The wet season lasts for approximately 7 months, from mid spring, to mid autumn.

Regional Divisions

Hria is divided into three environments, and while there is some blurring of the lines of separation, the areas are fairly easily ascertained at a glance. All Mahla can be linked to one of the areas.

• Bega River Valley: These largely flat plains extend approximately 200 miles to the north of the river, and to the land of the sandlings to the south, it is most fertile part of Hria, and approximately 350,000 people live here. The most productive areas are on the coast and the north bank of the Bega river, and productivity decreases as one heads south until those in the border regions are living at a level just above subsistence, and in dry years, aid is sent from the J'ngk's Granary. It largely produces shaka, pairo, te'ngk, silk, and a few spices in the north. Whilst there are some tall trees near the Tora region, most indigenous vegetation consists of sfika and muga. As the name suggests, Bega is the largest Mahla in the region, but other notable settlements are Ro, Shalpath, Ykter, Myr, and in the far south, Tere.
• Eastern Foothills: This name is rather misleading, as it not only includes the foothill, but extends to the highest peaks of the snow-clad mountains and the springs that are the source of the Bega river. Significantly cooler than the lowlands, it still gets rain, and sometimes snow. The only vegetation native to area is sfika grass and few newly discovered fruits in the north. Most of the population, which is approximately 45,000, are either te'ngk herders or work in the few mines, which more than make up for it's dependence on the imported goods from the valley. The area's small population, inaccessibility and natural beauty have made it a haven for Mahla, of which there are 4; Biri, Myl'te, Sfiri and Tolshath.
• Tora: The northern jungles spread from the flat plain of the Bega River to the edge of Hri territory. Receives huge amounts of rainfall, making it necessary to horde goods during the wet season. With a population of approximately 100,000, the peoples of the north make a living farming the spices, incenses, dyes, fruits, and timbers that are so important for Hria's trade with her neighbours. The Mahla of the Tora region are Tora, Maripai, Gromura, Samura and Anora in the far north.

Mahla

The Mahla are walled administrative centres, serving as monasteries, educational institutions, markets and garrisons. All Mahla follow a standard in that they are walled compounds, divided inside into two areas; one for use by everyone as a market and area to conduct other business, and one which is for use strictly by members of the Sangha. Inside the walls it is common to have several spires, the more spires indicating the importance of the Mahla in the national scheme. Outside the walls of the Mahla will develop a town, or in the case of Bega or Shalpath, a city. In addition to this, villages are also encompassed into one of the Mahla so that every settlement is under the control of a given Mahla. This is difficult to apply in the Eastern Foothills, where a sizeable part of the population is nomadic. The Mahla see to the collection of taxes and the distribution of goods from other areas. The Mahla also provide a senior initiate from their ranks to serve as a representative to the Inner Circle. The Mahla are as follows;

• Bega River Valley