A Cursory Study of the Petran Commonwealth’s Ecology

[ColdestPepsi 1176]

 

A Cursory Study of the Petran Commonwealth’s Ecology

 

Issued and averred by

Prince

Gareth of the Petra and of Astor

Reasons for this study

Growing up I found myself fascinated by the world around me. Much to my mother’s amusement I brought bagworm beetles from the countryside into the city, the things enjoying the grazing which I would lead and leave them to during the day. This love for such was strong enough for me to spend most of my time until now out in the wild much to my partner’s annoyance at times. This study would not be published however if not for the contributions of Carté Grauphier an outré individual as it defines itself. They were especially swayed to participation by a population of wild Snorgus they found and were immediately enamored by such. Additionally the focus of this survey for animals is meant to try and talk of the unique, what sets Petra apart, so aside from a one or two things it should be the less mundane.

 

Grasslands of the Petra

Map of Official Regions

Map of Officially Named Landmarks

 

Grasslands of the Petra

Queen’s Meadows

The Queen’s Meadows are vast and sprawling throughout The Commonwealth’s lands and claims. Long sweeping fields of grass and small hills populate it from as far north as Ladyr to as far south as Seviel and Renilcia. The rich and soft earth makes it perfect for the flowers and herbs which can dot the landscape with blissful and elf’s hair being able to be found. Homes and such can be found throughout the Queen’s Meadows, breaking up the natural habitats of the animals which live within such. 

Bagworm Beetles

Of course, I cannot also not talk about the Queen’s Meadows without talking about our benevolent beetle population. The Bagworm Beetle population of Petra are stupid like all others. These beloved big beetles are friendly to a fault, unable to see descendants as threats and instead are able to be guided around by rope with ease. They graze and feed on the grasslands of the meadows, warding off predators with their natural armored plating. They will end up collecting various sticks and rocks wherever they are left alone. Ultimately this  makes them excellent at assisting in collection of debris or clearing a tree blocking a road if left over time to their own choices, they are, I have found, to be the best little kleptomaniacs. In short, I love them. 

 

Forests of the Petra

 The Konnywald

Named for the man who would go on to push for and popularize the concept of settling the Solland. The Konnywald is a moderate sized wood shaped like a capital C mirrored. The woods are made up of mostly birch trees with a few oak trees mixed in. 

Boars

Descending from wild pigs which escaped their farmsteads as well as truffle pigs, the boars which inhabit the Konnywald have reverted to far more primal existences. Extremely violent and large these boars will not hesitate to attack any who might happen upon them. They have become such a nuisance in their numbers that I might recommend hunting them en masse on horseback in an attempt to dent their numbers to a point in which they do not destroy the undergrowth of the Konnywald.

Giant Bird

Rarely sighted but with enough similar detail to each report from locals in the Solland is the visage of giant birds. Said to pick up boars which have wandered into areas of the Konnywald with openings in the canopy. These might be attributed to a mystery type of large bird which last appeared to pick up and carry off a woman who was later saved. Though the idea of a large bird carrying off women may be concerning, notably the sightings of the birds to carry off the boars are smaller. Thus, they are likely to be the surviving descendants of the woman-abducting bird.

 

The Cadaver Copse

Named after the amount of bodies that show up in these winding woods, the Cadaver Copse stretched across multiple regions of the Commonwealth and her claims. It takes up parts of the Solland, most of Seviel and the center bottom of Renilcia. Multiple theories reign for why the woods are prone to bodies with Solland Lumberjacks telling stories of a crazed man in blue armor cutting them down without mercy with reports of these fading in recent decades after the Covenant war. Another leading theory is the proximity to the cave in which Queen Catherine was nearly sacrificed. Potentially meaning to attacks by the Deadmen upon unsuspecting people in Seviel. Much like the Konnywald the Cadaver Copse is made up of mostly birch trees with a few oak trees mixed in. Notably the Cadaver Copse is eerily silent throughout many parts of it with notably few animals being able to be spotted within such.

