Rampart River

The Rampart River is a mostly meltwater river which originates within the south-eastern foothills of Engetsu-san and makes up most of the drainage basin for the eastern forest, flowing in a south-eastern direction toward Yuriba Park, where it meets with Yuriba Lake before flowing from the lake's eastern shore and to the ocean.

Northern Branch

While mostly meltwater from Engetsu-san, the Rampart River is relatively calm and shallow at its start. Multiple small creeks empty into it from the eastern drain basin, mostly from the eastern side from the far eastern forest - bordered on the west by the river and the east by the ocean, up to Inishie-san and the Omolara Valley, the drainage water swelling the river to a significant depth. Cutting into the harder bedrock and stone as it approaches Yuriba Park, the northern branch quickly becomes a series of dangerous white-water rapids cut down into a gorge, fast flowing and narrow down to where it spills into the northeastern corner of Yuriba Lake.

Eastern Branch

The eastern branch of the Rampart River returns to the shallow level of the very start of the northern branch as it spills from the lake. Fed by the spring water of the lake it flows consistently through the year, narrowing to twenty feet across in the height of summer heat to swell to easily double that width in the high waters of spring. It flows fairly straight east to the ocean from there, with a sharp northern bend at its mouth created by a significant sandbar formation along the ocean shore, giving home to many Piper Birds. The strength of the current keeps the water right to the ocean edge fresh, the only brackish water being out a distance from shore. Exceptionally strong storms can push the sea water up the river, but the sandbar often prevents this.

Wildlife

The strength of the northern branch's flow restricts most aquatic life activity save the yearly upstream travel of a small population of Seraph Salmon and river trout to spawn in the shallows of the north. Harvest bears are fairly commonly seen along the river during this time of year. The much calmer eastern branch gives host to many of the island's freshwater fish as they traverse it and into Yuriba Lake, the eastern branch an ideal spot for hunting crayfish, frog and trout.

Lore

The river gets it's name as it's often seen as a barrier between Inishie's reach, via Inishie-san, and the rest of the island. This has been emphasized by the events of the Eruption of 2012 and the devastation faced by the eastern forests, the river the barrier which kept the fire from spreading west and more into the village.