| The hills are rolling and
            covered with birch and aspen in the lower ranges and various coniferous trees higher up.
              The pictures to the left show what the area looks like.  The region is hilly
            and less fertile than the western slopes of the Storm Mountains.  It is better
            farming country than the chaparral of Prax but is most fertile in the winter.  The
            River itself has a very irregular flow.  Sometimes the river is a mere trickle, and
            sometimes a huge torrent and this is not always seasonally determined.  If you think
            of the area as being like the Rocky Mountain foothills In Alberta you're not far off. The weather the area experiences is much like that of
            Prax except that being in the shadows of the Stormwalk Mountains means that the winds that
            come over the Mountains tend to drop their moisture on the foothills since Storm Bull's
            wind tends to drive the invading winds back out of Prax.   The native animals of the region include mule deer, mountain sheep,
            peccaries, and elk.  Many of the wild herds from Prax occasionally enter the vale as
            well to graze though none are present year round.  Smaller animals include prairie
            dogs, marmots and gophers.  Red squirrels are also present. Local predators include cougars, wolves, hyeanas, large brown bears,
            and small black bears.  The occasional smilodon will also be seen though these are
            quite rare.  Chaos creatures are somewhat common, mostly broos and a bizarre variety
            of aquatic chaos creatures like dragonsnails, gorp and some chaotic fish. Plants include a mix of the Praxian species like Skullbush and
            mountain plants.  Wild grasses and bushes are common and the areas farther away from
            the River are covered in forests of deciduous tress like aspen, poplar and birch.
              Closer to the mountains spruce and pines replace the deciduous trees.   |