridge Fangs’ territory, located where the Painted Desert begins to bleed into the Crystalline Sands. Once a mineral-rich area, this artificial lake was formed through an experimental mining technique employed by the Ridge Fangs in which the vegetation, soil, and bedrock were all removed in order to reach valuable ore. Ledges were made down the sides of the mine for easy travel and rock removal. However, once the useful ore was successfully stripped from the area, it was completely abandoned; prey and vegetation never truly returned to the area. Over time, rainwater collected at the bottom of the pit, and never evaporated. The water is extremely cold and toxic due to exposure to leftover minerals, making it useless for drinking and dangerous to swim in. This type of mining has never been reattempted, but its scar remains.

brimstone mine

The Brimstone Mine is a large-scale, mineral-rich mine that is now abandoned. It was first made when the Clans were taught about metalworking, and was a neutral territory for both Clans to mine materials from. However, an accident caused a coal fire, which to this day continues to burn within the mine, rendering it practically unusable. The Clans still debate which side caused the fire. Venturing too deep within is extremely dangerous, due to smoke and the fact that it’s unmaintained. Unretrieved bodies of cats are used as grim progress markers. The upper levels – those safest to traverse – are completely stripped of metal ore. Deep within it, however, there are rumoured to be countless riches. Smoke can consistently be seen rising from it, and at night, the fire glows brightly.

palisades

The Palisades are a large mountain range with high peaks that reach into the territories — mainly that of the Ridge Fangs. Rivers flow out of it, formed from melted snow at the top of the peaks. It is a difficult to traverse environment with difficult to catch prey.

rivulets

The rivulets are small streams that flow out of the Palisades and into the Lunar Cascades. They are relatively slow moving and extremely cold, making for good drinking water for those within the mountains.

heliosis

Heliosis is a large volcano to the west of the Sanguinary that lies within the Palisades. The volcano has been dormant for many cycles, but stories are still passed down of its destructive power.