THE DEAD FOREST: WESTERN LANDS OF SESAMAR
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| The Dead Forest, Western Lands |
The Dead Forest is located east of Rastilus and southwest of the Gulf of Mora.
Upon reaching the forest's edge, one is struck not by the melodious song of birds, nor the scurrying of small creatures, but by an unsettling silence. The once vibrant trees stand lifeless, their forms twisted and gnarled. The wind, when present, offers but fleeting whispers that rustle tiny chunks of dried bark, sending a fine powder into the air. This dust, light and seemingly harmless, coats the throat and lungs, a constant reminder of decay and inevitable death.
Here, life as we know it seems to hold no sway. Even the vile lizardmen of Rastilus, known for their tolerance of foul environments, shun this place. Perhaps they sense an unnatural quality to the air, a lack of the very essence that sustains life. Or, more curiously, perhaps these reptilian creatures possess an unspoken wisdom, an ancient awareness of the forest's dangers.
Within this desolate expanse lie remnants of an era that is long gone. Crumbling structures, possibly a place of worship or burial, hint at a once-thriving civilization. Yet, their purpose remains shrouded in mystery. Was it the lizardmen's relentless attacks, the harshness of the environment, or some unseen force that brought about this city's demise? The forest offers no answers, only everpresent silence and decay.
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A shroud of choking grey hangs heavy over this land, a lifeless fist that smothers any hope of life. As one inches closer, the skeletal forms of an undead barely defy gravity. Gnarled branches, stripped bare, reach out like skeletal fingers, and the wind whispers a mournful lament through the aching wood. Flakes of bark powder the air, a constant reminder of decay, a putrid choking hazard that coats the throat with the taste of oblivion. This desolate graveyard offers no solace, no sustenance, only the chilling certainty of one's doom.
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Plants
- Dead Trees: The original species of trees cannot be ascertained, but their sad branches look angry and sharp.
Animals
- Ghouls: These grey, fork-tongued creatures attack in packs between 3 - 8 at a time. They consume anything and everything in their path. The rake of a ghoul's claws can also cause paralysis, making them desperate and formidable creatures of this forest.
Fungi
- Bulbous Heads: From a distance, this mushroom looks like a human crawling on the ground. It's motion in the wind makes it look quite evil, especially in the dark. Upon closer examination, it is a patch of bulbous mushrooms. Some druids speak of their edibility, but only the most desperate would dare to test the claim.
Rumors
- A necromancer who now inhabits an ancient burial ground, uses the undead to build an undead army of ghouls.
- The area is centered upon an ancient cemetary. The cemetary contains fallen heroes who still have a job to do. The corpses of these fallen heroes rise to fulfill a secret oath.
- Druids believe the ghouls are not undead. They think them to be driven by a creature of nature, possibly fungus, making them funghouls. But what would be the mechanic that could drive such a twisted natural order?
