TIJONARA RIVER

• Type: River
• Location: Habitual Belt, Eastern Equatorial Section, Asari Region

The Tijonara River originates in the Tijonara Mountains and flows southeastward through the Senti Tribe’s ancestral territory before merging with the Arla River in the vast wetland of Lake Tijonara. Although relatively short compared to the Arla River, the Tijonara is ecologically and culturally vital. It forms the western boundary of Senti territory and is considered sacred, both as a natural resource and as a symbol of tribal identity and guardianship.

Because it flows through steppes, grasslands, and transitional wetlands, the Tijonara River connects diverse biomes and serves as an ecological corridor. Its significance has only increased since the Peace Treaty following the Great War, as it is now protected and preserved under Native stewardship.

• Source in the Tijonara Mountains: The river rises from spring-fed mountain streams on the southern slopes of the Tijonara Mountains. Its high-altitude origin ensures a clean, reliable flow year-round.

• Open Steppes and Grasslands: Descending into the Senti plains, the river flows through rolling grasslands grazed by native herds like the Odo. The land here is semi-arid but fertile near the riverbanks, supporting seasonal vegetation.

• Confluence at Lake Tijonara: The river slows and branches as it enters Lake Tijonara, where it meets the Arla River in a dynamic delta system filled with wetlands, reed forests, and rich aquatic habitats. This area is of immense spiritual and ecological importance to the Senti.

• Length: Approximately 220 kilometers from its source to its merging point with the Arla River in Lake Tijonara.

Exohuman records of the river's plant life stem from limited Beta Age expeditions. Most of the region was protected or hostile to Exohuman intrusion, especially near Senti land. Post-war access is prohibited.

• River Grass: Hardy grass species that line the riverbanks, stabilizing the soil and feeding migratory herbivores.
• Bluefern Moss: A bluish aquatic moss found in shaded patches along the upper river, aiding in water filtration and microhabitat creation.
• Glowrush Reeds: Tall, flexible reeds in the delta zone, glowing faintly in the dark and used by the Senti for ceremonial purposes.

Most species in the Tijonara River have overlapping habitats with those in the Arla River and Lake Tijonara. However, adaptations to the steppes and semi-arid regions are prominent.

• Lumifish – Translucent, glowing fish that school beneath floating vegetation.
• Silverscale Glider – Surface-skimming fish native to the fast currents and open steppes of the upper river.

• Misttail Crab – Semi-aquatic crustacean that thrives in wetlands across the Asari Region.
• Quorra Crabs – Iridescent-shelled burrowers found along mid-river segments and delta banks.

• Glowfrogs – Amphibians with glowing spots, common in shaded or foggy tributaries.
• Shardbacks – Spiked, turtle-like reptiles that sunbathe on midstream rocks and manage aquatic vegetation.

• Skyweaver Eels – Agile, shimmering eels known to leap from water to snatch airborne insects.

• Bluestrike Heron – Apex avian predator of the region.
• Flutterwing – Small, fast birds with brilliant plumage.
• Nokari Mouse – Small, fur-insulated rodent.
• Hoo – Large herbivore of the Asari Region.
• Odo – Massive, bison-like herbivore vital to the Senti Tribe.

• Senti Tribe: The Tijonara River has been under the protection of the Senti Tribe for generations. Considered sacred, it forms the western boundary of their spiritual homeland. The Senti perform river rituals to honor ancestral spirits and view themselves as guardians of its waters and surrounding lands.

• In the early Beta Age, Exohumans established a logistics base in the valleys near the river’s mountain origin. They used the river to transport meat and fur from hunted Odo herds down to Lake Tijonara. From there, a courier station facilitated movement of goods to New Kourou.

• This exploitation led to ecological damage, including a 30% reduction in Odo populations in just two years. The tension contributed to the Senti’s decision to join the Alliance of Native Tribes against the Volunteer Army of Man in the Great War.

Under the Peace Treaty between the Alliance of Native Tribes and the Exohumans:

• No Access: Exohumans are banned from the entire Tijonara River and its wetlands.
• Sacred Custodianship: The Senti oversee and maintain the river and its ecological balance. Patrols are stationed at key points, and ceremonial observances mark key ecological events.

The Tijonara River cuts through the steppes of Senti territory, offering a stark and powerful setting defined by wide-open skies, ancestral sites, and deeply rooted tribal law. Its shorter length is offset by its cultural weight: this river is sacred to the Senti, and even minor disturbances can be interpreted as violations of honor or cosmic balance.

Adventures along the Tijonara should lean into the tension between ancient customs and the scars of the Beta Age. While the river is now off-limits to Exohuman exploitation, remnants of courier stations, abandoned hunting trails, and desecrated relics from the Great War still remain. In the Gamma Age, the river and its wetlands are patrolled by Senti guardians, and any Exohuman approach requires special permission or a secretive route — ideal for suspenseful, high-stakes missions or spiritual journeys cloaked in mystery.

• “Tracks on the Riverbank” – The players join a team of Exohuman scouts tracing the path of poachers hunting Odo without authorization. But the deeper they go into Senti territory, the more signs appear that the poachers may be stirring something older and more dangerous hidden along the river.

• “The Bone Offering” – When remains of fallen Senti warriors — long thought lost during the Great War — are discovered in a Exohuman storage vault near Hope, the Federal Sheriff initiates a repatriation mission. The players are tasked with delivering these sacred bones back to the Senti and returning them to the Stonebed of Ancients, a burial site located deep within the wetlands along the Tijonara River. The Native Supervisor assigns a local guide who knows the Senti rituals — but midway through the journey, the bones go missing …

• Habitual Belt
• Asari Region
• Tijonara Mountains
• Lake Tijonara
• Arla River
• Senti Tribe
• Exohumans
• Peace Treaty

The three Major Rivers of Asari:

• Arla River
• Orlanda River
• Tijonara River