Location Loch Evanescence

[Harrier]

Loch Evanescence Situated on the far western side of the North Kalean peninsula lays Loch Evanescence. The location is picturesque, tall mountains surrounding the loch with a variety of charming shores for the camping nut to pitch tent. Tall fir, spruce, and pine rise along the slopes that surround this location as well as a smaller variety of deciduous trees. Some of the oldest trees are in the oak family, scattered throughout this semi-evergreen wood. The shores of Loch Evanescence range from sandy to rocky to downright inaccessible except by very skilled mountaineers. Of the dozens of spots, only a handful of coves provide ideal camping or fishing without the use of climbing gear or boats; these are primarily positioned near the core of the loch. Tall saltwater cattails thrive along the flatter shoreline while wild grasses of all kinds sprout from every nook and cranny outside of the tree-line. Florists are particularly fond of the variety of orchids that grow here, including the rare blue-vein spire orchid, the silver lace orchid, and Kihala’s crown, all three of which can only be found at this location. The loch itself is a large reservoir of brackish water, extending some seventy miles from the western coast inland. The average water temperature of Loch Evanescence is 49F, making it a cold swim for even the most stalwart adventurers. Its depths, however, are unpredictable and range from less than five feet to upwards of five hundred. From above, it sometimes appears to simply fade away, thus giving the loch its name. Early morning mists often make the loch completely disappear, even to those camping on the shoreline. Care should therefore be taken when coming here, lest a hunter or survivalist accidentally fall into the loch. The buoyancy level in the waters here is lower than in the ocean or fresh waters, though there is no known reason for this, so swimmers should be careful not to go too far from shore and tire. Furthermore, there are some spots in the lake that are uniformly called “hotspots” where thermal vents deep in the loch bed create pools of fresh hotsprings. Life around these spots is ideal during the winter season when the waters of the loch otherwise freeze over. Game is plentiful here, ranging from deer, elk, and mountain sheep and goat, to more ferocious carnivores such as wolves, cougar, and lynx. Less common game includes snowshoe leopards, kougara, grey banded vecerem, and ground porcupines. Because this location has been known to have vecerem, hunters are cautioned to be extra vigilant during hunts. It is better to give up the kill and live than die or be horribly maimed. In the loch, there is a large variety of fish to catch, including salmon, cod, and sturgeon. The size of sturgeon in these waters has been known to breach thirty feet and weigh well over a ton at times. Wind Eagles are welcomed to try and catch these large fish as they can provide an excellent meal for many in Wind Reach. Occasionally, porpoise and whale have been spotted in the loch, though not often. There are also a number of brackish water sharks that thrive in the loch, traversing between the salty outer oceans and the mixed waters of Loch Evanescence. There are only two main seasons in this part of Kalea: Winter and Summer. Because of the cold waters of the loch, spring does not last long and fall generally leads directly into winter (even if the Watchtowers are still indicating Fall). The orchids and other small variety of flowering plants that grow here typically bloom late summer and enter hibernation when the first frost arrives. Winters are brutal on the loch. By mid-fall, most of the water’s surface has frozen over and the hotspots are more easily seen as steaming pillars and by the fauna that come to warm themselves around the springs. While storms off the sea do occur, they are not as violent as things you may experience around Wind Reach. This is primarily due to the mountain structure here. Mostly, the winters are icy and snowy while summers are mild. Occasionally, a large gale will sweep over the loch, raising the water levels as the winds push the sea-water further in. There is one spot along the loch known as Sapphire Drop. During the Valterrian as the storms raged and changed the land, a massive earthquake in the area caused part of one of the mountains to break apart and collapse into the waters, creating a kind of island about a hundred yards off the shore. Sapphire drop is so named because when the chunk of mountain fell into the water, it revealed a huge deposit of sapphires, the largest known in Mizahar; however, the location makes it nearly impossible to harvest.   Unique Fauna Name: Sailfin Thresher Appearance: A member of the shark family, Sailfin thresher can only be found in Loch Evanescence. They thrive in the cold, brackish waters of this body of water, feeding on sturgeon and salmon for the most part. Identified by the enormous sail that rises when hunting along with the elongated caudal fin it uses specifically to catch prey with, these blue and purple bodied sharks can be found at all depths of the loch, though are most common near the surface and mid-levels. They have a relatively short head to body ratio, though their overall size (females reaching body lengths of 20 feet or greater with a further 12 feet of the specialized tail) is still impressive. The sharks also have large pectoral fins that spread to either side of the water, enabling them to cruise at up to 40 knots in open water. Behavior: Sailfin thresher are renowned for their ability to literally tailwhip prey, stunning or killing them instantly. They often shoot up from the depths, holding their sail flat until they come within range. Then, as they close the distance, the sail raises, often startling its prey before the thresher twists to whip its food, often breaking the animals back with the force of the strike. For this reason, Threshers are considered very dangerous to fishermen and Endal alike. The size of these fish and their fast swimming makes them capable of landing a hard blow on even a Wind Eagle cruising too low. Threshers have been known to whip small and medium birds out of the air when they launch out of the water. Uses: Meat, decoration (teeth)   Unique Flora Name: Blue vein spire orchid Appearance: Small flower. Uses: Found only on the shores of Loch Evanescence, this species of spire orchid is used in various recreational drugs. It is favored at the Dreaming Lady for its use as a relaxant while other realms and poisoners will utilize this unique flower as a kind of truth-serum. A single drop can prohibit an individual’s mind from deceit for up to four hours. In the wild, individuals will feel compelled to speak the truth with no regard for an individual’s feelings about what is being shared. Name: Lace orchid Appearance: Small flower with white lace-like frills on the petals. Uses: Purely decorative, this is a highly sought after flower in Riverfall. However, it is extremely difficult to cultivate outside of the valley Loch Evanescence. Phylonurists will vie for ownership of a living specimen, if only to show that they can cultivate this beautiful little flower. Name: Kihala’s Crown Appearance: A medium sized flower with a thin stalk and two flowers per stalk. Uses: There are mysterious properties regarding this flower which have yet to be unveiled. Primarily, it is a decorative plant only, however, none have been able to remove a sample from the Loch yet. Some believe Kihala may have something to do with this.*Moderation required for use of this flora[ooc] Name: Shadow wing orchid Appearance: A giant flower with a medium to large stalk. These flowers spread their petals up to two and a half feet across with “whiskers” that droop four feet. The stalks average four inches to support the heavy flowers. Uses: Like Kihala’s Crown, Shadow wing orchid uses are relatively unknown. Some believe these have medicinal properties; others believe this can make a potent poison. Cultivation is extremely difficult as these very very rare plants only grow in the shade of the alpine forest of Loch Evanescence and only bloom once every four years, usually during the regions late-summer season (mid-fall). Less than a dozen have ever been documented. The stalks are very similar to the thick vines that grow along some of the oaks and maples of the area.[ooc=*]Moderation required for use of this flora Name: Silver sap Maple Appearance: Similar in appearance to classic maple trees, the only difference is the color of the sap. Instead of a transluscent, semi-viscous liquid, the sap of this tree is mercurial and free flowing throughout the year. Uses: Silver Syrup (a rare delicacy for certain desserts); silver sap maples are used exclusively in the production of silver syrup. If a silver maple can be located, it should be marked and tapped for collection. However, taps should be stoppered during the summer.*Moderation required for use of this flora Mod Notes: This location does not require moderation.