Description:

Black Pine Country lies in the Southeast and is possibly the least friendly place around. Residents do not tolerate the presence of tokotas in Dillinger or the surrounding area. They will take extreme measures to keep wild packs from moving in or even to keep handlers and their tame mounts out. Because of the lack of tokotas in the area prey species flourish. In hard times wild tokotas will risk the unfriendly local population in order to hunt.

Landmarks:

• Dillinger - Remains the only settlement for miles. It was once a bustling mining town, but when the mine went bust so did the town. The remaining residents are hardy and fiercely loyal to the town and their fellow townspeople. There is a deep dislike for tokotas. They are considered pests, a danger to both man and livestock, and blamed for the difficulties that went with building the mine in the first place. Percival Dillinger, grandson to the town's original founder, is the current mayor. He is best described as a wise and harsh man, both feared and respected amongst the community. A crack shot, he has taken down his fair share of tokotas in his day. Human outsiders caught trespassing are brought to him for judgment.
• Dillinger's Hole - The valley that lays beyond the town by several miles. The narrow valley sports a river that runs the length of it and is said to contain gold. On the eastern slope the old mining facility can be found. The red wooden structure is worn down from years of vacancy and often hidden from view by fog trapped by the mountains. The mountain side is pockmarked with mine shafts. Only the bravest souls will risk entering in hopes of finding precious metals and other valuables.
• The Black Pines - the forest that dominates the area. Prey species are abundant thanks to the people of Dillenger's ruthless tactics to keep wild tokota populations at bay. Ironically by creating such a high concentration of food and rare pelts tokotas and handlers are willing to risk their lives in order to hunt in the forest.

Lore:

Humans and tokotas have always been at odds in this region. When men tried to build their mining facility their work was often interrupted by the wild pack occupying the forest. In the end, the pack was eradicated but the gold dried up shortly after the last tokota was killed. Relations have not improved since.

Andrew Dillinger struck gold in the mountains in Black Pines Country and immediately began efforts to settle the location and start mining. While hardships befell them in the form of the local tokota pack eventually the mine was build and for a short time was very profitable. Dillinger was killed by the last surviving member of the pack. The animal was hunted down and killed within the month. The mine went bust shortly after and to this day the people of the town retain a deep bitterness towards tokotas. Ownership is outlawed and there had been a number of cases of even tame tokotas being killed in the area.

Dillinger Hole has its own ghost story attached to it. While many variations circulate the most common feature is a party of people entering the valley and spotting a strange figure in the distance. Later something will tip the group off that something is amiss. When the group tallies their ranks they realize they have an extra person among them. The story either ends with the death of the group or in tamer versions, a warning to leave by the mysterious and frightening extra party member. Typically the stranger is described as having an animal head and being overall very dark. The stranger will revert back to this form when revealed.

There is a general warning out to all tokotas and handlers and that is: Stay away! While the temptation of claiming rare pelts and gold may be strong, is it really worth your life? Though come winter the meat could mean the difference between life and death for wild tokotas.

Original location inspiration by Clockrobber
Location art by Lachtaube