Biome

Where is it located?

How accessible is it?

What does this biome look like?

Describe it as if you were a traveler who just came across it.

What does it sound like?

Describe the biome using only sounds.

What does it smell like?

Write a scene where someone smells the biome before seeing it.

What distinctive landmarks or landforms define the identity of this biome?

How might they shape the stories told about this region?

How does the biome connect to other regions?

Through trade routes, natural barriers, etc.?

What is the climate like?

And how extreme does it get?

What is the seasonal cycle of the biome?

How predictable is it?

What natural resources are available?

How do these resources fuel prosperity, conflict, or dependency?

What weather patterns are common?

Think monsoons, storms, droughts, snowfall, etc.?

How does the climate affect plant and animal behavior?

Think migrations, hibernation, etc.?

What myths or beliefs might have arisen to explain the climate?

For instance, do gods, spirits, or omens get blamed for weather?

What ecosystems form the heart of this biome?

E.g., is it dominated by forests, grasslands, tundras, or hybrid zones?

Which species are most characteristic of this biome?

Consider keystone animals, famously endangered species, etc.

How is the food chain structured?

Who are the apex predators, grazers, and scavengers? How might disrupting one level destabilize the whole?

What types of plants grow here?

How are they adapted to its terrain, in terms of altitude, latitude, proximity to water, etc.?

How does biodiversity compare to other regions?

Write a naturalist’s field note comparing this biome to another.

What hidden dangers exist in the terrain?

Write a survival manual for someone who's just stumbled into this biome.

Who were the earliest peoples to settle here, if any?

What drew them?

Who inhabits the biome now?

How have they adapted to survive in it?

How do they interact with the biome?

For instance, is the relationship harmonious, or do they exploit it? What tensions exist between people and the environment?

How does the environment influence their sense of identity and belonging?

If their homeland could speak, what would it say about the people who live there?

How does biome shape daily life in terms of...

Food? Shelter? Clothing?

How did the biome form?

Think tectonic activity, supernatural events, etc.? Write out its creation myth.

How has the biome changed over time?

Write an excerpt from the first and latest recorded travelogue about the biome.

What historical or cultural significance does this biome have?

E.g., was it the site of a disaster, has a war started over its resources, etc.?

What legendary figures are tied to this place?

How are they remembered today?

How have maps of this biome changed?

Did borders shrink, expand, or vanish?

How is the biome spoken about today?

And why?