Skilfurr Upper Montane Forest

Place

Place Name:

Skilfurr Upper Montane Forest

Biome:

Upper Montane Forest

Size:

Unknown

Continent:

Unknown

Subcontinent

Unknown

Geography

The problem with the upper montane forest region of Skilfurr is that the mountain slope that it is located on is completely covered in dense fog all year round. Several thousand years ago the region within the fog looked very different. While still covered in the vegetation that marked it as a montane forest, the region was dotted with small villages cobbled together from cloth and rough wood. Due to the quakes that plague the area, the villages often had to be rebuilt multiple times a year. After a revolution changed the controlling factions.

The people began not only to rebuild, but actually building full cities and towns capable of withstanding the effects of the quakes. In the time of the Xerea Empire, the region was encircled by a large border wall with a massive gate facing the south that is mostly hidden from sight by the fog. Within the region is sprinkled several towns and small cities built along the the slopes of the mountain and with bridges and walkways to connect them all in case of ground collapsing in between them. Near the top of the slopes lies a massive city with walls and battlements.

This is the capital city of the kingdom that controls the region. This city is called Leifnadar as is the kingdom and it’s people. There are gardens, orchards, and crop fields in the neighbouring areas of the cities and towns. Outside the regional wall, the forest sits on a large solitary mountain in the north west of the temperate zone of the largest continent. To the south lies vast grasslands. To the west lies a basin. To the north is the beginnings of the tundra. To the east is a hilly forest region with dotted ruins visible from the tops of the tree line.

Over the years, the Leifnadar people have fended off sieges and attempted attacks from those who wished to possess their territory and the resources within. But the kingdom was not one to surrender and had the weaponry to keep the vast armies at bay. They outfitted their walls with their biggest and most effective of their anti-siege weapons along with their best archers. Just inside the walls were vast stores of flammable materials. In the event of the regional wall being breached, the materials would combust and hopefully take out the first few hundreds of invaders and act as a signal to the rest of the kingdom.

Such a situation came to pass due to the actions of the Xerea Empire before they fell to the kin’toni plague. This breach likely saved the kingdom as it activated the complete lock down of the region. The towns and smaller cities were abandoned and set to be burned down if the invaders reached them. Before the recall and eventual fall of the Empire, the capital city was all that remained and the entire kingdom slept within its absolutely shut and guarded gates. When the kin’toni arrived they discovered that the city would cost them everything before it would be taken.

Plants

Skilfurr may be shrouded in dense fog year round, but not even that could hide the vegetation that marks it as an upper montane forest. It is covered in trees, bushes, shrubs, flowers, some fungi, grass, and moss. The kingdom in control of the region only moderately regulated the growth of the actual forest, choosing instead to find ways to get around that was safer than trekking through the forest while the region is plagued with earthquakes. They also tended to grow some vegetables and grains in gardens and fields close to their cities.

Through the actions of the Xerea Empire and shortly there after the kin’toni hordes, the forest has experienced a small culling of its outermost sections. This also led to the evacuation of the kingdom from its outlying towns and small cities to the massive walled capital city of Leifnadar. With such an action, it left the gardens and crop fields to be destroyed by the invaders who were unaware of the tenacity of the people of Skilfurr. Now that the city has been shown as quite capable of fending off invaders, the area is slowly growing back the vegetation that it had lost to fire and malice.

One of the more common types of trees found in the region is the vathumathrida or the vathuma for short. Tall and yet more slender than other trees, the vathumathrida is known for its smooth black bark with scars from resin burns, and greying needle like leaves. The tree is named for the fact that they are often the most noticeable through the fog due to their darker colouring. The wood is used in a lot of the construction of buildings and woodwork in the region. The resin is used to make protective coating and sealant to make the wooden objects weather safe and resistant to wood rot.

The needles are often crushed and used in incense for a pleasing scent. The lumber, woodwork, resin, and the incense are all traded with the outsiders for the few resources that are not easily found in their own land. Another of the common plants within the upper montane forest of Skilfurr is the vaair bush. This fruit bearing and flowering bush is recognised by its purple flowers and blue berries. This interesting little plant has a variety of uses beyond just eating the berries raw. The berry is in fact tart if eaten raw but can easily be sweetened through the regular means of cooking.

The berry is used to make jams and jellies and preserves for fillings of pies and such. The berry is also used in making dyes as are the flowers. The dyes are highly valued in the outside world and often trade precious metals for access to the rare colours. The petals and leaves are also crushed and added to a mixture of herbal ingredients to smoke in pipes and inhale through fire smoke. While the petals and leaves don’t hold any health benefits, they do carry a pleasant scent.

Animals

The wildlife of Skilfurr is quite used to the fog and the quakes. Many of the creatures remain wild to this day, however, some were eventually domesticated and used as pets or working animals. With the establishment of the Leifnadar kingdom came other pack and work animals imported to aid in the growth of the region. Exotic big cats became a status symbol of the royal family. While the streets were often patrolled by trained omnivorous mammals and birds of prey. The kingdom prided itself on being a nation that was capable of training any creature to not just be a pet but to serve a function within the society.

The large and most territorially aggressive hunting animals were trained to be able to fight alongside the border guards. They had birds trained specifically to kill birds and other potential spy trained animals. They found a way to use animals to accomplish a great many tasked that wouldn’t normally be thought of. And they took very good care of their animals. This wasn’t just practical for the survival of the animals but also so the animals could never be used against them. The animals were a part of their kingdom as well. When the Empire surrounded the city and even later when the kin’toni were attacking the gates.

The animals fought alongside the men and helped push the invaders back out. One of the most common animals to be first encountered when entering the region is the nithri. These large mountain felines appear much like a female lion only with burgundy fur and black tufts of fur on the tips of their ears. They have large canine fangs that slightly retract when they close their mouths, powerful muscles and sharp retractable claws. The kingdom has trained these cats to act like soldiers at the wall and peacekeepers in the towns and cities.

They are conditioned to use non lethal force unless instructed otherwise. To help them know who is to be protected, the citizens all wear special bracelets that the cats are taught to recognise as like an infant kitten to take care of. As long as they wear the bracelet the cats will act as gently as they would for their own children. Another animal that is trained and cared for by the kingdom is the gaa'aathri. This omnivorous grazer has been the constant companion for the farmers and hikers. They have a faded grey and black woolly coat and stubby horns.

They are sure footed and capable of carrying surprisingly large loads when not having to focus on climbing. For this reason they are often used as pack animals and gardeners for the farmers to use to make sure the crops are taken care of. The wool is also used in the making of cloth and clothes.

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	Leifnadar City Zu'Aan

Place

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Skilfurr Upper Montane Forest

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This article is written by Xoishtar. Copyright 2026 xoishtar. All rights reserved.