Earda: Hell Creek

North from the Continent of Equatara, there lies one of the most dangerous wild ecosystems in the world. That land is Hell Creek, named for it's humid environment, and wild and dangerous megafauna. Hell Creek first formed 70 million years ago, 60 million years ago as the environment changed, Hell Creek all but disappeared. However as the world kept changing, Hell Creek eventually returned, though with some changes to it's ecosystem.

The climate is sub-tropical and mild. While the temperature might drop during winter, it wouldn't be so low to freeze or snow; and wouldn't last for a long time.

Forests flourish in the lowland and coastal plains which composed most of the area, not to different from the Okavango Delta or Florida Everglades in our world. There are both deciduous and evergreen plants here. The dominant plants would be angiosperms in the form of trees (magnolias, figs, pawpaws, jackfruit/breadfruit-relative, walnuts, poplars, oaks, tulip trees, palms, broadleafs, cypress, etc), shrubs, herbs , and even aquatic plants. The leaves, fruits, and flowers of these trees provides food for it's inhabitants. Besides the angiosperms, there are conifers such as aracaurias, redwoods, and the common cheirolepidiaceae (Which are extinct in modern day). Uncommon plants includes gingkos, ferns, and cycads.

There are also woodlands in the opening of the forests and swamps in the river floodplains, estuaries, and deltas.

Grass are rare in the forest itself, but numerous in the borders of the Hell Creek, as well as in the more open woodlands, and near the deltas and floodplains; open clearings similar to the African Congo. These are where the dinosaurs and related fauna in the area interact with large mammals that have existed since the Plio-Pleistocene.


True to their namesake, the archosaurs were the dominant megafauna in this region. Dinosaurs, both non-avian and avian exists in all size and shape. Pterosaurs are less common in species, but they are numerous nonetheless. Crocodylians also thrives here, being diverse as they always were.

The most common herbivores were Triceratops, followed by Edmontosaurus. Small herbivores/omnivores are uncommon including Ornithomimus, Struthiomimus, Leptoceratops, Pachycephalosaurus, and Prenocephale.

There are also rare large herbivores such as Torosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Charonosaurus, Ankylosaurus, and Denversaurus

There are sauropods here to, but only a few select species like the giant Alamosaurus, which can feed at the tops of the giant conifers above, as well as low laying palms, broad leaves, shrubs, ferns and grass.

Small carnivores and insectivores exists in the form of Anzu, Acheroraptor, Troodon, and alvarezsaurids. The only medium carnivores are Dakotaraptor and juvenile tyrannosaurs, both which compete against each other, in a way similar to lions and hyenas.

The only large dinosaurian carnivores is Tyrannosaurus. Carcharodontosaurs such as Tyrannotitan and Giganotosaurus are absent due to the lack of abundant sauropod. Abelisaurs such as Carnotaurus are also absent due to niche overlap with sub-adult tyrannosaurs. Spinosaurs often visited the estuaries and coasts to fish or scavenge, but they doesn't seem to stay permanently.

Birds exists in the form of enantiornithines and even hesperornithiforms that reside by the rivers and inland streams, and more modern birds. While giant vultures or condors such as Argentavis and Teratornis exist, phorusrhacids are absent due to their niche taken by the dromaeosaurids and even the azhdarchid pterosaurs. The same goes for palaeognathids such as moas, their niche going to the ornithomisaurs. The only large flightless bird present is Gastornis and it's relatives, which mostly fed on seeds and fruits. While mainly peaceful, they can be loud, and maybe even a bit aggressive in mating season, even capable of harassing large dinosaurs away. Other birds such as eagles, flamingos, parrots and songbirds are present, although more modern genres are rarer due to the abundance of enantiornithines.

Pterosaurs are usually large due to the smaller niche taken by birds. There are only three common species, which are Quetzalcoatlus, Pteranodon, and Nyctosaurus; there are are subspecies like the case of Quetzalcoatlus. S, which is less than half the size of Q. Northropi.

Crocodylomorphs are diverse, including true crocodyles, alligators, and gavials. These include the gigantic Deinosuchus which lives in estuarines region and occasionally ventures to the sea.

There were also many kinds of lizards, the largest being Palaeosaniwa, a varanid around the size of a komodo dragon. Snakes, Turtles, tortoise, and champsosaurs also existed here. However, Titanoboa or any large ectotherms in particular doesn't live here due to climate being temperate instead of tropical.

Mosasaurs have apparently adapted to the rivers and estuaries, the smaller ones acting as piscivores and scavengers while the larger one could ambush large animals from the water.

Amphibians such as frogs, salamanders, and sirenids are present. Frogs and scapherpetonids are the most common along the banks.

Fresh water fish are similar to what you'd find in the Pacific Northwest, except for certain notable generas and the presence of freshwater sharks and rays.

The most common invertebrates that flourish here are butterflies, which thrive on angiosperms. There are also spiders like tarantulas, as well as the common honeybee.


To survive here, a synapsid must be either very small, very large, or having a unique niche. While mammals seem to thrive rather well in this environment, since it's not the same Hell Creek as it was during the Cretaceous.

There are Columbian Mammoths, giant elephants 13 feet tall which can rival a T.Rex, herds of them can be seen in the clearings, grazing on the lush grasses and dwarf willows, as well as palms, broadleaves, and fruit which are seasonal. Mastodons are also present, in fact they are more common here than mammoths or elephants, even favoring forests over plains. There are also ground sloths, sivatheres, glyptodonts, and even primative rhinos.

Mid-sized herbivores include pronghorn antelope, and deer like the Stag Moose, The Great Elk Megaloceros, and Eucladoceros There are also camels, horses, wild asses, bison, toxodon, water buffalo, and macraucheniids. All of them are present in the borders, clearings, and open woodlands. Where as uphill in the mountains, during Autumn and Winter, herds of Elasmotherium, Yaks, and Wild Sheep and Goats; and even Woolly Mammoths and Cave Bears would occasionally stop here upon migrating from further north.

Small mammals are numerous in the border, such as rodents, lagomorphs, shrews, moles, and even mustelids; small mammals in the area itself though are mostly remnants from the Late Cretaceous, such as multituberculates, metatherids, and lepticids.

Predators include the Saber-Toothed Cat, Smilodon, which fit rather well hunting large mammals like mammoths, and would even hunt dinosaurs like medium-sized ceratopsians and hadrosaurs. There are also Dire Wolves, Brown Bears, Black Bears, and the Short-Faced Bear Arctodus; and even Dholes, Thylacines, Jaguars, and Lions. With so much prey to choose from, Dinosaurian and Mammalian carnivores rarely compete.

There were humans, or elves that lived here once, and their civilization is similar to the real world Aztecs, with their rocky pyramids, and stone houses. It was also founded in gold and rubies, which can be found in the mines in the mountains.

Orcs are present, but as a result of explorations leading to colonies being built. They appear to be a kind of Hobgoblin, which live in tribal commutes; and while there are no wargs present, they have forged a bond with the sabertooths and dakotaraptors, and even the juveniles tyrannosaurus for when they need to hunt or raid. Few humans and elves dare to stay here.

There are caves of gold, silver, iron, opals, and other precious minerals. However, these are guarded by dinosaurs like Pachycepholosaurus and Anzu, and even the big pterosaurs, which use them as nests or mating grounds. They seem to have taken the place of dragons, which are renown for hoarding hand-made treasures elsewhere.

Mining here is risky business.