In the most Northern corner of Varisia, in a secluded ravine in the South of the Kodar mountains, near lake Stormunder, is a small tree top village called Rijeka-ramura. Here, a frog-like folk called Gripplis live amid dense deciduous forest. The ravine is the recipient of rainclouds that are diverted into it by the mountains. Like the bed of the lake, a variety of volcanic features dot the valley floor. Of note, some spouts from geisers collect in ponds, here the gripplis druids cultivate idillic gardens and grow all manner of strange and exotic plants.

Due to its geography the peaceful gripplis village is rarely disturbed by the rocs, yeti, crag spiders, wendigos and storm giants that are common to the mountains. They are also rarely disturbed by humanoid races, save for the occasional wounded adventurer that finds the lonely village a welcome oasis in an otherwise extremly dangerous region.

The gripplis tell many ancient legends, the oldest tale depicts a people that were once in a struggle against a larger amphibian race in a swampy forest in the south. This tale suggests that a divide occured in the gripplis race. A brave few listened to the druids, and followed them on an epic adventure to the promised land. It is not known what fate befell those that stayed behind.

Gripplis eat many varieties of vegetable, they fish in the river at the valley floor and they hunt a variety of giant insects, a prey they compete for with crag spiders. Following ancient tradition they stew food using yeast, rather than cook it over a flame.

The Shoanti tribes that roam the Noland wilderness occasionally rest at the coast of the lake. Here disguised in cloaks, the secretive Gripplis are welcome trade partners. The gripplis who viewed the humans that seemed giant to them with distrust. They remembered the way that the Chellaxians had treated the forest, the grand hunts where herds of elk were killed for mere sport. The Gripplis say "Nature provides only if you respect her".