Vultures

A common occurrence within the Cadaver Copse, these birds are commonly seen to go after the frequent amount of bodies which turn up within the Cadaver Copse. Rarely have I seen a carrion bird which was not well fed within the woods. The average wingspan of these I best estimate to be somewhere around five to six feet,their wingspan being larger is likely to be due to their plentiful meals. The sounds of one of these birds is likely to be a welcome change of pace in one’s trip into the Cadaver Copse from the near unnatural silence which usually permeates this forest.

The Ladyr’s Brake

A part of a much larger wood, Ladyr’s Brake is the section of woods which Petra gained in the peace which came about as forced by the Covenant after the Veletz war. The woods are of pine trees which needle up into the sky, covering almost all of the western section of Ladyr. Parts near the paths of the wood have a layer of old undergrowth to them which makes traversing through some parts difficult as one must watch their step so as to not get your foot snagged on a root.

Petran Deer

A simple animal, the Petran deer has nothing which is special about it at all when compared to other deer. Perhaps the most interesting thing about it is the rareness of it outside of Ladyr’s Brake, though this is likely due to the barrier of the River Petra. Barring this, they still get up to the usual strange proclivities of other deer such as standing up on their hind legs and walking about occasionally while screaming as though a child is being murdered in the woods, thus unnerving any descendant spectators. While primarily herbivores they have been seen to at times pick at and eat small bits of carrion.

 

Mountains of the Petra

Mount Catrinne

Before Aevos, Dame Catherine of Furnestock had dreams, ones which were to show the site of future prosperity of the people whom she had dedicated herself to. This future Dame Catherine was shown in these dreams were of the land in which Petra would find herself, the land she would lay claim to and take for her own on Aevos. It is for these dreams and the aid in finding the land in which Petrans now call their motherland that Mount Catrinne is named after the deceased Dame. In truth though Mount Catrinne is a C-shaped raising of earth and stone which plateaus out with a nice and flat top. In the center of the C-shape is the memory tree, a site of important cultural pride to the Petrans to have in their land as emphasized by its natural beauty. Plentiful are the rumors that there are fish people somewhere beneath the tree among older men and women who were involved with the military late in the reign of Queen Renilde I and early in the reign of Queen Catherine I. One such individual who can often rant about such being Sir Artel von Theonus after being separated from his wife for a non-inconsequential amount of time.

Manticore

The Manticores of Mount Catrinne are a threat to any who might venture through the area. The line of Manticores which have made the mountain their home have the body of a lion with horrifying lizard-like wings and a tail like a rattlesnake. Yet, the most disturbing feature is that of the humanoid faces the creatures have. Known to prey on the common working man, many miners have returned with reports of teams lost to these predators within the mountain's iron mine after having been cornered within by one blocking the entrance, leaving no way out without risking the beast’s wrath. While there have been decades of hunting them in order to eradicate the beasts, these hunts have only limited the number of beasts to a handful. To finish the job further measures must be taken so that more mining crews do not meet a grisly end.

 

The Black Hills

The Black Hills of the Mardonlands are a rocky set of hills, within which  are deposits of Daemite crystals which fuel the industrial heart of the Commonwealth. Given the already difficult existence of plant life in the crag and crannies of the region in tandem with widespread settlement for mining operations, what fauna remains is of a hardy variety. In particular one notable determined plantlife is a type of lichen, a moss which clings between rocks, desperately trying to reach for any earth and nutrients it might find in the sparse sections of soil. 

Mountain Lions

Smaller than their cousins across Aevos the mountain lions of the black hills commonly feed off of smaller animals such as snorgi and shrews. They rarely go after people who are simply moving through the black hills. Instead most encounters with them are either unknown due to the stalking mountain lion staying out of sight of the individual(s) they are following or are escalated due to the likely proximity that people have towards the cubs of the mountain lion, thus causing an issue and direct attack or display of aggression.

