The entire caldera containing the Valley is approximately 360 miles long by 296 miles wide, and is located in a wild a remote area of the central continent where few tribes have managed to make peace with the gods and live in a dangerous harmony with the indigenous creatures. The only scientist able to enter the valley speculated it was a very large meteor strike, with it's north-eastern wall mostly debris and large rocks uprooted by the strike. Though the lower point near the center has others speculating that it was a giant volcano that collapsed, leaving just several pieces of high wall remaining. As for the true origin of the valley, the Gods really are the only ones who really know.
A variety of climates are located in this large basin. The highest peak is in the northern region, is about 28, 879 feet, and constantly wears a large band of snow. The average tree line is about 10,000 feet. Before the valley was allowed entrance, explorers would call the three peeks in the distance, the "three thrones of the goddesses", and would use them to navigate by. No other explorations to study the thrones were ever successful, and most explorers have either found themselves in random parts of the forests surrounding the area with no recollection of how they arrived, or some never returned from their quest. Some, had strange tales of beasts that roamed the areas, and usually died of madness shortly after. Depending who was spoken too, almost every person has a tale to tell of the valley, but none are ever really based on fact.
For the valley inhabitants, they live quite oblivious to the outside world. Even the fliers do not venture far outside of the caldera walls. They generally stay within the boundaries, and mainly do not worry about attack except from fellow valley dwellers, as the Kirin are the ones that mainly take care of any outsiders that try to penetrate the walls. Each knows of the god or goddesses, though some choose not to believe that their ancestors descended from them, though even the non-believers tend to recite why the seasons change, because it's common fact among the valley.
Seasonal Mythology
Emetal / Winter
Though the gods and goddesses generally live in harmony, it seems every year Uswin and Emeratarak had to have a fight and Uswin brought the longer night and Emeratarak unfurled her cloak in a rage and smothered the green and warmth of the valley. It was easy to tell when this fight was getting ready to happen as the nights grew longer as his anger grew, and started to overpower the gentle light of Emeratarak. She, in a rage, would loose her cloak and fling it at him, covering the cooler world with a cloak of snow that could be higher then a Kirin in some places, and freezing the large lake so thick that it could be walked upon. Even the Scar could barely fight off her anger, and constantly fought to free itself of her cloak. Occasionally her sisters would join into the fray, with Reski fanning the winds into a rage to carry the snow so swiftly it stung when it hit, and cooled the air so rapidly the air could freeze in your lungs. Zovan may try to bring an end to this fight by calling forth plants, but Emeratarak could always cover them again in a night.
Once Emeratarak has proven to her protector that she is capable of protecting herself, and that she is stronger then he is, the days start to grow longer again, and Emeratarak pulls her cloak back around her and her castle near the top of the peaks, to sit and observe the valley again and offer the inhabitants comfort once more.
Zovin / Spring
This is the season of the goddess of the plants, as she works with Emeratarak to bring food to those of the valley and comfort as a way of apology for being cruel to them during her fight. She makes sure that the first leaves of spring are the best, to help sate the appetite of those that suffered the long cold. she also brings out the flowers for the flutters to drink nector from, and for the others of the valley to enjoy.
Emrin / Summer
The maintaining of the green and bringing the summer storms was given to Emerals care, as she is considered too young to take on the main tasks of thawing the land. She is merely to maintain what was already provided by her mother and aunt by helping them to by watered by the rains, and to maintain the season until it is Reski's turn at the seasons.
Reskan / Fall
Reskan is the time before the fight, when the trees start feeling the n** of the cold of Uswin's anger, and start prepairing themselves for the cold fight ahead. A breeze flows through the forests and valley, a constant warning of what is about to happen if the color of the trees is not enough of one. The trees blaze with the muted colors of fire; one last attempt to warm the cold anger of Uswin before Emeratarak throws her cloak at him.
