Itekal Rocky Taiga

Place

Place Name:

Itekal Rocky Taiga

Biome:

Rocky Taiga

Size:

1300 km2

Continent:

Unknown

Subcontinent

Unknown

Geography

Itekal Rocky Taiga is a very hilly region, mostly due to the constantly shifting tectonic plates beneath the surface. The plates cause earthquakes very often, and their constant grinding against each other has forced some of the land upwards creating large hills and valleys. The signature rocky spires and outcrops of Itekal are also a result of this tectonic movement. The Asium ravine, which is home to the local Osoat kin’toni clan is also a by-product of the plate’s movement. Asium is a large kin’toni settlement that has been constructed inside the mouth of a ravine in southern Itekal.

The ravine is several hundred metres long and about two-hundred metres deep. The local Osoat kin’toni clan have built many bridges that span the width of the ravine and allow the kin’toni to travel to the houses on either side. The strong northern winds do no affect the clan down here. There are about fifty main houses in the settlement, although several were destroyed or left in disrepair after the clan’s civil war. When not fighting zu’aan and taking their blood the local Osoat kin’toni fish for food in the deep pools located at the bottom of the Asium ravine. These have formed from the largest river in the region, the Kamine, flowing into the top of the ravine. The water spills down into the pools from in a magnificent waterfall.

The Kamine is the largest river in Itekal. It originates from a region further north than Itekal. Its water is very clear and fresh. It is full of fish and plants, and only freezes over for short periods during the year. Its banks are lined with the largest of the local conifer trees. However, these banks often change due to the constantly changing landscape. The underground springs and aquifers are constantly shifting due to the movements in tectonic plates. The river knows flows in a random zig-zag way, several parts of it are now completely underground.

The Kamine ends at a large lake in the south of Itekal. Its water forms into Fajai Lake, one of the largest lakes in northern Taerel. This lake is home to a large variety of aquatic life and is also well known for its fresh water. During the winter, the lake does not have the fast-flowing water like the Kamine to keep it from freezing over for too long. For a few months each yeah Fajai is completely frozen over. The local Osoat kin’toni clan fought several large battles here both against other clans and themselves. There is an abandoned town on the shoreline that one belonged to the former owners of Itekal, the Tor’gha kin’toni clan.

This town was named Shelline by the Tor’gha and was their main base of operations. They fished the lake during the warmer months and drilled through the ice to continue during winter. They fought hard to defend their land but the final battle for Itekal was fought at the very doorstep to Shelline. When the Osoat clan won they sacked the town and have no used it ever since.

Plants

The plant life in Itekal Rocky Taiga is fairly hardy, and resistant to the cold temperatures of northern Taerel. The native iladta cover most of the land and grow to their largest along the banks of the Kamine River. The plants in Itekal are also critical to the local ecosystem, as many of the animals rely on them to survive the tough winter months.

Itekal iladta

Itekal iladta are a species of evergreen tree that are unique and native to Itekal Rocky Taiga. Their trunks are a unique grey colour and as typical with most iladta they grow needles instead of leaves. Itekal iladta are tough plants that can resist the strong winds and cold temperatures. Their needles are coloured light green to try and absorb as much sunlight as possible. The iladta are great a surviving with a minimal amount of water, but with a lot of it their growth is almost limitless. Along the banks of the Kamine River where there is plenty of water all year round, the Itekal iladta have grown to massive heights.

Generally, the trees can grow to heights of up to fifteen metres tall. The largest known Itekal iladta along the Kamine River have reached towering heights of up to one hundred metres. These massive trees are host to much of the native wildlife but are more susceptible to being blown over by strong winds due to their height.

Hsnai

Hsnai are a species of plant that are native and unique to Itekal Rocky Taiga. These plants are quite small and grow along the ground beneath the taller iladta. They generally only reach up to the height of an average kin’toni’s knee. These plants are dark blue in colour and grow in a conical shape. These plants grow a unique kind of seed that are also shaped like cones. These seeds are quite large for the size of the plant and each plant grows around three of them each springtime. The seeds are around the size of a kin’toni hand and dark brown in colour.