Snorgi

The snorgus is a long and slender creature, a bit like the body type of a ferret. They possess long whiskers and powerful limbs able to help them burrow into their rocky homes. These burrows help them to evade any creatures which may hunt them as while some creatures might be able to dig through dirt very few are specialized to dig directly through stone. 

 

Rivers of the Petra

 

The River Petra

The River Petra is another point of natural pride for the Petran people. Named such in honor of the previous River Petra back on Almaris. Situated in a deep ravine, the seabed of the river is covered in many parts with seagrass. If one is to look closely they can also see signs of deposits of clay and crystals at the bottom of the river.

Trout

Unable to write this in good faith without at least a mention of such due to the family I married into without threat to my wellbeing. The trout of the Petra are a fish which has largely rebounded from the efforts of previous Petrans. 

 

Cities of the Petra

Vallagne

Vallagne is host to a great wealth of nature with trees and shrubbery found in varying places throughout the city. It is this greenery which helps the city stand out in part, with the square being host to three trees hoped by many to stand the test of time. The diversity of plant life around the city doesn’t stop in the city with the outskirts being host to vineyards which stretch a portion of the western side of the city covered by them. Even the ever present underground of moleton is flush with lichen and mushrooms, making for an unique environment. Even the sewers of Petra and Moleton, which I have been in much to my spouse’s dismay, are filled with plant growth on the walls and spots of algal bloom. Vallagne is host to a whole assortment of mundane and normal animals, with a resurgent feline population in part due to a recent rat outbreak in which cats were released en masse to feast.

Sewer Ooze

Stalking in the sewers of the city and Moleton, the ooze, or perhaps multiple have found prey in the moles of Moleton and those who are not careful when within the sewers. It is not known how these things hunt or sense anything around them given their lack of any physical properties besides for the ooze which makes up its being. One must be advised though to avoid getting turned about and lost in the sewers and to avoid loud splashing through the sewage.

The Moles

The moles of Moleton are curious creatures, remarkably they seem to have some inkling of rationale to them as they have learned to coexist with the people of moleton, them being some weird amalgamation of something mixed in with them is likely to be the case of why however as somehow Moleton citizens have claimed they lay eggs.

 

Chambery

A small and hilly place, Chambery boasts a few small trees combined with very rocky foundations, quite literally as it sits just above the River Petra and under Vallagne. It is home much like the Black Hills to determined types of plant life along with a few trees which have their roots dig deep into the rock and land, going so far as to emerge in parts of caves within Chambery. In particular near the docks of Chambery one can see coral within the waters of the River Petra. Introduced by descendants however are the vineyards of Chambery, with the one in Chambery proper being used to create Wittenbach Wines which consist of a variety of reds, whites, and even a champagne.

 

The animals of Chambery are mostly small urban ones which exist in plenty of other urban areas across Aevos. Mice, rats, and bunnies are most plentiful. Yet the river has her influence as well on the animals abound near and in Chambery. Birds of prey make their nests high up in the ravine, diving down to go after fish within the river with turtles relaxing on the close shores and even at times making their way into the caves of Chambery.

 

Exotic Animals

Demon Fish of Fir’steinn

Within my newfound home of Fir’steinn a demon fish resides. It is not truly demonic in nature but the cost of upkeep and the temperament of it leads to the name. It tries to kill any and everything it comes across, with it even once spitting up a skull of what might have likely been a descendant once. It isn’t the worst to handle, provided you don’t get into the water with it, but one ought to keep it contained if able to at all times.

Prince Gareth Lucius Temesch of the Petra and of Astor, Count of Theral and Baron-Consort of Fir’Steinn, Brigadier of the Bagworms

 

[Demented_Delila 1248]

Ophelia applauds for her cousin-in-law's writings, then remembers to go feed the Puvgump!

[FenHarel 536]

Lian, who cannot read just yet, grins as they study the pictures in their father's study. "Fadhir, can we go see the deer again?"