bitterroot-hollow-ranch

BRIEF TIMELINE

1873 — Founding: Established by two wealthy frontier ranchers. Originally operated as a cattle-and-horse outfit with a small seasonal workforce.
1890s — Transfer to the Halvorsen Family: Ownership shifts when Lance Halvorsen’s great-great-grandfather purchases and expands the ranch after the original founders retire.
1990s–Present: Demihuman Integration under Lance Halvorsen: Lance inherits the ranch and as regulations on domesticated demihumans increase, the ranch starts providing safe work, shelter, and training to registered demis.

oLEGACYo

Bitterroot Hollow Ranch was founded in 1873. Today, the ranch operates as a mixed-use outfit: running cattle, sheep, and working horses; maintaining fields of grain, sugar beets, and alfalfa, and serving as rescue for those injured, abandoned, or stray—both animal and demihuman.

oABOUT USo

Bitterroot Hollow Ranch is a Montana-based operation dedicated to responsible land stewardship and livestock management. Built on over a century of hard work, the ranch uses traditional ranching practices with modern care standards for both humans and demihumans. With over 25,200 acres of mountain, forest, and open pasture, Bitterroot Hollow remains a working ranch, a safe haven, and a place where everyone, two-legged or four, pulls their weight and finds a purpose.

oOUR MISSIONo

To maintain a sustainable, working ranch that respects the land, provides humane care to all animals in our charge, and upholds safe, structured, and consistent practices for both our human and demihuman workers.

oRANCH OPERATIONSo

Livestock

Bitterroot Hollow Ranch maintains working herds of Black Angus cattle - used for beef production and breeding stock, hardy range sheep, - meat, wool, and grazing management - and a disciplined team of riding and working horses used for riding herd and navigating terrain that vehicles can’t reach.

Together, these animals form the backbone of the ranch’s traditional operations, supported by demihuman labor that blends instinct, skill, and lived working experience.

Crops

The ranch cultivates staple crops including alfalfa, barley, oats, and rotational hay fields used to support winter feed stores, as well as sugar beets. All crops are grown with soil conservation in mind, emphasizing long-term sustainability rather than mass production.

Along with those commerical crops, the ranch grows apple trees to sell apple products - apple pie, apple cider, and apple butter.

Demihuman Program

Bitterroot Hollow is a state-registered facility for housing and training demihumans. Workers receive duties, consistent routines, and fair treatment, contributing to daily ranch operations while living in a secure, well-managed environment.

Most the demihumans that come into the ranch's care were either neglected, abandoned or rescued, and here, they are given a second chance at life.

Animal Rescue

The ranch accepts injured, abandoned, or neglected animals, providing medical care, behavioral stabilization, and long-term placement when possible. Some rescues remain on the ranch as permanent working partners, or just an addition to the ever-growing family. Halvorsen has a soft heart, and it's hard for him to turn away a critter in need.

Land Stewardship

Spanning thousands of acres of grassland, forests, lakes, mountain ridges, and valleys, Bitterroot Hollow prioritizes healthy ecosystems. Seasonal burning, predator coexistence management, and careful pasture rotation keep the land productive and biodiverse for generations to come.

The sheep help with their grazing habits, which help maintain grassland health, reduce wildfire fuel buildup, and control invasive weeds.

F.A.Q

Q: Can I make a character in this universe?
A: Of course! You're welcome to copy & paste the lorebooks and add it to your own character. I am more than happy to answer any questions that you may have about this.Q: Do my characters have to be demihumans or can they be human?
A: Both are allowed. The ranch has a mix of humans, demihumans, and feral demis.

Q: What species are allowed for demihumans?
A: Any real-world animal species fits naturally like dog breeds and certain livestock/working species. Fantasy or extinct species aren’t part of this universe.Q: Can my character be connected to the ranch’s existing cast?
A: Yes, but keep it respectful and not retcon-heavy. They shouldn’t overwrite established character backstories but can add new connections/history.

Character Creation Guidelines

Demihumans

Must be humanoid with distinct animal traits (ears, tails, claws, teeth, fur patches, etc).
Feral vs. Domestic - Domestic demis have papers, tags, and an owner on record. Feral demis live in the wild and behave more like their animal counterparts.
Humans hold legal power; demihumans do not.

Legal & Social Structure

Characters should fit somewhere in this hierarchy: