Algol
Supplying vital fresh water to almost a tenth of Norrab's population, the Algol is the longest river on the planet and largest drainage basin. It has cultivated over a hundred thousand years of history throughout the lives of native and non-native peoples.
The Algol cuts through seventeen countries in north-western Aridara. Four capital cities sit along the river, as well as over a hundred other settlements and small populations.
River's Course
Stretching almost 5,000 miles, the main source begins in the Algol Mountains and cuts right through the Sian Lowlands.
The Algol is supplemented by several major tributaries. The river Gasane is a major tributary, with two subsidiary major tributaries. All three tributaries have sources in the Algol Mountains.
The Zhu'xin tributary is on the opposite side of the Algol to Gasane, but also has a source in the Algol Mountains.
The massive Or'chasi tributary begins in the Sandaris Mountain Range, as well as its subsidiary major tributaries.
The Iltis, Coranthi, and Tor'ia tributaries all begin in the Zora Mountains.
The Algol itself travels down through the Sian Lowlands, directly from the Algol Mountains. The three mountain ranges all have rivers that converge on the Algol.
History
The Algol has been the source of life for millions of people, for at least a hundred thousand years. The oldest remnants of modern civilisations are found in the Sian Lowlands. The fragmented patterns of old towns and cities are buried underneath the soil, suggesting that once upon a time, cities sprawled across the region. What caused them to leave or go extinct remains unknown.
The Ilgola is the oldest current ethnic group around the Algol. Their practices date back fifty thousand years, and they live in the Seven Falls and neighbouring cities. Since then, other groups have formed around the Algol.
Adamnans first arrived on Norrab approxiately eight hundred years ago. Their arrival completely shifted life and culture around the Algol. Adamnans had far superior technology which allowed them to better utilise the environments around the Algol. Their technological superiority led the adamnans to believe they had the rights to the lands, and forced many native groups out of the region.
War for the Algol
The War for the Algol was a fifty year long conflict between countries in the Sian Lowlands. Many countries wanted to expand their territories to claim more of the river, for it provided resources, protection, and economic stability.
This conflict not only caused countries to fall into battle, but countless city-states to emerge, declaring complete independence. Alogaula was one of the first to do this, remaining its own sovereign state for over four hundred years.
The war begun when Russai split into two nations - North and South Russai. The nations split along the Algol, fracturing communities built along the river. For fifty years, the two nations attempted to control more of Algol, and expand their territory over into the others. Countries father upstream did the same, and 1291 saw the founding of Gosendra, a nation also known as the Heart of the Algol.
Ecology
Fauna
The Algol is a tough region to survive in - despite there being an abundance of water, climates are extreme. Despite this, the Algol is one of the most ecologically rich regions of Norrab. The easy access to water is a rare phenomena, and animals will migrate thousands of miles for a single sip.
Many opportunistic animals forage on carcasses and corpses. These scavengers, such as spinestickles, have excellent senses of smell and sight. Their small sizes allow them to hide in crevices and caves during daytimes, where the blazing heat from the sun is much too extreme.
Larger animals, such as tall-shelled tortonis, roam the plains around the Algol in large herds. They relieve themselves from the heat by swimming - the buoyancy of their bodies help them float along the river. Large herbivores are very common around the Algol, with over twenty identified species of antelope, three species within Elephantidae, and nineteen species of sumak, monolithic six-legged invertebrates.
The micro-ecology of the Algol is fascinating. It is dominated by heptosili and close relatives. These species are far too small to be seen by the naked eye, but have a huge impact on the ecosystem. They serve as food for small filter-feeding fish and other organisms, which feed larger predators. It is estimated that over a hundred trillion heptosili are consumed yearly in the Algol.
An increase in pollution has had drastic effects on heptosili population, particularly around the Coranthi and Tori'a tributaries. In slow-moving rivers the population of heptosili has taken a massive hit. Approximately a third of these micro-organisms have been wiped out. Their populations remain mostly the same in fast-flowing rivers, where pollution is washed away.
Flora
Flora of the Algol are specialised in absorbing as many nutrients as they can within the soil. The soil is largely fertile around the river, but walk too far from the water and the terrain quickly desertifies. Most flora grows either within the river itself, or within a few metres of it.
To deal with the extreme temperatures, flora of this region have specially designed anatomies to help them shed as much excess heat as possible. Many plants have waxy coatings that keep the plants moisturised and prevent them from drying out.
Regional flora have long roots that reach the water table, or wide roots that collect water during flash floods and rainfall.
Verenean egg baskets will raise their large circular leaf around the petals during rain, collecting as much water as possible. This leaf shrinks outside of rainy seasons to avoid overheating.
Fungi
Most fungi along the Algol are present around the Delta. Most species do not grow more than a metre in height, but very few are capable of reaching heights of over five to ten metres. One of the most notable species is the arelite mushroom, which reaches seven metres in height and has a massive blue plate-like cap.
A lack of food sources means that fungi is often an option. While some fungi species are poisonous, most are edible.
Some fungi around the Algol are epiphytes, growing on large trees. Some spread so much they kill their hosts.
The majority of fungi around the Algol appear underground, as vast networks of mycelium. Very few fungi species have fruiting bodies on the surface, which we would refer to as a mushroom.
Inhabitants
Collect a Sticker!
A bright blue station sits on the riverbank, on the outskirts of a small town. Seems they sell small stickers of planet Norrab. Better add it to Your Stickerbook! Click to collect sticker: NorrabIt is well established that Norrab contains a dominant monoculture. Norrabian culture is centered around the people's history on Adamne, involving the war with Godkin. To this day these historical events have a massive impact on cultures across the globe. This monoculture has diverged into many subcultures, but the Adamnification of Norrab has had a horrendous impact on native peoples.
Adamnans were not the first people to call Norrab home - native norrabians first evolved millions of years ago, around the Algol Mountains. The adamnification of Norrab around eight hundred years ago resulted in these people either going extinct due to alien pathogens and a competition for food and resources, or forced into tiny isolated territories. Many of these territories can be found around the Algol, especially in higher altitude areas.
Indigenous Peoples
There are many indigenous groups around the Algol that have existed in this region for tens of thousands of years. They predate adamnans by thousands of years, too. While many have lived around the three mountain ranges and in the river basin for thousands of years, most groups have been forced into smaller regions and territories after the adamnification of Norrab.
Many indigenous groups were forced closer to the Looming Desert, out of the Sian Lowlands. Resources were less accessible in the Looming Desert, and the more primitive technologies and infrastructure of certain groups meant they could not cope.
The Ora are an indigenous group of the Algol Mountains. They are one of the largest indigenous groups within the river basin, with a population of around thirty thousand. The Ora are well known for their beekeeping. The type of bees kept are roughly two metres in length, sporting seven spiny tails and razor-sharp wings, as well as arm-slicing pinchers.
The Ora, alongside many other indigenous groups, have cultivated a vast number of domestic plant species. Plants such as coldweed and accendios are used worldwide, and without indigenous influence, would not exist.
The Ilgola have a large population within Seven Falls, a largely adamnan settlement along Algola's edge. According to documents the Ilgola have existed in this region for almost fifty thousand years. Their cultural beliefs and practices have largely remained the same during this time. The Ilgola comfortably co-exist with adamnans - they refuse to give up their native lands, but have accepted that adamnans can no longer be removed.
Nevertheless, the Ilgola enjoy their lifestyles, subsistance fishing in the ecologically rich river.
Geography & Region
Hundreds of tributaries weave through forested mountains, fighting the crumbling pebble soil terrain. Surface runoff from periods of heavy rainfall largely influence these tributaries, which can shrink and expand at a moment's notice. Hard rock just below the surface around the Algol Mountains means little rainwater seeps into the soil, and tributaries in this region are wide and shallow.
As these small rivers flow into the Sian Lowlands, they merge to form the main Algol. It cuts through hard, sandswept ground, nearby canyons and valleys filling up from the Algol's overflow during monsoon seasons. Much of the lowlands is flat, and giant floodplains spread across several countries. Flooding is extremely common; the slightest bit of rainfall can result in the Algol bursting its banks.
The Algol fractures around the Delta, where the river meets the ocean. Sediment buildup has created hundreds of tiny islands along the coastline and water often stagnates around these islands, where algae and halophytes are abundant.
Major Settlements
Perched on the mouth of the Algol, Algola is the largest city on the river. It is also the capital of Russai, a testament to the settlement's power, history, and culture.
A total of four capital cities sit along the Algol, as well as many other major cities and towns. The most famous is Algola, the capital city of Russai. It sits on the mouth of the Algol, within the Delta.
Algola is the heart of trade and commerce on Norrab, leading the globe in many industries such as film and media, culinary, aerospace, hospitality, and healthcare.
A hundred mile stretch of river around Seven Falls is considered a tourist destination, where millions of visitors from around the planet congregate yearly to admire the river and its natural beauty. Seven Falls is a large, predominantly tourist-led city. With thousands of small diners and cafes, aggressively charming owners and baristas force their customers to stay, buy one more drink, only to discover that it cost more than their hotel fees.
~5000 miles
Related Settlements
Seven Falls
Related Locations
Algol
Looming Desert
Norrab
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Love this! People tend to forget how important fresh water is.
Haly, the Moonlight Bard
Author. Worldbuilder. Miscreant. Malcontent. Punk.
Thank you! <3