The Dragon Cave
The Dragon Cave sits in the Fintry Estate to the south west of The Warren. It is entered from a gap behind the Fintry Falls where it leads into a main chamber that doubles as the welcoming area and living room.
Off to the right there is a corridor that leads down to the three pools where the entrance to the Chaos Coffee Shop and Spa is now situated.
The Dragon Cave is the home of AttorraRu when she's at the Warren. She used to share this home with Cheetya Ironfist, her husband, and their two children Izzie and Ruaraidh. This was until AttorraRu became the Nite Qween in the The Fourth Word War. They now live at the Owsla Apartments.
Towards the back of the Dragon Cave is a horde pile of coins, many of which are extremely old. Along with the horde coins are many private books, many 1st editions.
To the left is the kitchen and next to it the bathroom. There are three bedrooms to the rear, though these have remained unused in recent months.
AttorraRu does allow visitors though she often has to remind people from the Spa that her home is out of bounds.
Her home is also connected to the Warren by Escape Tunnel 3 which opens up along the tunnel to the Spa.
The Dragon Cave is fairly large and a lot of it still has the feel of a cave to it.
Ru has decorated a large amount of it with amethyst and other gems she has located in the gem caves below.
The kitchen has modern appliances, however it does have an aga oven heating it as well as a conventional oven. It is also equipped with a dishwasher and the side room off the kitchen houses a washing machine and dryer. All of these appliances have been adapted by Cheetya so that Ru can still use them while in Dragon form.
In the bathroom there are wet room tiles and a walk in bath with a shower hanging overhead. This is so that everyone can clean themselves no matter what form they are in.
The waste water from the bathroom and the kitchen are piped to the heating system for reuse.
Climate
The Dragon Cave lies within Fintry Provincial Park, which is part of the Okanagan Valley. The valley lies in the rain shadow of the Coast and Cascade mountains, creating a hot, sunny, dry climate. Most of the valley receives about 2,000 hours of sunlight per year and 250–400 mm of precipitation. The southern valley, which gets about 300 mm of precipitation, is desert-like, with cacti, rattlesnakes and mantids.
Fauna & Flora
The Dragon Cave of Fintry Falls, located within Fintry Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada, boasts a diverse array of fauna and flora. The park features a mix of forests and slopes, providing habitat for various mammals. Birdlife is also abundant with bird watchers coming from all around. The surrounding area also includes various plant life typical of the Okanagan region.
Fauna:
- Mammals: Black bears, grizzly bears, moose, California bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer, marten, porcupine, and coyote are among the larger mammals found in the area.
- Birds: Pileated woodpeckers, goshawks, bald eagles, and great horned owls are notable bird species.
- Other: The park also supports various other species like ruffed grouse.
Flora:
- Shrub-steppe: Dominated by antelope brush and common rabbitbrush.
- Flowering Plants: Arrowleaf balsamroot, bitterroot, sagebrush buttercup, and sagebrush mariposa lily are common.
- Grasses: Bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg's bluegrass, and needle-and-thread grass are prevalent.
- Trees: Ponderosa pine is a dominant tree species, especially in drier, open forests.
- Fruit Trees: Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, plums, and prunes are commercially grown.
- Grapes: The Okanagan is a significant wine-producing region, with various grape varieties cultivated.
- Specific Plant Examples: Prickly Pear Cactus: Late-spring flowers, with edible flesh and sharp spines. Fireweed: Tall purple-pink spires, often seen after wildfires, with edible young shoots. Upland Larkspur: Cobalt-blue spikes, but toxic to livestock and humans. Saskatoon: A shrub with edible berries, also known as "Chief for things growing on land". Additional Notes: The Okanagan Sunflower (Balsamorhiza sagittata) is the official flower of Kelowna. The valley is known for its vibrant wildflowers in spring.
History
Fintry Falls, located in Fintry Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada, has a rich history rooted in First Nations use, European settlement, and the development of a productive estate.
The area was first used by First Nations people as a fishing camp and trade route. Evidence of early settlements and cairns at Todholes and standing stones at Waterhead suggest habitation dating back thousands of years.
Later, European settlers, including Thomas D. Shorts and James Cameron Dun-Waters, developed the area into a farm and estate, with Shorts Creek and its waterfalls playing a crucial role in the settlement.
Thomas D. Shorts was a pioneer steamboat captain, Shorts was one of the first European settlers in the area and played a role in the maritime history of Okanagan Lake.
James Cameron Dun-Waters purchased the property in 1909 and transformed it into the Fintry Estate, building various structures like the Manor House, Octagonal Dairy Barn, and Packing House.
Dun-Waters' Innovations:
He developed an irrigation system using Shorts Creek and its waterfalls to water orchards and generate electricity for the estate, including the use of suspension bridges to transport water. The estate was eventually purchased by the government and established as a provincial park in 1996, preserving its historical and natural features. The park preserves the natural features of the area, including Shorts Creek Canyon and its waterfalls, as well as the historical buildings of the Fintry Estate. The park is also significant for its diverse wildlife and recreational opportunities.
He developed an irrigation system using Shorts Creek and its waterfalls to water orchards and generate electricity for the estate, including the use of suspension bridges to transport water. The estate was eventually purchased by the government and established as a provincial park in 1996, preserving its historical and natural features. The park preserves the natural features of the area, including Shorts Creek Canyon and its waterfalls, as well as the historical buildings of the Fintry Estate. The park is also significant for its diverse wildlife and recreational opportunities.
Tourism
Recreational users can enjoy the natural sand beach while wildlife viewers can hike the Canyon trail and view a variety of birds, small mammals, deer, and bighorn sheep in the higher regions.
Historical features throughout the park include the Manor House, the octagonal barn and several other farm buildings.
A small wetland area located south of the Packing House, a portion of lakeshore and the Shorts Creek corridor and canyon below Westside Road are designated special feature-natural conservation areas.
Notable features within the zone include a large eagle’s nest, old growth cottonwoods, and several wildlife trees,
Shorts Creek waterfall and kokanee spawning grounds: The Fintry Manor House, garden, the barns, remnant power generation, and irrigation systems are special heritage features. Tourists are reminded at the start of trail to the creek that the Dragon Cave is strictly out of bounds!
The Chaos Cartel Encouragement Spa is located at the base of the waterfalls which offers tourists a small window into the life of the Literomancers nearby. Again there are signs all over the Spa to remind people that the Dragon Cave is a private home.
WIP
Streamer
Missing
Status: Location Unknown
Deceased
Status: Deceased Character
Retired
Status: Retired Character or Article
Fintry Waterfalls
The Okanagan Sunflower by Extemporalist
Ruffled Grouse by Photo by Lindsay Stedman/USFWS
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