Flora and Fauna

 Ecology

Svartalfheim suffered many collisions with debris from the formation with its solar system but there was never any massive extinction event as there was on earth. Hence a good portion of its wildlife is reptilian. This is especially the case in the jungles of the southern continent. However the mammalian wildlife has not quietly succumbed to the competition with the reptiles. It is equally diverse and, in some cases, more dangerous. Invertebrates fill the niches left by larger creatures, adapting to the local conditions as necessary and performing many of the same functions as their earthly counterparts. However flying insects tend to be smaller than their earthly cousins due to the higher gravity. Avian species abound in the forests of the north and the jungles of the south but few have adapted to the deserts; also waterfowl are rare as larger fish and reptiles in lakes rivers and the seas tend to be carnivorous.

 Plant-life is diverse on every landmass and in the seas. Each plant species has adapted to the rigours of its environment. The dense forests of the Northern Isles are squat and well adapted to constant storms. In the jungles of the southern continent trees are able to grow to greater heights as they are sheltered somewhat by the massive thermal updrafts generated by the coastal mountain range. Many of the plants in the harsher climates have developed motile forms so that they can, at a pinch, escape the worst events and ‘move on’ or ‘shelter’ until conditions improve. Competition for places to grow is fierce and a stretch of forest or moorland cleared by a Byrjunarstormur is quickly reoccupied.

Fauna

The wildlife of Svartalfheim is composed of both mammalian and reptilian species as there was no dinosaur extinction event. Hence both classes of animal co-exist side by side ( not always amicably).

Barr; A baar is a predatory creature that inhabits the mountains in the Northern islands of Svartalfheim. It is superbly adapted to life on ice and snow. Its large feet and flat tail can act as skis and its arms can be used as ski poles. When it descends from the snowfields; in times of food shortages etc. it is far from helpless on ordinary ground. It has multiply jointed legs driven by powerful thighs and it can leap from considerable distances onto its prey. The arms and feet are tipped with substantial claws and it has an impressive array of teeth. When it is in its normal posture on snow and ice fields it stands about 1.3 metres tall however when it unfolds on ordinary terrain, it stands over 2 metres.

Brockviken; A Brockviken is a furry cat-sized predator normally found in woodland. Despite its small size it is exteremely aggressive using its muscular forearms and sharp teath to attack any unwary intruder who invades its territory. A female of the species becomes even more agressive when defending cubs and, under these circumstances, they have been known to attack dwarves.

Firedab ; a bird-sized fire breathing flying lizard. Firedabs are not known for their intelligence and they are often a meal of last resort to a dwarf family during winter. As they are reptilian they mostly lie dormant in piles of decomposing vegetation to maintain some warmth during winter and they are therefore an easy catch.

Fiskur; the common name for the Eðlafiskur (Pron: Ethla-fis[ as in fish]-cur) are small carnivorous lizards that inhabit lakes and rivers. There are several varieties. Some are akin to crocodiles and alligators others are more like miniature plesiosaurs. They infest the waters of lakes and are responsible for many of the occupational injuries sustained by dwarves who gather the Vatnisbrowth. Brann created her hammer from the skull of a large version of this creature

Flora

Browth; the common name for the Vatnsbragð (Pron: Vat-nis-browth). It is the tuber of an aquatic plant which is rich in carbohydrates and soluble minerals. It grows naturally in vast groves in the shallow waters of lakes and sea coasts. It is one of the staples in the dwarf diet and serves the same function as cereals such as wheat, maize and rice. It can be dried and turned into flour. When processed as food it is commonly known as ‘Brot’. There are two main varieties one derived from freshwater, (Ka-), and the other from salt-water. (Ni-)

Kattdaun; a herbal extract from the plant of the same name. It grows wild in the forests of all the home isles and it is particularly associated with the dens of wyre whose smell it resembles.

Kanis Frábærtis; a mildly hallucinogenic plant that grows in the warmer climates nearer the equator. It is the base of highly addictive drug with the street name of 'sting' . Its name derives from the sensation experienced when it is taken which is not unlike the electric shock from a stingbush. The drug and the stingbush are otherwise unrelated.

Stingbush: As its name implies the stingbush defends itself with an array of stinging fronds. It is a distant cousin to the Ironoak in that its stings are electric shocks delivered from high voltage piezo electric nodules within its living structure. At night, especially after a storm, the stingbush dissipates its excess energy with a display of tiny sparks.