When the seed becomes too heavy for its branch it drops off and rolls in the wind or down a hill until it comes to rest. Then it begins to grow into a new Hsnai plant.

Karmanin

Karmanin is a species of flowering plant that are native and unique to Itekal Rocky Taiga. They grow mostly in the southern parts of the region. They are most well known for their large white flowers, which have yellow centres. The plants themselves are small and coloured a dim grey. Their flowers can be used in healing pastes made by the local Osoat kin’toni clan to use on wartime flesh injuries. The flowers in general have positive affects on the kin’toni body and can be eaten to help increase blood flow. These plants are quite rare as they can easily be trodden on or stripped to be eaten. The local Osoat kin’toni clan are currently attempting to grow the plants to prolong their existence.

Animals

The wildlife in Itekal Rocky Taiga is tough and has adapted to live in the cold conditions just as the plants have. Itekal has an even spread of herbivores and predators. During the winter, a lot of these animals hibernate until summer. The local wildlife is also very dependent on the rivers, especially the Kamine, to be their source of water.

Farani

Farani are a species of mammal that are native and unique to Itekal Rocky Taiga. These animals are smaller creatures that normally live in burrows that they dig to keep themselves warm at night and during winter. They can grow to the size of an average kin’toni’s arm. Farani have black and white fur that has a slightly different pattern for each individual animal. They have small heads with beady black eyes that are always moving. The have four legs with small paws on the end of each that allow them to dig. Farani feed on fallen conifer leaves and occasionally Hsnai leaves.

These creatures are often hunted down by the local Osoat kin’toni clan during the winter to help them sustain themselves. Since Farani are very skinny the Osoat need to catch a lot to make it worth their while.

Acostas

Acostas are a species of flying lizard that are native and unique to Itekal Rocky Taiga. These lizards are commonly found in the tops of the Itekal conifer trees, especially the massive ones that line the Kamine River’s banks. During the morning hours of the day these creatures like to sit in the treetops and absorb the suns rays for a few hours. They have thin bones attached to their backs which form into two wing-like shapes. There is a thin stretch of skin between these bones to complete they wings and allow them to fly. Acostas are green coloured with dull yellow wings.

They usually grow to lengths of around a metre and a half. Whilst they are not very large these lizards can live for extremely long periods of time. The oldest ones are estimated to be over one hundred years old.

Tyranians

Tyranians are a species of predator that are native and unique to Itekal Rocky Taiga. These creatures are most well known for their incredible skin. Their skin can alter is colour and appearance based off of the environment the tyranian is in at the time. This allows them to ambush prey very effectively and also prevents them from being hunted themselves. Tyranians are thin, sleek creatures designed for speed as well as stealth. Their heads are long and angular, armed with two horns located above their eyes. Their bodies are also quite long and are very low to the ground.

They have four legs which have soft padded feet as to move quietly and disturb the snow as little as possible. Their mouths are lined with razor sharp teeth that are able to move indecently of one another. This allows them to saw through bone as well as most armour. Tyranians are well known killers, and the local Osoat kin’toni are right to fear them.

Historical Timeline of Ages

Age Name	Dates	Controller
Stone Age	Before 1E 0	Unknown
Copper Age	1E 1–1E 2200	Unknown
Bronze Age	1E 2200–1E 4400	Unknown
Iron Age	2E 0–2E 700	Unknown
Ancient Age	2E 700–2E 2200	Unknown
Middle Age	3E 0–3E 2050	Unknown
Early Modern Age	3E 2050–3E 2600	Unknown
Industrial Age	3E 2600–3E 2700	Unknown
Machine Age	3E 2700–3E 2800	Unknown
Atomic Age	3E 2800–3E 2850	Unknown
Space Age	3E 2850–3E 2875	Unknown
Information Age	3E 2875–3E 2900	Unknown
Genetic Age	3E 2950–3E 3000	Unknown
Awakening Age	3E 3000–3E 3415	Unknown
Twilight Age	4E 0–4E 500	Osoat Kin'toni Clan

This article is written by tytarys. Copyright 2026 tytarys. All rights reserved.